THE DEVIL AND HIS PRINCESS

CHAPTER 26

Aayat sat quietly in the corner of the room, where Jahaan had stormed off in anger and laid on the bed.

He stayed like that for a while, lost in his thoughts, but eventually got up and went downstairs. Aayat, still sitting in the same corner, looked up as he approached her. Her face was downcast, tears streaming down. Jahaan knelt before her, and without saying a word, he gently picked her up in his arms, as if she were a bride. He carried her back upstairs and laid her on the bed.

Aayat was still visibly shaken, having witnessed something so intense for the first time. Sensing her fear, Jahaan pulled her into a tight embrace, offering her the warmth and safety she so desperately needed in that moment. Her heart, still racing, slowly began to calm down as she held onto Jahaan’s shirt tightly, eventually falling asleep in his arms.

The next morning, Aayat woke up, but Jahaan wasn’t by her side. She freshened up and went downstairs, only to see Jahaan sitting on the couch. There was a woman standing before him. Trying to avoid his gaze, Aayat made her way toward the kitchen.

But Jahaan noticed her and called out, “You’re awake?”

After witnessing Jahaan’s rage the previous night, Aayat couldn’t help but feel a deep fear of him. She nodded quietly in response. He asked her to come closer, and when she did, he gestured for her to sit beside him.

Aayat obeyed, still shaken. Jahaan looked at her and said softly, "Princess, I have an urgent meeting and need to leave the country for three days. Please take care of yourself while I’m away."

He leaned in closer, whispering in her ear, “And remember, even though I’m gone, my eyes will still be on you. So don’t do anything that would upset me. You saw yesterday what happens when I get angry.”

Aayat’s heart skipped a beat at the reminder of the previous night. Jahaan then motioned toward the woman standing nearby and said, “This is Rahila. She’ll be taking care of you for the next three days. She knows all your likes and dislikes. She’ll be with you morning, noon, and night.”

With that, Jahaan stood up, kissed Aayat gently on the forehead Jahaan gently says, "Take care of yourself, princess," and then turns to Rahila, instructing her, "Take care of my princess, Rahila." Rahila responds with, "Yes, sir."

After bidding goodbye to Ayaat, Jahaan leaves the house. Ayaat remains seated on the sofa, lost in thought. After a while, Rahila approaches her and asks, "Ma'am, it's time for breakfast. What would you like to eat?" Ayaat, still deep in thought, replies, "I'm not hungry right now." Rahila nods and says, "Alright, ma'am. Just let me know whenever you feel like eating, and I'll prepare something for you." She then goes on with her chores, cleaning the house.

Meanwhile, Ayaat slowly gets up and heads to her room. She lies on the bed, her mind racing with Jahaan's words, replaying over and over. Her frustration builds up as she tries to process everything, feeling overwhelmed. In anger, she grabs a pillow and starts punching it, muttering to herself, "I hate you, I hate you." Tears begin to flow, and soon she's crying uncontrollably, unable to hold it all in.

As time passes, noon arrives. Rahila knocks gently on Ayaat's door and says, "Ma'am, it's already noon, and you haven't eaten anything. Please come downstairs and have something to eat." Ayaat, still upset, responds, "I'm not hungry, please go away." The day drags on, and Ayaat remains locked away in her room, lost in her thoughts.

Later that night, Rahila comes to Ayaat's room with dinner. She speaks softly, "Ma'am, you haven't eaten anything since morning. Please eat something, or else sir will get angry with me." Ayaat, now feeling hungry, takes the food from Rahila and eats in silence. After finishing her meal, she quietly goes back to bed and drifts off to sleep.