Chapter 16: Cracks in the Wall
Zayan Khan couldn't sleep.
Again.
His mind kept replaying it—like a broken film stuck on the same scene.
The flicker of blue light in the elevator.
The whisper from that corrupted audio file.
"You're not supposed to know."
He leaned back in his chair, spinning slowly in the dark. The city lights glimmered through the window, casting fractured reflections on the glossy office walls.
She was hiding something.
And the pieces were starting to fall out of place.
---
The Watching Game
The next morning, Andaleeb walked into the office with her usual tea, humming a song under her breath.
But Zayan knew better.
Her smile was crooked—forced. Her laugh? Quieter. She hadn't called him "Mr. Freeze" or insulted his suit once.
She was avoiding him.
He noticed every detail. Every deflection. Every silence.
She kept her gaze down.
He kept watching.
Across the glass, he didn't see an intern.
He saw a question he couldn't solve.
---
Aryan walked in with his usual chaos—coffee in one hand, files in the other.
"You look like a man who's trying really hard not to think about a girl," Aryan said, flopping onto the couch.
Zayan didn't look up. "You ever meet someone who feels… off?"
"Like off-putting?"
"No." Zayan's voice lowered. "Like they don't belong. But they make you feel like… you do."
Aryan raised an eyebrow. "That's either deep love or a psychological thriller waiting to happen."
Zayan didn't smile.
Aryan blinked. "Wait… are we talking about Andaleeb?"
Zayan didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
---
Avoidance Strategy
Somewhere near the stairwell, Andaleeb bumped into Eman, almost spilling her tea.
"Don't even ask," she groaned. "I've been avoiding him like… bad Wi-Fi."
Eman raised a brow. "And that's your plan? Just ghost him in person?"
"I almost zapped him in the elevator. I'm not risking another meltdown."
Eman sipped her drink. "He's not stupid. He's noticing."
Andaleeb slumped against the railing. "Why does love come with memory wipes and glowing fingers?"
"Because your DNA's an intergalactic mess," Eman muttered. "And your heart's even worse."
They both laughed. But the heaviness didn't leave.
---
An Unexpected Conversation
That afternoon, the café buzzed softly with late customers and the smell of cinnamon.
Haroon sat in his usual corner, eyes following every movement behind the counter.
"You keep coming back," Eman said, handing him his tea.
"Maybe I like the chai."
"Maybe you're watching us."
Haroon gave a slow smile. "Maybe both."
She crossed her arms. "You were sent to observe."
"And protect," he added. "But somewhere between those two… it got messy."
She leaned closer. "So you know?"
"I've known for years."
Eman exhaled. "Then you know what happens if a human finds out."
Haroon stirred his tea. "That's why I haven't left."
Their eyes met.
And for a second, they weren't just watchers.
They were two soldiers on the edge of war.
---
The Threat
Late that night, Zayan's laptop pinged.
An anonymous email.
No subject. No sender. Just an attached video file.
He hesitated. Then clicked.
Grainy footage filled the screen.
The elevator.
Her.
The flicker of blue light near her fingers.
A voice—her voice: "You're not supposed to know."
Zayan's breath caught.
Another file popped up instantly:
"Your intern is not who she says she is."
Before he could open it, the screen glitched violently.
Static.
Blackout.
All files wiped.
He slammed the laptop shut.
His chest burned with questions.
Someone was watching him.
And someone knew the truth about Andaleeb Shah.
---
The Confrontation – Power Outage
Darkness.
The hallway had blacked out completely.
Andaleeb had gone to get water when the power cut—again. The shadows swallowed her whole.
She took a step forward—and collided into someone.
Warm. Familiar.
Zayan.
"Sorry—" she started.
"Don't." His voice was closer now. Quieter. Different.
She tried to step back, but his hand gently caught her wrist in the dark.
"You're lying to me," he said.
The words were soft. Not angry. Just… broken.
Her breath stilled.
"I don't know what it is," he continued, his hand tightening slightly. "I don't know why I keep seeing things. Or why I feel like I already knew you. But I know… you're hiding something."
Her lips parted.
But she couldn't speak.
He leaned closer, his other hand bracing the wall beside her. The air felt electric between them.
"I'm not mad," he whispered. "I'm confused. And that scares me more than anything."
Tears stung her eyes.
"If I told you the truth…" Her voice cracked. "You'd never look at me the same way again."
His forehead nearly touched hers.
"Then try me."
A soft click. The emergency lights flickered on.
They were inches apart.
Frozen.
Andaleeb took a deep breath.
Then gently, painfully—she pushed him back.
"I can't," she whispered.
And turned away.
Zayan didn't stop her.
But this time, he wasn't going to let the truth stay hidden.
---