Chapter 34:The Truth Beneath Us

The rain came down in sheets, painting the streets in silver. Wind howled between the empty buildings of the sleeping city, but Zayan Khan stood unmoving outside the shuttered café. His hair was damp, collar soaked, jaw locked with frustration.

He knocked again—firm, impatient.

Nothing.

The café was clearly closed: lights off, shutters drawn, front door bolted. But Zayan didn't care. Not tonight.

He was about to turn away when a soft metallic creak broke through the storm. The side door—barely visible behind the alley—swung open.

Haroon stood there in a dark hoodie, eyes cautious, a finger held to his lips.

"You came alone?" he asked.

Zayan's face was pale but determined. "You said you had answers. I want all of them."

Without another word, Haroon stepped aside.

Zayan entered.

They moved quickly through a narrow corridor, past the faint smell of roasted beans and forgotten pastries. Then Haroon pushed open a panel behind a dusty shelf, revealing a steel staircase spiraling downward.

With every step, the world Zayan knew crumbled further.

They reached a dimly lit underground chamber—a hidden lab buried beneath the café's foundation. The space was like something out of science fiction. Holographic monitors floated mid-air, glowing in cyan and violet. Strange symbols blinked on glass panels. Thin, transparent tubes pulsed with blue energy. One wall was covered with pulse maps—Andaleeb's readings.

Zayan's eyes widened. He stepped closer, heart hammering in his chest. "What… is this?"

Haroon didn't sugarcoat it.

"Her truth. The one she's dying to protect you from."

---

One of the monitors displayed a still image—Andaleeb inside an elevator, her eyes glowing faint blue, hand raised, energy swirling around her like a storm caught in motion.

Zayan stared, unmoving.

"She's not human… is she?"

Haroon walked to the screen and tapped it. The scene played on loop—Andaleeb absorbing the electric glitch, stabilizing it with an unnatural grace. "No. She's not. She was sent here by an observing council. Another galaxy. Another system.She is an alien"

Zayan blinked rapidly. His lips parted, but words failed.

Haroon continued, his voice calm. "Their mission was to study human behavior. Blend in. Learn. And leave. No attachments. No emotions. No history."

Zayan shook his head slowly. "But she fell in love."

Haroon gave a sad smile. "Yes. That's what activated the Recall Protocol. Once her emotional bond exceeds 90%, her system initiates automatic retrieval. It's not up to her. It's coded into her biology."

Zayan's legs gave out. He sank into a nearby chair, burying his face in his hands. "So she's… dying… because she loves me?"

"Yes." Haroon sat across from him. "And the more she tries to stay, the faster her system breaks down. Every heartbeat, every tear—it pulls her further from her purpose. And closer to destruction."

Silence sat between them for a long time.

Then Zayan spoke, voice raw. "Why didn't she tell me?"

"Because she didn't want to make you choose."

Zayan looked up, face streaked with water—rain or tears, no one could tell.

"She's all I've ever chosen."

---

The drive back was a blur of headlights and torment.

Zayan gripped the wheel tightly, tires screeching as he pulled into the underground parking of Khan Global. He rushed inside, his mind spinning.

Aryan met him at the elevator, breathless. "Sir! She—she fainted again. In the restroom. We had to carry her to the infirmary."

Zayan didn't wait for directions.

He sprinted.

The hallway blurred around him. His heart thundered louder than his footsteps.

He pushed open the infirmary door and froze.

Andaleeb lay still on the white bed, IV in her arm, her skin pale as moonlight. Her scarf had slipped slightly, revealing the faint glow of the pendant against her chest. The room was too quiet.

Zayan dropped to his knees beside her, gripping her cold hand in his own.

"Please wake up," he whispered. "Please…"

Her eyelids fluttered.

And then her hazel eyes met his.

"Zayan…" she breathed.

Relief hit him so hard it nearly knocked him over.

"Why didn't you tell me?" His voice cracked. "You're an alien. I saw everything. Why didn't you trust me?"

Tears formed instantly in her eyes. "Because I was scared. I didn't want to lose you. You're… the most precious thing in the universe to me. I love you."

Zayan leaned forward, resting his forehead gently against hers. "You should've told me. You idiot. I love you too. We could've faced this together."

She smiled weakly. "I thought you'd run."

"I only ran here. To you."

Her fingers trembled. "I feel like my body is fading…"

"Then you're not staying alone in that apartment anymore." He scooped her up in his arms. "You're coming with me. Tonight."

"It's okay I am fine Zayan"

"Shut your mouth you are not going anywhere just stay with me"

---

Zayan's Apartment

The world outside disappeared.

Zayan's penthouse was warm, spacious, and filled with the subtle scent of eucalyptus. He placed her gently on his bed, tucking the blanket around her like she was made of glass.

"I'm not made of glass, you know," she whispered, teasing softly.

"You're made of stars," he whispered back. "And I'm not letting a single one burn out."

He moved into the kitchen and began preparing soup. From scratch. No help. No chef.

Andaleeb watched him from the bedroom, half-dazed, heart aching.

He returned with a tray and sat beside her, spoon-feeding her with unusual tenderness.

"You're a better cook than I expected," she murmured.

"Don't talk," he muttered. "Eat. Sleep. Then we fight the universe."

Her lips curved. "Together?"

He met her gaze. "Always."

"Sleep move aside I also have to sleep" he said

"She leaned on his arm and hug him "

"He hugg her and kissed on her forehead sleep "

"Last time when we sleep I tell you stories now your turn "she said

"You remember ahh okay sleep I will tell you story about a human and alien "

Tapping on her back he start the story

Once upon a time in city....

"And they both fall in the sleep"

---

Back at the Café – Hidden Lab

Eman stared at the monitor, her pulse rising.

"Her countdown is at 48 hours. We're running out of time."

Haroon stood beside her. "If we suppress the energy pulse, it'll buy her time. Enough to stay."

"But it'll weaken her. Permanently. She might never get her powers back."

Eman looked torn.

"She's already dying," Haroon added gently. "We either give her time… or we lose her now."

Eman exhaled.

Then hit the override switch.

---

Back in the penthouse, Andaleeb sat up suddenly.

"The sound…" she whispered. "It stopped."

Zayan rushed over. "What happened?"

"The warning. The countdown... it stopped." She blinked rapidly. "I think Eman bought me time."

He helped her sit upright. "Is that good?"

She hesitated. "I don't know."

She held up her hand and tried to summon energy. Nothing. Not even a flicker. Her fingers sparked once. Then fizzled into stillness.

"My powers…" Her voice trembled. "They're fading."

Zayan took her hands, kissed her knuckles. "I don't care. Stay powerless. Stay glowing. Stay anything. As long as you're here."

She smiled through her tears. "You really mean it?"

"I'd rather hold you broken than lose you perfect."

---

Aleena's Trap

Meanwhile, Aleena Hashmi sat in her high-rise office, swirling red wine in a tall glass.

Her screen displayed Andaleeb's file. Under her painted nails, a formal board complaint was being submitted.

Allegations: Identity Fraud. Fabricated Records. Suspected Espionage.

"Let's see you explain that," she whispered, clicking 'Send.'

She picked up a photo of Zayan from her desk and smiled coldly.

"You might be from another world, Andaleeb," she said aloud, "but you're playing in mine now."

---

Morning

In the morning Andaleeb wake up first when she opened her eyes the face of person she never imagined to love is in front of her.

She slowly touched his face.

"What if I never go anywhere I am always your and you are mine why our destiny is like this I don't want to leave you "she said in her heart with watery eyes.

And then kiss him and get up and trying to go outside but when she get up to bed Zayan hold her hand and push her to his chest and again wrapped her into blanket and hugg her

'Where are you going stay with me don't go anywhere " he said

She giggled

"I am going outside ready for office and you also get up let's go ready for office"

"I am the CEO remember no one say anything to you if you are late stay with me for more some time and I also want to return you something " he said

What you.. before she talk

"He suddenly kiss her "

"Your kiss sweetheart"

"Her cheeks become red"

"You are blushing I don't know you become more beautiful while blushing" he said

"I am not blushing"

You are!

No I am not ?

She hide her face in blanket

'He laughed"

Final Scene – Rooftop Storm

The storm had returned by nightfall.

Thunder rolled in the distance as Zayan and Andaleeb stood on the rooftop, beneath the shelter of a single black umbrella.

The city lights blinked below them like stars from another dimension.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her as if the wind might steal her away.

"Do you… still regret loving me?" she asked softly, looking up at him.

His eyes were steady. "Never. If the universe wants to take you, it'll have to go through me first."

She laughed, weak but real. "You're crazy."

"Only for you."

He leaned in.

They kissed—soft, slow, like a promise.

Above them, the rain kissed their skin, and for a moment, everything else fell silent.

But not far away, above a neighboring rooftop, a small surveillance drone hovered silently.

A red light blinked.

Aleena's voice crackled through her earpiece.

"Found you."

---

End of Chapter 34