Chapter 36:The Button Between Us”

The sky outside was still, deceptively calm, while the storm inside Zayan Khan's chest roared louder than ever. He sat beside Andaleeb, who was curled up against his shoulder on the couch, her breaths shallow and uneven. Her skin glowed faintly—too faintly—and her pulse flickered with energy that didn't belong to this world.

Zayan tightened his hold around her, his jaw clenched, his eyes red. He couldn't lose her. Not like this. Not to the stars. Not to silence.

"I'm fine," Andaleeb mumbled, eyes half-lidded.

"No," he whispered. "You're not."

She smiled softly, almost mockingly. "You're being dramatic, Mr. Coffee Addict."

Zayan didn't even smile back. He just looked at her—really looked at her—and something in his chest cracked.

When she dozed off in his arms, Zayan slowly stood, carefully laying her on the couch and covering her with a blanket. He moved to the hidden drawer in the study where Haroon had once stashed the alien device during the security breach. The device looked like a polished stone with glowing veins of blue, pulsing faintly—waiting.

He picked it up. His fingers trembled.

> "Press this only if it's an emergency. Once triggered, the signal can't be reversed."

Haroon's warning echoed in his ears.

Zayan looked back toward the room where Andaleeb lay—his chaos, his light, his infuriating, wonderful intern who had become everything.

> "I'm sorry," he whispered, and pressed the button.

A small pulse of blue light shot upward like a spark, invisible to all but the stars.

---

The next morning, Andaleeb opened her eyes to find Zayan sitting beside her, wide awake.

Her gaze sharpened instantly. "You look like you didn't sleep."

Zayan hesitated. "I didn't."

A few seconds passed. Then she sat up, her glow slightly stronger—just enough for her to feel it.

"You did something," she said sharply.

He didn't respond.

Andaleeb stood, heart racing. "Zayan… what did you do?"

He closed his eyes, pain raw in his voice. "I called them. I pressed the signal."

Her body stilled. "You did what?"

"I had to!" he cried, standing up. "You were fading! You're still fading! I can't sit and watch you die in my arms!"

Her eyes filled with betrayal, and then with tears.

"You had no right!" she screamed, fists trembling. "You don't decide that for me!"

"You think I want to lose you?!" he shouted back, voice cracking. "You think I wanted to watch you vanish slowly—each breath weaker than the last? I called them because I'd rather let you go than bury you here!"

Andaleeb's tears fell as she punched his chest weakly. "I wasn't ready to go! Not now, not when I've found… this. You."

Zayan pulled her into a hug—tight, trembling, desperate.

"I love you," he whispered brokenly. "I love you so much I'd burn the sky if it meant you'd stay."

She sobbed into his shirt. "You're an idiot."

"I know," he choked, brushing her hair. "But I'm your idiot."

---

Later, in the quiet after their cries, Zayan held out a small velvet box.

She blinked. "Is that what I think it is?"

He opened it. A silver ring with a blue crystal glowed faintly. "It's not a proposal," he said. "Not yet. It's a promise. That I'll find a way to bring you back… even if you leave."

Her lips trembled. "Zayan…"

He placed it on her finger gently. "You don't belong to the stars anymore. You belong here—with me."

---

That night, as they sat watching the sky through the window, a pale beam of light appeared, faint at first—then growing brighter.

Andaleeb's breath caught. "They're here."

Eman barged in seconds later, out of breath. "You pressed the signal? Are you insane?! She's not stable enough! You don't know what the transfer could do to her body now!"

Zayan stood, guilt and fear battling in his eyes. "I was trying to save her."

Haroon rushed in behind Eman, holding a silver box. "We've made a stabilizer—temporary, but it can buy us time. Maybe days."

Everyone looked at Andaleeb.

But she was calm now.

She stepped forward, touching the window glass. "It's beautiful..."

Zayan grabbed her hand. "Promise me, if you leave—don't forget me."

Andaleeb turned to him, eyes shimmering.

"I'd forget my name before I forget you."

He kissed her forehead, holding her close—like he could freeze time with one final embrace.

"You're not just part of my heart," he whispered, voice thick. "You are my heart."

And outside, the sky glowed brighter—calling her home.

---

End of Chapter 37