Haider doesn't believe in love-until he meets Anaya, the sunshine that somehow manages to get under his skin. He doesn't want her, but he can't stop getting pulled into her world, where everything is bright, bold, and utterly confusing. Anaya can't...
Anaya phone rang she came into her apartment She picked up hesitantly. "Hello?"
"Anaya," his tone was too casual, too knowing. "I know Haider is your neighbour. Did he come back from the event yet?"
Anaya blinked. "Uh... yes?"
"Alone?"
She furrowed her brows, confusion lacing her voice. "Of course."
"Hmm," he hummed, then hung up.
That was it. No explanation, no greeting, no goodbye.
She stared at her phone. "Dimagh kharab hai kya? Na hello na hi goodbye aur itni raat ko call kiya bas Haider ke baare mein poochhne ke liye? Gay toh nahi yeh? Ya... Haider mein interested toh nahi?"
She chuckled to herself at the ridiculous thought and shook her head. "Kaash, it was just that harmless."
---
The next morning, she woke up to chaos.
It was everywhere—TV, newspaper headlines, Instagram reels, and Twitter trends. Every media outlet had just one headline:
"Haider Kazi's Secret Fling REVEALED!"
"TV Star Mia Lauren Spotted Intimately With Football Icon Haider Kazi!"
"Caught in the Act: Love Blooms at the Charity Gala?"
Anaya froze with the remote still in her hand. Her eyes locked on the TV screen. There they were. Blurred but unmistakable. Haider and Mia. She was laughing, wine glass in hand. He was holding her waist, steadying her. The image was deceiving, damning, and cruel.
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The news anchors spoke with glee, excitement dripping from their voices. "Last night, Mia Lauren and Haider Kazi were spotted sharing more than just a conversation. Eyewitnesses claim they left the gala together. Sources suggest they've been seeing each other secretly for months. The chemistry was undeniable, and the moment where Haider caught Mia in his arms? Straight out of a romance movie."
Another added, "Their closeness, the whispers, the intimate body language—Haider might just be off the bachelor market."
Some fans cheered online. Edits flooded social media. Hashtags like #HaiMia and #PowerCouple trended. But others? Not so kind. Some accused Haider of betrayal, letting down the fans who believed he upheld his morals.
Anaya stared, numb. She wasn’t even his friend. They were barely anything.
But the ache?
It came anyway.
Her hand trembled as she lowered the remote. Her throat tightened. A tear slid down her cheek.
"Ya Allah... mujhe itna bura kyun lag raha hai?" she whispered to herself, voice breaking. She shut the TV off with shaking fingers. The silence felt deafening.
