The drive home was a blur of streetlights and shadows. Zayn steered with a single, practiced hand, his fingertips pressed against his temple as if trying to soothe the pulsing tension behind his eyes. His mind was a locked room, and Danish was the only thought inside it.
As he pulled into his driveway, the beams of his headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating a figure leaning casually against the hood of his another car parked near his house . The man's arms were folded across his chest, his posture radiating a mocking sort of patience.
It was Danish.
Zayn killed the lights, the sudden darkness sharp and heavy. He stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind him. Every muscle in his body was taut with a simmering fury as he marched toward the intruder.
Danish didn't flinch.
As Zayn approached, he pushed off from the car and stood straight, a slow, mischievous smirk spreading across his face.
"What are you doing here near my house?" Zayn's voice was like ice, cutting through the quiet night.
Danish let out a short, dry laugh. "Waiting for you, Hashmi."
The arrogance was the breaking point. Zayn lunged forward, his fingers curling tightly around Danish's collar, jerking him close. "Take your car and get out of here," Zayn hissed, his face inches from the other man's. "Never show up here again. I am giving you a final warning."
Danish looked directly into Zayn's eyes, watching the storm of anger swirling there. He didn't look afraid; if anything, he looked amused.
"You've started giving a lot of warnings, huh?" Danish remarked.
With a calm, deliberate motion, he brushed Zayn's hand off his collar as if flicking away a piece of lint.
"Get out of here!" Zayn ordered.
Instead of heading for his car, Danish turned and began walking toward the front gate of the house.
"I need to talk to you, then I will leave," he called over his shoulder.
"Come on, let's go inside. How long will you keep a guest standing outside?"
"Don't even dare to go inside," Zayn barked, his voice low and dangerous. "If you want to talk, then let's go somewhere else."
Danish paused, his lips pulling into a small, annoyed pout. He shrugged nonchalantly. "No problem, let's go."
They returned to their vehicles, the engines roaring to life in a tense duet. Zayn led the way, eventually pulling over near the edge of a massive bridge that spanned the dark void of the river valley below. They stepped out of their cars, the wind whistling through the iron supports of the structure as they stood by the railing.
Zayn didn't waste a second. "What did you want to say?"
"Calm down, Hashmi," Danish said, leaning against the cold metal. "We just arrived."
"We haven't come here on a date for me to be calm," Zayn retorted sharply. "And that too, with you."
Danish chuckled, the sound lost in the wind. "Oh, Hashmi. Speaking of dates... why were you calling Meher your fiancée?"
Zayn didn't blink. His expression remained a mask of indifference.
"I will call my fiancée, my fiancée."
The humor vanished from Danish's face instantly. The smirk dropped, replaced by a cold, hard stare.
"Fiancée? And your Meher? Bro..."
Danish stepped into Zayn's personal space, his voice dropping to a predatory whisper.
"Do not cross the boundaries. Do not touch her or roam around her."
He leaned back slightly, gauging the reaction. Zayn met his gaze with a challenge of his own.
"What if I do, Mr. Danish Khan?"
Zayn asked. He paused, then added dismissively,
"So, is that all you wanted to say?"
Danish's jaw tightened so hard the bone seemed to flex beneath his skin. He was vibrating with suppressed rage.
"Don't force me to show you my true power, Hashmi. Stay within your limits."
A ghost of a smile touched Zayn's lips. "That is exactly what I am waiting for—when you will finally show me your true power!"
Danish's laugh this time was dark, devoid of any warmth. "I will destroy your entire world. Consider this a warning."
Zayn merely lifted an eyebrow, chuckling back with a confidence that seemed to grate on Danish's nerves.
"I wonder how Meher will feel when she finds out that you are a murderer?"
Zayn said, his voice deceptively soft. "Poor girl."
The words acted like a spark to gasoline. Danish erupted, his hand flying out to seize Zayn's collar, his face contorted with pure fury. "Stay within limits, Zayn!"
Zayn didn't struggle. He calmly reached up, peeled Danish's hand away, and smoothed out the fabric of his shirt. He stood tall, one hand sliding casually into his pocket while the other hung at his side.
He looked Danish straight in the eye, his presence commanding.
"You'll be better off if you stay away. Got it!"
Zayn took a heavy step forward, forcing Danish to feel the weight of his words.
"And don't even show your face anywhere near my house again."
Zayn flashed a cold, victorious smile. "Otherwise, I will destroy you so badly that you won't even be able to walk."
With a quick, mocking wink, Zayn turned his back on Zayn turned his back on He gave Danish a quick, mocking wink before turning away and heading toward his car.
Danish forced a smile, though rage burned in his eyes. "You don't know what you've just started," he said.
Danish stood frozen by the railing, his chest heaving as he watched the taillights.
The silence of the bridge was shattered as he finally screamed out, his voice raw with hatred.
"Zayn Hashmi! I will not spare you! Remember that!"
To be continued....