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Authors pov

"Dawood Baba, we’ve reached," the driver announced.

Dawood looked up from his sketchbook, turning toward the source of the voice. As his eyes landed on Dilan’s cozy, vibrant villa in front of him, he quietly closed the sketchbook and stepped out of the car.

The driver opened the door for him and gently shut it once Dawood was out. With his usual limp and childlike uneven gait, Dawood clutched the sketchbook to his chest and walked toward the entrance.

Before he could even knock, the door flew open—and there stood Dilan, beaming.

"Dawood meri jaan!" she squealed, throwing her arms around him with pure affection.

Startled by her sudden burst of love, Dawood instinctively took a small step back. Then, with slight hesitation and trembling fingers, he reached out, held her shoulders, and hugged her back, a soft smile blooming on his face.

"Kh...a...la," he said as they pulled apart.

Dilan dramatically rolled her eyes.

"Dawood baby! Kitni dafa kaha hai—call me aapi! 'Khala' sounds so old!" she complained, half-playful, half-serious.

His smile faltered. He lowered his head, guilt spreading over his face.

She quickly cupped his cheeks, planting a kiss on his nose.

"Awww, mera bacha! Don’t be sad. You know na—I’m a little mental," she whispered with exaggerated secrecy, like she was revealing the world’s biggest secret.

He giggled, his sadness forgotten, and hugged her again tightly.

"I really missed you, Khala—" he started, but she cut him off cheerfully.

"Andar toh aajao mere masoom bhanje! Then we’ll talk properly," she said, taking his large hand in hers and guiding him inside.

"Would you like something to drink, Mr. Painter?" she asked with her usual clumsy coolness.

Dawood nodded and carefully placed his sketchbook on the sofa beside him.

Dilan went into the kitchen. She had given the entire staff—male and female—a holiday, knowing how uncomfortable Dawood felt around unfamiliar people.

He sipped his drink quietly when she returned, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"Okay, Mr. Painter. I’m going to check out a new property Shahram bought. Want to come with me?" she asked, adjusting her hair.

Dawood looked up, curiosity in his innocent eyes.

"Will... Bakhtu be there?" he asked softly, like a child waiting for permission to dream.

"Aww, mera baccha. I don’t know if he’ll be there, but he’ll come to meet you by evening, okay?" she said, gushing over his cuteness.

"Okay then, you go. I’ll wait for my beautiful Bakhtu," he said, folding his legs on the sofa and picking up his sketchbook.

"Are you sure, Mr. Painter?" she asked.

"Yupoo," he replied, flashing her a smile full of life and innocence.

"Okay baby, eat something if you feel like it," she said, kissing his forehead and walking toward the exit.

She was heading to Atatürk Hospital, where her dear nephew would receive treatment for a few months—until his trauma subsided a little.

..

"Dr. Fateh, I want to talk to you," she said, stepping into his cabin.

He gave her the fakest smile and gestured for her to sit.

She smiled politely and took the seat in front of him.

"Yes, Noor?" he said, putting his file aside.

"Actually, Dr. Fateh… mujhe paise chahiye the," she said, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.

"Money?" he asked, pretending to be clueless.

"Ji… maine aapke paas jo paise rakhwaye the, I need it… for Saleh's admission," she explained, looking at him hopefully.

"Ohh, I remember," he said, standing up. He deliberately walked behind her seated frame and placed his hands on her shoulders, pretending it was a casual gesture—more like an unwanted massage.

His touch felt disgusting.

She tried to remove his hand, but his grip tightened on her shoulders.

"Do you have any receipt or paperwork that says you gave me money?" he asked, making her heart shatter.

All she had for her brother’s admission was the money she had saved—money she trusted with Fateh.

"Aap mazak kar rahe hain, Dr.?" she asked, trying to get up. He let her.

Now facing each other, Noor looked at him with teary, pleading eyes.

"Please, Dr. Fateh… that money is really important for my brother’s career. Please give it back."

But only if she knew—the man in front of her was not a doctor, but a devil in disguise.

"Oh, Noor… how innocent you are," he said, trying to touch her face. She turned her head away to avoid him.

Why is he behaving like this? she thought, her heart pounding, her nerves on high alert.

"Okay… I’ll give you as much money as you want. But in return, you’ll have to spend one night with me," he said shamelessly, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Her hand flew up and landed on his cheek. Her eyes welled up in humiliation.

"I’m asking for my money, not yours!" she snapped. Before she could scream, his hand slammed over her mouth. He grabbed her private parts, making her feel disgusted and violated.

"Bad move, baby. All these years I helped you… only waiting for the day I’d get a taste of this," he said, increasing the pressure on her clothed womanhood as he stifled her cries.

Her body thrashed in protest, trying to break free.

"And now you slap me? Forget all my help?" he hissed, removing his hand from her mouth and pinning her arms behind her.

She felt like a fool—for trusting him, for believing he was her rehbar.

She realized, painfully, that except for a brother, father, or son—no na-mehram can truly be a protector.

"Leave me, please!" she begged, feeling his touch like a snake slithering on her body.

"Oh Noor… just one time," he said, beginning to unbutton her uniform—

—when the door flung open.

Dilan stood there, radiant in her fierce glory, a bodyguard by her side.

"What the heck?!" she shouted, storming into the room. His hold loosened, and Noor broke free, running towards Dilan and hiding behind her, trembling and sobbing.

Dilan’s guard grabbed both of his arms. He thrashed like a fish out of water.

"Leave me! What are you doing in my cabin? Who the hell are you?!" he yelled, trying to break free, but the black-clad guards held him tight—like iron.

Dilan gave Noor’s hand a reassuring squeeze before turning to him, her aura deadly—like only Anam Ahmad’s daughter could command.

Normally clumsy and chill, when it came to right and wrong, she became ruthless.

"You bastard!" she said, slapping him with all her strength.

"Assaulting a colleague?!" she asked, her eyes blazing.

"She’s my girlfriend! Who the hell are you?!" he shouted, desperate.

Hearing that, Noor panicked. How easily he lied.

"No! He’s lying!" she cried, tears spilling from her eyes.

Dilan looked at her, then grabbed the man's hair in a catlike clutch.

"Take him to Shahram. Cancel all his medical licenses," she said, throwing his head away like garbage.

"Who are you?! You can’t do this! This woman isn’t even a nurse—her certificate is fake! She’s just 20!" he shouted as he was dragged out. People lowered their gaze—no one dared to intervene when Dilan Malik took charge.

"No! He’s lying! Please don’t fire me—I need this job!" Noor blurted, panicking at his accusations.

Dilan walked to her, back in her usual cool, unbothered self.

"Cool down, Snow White," she said, gently placing her hand on Noor’s shoulder.

"What?" Noor asked, confused and scared.

"Who are you?" Dilan asked softly, wiping her tears.

"I’m Noor. He’s lying. I’m a certified nurse—I have my certificate," she insisted, her voice breaking. She couldn’t afford to lose this job—not after that man looted her life’s savings.

"I’m Dilan Malik, owner of this hospital. My brother bought it," she said, guiding Noor to sit.

"Now please… calm down."

"He is lying. Please, I need this job," she said again.

The fear of losing this job was real.

"Hey, can't you hear me? I said calm down and tell me the whole story. Why did he say those things?" she asked sternly.

And Noor told her everything with a heavy heart. She felt like a fool for ever thinking of him as a farishta.

Hearing all this, Dilan let out a small laugh.

"So you trusted that piggy face? How could you be so naive, girl?" she said, holding Noor’s chin.

"I’m sorry," Noor murmured, looking down.

"Say sorry to yourself. If I had come a few minutes later, these soundproof walls would never have let your screams reach outside," Dilan said, gently holding her hand.

"That certificate… is it fake? Really?" Dilan finally asked the most important question. Because if one certificate was fake, many could be—and she couldn’t bear such corruption. Not when her dear Dawood would be treated under this very roof.

Noor shook her head immediately.

"Not a lie, sweety. You're just too young to be a nurse," she said.

"But Dr. Fateh said I got that certificate after training," Noor whispered, stifling a cry.

Why was all this happening in front of the new owner?

And how did she even get here in time to save her?

"Oh, so that bastard was involved in fake licensing too?" Dilan said, clenching her teeth.

"Please don't fire me. I need this job," Noor pleaded.

Dilan held her face and wiped her tears.

"Stop crying, Snow White," she said.

"I have a job for you. I’ll finance everything you need," Dilan added, making Noor frown.

"Work?" Noor stammered.

"Will you... finance my brother's education?" she asked, the dumbest question escaping her lips, making Dilan laugh.

"Offo, Snow White, if you want, I can give your brother the highest-paying job in my bhai’s mafia group," Dilan said casually.

But hearing the word mafia, Noor’s face drained of all color.

"Ma... mafia?" she asked, horrified.

"Yup," Dilan replied.

"No... my brother is just a teenager," she said, tears falling freely now.

"Okay, fine. I’ll finance his education," Dilan said with a smile.

"What if... I don't want to do your work?" Noor asked, trembling.

"Then I’ll go and get you arrested for faking your certificate," Dilan said, standing up.

"No, no, no! Please, no!" Noor cried out.

Dilan laughed. She was Dilan—seriousness never stayed long on her face.

"Relax, Snow White. I’m kidding," she said.

"I do have a job for you, though. Here, take my card. If you're interested, come to my villa tonight."

Seeing the fear and uncertainty on Noor’s face, Dilan tapped her cheek gently.

"The decision is all yours. And I was just kidding about the certificate thing," she added.

As she turned to leave, she paused at the door.

"Us kamine pe itne saal andha aitbaar kiya hai, ek dafa Dilan Malik par bhi kar ke dekh lo," she said with a smirk, walking out of the cabin with a mental note to bring in trained and reputable staff.

She had only come here to inspect the building. But when she sensed something unusual near the cabin, she stormed in—only to find Snow White in the devil’s hold.

Noor’s innocence reminded her of Dawood's.

Instead of firing her, she gave her a proposal.

If only Noor knew what kind of work.

Noor stood there, staring at the card in her hand.

Fixing her dupatta and wiping her face, she finally walked out to go home.

"Where were you, Khala? I was looking for you! And how could you leave Dawood Bhai alone? Why isn’t he at our place?" Bakht asked as soon as he saw her in the hall.

"Don’t call me Khala, it’s Dilan Aapi for you," she said in her usual dual tone, making him roll his eyes.

"Why did you leave him alone?" he asked again, as they both walked toward the hallway where everyone was waiting for them.

"No need to repeat your questions like an Indian daily soap. I was busy with something. Dawood was sketching and waiting for you at home—he didn’t want to come along after traveling, also we don't know if you are even here,As for why he’s at my place—his condition isn’t right for facing hundreds of guards and maids at yours," she replied, putting on her glasses.

"Your maids and guards?" he asked.

"I gave them a holiday until Dawood is here," she said, turning toward the hallway.

"Okay, I’ll make sure no outsider is around when Bhai is present," Bakht said, ignoring the stares from the women around.

"Also, I need you to run a proper check on everyone’

s medical license here. And Dawood will not take any medicine prescribed by them," she added.

Bakht nodded, and the two of them inspected the hospital together.

Afterward, they left for Dilan’s place.

Bakht to meet his dawood Bhai

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