It was a stormy evening when Captain Zayan Malik saw her for the first time. The rain poured relentlessly, drenching the streets, but he barely noticed. His mind was preoccupied with the weight of his duty, with the faces of his fallen comrades, and the mission ahead.
Then, through the misty air, he saw her—standing under a broken umbrella, struggling against the wind.
Something about her caught his attention. Perhaps it was the fire in her eyes, or the way she seemed unbothered by the chaos around her.
When she turned and their eyes met, it felt like time stood still.
"Need some help?" he asked.
She looked at him, her lips curving into a soft smile. "Only if you're offering."
That was how Ayla Khan entered his life—like an unexpected storm.