Enduring Ally

Chapter 19: Relationship at Stake

"I don't know, Bhai. But, I'll stand with you in every step you take, you know that, right Bhai!" Arjun said. "I know Chotte, I know, I can depend on you any day", he tapped on Arjun's shoulder and hugged him.

***

By 12.00pm, Aditya knocked on Zoya's cabin door. Zoya looked up from her laptop, "Are you ready?" Aditya asked. "Oh! Yeah! Just a minute, I'll just go to restroom and back in a minute", Zoya said. "Okay, I'll wait here in your cabin till then", Aditya said behind her.

Arjun entered Zoya's cabin while Aditya was looking around the cabin and the photo in the photo frame. Zoya was with her sister Noor, both of them smiling crazily. "Bhai, what are you doing here?" Arjun asked in shock. "I'm waiting for Zoya, we're going out for lunch", Aditya said casually. "Oh! Both of you, going on a date, then", Arjun smirked. "Ssshhh... Zoya will be here any minute. I don't want hear that and refuse to come with me. Why are even here?" Aditya silenced him.

"Okay Bhai, can you please tell her, that Riyaz wants to talk to her and he has been trying for a long time. He called me to tell her. Please ask her to call him", Arjun said. "Hey, I can't risk it now, you go now. You tell her that when you see her in person. Run along Chotte!!" Aditya literally shooed Arjun.

Just about time, Arjun left the cabin, Zoya entered. "Shall we?" she asked looking at her watch. Aditya came next to her and said, "Yeah... Let's go..." she looked up and smiled at him.

On the way out to the parking lot, near lobby, Zoya saw Arjun coming towards them but busy with his phone. Immediately Zoya pulled Aditya along with her and hide behind the reception desk. "What?" Aditya asked. "Ssshhhh... Don't shout Arjun might see us", she whispered.

"Why are we hiding here? And why are we whisp..." before Aditya could complete Zoya closed his mouth with her hand to shut him up. Once Arjun went past them, she gestured him to get up and move.

"Hmmm..." Aditya gestured her to remove her hand. "Oh! Sorry!" she removed her hand and both got up and moved towards the parking lot. "What was that, Zoya? Why did you hide there?" Aditya asked with a sigh. "Arjun was coming towards us, I don't want him to see us together", Zoya said.

"So what, Zoya, what if he sees us together? You hid from him as if we're some secret lovers, and why do you want to hide our relationship from friends and family", Aditya said. "Not like that, Aditya, I can't handle them, they'll form a group and tease me to the eternity. That's why; I don't want Arjun to see me with you. He'll tell about us to Riyaz and you don't know about him. Riyaz will kill me, if he knows that I'm going out with you", she immediately regretted saying that and bit her tongue.

"What? Are you even serious, Zoya? I know Riyaz and you are pretty close than normal friends but who is he to tell anything about your friendship with me or any other", Aditya fumed. "Hey, Sorry, I didn't mean like that, please don't get angry and I seriously don't want to ruin our lunch. I'll explain it to you later. Please", Zoya asked sorry holding her ears.

Aditya sighed and said, "Yes, even I don't want to ruin our lunch plan for this, let's go", he unlocked his car and opened the door for her.

Both got in and Aditya moved out the car from parking lot.

***

"Oops... I missed Riyaz's calls... He's gonna kill me now, for sure..." she slapped her fore head. Aditya looked at her. She signalled him to keep quiet and dialled Riyaz number.

"Hey skeleton, what's up? Sorry, I missed your calls. My phone was in silent and I was busy with work, tell me", she said over the phone. Aditya was listening to her conversation.

"Oh! Okay, I'll come to your place in the evening. I'll meet you and Zara there", she said. After a pause, she said, "Me... Huh... I'm going out for lunch..." she said. "No... I'm going alone... yeah... I'm alone and in the cab", she said and looked at Aditya. She could sense that he was glaring and breathing flames now. "Riyaz, I'll see you in the evening... I got to go..." she said in hurry and disconnects the call.