Zoya came out to lock the gate; she noticed a car on the side of her house. She opened the gate and stepped out to see clearly. She realised it is none other than Aditya's car. He has parked his car in a way, it can't be seen, if she sees from her portico. She turned to get back into the house, just then; she noticed Aditya is laying back in the front seat.
Zoya went near to his car, Aditya was sleeping. She knocked on the window shield. Aditya woke up startled but he waved at her when he saw her. She gestured him to roll down the car window and he does. She asked folding her hands together, "Mr. Hooda, what are you doing here? And what is this?" gesturing his posture. "I need to talk to you, Zoya. Before you cut me off or ask me to leave from here. Please let me explain", Aditya said in hurry before Zoya tries to stop him.
"Mr. Hooda..." Aditya cuts her off, "Come on... stop with this... Mr. Hooda", he got down from the car and continued, "We have crossed this stage and have become friends long back. Let me explain, I deserve a second chance to explain at least. If you're not convinced after that, I'll walk away..." he paused and sighed before adding, "from your life" with heavy heart.
Something pierced through her heart, when Aditya mentioned "from your life". She asked Aditya came inside her house. They both went inside and Zoya asked him to sit and said, "Please sit here, I'll bring coffee for you, if you want?" Aditya nodded and said, "Black coffee with half sugar". She smiled and said, "Okay".
After 15 minutes, she came out from kitchen with 2 cups in her hand. She gave one to Aditya and sat down opposite to him. They both took a sip from their coffee.
"Zoya... I'm sorry... really I'm... I didn't really mean to scream at you. I was in some other tension and when I saw you there standing... It was not your fault and it is my fault that I couldn't control my anger and screamed at you... Zoya, I went to Delhi to meet my maa..." he stopped and after taking a one more sip from his coffee.
"Sakshi Maa... she is more like another mother to me. Prem sir's wife, they got separate long back. She doesn't have anyone to look after her. She was not well and Prem sir is disturbed by that. She has been hospitalised last week and Doctors are trying their best to save her. I was not willing to come back, but Sakshi Maa made me to leave her alone there. I arranged some nurse and care taker but they didn't report on time to look after her. One tension led to another and I screamed, because of that, at you", while saying this, tears roll down from Aditya's eyes.
Zoya stood up, kept the coffee on the table and hurried next to Aditya and sat next to him. She put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Aditya, please..." she didn't know what to say to him. "I'm sorry, Aditya... I should have known that you're in some problem but I acted silly with you instead of being supportive to you".
Aditya kept his coffee on the table and turned towards her and said holding her hand in his, "No... Zoya... how do you know, that I'm having some problem. And whatever may be the reason it not right, the way I treated you. No one should be treated like that. I shouldn't have treated you like that. You don't have to be sorry... I'm sorry..."
"No... Aditya... I'm sorry" Zoya said, they both said sorry to each other and after some time they realised what they're doing and burst into laughter still holding on to each other hands.
Zoya took the coffee from the table and drank from it. Aditya just noticed and said, "Zoya... that's my cup". "Oops... I didn't notice..." Zoya said sticking out her tongue. Aditya took Zoya's cup and gave it to her. He noticed hers too was black coffee and said, "Oh!!! You too like your coffee black, here is your cup. Let me have that".
Zoya took the cup from him and said, "Yes, I like my coffee black with half sugar and... I'll bring you another cup". Aditya smiled and said, "It's okay, I don't mind drinking this one" he drank from the same cup and added, "Don't you heard something called "sharing"? Haven't you shared your drink with your friends? I mean soft drinks..." She smiled. As they both finished their coffee and Aditya said, "Okay Zoya, I'll take my leave".
Aditya stood up and Zoya too. He turned to leave and reached the door, before unlocking the door. "I'm sorry once again for taking you granted and yelled at you, Zoya", she smiled and nodded. He unlocked the door and said, "Good night, Zoya". "Good night, Aditya. Please go to home and don't sleep in the car outside", she giggled.
"I won't... bye..." Aditya said and scratched his head while stepping out of the portico and then he headed to the gate. "Bye... please text me once you reached home" Zoya said before locking the gate. He nodded and get into his car. She waited till his car is out of sight.
She gets back to her house with a wide smile. She felt so light and happy, after a long time.
***
Next morning, Zoya was surprised when she get into her cabin. Her desk was filled with flowers and gifts. She was startled when Aditya whispered, "Good morning, Zoya", next to her ear. "Aditya..." she beat him on his hand, "you scared me".
"Oops... sorry... Are you okay?" Aditya asked. She nodded. Again he asked, "Are we okay?" she looked at him confused. He gestured between them and asked again, "Are we okay? After that last fight, I thought, if you're still angry on me then these flowers and gifts will calm you down". Zoya asked him, "Who is angry and on whom?"
"Oh!!! Then you're not angry. Okay, then be ready for lunch, we're going out" Aditya said. Zoya's eyes widen in shock. "But..." Aditya cuts in. "No... But nothing... if you don't come with me for lunch then I'll take it as you're still angry on me". She looked at him in awe. "Aww... We don't want that... Fine then lunch it is", she said and winked at him. Aditya looked at her baffled but said, "Okay... meet you around 12.00pm. Have a good day, lady".
Zoya took the flowers, smelled it. "How did he know that I love roses?" and then, she picked the gifts and she was confused, which one to open first. For moment she thought of opening all the gifts, but she took all the gifts and flowers in a bag. "I'll not open them now, I'll wait till evening. I'll open them at home. I need to keep my curiosity at neutral". She said to herself and started with her work.
Aditya was smiling again and crossed Arjun on his way to his cabin. "Bhai" Arjun called behind him. He didn't notice or heard Arjun, just went to his cabin. Arjun went behind him into his cabin and tapped on his shoulder, "Bhai". He turned and hugged Arjun immediately after seeing him. "Woah! Bhai, what happened, you seem to be happy?" Arjun asked. "Yeah... Chotte... I'm happy. We're fine", he said with smile.
"When did this happen? How did you convince her?" Arjun asked. "Last night, I went to her house. But, I couldn't decide on whether to go inside or not. So, I stayed in my car with confusion and closed my eyes. I didn't know, when I dozed off or how she found me there. I asked her to let me explain and she let me to explain. I told her everything..."Aditya paused to take breath. "Bhai... you told everything about..." he paused and added, "to her?" Arjun asked in confusion.
"Oh my God, not everything, only about Sakshi Maa being not well and told her that she is more like another mother to me. She understood, what I was going through and accepted my apology", Aditya completed with smile.
"You didn't tell who Sakshi Maa is, right?" Arjun asked. "As of now, No, but eventually I'll tell her everything. If she too loves me and accepts my love then I'll tell her everything. There will be no secrets between us. I don't want our future to be ruined because of my past. I want her to know everything about me before we decide on our future", Aditya said with determination.
"But... Bhai... What if, she takes it wrongly and decides to leave you after knowing about your past. Can you take it?" Arjun asked. "You know what, Chotte, as far as I know about her. She'll not leave me if she comes to know about my past, but if she leaves me then I have to deal with it. And, I'll deal with it", Aditya said with a sigh.
"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.
"Aditya" she called once she kept her phone in the bag. She put her hand on his hand, the one on the gear and said, "Aditya". "What?" he shouted and she flinched. "I'm sorry... I lied... to Riyaz... because... I haven't... told him... about us...", she said in low tone. He pulled over the car and said, "Us... I think... there is... no us in this friendship... I really don't get it why do you need to lie to your friend... We're not doing anything wrong to lie about... You could have said that you're going out for lunch with me".
"Exactly!!! What he is saying is right? Why did I hide from Arjun or why did I lie to Riyaz?" Zoya asked herself.
"I'm sorry, Aditya. It didn't occur to me. I'm really sorry", Zoya said. Aditya moved the car and U-turned in the next junction and said, "We can go to lunch, when I really mean something to you. I can't play this hide and seek game".
"I'm sorry, Aditya. You really mean a lot to me more than my other friends. Please don't get angry on me", she pleaded because this time she knows she did a very big mistake.
He parked the car outside the office building. She got down and he got down. He locked the car and walk past her without listening to her. She was looking at him and followed him back to the office.
***
When Arjun saw Aditya going back to his cabin and Zoya to hers, Arjun rushed to Aditya's cabin. He knocked on the door. "Go away, Zoya. I don't want to talk to you now", Aditya screamed from inside.
Arjun opened the door and said, "Bhai". Aditya turned to Arjun and sighed. "Bhai, what happened, so soon you guys are back from lunch? Is everything alright?" Aditya released a long breath and said, "No, we didn't go to restaurant. We had to return on the way. You know I couldn't tolerate lie in any relationship". "Haan Bhai, but what's the connection? Why are you saying this now?" Arjun asked in confusion.
"Zoya lied in front of me" when Aditya said, Arjun left in shock. "Bhai what, I don't get it. As far as I know Zoya would never lie to anyone", Arjun counter argued. "Zoya lied to Riyaz in front of me. She called Riyaz, she lied to him that she is going out for lunch alone", Aditya said furiously.
"What? Why?" Arjun asked. "Not only that, when we were leaving, you came in front of us in lobby, she pulled me along with her to hide behind reception desk. Then, in that phone call she lied just like that. I never expected this from her", Aditya said.
After few minutes, "Bhai, don't take me wrong. Did you think in her shoes? From spending time with her and Riyaz, I came to know, she suffered very badly in her past. May be because of that past she is more concerned about now. May be, she doesn't want us to know because we might advice her not to take any irrational decision and get hurt like she had in her past. I don't know about her past, but I know because of that, how much Riyaz concerns for her. Actually he was the one who brought her out of her past sufferings. What if, Riyaz asks her not indulge with you that may hurt her later. May be, she lied to Riyaz because she didn't want to lose you", Arjun said.
"How do I know she had a past and she had suffered from that?" Aditya asked. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "I don't know, You might be right. But why did she have to lie about our friendship? That hurts me a lot, Chotte", he added.
"Offoo... Bhai, just answer me to one question. Did she lie to you on anything?" Arjun asked. "No. She never lied to me", Aditya said with confident. "Then, what's your problem, Bhai? If you think hardly, you might know that you would have said some small lie just make other person happy. Everybody lies", he said and paused, "See, may be you're important to her and may be she doesn't want to lose you, that's why may be she lied to Riyaz. But I'm sure; she cannot resist telling him the truth, when she is with him. She cannot lie or hide something from him for a long time. Give it a rest, Bhai. Don't think too much about this", Arjun said.
"But..." Aditya stopped and after some time, he said, "I don't know, Chotte. Something doesn't seem to be right. Just like you said may be I'm over-thinking", Aditya said.
"Either you fight with Zoya or she fights with you. I just have to say like NK says in IPKKND "Iss War Ko Kya Naam Doon?"" Arjun laughed at his own comment. "What? What are you saying, Chotte?" Aditya asked in confusion.
"Never mind, Bhai. You won't understand till you watch that show. Leave it". Arjun smiled and left Aditya in thoughts. Aditya said out loud and sighed, "What the heck happened to him? Seriously he needs help".
***
Aditya and Zoya are getting closer and at the same time drifting apart. What Aditya's going to do? Will he understand why she lied to Riyaz? Or will this be their last moment together?
When will Zoya realize that the feeling she have for Aditya is LOVE? Who will help her realize her love for Aditya? ArNoor and Riyaz are the shippers of AdiYa, will they do some thing to change Zoya's mind?
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