CHAPTER 7
"Arre bhaiya kababs abhi tak serve kyon nahin huye? Agar Wasim ko pata lag gaya na tho bahut maar pari ghi" Harshvardhan scolded one of the servers and dealt with the small crisis as the Sangeet ceremony started filling up with guests.
The Siddiqui ballroom was decorated lavishly from top to bottom. Special purple orchids were flown in from Japan and cascaded down every corner with white lilies. Crystals glinted as it caught the light...the Siddiquis' and the Hoodas' left no leaf unturned tonight.
The couple of the night was standing in the front of the room, smiling as many guests came up and congratulated them. So how are the wedding preparations going?'' We can't wait for the wedding.'' You guys are meant for each other!'' Zoya, what a beautiful outfit.''
Zoya and Yash smiled and mingled with the guests. Zoya was more of a natural at this, while Yash felt a little uncomfortable. The Sangeet ceremony had a lot of elite guests from Mumbai and Zoya was more familiar with this crowd than he was. But he covered his nervousness well. Rich guest were the least of his worries tonight...
"Zoya I really need to speak with you" Yash asked again. He tried to get a moment alone with her before the Sangeet started, but someone or the other kept on interrupting.
"Sure, what is it?" Zoya replied, turning to him after another family walked away after congratulated them.
"Can we go somewhere private?" Yash asked.
Zoya opened her mouth about to reply, but another family came up to congratulate them.
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When Yash got the chance, he pulled Zoya outside to the balcony for some privacy.
"Yash! What is so important that it can't wait until after the ceremony?" Zoya asked, flushed that Yash dragged her away from the celebrations in front of everyone.
Yash let go of her hand and combed his hands through his hair, frustrated.
"Zoya..." Yash let out a breath and tried again, "Zoya...I really need to tell you something." Yash said again, in a calmer tone.
Zoya placed a gentle hand on his arm, trying to sooth him "Hey...what's wrong?"
"Zoya I've been trying to tell you something for some time now." Yash began, "It's about my basketball career..."
"Zoya di!"
Zoya and Yash turned to see Arjun approach them, "Arre yaar romance karne ke liye puri zindagi pari hain...but you guys have to go inside. EVERYONE is looking for you" Arjun voiced, completely oblivious to the serious atmosphere he interrupted.
"Arjun! Please...two minutes" Yash asked, desperate.
"Yea Arjun, we will be right there." Zoya added, noticing how disturbed Yash looked.
"Oh ho...Can't stay away?" Arjun nudged Yash's shoulder, teasing him. "But sorry guys...Roshnaq maa will kill me if I don't bring you inside. " Arjun concluded, ending all discussion, and ushered them towards the door.
Zoya gave Yash an apologetic look as they went back to the ceremony. Yash, on the other hand, felt defeated. He just didn't know if there will ever be a good time to tell Zoya.
Arjun dragged Zoya right smack in the middle of the dance floor. Zoya laughed as Arjun twirled her around and danced around her. Noor and Pooja joined and the girls intertwined their hands and spun around.
The seriousness from earlier forgotten, Zoya laughed again and lost herself in the celebration.
Aditya's gaze shifted from the gentleman he was speaking with to the dance floor when he heard laughter. His gaze transfixed for a moment...just a moment...on Zoya as she danced, her smile brilliant and eyes twinkling. He watched her for a moment...happiness radiating from her.
When Aditya heard his name being called, he broke out of his trance and turned back to the conversation.
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It was a few hours after the last guests left the Sangeet celebration. Zoya went up to her room as everyone decided to call it a night. As Zoya sat on her vanity chair and took off her earrings, she re-called Yash trying to speak to her again after the party ended.
Yash tried to take her to a more private area, but again was interrupted. This time by his own mother, who seemed fatigued and wished to go home. Giving Zoya a defeated look, Yash left with his family as Zoya gave him an apologetic look.
What was it that was so important?'' Zoya wondered, concern framing her face as she pushed away from her vanity chair. Yash looked so worried throughout the Sangeet. What was bothering him so much?''. All these questions played in Zoya's mind as she now paced her bedroom floor. Not finding any peace, Zoya decided to get some fresh air and headed for the garden.
Zoya breathed in the cool air once she stepped outside. The chill hit her bare arms and caressed the lahenga around her. Rubbing her arms to ignite some warmth into them, Zoya started walking towards her favorite place.
As Zoya got closer to the lake, she noticed a silhouette sitting on the grass, throwing rocks into the lake. As she got closer, the silhouette became clearer, until she realized that it was Aditya. He was still in his sherwani which he wore in the Sangeet. Zoya wondered if she should approach him. She did need to clear her head and pondered if she should quietly walk away and find another place to sort through her thoughts.
"Kya mein itna handsome lag raha hoon?" Aditya's deep voice interrupted Zoya's thoughts. Zoya snapped awake and glared. "Oh hello...kaun kehta hai ke tum handsome ho?" Zoya retaliated.
"College ke sari ladkiya" Aditya replied smoothly, not breaking stride.
Zoya rolled her eyes. "Mein tho nahin kehti." Zoya retorted back.
"Tum ladki todi na ho." Aditya responded, looking at Zoya with a grin.
"Uff!" Zoya breathed out, annoyed. She turned to leave as Aditya laughed and called out to her.
"Zoya! Arre rukho tho!" Aditya chuckled. When Zoya kept on walking Aditya darted up and ran after her. "Arre sorry yaar!...I was just kidding." Aditya said, getting a hold of Zoya's arm to stop her. The innocent touch sent a shiver down her spine, but she blamed the chilly night air for that.
When Zoya stopped, Aditya lead her to a bench looking out to the rose garden.
"Aditya you said you will stop being mean to me." Zoya scolded, still irritated.
"No...I said I will try to limit it to twice a day" Aditya retorted, "Now sit." He ordered before Zoya made a smartass comeback.
When they sat, Aditya let go of Zoya's arm, ignoring the tingling sensation her smooth skin left on his fingertips. "Now tell me...what's bothering you?" Aditya asked, his face turning serious.
Zoya looked into his eyes, all signs of mischievousness gone. Knowing this man for 12 years, Zoya has seen Aditya in difficult situations, his gaze focused...ready to take on any problem. And that gaze was now directed at her.
"What makes you think something is wrong?" Zoya responded, breaking her gaze from Aditya.
"It is..." Aditya looked down at his watch, "3:00am in the morning. You just finished your Sangeet ceremony. It's been a hectic few days and you are dog tired...and instead of crashing in bed and sleeping...you are out here, still in your lehenga might I add." Aditya stated, matter of factly.
There was a moment of silence as Zoya looked at Aditya, and he simply waited patiently. Zoya sighed, defeated, "Patha nahin...bas...ek ajeeb si becheyni mehsoos ho rahi hai..." Zoya murmured, breaking eye contact and looking out at the garden.
Aditya frowned as Zoya got a distant look in her eyes. He has always seen Zoya as a spitfire...temper at the tip of her nose and passion in her eyes. He has seen her eyes soft, so in love with Yash...he has even seen her eyes bright...happiness reflecting every time she is with family...determined...when she has to overcome a problem...but Aditya has never seen Zoya's eyes so distant...so...confused. She was so happy just a few hours ago on the dance floor.
Aditya couldn't explain this feeling in his chest...the intense need to protect Zoya he felt in that moment surprised him. " Kyon?" Aditya asked, his voice a little husky with emotion, "Yash ne kuch kaha kya?"
Zoya looked back and made eye contact with Aditya again, "Wohi tho problem hai...he isn't saying anything." Zoya responded, a little frustrated.
"I don't know...I just...feel like he has been stressed lately and I can't seem to do anything to help because he hasn't told me completely what's bothering him..." Zoya spoke honestly, trying to make sense of the problem.
Aditya didn't know what to say. This was new for them...to have an actual conversation and share problems. But he wanted to help her...that sense of protection returning...she was his freckle face after all.
"Tum kal college aa rahi ho?" Aditya asked suddenly, an idea forming in his head.
Zoya, taken back by the sudden change in conversation, replied, "Haan...kyon?"
"We have basketball practice tomorrow, I'll let Yash leave early and you can meet up with him...see if you can get him to talk." Aditya suggested.
Zoya blinked, surprised, "You'd do that?" she questioned, taken slightly aback that Aditya would do something nice for her.
Aditya smiled, "Ofcourse..." He replied gently, and then Zoya saw it...the mischievous glint return, "And the sooner you guys talk the better for me...at least I won't have to be out here at 3:00am losing sleep."
Zoya's jaw dropped, he really is the devil. Zoya slapped Aditya's arm as he burst out laughing. Previous mood forgotten, Zoya huffed out a breath and got up from the bench to leave.
"Zoya!" Aditya called out a second time that night. "What!?" Zoya roared turning, annoyed beyond belief as she placed her fisted hands on her waist.
"Ek baath kahoo...all jokes aside...?" Aditya asked.
"Kya hai!?" Zoya snapped. Aditya looked at her. Her two piece lehenga cascading down her figure...rich dark hair surrounding her...moonlight reflecting off porcelain skin...annoyance flushing her cheeks.
For the second time that night, he remembered Zoya dancing, her face glowing with so much happiness..."Aaj sach mein...bohut khoobsurat lag rahi ho." Aditya said softly, a kind expression on his face. Zoya blinked...surprised, not sure how to respond.
~...saiyyan...~
Aditya smiled and turned to walk away in the other direction, not looking back.
~...saiyyan...~
Zoya watched his retreating back, not sure what to do. She eventually made her way back to her room, changed, and got beneath her comforter. When Zoya closed her eyes...she didn't realize that the uneasiness she felt earlier was gone...and she slept peacefully for the rest of the night.
~...saiyyan...~
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