CHAPTER 12
The next day, Wasim, Roshnaq, and Noor sat inside the majestic living room of Hooda mansion with Harshvardhan, Anjana, and Arjun.
"Yeh sab kya ho gaya..." Roshnaq asked to no one in particular. The tension hung in the air. Both families still trying to process what took place the night before.
"Yash ka kuch pata chala?" Wasim asked.
"I tracked him down. He is on his way to Los Angeles for a basketball camp." Arjun responded.
"I can't believe it...ke usne Zoya ko mandap peh chor diya" Harshvardhan fumed.
"Teek nahin kiya usne...lekin uski majboori bhi toh hai..." Wasim spoke, trying to find reason in this mess and trying to stay level headed.
"Lekin usne..." Harshvardhan's response was cut off when the living room door opened and Aditya walked in with Zoya.
Noor was the first to reach Zoya and engulf her in a tight hug. "Appi...how are you?" Noor asked, tightening her hug. Zoya hugged back, but didn't respond to Noor's greeting. Once Noor let go, Zoya then hugged Roshnaq and then finally stood in front of Wasim. Wasim looked at his daughter's face, and saw the pain behind empty eyes.
"Kaisi hoh beti?" Wasim asked, knowing that it was a futile question.
"Teek hoon abbu" Zoya replied, keeping her response short. Everyone in the room let out a breath of relief. At least Zoya spoke...that was something.
"Why don't you get comfortable?" Anjana encouraged, "We actually wanted to talk to both of you" she said, her eyes shifting to Aditya.
Knowing this talk was coming, Aditya sat down on one of the available couches and Zoya followed suit.
"We were wondering..." Wasim began. He hesitated, and looked at Harshvardhan for reassurance. When he got a nod of encouragement from his friend, Wasim continued, "Are you two sure about this? Is this marriage something you both want?"
Silence filled the air. Aditya shifted, uncomfortable at the loaded question. He honestly didn't know the answer to that.
Zoya sat quietly, giving no indication of what was running through her mind. This was not how it was supposed to be. She was supposed to be married to the love of her life. She was not only abandoned, she was now in a loveless marriage...a marriage out of pity.
"Look...we understand why this happened. We were all under a lot of pressure last night." Anjana said gently, trying to ease the tension. "We understand if you two don't want to follow through with this...
Aditya and Zoya's eyes shot to Anjana. They looked around the room and noticed that the elders were all in agreement. If they decide to separate, the elders would understand.
"But we hope you don't..." Harshvardhan insisted, and when he knew he had Aditya and Zoya's attention he continued, "Bahut saal pehle...mehne aur Wasim neh ek sapna dekha tha. Ke hum humare dosti ristedaari mein badal denge."
Taken by surprise, Zoya's eyes shifted to her father, looking for clarification.
"Yes beta...Harshvardhan and I hoped that you and Aditya would eventually make this dream come true. But you fell in love with someone else..." Wasim trailed off.
Zoya looked down, hiding her face so no one noticed her eyes fill.
"Despite everything that's happened...our dream of two families coming together came true. You have our blessings." Wasim said.
"But there is no pressure..." Roshnaq continued, "we will accept whatever decision you both make." Roshnaq concluded.
Aditya looked at Zoya, her head was still lowered. He tried to read her. Any indication of what she might want.
"I'm a little tired..." Zoya spoke in a monotone voice, "I'm going to go up and rest. Bye..." with that being said, Zoya left the living room.
"She is so sad..." Noor whispered, her eyes filling at her sister's changed behavior. Arjun placed a comforting arm around Noor, feeling helpless in the situation.
"Dil toota hai uska..." Roshnaq said, her own eyes filling. "I can't see her like this..." she said, her own voice breaking as her tears began to flow.
Before anyone could console Roshnaq, Aditya knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his.
"Roshnaq maa..." Aditya began, "Barosa hain na mujh par?" he asked the rhetorical question. Aditya wiped a tear away from her face. "Zoya ko kuch nahin hoga...mein hoon na?" Aditya said.
"Lekin Adi.." Roshnaq began to say, but was cut off. "Lekin kuch nahin" Aditya said, "Zoya aab meri zimidaari hai..usse mein kuch hone nahin dunga." Aditya wiped another tear from Roshnaq's face, "Zoya ki smile...mein wapas launga. Yeh vaada hai mera" he promised, his eyes holding steady determination.
Without saying another word, Aditya stood up and left the room.
The tension that was in the air lessened. Anjana placed a comforting hand on Roshnaq, "Don't worry...agar Zoya ko koi wapas lah sakta hai...toh woh sirf Aditya hai." She said, confident in her eldest son's capabilities.
Harshvardhan, Wasim, Arjun, and Noor all exchanged knowing glances. Seeing hope in this difficult situation for the first time.
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*Aditya's bedroom*
Zoya stood by the window, looking out at the garden below. She tried to clear her mind, focus on what her parents and the Hoodas revealed to her...what she wanted to do next...focus on anything but the roaring pain in her chest. Zoya closed her eyes, willing herself to clear her mind.
"I'm sorry Zoya...I can't marry you. I have to leave tonight so I can pay for my mother's surgery..."
Yash's words echoed in Zoya's mind and her eyes shot open, a tear rolling down her cheek, the pain in her heart almost blinding her.
"Zoya..." a masculine, husky voice said.
It's that voice again, it cut through the roaring in Zoya's head and she was brought back to the present.
Zoya turned and came face to face with Aditya. Their eyes connected, one filled with concern and the other hollow. Aditya walked further into the room and stopped right next to Zoya by the window.
"It's a nice day out..." Aditya said awkwardly.
Zoya remained quiet and looked out the window again.
Aditya sighed, "Zoya...kuch toh bolo...neeche tumne kissi se teek tara se baat tak nahin ki..." Aditya said, hoping to get some kind of reaction. He missed the feisty Zoya. It was always so easy for them to bicker. He says something to get Zoya mad, and she retaliated without thinking twice.
Aditya looked at Zoya, waiting to see her reaction...nothing. Aditya spoke again, "Teek hai...mujhse bhi baat mat karo, mujhe kya paari hai?" Aditya poked, hoping to see irritation cross Zoya's face. Again...nothing. Zoya continued to look out the window...his words having no effect on her.
Aditya frowned. Like hell she would not respond to him. Aditya looked out the window as silence fell around him and Zoya. His face becoming determined. Zoya will not become like this. He will get her to react...if it's the last thing he did.THIS IS A FICTIONAL STORY BASED ON 2 CHARACTERS ASHWIN AND RHEA/ANVI ASHWIN ...
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