CHAPTER 14

It's been a week since the wedding incident. Zoya fell into a routine in the Hooda house. They all rose around the same time, had breakfast together, until Aditya, Zoya, and Arjun left for college. Once in college, she spent her time either in class or around Noor and Pooja. Her lunch hour was usually taken with Noor, Pooja, and the Hooda brothers, until the school day ended.

Zoya was currently in St. Xavier walking towards the bathroom. As she entered the women's restroom she went straight to the sink to freshen up. It was almost the end of the day and she will be meeting Aditya soon so they can drive home.

Home...Hooda mansion was her home now. It's not that she wasn't familiar with the place..she knew the house like she knew her parent's house. Anjana maa and Harsh uncle always treated her like she was their own daughter. But it sometimes surprised her that she was now a Hooda.

And married to Aditya Hooda...never in a million years she would have guessed that she would one day be Mrs. Zoya Aditya Hooda.

Was this what her life was going to be? Empty...? Broken...? Loveless...?

Ever since Aditya confronted Zoya a few nights ago, they barely spoke to each other. Aditya did take care of her in his own way. He has been sleeping on the couch every night. He always drove Zoya to and from college. And he occasionally asked her if she needed anything. But other than that, their interaction was left to a minimum.          

Zoya splashed some cold water on her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror. A pale face and hollow eyes stared back. Grabbing her belongings, Zoya was about to exit when she heard female voices entering the bathroom from the opposite end.

The girls clearly didn't see Zoya because they started talking openly. "It's so embarrassing being stood up on your wedding day. I would never be able to show my face in public again if that happened to me" a female voice said.

Another voice continued, "I heard that Yash always wanted to play professional basketball, but Zoya pressured him to get married first...that's why he left."

Zoya gasped a little at the harsh comments, moving into an empty stall to avoid being seen.

A 3^rd female voice continued, "Whatever it is, that Zoya was always so proud. Oh look...I am Zoya Siddiqui and I am engaged to Mr. Popular. Oh look our love is so wonderful" the girl made fun in a squeaky, high pitched voice. The other girls giggled.

Zoya felt her tears come. She placed a hand over her mouth to cover her sob, and when she saw the girls distracted, Zoya made a dash for the exit.

Zoya ran down the hallway, thankful that it was empty at the moment. Tears streamed down her face as the harsh words relayed in her mind. Was she really proud? Did she deserve to be left at the altar?

Zoya turned a corner and didn't notice the person due to her blurry vision. She crashed straight into a hard body. Luckily the person had quick reflexes and prevented both of them from crashing to the floor.

Zoya jumped back, ready to apologize to whoever she ran into. The apology got stuck in her throat when she saw Aditya staring back at her.

First he looked shocked by the impact of someone running into him...then he looked confused when he felt the person jolt away...and then his face turned concerned...when he saw Zoya's tear stained face.

"Zoya..." Aditya said, his voice reflecting the concern in his eyes.

Zoya let out a sob and launched herself in Aditya's arms. Taking a step back so he didn't lose balance, Aditya wrapped his arms around Zoya in reflex.

"Zoya..? Kya Hua?" Aditya asked, really worried now. Aditya tried to pull back but Zoya held on tighter, sobbing.

"Arre...kuch toh bolo...Zoya...?" Aditya questioned. He rocked her back and forth, trying to sooth her. Her heart wrenching sobs piercing his soul.

He held her close, and maneuvered her so they went into an empty classroom for some privacy. Once inside, Aditya pulled Zoya away from his body. He brushed her hair back and cupped her face.

"Zoya...batao mujhe...hua kya? Kisi ne kuch kaha kya?" Aditya asked, searching Zoya's face for answers. He pushed down on the anger he felt rising inside him...if he found out who upset Zoya...he will personally take care of them.

"Humhe patah hona chahiye tha...Yash was having problems...humhe patah hona chahiye tha..." Zoya whispered, new tears streaming down her face.

"Tumhari galti nahi hai Zoya..." He said, trying to give Zoya some comfort, his thumb wiping away a few tears.

"But why didn't he tell me!?" Zoya cried, pulling back. "Hum kya itne bure hai Aditya? Keh usne hume batana zaroori nahin samjah?" More tears fell down Zoya's face as she closed her eyes in grief.

"Dukh iss baath ka nahin ke usne humhe mandap pe chor diya...hum jaante hai ke woh humse bahut pyaar karte hain...dukh iss baat ka hai ke usne hum par barosa nahin kiya..." Zoya opened her eyes and looked at Aditya, more tears glistening.

"Ek doosre ke saath rehne ke liye sirf pyaar kaafi nahin hai...izzaat bhi hona bohut zaroori hai. Dukh iss baat ka hai ke usne humhe woh izzaat nahin diya. He didn't respect me or my love for him to tell me what was happening. He just left...He just left..." Zoya ended in a whisper. Fresh tears rolled down Zoya's face and she let out another sob, her heart breaking all over again as the realization hit her. The love she shared with Yash was real...but it wasn't enough. Their love was just not enough...

Aditya felt a tight squeeze in his chest. It felt as if a rock was placed over his heart to prevent it from beating. His eyes swam with emotions of his own. What he felt wasn't pity. It was something else. What the feeling was, he didn't know in that moment.

Having no words, Aditya simply pulled Zoya into his arms and held on, letting her cry on his shoulder.

Sometime later, Zoya's sobs eventually lessened, until only quiet filled the room. Zoya held on to Aditya for a little while longer until she finally pulled away.

Zoya avoided Aditya's gaze, embarrassed that she broke down in front of him like that. She tried to find the right words to says, but didn't get the chance when Aditya simply took her hand and pulled her to the exit.

He guided her out the school and didn't leave her hand until they reached his car. The car ride home was quiet. No words needed to be exchanged between them. Aditya understood that Zoya needed silence...and she needed peace. So for the rest of the day, that's all he gave her.

*The next day in St. Xavier*

"How is Zoya adjusting?" Pooja asked the group during lunch. Arjun, Noor, Aditya, and Pooja were already sitting at one of the tables. Zoya got held up in her class and has not joined them yet.

All eyes turned to Aditya. Zoya didn't talk much to either of them anymore. If anyone spent the most time with Zoya...it was Aditya because they shared the same room.

Aditya looked at the three pairs of questioning eyes. "Uhhh..." Aditya said awkwardly, feeling cornered.

"Common Adi bhaiya...we are all worried about her..." Noor pried.

Aditya sighed, "Honestly...She is struggling..."

Aditya looked down at his folded hands as the solemn air fell over the group. "I promised Roshnaq maa that I would bring Zoya's smile back...but how?" he asked to no one in particular. "toote hue dil koh kaise jhod du?" He murmured the last part, this particular question more for himself than anyone else.

The group was silent for a minute until Arjun smacked the table, "Idea!" he yelled, making everyone jump.

"Why don't we all go away for a few days? To the farmhouse maybe? A change in scenery may help." Arjun said excitedly, mentally patting himself for the genius idea.

"Hmmm...idea bura nahin hai..." Noor said, agreeing. They have vacationed multiple times in the past at the Hooda farmhouse. Reliving childhood memories and time away from the city filled with Yash's memories may help.

"You think Zoya will agree to go for a vacation during this time?" Pooja asked, doubtful.

Three pairs of eyes turned to Aditya again, looking for answers. "Uhhh..." Aditya said, again, feeling cornered. Arjun gave him a hopeful look and Aditya caved, never being able to deny his little brother, "Try karne mein kya jaatha hai?" Aditya responded, deciding for the group.

 

*Hallway *

"Farmhouse?" Zoya asked, distracted as she put her books away in her locker.

"Haan appi...it will be nice to get away for all of us" Noor replied. "You will go with us...won't you?" Noor asked, trying to read Zoya's reaction.

Zoya hesitated, "I don't know Noor...mann nahin hai..." she said.

"Common appi" Noor urged, "We all want you to come...we miss you..." she said, sadness reflected in her voice.

Zoya looked at her younger sister, studying her face. It was true that Zoya saw Noor every day in college, but it was also true that Zoya was no longer herself. And in her grief, she failed to see that her little sister was hurting for her too. Seeing Noor's hopeful face, Zoya caved.

"Ok...I will join you guys" Zoya said, causing Noor to squeal in delight and engulf Zoya in a hug.

Once the bell rang for the last class of the day, Noor and Zoya went their separate ways. Zoya, however, needed to be alone and so decided to skip class.

She didn't have a destination in mind, so she just walked. What day was it? It felt like the days merged together and she had no sense of what was happening around her sometimes.

She agreed to go to the farmhouse with the gang...but would she ever be the same person again? Noor said that everyone missed her...would she ever be the same old Zoya, the Zoya everyone was looking for?

Without Zoya's other half..she felt lost. How will Zoya find herself again? Will she ever find herself again?

The faint sound of music reached Zoya's ears, bringing Zoya out of her thoughts. Her feet automatically began to move until the music became clearer. Zoya reached large, wooden double doors, and peaked inside.

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Where the hell is she?'' Aditya wondered, as he waited for Zoya in front of his car. He called her cell phone for the third time and again, got no response.

He has been waiting for the past 30 minutes and was starting to get genuinely worried. It was not like Zoya to be so late. She usually met him by his car every day after the last class ended and then he would drive them home.

But there was no sign of her today. Aditya called Noor, "Haan Noor...is Zoya with you?" Aditya asked into the phone. When Noor denied knowing Zoya's whereabouts, fear started forming in Aditya's gut.

In the next few minutes, Aditya, Arjun, Noor, and Pooja were split up to different parts of the school, searching for Zoya.

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Aditya rushed down one of the large hallways of St. Xavier. Frantically searching for Zoya. He has been searching for the last 40 minutes and still no sign of Zoya. When his phone rang, Aditya answered it hoping to hear good news.

"Haan Arjun...kuch patha chala?" Aditya asked, a little desperation in his voice.

"Sorry Bhai...I've searched this side of campus...Zoya didi ka kuch patha nahin chala" Arjun answered. The fear Aditya felt earlier in his gut came out and gripped him by the throat. "Keep looking Arjun." Aditya ordered and cut off the phone.

Praying, Aditya turned a corner and came to an abrupt halt. Here was Zoya, leaning against the wall as she peaked into the music room and listened to someone playing the piano.

He didn't recognize the tune being played and honestly he didn't care. The fear he felt earlier gave way to relief...and then to anger. How dare she worry everyone like that!?

Stomping over, Aditya was ready to spit fire and give Zoya a piece of his mind. But as he got closer his pace slowed. He took a deeper look at Zoya and saw that she wasn't just leaning against the wall...she has her eyes closed as well. Zoya was simply listening to the piano being played...and her face looked serene.

Aditya felt his anger deflate almost instantly. He thought he would never see Zoya's face like this again. Sure...she wasn't smiling...but she looked peaceful. He stood and studied the curves of Zoya's face...as if seeing her for the first time.  

Zoya simply listened to the beautiful chords being played. It felt like ages since she heard any kind of music. Her listening was interrupted, however, by the little flutter in her heart. Confused at the sudden feeling, Zoya opened her eyes to see Aditya standing a few feet away observing her.

"Aditya...?" Zoya asked, confused at first, until realization dawned on her. "Oh! I'm sorry I lost track of time..." Zoya apologized.

She walked up to Aditya, apologizing again, "I'm really sorry...I just...I wasn't paying attention..." Zoya said.

Still mesmerized by what he saw, Aditya simply nodded his head, and finally spoke when he found the right words, "We...we should probably head back..." he said.

Zoya nodded in agreement and started walking away. Aditya held back a little. He looked back at the wooden double doors, still hearing the piano's keys filling the air with soft music...and then looked back at Zoya's retreating back.