Chapter 8

The next day Zoya and Noor had booked the flight for the evening. They informed their parents who were very excited about it. She had no contact with any of her friends because she lost her phone at the airport when she came here. Zoya was packing her stuff when Noor entered the room.

Zoya: Noor aapko pata hai keh konsa serial hai

Noor: mail mai likha toh tha.

Zoya: hum bhul gai. Aapke pass bhi mail hogi. Dekhiye zara agar aap jaanti hain uss serial ko. Humne toh bahut der se koi serial nahi dekha.

Noor: acha mai dekhti hu

Noor checked her mail and she got to know it is called “Kitni Mohabbat Hai”. She searched the show online and clicked the first link that appeared. She was shocked to see the clip. It was Karan, Kritika and Aditya dancing. Someone from the show’s crew made a video and uploaded it on social media. Video had many thousands of views. She was shocked to see Aditya in the same show.

Mai appi ko kuch nahi batau gi. Aditya bhi ussi show mai hain jis mai appi… Yeh ishara hai keh inhe milna chahiye. Appi ki hasi kahin gaib si hogai hai. Aditya sirf aap hi hain jo isse wapis laa sakte hain.

She avoided Zoya’s further questions about the show as she wanted her to get surprised. They left for the airport. Zoya was silent most of the time as she was thinking about things that happened 6 months back. In no time, they reached and were greeted by their parents. It was already late in the evening so they reached home and slept, ready for the next day.

Set

Director: Aaj call time sab ka 8 hai. sabko msg kar dia na? aaj medical rep bhi arahi hai. I don’t want koi bhi kharab impression pare uss pe.

Assistant director: yes sir. Msg kar dia sabko.

At 8 am, almost everyone was there except for Aditya. Karan and Kritika were getting ready for their shoot.

Karan: Spot. 3 coffee. Meri black coffee. Madam ki latte. Aur Aditya ki cappuccino. Jaldi se garam garam. Mai Kritika ke room mai jaa raha hu. Udhar hi le aana.

Spot: But sir Aditya toh aai hain abhi tak.

Karan: Oh no. acha tum do coffee le aao jao.

He immediately called Aditya. Thankfully he picked up.

Aditya: Haan yaar. Itni subah

Karan: Yaar kahan hai tu. Don’t tell me utha nai abhi tak

Aditya: Call time 2 baje ka hai. abhi kyu uthu gam ai

Karan: What? Tujhe msg nai aaya kya

Aditya: Konsa msg

Karan: Aaj medical rep arhai hai toh call time 8 ka tha. Ad ka msg aaya tha.

Aditya: Oh no. mujhe toh msg nai aaya.

Karan: Iss AD ki toh mai..

Aditya: Usse chor tu. Mai bas tiyar hoke pahonchta hu.

Karan: Tu jaldi aa. Mai director ko sambhalta hu. Usse pata chal jai ga toh tujhe call pe suna de ga aur tu jaanta hi hai Kritika kya kare gi phir.

Aditya: Tujhe meri fikar hai ya Kritika ki.

Karan: tTu yeh sab chor aur jaldi aa. Tu excited nai keh kon hot si med rep hai.

Aditya: I don’t care. Bye.

In 20 mins Aditya arrived at the set. Luckily, the director didn’t notice his absence. He was in his room when the assistant director came and informed him that Karan and Kritika were waiting for him in Kritika’s room. Both were having their coffee. Karan ordered a coffee for Aditya. Meanwhile, the assistant director came and told them that the medical rep was getting a little late so the shoot won't start for another 2 hours.

Karan: Chal yaar bach gaya tu. Agar director ko pata lag jaata na

Kritika: Am I missing something?

Karan: Aapke munh bole bhai so rahe the jab maine call kia.

Kritika: Adi tujhe AD ka msg nai aaya?

Aditya: Nahi yaar. Maybe uske mind se nikal gaya ho.

Kritika: I cant believe this. Yeh director aur uska chamcha. Mujhe mauka mile toh ughhh.

Aditya: Relax. Dekho mai yahi hu.

Kritika: Oh haan. Hum sab idhar hi hain.

She smirked and took a long sip of her coffee. Karan realized what she meant but Aditya was confused.

Aditya: Kya horaha hai yeh

Kritika: Spill it out

Aditya: Coffee? Nai yaar abhi aai hai coffee. I need it.

He took a sip inhaling the strong aroma of coffee.

Karan: Tu nai samjha. Kittu ne bola tha you are not off the hook so ab tu bhaag nai sakta.

Aditya: Choro na yeh sab. Mujhe na ek app ke baare mai pata chala. Bahut hi amazing hai.

Kritika: Baat mat ghumao. Mujhe janna hai toh janna hai. hum baat kare ge toh kare ge.

Karan: Aditya tujhe pata hai na yeh jaan nai chori gi. Aaj nai toh kal tujhe Khulna hi pare ga.

Aditya: Kuch hai hi nai khulne ko

Karan: Tune dekha hai khud ko. Tu kitna badal gyaa hai in 6 months mai. Career apne haato se kharab kar raha hai. Personal relation kissi se rakha nai tune. Family se milta nai. Ghar pe akele rehta hai. Aur tu keh raha hai tu badla nai hai. Beshak tu akele rehta hai phir bhi ajeeb sa sukoon hai tere chehre pe jo maine sorry to say, Pooja ke saath nai dekha tha. Mujhe nai pata kya reason hai. Akela khush hai ya dukhi. Samjh hi nai aata.

Kritika: Rehne do karan. Jaane do isse. Hum toh iske kuch hai hi nai. Pehle bhi 2 saal pehle, Pooja se shaadi ke baad humse milna chor dia. Parties pe anaa chor dia. Bas pooja pooja. aur ab phir jab hum 6 months pehle toh mujhe laga hamara pehle wala Adi wapis agaya jo yaar tha. Lekin yeh humein dost nai manta.

Aditya: Aisa nai hai

Kriitka: Toh kaisa hai. Please. I promise. Tu bata humein. Jo baatein ho gi sirf haamare beech rahe gi. Hosakta hai hum kuch help kar de. Unless you don’t trust us.

Aditya: Aisi baat nai hai. Arjun ke baad sirf tum dono hi ho jispe I cant trust. Maine sab kuch ander dabba dia tha aur wapis khodna nai chahta tha. Magar mujhe pata hai tum dono meri jaan nai choro ge.

Kritika: Bilkul bhi nai.

Aditya: Kahan se shoru karu.

Karan: How about from the beginning.

Aditya: 2 saal pehle meri aur Pooja ki unwanted shaadi hui.

Kritika: Unwanted?

Aditya: Please mujhe bolne do ek saath. Sab questions end mai puch lena.

Kritika: Okay Mr. continue.

Aditya: Pooja ke saath meri shaadi hui. More or the less ussi ki wajah se mujhe ek path breaking show mila- Bepannah. Prem bahut popular hogaya. Pooja modelling karti rahi. We were going good as friends. Phir she got pregnant. Mai apni taraf se poora khayal rakh raha tha uska kyunke mai usse apni zimedaari samjhta tha. Pregnancy ke baad se Hamari dosti sirf naam ki reh gai. Ek din usne kuch zyda pi li thi aur zabardasti baarish mai bhegne lagi. Mai uska saath na deta toh wohh khud ko hurt karne lagti. Iski wajah se uski tabiyat kharab hogai aur hospital jana pada aur wahan mujhe…

Kritika: I am so confused right now. Tumhare shaadi love marriage nai thi? Agar nai thi toh pregnancy? Pooja drink karti thi pregnancy mai aur self harm. That is not normal at all.

Aditya: I agree. She had some issues. Baki ke tumhare jawab mai nai de sakta. Larki ki izzat hi baat hai. Beshak wohh nai rahi khud ke liye kuch bolne ke liye lekin mai khud se nai chahu ga keh meri wajah se uski bachi kuchi izzat mai kami aai.

Karan: Aur ussi din hospital mai sab khatam hogaya.

Aditya: Nai. Ussi din sab shoru hua. Mujhe wohh mili. Mai usse sirf 3 baar mila hu.

Tera fitoor

Jab se charh gaya re

Tera fitoor

Jab se charh gaya re

Ishq jo zara sa tha wohh barh gaya re

Tera fitoor

Jab se charh gaya re

Tu jo mere sang chalne lage

To meri rahein dharakne lage

Dekho jo na ik pal main tumhe

Toh meri bahein tarapne lage

Ishq jo zara sa tha wohh barh gaya re

Tera fitoor

Jab se charh gaya re

He narrated them in their first meeting. She proceeded to take a photo with him. Her eyes were so intoxicating that he desired to continue staring at her. He forwarded his hand to shake hands with her when she simply refused. Unlike his other fans who wanted to shake hands, hug him, and what all, she refused. She had purity all over her face.

Haathoon se laqeerain yehi kehti hai

Ki zindagi jo hai meri

Tujhi mai ab rehti hain

Labon pe likhi mere dil ki khwaish

Lafzo mai kaise main bataoun

Ikk tujhko hi paane ke khatir

Sab se juda mai ho jau

Kal tak maine jo bhi khwab the dekhe

Tujh mai wohh dikhne lage 

Ishq jo zara sa tha wohh barh gaya re

Tera fitoor

Jab se charh gaya re

His second encounter with her in the hospital. She was a nurse. The glow over her face. The shine in her eyes. It attracted him more towards her. He craved to listen to her all day, looking at her without even blinking his eyes as he was afraid, she would go away as soon as he will close his eyes.

Sansoon ke kinare

Bade tanha the

Tu aake chu le bas

Yehi toh mere armaan the

Saari duniya se mujhe kya lena hai

Bas tujhko hi pehchanu

Mujhko na meri ab khabar ho koi

Tujhse hi khudko main jaanu

Raatein nahi katti bechaain se hoke

Din bhi guzarne lage

Ishq jo zara sa tha wohh barh gaya re

Tera fitoor

Jab se charh gaya re

His last meeting with her at the airport was for a mere few seconds but it seemed like an eternity. Their eye locks. He was just gazing at her oblivious of the surroundings. Her eyes told him that she will come to him one day or the other.

Karan: Ek sec ek sec. yeh tu kiski baat kar raha hai

Aditya: Zoya

Karan: Teri fan jo nurse hai ek?

Aditya: Haan. Wohh meri fan hai ya mai uska. Mujhe nai pata.

Kritika: Tum dono sirf 3 baar mile ho aur usne tumhe itna affect kar dia keh tum 6 months se bhule nai usse.

Aditya: Aur bhulna bhi nai chahta

Karan: Mujhe samjh nai aaya. Wohh kahan gai phir airport kyun?

Aditya: Hospital authorities ko laga keh Zoya ki wajah se Pooja ki death hui.

Kritika: Uski wajah se toh nai hui clearly. She used to drink and self harm. Khud hi baarish mai bhegi thi and then complications.

Aditya: Exactly. Mujhe bahut dino baad hosh aaya. Mai hospital gaya toh pata chala usse fire kar dia. Mai uski friend se mila toh usne bataya wohh city chor ke jaa rahi hai. Mai airport pahoncha aur usse mila bhi lekin

Karan: Toh kuch baat kyu nai ki?

Aditya: Usse dekh kar mujhse kuch nai bola gaya. And I regret it. Bas mera mind shut down hogaya tha. And jab samjh aya toh wohh jaa chuki thi. Magar mujhe yakeen hai hum zarur mile ge. Hamari manzilein aur raste jude hain.

Karan: Koi number uska?

Aditya: Haan hai. Main roz try karta hu. Airport ke baad se band hai. Maine bahut msgs, voice mails drop kiye but no response.

Kritika: And uski friend?

Aditya: Suhana. Usse mai regular updates leta hu. Uska bhi koi contact nai Zoya se. pata nai shaid number change hogaya ho. Mujhe pata hai wohh aai gi. Jald hi wapis aai gi.

Kritika: How can you be so sure?

Aditya: Uske jaane ke baad maine Pooja ki sab medical records hospital submit kar diay and meeting bhi ki. Unho ne kaha keh Zoya is not guilty lekin phir se she could not respond immediately so wohh license suspension kam kar sakte hain lekin khatam nai. 12 months ki jagah 6 months kar dia hai. Agar mera calender sahi hai toh 6 months khatam hogai hain. Mera dil kehta hai wohh kabhi bhi wapis asakti hai. ek baar sirf mai usse mil lu. Phir usse apni zindagi mai le aau ga.

Kritika: Yeh sab toh clear hogaya. Ek cheez mujhe abhi tak samjh nai aai. Tumhare career.

Aditya: Maine khud se promise kia tha. Jab tak Zoya apna career wapis se shoru nai kar leti, mai apna career nai shoru karu ga. Wohh toh tum dono mil gai and mujhe paiso ki zarurat bhi thi toh I joined this show lekin mai koi lead role nai karu ga.

Karan: Kittu. How is this possible?

Kritika: What?

Karan: Love at first sight. I thought it was some dumb stupid idea only for dramas and movies lekin yaar actual real life mai dekh lia.

Kritika: Adi I am so happy for you. I want to meet Zoya yaar.

Aditya: Ek din. Pehle mai milu ga phir tumhe milao ga.

AD: Sir ne aap sab ko bulaya hai. Medical rep bas aane wali hai. Aap sab ready hojai.

Karan: Idhar aa zara. Bata toh. Medical rep ka kya name hai. I bet kuch hot sa hoga. Like Samaira. Shanaya. Taanya.

Kritika smacked his arms. Aditya just laughed at their banter.

AD: Uska name. Main bhul gaya. Kuch Z se tha.

Aditya subconciosly said Zoya.

AD: Haan haan yehi tha. Zoya.

They all were astounded hearing it. Was this his Zoya? Since they were called, they proceeded towards the shoot thinking about AD’s words.

Director: Karan Kritika. Sahi time pe aai ho tum dono. Abhi call aai thi uski, she is around the corner. I want a good impression of everyone.

Horn

Director got excited and ran outside in the parking to get her. Everyone from the set gathered to welcome her. In the crowd, Aditya got pushed behind people. He could see someone coming inside the sets but couldn’t see her face as people were in front of him. He attempted to view her but all in vain.

Director: Welcome miss zoya. I hope aap enjoy kare. Guys she is miss zoya. Hamare show ki medical rep. 1 week tak she will stay with us and teach medical terms in short give medical education which we will use in our next track. Miss zoya mai apko introduce karwa deta hu. Yeh Hamari main actress Kritika playing arohi. Yeh hai hamara hero Karan playing Arjun.

Kritika advanced her hand which Zoya shook firmly. Karan viewed that and forwarded his hand but she didn’t shake his hand instead just said hi. It clicked him immediately. Aditya just told him the same instance which happened to him during the first meeting.

He went near Kritika and whispered to her- Yehi hai Aditya ki Zoya.

Kritika gawked at him with a confused smile.

Director kept on introducing other characters. Aditya was yet behind people. He hasn’t seen the girl yet.

Director: Miss Zoya. aapka sab actors se introduction hogaya so aapko kaise lage hamare actors.

Before she could say anything, Kritika interrupted.

Kritika: nai. Ek actor se nai introduce hua.

She pointed towards right. People were confused so they simply turned back, making enough space to see Aditya.

Kritika: Aditya

Tere bina mera 

Laage na jiya

Tere liye hi dharke jia

mere dil ko tere dil ki zarurat hai

mere dil ko tere dil ki zarurat hai

Zoya and Aditya looked at each other. Same face. Same eyes. After 6 months.