Inveigle -AdiYa SS- Ch3 Pg12 - 20/May/18 - Page 6

"Zoya...", he whispered sleepily while his fingers moved in search of her. Sensing absence of warmth of her body, Aditya slowly opened his eyes and glanced across. It took him few minutes to gather his thoughts. His status forced him to recollect events of last night. He was inebriated but not too drunk to recollect it all. Broken pieces of her bangles and her torn clothes were found discarded on their bed. Did I force myself on her?, he was mortified. He remembered Zoya's dreamy sighs and pleasurable moans. A sweet smile crept to the corner of his lips, pulling him out of guilt. He looked around for her. She was an early riser but he always found her near when he woke up. Either performing her morning prayers or to keep his bed coffee or getting ready for office. She had many excuses to be beside him. For past few months, his mornings had got used to her gentle presence. He felt a sinister nervousness when she was missing.

"Mom, have you seen Zoya?", he asked Anjana. He had a quick shower and came down dressed up in his casuals. "Why are you asking? Do you want to hurt her again?", Anjana was visibly upset with him. "Did she tell you anything?", he was anxious. "She didn't, Adi. She never does. But I know. You always misunderstand and hurt her", Anjana quickly explained their attempt to cheer him up and how Zoya ended up arranging the party on her insistence. He shook his head in dismay, "Where is she?". "I haven't seen her. May be she went to office", Anjana suggested. Aditya rushed to Zosh. He needed to see her, speak to her and console her.

'ZOSH'. Zoya gazed at the name. It is a farce, a sham. A mockery of her trust and devotion. She wanted to change it but later decided against it. ZOSH, the name was a charade yet it reminded her to be strong and confident, it made her never to be gullible to limitless emotions and it forced her to move on. "Appi", Noor carefully patted her wounded wrist, "Appi, there is nothing wrong in what happened last night". "Noor, please", Zoya moved away. She wasn't comfortable to share her ordeal with her baby sister but she had no choice.She desperately needed to talk to someone. Noor was the only family left for her, beside Aditya. A lone tear appeared in her eye which she blinked back. "Appi, Aditya Jiju is your husband. There is nothing wrong if you consummated your marriage", Noor argued. "it is wrong", Zoya yelled startling Noor. Both sisters were oblivious of Aditya's presence who had just rushed to meet Zoya. "He is not Yash", Noor uttered. "I know he is not Yash. But it is of least significance to me", Zoya's words pierced Aditya. "This marriage is just a compromise, Noor. Aditya and I, we both know it", Zoya was honest. "I am done with love and its complications. I don't need Love anymore, especially from Aditya. He is...", before Zoya could finish he barged in. "Excuse me, Noor. I need to have a word with your sister", he told Noor. She nodded and walked away. As soon as Noor left, he sprang at her angrily, "How dare you make a mockery of our relationship?". Zoya was dumbfound by his sudden outburst. She wondered whether he was same man who professed his love for her. "You took advantage of my inebriated status. You used me so that makes you the culprit. Aren't you ashamed to play victim before Noor? What kind of example are you setting for your baby sister? A seductress or a s**t?", he spewed at her. "Aditya!!!", she yelled at him and pulled his collar. "Lower you voice, Mrs Zoya Aditya Hooda. This is your office not our bedroom", he rebuked her. He pushed her away and walked around. He had intended to bare his mind to her, apologize and pacify her. But her words to Noor had made him mad. He was hurt and wanted to hurt her. "You, Pooja...You all are the same. At first opportunity, you will sweep moral codes beneath carpet and roll between the sheets to seek pleasure. Last night just proves it", he told her angrily. Zoya covered her mouth in shock and sought support of her chair to stand steady. Her broken status pained him yet he remained unmoved. "Why did you marry me, Aditya?", she asked him painfully. 'Becoz I care for you' his mind answered but he didn't voice it. "I don't know. May be I wanted to show Yash that just the way he snatched Pooja from me, I got you into my life", he told aloud. "Then last night was a perfect paragon of your revenge", she smirked at him. He turned away, unable to meet her but he mused 'No it wasn't, Zoya'. She looked at him expectedly, 'Tell me it wasn't, Aditya. Tell me it was more than relishing pleasure to quench your physical hunger. Tell me you love me' . His silence infuriated Zoya, "I should have known better". He smirked, "Let's forget it and never bring it up again", he declared and she nodded in agreement. "Focus on your work, Zoya. Have a nice day", he wished and marched to door. "It was a mistake", she whispered. He sighed, "I agree. Last night was a mistake". "I meant our marriage", her words shook him yet he walked away without facing her

When Zoya returned home, Aditya had already left to join an international flight. She was comforted by his absence yet somehow it squeezed her heart. 'Never again', she reminded herself. She had vowed never to fall for any man who doesn't deserve her feelings. Unlike Yash, Aditya is perfectly honest with her. Still his truth hurt her more that Yash's betrayal. She was aimlessly strolling in the garden. "Missing Bhai?", she turned to face a cheerful Arjun. She gave a weak smile to him. "When two people are in love, however hard they try to hide, it is futile", he humoured. "Love and I, we are archenemies", ", she smirked, "And about your brother, it will be better if I keep my mouth shut". "What happened Bhabhi? I thought things were sorted out between you and Bhai", Arjun was concerned. She recalled Aditya's overreaction since she confided in Noor and here he had taken same liberty with Arjun. Zoya wanted to scream but she restrained. "Today morning, I drove him till your office. He was so anxious to talk to you. He didn't tell me and I didn't probe further but it was evident he wanted to apologize", Arjun explained. She bit her tongue and felt bad to jump into conclusions. Arjun knew his brother more than anyone in Hooda family. They trusted eachother deeply. Still Aditya chose to keep their matters private. Apparently sharing their private matters with Noor was not an ideal move. Perhaps Aditya intended to apologize rather than accuse and hurt her. "He is hot headed and reckless. Pooja Bhabhi's deceit made him worse. But he cares about you Bhabhi. Even before you were married. He was always there for you whenever you were in trouble. He was shattered that night when you slashed your wrists", Arjun spoke to her delicately. Zoya nodded. 'I need to talk to him. 'May be I will let him be lone for few days until things cool down', she thought. She felt relieved and light. Hope crept into her soul and somehow she wasn't afraid to take a second chance.

"Aditya", she answered his call eagerly. It's been three days since he left and she was missing him a lot. "I will be home in an hour. Be ready. We have to leave once I reach home", he said plainly before disconnecting the call. Zoya was disappointed yet lifted her spirit at prospect of spending some lone time with him. She quickly draped a simple but elegant blue saree and applied minimal make up. As promised he arrived in an hour and asked her to meet him at the gate. She sat beside him in his car. She tried to be normal but he was distant. 'Akdu', she though. She opened her mouth to speak but her something caught her attention. "Why are we here?", she inquired while he parked the car infront of a hotel. "To have some privacy", he informed and marched away handing over the keys to valet,.

"Aditya would you care to explain?", a confused Zoya went behind him when he trod to lift lobby after collecting the access key to his room. "I thought about what you said the other day and decided to find a solution to it", he said plainly.