A little something once more for my favourite obession - Adi & Zee. Thank you for the likes and comments on my previous fictions.
Based a bit around the traack where Adi later will fly over to M. after Zee.
Hope you all like it. as always, comments and likes are appreciated.
-
Four days ago, Aditya Hooda and Zoya Siddiqui were convicted of murdering their spouses, albeit in a cunning plan together that of Pooja Hooda and Yash Aroora. Apparently that's what CBI officer Rajveer Khanna had made everyone believe without a doubt manipulating the jury and the audience, including twisting the digusting evidence against the case no matter what, citing their affair and hence, plotting their murder god knows how long ago. Mr. Harshwardan Hooda was no joke of a lawyer either, fighting his son Aditya and Zoya which he wouldn't at all cost leave without he gave back to the defense twice as hard tough as nut, no-nonsense, on point without a stutter in place in his 25 years of being a prosecutor; Intimidating, sarcastic, hard-hitting right on target, having the other squirm in sweats was hit motto. Against him, there wasn't an easy way out. It wasn't as easy in the first hearing as Harsh predicted and was hoping for rather he and Arjun left no stone un-turned for the second hearing after depicting the trail, and now the ball was in their court. Case closed and won declared not-guilty.
A day ago, the Siddiqui's booked a Suite at Hilton for a day as Hooda's went back to their place; both relieved, immensely exhausted, bruised physically and emotionally in terms of their emotions and losing their dignity, their identity, in the process.
-
"hello, Noor Jahan. Kaisi ho? Adi called up Noor, half past ten in the night.
"Noor Jahan, huh. Yeh naam kahan se lae aye, aap. Humko bilkul pasand nahi hai.
"Well, koh-e-noor' toh tum sirf tumhari aapi ke liye ho. Toh main socha yeh acha rahe ga bilkul waisaye. Dramatic attitude and expressions n' all maine dekha jaise tum Arjun ko dekh rahi thi, jaise usko maar daalo gi. Kya baat hai, huh?
"Dekhiye-
"Sun raha hoon abhi toh.
"Youu- you know what. She stuttered to back her point. Apne kis liye call kiya hai, ab arz kareinge? She bit out.
"Arz toh tumhari aapi karti hain, subhah, shaam, raat. Smiled in thought. A beat later, his features turned worrisome "Kaisi hai Zoya ab? Theek toh hai na? Called her so many times, she's not picking up.
"Not really. So rahi hain isliye. After settling in the afternoon, Zoya went straight to take a nap and woke up quarter to six, burned up, sweating profusely and lunged straight into the washroom, puking her lungs out twice. Twice more fatigued, weak, dizzy, and paled in comparison to earlier. Staying over in jail for three nights, exhausted and bruised to her wits everywhere. Her scalp, especially back of her head hurt immensely where the ladies banged her head against the back wall of the cell adding to a massive migraine, foot bruised along with her forehead, her cheekbones, left side of her neck had a cut due to the pocket knife which cut her skin in the midst of women man-handling her. Her whole body throbbed with pain as she went to bed. She had barely ate that night of the arrest due to fasting and continuous worrying for their plan to work and yet, the next moment they were thrown in jail, without any mercy. And adding to the three days of sheer fatigued, barely ate the prison food if you could even call it food' per say.
Took her meds, a bite of a banana, and drank a tall of glass of gingerale and went to bed again, barely even speaking a word throughout the whole ride to the hotel and afterwards rather softly moaned in pain and perspiration.
"bahut tabhiyaat kharab hai, kya? Main aajoun?
"Ji. Jail ki waja se, she's intensely figured. Adi's heart somersaulted, hating himself for it. He was immensely and utterly apologetic. It was all his fault. " Kab se soye hui haan. Kuch khaaya bhin nahi. Nahi, aap please mat aiye. Aap ke mom dad to pata chal gaya toh bahut bura hoga. Uper se, raat bahut hogaye hai. His mom's anger was still escalated and highly sensitive.
"Uncle, aunty kahaan hain.
"So rahain hain. I'm looking over Aapi.
"Kuch khaya hai?
"Nahi. I was just about to order room service.
"Koi zaroorat nahi hai. Text me your hotel address. I'm sending you guys food. Zoya ke liye bhi. Aur jo tumhe chahiye, text me.
"Aditya, iski koi zaroorat nahi hai. Hum theek hai.
"I know. Please. Meri taraf se. Pehli aur shayad akhri baar.
"Ammi, abu ko pata chal gaya toh.
"Aree, don't worry.
"Acha chailain, Shukriya.
"Acha noor? Zoya ka meri taraf se bhi khayal rakhna. Main pareshaan ho gaya tha who mera phone nahi utha rahi thi
"bas isse waja se.
"nahi. Aise baat nahi hai. Main-- Silence followed, unsure of how and what to say. But Noor got the hint. Their bond was un-explainable right now, complicated... yet somewhat on the right track. It had started feeling right. He stood for her aapi precious and highly sensitive. Emotional yet have the spirit in fighting the whole world since past two weeks.
"Aap fikar na karein. She'll get better, inshallah. After a beat, "I know aap unki parwaah karte hain.
...
Twenty minutes later, food was delivered to Noor. Damn, she was pretty impressed. She wondered how much Adi payed the guy to get it delivered so quick. Taking out a stryofoam container labeled with a yellow sticky-note posted on top of the lid.
Taking out the other container, which too was labeled.
your Chinese fried rice, noor jahaan. Thank me later.'
Involuntarily, her mouth pulled into a smile. Mr. Aditya not bad, huh.
and at the bottom of the paper bag, was another note - bright yellow folded, and addressed to Zoya.
-
Quarter to five the next day, the Sidiqqui arrived at the airport to check in. Instead, Noor took Zoya's luggage up ahead towards another lane to her parents. She told Zoya she'll be right back with snack and a bottle of water since the que was long and it was gonna take a while. Their flight was 6:15 pm. She texted Aditya that the coast was clear and that they were in lounge three, specifically Zoya at the moment who sat perplexed at noor's actions, leaving her alone.
"yeh Kohinoor ko kya ho gaya hai? Bilkul ajeeb hai. Zoya thought internally. She was sitting in the lounge chairs, feeling a tad bit better due to her recent meds, still weak and pretty fatigued, thankfully the nausea was gone. Yet the head ache, the body ache was still there. Her bruises were healing, just rather slowly. She couldn't leave she was finally leaving Mumbai for Mussoorie completely unsure of how long. For the past two weeks, she had been fighting, surpassing exhaustion towards this mess they had gotten themselves into and it kept going downhill just when they felt optimistic. They her and Adi.
Another thing his soup warmed her heart, dedicated an ounce towards her betterment. She had woken up in the middle of the night when Noor, graciously fed her some. And then before leaving for the airport. She was thankful was this non-needed gesture. It wasn't his felt and she knew, how much he must be blaming himself for her wounds and her sickness. She remembered his little note, when she woke up groggily and still exhausted the next morning sitting on her side table. 'Hey Z, I heard from Noor ke tum bahut bemaar per gayi ho. Please apna khayaal rakho and jaldi se theek ho jao. Main aana chahta tha, but bahut raat ho chuki thi. btw, I brought over your favourite chicken corn soup 'mild' for your sick state - from black 'n pepper. Hope you liked it.
Take care, A. '
She missed home. Missed Mussoorie. Missed her parents, awfully. She had wanted to get away for so long, and finally she was able to. After failing miserably, she was finally leaving this complicated Mumbai and her part of her life behind. For now. She missed the saaf breeze, the chill, the nazaras of the mountains, the lush greenery everywhere. Her bedroom. This time, she didn't object when Abbu wanted her to come home for a while. She needed this time. She had too stressed and exhausted to think about this mess any further and wanted to just leave this here. They were proven not- guilty which to her was an immense relief when she had started to freak out in the midst of the first hearing. All those accusations, the manipulated evidence her vulnerability, her identity, her izzat their izzat all thrown away into thin air without any care. She was trying her hardest not to think about anything, anymore it was adding to her sickness.
"Kya main yahan pe baith sakta hoon? Zoya heard a voice from beside her, immersed in her thoughts, eyes closed.
"Ji-" She replied absent-minded. And then the next second, her eyes flew open, facing the person.
"Aap!! Yahaan?!! Zoya screeched, appalled. She certaintly wasn't dreaming.
"Zoya! Shh.
"Janaab, Aditya Hooda. Aap. Yaahaan. Kya. Kar. Rahe. Hain. She spoke, slowly, her fatigued kicking in, panicking internally. "Ammi, abbu ne dekh liya toh-"
"Toh kuch nahi. I won't be long. Pause. "main tumhe kaisi nahi milne aata. You're leaving. See-off ka toh haq banta hai na. "Waise, meray baray mein sooch rahi thi, kya. He wondered, lightly smirking.
"haan. She surprised herself. "Us pal ke bare mein soch rahi thi jab aapne humein jaane se roka tha. Ab toh na company rahi aur na contract ka paisa. Un logon ke liye bura lag raha hai. Apne liye bura lag raha hai. Aapke liye bura lag raha hai. Kahan the, aur kahan aaagaye. Yeh sab jo bhi hua ham sooch sooch ke pagal horahain hain. Nahi soochna chahti, kuch bhi. She looked over at him, deeply sighing, into his solemn brown eyes. His left eye, still had a bruise surrounding the eye, his temple, and forehead. His side of the lip, was chapped and cut up slightly, along with the bruise on his right cheek, his knuckles. Wearing a light gray sweat-shirt and navy blue sweats, his hair slightly messy.
"toh na socho. Kisne kaha hai. Ab toh sab khatam ho gaya. Yakeen nahi araha, lekin ab koi khatra nahi hai. Please don't stress yourself. She looked a shade paler, frail, exhausted, and weak hunched. Dark circles surrounded her eyes, bruises were still prominent. Her forehead, temple, lowerlip, her grazed cut on the left side of her neck hidden with her hair, low pony tail to her side. Wearing a cream-coloured simple kurta with tights.
"I mainly came because... Zoya. I'm really, very sorry. Making contact with her hazel orbs, as she picked up her vision to look over at him hearing his apology again. "Meri wajah se yeh ab. Sorry for the bruises, sorry what happened in the court with false, manipulated evidence against you, all those made up pictures and video-clips. Sorry for you halat your triggered sickness. Right now. Yeh sab-
"Jitni aap ki wajah. Utni hamari bhi. Humara decision utna tha, jitna aapka. Hum aapke saath thay aur hain. Iss sab ke baad, jis aiziyat (devastation/immense trouble) se hum duno guzre hain hum duno ne bahut kuch kho ya hai. Jahaan khoya hai aapko paya hai, her musibaat mein. Humare saat kharee hoye hain, aap. I could sense your anger in the court, your helplessness when they assaulted my character. Us. Together. Uss sab ko defend karne ke liye, humain defend karne ke liye, tah-e-dil se shukriya. Zoya teared up, letting it all out as the tears ran down her cheeks.
"Aree, Zoya. Please. Ro toh mat, yaar. Tumhari already tabhiyat nahi theek. He inched closer, and wiped her tears. "Maine kuch bhi nahi kiya compared to jo tumhare saat hua.
Sniffing, "man-na pare ga, aapko. Aap ek ache insaan hain, dekha hai humne. Us insaan se, ab ja ke aapki mulakaat hui hai, jo aapke andar shuru se tha, aur aap pehchaan nahi paye is sab preshani ki wajah se.
"tumhe itna kaise yakeen hai, mujh par. Tumhe mujhe sensible hona sikhaya hai calm and composed thora rehna sikhaya, jo main bilkul nahi hoon. Apni batoon main you've made me see the other side of the coin. Main toh tumhare saat bilkul acha nahi tha.
"Apko ho na ho, par yaad rakhiye ga ke humain aap par pura yakeen hai. She smiled at him, with tears still shinning in her eyes and moisture stable on her cheeks. She still shined in her weakened state, giving him the much needed assurance. It made him feel a tad better, knowing there was someone out there who had trust upon him than his own un-trusted, highly doubted self. He knew how impulse and bitter he was and yet the past couple of weeks some of it had died down. He had learn to built composure and seek a difference side of belief in her words and .5 percent of it was starting to fill the bitter void in his heart and mind slowly yet surely. How can she be positive in the midst of this crisis? Bilkul alag, aur sensible hai. Mujhse bilkul alag.
"Aur waise yaad aya, raat ke soup ke liye bhi shukriya. Note parha maine." Smiled, gratefully.
"Your most welcome."
...
"Acha choro yeh sab. Close your eyes for a sec.
"Kis liye?
"Aree. Please na Zoya. Sawaal kam, ankhain band.
as she oblighed, he reached around his back to his left pocket and pulled out something.
"Ab kholo.
and Zoya saw in front of her vision, held high a beautiful white stemmed rose, its ends of the blooming petals diffused with fuchsia and coral tinge of colour wrapped in plastic, ever so elegantly. Ever so fragile, held together in a plastic wrapping.
"Ya Allah! Yeh- Yeh-
"Tumhare liye, Zoya
"Hum-humare liye. Is ki wajah?
His smile miffed, "tumhain pasand nahi aya?
"pagal hain, kya. Yeh bahut khubsurat hai. Par aap humain kyun derahain hain?
"Ab kuch denay pe tax lage ga.
"Nahi. Lekin- Hum yeh kaisay-" Zoya was at a loss of words.
"Tumhara liye hai. Kind of a good-bye thing which I know you won't be gone for long, I hope. Kyun ke tum jaise aik hi ghalib ke bina mera din kaise guzre ga. He chuckled in the midst of seriousness.
"Mazak pirse udhra rahe hain, humara? She accused, miffed as well.
"Nahi, Zoya. Can't you take a joke?
A moment later, "Pata nahin. I just need time to myself for a while. Away from his city for a bit. Pata nahi, kab tak.
"I know. Iss liye yeh ek nahi shuruwaat. I know tumhe bhi white bahut pasand hai, so this reminded me of you. Ek naye safar ke liye. Tumhari zindagi main sukoon ke liye. A beat later, he con't.
"Pata hai.. that we started on the wrong foot. Toh itne months ke bad, this is a token from me to you. A pinch of hesitation followed as he tried to form out his next phrase in his mind. "Ms. Zoya Wasim Siddiqui Kya aap meri dost banegi? He held out his right hand towards her.
A giggle escaped from Zoya, "Hum choote bache hai kya?
"Aree, toh isme kya hai. I know mostly adults, aisi nahi poochte. Lekin, yeh mera style hai.
"Uhuh. She cont'd softly giggling, trying to hold back by pinning her lips together. Inko kya hogaya, hai.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a call for the flight leaving from Mumbai to Mussoorie. Please make your way to the take-off lounge in Lane 3. A message on the intercom echoed throughout the airport interrupting their moment.
...
"C'mon Zoya, yaar. time kam hai. Aur mera haath aur wait nahi karsakta. Hand held in air, still in place.
Taking him out of his misery after a long moment, "Mr.Aditya Hooda humain aapki dosti manzoor (accepted) hai. As she shook back, eveloping her dainty hands within his larger ones. Warm. Appealing. Gentle.
Smiling widely, showcasing her dimples - she grasped the rose within her fingers, holding it ever so gently as he mirrored her beautiful smile.
"Waise hum toh bag bhi nahi carry karahe. Toh yeh toh murja (wilt) jayega.
Giving her a glance, he came up with an idea. "Here. Pass it to me for a sec. Taking it, he gently un-wrapped the plastic covering and holding the stem from quarter the way, snapped the stem more than half and passed it back to her.
"yeh lo. How about you pin it in your hair? Tumhare baloon ki shaan, berjaye gi.
"Please, I know meray baal khubsurat hain. Smiling, she gently shook her head. Taking the tiny stem rose from him, she undid her bobby pin that held back her side of the fringe, and tucked it behind her ear, angling up-wards holding the fringe and tiny stem of the rose together.
Shaking her head from side to side in approval "kaisa laga raha hai?
"Rose ya tum?
"ufff, obviously Rose. Duh.
"Tum se kam, acha.
"Please. Humain pata hai, hum bimaar ho kar, apne aap ko bhi ache nahi lagte.
Shaking his head internally, trust zoya to take a compliment.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the last call for passengers to make their way to Lane 3 for flight leaving from Mumbai to Mussoories.
They both up got up, hearing the final call.
"Humain chalna chahiye, aditya.
Before she take a step, "Zoya? Apna khayal zaroor rakhna. Apni yeh dimple wali smile ko kabhi dim na hone dena. He smiled sheepishly, tucking a hand in one of his sweat pocket.
As she semi-turned once more,
"Um, zoya? Since dosti accept karli hai toh you can call me Adi, you know. Mujhse family and friends Adi bulatain hain, which I'm sure you already have figured. Aur I'd like it, agar tum bhi mujhe adi bulao.
Smiling, "Ji, jaanab. Aur kuch? He nodded back as a yes.
"Adi.
Rolling her eyes, "Ji. Adi. Beat later, "Ab khush.
"Bahut.
"Chaltain hain. Making her way towards the lane, she stopped couple step later and turned out as Adi waited for her, until she disappeared.
Wondering what was up he waited. She brought her right arm up as her hand slightly curled into a adaab' goodbye greeting with a smile.
and remembered when he had to do the gesture a week back, he too brought up his right arm and using his right hand gestured an addab back for Zoya.
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