Posted:
I wrote this some time ago, but never actually posted it. You all must have forgotten part 1 by now. Sorry about that! Let me know what you think.
The four of them sat at their table in an awkward silence. Adi was looking furiously at Zoya, while Arjun and Noor were trying their best to break the tension.
"Bhai, remember the last time we had come to this hotel?", Arjun tried to divert Adi's attention with no success.
"Yes Arjun, I remember...Why couldn't you have worn a saari? There are plenty of women here in saaris", Adi refused to let the topic go. So much for distraction, thought Arjun. When it came to Zoya, his brother had a one track vision and nothing could divert his attention.
Zoya ignored him and kept her focus on Mr. Kumar. He was walking towards the bar. This was the perfect opportunity. Zoya sent Noor a quick text: Ask Aditya to dance with you. I am going to make my move now.
"I LOVE this song! Aditya, will you please dance with me?", asked Noor.
"No" Aditya said abrubtly still glaring at Zoya.
"Oh common! Stop sulking like a girl and dance with me. Arjun is useless on the dance floor, you know that!", pleaded Noor. She forcibly pulled Adi on the dance floor and turned him so he could not see Zoya.
Zoya channeled her inner diva, got up and walked towards Mr. Kumar with a glass of water. She "accidentally" on purpose bumped into him and spilled a little of the drink on her dress.
"I am so so sorry!", she said while she wiped the water from her cleavage.
"It's OK", Mr . Kumar said ogling at her breasts. Zoya felt like throwing up. Instead she pasted a big smile on her face and said, "No, please! I totally ruined your coat. Please let me make it up to you. Can I buy you a drink?"
"Actually, you could make it up to me by dancing with me. What do you say?", he asked.
Zoya hesitated. This was not a part of her plan. The thought of him touching had her skin crawling.
"I would so love to, but unfortunately, I have a sprained ankle so I cannot dance. I would love to have a cup of coffee and a chat though. I am Zoya by the way".
"Ravi, Ravi Kumar. Ok then, lets go have some coffee. I have my own private table. We can go there."
************
Adi was searching for Zoya. Where did she go? He took his eyes off of her for only one second!
"Where is she?" He asked Noor and Arjun back at the table.
"She went to use the restroom", Arjun lied.
Adi, feeling restless, started tapping his fingers on the table. He looked at Arjun and Noor's nervous faces, and got a bad feeling in his stomach.
"I am giving you guys 10 seconds to start talking. If you don't tell me what's going on, I am going to find Zoya and force her out of this party even if I have to carry her on my shoulders.", Adi threatened the two.
Arjun and Noor looked at each other not knowing what to do. On the one hand, Zoya had sworn them to secrecy, but knowing his impulsive brother, he had no doubt bhai would do exactly what he said. He was also worried about Zoya. Arjun made a snap decision and decided to tell his brother everything.
"Bhai, after Pooja bhabhi's death, I had gone back to Missouri to retrieve her diary..." and told him everything that had happened so far.
********
"Ravi, once again, I am so sorry about your clothes. I feel like such a clumsy fool. I was looking at my nails and not paying attention to where I was going. You see, I chipped one of my fingernails and now my hands look all ugly!", Zoya brought out her best high school giggle. She wanted to give Ravi the impression of being nothing but a bimbo who had no brains. Men had underestimated women for centuries now, and this trick always worked in getting their guard down.
"Don't you worry about it. So, Zoya, tell me something about yourself. Are you from Mumbai?", Ravi asked. He was looking at her like a dog would look at a piece of meat. Good. He was falling for her act and thought she would be an easy prey.
"Oh no, not at all. I am actually from a place called Missouri. I hardly know anyone here. Mumbai is so big and there's so much to see, but I don't really have very many people to show me around", pouted Zoya. She blinked at him, looking more innocent than a newborn baby.
"Oh Missouri! I actually used to know someone from there. Went there quite a bit for business", he said.
Zoya felt her heart rate speed up. Maybe he was talking about Yash. Just as she was about to ask him to elaborate, she heard a familiar voice.
"Zoya honey. Where have you been? I have been searching all over for you!" Asked Adi in a sugary sweet voice. Zoya turned to see him, lips curved in a smile, but his eyes shooting daggers at her.
"Who is that?", asked Ravi.
"Oh, that's my brother Adeel", Zoya fumbled to come up with a convincing lie.
"Actually, my brother is a pilot and flies commercial planes. He is hardly ever at home and leaves me alone in his huge apartment all the time" , Zoya leaned towards Ravi.
"Hmmm. Zoya, unfortunately, I have to leave now. What do you say I show you a little of Mumbai tomorrow?", Ravi asked.
"Oh! How nice of you! Yes please. This is soo exciting. I have finally made a friend in this city" Zoya clapped. She wrote down her number for him and watched him leave.
*******
"Have you lost your mind? What was all that? You think by flirting with him, he will tell you all his deepest darkest secrets? The guy is a successful businessman. He did not get to where he is by being a fool and falling for a pretty face". Adi said once the creep left.
He didn't think he had ever been this angry before. Something had snapped inside of him seeing Zoya flirting with that creep. When Arjun had told him Zoya's plan, he had felt a combination of rage and a bone deep terror. Zoya had no idea of the danger she could have been in. She stood there looking at him, her expression back to being innocent instead of that man killer look that she had been giving Ravi. A part of him wanted to wrap his hands around her pretty neck, and another part of him wanted to hug her and ensure she was safe and in one piece. Adi didn't understand these conflicting emotions he felt for Zoya, and was not ready to face them either.
"Aditya? Did Arjun and Noor...", Zoya stammered.
"Yes, they told me all about your mission and your ridiculous plan. Honestly Zoya, were you born with an empty brain? Or did your parents drop you on your head as a baby which made you lose all your marbles?"
"Look Aditya, we have had enough arguments in this topic. I knew you would react this way which us why I didn't tell you", Zoya said in her defense.
"You little fool. Don't you get it? WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER. You ran away with me despite it being a foolish idea, so why couldn't you trust me to be part of this? The reason I didn't want you to open the case was not because of me. My dad would have saved me again if that had happened. I was worried about YOU, Zoya! YOU! Do you think my dad would have spared you this time?" Adi lashed out.
Zoya stared at him and couldn't say anything. Once again, she had misunderstood Aditya Hooda.
"I am sss sorr...", Zoya stammered out
Aditya, still furious grabbed her by her arms and pulled her close to him. "I do not want your sorry. I want your promise that you will never hide things from me again!"
"I promise. I'll be honest with you. I am sorry I misunderstood you, Aditya. And I am sorry I fought with you. Please forgive me!", Zoya apologized in a small voice.
Aditya sighed and let his anger go. He finally felt that heavy burden lift from his chest. This was his Zoya. He finally had her back. Adi smiled and lifted her chin, "I'll forgive you on one condition. You will never ever refer to me as your brother again. Never!"
Zoya looked at him with wide eyes and a small smile. " Oh, I just said that because of that Mr. Kumar", she said.
"I don't care what the situation is. I am not your brother. Now lets go", he said.
As they walked towards Arjun and and Noor, Adi suddenly stopped her and said "By the way, just where did you learn to flirt like that?"
Zoya blushed and looked down at the floor "Umm, I was just acting. You know, like women do in movies."
"Hmm..you continue to surprise me Zoya Siddiqui"
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
