Your Choice..Adiya FF COMPLETE [Promo Inspired] update pg6-dec12 - Page 4

Lol Sorry didn't mean to leave you hanging!

Just had written and decided where to go with it. But I hope you enjoy the next part.😊😊

Thank you for reading and commenting!!

THANK YOU!!!

So glad that you enjoyed reading it and commented.

Ps: Nice DP

Thank you for sticking with the FF, despite that late updates. I tried not to take too long this time.

Thank you also reading and commenting. I enjoy your thoughts and feedback on the story. I think this FF will be concluding soon, but am not completely sure.

Out of the blue, I have also decide to give it a title. "Your Choice".

The title felt right for some reason😛

Please let me know your thoughts on the update.

Thank you guys so much again!!

Part 3-

Aditya had waited patiently for everyone to fall asleep and the entire house to be in complete silence. He neatly folded his bedding and made sure he left no sign of his presence. There were enough people in that house that did not welcome the sight of him and he did not want them to be reminded. He had felt a certain kinship with that house and its people. At first, it was out of dread and a cruel twist of fate that they had all become involved. With time, he understood and shared their pain and difficulties. He tried to help in every way he could, and if he couldn't he tried to offer comfort. He realized now, that all of this may have been one sided and an illusion of his own making. Her father, despite all his efforts, still did not like him. He viewed him as the enemy and hated the sight of him. Aditya couldn't intrude anymore, so he left as soon as he could.

"Aditya"

He was shocked to see a frantic Zoya running towards him. Had something happened in the few minutes he had left? He rushed to her and caught her in his arms. He could feel her trying to catch her breath and he held her to give her a moment.

"Zoya, is everything okay? Are you hurt?"

Still trying to get her breath back, she shook her head. He touched her cheek and felt her cold to the touch. She didn't look okay. He held her face and looked straight at her.

"Breath Zoya. Slowly."

He slowed his own breathing and she mimicked him. When she seemed a bit calmer, he let go of her.

"Now, tell me what happened?"

"Dream, I was stuck in the riots. And couldn't get out and then you..."

"You are safe now! I promise I won't let anything happen to you"

"You! I saw you and the blood and I couldn't save you. I could only watch...and when I didn't see you, I thought..." She couldn't get the last few words out. She crushed him into a hug and buried her face in his shirt to hide the tears.

"Nothing happened to me, Zoya. I am okay and am here with you"

Zoya let him out of the hug and stared at him.

"Why did you leave? YOU ARE LEAVING AGAIN!!...Like last time?"

"NO! No, god no. I promised you I wouldn't leave"

She was nodding her head in agreement, but she still did not look fully convinced. Aditya took her face in his hands and looked directly at her.

"Zoya, I am not leaving you. I am not breaking my promise, I swear it. I was leaving so that I could reach home before sunrise. I have already stressed and worried Ma so much. I wanted to be there before she woke up. I left a note, Zoya. But, considering you didn't even have enough time to grab your shoes, a note would have completely been missed" Aditya smirked.

Zoya stared at her bare feet and wiggled her toes. She hadn't realized.

"Sorry, I should have thought before reacting and blurting..."

"more like screaming"

Zoya ignored him and continued.

"I know, you will never break your promise. I know, I was just terrified."

He nodded.

"You should head back before someone discovers that empty bed"

Zoya shuffled her feet and hesitated. There was something more, that she wanted to say or ask. But she herself was confused as to what it was. She gave him a last glance before turning to walk back.

Aditya watched her make her way home. How was he expected to let her go? Just when he had become resolute in distancing himself, she came running to him. Confusing him, weakening his resolve and making it impossible to ignore his own feelings. It still surprised him, how without any hesitation and easily she could hug him. But was this ease only because he was her best friend? Was that all that was to come of them?

Zoya had returned to her bed before anyone noticed her missing. But she was wide awake. She felt guilty of accusing him of breaking his promise and at her outburst. She didn't know why she reacted that way. In any other situation and for anyone else, she could think things through and react. But this time, she didn't think but simply reacted.

Almost half the day was gone, and Zoya had not heard from Aditya since he had left that night. She resisted calling and messaging him all morning. After everything, she figured that he would be busy with his family. After all, they needed him too. But by afternoon, she had given in. She had sent him a message and waited a few more minutes before calling him. Still no response. She tried again and waited a few minutes before trying again.

Now she was in her Zosh's office and staring at her phone. She had called him twelve times and god knows how many texts she had left. She sighed in frustration and threw the phone on the sofa.

She was now firmly seated at her desk and resolute not to pick up that darn phone from the sofa.

Noor walked into her appi's office, to find her giving a death stare to the sofa.

"Aapi, why are you glaring at the sofa?"

"WHAT DOES HE THINK? THAT I AM JUST GOING TO SIT AND WAIT? THAT I WILL KEEP CALLING AND MESSAGING? WHAT DOES HE THINK OF HIMSELF?"

Zoya turned her glare towards Noor, who stood frozen and confused. Zoya took a deep breath.

"Why hasn't he replied? Or called? Have you heard from him?"

"Appi, from whom? Who are you talking about?"

"Aditya! Have you heard from Aditya? Is he okay?"

Noor smiled. Of course, she was talking about him, who else would she be this worked up over. But before she could respond, Zoya's phone pinged from the sofa. Zoya flew out of her chair and rushed to check her phone.

Her face fell. It hadn't been a reply from Aditya, but a message from Arshad. He was reminding her of their lunch plans. She sighed and threw the phone back on the sofa.

"What happened Appi? Did he not respond?"

Zoya slumped on her chair and look up gloomily.

"Abu bhi na! Where has be got me stuck? Zoya, he is a doctor. Zoya, he is so nice. Zoya, his family is so respectable. Zoya, he is perfect. Zoya, give him a chance. And until, I give Abu a solid reason as to why I don't want to marry Arshad, I have to keep giving him time. All parents are emotional terrorists. How do you I get out of this?"

Noor laughed at her sister's dilemma. Here she was avoiding a courtship with a doctor and on the other hand completely blind to a love she had labelled as friendship. How can someone be so smart to run her own company, and yet be so unaware.

"Is he coming?"

"I DON'T KNOW. HE HASN'T EVEN MESSAGED!!"

"Huh? Di, I mean that message you just got from Arshad, not Aditya."

"Oh, yeah. He should be here in a few minutes"

"Let me try calling Arjun, maybe he knows where Aditya is"

"Forget it! He should be the one calling"

Noor nodded and started walking out.

"Wait! Fine, call Arjun. But if Aditya is there, tell him I don't want to talk to him"

She sat back with her arms crossed and watched Noor dial the number.

"Hi Arjun.."

Zoya got out of her seat and leaned closer to Noor to better eavesdrop.

"Appi, phone mein ghuss jao"

Zoya glared at Noor, causing Noor to burst out in laughter.

"Zoya!"

Zoya turned to find Arshad standing at the door.

"These are for you"

Arshad held out a bouquet of red roses.

"Di, Aditya is on the phone"

Zoya grabbed the bouquet and placed them on the chair before nabbing the phone from Noor.

"Arshad just give me a minute. I just want to make sure Aditya is feeling okay"

"Aditya, are you okay? What did the doctor day? Is it still bleeding? Does it hurt?..."

"Breathe, Zoya, breathe. Its not bleeding, just hurts occasionally. Doctor said to keep an eye and change the dressing. But otherwise, I am okay."

"You and I have very different definitions of okay. I want to see for myself. Come to lunch?"

Arshad looked up at this, but Zoya was still too focused on the call.

"Zoya, I am a little busy today. We can go another time"

"No! Arshad is also here for lunch. We can order something in the office. Come, please!"

"Zoya, please try to understand, I have a few things to take care of today..."

Arshad came to stand next to Zoya.

"Zoya, you shouldn't force someone. If Aditya can't come today, maybe another time"

It pinched Aditya that he had spoken between them and could picture Zoya's sunken face.

"It's okay, Aditya. We can go another..."

"No, Zoya. I will be there." And with that, Aditya hung up.

Whatever their relationship was, friendship, one-sided love, and whatever in between, it was theirs. Zoya's and his. Aditya clenched his fist. Arshad had no right to speak in between. He had given Zoya a right over him. She could make demands, outlandish and childish as they may be. But she could. And Arshad had no say or right in it.

The Chinese food had arrived and Zoya and Arshad were seated on the sofa. Zoya glanced at her untouched plate and back at the door. Aditya wasn't here yet, but he would be. He said would be.

"Zoya, are you listening?"

"Oh sorry, Arshad. I was just lost in thought."

"That's okay. I was just saying that it's amazing how well you handle this company. To think you came from a small town, and you made so much of yourself in this big city..."

Zoya had zoned out again. The first step and every step after, to make this company into something, Aditya had been by her side. At first, she hated the sight of him. He was only a reminder of the biggest betrayal and an annoyance in her life. She thought of him as rude, cruel and completely childish. She had been so wrong. He was...like no one she had encountered. Though he was childish, but now his antics made her smile.

Aditya walked into Zoya's office. He watched quietly for a moment. Arshad was sitting a bit too closely and had a charming smile as he talked. He overheard the words "amazing" and "beautiful". Aditya's blood boiled. Dr. Arshad was flirting, or at least trying. He was showering compliments, but apparently to deaf hears. Zoya was staring at the ground with a small smile, lost in her thoughts. Still, Aditya could not take their proximity or his flirting. Without another thought, Aditya walked out in blind rage.

Noor rushed into the office.

"Appi, why did Adtiya leave?""

"WHAT? He is here? Where?"

"I just saw him walkout. I thought he came to see you, but he left."

Zoya grabbed her phone and dialed his number. Why did he leave? Did something happen? Zoya couldn't understand him for the past few days. It irked her. She prided herself of the fact that she knew her best friend. Knew his moods, his personality, and all of him. But lately, he was behaving strangely. The worry was eating at her and she just needed to see him. Like last time, she would not let him sneak away.

He did not pick up the phone. She pressed redial. Arshad held her arm.

"Zoya, you have tried enough. Leave it for now"

She ignored him and dialed again.

"Arshad, I will talk to you later. I am worried about him. Something is wrong. I can feel it. Please try to understand, I need to address this first. We can talk later. Please."

Arshad conceded. He left as Zoya was still on her phone.

She kept trying his number with her worry growing by the second. She couldn't help as the tears strolled down.

"Aapi, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Noor wiped the tears and took the phone out of Zoya's hand.

"I just don't understand. He left. Something is wrong, I can feel it. It feels like last time. As if, without a word he is leaving again. And again, I am too late in understanding him and in stopping him. I can't lose him again."

Noor grabbed the glass of water and gave it to her.

"He isn't going anywhere. Something must have come up. Please try to be calm."

Noor forced her sister onto the chair. "I will see if Arjun knows what happened. But appi, if Aditya promised you, then he would never break it. You and I both know that"

Zoya nodded but was still unconvinced.

Aditya had walked out and straight into the car. He smashed his fist against the steering. He imagined them sitting together, feeding each other, smiling at one another. His imagination was his worst enemy in this moment. He closed his eyes and felt the sting of his tears. He couldn't take much more of this. Zoya had tied him with a promise. But she would have to understand. If she was walking away from him, with another man, he would not watch her leave. He would leave before that happened. She would have to release him from her promise.

He started the car but turned it off just as quickly. He spotted Arshad walking out of the office and he looked visibly pissed off. Arshad walked with fury, kicking the stones in his path. Aditya smiled. He wasn't sure as to what had transpired, but whatever it was had made Arshad mad. Aditya's smile grew even bigger.

Aditya ran back to Zosh, with a large smile.

"Zoya!"-Aditya barged into her office.

Zoya sprung out her chair and ran to him. She crushed him into a hug.

"Where were you? Why did you leave?"

"Woh..I came but then had forgotten my wallet in the car."- God, even to his own ears that sounded pathetic. Zoya let him go and glared at him. Yeah, he was in trouble.

She grabbed Arshad's bouquet from the chair and threw it at him.

"YOUR WALLET?? REALLY??? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE CALLS? THE MESSAGES? You know how worried I was?"

"Sorry! Zoya, actually my phone..."

"No! I am not talking to you"

"Zoyaaa..."

She turned and went back her seat. She refused to look his way. He turned the chair to face him.

"Zoya"

She turned her face away. His face softened. Haye, she was so cute angry.

"Zoya..."

She still did not turn to look at him. He sighed and took the seat right in front of her. He would wait her out. She had to look at him sometime. Zoya refused to turn, but it was becoming harder. Plus, she hadn't eaten, and her stomach was on the verge of giving her up. Aditya gave her a toothy grin when he heard her stomach growl. She growled at him in return.

Aditya winked at her. And her mouth hung open.

"You can't ignore me for long. You have to talk to me sometime"

"Hmm"

Aditya grabbed the red sharpie from her desk and reached across to quickly nab her hand.

"HEY!!"

He ignored her and started scribbling on her hand. She tried to pull her hand back, but he held firm. He let go of her hand and smugly leaned back into his chair.

Damn him! He had written his name on her hand and that too in big letters.

"Start, Ms. Siddiqui, start the scolding and that too in pure, old-time heavy Urdu."

She opened her mouth and shut it again. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Zoya, I am warning you. Talk to me now, otherwise..."

She looked at him and looked away quickly.

"Fair warning then"

He grabbed a sunflower from the vase on the desk and stood up. She watched him, as he took slow, careful strides towards her. He kneeled and turned her chair towards him. He brought his face close to hers. Her eyes grew bigger and her breathing stalled.

Aditya smiled, and tucked her hair behind her ear. He came closer, and she inched away. He moved in even more. He lifted his hand and placed it on her cheek. He felt her growing warmer and saw her blush appear. He smiled and held out the sunflower. She took it in both hands and looked up at him. She couldn't break away from his stare.

"Aditya"

She had meant it as a warning, but it came out husky instead. She tried again.

"Aditya, what are you doing?"

"Flirting, Zoya. I am flirting with you."

Her mouth hung open and she shied away.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to see"

He wanted to see if she was unaffected by all flirting, like with Arshad. Or was there an affect he had on her. He had gotten his answer. He smiled and released her from his stare.

He sat on the corner of her desk and grabbed her hand. He placed his broken phone in her palm.

"My phone was a martyr in the riots. Calls and messages come through, and it vibrates and rings. But the screen is completely black. So, I knew someone was messaging and calling, but I had no way of knowing who it was."

"Oh"

"Oh. Now, I am starving and there are noodles. And considering you attacked me with bouquet, the least you can do is feed me"

Aditya moved to the table and began setting a plate for himself. Zoya smiled at the sunflower and looked up at Aditya. She had no idea what had happened in the past few moments. She had gone from one end of that emotional spectrum to the other. But whatever had happened, she was smiling like mad. He was right. She did owe him. The least she could was feed him.

After lunch, Zoya had been smiling non-stop for the entire day. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened, but she just felt happier. Hadn't even realized when the day had ended. And now, the Siddiqui household had finished dinner and Noor and Zoya had retired to their bedroom. But Zoya was not sleepy at all. She sat in bed, staring at the sunflower on her bedside table and smiling at Aditya's antics.

"Is that the flower that Arshad gave you?"

"Huh? Oh no, this is..."

She flashed back to the moment Aditya had given it to her and how close he had come. She blushed, but still had that smitten smile.

"No, uhm Arshad's bouquet that...well it kind of fell"

It was partly true. Technically, the flowers had fallen...after she had attacked Aditya with them. She wondered if he had already fallen asleep, and if not what he was up to. She glanced at the watch...it was 12. It was late, or rather very, very early!! Still, she was allowed to bother him. She grabbed her phone, and contemplated dialing Arjun's number. Though, she shouldn't bother Arjun. Damn, why did Aditya's phone have to break?

Zoya was startled when her phone started ringing. She quickly picked up before she missed the call.

"Hello, Arjun?"

"Hello, and no. It's Arjun's brother. I borrowed his phone"

Zoya broke into a grin.

"I was just thinking about you..."

Zoya bit a lip. She hadn't meant to say that. God, her big mouth.

"You were thinking about me, huh?"

"No, I mean I was just thinking about ice cream and thought I could drag you with me. But, your phone...anyway want to go for ice cream? I can come pick you up"

"How about you come downstairs?"

Zoya sprang out of her bed, excited

"You are outside!!! I will be right down"

Zoya quickly let Noor know that she was heading out and ran downstairs.

Aditya, dressed in his casual night hoodie, leaned against the hood of the car. He couldn't help, but smile. She had been thinking about him. He had thought there was no hope. No hope for the future he had dreamt of, with her. But now, it felt within reach. He was trying not let his hopes up but was failing. He smiled as he saw her running towards him.

"How? How are you here?"

"Like you, I was also thinking about you and ice cream. So, I thought I would drive and see if you were still awake"

He held the door open for her.

"But unlike you, I can admit I was thinking of you"

Aditya smiled smugly, and before Zoya could respond, he closed her door. Aditya won this round, but she wouldn't concede so easily. She vowed, she would also make him speechless too.

Zoya, leaned against the hood, and watched Aditya get their ice cream from the vendor. This was the old Aditya. The one with childlike wonder in his eyes, mischievous antics, and all heart. He was cute. And handsome, considering the admiring glares he got from the female gender. But today, or rather yesterday in her office, she felt his intensity. He may have been trying to get her to talk to him and up to his antics, but the intensity she saw in his eyes...well that couldn't have just been...it felt real. What scared her was that that she didn't shy away from it. That intensity didn't cause fear, but rather excitement.

"Here you go"

Aditya gave Zoya her two cones of mango ice cream and began attacking his own. Zoya watched him.

"That's not tutti frutti ice cream." Zoya accusingly asked him.

"Ahh, observant Ms. Zoya. You are correct, it is not"

And with that, he went back to his ice cream. He knew the curiosity would bother her, and he took great pleasure in that. He was aware of her was watching him and ignoring her own ice cream. He deliberately took a slow bite and let out a delighted sigh. He wondered how long she would last before asking.

"Which flavour is that?"

Not long, apparently. Aditya bit back his smile and looked up at her in confusion.

"Huh?"

"What flavor is that?"

"Well, some of us, that are not too boring, like to try different flavors. This, my dear Zoya, is roasted pistachio and chocolate chip"

With that, he took another satisfying bite. God, it was fun teasing her. She pouted and stared as he took another bite. She looked back at her two mango cones and back at his ice cream. She opened her mouth and closed it. She could totally ignore him and enjoy her own ice cream. She took her first bite, but still thought about his. Zoya sighed. Forget it.

"Can I try?"

Aditya held out his cone and she took a bite. Before she could grab another, he quickly took it back.

"HEY!"

"Hey back"

Aditya was smiling smugly. He was going to make her ask, wasn't he? Zoya took a deep breath and put on a pleasant smile.

"Aditya, can we trade? I will give you one of my mango cones for yours? Please!"

Of course, he would trade with her. But that didn't mean he wouldn't make her wait. So, he pretended to ponder her offer.

"Fine, but on one condition"

"I am listening"

"At the end, I get to have one last bite of this ice cream"

"Deal"

Zoya grabbed his cone and took a bite. His choice was better. Aditya attacked that mango ice cream with just as much enthusiasm.

"You know Zoya, what I have always wondered?"

"Hmm"

"After marriage, to let everyone know they are taken, girls get equipped with sindor, mangalsutr and so on. But us men, we continue to defend ourselves against single ladies. How is that fair?"

Zoya laughed and indulged him. She enjoyed his random and amusing thoughts. Secretly, she also got caught up in pondering over his thoughts.

"So, what? After you get married you want to wear sindor?"

"No, I won't need it. And neither will my wife"

Aditya confidently replied and took another huge bite of his ice cream.

"Really, and why is it that all the other men need it and you won't?"

He turned and stared at her with the same intensity she had felt earlier in the office.

"Because, when the entire world will look at me, I will only look at her. With a single glance, they will know I am taken. They will know by the way I will smile seeing her. By the way I will run to meet her every time. By the way I am aware of her presence, even if I am ignorant of everything else. They will know, even if she may not know, that I belong solely to her."

Zoya gulped. She hadn't realized when she had stopped breathing and her heart began racing.

"And why won't your wife need them?"

Before Aditya could respond, Zoya's phone pinged. The trance, and the moment were broken. Zoya cursed her phone but checked it anyway. Aditya turned his attention to his ice cream.

"Arshad, again"

Aditya nodded. Though, he wondered why Arshad was messaging her this late at night. But he held himself from prying. It would only cause him more anguish.

"You know, for Yash, I was consumed and blinded. I left my home, my family, and betrayed my own Abu. I can't even imagine the pain I caused. To know, the daughter you raised, whose every wish you fulfilled, and loved every moment of her life and she chose someone else over you."

Aditya wasn't sure what brought this on, but he shared her guilt. He placed his hand over hers and gave it a small squeeze. She continued.

"Yet, after all that he came as soon as he knew I needed him. He left everything and came rushing to be by my side. I promised myself, that this time I will prove to be his good daughter. To make him proud, and to follow his advice and wishes. And I was, I was his good, ideal daughter. But then he dropped the bomb and introduced Arshad. Aditya, people do it all the time, no? People marry, even if they aren't in love. They share a life, right? So, why can I seem to do it? For my Abu's sake, I should, shouldn't I?"

Aditya waited before responding. Though, she was asking him, she was staring straight ahead. She didn't seem to expect the answer to come from him. She seemed to be asking herself, instead. But, he held the answer. He jumped off the hood and stood in front of her. He placed both his hand on either side of her and stared directly at her.

"Zoya, if let's say, Arshad had come with you for ice cream..."

"Why would he come at this time? And that too for ice cream."

"Zoyaa!! Let's just say he had low blood sugar and desperately needed ice cream. And let's say you wanted to try the flavour he had, or he wanted to try the flavour you got. Would you share your ice cream with him?"

"NO!! No, that would be too weird."

"So, Abu's good daughter, if you can't even share an ice cream, how do you expect to share a life?"

Zoya's sat frozen, stunned. Aditya took the opportunity and slowly took a bite of her pistachio ice cream. With one last bite, he headed back in the car to wait for Zoya.

I'm sorry I haven't commented on the last part. It's just that it's hard for me to follow the updates without a pm.

Anyways, I absolutely loved it ❤️

There were too many of my favourite parts in this update. I don't even know where to begin.

The way you described Zoya's worry for Aditya was brilliant. Aditya is constantly on her mind and she doesn't even realize it. But everyone around can sense this. She gets restless when she isn't aware of Aditya's whereabouts.

AdiYa's ice cream date was too cute. They know each other too well. I loved how Aditya made her understand that she won't be able to spend her life with Arshad if she's not in love. The dialogues were amazing.

You've written this beautifully. Every emotion, every feeling, every sentence was wonderfully penned down. I absolutely loved it because the events between AdiYa seemed natural. Their feelings and love weren't forced. I could have easily imagined this happening in the show if this is the track they followed. ⭐️

Please continue soon

Loved it!!

Nice job dear

Continue soon please

Hi,

Thank you so much for comment. Honestly, I was thought that no one was reading the FF. So figured that I may not continue with it.

But then, your comment...thanks!!!

Sorry, i wish i was better at updating more often but don't get very much time. Will try harder.

Thank you so much once again!!