Written in the stars: Adiya story Chapters updated - Page 2

Such a beautiful rendition to AdiYa's story dear!👏👏 I loved it soo much. So well written! 👏⭐️ I love your imagination and creativity. You thought of their young days...then conceived their whole scene in the ride... Absolutely fantastic!!!👏👏 please write more on AdiYa. You are a blessed writer mashaAllah... 👏😊😊

Thank you so much dear I am overwhelmed. Creative and gifted writers in this forum like you inspire me to write a little. Will definitely post more on Adiya and expect more great stories from you too dear.😳

'Appi aap thik hai? Ammi ko bhula du?' Noor climbed to her sister's bed after hearing faint sobs from her sister at the middle of the night. Noor carressed her appi's hair and offered warmth and comfort in a way only ten year old girls are capable of offering. Zoya quickly wiped her tears and knelt in front of her younger sister assuring her that everything was fine.

'I heard you were all alone up there in the ferris wheel had I been their I would never have left you alone appi.'

Noor started to cry herself clinging to her elder sister, Zoya hugged her tightly.

"Actually, I was not alone there my Kohinoor there was somebody who helped me overcome my fear."

Zoya started narrating to Noor everything that happened between her and that stranger. She knew that she could only disclose this secret to her little sister neither her ammi nor her best friends were aware of this incident.

'So, this boy saved your life appi and he was the same person who stole your truffle earlier? But no matter what you should be thankful to him.' Came the wise advice of a ten year old.

"But he shouted at me Noor" the moment she said it Zoya's voice started to crack a little and tears flooded her eyes.

Noor gently embraced her sister her small hands wiping her appi's tears.

'Appi, stop crying now, I will sleep in your bed here you hold mr bear and I will hug you.' Mr. bear was the fluffy brown companion that Noor was very possessive about, Zoya smiled a little realising how much her younger sibling cared for her. When they were comfortably settled in the bed Noor gently hummed the tune of the same nursery rhyme.

'Appi, how strange that he also knew the tune which our ammi used to sing for us.' Noor was in a kind of awe.

"All ammi's sing the same rhymes to their children Kohinoor" Zoya tried to reason out with her sister although her own head was spinning due to that extraordinary coincidence.

'You should thank him appi when you meet him next, buy him a Dutch truffle cake.' Noor drifted to sleep after the sound piece of advice. In that deep silence Zoya only wished that she would never meet that rude stranger again, that boy whose tenderly sang her childhood song to soothe her but had eyes that resembled blazing fire. She shut her eyes not wanting to recall an incident too chaotic for her understanding.

"Aaahhh" Pooja saw Adi pouting like a little boy when she applied ointment on his scratches.

"Pooja yaar dard hota hai" he acting like a little boy was the most endearing thing for her.

'Serves you right how dare you sit near any other girl'. Pooja said jokingly.

"Yaar kitni baar bolu tujhe ki woh ladki achanak se agayi. Why do people climb on that wheel if they are so scared." Pooja was taken aback by Adi's irritable mood.

'Adi tu gussa kyun kar raha hai?' Her soothing voice made him realise how rudely he had behaved.

"Pooja I'm sorry" he said softly.

'It's okay and the way you scolded her she will never come near you again'. Pooja said leaning her head on his shoulder unaware of the fact that her casual statement created a lump in his throat, not being able to see those big brown eyes glistening with tears, he hated himself for such a thought.

Aditya stared at the starry night from his window while the other boyes slept peacefully in the room. Sleep seemed faraway from him perhaps in that distant fairyland created by his mother for him when he was a little boy, the thought made him smile. After ages he revisited a childhood song triggering a chain of happy memories before the painful scars of recent years. His father left one fine day leaving him to take care of his mother and little brother only to come back casually one fine day breaking him to pieces when his mother accepted her husband who left for another woman. Tonight all of a sudden he sang soothingly for someone a stranger, a happy song reminding him of times without agony. Aditya leaned his head on the window shield his lips naturally curving into a smile while his fingers automatically dialled the number of his closest confidante.

"Who is this I am busy studying?" The lousy voice of his little brother made Adi chuckled.

'Hello Robin this is Bruce Wayne here, are you upset that Madrid will beat Barca again?'.

"Adi Bhai! Firstly, Barcelona is unbeatable and secondly why are you calling so late?".

'My only question why aren't you sleeping yet?' Aditya knew that Mr. Hooda was shrewdly trying to get Arjun to his side and to win him over he would bribe Arjun by letting him watch football matches late at night even though Arjun would have school in the morning. This angered Aditya to a great extent.

"Adi Bhai I heard you were an angry young man today Pooja di was pretty upset."

'Arey, Pooja bhi na' Adi should have known that news reaches his brother very quickly.

'My question is why do people have to get into the ferris wheel if they are scared?' Adi's annoyance had returned.

"Bhai stop it now, why bother you don't even know that girl and she must have forgotten about you till now."

Somehow Arjun's careless statement pricked his heart, the idea of he being driven to oblivion by that girl with big brown eyes was unsettling to him.

'Achha forget about all this do you remember the song ma used to sing for us?'

Adi hummed the song leaving Arjun completely shocked.

"Bhai, what are you smoking in Mussoorie?" Arjun's comment made him feel very stupid about himself.

He tried to brush of his previous question by asking about the usual school stuff. When he hung up Adi sighed and looked up at the clear night sky with innumerable stars shimmering throughout. Adi wished he forgot what happened that evening and from the other part of the town Zoya looked up at the sky and wished that she never had to sing the nursery rhyme again.

Aditya and Zoya did not meet after the ferris wheel incident, after enjoying his vacation Adi came back to Mumbai when tragedy struck him oneore time. Zoya on the other hand came to Mumbai to pursue her college education.

Many years ago when Adi was a little boy his mother had placed him warmly in her lap and narrated a bedtime story.

"You know Cheeku once upon a time there was a young prince whose mother had gone to God because she was very sick and the prince was always sad" Adi would clasp his mother tighter when she said so.

'Phir Kya hua Ma?' He would be both curious and frightened.

"Phir usey rotah dekh bhagwanji ne ek pari ko bheja uske pass".

'Pali Kya hota hai mumma?' Arjun would lisp.

"Pari woh hoti hai jo sabko bad times ko good times banati hai chotey" Adi would inform his brother.

Many years later, in the feverish condition Adi recalled this story out of nowhere, he was shivering a lot and he flashbacks of his Ma, Arjun and himself sharing the story clouded his fever stricken mind.

He suddenly felt his head resting on a warm lap while a soft pair of hands carressed his forehead.

"Ma, don't leave me alone" Adi frantically uttered his whole body shaking violently.

'Sshhh, aap aankh bandh kijiye kuch nahin hoga main hoon apke pass.' The voice was deep raspy and feminine.

He clasped her hands tighter nuzzling his head into her lap,

"No... please you don't go anywhere, tum pari ho na woh ma ki kahani wali I will not let you go anywhere."

Having said this Aditya drifted into a deep sleep, he dreamt of a green field with a pond where a younger version of himself was chasing a little girl, both giggling along with the gurgling brook.

Zoya Siddiqui opened her eyes as the sun rays spread through the window, her back ached for she had been leaning on the wall for the whole night. She looked down to find his face nuzzled in her stomach, she frantically tried to detach herself from him. She grew concious even when nobody was present, this much of close physical proximity was a little overboard for an eighteen year old who never had a boyfriend. Zoya placed her hand on his forehead the fever had gone, she had recognized his face at an instant when she flipped his fevered body. Shocked. Was an understatement for Zoya, that boy from the fair in Mussoorie happened to be Harsh uncle's son, Aditya.

"Zoya, how is Adi now?". She heard Harsh uncle's voice as he rushed towards her son's lying form. He was followed by a boy wearing spectacles probably a little younger than her, Zoya's eyes met Arjun's and he instantly helped her to detach Adi's sleeping form from her.

'Bhai, chodiye inhe yeh kahin nahin ja rahi hai itna kaske pakad kyun rahe hai' Harsh gave a firm look to his younger son while Arjun was smiling teasingly and Zoya blushed like never before.

"Zoya beta thank you so much for calling the doctor yesterday, I am sorry for the trouble I did not know Adi will come home he never informs and Arjun emotionally blackmailed me to take him to a football match which made him stay out overnight."

'It is perfectly alright uncle, you don't worry he will recover soon'. Zoya clasped Harshvardhan's hands and smile assuringly. At that moment Harsh's phone rang, by the greetings Zoya knew it was her abbu and immediately realised how worried her parents might be back home in Mussoorie. Harsh handed her the phone,

"Zoya, beta aap thik toh hai na phone kyun nahin receive Kiya?" Wasim Siddiqui was agitated.

'Nahin abbu I am fine and tell ammi not to be worried college is fine'.

After talking to her daughter Roshnaq was much relieved that Zoya was adjusting to her new life in Mumbai. At first they we're apprehensive about sending her so faraway to study but knowing that Hooda family would be there they were much relieved.

"I wish Zoya could be shifted to a hostel soon Roshnaq", Wasim breathed out.

'Wasim, don't say such things we will shift her into one but till then she can stay with Harsh bhaijajan's family.'

"But after what happened to Anjana ji..."

'Wasim...' his wife abruptly interrupted her and their conversation was left incomplete as Noor came from school complaining about strict rules of her school.

It had been two weeks since Zoya Siddiqui landed in Mumbai with her parents and younger sister. They had stayed with her for a week and went away, the Hooda Mansion was huge but Mumbai was bigger. She felt lonely in the city although she met a few friends at college. Everything was new to her, it was all about adjusting in this unknown place, at college lectures happened at a faster pace and she had to put in extra effort to catch up. In the morning she had to take extra time to get dressed for she was out of her school uniform for the first time. At home Harsh uncle was extremely sweet but barely at home leaving her all to herself with servants, she had heard he had two sons but could only see their photographs and there were only younger days pictures of the older son. The same ferris wheel boy was Aditya Hooda Harsh uncle's elder son whose feverish rant had woken her up last night urging her to put a brave face in that thunderous night and help him recover.

Aditya opened his eyes to meet those big brown eyes he often involuntarily recollected even after a year or so had passed. He tried to raise his head only to realise that his whole body was in a painful spree.

'Adi Bhai I thought you were coming today anyways how are you feeling now?' Arjun was worried as he adjusted Adi's pillows.

Adi did not hear a word spoken by his brother as he continuously gazed at the girl holding the soup.

'Oh, sorry Zoya this is my Bhai future Captain Aditya Hooda and Bhai this is Zoya Siddiqui from Mussoorie Pa's old friends daughter she will be staying with us for her studies.'

"Will be staying only till I get a hostel," Zoya corrected.

'She really took care of you bhai, you should thank her'. Arjun left the room to receive a call leaving the two of them to themselves in the room.

She placed the soup in front of him looking everywhere but not at him whereas he could not stop staring at her.

"You should drink this you will feel better" her voice came out as a whisper.

He silently obeyed her but his fingers were too weak to hold the spoon, she gently took it from him and slowly fed him the soup.

"Thank you" he muttered softly, she looked at him for the first time and she smiled making his heart remember a sunny morning long time ago.

'I should thank you too for that day in Mussoorie'. She noticed the cringe on his eyes when he smiled, uninhibited she started feeding him the soup and he ate happily as if they were not strangers. It was only when she started wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin that a wave of uncomfort crashed on the shores of their inner being. Both of them did not know for how long they looked into each other's eyes it was only the sudden opening of the door that proved to be a rude shock to both of them.

'Adi' Zoya suddenly saw a girl encircling her arms around him crying all the way.

"I am okay Pooja, don't worry" he gently patted her head.

Pooja was accompanied by a lady probably her mother who looked extremely worried for him. Arjun introduced Zoya to Sakshi aunty and her daughter Pooja, both were affectionate to her. Pooja did not seem to recognize her nevertheless Zoya found Pooja extremely beautiful.

Later that night Harsh came to see his son but stopped at the door seeing him smile with Pooja and her mother.

"Uncle why don't you go inside he is doing well now." Zoya asked Harsh.

'Nahin beta tum nahin samjho gi he will get angry seeing me, he loves Pooja and Sakshi ji is like his mother let him be with people he cares about'. The sadness in his voice could not be missed.

Zoya did not know the family history of the Hooda's and was not interested also but the pain in Harsh's tired face reminded Zoya of her abbu back home and there was an instant knot in her throat.

"Okay, uncle then let's have dinner together" Harsh smiled and nodded in agreement.

Adi was like Sakshi's own son she loved him as much as she loved Pooja her daughter, she was well aware of Adi's pain and just as her daughter wanted to protect him from all the hurt. She affectionately stroke his hair as Adi enjoyed her pampering while Pooja teased him continuously.

'Ma stop pampering him so much' Pooja teased.

"Haan aunty Bhai has turned into a little baby he wants to hear a story I guess which one Bhai?" Arjun joined Pooja at pulling his brothers leg.

"Paahad se aayi pari aur ek akele rajkumar wali na Bhai." Pooja and Arjun bursted out laughing unable to see the darkness in Adi's face at that time Zoya opened the door calling everyone for dinner.

Aditya fisted his hands tightly on the quilt remembering his ma's story, his ma's face, tears and finally those doe eyes from Mussoorie her gentle touch. He wanted to throw things, he wanted to be near his ma and he also wanted Zoya to sit next to him without being interrupted. Aditya closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep.

It was early morning as Zoya got ready for college, it had been a week since Aditya had come home from his flying college but she hardly saw him. Most of the times he was outside with his friends and when at home he would spent his time with Arjun,

'Zoya come and join us' Arjun would politely ask at times but Aditya would rudely interrupt saying,

"Chhotey girls don't enjoy playing Xbox keep her out of the game." He would hardly look at her face.

However, good things were happening in Zoya's life Nandini and Mauli her best friends had promised to come to Mumbai during vacation. She made few friends, Zoya even got her name enrolled in dramatic society where her close friend was Siddhanth Modi.

One morning she went to the breakfast table to find only Adi and Arjun,

"Zoya, the car is outside" Arjun smiled but he was interrupted Midway by Adi.

'Today I need the car, public transport is not a problem in Mumbai'.

"Bhai what's wrong with you, dad has assigned the car for Zoya's college" Arjun sounded a little annoyed at his big brother.

'Arjun Sakshi ma needs to go somewhere' Adi replied with gritted teeth.

"It's okay Arjun I will take the metro". Zoya cut the boyes short.

'Shehzadi hogi apni abbu k gharme yahan nahin' she hear Adi distinctly. Tears brimmed in her eyes but Zoya would not let people like Aditya win. She went to the metro station, searched for her route and went inside all on her own.

Arjun went to school fretting and fuming at his brother and met Sakshi aunty on the way.

"Beta is Adi at home" she asked.

'No aunty I thought he came to pick you up you're going somewhere aren't you?' Arjun looked confused.

"Where will I go infact I came here to invite you kids for dinner at our place".

Arjun was more confused than ever.

The dark hood and darker wayfarers made him unrecognizable in the crowd, he saw her nervously entering the metro and before he could think she flashed a sparkling smile at a nearby girl. She started chattering at the group probably her college friends, he stood their smiling glad to see her coming out of her shell.

"Shehzadi kahin ki" he smirked to himself.

Zoya heard a thrashing sound from her room at the evening, she rushed to see Aditya placing his hand on his cheek whereas Harshvardhan stood there angrily.

"Bhaisaab bas ho gaya bacha hai" Sakshi pleaded.

'What was he thinking Sakshi ji? Agar Zoya ko kuch ho ja ta toh main Wasim ko kya jawab deta?' All hell had broken lose for Harshvardhan.

"Had you been this concerned about out family Mr. Hooda" Adi looked at his father challengingly.

'Listen Adi don't you dare think you will get away from this by bringing our family' Harsh was almost growling at his elder son.

"Uncle, please don't be angry at Aditya actually I have a friend who boards the metro every morning I went with her infact there are many people from my college who travel by the metro." Zoya interrupted their heated discussion.

She was more than thankful to Sakshi aunty and Pooja for pacifying both the men.

Zoya then and there decided that she will call home in the morning asking her abbu to arrange for an accommodation near her college.

Aditya sat beneath the stars at the terrace his famous spot ever since he remembered, these innumerable glistening stars made him realise that he could not run away from his agony no matter how hard he tried. He would feel defeated at the same time safe beneath these stars that were hazy.

The cold air made him realise that she was standing behind him with silence ruling supreme between the two.

"I will be going away soon, you don't have to worry. Please don't ruin your holidays and relationships because of me." Having said this Zoya was about to leave when she heard him speak almost a whisper without turning towards her.

'No need of your drama as it is I will be leaving for my training soon will come to meet my loved ones only after eight months you stay in this God forsaken place'.

She was annoyed at his rudeness yet she did not utter a word.

"You will stay here, I will go". His voice was hoarse and dry.

'Why are you forcing me to stay?' Zoya was annoyed because he had such confusing stand on one hand she knew he hated her like no one else and on the other hand he did not want her to leave his house.

"Why do you ask so many questions?" Aditya spat with gritted teeth.

Zoya was emotionally drained by his rudeness so she rushed to her room only to find several missed calls from home.

'Appi where were you?' Noor complained when she called back.

"I was outside in the terrace my Kohinoor" Zoya replied smilingly.

'Wow, star gazing Appi how romantic', squeled her thirteen year old sister for whom 'romance' seemed to be the best created word in human history.

No Noor fighting with that monster Aditya Hooda she wanted to scream but restrained herself.

'But Appi I heard you hardly see stars in Mumbai due to air pollution how did you star gazed? Noor was curious.

"There might be just a few stars seen here unlike in Mussoorie but you know Noor you get the satisfaction that the stars are shining even though its lurking behind the Mumbai skyline."

'That is too deep a thought appi' Zoya heard her little sister chuckle on the other side of the phone.

Outside in the terrace Aditya Hooda realised to his much irritation that only fools live in stories, he chanted to himself repeatedly that there are no angels just as he was not a scared little boy anymore, just as stars could hardly be seen from the Bombay sky although he knows it's there and just as he decided that he will never like crossing path with Zoya although he could not help but want her atleast near him.

For the next few months Aditya buried himself in his flying training, never being the studious type he missed Pooja extensively during his study time. Apart from that because of his athletic built he enjoyed the rigorous physical training during the session. Pooja and Arjun along with his father and Sakshi aunty were regular visitors, Adi would wait impatiently for the visit of his loved ones. Over the course of time realisation dawned him that although he loved his family and Pooja and Sakshi aunty he was a loner at heart. During those late nights when his muscles ached due to physical training tears would run down his cheeks remembering his ma and her stories. He would take out his ma's small picture and place it close to his heart he would say,

"You lied to me Ma there are no fairies, she does not even send me her regards, she hates me ma and I hate myself for being so emotionally fragile".

Aditya would regret his weeping every morning resolving to be a stronger person for his loved ones. Times flew and soon it was time for his vacations, Adi had missed his Pooja and Arjun terribly deep inside he felt extremely glad to see his father but he did not express. Home was warm and welcoming and Sakshi Aunty's delicious lunch and laughter in the table made him realise how much family meant. The only thing that bothered him was his hesitancy in asking about Zoya even to his brother.

The club was thumping with the sound of a beat that Aditya did not recognize, Pooja and Arjun had gushed about the DJ who was playing throughout the car ride. He met a lot of his old college friends and Adi was more than happy with the reunion. Pooja pulled him by his hand and guided him to the center of the dance floor, she looked beautiful as she danced, his heart was always filled with happiness whenever she smiled. While dancing Pooja eye signalled him when he followed her gaze he saw his younger brother happily dancing with a girl. Both of them moved towards Arjun's direction out of curiosity, his eyes could not believe what it was witnessing, the shy baby brother of his was holding a girl's hand and whispering something in her ears. Adi could not hold his curiosity so he made his way towards his Arjun and this special lady.

"Kyun Chotey apne date se bhai ka introduction nahin karwage?" Adi's smile wiped out the moment Arjun turned his back revaealing her face, Zoya excitedly hugged Pooja and nobody noticed Aditya's clenched jaws.

'Bhai you already know Zoya Siddiqui the girl I can't help but crush on of course she has ruthlessly 'bro zoned' me.'

Zoya nudged Arjun's stomach while laughing with Pooja, at that moment two girl's made their way from the crowd to stand next to them.

"Zo, thank you for being our best friend Mumbai's party scene is epic". One of them turned towards Aditya and was about to blurt out something but Zoya quickly intervened and started to introduce everyone to each other. When the next song was played Pooja and Adi started to dance,

'Zo isn't he the same guy we met in Mussoorie?' Her best friends were eager to know.

"Sshhh...girl's please Pooja di does not recognize us and Arjun has no clue about anything and I want it to remain that way."

'Lekin kyun? He just saved you it's not like you two were...'

"Hello ladies what do you think about that beautiful couple dancing out there my Adi Bhai and Pooja bhabi they are couple goals" Arjun was neither able to hold his enthusiasm nor his drink.

Zoya turned towards her best friend's smiling and were taken aback by their blank expression, she wanted to question but Arjun pulled her to the dance floor.

'I missed you Adi' Pooja said while leaning her head on his shoulder, he smiled at her gently ,

"I missed you more, you Sakshi aunty and Arjun are my only family. I love you so much my best friend". He took her into a warm embrace, when he opened his eyes he saw Zoya dancing with a stranger guy. Aditya noticed her for the first time the raven black hair was falling below her shoulder and the guy was running his hand through her sleeveless shoulder. He felt like ripping that dolt into two pieces, Arjun and Pooja started dancing together not noticing Adi moving like a predator towards the guy what infuriated Adi was the uncomfort in Zoya's face. He clasped her hand while giving a slight push to the guy a signal well understood by the dude.

"Why can't you stay away from trouble do you need to be saved all the time?" Saying this he dashed out of the club. Zoya could not control her tears anymore she hated herself for being so weak. Why was she always in distress whenever Aditya Hooda was around? His rudeness shocked her but what astounded her was her never failing distress when he was around making him save her all the time. She was hurt, her head reeled due to the cocktail round she proudly won against her best friends how she regreted her victory now, she ended up heading outside the club.

Throughout the rest of the night Aditya just sulked in one corner of the club occasionally gulping a beer although he hated alcohol and always advised others about health concerns due to alcohol but he himself did not know what got inside him tonight.

"Bhai Zoya is missing we cannot find her anywhere." Arjun's words were enough to switch on his panic mode.

'You all leave I will get her don't worry.'

He ran upstairs guided by intuition he barged into the dimly lit terrace calling out her name madly, running towards her unconscious form sitting at the corner with knees clasped to her chest Aditya grabbed her into his arms.

"No, you are not supposed to leave me I will not let you leave me" he chanted gathering her in his arms, his voice was that of a stubborn boy not letting go of his favourite toy.

'Aap humse itni nafrat kyun karte hai?' her feeble voice awoke him from his trance.

"I am so sorry for making you feel that way I can never hate you please forgive me."Aditya swiftly carried her in his arms.

He brought her home and was glad that Arjun had brought everyone to the Hooda house, Adi placed her gently in the middle of his bed instinct drove his hand towards her face to remove her hair from his face but at that very moment people rushed towards her sleeping form slowly pushing him towards the corner. Aditya rushed out of that place terrified by his own actions, why did he feel so scared of losing her? The question made his head spin and heart race faster.

Its beautiful amazing