Chapter 1:
She slowly pushed the door open and walked in. It was dark inside, and with only her phone's flashlight breaking up the shadows, she was finding it hard to move faster than the faltering steps that led her into the foyer of the office.
Yash had spent almost half of their time together in this very office, yet this was the first time Zoya was seeing the place that had occupied so much of her dear husband's attention. The pristine workplace was bare of any personal details, so different that the home the two of them had built together. But then her gaze fell on the large sign behind the receptionist's desk.
Zosh Events. Zoya and Yash. Her heart gave a small tug at the memories the name brought. The excitement on Yash's face when he announced the opening of his company. The times they would sit together and discuss the happenings of the company. Although Zoya had never been a part of the business nor attended any events, she wanted to be a part of every aspect of Yash's life. And listening to him ramble on about irritating clients and inexperienced employees was all part of the equation.
As she continued into the center of the foyer, Zoya pushed down the treacherous thoughts that had weaved their way into her mind. Maybe that closeness had been a deception, perhaps she hadn't tried hard enough to make him happy. Maybe he had decided that someone else was better, more equipped to live the life he wanted for himself here in Mumbai.
Zoya shook her head, eyes desperately closed against the image of Yash and Pooja holding hands, of that Aditya Hooda berating her for her blind faith in her husband.
Perhaps it was the darkness surrounding her or the despair with which she was trying to push away thoughts of the betrayal. Or her mind was playing tricks on her, Aditya Hooda had called her crazy.
The faint smell of strawberries surrounded her, enveloped her. She quickly opened her eyes and raised her light to look around her.
There was the faint outline of a person sitting inside one of the offices adjoining the main room.
She staggered backwards. The front door had been locked, how had this person gotten in. Zoya quickly turned towards the door, which was still closed as she had left it. When she spun around, the figure was gone.
She quickly moved away from the lobby and into one of the offices at the end of the hallway. Quickly closing the door behind her, she took deep breaths.
It was only when her breathing slowed to normal that she saw the man sitting at the desk.
Yash?
He looked up and gave her a small smile. With tears running down her face, Zoya rushed towards him.
But in her haste, she knocked over a picture frame on a side table. When she looked up again, he was gone.
Spinning around, her eyes desperately searched for her husband. Until she remembered.
It was no wonder everyone thought she was losing her mind. The funeral had been this morning, and she had already forgotten.
The tears began falling more rapidly as Zoya saw the frame that had fallen from the table. Not caring to avoid the broken glass, Zoya picked up Yash's picture.
Holding it close, she went around the desk and took the coat hanging on the back of his chair. Taking a seat, she wrapped the coat around herself. Perhaps she was hoping to feel some of his warmth or some other indication of his presence, because when she found none, the tears became irrepressible.
By the time the tears stopped, her eyes were heavy with both misery and fatigue. Yet, sleep alluded her. She had always found it difficult to sleep without speaking to Yash, even if it was a short goodnight on nights when he was busy at work. How was she going to survive a lifetime without him?
Her eyes began to slowly close, the toll of the day's events overcoming the despair. As sleep began to take over, she heard a faint voice next to her ear.
"So jao Zoya, I'm right here
