Chapter 5
Once, we decided to disperse, Rahul offered to drop Katherine and me. I politely declined. Maahi is supposed to pick me up in another few minutes. My mobile started giving out breaking news alerts regarding flash riots in the city.
"Zoya, there seems to be some trouble in the south side of the city. I think you guys should proceed before it gets worse. Call your friend and ask where she is"
Rahul seemed concerned and that got me worried too. Maahi is on the road. At least I am here in the Office, safe.
Rahul and Katherine were reluctant to leave me alone in the parking lot, but Maahi is on the way and she would be here anytime. So I urged them to go and they left. I realized my folly exactly five minutes after they left. The parking lot was frighteningly empty and even my breath echoed in here. Here, my mobile also doesn't catch the signals so I had to walk outside a little to connect to Maahi.
"Maahi, I am outside. Do not come to the parking lot."
She screamed from the other end.
"Are you crazy? There are riots everywhere. Crazy people are vandalizing everything. The ally near your Office is the center point. Police have barricaded the road. I am stuck Zoya. For heaven's sake, go inside."
Before disconnecting the call she reassured me. "I am ok baby. Sanjay is with me. You take care. Stay indoors. please"
"OK Ok...Let me go inside. Don't panic baby. Now I am inside the Office. No worries."
I cursed her stars for not taking up Rahul's offer to drop me home. The lift area was empty and I was not sure where to go. Bollywood Vista Office would still be open with a skeleton staff at the media room. I don't have the access to enter though. I can be inside the common reception area till Maahi comes. There will be mobile charging points as well.
I dashed to the lift to get to the BV Office. When the lift opened on the BV floor, my entire world froze around me. A man in Orange sleeveless hoodie is standing near the magazine stand casually flipping through a magazine.
Aditya Hooda again.
How long he has been here? Why is he inside BV Office? Why didn't I see him a few minutes before when I left?
The denseness of our previous encounter rushed to my mind and I moved forward in a robotlike motion. Can I change my course and go without him seeing me? It's too late now. Hearing my footsteps, Aditya turned and looked straight into my eyes.
His brown eyes, I feel like I am seeing it for the first time. They are moist and had a spark that I never noticed before. He looked bright in his sleeveless orange hoodie. He stood there so casually still had that look of elegance in him. Well groomed and well toned, he looked like a hero who just came out of the silver screen. I felt my insecurity taking cover and I stooped a little in the presence of such hauteur.
"Zoya" He muttered something inaudible. I could guess it might be cuss words specially reserved for me. Why me? why is he so obsessed over destroying my life? I could feel the anger flickering inside me. Is he here to threaten me again?
Cameras, here there are Cameras everywhere. He won't dare touch me inside the office of a media house. That thought emboldened me a little. I don't have to be scared of him anymore. I don't have to go to him anymore. I kept the knapsack on the side chair and moved towards the Sofa far away from Aditya. I may be a weakling who is scared to go to the police for help. But at least I can keep my self-respect. I sat down with renewed determination.
Aditya seemed to be surprised by the sudden change of course by me. Aditya Hooda might be used to people walking towards him all the time, not me!. He kept the magazine he was flipping and took a few strides towards me. He towered over me before demanding in his stern voice. I willed myself to look down and not look at him.
"Zoya, I want to talk to you" Without even waiting for my reply, Aditya grabbed my hand and with a slight pull made me stand up near to him.
"Listen to me, I want to talk to you". It was a command. I am not his subject and he is not my king. The sparks of anger inside her turned into a burning inferno. I pushed him with all my might, just like yesterday. But this time, he might have expected it, he hardly moved. I am not backing down today. I am done with this drama.
"What the hell, do you want! Isn't it enough that you ruined my life so far?" Unable to handle my hatred, my voice screeched.
"You think, you can buy everything and anything. Not Zoya Siddiqui. So far I was thinking of staying away from the tape and its legalities. But not anymore. You are a monster and you deserve punishment under the law." All I could think was the way he forced himself on me yesterday rendering me helpless.
"I will make sure you get what you deserve Aditya Hooda. I..." Struggling for breath, I stopped mid-sentence. Taking long and deep breaths to calm down my nerves, I looked at Aditya Hooda, who had an 'unbelievable' look on his face.
The anger fluttering in his eyes, I could feel it in my skin. He might be a hero, who is not used to reactions like this. I am also not less of a princess, I was always a princess to my Abbu. I don't deserve any of the shit that happened to me yesterday.
"You..." He grabbed my arm and pulled me closer.
His smell, the same smell which nauseated me yesterday hit me again. Unpleasantness spread all over my body. I grabbed the knapsack and in an effort to escape his clutches, pushed him again and again all in vain. He didn't move even slightly. His chiseled muscles moved as he holds both her arms while I tried to wriggle out.
"Zoya, listen"
I could hear him calling my name many times. But I never stopped my efforts to shove him off. I shut him off completely and now I hardly hear him. With each passing second, I realized my folly that I can physically overpower him. It exhausted me completely trying to jostle my way out. Tears, which I was holding off since morning flooded my eyes now. The sheer panic of yesterdays nightmare, the embarrassment in the morning, the feeling of homelessness, a flood of emotions hit me hard and I could no longer hold it. I cried inconsolably.
I could feel his hands leaving me instantly. The sudden change in my temperament might have taken him by surprise. But I can't control my feelings anymore. Tears blurred my sight and I slumped down on the sofa.
***
Aditya gulped at the sight of Zoya sobbing lightly on the Sofa. He never intended to harm her or threaten today. All he wanted to do was to make amends for yesterday. The sudden outburst of Zoya triggered his temper and the whole plan flopped. He was unsure of what to do next.
The lift opened with a ticking sound and a set of uniformed guards rushed to BVs Office. He was taken aback by the sound of their heavy boots, but then he realized it's his own private security guards. Shah might have called them. Zoya hurriedly wiped the tears with her Dupatta and stood up to see what's all this commotion is about. For once he was happy with his security guards for entering at the correct time.
"What happened?"
"You might be aware that, there is a riot going on in a colony a few meters away from this building. Police have quarantined that place. Shah sir has instructed us to keep you safe here, not take you to the streets till the riots are over." .One security guard answered mechanically.
Aditya just nodded. Zoya, whose heart started beating faster now, looked at Aditya and his casual expression. These rich people think that they are above and beyond all the violence that's happening below. Why should he worry, when he has an army of people to look after him.
Maahi...Zoya's heart sank and she took out her mobile to call Maahi. Her mobile has no network at all. Police might have jammed the network in the problem zone. She can use the reception phone if security has not locked it.
"Sir, Please come with us to the top floor. The building has no security on the first few floors and the rioters are around the street. We have the keys to the penthouse. Please stay there till it is safe to go." The other one added. Aditya nodded in agreement.
He looked at Zoya, who was staring at the security guards unsure of what to do. Aditya signaled one of the security guards to take Zoya's knapsack. He waited for a few seconds to see if she has any intention to come along with him. Realizing this mysterious girl has no plans to do so, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along with him. He could feel her hands twisting against his firm grip, alas he has no plans to leave her at all.
In the penthouse of the Office, the building was a poshly decorated Office space. It was easy for Shah to get the spare Keys to the floor from the security. Considering the situation, the Owners were happy to be of any assistance to Shah. Aditya left Zoya's hand once they are safely inside the penthouse.
"Wait outside." He ordered the guards.
Massaging her wrist vigorously, Zoya tried to protest. "They can stay here."
The security guys didn't pay any attention to her. Zoya sat down on the nearby chair. It was any way futile to tell them anything. They won't even lift their fingers without Aditya's Permission. She gripped her mobile phone firmly in her hand. Being alone with Aditya Hooda in a room unnerved her. Run Zoya Run, Aditya's words echoed in her ears. Nervous and exhausted, Zoya sat there silently. She was aware of each and every move of Aditya. With the corner of her, she could see him pacing up and down with his mobile in hand.
Moments passed without either of them speaking a word. One security guard knocked and entered with two Coffee cups in his hand. He kept it on the Coffee table and left without saying a word. Zoya didn't dare touch the Coffee. Aditya took the cup and sat down on an armchair near her Sofa. Zoya winced and looked straight to avoid any confrontation with him. She was embarrassed by her sudden outburst a few minutes ago.
"Zoya, take the Coffee" She took the mug instantly. She didn't want any more altercation or clash of egos with Aditya. But she was never gonna drink it. The ceded look on Zoya's face might have triggered something in Aditya. He sipped her Coffee silently observing Zoya from the corner of his eyes.
For the last few days, He has been stalking her madly. There was something in her face that forced him to look at her photo again the other day. The pic shah got of her was a blurry one, where she was giving money to an Autowala, giving out a flicker of a smile. He instantly felt he has seen her somewhere. He couldn't exactly pinpoint when. It was a spur of a moment decision to confront her in front of her apartment. He was so mad at her that time, for sending him to jail, for making him so frustrated about the whole thing. He couldn't control his anger then. Well, he can never control his temper ever. Shah instantly changed that mistake into an opportunity by clicking few pics of Zoya.
All he wanted today was to talk to Zoya and make amends. The unexpected turn of events made matters complex. Seeing Zoya sitting silently on the sofa made his heart flutter. The blue salwar she was wearing, accented the dreaminess of her skin. Her face, reddish with anxiety, sans any makeup, looked like a picture from an old book. Her restless hands tucked back an imaginary hair strand on her face continuously. A faint smell of Rose emanating from her hazed his heart. In that warm moment, Aditya Hooda felt his whole being gravitating towards Zoya. He didn't want to break that spell. Taking in that image of her, he silently closed his eyes, drenching in the presence of a Girl named Zoya who has absolutely no idea about the havoc she was creating in Aditya's mind.
***
Anupamaa
