An AdiYa OS- Love, Finally!

A small, helpless smile adorned his lips as he sighed resignedly. He was reminiscing the way she had unwrapped her gift just a little while ago in his room. She had left with a heart melting smile and he had been left alone with a painfully beating heart... Because yet again, despite trying his level best, he had not been able to tell her exactly how that gift was NOT just a symbol of friendship...but also of his eternal love for her.

He shook his head in disbelief- He loved her so much that he was sure that the news of his feelings must have had reached other planets by then too... But the person, for whom it was all for, she had not understood anything at all...yet!

After several thwarted confession sessions, Arjun and Noor were very disappointed with him... but he was more upset with himself! With the threat of Arshad on his head, he was feeling alarmed...but then he was also hoping beyond hopes that somehow Zoya would understand his unsaid words...like she always did.

But this time, it felt as if Zoya had sworn not to look deep into his eyes or read between his double meaning sentences. Heck! He had gifted her a snow globe, a couple holding a heart and a loud and clear message for anyone who had eyes to see what it meant... But not His Zoya!

He shook his head again, thoroughly disgruntled! she was unbelievably innocent and naive! He wondered how she had survived in this big bad world this long even.

But then it was her innocent and pure soul in the first place that had bound him to her with so much force. He smiled... Zoya, with all her imperfections, was the most perfect human being in his life...and he loved her with all his life...

He was lost in the thoughts of her angelic face when someone knocked at his door.

He quickly went to open it, hoping that Zoya probably returned with a plate of noodles to eat with him here, in his room. He was a little disappointed to see Vinod and Mona there though...but quickly hiding away his irritation, he asked them politely as to what brought them to his room when they were supposed to be packing up after the party.

Vinod handed him a folded piece of paper and said,

"Sir, Zoya ma'am ne yeh aapko dene ke liye kaha tha."

Intrigued, Aditya quickly looked at the paper and said,

"Ohh..accha... theek hai..." Then remembering basic manners, he quickly asked,

"Suno, tum loagon ne khana khaya?"

When they both nodded, he smiled and said,

"Thank you very much yaar... Tum loagon ne buht accha event organize kia tha."

Both Vinod and Mona smiled with pleasure on hearing his sincere praise, and then they bid him farewell. Aditya hurriedly opened the letter to find out what she had to say now... There were only two lines written in her demure hand writing,

"Meet me in one hour at your terrace.

Zoya..."

Feeling puzzled, he thought for a bit and concluded that she probably wanted to have her noodles with him at the terrace of his house.

He frowned a bit, thinking that his mother would catch them there and might end up creating a scene if she saw them having a cozy meeting there... But then he looked at the clock and decided that it would be 12 am in an hour... and his mom was supposed to feel all tired after the party... So he hoped that she would retire to her bedroom without creating much fuss!

"But then what about Zoya?" He thought... "She would also get late to go back to her home"...and then he flinched on recalling Waseem Siddiqui's warning to him to stay away from his daughter...

He had gone upstairs before time, but decided to wait till 12am before entering the wide terrace of the Hooda House. As soon as his watch showed him that it was time, he quickly stepped on the terrace. She was nowhere. Totally confused, he decided to call her, and he had taken his phone out of his pocket when someone tapped on his shoulder.

Whirling around, he saw her standing right behind him...with a heart-stopping smile plastered on her face... and wearing a beautiful plain red sari, with a pink and white patterned blouse! His breath hitched as he registered that she had changed her party dress and had worn a gorgeous sari for him!

Once again, just the sight of her was enough to stop his heart beats. She was looking sexy... extremely sexy! There was no doubt that she was one of the most alluring, most sensuous woman he had ever laid his eyes on. It was not possible for him to not feel a sudden warmth spreading along his spine... but he was bewitched by her, and as his eyes fell on her face, he found himself losing in the sparkle of her eyes...and the excitement in her smile. It took him several seconds and a smack from Zoya on his arm to recover from his trance.

Seeing his eyes gaining back focus again, Zoya took his hand and said,

"Aditya... aap ke liye aik surprise hai."

Aditya felt confused... He thought THIS was the surprise... He had honestly forgotten why he had come there in the first place. Recalling Zoya's letter, he thought that they were supposed to eat together... but apparently there was something else going on. He looked around to find a clue...and that's when his eyes fell in one corner of the terrace. There was a big wrought iron four poster stand, covered by a white canopy...and some small fairy lights along the stand, illuminating that particular corner of his terrace.

Seeing that Aditya had finally seen her surprise, she quickly shifted and stood before him, held out her hand and asked,

"Shall we, Mr. Hooda?"

Watching the beautiful, mischievous smile on her face, his own face cracked into a grin... He laid his hand in hers and let her lead him to the canopied corner. When they reached there, he was surprised to see that inside the canopy, there was a small couch...and in front of it, there was a low table, on which a small projector and her laptop were lying. His eyes followed the blue beam of the projector and saw that it was falling on a white screen.

Suddenly, it became clear that this was the surprise! They were having a Movie Night together!

An insane wave of excitement ran all along his system, as his whole face twinkled with happiness. Zoya, who was watching him carefully now, hoping not to feel discouraged if he showed any sign of disapproval, but his pleasure was so obvious that all her fears vanished in thin air...

Brimming with her own excitement, she quickly went behind him and laid her hands on his shoulders, and asked chirpily,

"May I, sir?"

Aditya was so happy that he didn't know how to respond...so he just nodded... and then he felt her sliding his jacket off his body. Once that was done, she put the jacket on the table and returned to where he was still standing. She bent a bit in a mock curtsy and stifling a giggle, extended her hand towards him again. When he held it, she straightened up and guided him to the couch, under the canopy.

After making him sit in that couch, she went behind the couch and materialized a bowl full of noodles, a thermos and one mug. Along with it, she was holding a bag of chips.

Comprehension dawned on Aditya, as he figured out that they were not only having a Movie Night, it was a proper date...with food and snacks!

After arranging all the items on the table, she settled beside him in the couch and when he looked at her questioningly, she took his hand in hers and said,

"Aditya... aaj aap ne humien aik buht khoobsurat tohfa dia tha. Aur aap ne yeh bhi kaha tha ke aik sath noodles khana is OUR thing. Aur hum iss baat se poori terha raazi hain. Lekin Aditya, sirf Noodles hi Our Thing' nahi hain... Humare hisab se aapke sath bitaya har lamha hi special hai... aur aaj hum ne socha ke jo cheezein hum ne aik doosre ke sath share ki hui hain, aaj unko aik doosre ke sath dobara baantein... aur sath hi kuch nayi yaadien bhi banayein. Phir aap Paris chalay jayein ge...tou iss sab ka moqa hi nahi milay ga"

Aditya now understood everything! She was under this impression that he was leaving for Paris... She had forgotten about his promises completely!

He felt like facepalming! With a helpless expression, he looked at her carefully.

Her smile was in place... but it felt like it was wavering... her hand never leaving his hand...

She was so close... her eyes were not sparkling mischievously now... instead, there was something intense, something very profound lurking in the depths of those glorious eyes. He could feel that she was sad...and desperate to spend whatever time she had with him only.

Aditya was speechless! He didn't know what to make out of all this. His heart wanted to believe that she had gone an extra mile just for him...to make him feel special... but his mind was shouting questions as to why she had done all that? Why had she taken so much pain after an extremely tiring day herself? He wanted to ask her why she was doing all this...but he decided against it. Somewhere, he dreaded to hear her say that she had done all this because he was her best friend! He didn't want to hear how important he was for her...as a FRIEND only! And knowing that, that was what she would actually say, he decided to stay quiet and go along with her flow.

Bringing an appreciative smile on his lips, he finally said,

"Yeh sab arrangements buht khoobsurat hai Zoya...lekin aaj tum kitna thaki hui hogy. Mien abhi nahi jaa raha hun... tumko bina bataye tou waise bhi nahi jaaonga kabhi. Hum kal ya kabhi baad mien ker lete yeh sab kuch...tum ko aaj rest kerna chahiye tha."

Zoya felt a surge of hope on hearing that he was not leaving immediately, shaking her head, she replied brightly,

"Hum nahi thakay hue hain Aditya...yeh sab arrangement bhi humne Zosh team ke sath his jaldi se ker lia tha...saara samaan yehin per tha after party. Tou humien koi thakan nahi horhy lekin humien bhook buht lag rahy hai... She ended her sentence with a pout...and Aditya was spell bound again!

Trying to shrug off his over ardent emotions, he quickly picked up the bowl of noodles from the table and said,

"Chalo, mien khilaata hun tumko." He quickly raised the fork towards her mouth when she shook her head and said,

"na na... Hum dono khilayein ge aik doosre ko." She took the fork from his hand and fed him the first bite. She then handed the fork to him and opened her mouth, gesturing him to feed her now.

Aditya smiled at her adorable antics, and fed her the next bite. Both of them took turns in feeding each other with the same fork until they finished the noodles.

Feeling satiated, Zoya leaned back in the couch and played the movie.

It was their all time favorite, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

A little while into the movie, Zoya poured coffee in the mug and took a sip. She then passed on the mug to Aditya, who drank from it too. Like the noodles, both took turns in sipping the coffee from one mug, without ever taking their eyes off the screen. She opened the bag of chips and offered him some.

They were halfway into the movie. Rahul, Anjali and all the kids had formed teams and were playing Dumb Charades when it had started raining heavily.

Aditya was totally engrossed in the movie, so he didn't notice Zoya's absence from his side.

He was however, stunned, when he watched her standing in front of the screen. She was gesturing him for a dance just like at her back, on the screen, Rahul was gesturing Anjali for a dance.

That was totally unexpected, but he felt a dangerous excitement pumping in his blood.

Accepting her game, Aditya stood up and gestured "No music" just like Anjali was doing on the screen.

He saw Zoya flickering her fingers in the air... thrumming music...miming Rahul's actions... and then they heard the beautiful and evergreen melody soaring in the atmosphere. Zoya proffered her hand out to him for the dance, and when he laid his hand in hers, she pulled him towards herself with a force. Their bodies came in immediate contact and Aditya's other hand settled on her shoulder, they both started swirling on the music. They found their own rhythm ...and began their own dance!

Aditya twirled her once more until her back came in contact with with his chest. Very delicately, he moved her hair from one side to the other, exposing the side of her beautiful, swan like neck, and her nape and back. Her creamy skin was begging to be kissed... and very slowly, while encircling her waist with both his arms, he put his lips on her neck... descending towards her shoulder, he explored her nape and then her back. She lurched and moved forward...while he caught the pallu of her sari and tugged at it. She slowly turned...and with a hesitant yet loving smile, she touched his face ... and then held his hand and brought him back to the couch.

In the movie, Anjali was leaving with Aman, and Rahul was devastated. For the first time, Aditya felt the pain of Rahul... He thought how he would feel if Zoya decided to choose Arshad instead of him. The thought was painful...and it was very disturbing. Zoya registered that he was not looking at the screen anymore, but his eyes were on his hands in his lap. She noticed the frown creasing his forehead... and unable to see him so troubled, she pried his hand,took it in hers and said,

"Tussi jaa rahay ho? Tussi na jao?"

Aditya's head jerked up as he saw the same dialogue being repeated on the screen too. His head turned towards Zoya and he saw that she was not miming anyone now. She had said it with complete sincerity...and her eyes were full of sadness now.

He could see anything... he could endure anything... but he could never see his Zoya upset. He quickly cupped her face delicately and said in a grave tone,

"Zoya, mien nahi jaa raha. Yahin hun... I promise you!"

In response, Zoya curled her arm around his, laid her head on his shoulder, and said,

"Humien chhod ker matt jaiye ga Aditya... hum aap ko Janay nahi de sakte..."

Aditya's breath caught in his chest... this time he could not stop himself from asking,

"Kyun Zoya...? Mien dost hun na... ager mien kahin jata bhi hun, tou aisa tou nahi hai ke tum mujhse contact mien nahi reh saktyn. I mean...tum mujhse touch mien reh sakty ho... phir mera yahin rehna kyun itna zaruri hai tumhare liye?"

And that's when he felt wetness on his arm. Suspiciously, he looked down and saw that she was hiding her face in his arm. He nudged her gently and brought her face up...and there they were... the dreaded tears in her beautiful eyes.

"Zoya..."he couldn't speak anything...

Quietly he wiped her tears with his fingers, and heard her whisper,

"Hum kia kerien Aditya... hum nahi reh sakkte abh aap ke beghair."

"Kyun Zoya?" he asked...daring himself to hope...

"Hum aap ko khou nahi sakte,Aditya..." she replied

"Kyun?" He again asked...daring her to dig deeper too!

"Hum..." a fresh set of tears started rolling down her cheeks, and this time, Aditya engulfed her in his embrace. Her body racking with sobs and her face hidden in his chest, she tried to say something...but couldn't.

Her tears, her desperation were enough to tell Aditya that he had been right all along. Zoya felt the same way for him as he felt for her. Drawing air in his lungs, he decided to bring her out of her misery. Placing a soft kiss on her head, he straightened her up, and as her tear drenched face came to his view, his heart thudded painfully in his chest. Gulping down his own fears, he asked her,

" Mien bataon aisa kyun hai Zoya?"

She raised her eyes and met his dark ones...they were intense... His eyes locked with hers, his gaze unflinching...she nodded ...and he finally said,

"Kyunki tum mujhse bepannah muhabbat kerty ho...bilkul waise hi jaise mien tumse kerta hun."

Zoya gasped... her eyes shedding tears and her lips quivering, she whispered,

" humien kahin na kahin lag raha tha ke yeh muhabbat ya muhabbat jaisa kuch hai...lekin hum kia kerein, humien apni hi feelings per yaqeen nahi aata abh... Aisa kaise ho sakta hai Aditya? Hum tou apne hissay ka pyar ker chuke haina?"

And then she squeezed her eyes tightly shut...as if she was tormented by the bitter memories of their past...

Aditya didn't know what else to say. He brought his trembling fingers to her face...and traced the outline of her features. She stilled but didn't open her eyes. His fingers skimmed across her neck and eventually landed on her chest. He then splayed his hand on her heart. It was beating painfully...heavily.

Keeping his own hand there, he took one of her hands and made her fingers touch his face, neck and then splay flatly on his heart. And then he whispered,

"Listen to my heart Zoya... Mehsoos kero...Yaqeen ajayega "

And Zoya listened...carefully... and she marveled at her discovery...

Their hearts were beating in unison!

Her eyes jerked open as she realized that... and the moment Aditya saw her incredulous expressions, he knew she was not far from the truth anymore. He now understood why she was being so naive all this while. No..she was not naive ... she had felt the same things...but her heart was not ready to believe. He could now understand her completely. He had been through the phase of denial too... but they both had reacted differently.

He smiled at her tenderly and pulled her back in his embrace.

He was satisfied... He knew that Zoya wouldn't take long to come around and accept the truth now. The smile still on his face, he kissed on her head and shut his eyes, completely at peace.

Aditya woke up with a start as the sun's rays fell on his face. Somewhere, in the night, he had shifted his position and had lied down on the small couch somehow. What surprised him, was the woman sprawled all over himself. The strange thing was that the couch was so small, and yet they had remained on it, rather than one of them falling down on the ground!

He felt happiness on seeing her like that with him. He closed his eyes and made a silent prayer to God,

"Bhagwan... iss aurat ko mere naseeb mien aap ne likkha hai. Isko mujhse kabhi duur na kijiye ga please. Mien apni sari zindagy aise hi iske sath guzaarna chahta hun. Meri har subha ki shuruaat iske sath hi ho...mien aisa ashirwaad maangta hun aap se."

He was having a deep heart to heart kind of conversation with God when Zoya stirred. Her sleep ridden mind registered the hard male body that was pinned underneath her...and she recognized the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. She could feel the band of his arms around her, keeping her in place, not letting her fall down.

She smiled on realizing that even in sleep, he was so protective of her. Without opening her eyes, she silently prayed in her heart,

"Ya Allah, iss behtereen insan ko humari qismet mien likhne ke liye aapka buht buht shukriya. Humien pyar mien aik baar dhoka de ker bhi humien hamesha ke liye khaali haath reh Janay se bachanay ke lie shukriya... Humien pyar per dobara yaqeen kerwanay ke liye shukriya... Hum ne maan lia ke jab Aap aik cheez hum se duur ker dete hain, tou asal mien Aap uss se kahin ziada acchi cheez dene walay hote hain. Jaise Yash ko hum se duur ker ke Aap ne humien Aditya de diye... Allah... Humien Aditya dene ke liye apka buht buht shukriya!"

And she knew in that moment that God had been listening to her all along...and right now, He was smiling down at her for being thankful...and she knew that His blessings were always going to be there with her and Aditya.

Smiling contentedly, she opened her eyes and was surprised to meet his dark,intense gaze. He had been watching her for sometime... Their gaze locked with each other, he exerted pressure on her nape...until her face came dangerously close to his... And then he said,

"Kia kaha tumne Khuda se?"

She was surprised to know that he had known that she had been silently praying in her heart. Raising her hand to cup the side of his face, she replied,

"Aapko kaise pata ke hum Khuda se kuch baat ker rahay thay?"

He smiled and said somberly,

"Kyunki mien bhi Khuda se kuch maang raha tha... Aur Zoya, hum aik hi jaise hain. Jo ehsaas mujhe hota hai...wohi tumko bhi hota hai..."

Zoya smiled and brushing her lips to the corner of his mouth softly, she uttered,

"Hum kyun batayein? Yeh humare aur Allah ke beech ki baat hai!" And then she playfully nipped the side of his lower lip.

Aditya's arms that were wound around her tightened instinctively, but before he could take revenge for that nip, his phone started ringing.

Both disengaged from each other as they realized where they were and what they were doing.

Zoya quickly got up and started straightening her sari, while he took out the phone from his pocket. Arjun was calling... He chuckled at what he heard from him... and then said in the phone,

"Tu best bhai hai yar... Love you brother. Dhamaka tou ho ker hi rahay ga abh! Chal Hum aatay hain."

Zoya was watching him anxiously, waiting for him to tell her what Arjun had said to him. Still chuckling, Aditya bit his lower lip, and then looked at Zoya.

"Zoya.. guess what? Tumare Abbu aye hain neeche! Woh tumhien dhoond rahay hain aur Maa aur Paa ke sath unki kaafi ladayee ho rahy hai."

Zoya gasped as trepidation set in...

"Ya Allah! Aditya...abh kia hoga?"

Aditya chuckled under his breath once again as he too got up from the couch and said,

" Hona kia hai? Kuch nahi... Jab pyar kia tou darrna kia! Chalo...lets go.. Tum apne saas sasur ko pranaam kerna, mien apne sasur ji ko salam kerun ga!"

Zoya, who was feeling as if she was going to die with worry, unexpectedly found herself giggling on Aditya's enthusiasm. Well, one day, this had to happen...so why not today?

Having made her mind, with a proud smile, held Aditya's hand to go with him downstairs... She had no doubts about her eternal love for him anymore... She had found her peace too!

She knew that it was a long fight ahead... but Aditya Hooda was worth fighting for...😳❤️