Aditya was restless after what happened at Janmashtmi celebration. He had not expected in his wildest dream that things would turn out this way. He tried his best to confess the truth but unfortunately situations were not on his side. Right now he was more worried about Zoya. He exactly knew how much pain she would be in. He wanted to make sure she was fine.
His thoughts were disturbed by knock on the door.
"aapne bhulaya bhai?" sleepy Arjun entered Aditya's bedroom
"I need a favour "Ha bholye na Bhai
"Mai abhi Zoya ke ghar jha raha hu..I know itz too late but I need to see her right now...jabh takh vapas nahi aa jata hu...tu please ghar pe sambal lena..and ya just inform Noor mai vaha arahu"
Arjun quietly followed to his bhai instructions. And Aditya left for Zoya residence.
Noor opened the door and let Aditya in. Aditya slowly entered Zoya's bedroom. He locked it from inside. He moved towards her bed. Her skin looked pale. Silent tears rolling down her cheeks. He refused to look away even as his lips trembled. His dark lashes brimmed heavy with tears. A lone tear traced down his cheeks. It felt like strong Knife stabbed in his heart. He slowly moved his hand forward towards her cheeks to wipe the fresh tears. His touch against her skin forced her to open her eyes. She was surprised to see Aditya sitting right in front of her. She kept starring at him and next second she was in his arms., holding him tight, sobbing..
"Aditya ye humne kya kar diya " he could hear her whispering between her sobs.
"Sabh humare vajahse huva hai" she murmured again.
"Zoyaa" Aditya was trying to calm her down by stroking slowly on her back.
"Humne aap ki bath man leni chahiye thi Aditya...pata nahi hum kya soch rahe the"
"Zoya" he tried calming her down.
"Humne aapki bath sunkar pehle hi Arhsad ko bata dena chahiye tha ki hume unhas koi rishata nahi rakhana hai..pata nahi hum" aditya interrupted her in between
"Zoya...tumhari galti nahi thi" he tried breaking the hug "meri taraf dekho Zoya "she finally broke the hug. She was shivering and gasping to breath. Aditya was scared looking at her situation. He quickly poured a glass of water and made her drink. After she was bit calm Aditya continued "Zoya tumhari isse mai koi galti nahi hai " "Lekin Aditya" "Tumhne vo sabh kuch sirf apne Abhu ke khusi ke liy kiya Zoya...kyu ki tum unse bahot pyaar karti ho...issme tumhari koi galti nahi hai" "Lekin aaj jho huva vo nahi hona chahiye tha Aditya..I am sorry Aditya..humare vajah se Arshad ne aap par ilzam lagya" fresh tears made their way out. Aditya cupped her face and wiped her tears "Zoya mujhe tumhse kuch confess karna hai..mai janta nahi ki kya ye sahi mauka hai ya nahi...lekin tumhara ye jana jaruri hai" Zoya just kept staring at him without saying a word. He took hold of her hand "tumhe yaad hai use din hospital se Arshad ko call aya tha?" Zoya nodded her head. "Zoya darsal vo phone ...(he took long pause before continuing) maine kiya tha" she kept starring "Lekin I swear Zoya mujhe koi idea nahi tha ki vaha pe riots hone wale the..I swear on you" Zoya moved her hand away from his without saying a word she moved towards window. Her reaction was killing him. He moved towards her and turned her around. "Zoya kuch tho bolo..besharam..behayadh...lekin Zoya please ye silent treatment math do...please Zoya" "hum kya kahe Aditya" Aditya kept looking in her eyes " Hume pata nahi humare sath kya ho raha hai..hum kya kar rahe hai" as much as she tried holding it back the pain came out like uproar from her throat in the form of a silent scream. "Zoya" he moved closer reducing the distance between them. She was completely devastated, pink eyes, red face and endless flow of tears. "I am sorry Aditya" he was surprised to hear that. "Tum kyu sorry bhol rahi ho" he was bewildered. "Kyu ki galti tho humari thi na Aditya...hum jante hai Aditya aapne vo sabh kuch kyu kiya aditya" was taken back. "Aap ne vo sabh kuch issiliye kiya na tha ki hum Arhsad se dhur rahe...aap ishare dete rahe hume samajane ke liye aur hum yaha paglo ki tarah unhe ignore karte rahe " Aditya was left speechless. He wondered how in every situation she found out a way to turn things in his favour. How not even for a second she thought he might be wrong. He wondered was she the same women who had never let chance to burst out her anger on him for every small mistake of his, who would find faults in his every action. They had indeed come a long way. He had never expected their relation would grow so strong. He was not wrong in choosing her as his life partner. She was perfect for him. He could not describe his happiness at the moment. "Hum tho viase bhi Bharat Nagar jane wale the...tho isme aapki koi galti nahi hai" her words got her back to senses."Lekin aap ne socha hai agar aap vaha par nahi ate tho humara kya hota..aur agra aapko waha par kuch hoja tho..hum aapne aap ko kabhi maf nahi kar pathe...(she took a pause) Aditya hum puri tarah se bhikar chuke hai...hum bahot bure hai Aditya...humesha sirf apne bareme sochate hai..Yash ke sath the tabhi humne kisi ki nahi suni...Arshda humare zindagi mai aye..aap lakh batane ke bhavujut humne appki ki bath nahi suni...aur agar kal aap ko kuch jatha...hum tho jiteji marjate" "Zoya" he cupped her face "Hum nahi reh sakte aapke bina Aditya...aap ki bina humara ek din bhi nahi katha hai...Aap samne nahi hote ho tho sabh kuch adhura lagta hai...hum aap ke bina adhore hai aditya" she was sobbing. Aditya without thinking for a second grabbed her into bone crushing hug. She too hugged him back with same intensity. She needed him. Aditya could not control his emotions anymore he buried his face in her neck. she could feel his hot breath against her skin. But she did not move a inch rather she pulled him closer. It was as if like two bodies with one soul. They slowly parted away. Their faces were still inches apart. His close proximity sent her heart racing. Without thinking much Aditya slowly tilted his head and placed a warm kiss her on lip. He waited for her to respond. She did respond back but pushed him away very next second.
"Ye humne kya kar diya" she kept moving backward in shock until she was banged hard to wall. "Zoya" he kept moving closer. "ye galat hai Aditya...ya aallah humne kya kar diya" "Zoya" she kept murmuring words. "Zoya' he raised his voice a bit to grab her attention. He took hold of her shoulder. "Zoya kuch galat nahi tha...meri aakho mai dekho Zoya" she did not have courage to look into her eyes. He lifted her chin a bit and looked straight into her eyes. She was horrified to see what she observed in his eyes. She was taken back. How? When did this happen? Thousands questions surrounded her. She was not ready to accept what she saw in those dark brown eyes. Aditya slowly cupped her face "Tum jo dekh rahi ho vo sach hai Zoya..maine nahi socha tha ki mai tumhe yaha ayese ye batavunga..but" she placed a finger on his ips " Nahi Aditya...ye nahi ho sakta" he moved her finger "Itz too late to step back Zoya" she kept starring "I love you Ms Zoya Siddqui" there he had finally confessed it to love of his life. "par he kept finger on her lips "Shhh" he took hold of her hand "Zoya mai janta hu...tum iss rishte ke liye abhi tayar nahi ho..tumhne humare bare mai kabhi use angle se socha bhi nahi hai..mai ye bhi janta hu tumhare liye mai tumhara sirf best friend hu..I know you don't love me Zoya..but mai sirf ye chahte hu...ki tum isse rishte ko ek mauka dho..tum humesha se kehti ho na tumhara dard sirf mai samaj sakta hu kyuki mai bhi use dor se gujra hu...zindagi hume aur ek mauka de rahi hai Zoya...tumhare sare sawalo ka jawab tumhare pass hi hai Zoya...bas ek bar use dhudane ki koshish karo" "Aditya" "tumhe abhi kuch kehne ki jarurat nahi hai...mai intazar karunga ..aur sochne ke liye mai apni puri zindagi deta hu...and I promise you Zoya mai kabhi tumhe chodhkar nahi javunga...aur ek bath jabh takh tum iss rishte ke liye ready nahi ho...ye Aditya humesha tumhara best friend tha...hai ...aur rahega...I just wnt you to promise me one thing" she asked him raising her eye brows " Promise me ki no matter what tum mujse dhur nahi javungi...aur humara rishta humesha hi ayese hi rahega" he raised his hand forward. "promise?" she kept her hand on his "promise" she had faint smile on her face.
He lifted Zoya in her arms and placed her slowly on her bed. "bahot rath hogayi hai...tumhe sona chahiye" she kept looking at him lovingly. "aur viase tumhare abhu ko agar pata chala...mai iss waqt yaha pe hu..tho vo mujhe zinda gadh denge" finally Zoya had smiled on her face she hit him playfully. "ayese hi humesha hasti raho " he moved closer to face..she did not move.."aaj se tumhare sari taklif aur dard mere" he placed a long kiss on her forehead "Good night Zoya" with that he left her room.
Zoya tried rewinding in her mind what happened few minutes back. Had something changed between them?? were they not friends anymore??. Had he turned into someone special??. Her mind was too tired to think about it now. She just let the sleep take over her.