Chapter 3
"OH MY GOD! What a steal! Yash Arora quickly passes the ball to Aditya Hooda and he SHOOTS! HE SCORES! Sacred Heart's coach calls a time out. The score is now 98-96 with only 15 seconds on the clock. Sacred Hearts in the lead. This truly is a game to watch." The commentator rambled on the happenings of the game.
Everyone was on the edge of her seat. The game has been close since the beginning. Both teams were just so GOOD.
The audience cheered for their school. Some chatted, waiting for the game to start, while others chanted their favorite player's name.
The game was just too CLOSE. And this game was too important for the Tigers. The players wanted to give this win to their beloved coach before retirement. Zoya's eyes, however, never left Yash. She knew how important this game was to him as well. Yash was here on scholarship, and it was vital for him to give his best in order to keep his scholarship.
She saw the tension in his muscles; he was just trying too hard. When time-out ended and the players were walking back to their positions, Zoya saw Aditya stop Yash. She was too far away to understand the words, but she saw Aditya place a hand on Yash's shoulder and murmur something to him. Yash smiled and Zoya knew, Aditya said something to calm Yash down and play with a clear head.
She may hate Aditya Hooda's guts...but she had to admit that he was a good captain to his team mates. And hell...he was a damn good basketball player too as Zoya watched Aditya steal the ball.
"Oh man I can't watch" Noor covered her eyes as the clock started moving again.
12 seconds
Aditya was double teamed and passed the ball to Yash. Yash dribbled, trying to find an opening.
10 seconds
He saw it then, he dribbled and dashed to the right to pass the ball to an open Arjun.
7 seconds
Arjun caught the ball easily and ran to the basket. Xavier students' cheered with their whole hearts. He was going to shoot a 2-pointer and tie the game.
5 seconds
Arjun pivoted and dodged another player, getting closer to the basket. The players of Sacred Heart's all closed in on him.
3 seconds
The crowd roared when he jumped up to shoot...but ended up passing the ball to Aditya Hooda, who was completely unguarded.
1 second
Aditya caught the ball and shot it from the 3-point line. Everyone held their breaths. Zoya had her eyes glued on the ball, too scared to move. Please go in, please go in, please go in... she mentally prayed.
Aditya felt the release when the ball left his hands. It was only a matter of time now...
The ball swished through the net effortlessly...and St. Xavier roared to life!
The Tigers ran to Aditya and tackled him. THEY WON!
Aditya let out a hearty laugh and hugged his teammates. Everyone from the bleachers poured down to the gym floor, congratulating their fellow school mates. Confetti fell from everywhere...and the coach looked on with a proud smile and tears in his eyes. His Tigers were champions once again.
Noor rushed to Arjun and engulfed him in a bear hug. "I'm so happy for you!!!!" Noor gushed. She let out a hearty laugh when Arjun picked her up and spun her around, a grin adorning his handsome face.
"Arre baap re baap...mera kamar Chocomati" Arjun joked with his nickname for Noor, putting Noor down and placing a hand on his waist.
"Kya!? How dare you Coffee Navas!!!" Noor whined, knowing full well that Arjun was joking but still raised her hand to hit him. Arjun laughed and ran away with Noor chasing after him.
He went straight to his big brother and used him as a shield. "Arre! Yeh kya ho raha hai?" Aditya let out a laugh as Noor tried to go around him and hit Arjun.
"Deko na Adi bhaiya, Arjun mujhe humesha satata rehta hai" Noor complained. Despite the never ending war between her elder sister and Aditya Hooda, Noor considered the Hooda brothers some of the closest men to her heart.
Ever since the Hooda's permanently moved to India, they practically grew up together. Always attending the same schools, always in the same circles, carrying on the friendship their fathers started.
Aditya laughed out loud and pulled Arjun's ears. "Ow Bhai!" Arjun yelped. "Kyon re?...tu phirse mere choti behen ko sata raha hai?" Aditya asked playfully.
"Bhai aap humesha Noor ka saath lete ho. Kabhi to mere baare mein socho..your one and only brother." Arjun complained.
They all laughed as Aditya let go of Arjun and hugged Noor and Arjun, one arm on each. Anyone can tell that this was a reoccurring situation between this group of people. They seemed like a family.
Zoya's eyes scanned the court in frenzy. Everyone was there at once and she could not find Yash anywhere. She was so proud of him!
She spotted him then. Yash was shaking hands with a man who looked to be in his 50s. By the time she reached him the man turned around to leave.
"Hey congratulations!" Zoya beemed.
Yash turned and quickly smiled, giving Zoya a hug. Zoya didn't notice that Yash's reaction to her was a little delayed, like his mind was elsewhere.
"Hey! Thank you!" Yash replied. "Why don't you go ahead and greet some of your other friends? I'll shower and meet you at the after party?" Yash replied. His eyes darting in the direction of the aging man.
Zoya didn't seem to notice. "Sounds good to me. Also, my abbu invited you to dinner tomorrow night. He wanted to speak to you about the wedding, but I'll give you more details later tonight." Zoya said, completely oblivious.
Yash gave a small smile, "Ok, I'll see you later." With that being said he turned and got lost in the crowd. Zoya watched his retreating back, still smiling.
If everything went perfectly, she and Yash will be married by the end of the month. She was grateful to have a family who supported her in her every decision, and accepted Yash as the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
"Hey there freckle face...you know you look kind of creepy smiling at nothing." A deep, husky voice spoke.
Zoya's smile instantly turned into a scowl and she turned and faced the devil...Aditya Hooda.
He arms glistened from sweat, his hair a wet mess, and the arrogant Hooda grin that seems to be forever plastered on his face whenever he wants to make Zoya's life miserable.
"What do you want chicken legs? Go bother someone else" Zoya dismissed him like a princess would dismiss a peasant.
"Awww don't I get a congratulations? After all I'm your oldest friend" Aditya teased, sarcasm dripping his every word. What can he say? Old habits die hard. His silly pranks as a kid turned into a habit...his day wasn't complete if he didn't get a rise out of Zoya.
Zoya shot her chin up in defense, looking at Aditya as if he was the most despicable thing in the world. Aditya's grin only got wider.
Zoya stepped closer to Aditya. He was a few inches taller than her, so she had to tilt her head back to maintain eye contact with him. Aditya waited patiently, curious to see what Zoya plans on doing.
She then smiled, "Go to hell Mr. Hooda." She said sweetly, and walked away.
Aditya let out an amused chuckled looking at her retreating back...yep...old habits definitely die hard.
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Zoya, Noor, and Pooja entered the Hooda beach house to see the after party in full swing. Music blasted from the surround sound system. The disco ball highlighting silhouettes colliding against each other on the dance floor. A few mingled with drinks in their hands while another group took a round of tequila shots. The Tigers were 2 time champions and no one was going to sleep tonight.
Zoya let out a squeal as she was lifted off her feet in a pair of strong arms. She knew exactly who it was and engulfed the man in a bear hug. "Congratulations Arjun! I'm so proud of you!" Zoya yelled, over the loudness of the music.
Arjun placed Zoya down and smiled at her. Zoya adored the younger Hooda as much as she despised the elder one. She considered Arjun the younger brother she never had, similar to how Noor considered Aditya the elder brother she never had.
Arjun hugged Pooja as well and then entwined his fingers with Noor's. "I'm sad I missed you after the game Zoya di." Arjun said.
"I know...it was ridiculously crowded there...I got out as soon as I got the chance." Zoya replied back.
"Well you're here now...save me a dance sis!" Arjun yelled over the music, and pulled Noor onto the dance floor.
"I'm going to get a drink, do you want anything?" Pooja turned and asked Zoya.
"No you go ahead...I'll mingle for a bit" Zoya replied, parting ways with Pooja in search of Yash.
Zoya turned a corner and bumped straight into a hard chest. Strong arms came around to steady her, and before she looked up ready to apologize, that deep voice spoke to her again for the second time that night.
"Arre tum humesha mera rasta kyon kaat dethi ho kaali billi ki tara?" Aditya asked, never loosing an opportunity to annoy Zoya. He changed into casual jeans and a black shirt, the first few buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
"Uff! Kamsarf aadmi! Stop breathing my air you spawn of Satan." Zoya retorted, pushing his arms away.
"Oh hello Ghalib...this is my house...you're breathing MY air freckle face" Aditya retaliated.
"Oh go jump off your balcony" Zoya shot back. She flipped her hair and kept on walking.
Aditya rolled his eyes and walked in the opposite direction, needing a drink after the hard earned win.
Zoya turned another corner and found Yash outside in the backyard. A few people lingered outside as well, just chitchatting and getting a breath of fresh air from the heated party taking place inside. But Zoya noticed Yash off to the side, in deep thought.
She walked up to him and stood next to him. "Hi...I was looking for you everywhere" Zoya said.
Yash came out of his thoughts and gave Zoya an off-handed smile. Zoya frowned and placed a gentle hand on his arm.
"Kya baath hai? You seem so distracted...is everything ok?" Zoya asked, concerned. What caused that look of worry on her fiance's face?
Yash sighed, "Kuch nahin...just thinking about the future that's all" He replied, and placed his arm around her.
Zoya smiled, "Don't worry about tomorrow. Abbu knows you are the man I want to be with and we will be married in no time" she said, trying to comfort him.
Yash didn't say anything. He just gave a small smile and downed his drink.
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Zoya entered her bedroom around 3:00am. The party started dying down around 2:30am and Zoya took this as her cue to head home.
She changed into a baby blue silk nightgown and started on her nightly ritual...brush her teeth... comb her hair...apply face cream...little womanly rituals that a man will never understand.
Tomorrow Yash will come to her home and a date will be set for their wedding. She opened her balcony door and stepped out into the night. The moon was full...her light cascading down on Zoya.
~Tu jo chhoo le pyaar se
aaraam se mar jaaoon...~
Zoya lifted her face up...a pretty smile adorning her features as she looked up at the heavens. A cool breeze caressed her dark locks. Her mind started dreaming...like so many times before...
~Aaja chanda bahoo mein
tujh mein hi gum ho jaaoon main...~
Zoya opened her arms and breathed in the night air. She wished for a love that consumes her...a love that rushed through her every vein...and made her whole. She wanted this feeling to never end...
Aditya stepped out onto his balcony. It was a beautiful night...the cool breeze...full moon...but he felt something in the air...something that pulled him into the night...
~Tere naam mein kho jaaoon...~
Zoya...she wanted nothing more than to live a life of unconditional love. A love that was legendary...a love that knew no boundaries ...she wanted to give everything to her soul mate...and receives the same devotion in return.
~Saiyyan ...~
Aditya looked up at the moon, hands in his pockets...trying to figure out what the night was trying to tell him. He felt something stir in his heart...like somebody was calling to him...
~ Saiyyan...~
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Edited by JCluvs srk - 6 years ago