Toxic ~ Even if we can't be together in the end - Chapter 23 Up ! - Page 44

Originally posted by: Tyshal

Hey dear...I'm replying u the same for third time...Thanks to India forum...It's shows me connection error every time:(

So I just dropped the idea...But today since all is going well, I'm eager to tell u my opinions😆

First loved ur back to back two updates:))

Second I loved the way he handles Ramona...The typical Aditya Hooda style.

Third I'm confused...

He will leave everything for his love...Adi is not that simple...Right?? Or I'm reading between the lines? May be.

Anyway... waiting for the next update...

Update soon:)))

Take care.

Same here yaar... I dunno what the heck is wrong with the website. I am unable to post the new chapter or reply to comments. I guess I will be able to post today, it seems to be working...atleast that is what I am hoping for.

Thanks buddy for posting a comment even though this stupid site sucks 😆

Originally posted by: Pori

There's something about your writing and I LOVE it.

I liked how you added pieces of Adi's work life. It makes more sense and as a reader it seems realistic, just like Adi's thoughts.

HELL YEAH on his version of Titanic! I cannot watch that movie because the ending in my opinion is stupid. Not for my soul, at least.

THANK YOU for the super long update and the PM

True that girl. Titanic's ending sucks. Stupidest tragedy ever. Like you both can survive so why die ? It's just plain dumb.

Originally posted by: myshas

Waitinggg

I am done with the next update. I have been trying unsuccessfully to post it for the last two days. I guess today is gonna be my lucky day. 😊

A day without laughter is a day wasted

~ Charlie Chaplin

Eight Years Ago - New York - Zoya's POV

Ping ping ping.

I ignore the rain beating against my bedroom window. I don't remember when it started, but it was sometime after I got home from college. I have been focused on my assignment since then, but now the noise is starting to annoy me.

Ping ping ping.

As if the loud blaring of the TV, courtesy my Dad, wasn't enough the stupid rain was adding it's own chorus. Yeah, Dad's in town. It's his first time in United States since I enrolled at NYU two years ago. And how perfect is the timing - he landed two days after I found out that I was pregnant ! Could my life get any better.

Ping ping ping.

I haven't seen or talked to Adi after I told him about the good news. Yes, I am being totally sarcastic, in case you had any doubts. I am totally avoiding him, he called a couple of times and sent a dozen texts but I didn't reply except a brief text saying that I needed some time.

And time I did need.

On paper, having a kid right now is such a bad idea. How will I face Dad ? He sent me to US with high hopes to build a successful career not to become the poster case of irresponsible young-adult. I can see how that conversation will go - Hi Dad. Surprise ! - I am getting married and am already pregnant. No big deal, happens.

I bang my head on the table. f**k !

And what about my career ? I still have six months left to graduate, I need to find a job and give the bar exam. I doubt a six month pregnant chick will be any firm's dream candidate. Even if I put off getting a job for sometime, life won't be rainbows and sunshine after the little monster is born. My life will become synonymous with diapers and sleepless nights.

Ping ping ping.

The kicker ? I haven't factored marriage in the equation yet. Marrying Aditya isn't exactly a horrendous idea. I love him. For sure. But, give me a break I am just freaking twenty-two. Who in their right mind gets married - complete with a kid on the way - at twenty-two. It's not that I don't want children and marriage. I just don't want them now. Now was not part of the plan.

My phone vibrates with an incoming text.

Adi : Please tell me I am not throwing rocks at Wasim Qureshi's bedroom window.

I fly up into a standing position. What the hell is he talking about ?

I immediately call him. "Are you standing outside my window ?" I demand.

"Okay, so you can hear me" he grumbles "And you are just ignoring me"

"No, I kept hearing pinging noises on the window but I thought it was rain"

"Why would the rain ping ? Rain makes more of a pitter patter sound"

"Take your pitterpatter and go away, Adi"

His husky laughter tickles my ear "Are you going to let me in or what ?"

"Normal people generally ring the doorbell"

"Cool, you want me to ring the doorbell ?" he says mockingly "Sure, I will go do that -"

"Oh shut up. My Dad is in the living room watching TV"

"Well aware of that. I saw him through the window. Hence the rocks"

I scan my brain, wondering how I can let him in. You can't access the stairs without passing the living room. And even if he did manage, this Victorian is old and squeaky, and the fourth and fifth stair creaks like a haunted house. It's the alarm system.

" I think the only way you are getting in is if you climb the drainpipe up to my window"

"Are you serious ? You're really going making me Romeo and Juliet this ? Can't I come through the back door ?"

"No, you can't. The living room looks onto the back door. Dad will see you"

"Here's a great idea" Adi says cheerfully "you can come outside"

"Then he'll ask where I am going. Besides, it's raining. I don't want to be out there"

"It's raining ! I also don't want to be out here" A loud, aggravated sigh reverberates through the line "You are so bloody difficult. One second"

He hangs up. For a moment I wonder if he's calling it and going home. I hope not.

A grin touches my lips when I hear the creak of metal. It's followed by rustling noise that grows louder and louder, until finally a sharp knock shakes the windowpane, and a blurry fist appears in the rain streaked glass. I quickly open the window and I have a perfect view of Adi's wet face. A streak of dirt mars his sexy cheek.

"I can't believe you made me do that" he accuses.

"I didn't make you do anything. You're the one who showed up without warning me" I feel a rush of happiness, not because he scaled the drain pipe for me but because the mere sight of him is enough to make my insides mushy. I totally blame the pregnancy hormones.

"Come in" I order "If anyone drives by and sees half your body hanging out the window they'll call the police"

Adi climbs over the ledge, his boots gracefully landing on the pine floor. "Let me get rid of these so I don't get mud all over the floor" He unlaces his boots and tucks them directly beneath the window. Then he shrugs out of his jacket and shakes his wet head like a dog that just had a swim.

A cascade of moisture splashes my face "Thanks" I say sarcastically.

"You're welcome"

The next thing I know his hands are on my waist. No scratch that - his cold, wet fingers are sliding underneath my thermal top.I shriek and try to push him away "Go away Adi"

He strengthens his hold and rubs his damp hair against my neck. "You are incorrigible" I declare.

"But you still love me" he murmurs against my neck.

I sigh "That I do"

"Why are you avoiding me, sunshine ? Everything okay ?" he releases me and flops down on the bed.

"I told you I need time to process all of this"

"Sunshine, talk to me. I told you - you are not alone in this"

"The only thing I is see is doom. It's the end of the world" I sit down next to him and drop my head in my hands.

"Now you are just being drama queen"

I fold my arms and scoff "I am not a drama queen"

"I have an idea. Let's bounce off the merits and demerits of each decision, extrapolate the future consequences and bamn - we will know what to do"

"Isn't abortion kind of ... kind of like killing a child ?"

"Oh for heaven's sake. It's not a child yet. All you have in there is a mass of cells. You don't want to have a child, easy peasy lemon squeezy, get an abortion. One day rest after the surgery and then it's like it never happened"

"It's not that simple"

He cups my face in his palms "It is that simple. Don't overthink it sunshine. You want to have a kid - let's get married in Vegas and make it official. I will be there for you every step of the way. If you don't - the clinic ain't a mile away"

"Hmmm..."

I get up and stare out of the window. The rain is more of a shower than a deluge. I feel hands snake around my waist and his face rests on my shoulder. I sigh and lean back into his chest.

"Everything is going to be just fine. You'll see" he whispers and kisses my hair.

I see a woman walking on the sidewalk holding an umbrella in one hand and a doe-headed bundle of drool in another. She is about my age. She whispers something to the child and smiles. And then a man comes up to them. He looks contrite, he takes the umbrella from the woman and gives her a side hug. I assume he is her husband. He holds the umbrella securely over his wife and child, neglecting his own cover. Even though he is drenched, his smile is so warm, so beautiful, it literally takes my breath away. The couple leans against tenderly, the baby between them, pulling them together like a magnet.

I feel like a voyeur, but the moment is so precious I can't look away. And neither can Adi. His arms tighten around my midsection and he kisses my shoulder gently. And damned if my heart doesn't beat a little faster.

I imagine myself a few years from now, walking home on the city streets from the job I love - one hand holding a briefcase, the other holding the small, sweet hand of my little girl or boy. And I picture a small family at the dining table, the child working on homework and talking about his day to his parents - US. I see Adi tickling our kid and reading him a bedtime story. I see hugs and kisses.

You know that saying ? The best laid plans of mice and men ? You might want to remember that right now. Because as soon as the future decisions take root in my mind, Adi's phone rings.

He looked at the screen and groaned. "I need to take this. It's the fifth time he is calling"

He disappears in the bathroom and closes the bathroom door. I hear murmuring sounds.

Why is he whispering ? I saw the caller id - it was his Dad. Curiosity got the better of me and I pressed my ear to the door like the curious intruding girlfriend I was. I had to strain to catch whatever Adi was saying. He was trying to be really discreet but I am able to catch some snippets of the conversation.

"I know what my options are, Dad"

"We are twenty-two, not two"

"f**k !"

"Let me devise a solid plan first"

"I know"

His voice is frustrated.

"I know"

He sighs.

"I know"

"I know what I am doing, Dad"

"Yes, we will marry"

"I am not the first and certainly won't be the last member of the male species to get married at twenty two"

There is a long pause before he speaks again. "Once again, I know what I am getting into. I am not leaving her, no bloody way, not when she has my baby growing inside her"

"I am not getting into specifics of abortion with you"

I squeeze my eyes shut. Damn ! I feel so stupid. It's not just about me. It would affect his life equally. How could I forget that ? How could I be so selfish ? For the past two days, I had only been thinking about me. My career. My body. My life. My plans.

"You know what, this is enough. I will call you later. Bye"

I quickly move away from the bathroom door and sit on the bed, just as he comes out, looking sheepish.

"Sorry about that. He just can't - "

"Zoya ?"

We both freeze.

"Who are you talking to ?" a brusque voice demands. "Who's in there ?"

"Nobody" I call out, cautioning Adi with my eyes to keep quiet.

"I heard a voice, Zoya"

"I am watching something on my laptop" I lie and my face flares with panic.

There is a tense pause.

"Okay. Just keep it down"

We hear footsteps descending down the stairs.

"You need to go" I whisper and hand him his jacket.

"I figured" he puts on his jacket.

"Zoya you need -"

Sighing, I walk over to the window ledge and pick up his boots. "It's time for you to go"

"We need to talk" he stays put, his face shining with determination.

"I..." I drag one hand through my tousled hair "I can't deal with this. Not right now. Just go, Adi. Please"

So he went.

And didn't return for the next eight years.

Zoya's POV - Present

It's the same dream again. I try to pull myself out of it, but it's no use. Maybe the outcome will be different this time.

Rain slaps at the car and Jennifer Lopez blares on the radio as my father drives an old van. Daisy Jansen, the handler assigned to me sits in the back seat. I look out of the window, the Chicago skyline - cloudy, dark and ghostly. Dread snakes down my spine when a diesel truck's horn blares at us as we fly past it, our headlights reflecting off his grill. My body tenses...waiting. But, the truck cruises past, disappearing from our vision.

I try to relax but it's useless.

"We are going to India and never coming back" my father declares. His voice strong and definite.

There's a horrible sound, and then my world crashes down. The van tumbles down the slope on the road, flipping multiple times. There is a stifling silence, thick with smoke and fumes. Gas ... I smell gas and oil, and it makes me frantic. I am just twenty-five but I have seen movies - I know cars blow up. Maybe it would be better if it did, I think to myself in my dream. If I just died, everything would be okay.

No, I tell myself. Get out. Live.

I touch my skin, feeling glass. Blood covers my fingers. Dangling from the seat belt, somehow I fight to break free and manage to crawl out of the tangled heap. Dad lies on the pavement, his body twisted like a pretzel.

Sulphuric boom of a gun rips through the stagnant air.I hear a whimper and find Daisy, her eyes shut as I turn her over. A soft puff of a soul escaping.

Murder.

Murder was committed right before me.

Voices cascaded over me, whispers mainly and then ... nothing.

God, make it stop. f**k !

I jerk myself awake, my body in a full sweat.

The accident happened at 1:44 p.m. Monday at 11400 Old Lemont Road, near the Chicago Shipping and Sanitary Canal. Both driver and passenger died on the spot.

I refuse to lose myself in a fog of tears. Fear was a curse and I wouldn't succumb. Not again. Because, I had every intention of being prepared for whatever happened in this one week. Rubbing my hands through my hair, I glance at the clock and exhale heavily. It's two in the afternoon.

I scrub my face one final time and get out of bed, willing my heart rate to slow down.

It's been five years since the accident. Five damn years but my brain apparently didn't get the memo to stop playing it in a freaking endless loop. My heart thudded harder, fear slipping through my defenses. But, full blown terror remained elusive. Slipping like a silverfish, darting on the outskirts on my mind. It was there but fleeting, keeping me clear-headed and strong. I was grateful for that. Grateful that I stood on my resolve to move on from my past and embrace the future.

I close the bathroom door behind me and immediately begin looking through drawers in order to hopefully find an unused toothbrush, but I come up empty handed. Instead, I use my fingers, some toothpaste, and an ungodly amount of amazing wintergreen mouthwash. Aditya Hooda has great taste in bathroom products. That's for sure. Or at least his personal shopper does.

The fact that my mind can switch between two completely unrelated topics never fails to amuse me. From a nightmare to wintergreen mouthwash. It's the alibi. The cover story. You can only shed so many tears.

Once, I am finished in the restroom, I search for my shoes and my Toms at the foot of his bed. He is probably still in his meeting - the one that started at 11 in the morning. Apparently business doesn't take into account minor things like jet lag and ... lack of sleep.

Sometimes I think Aditya is not even real. Objectively, of course I know he breathes oxygen and bleeds red. Although, I won't be surprised if he bled whiskey. He is so dang confident, so convinced that he lives on a different planet. Case in point - when I entered this beautiful four-bedroom villa, there was a Steinway concert grand piano in the living room. When I asked if he played, he said he has never touched the keys. His decorator had recommended the piano as a 'statement piece'.Sorry but can we pause on that for a second ? A statement piece in my ex-boyfriend's one-of-the-many villas costs more than double my annual income as Chief Architect ?

I get that it's reverse snobbery but come on.

Aditya pulled many strings, and we departed for United States - ten days after the decision in the parking lot and the Ramona incident. I had a fake everything - ID, documents, Visa and they passed the US Customs and Border Control.

Bye bye Aloha. Welcome New York suburbs.

Money really does pave the way.

I had rented my previous lodge the next day, after the parking lot incidence, as I needed some space to maintain a modicum of sanity in the whirlpool that was my life. But, that didn't mean that we didn't meet every day. I had asked Adi for time once and life gave me a freaking eight year death wish. You can bet, never again am I uttering those damned words again. I didn't need a break - we already had an eight year hiatus.

We had met daily for the ten days we had to ourselves in Aloha - sometimes Aditya dropped by after work and other days he sent his driver to pick me up. We had taken long walks and done cozy dinners but kept our distance when it came to broaching our past. He told me crazy stories about his life in the eight years we were not together.

"You know after we broke up, I became a social animal. Well at one party, I got ridiculously drunk and pole danced on a banister at a random house, who I knew no one at. Then I proceeded to puke on a random girl"

"Classy"

"However I have no memory of this. Actually I woke up in our university's basketball arena. To this day I have no idea how I got in there. But I digress, I hadn't even known I'd done any of this until on the graduation day, my roommate's girlfriend tells me about it, and it happens to be that she was the one I puked on."

But, we kept it light and fluffy - piss drunk and puking. Nothing serious, no thank you.

I change into a white T-shirt and jean shorts and trudge towards the guest room where Aditya has been holed up since 11 o'clock.

"Listen, as much as I enjoy discussing how the design is trash, I'm too tired to insult you today"

I sigh.

I contemplate my plans for the day. I could rearrange the kitchen cupboards, watch a movie, slit my wrists. The possibilities were endless.

I wander to the front yard. The sky was clear and the air carried a light musky scent mingled with pine. A black sedan sits proudly on the serpentine long driveway. A light sheen of dust coats its exterior.

Car washing day it is.

I got out a bucket and hose and soap up most of the car, but when I reach over the top of the roof, all I end up doing is soaking myself and dropping the sponge a dozen times. No matter which side I try to attack the roof from, it wasn't working. Cursing, I start picking out pieces of grass and dust from the sponge. I want to launch it into the wall. Frustrated, I end up tossing the sponge into the bucket.

"You look as if you could use some help"

I jump. Aditya stood a few feet away from me, hands in the front pockets of his jeans. His bright eyes sparkling in the sunshine. His sudden appearance had startled me. I hadn't even heard him. He wasn't smiling, his mouth curved in a thoughtful gesture.

"You looked as though you wanted to throw that again" he gestured to the bucket with his elbow and the sponge floating on top of the suds "I figured I would do my good deed for the day and intervene before any innocent sponges lose their lives"

I brushed a few strands of damp hair out of my eyes, not sure what to say. Aditya bent quickly and snatched up the sponge, squeezing out the excess water. "You look like you got more of a bath than the car. I never thought washing a car would be so hard, but after watching you for the last ten minutes, I am convinced it should be an Olympic sport"

"You were watching me ?" Kind of creepy.

He shrugged. He knelt down and began cleaning a spot I had missed on the fender around the tire before tackling the roof of the car. He finished the roof in record time and picked up the hose.

"Aren't you tired ? You have been on the phone forever"

He flashed me a grin and started spraying the car with water, the suds running down the sides like an overflowing cup. "It's merger Monday"

"Merger Monday ?" I will deny it to my dying day, and even to myself, but I am a little disappointed that he can still slum it a little and wash a car ... perfectly. Takes out the steam from my whole self-righteous rant, doesn't it. Bummer !

"Monday means making phone calls, trying to figure out what's huge, what's pay attention, and what's who-the-hell-cares among the deals"

"Ever heard about something known as a vacation?"

He simply shrugs. I'd like to say that it's always been this way, that he's been arrogant, impatient and unforgiving for his entire life. But that would be a lie. He used to speak to me with love and tenderness on his face and in his voice. He'd pull me onto his lap and ruffle my hair. He used to have compassion for the world instead of this unending need to control and dominate.

Anyway - it's like the kettle and pot situation we have going on. Time does leave its mark.

I am distracted by his arms which are soaping the windshield so I don't see the hose directed at me.

"What the hell !" I am drenched in ice cold water from head to toe "What are you ? Ten ? You were supposed to wash the damn car not me" I look up at his grinning face.

Another shrug.

He went back to cleaning the car as if he hadn't just given me an outdoor shower. Oh no. He wasn't getting off the hook so easily. I pick up the bucket in retaliation. His eyes narrow, he drops the sponge on the ground and backs up.

"Don't you dare"

I take a step forward.

He takes one back.

"Zoya you will regret this"

I take a step forward.

He takes one back.

"Zoya I have a conference call in an hour, you can't drench me in dirty suddy water"

I take a step forward.

He takes one back.

"Don't. Just don't"

I tilt the bucket aiming for his head but his height results in most of it landing on his shirt. Dirty, black water.

His mouth opens in shock. "You are so dead"

I squeal and run towards the house. I leap for the door, my heart thudding in my chest. He catches me before I clear the doorway, one arm hooked around my waist. The air whooshed out of my lungs and I bent over, my hair flying around my head. He lifted me and swung us both around, kicking the door closed with one bare foot.

Then he pressed me against it, up high, his tight body holding mine in place, his eyes nearly glowing black an inch from mine. "You are going to pay for it, sunshine" His chest was a hard plate against mine.

"Let me down" I ordered, my voice breathy.

His eyes are warm and wild, a heated gray "No"

"Don't you have stuff to do ? Important stuff ? Deals or something ?"

And then, slowly, he smiles, broad and big "Probably"

"Then why aren't you doing them ?"

He searches my face, those eyes falling to my mouth like he can't tear his eyes away "I like looking at you" Whoosh goes my stomach.

"You are dirty" I look away, focusing my gaze on the car instead. The breeze picked up, rustling pine needles and leaves, and I shivered in my wet clothing. I continue as nonchalantly as I can "And who started it anyways ?"

Reaching out with his left arm, he lifted my chin with one knuckle, waiting until my gaze met his "Then allow me to end it too"

Strong arms grasped my hips and whirled me around, and I emitted a startled yelp. He ducked. The world tilted as I was flung over his broad shoulder. My stomach impacted solid muscle and the air whooshed out of my lungs. Man, he was strong.

"Put me down"

"No" He strode past the doorway into the house.

He shifted and I found myself cradled in his arms. I smacked my fists against his chest.

"That wasn't nice" The sparkle of his eyes glowed in the near darkness indoors.

I settled into his chest "I don't feel nice"

"Me neither" Muscles vibrated around me with tension I felt in my own body. He opened a door and began descending, his shoes echoing against cement stairs.

"Where are we going ? Where are you taking me?"

He twisted a knob and kicked another metal door open to reveal a shimmering indoor pool "For a swim" His voice echoed throughout the humid room. He dropped me to my feet and ripped his shirt over his head.

I took off my tennis shoes and dipped my toe in the water. Perfect temperature. "Do we also have a tennis court I am not aware of ?"

He grasped my shoulders and turned me towards the pool "Go in, smartass"

Turning, I dove into the deep end. Cool water washed over me and I broke the surface with an appreciative hum to swivel just as Aditya dove deep.

He gave a tug to my ankle before rising next to me "You just jumped in. I wasn't expecting that" Water cascaded down the hard planes of his face and naked chest, making desire and irritation rise inside me. Why does he have to be so damn perfect ! I hate it.

I shrugged "Surprise surprise"

I close my eyes, enjoying the feel of cool water on my skin. The indoor pool is quiet, peaceful - both of us content just to be.

Until Aditya whispers "Have you ever been arrested ?"

"What ?"

"Just asking. With your penchant for being Mother Teresa and all ?"

"Ha ha ha. You are so funny, I just died laughing"

"Tell me. I am serious. I want to know you, what happened in those eight years. The good, the bad and the in between"

"I have never been arrested. Not yet. You ?"

He smiles "Arrested, but never convicted"

Then he tells me about the time he and his roommate were caught breaking into a house and were almost charged for trespassing. Almost. It was two months after I went away. Cue in the loony tunes.

"It's a miracle you didn't accidentally kill yourself"

He barks out a laugh "Almost did. But that's a story for another time"

"Have you ever had sex in a public place ?" he asks, his eyes glittering with curiosity.

"Why do you ask ?"

I notice that my thin top had turned almost translucent, so I ducked farther down the water. It was bliss. Pure, heavenly bliss.

"No judgment here" he runs a hand through his tousled wet hair, then winks "Just for future reference"

I pretend to think "Does the time we made out in the changing room at Nordstrom count ?"

He chuckles "It certainly does"

"Never again ?"

"Nopes"

"How many people did you go out with after ... after me ?" his voice is pained.

I pause. How bloody ridiculous is that I haven't been with anyone else other than Aditya, when in the meantime he screwed his way from Manhattan to Aloha. Ramona's words come rushing back to my mind.

"You'll hear a speech soon - right before he f**ks you. Trust me lots of women have been down this road with Aditya. I just got a gift for trusting him. Honey, the sex will be off the charts but believe me he is not worth the heartache"

I feel his hands on my shoulders, with one hand he cups my face. "I am sorry" he mutters, his eyes holding genuine regret. But, he has nothing to be sorry about. He didn't cheat on me or anything. The fact that he can read my mind has to count for something.

I shrug and deliver evenly "Witness protection isn't exactly conducive to dating"

He cocks his head "None ?"

I shrugged, my mind sifting through the past eight years "There have been a few dates but ... they didn't go any further"

He kisses the tip of my nose "Music to my f**king ears" Then he pushes himself forward while pulling me closer - letting me feel every inch of his body "You are just amazing" Genuine happiness pours out of him. It's pure unadulterated possessiveness.

I sigh. Screw all medications, shrinks should prescribe Aditya Hooda face accompanied with boxed wine as an antidepressant.

Then I smile. And bring in the distasteful topic."Did you hate me for aborting our... our child ?"

His reply is immediate "Not for a second" He kisses my nose again, indulgently "Don't get me wrong, I didn't exactly love your decision but I didn't hate you. I kind of understood where you were coming from. I know you did what you thought was the best for us"

"Is everyone in your family devout Hindus ?"

"It's a moonstone. It's expensive and rare. I should have consulted an astrologer sooner"

He chuckles and small ripples of water spread across the pool "Devout is kind of a strong word, but Ma has her phases"

He thinks about it a little more "She uses religion for her benefit, as and when it suits her. Though seriously, you never know with her. She is as predictable as weather"

"She doesn't like me"

"She doesn't like anyone. Most days she doesn't even like me"

That gets a smile out of me. "What's the worst thing you have done ?"

He tilts his head "You ask the weirdest questions"

"Goods deeds are easy to talk about. But bad things tell you more"

He inhales deeply, his mind probably doing a mental rundown of all his transgressions. Then he chuckles in a self-deprecating manner "The list is pretty long and there's some stuff I am not proud of ... but they were necessary"

"You know what ... I will tell you the thing I feel guilty about. I cheated ... on every girlfriend I ever had...after you. And the few times I got caught, I made them feel like it was their fault"

I search his eyes, trying to read him. "Why did you do that ?"

"Because I was young and stupid. Selfish. Because I wanted them enough to bang them, but not enough to stop banging other women. Because in my twisted mind they deserved to feel awful and humiliated"

I say what he was avoiding "Because I had made you feel awful and humiliated"

His tone is less weighted when he continues a moment later "I was just angry at everyone ... angry at the world. They didn't deserve it. That's why I stopped having relationships after sometime, only hookups and arrangements"

Arrangements like Ramona.

He continues and relief floods his face "When you called me from the station - I couldn't believe my luck. Karma is afterall not a bitch"

I don't feel better after knowing this but ... I did ask for it. Truth does set you free but first it pisses you off. I dunk my head inside and surface sputtering and coughing.

"Life sucks" I declare.

"True that" he agrees solemnly.

There's no more talk after that. We stay in the pool for some more time, enjoying the comfortable silence - together.

Aditya POV - Present

Being in a relationship with me is harder than you'd think. I mean, I'm a great guy; my life on the other hand, is a pain in the corporate arse. I can't just drop everything to go on a random Friday night date. These things have to be preplanned, organized. Spontaneity is the only luxury I don't get to enjoy.

It took me ten days to lay all the ducks in a freaking straight line. I let Mrs. Gupta do the dirty work of informing Dad of my mini vacation. As expected, he blew a blood vessel. We have a good cardiologist on speed dial, so I didn't care. Mom landed in Aloha a day after we left. In case you are wondering, yes - I timed it, wasn't a coincidence. As much as I love my mother, her talons are particularly sharp when it comes to Zoya. And she doesn't even know the whole story about abortion and other interesting stuff. Informing her in person about our little, dirty plan wasn't a conversation I was interested in having then. Or ever.

So now, you know how much I appreciate our alone time.

Zoya sits next to me on the couch, her bare feet on the coffee table, wearing another jean shorts and tank top. I flick on the television and we try to agree on a movie to watch. The problem is Zoya has a vagina, which means her taste in movies ranges from awful to non-existent.

Don't scowl at me - I am only stating what every man in the world knows. The reason shitty movies like The English Patient and The King's Speech win Oscar ? Women have chick-boners for Ralph Fiennes and Colin Firth. Sure, Braveheart won a bunch of well-deserved awards, but it wasn't just because it's the perfect movie. Mel Gibson, anyone ? Enough said.

Zoya defends a horrible chick flick suggestion "I like best friend movies - they are very empowering. Steel Magnolias, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - that one's my favourite"

"What's a Steel Magnolias ? And more importantly anyone with half a brain doesn't watch Bollywood dramas"

She looks simultaneously surprised and appalled "You have never seen Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ? Are you even Indian ? It is a legend"

I scroll through the on-demand movies until I spot a winner "Conan the Barbarian. The greatest love story ever told"

Her nose wrinkles "Normally I would be into Schwarzenegger flavored eye candy, but I am not in the mood. Let's watch Kuch Kuch Hota Hai"

I shake my head "No. It'll be the three hours of my life I'll never get back"

I wave the remote control at her like a ten year old. I held the keys to the kingdom, in this case, the television.

A sly, persuasive smile slides onto my face. I lean over her, she angles her head back to keep eye contact "Take off your tank top and we will watch Kuch Kuch ...whatever. Put you have to keep the top off for the entire three hours"

I settle back into the couch. Because that ladies and gentlemen is the bait Zoya would never take.

Or so I thought.

A white T-shirt slams dead-center on my face.

"Change the channel"

She crosses her arms, defiant in her mint green bra and faded denim shorts. I couldn't help but be impressed.

"Yes ma'am"

I kept my face stoic and my body relaxed, but what the hell was I supposed to do now ? I wanted to touch her - badly - but that seemed ungentlemanly. Sure, she'd taken off her top, but I had dared her. Keeping my gaze on the braindead film while she sat ten inches away in a lace bra might kill me. If that was her plan, it was shockingly good.

So, I decided to focus on the legendary movie instead.

It's a little painful to watch a young Anjali, hopelessly pursue Rahul who she happens to be head over heels in love with, only to see him fall in love with someone else. She awkwardly tries to mimic Tina's style, among other vain attempts to win Rahul's heart till it becomes painfully evident that she means nothing to him. Cue the super sad song Tujhe Yaad Na Meri Aayee where amidst pouring rain Anjali decides to run away from college and her life as it is, and ... it's just plain sad.

Even though the villa is spotless clean, some particles must have gotten in my eyes. I rub them, to get the irritation out. And I sniff. Goddamn allergies.

"Are you crying ?" Zoya asks me with surprise and laughter in her voice.

Disgustedly, I turn to her "No, I am not crying"

Then I look back at the screen.

"How can you watch this shit and not get a depression ?"

Zoya covers her mouth and laughs into her hands "The fact that it makes me cry is one of the reasons I love it so much"

Okay, that ? That is like saying I love the table in my parents front hall because I'm gonna stub my toe on it every freaking time I walk past barefoot.

"Why ?"

She shrugs "It's cathartic. Sometimes it feels good to cry"

"You never told me about this ... this stupidity" she glares, I amend "movie preference before"

"All we did before was study and party. We hardly got any time to just be ourselves" Her voice holds a tinge of surprise. Like it was a shocker for her too. We had never discussed movies before.

I add helpfully "And sex. We also had sex. Study, sex and party"

She throws a popcorn kernel at my head "Thanks for the reminder"

The next day is the same. Zoya and I hangout inside the villa itself. We play board games, we start movies but miss the endings, we go swimming. And we talk - a lot. Zoya is chatty. A sharer, an explainer. She also has theories - on about every topic imaginable. Apparently this is what she did when she had endless hours to sit on her ass - waiting - as a witness.

Though all of her theories are entertaining, some are pretty out there. Take this for example :

"You actually think the Egyptians built the pyramid ?"

"Sure, it's well documented"

"Oh, you poor, gullible man. How were they able to move stones as big as a house? How were they able to make underground, structurally sound tunnels without any engineering equipment ? Or, for that matter, how were they able to shape and cut the blocks at precise and identical angles ?"

"Well, if the Egyptians didn't build them, who did ?"

"Aliens"

"Aliens ?"

"Ofcourse. There's tons of proof that aliens have been visiting Earth for centuries - you don't even know"

Or this :

"The 2004 tsunami was caused by an Indian bomb testing gone wrong"

"How do you figure ?"

" Let me explain - during the second World War, the United States and New Zealand armies secretly carried out bomb-testings on the coast of New Zealand. They developed a bomb that could trigger a Tsunami due to the electromagnetic waves, and would thus destroy a whole coastal area in one go. But the bombs were never really used. You get my point ?"

"Actually I don't, the enlightened one"

"Pay attention slacker. You see, the 2004 Tsunami was actually caused due to a Nuclear Bomb-Testing gone wrong. The result was that it triggered an earthquake and a series of devastating Tsunamis that destroyed coastal areas and took thousands of lives. The fact that it was proved almost 70 years ago that triggering a Tsunami is possible, this is not just a far fetched idea."

"Completely plausible"

In between her crazy conspiracy theories she tells me about her horrible time under Witness Protection Program. The things she told me weren't in sequence and didn't make a whole lot of sense. I didn't push her any further. I took the crumbs of past she threw my way.

Afterall we had forever.

"I snuck into your room to keep that note and prayed you wouldn't hate me forever. Sometimes I wish I hadn't agreed to become a witness but those kids, their eyes. I couldn't forget their eyes. Like they were looking right at me. I just waited for the first year. Waiting for something to happen. The U.S. Marshals were kind to me. Daisy Jansen was my handler for most part of the three years in US. She had two beautiful kids. I never met them. But, I wish I had"

"Are you in touch with her ? Surely, she means a lot, I gather"

"She is dead"

"You want to talk about it ?"

"Maybe some other day. But ... I do need to tell you something"

"Yeah ?"

"If you decide to do this ... I mean if we become serious ..."

"We are serious Zoya"

"You are looking down a possible gruesome murder because they will never stop looking for me"

I loved it!! Really loved it!!

Oh man, such a great update! and they were so long, such a treat

I like how the tone of the story has changed slightly - Adi is still a jerk but I'm seeing a different side of him and it feels like I'm sensing Zoya envelope back into her dark state because she's definitely not at chirpy and direct as the beginning of the story

Thanks so much for the awesome update... U made my day !!!

Wow! Amazing updates! Loved it thoroughly. ❤️