The Contract

Part Twelve

It had been two weeks since Aditya had returned to his hometown, to find hide nor hair of Zoya. He had visited her workplace, her old workplace, her house and the ruins of his only to be met with eerie silence and uncomfortable stares as the anger consumed him when no one knew where she was.

With a heavy sigh and an even heavier heart, he turned away from his desk, closing his eyes tightly in frustration, he pictured her face in his head. Her smile, her twinking eyes, all the things that made Zoya special to him. For now, it was enough, but it wouldn't be enough forever. He needed her.

"Sir"

Aditya turned around, raising a brow when he saw a chocolate bar on his desk. He picked it up "This yours"

The man shook his head.

Aditya's eyes widened in realisation."What, well then what do you eat when you're sad, or happy, no, actually, go to the shop and buy yourself a nice bar of chocolate and eat it, then you will understand what you're missing, exactly what were you doing with your life before I came along"

"Zoya, Zoya was" he gripped the chocolate bar tightly in his hand before running outside. "Zoya" he shouted loudly, his head turning from side to side, looking for her. Aditya felt his heart come to a stop as he focused on the woman stood across the street, turned away from him.

She turned slowly to face him, then shook her head and ran, making Aditya chase her down the road.

"Zoya, stop, will you please just listen to me"

She arrived outside a house, unlocking the door, she ran in, slamming it behind her, she rested against it and took a deep breath, wiping her tears. Zoya jumped forward as she felt banging on the door

"Zoya, please, I just want to talk to you, why are you running away from me" Aditya rested his head against the door

"Please Aditya, just go away, go and live your life, I dont want to see you"

"You don't get to just decide when you can cut me off, I dont know what you think I will think of you, but im not going to judge you" his voice softened "I just want to see you Zoya, please"

She sniffed, before pulling the door open slowly, then stepping back, allowing her hair to fall over her face. Zoya awaited for Aditya to turn and leave in disgust, she had been lucky to leave without any serious injury, but the bruises covering her body along with all the cuts and grazes made her feel horrid.

Zoya jumped as Aditya tipped up her chin, pushed her hair back then pulled her into his arms. "Ive missed you so much, I dont know why you thought I wouldn't want to see you, all those people that hurt you, I just, I want to kill them, im so so sorry I wasn't there, I wont ever leave you again"

"You're not going to leave" Zoya lifted her head from his chest, glancing up at him

"No, of course not, what would I do without you"

Zoya stepped back slowly, she wanted nothing more than to black out the events of that night, but there was one thing she never wanted to forget. And that was that she had told Aditya she loved him. Now, as she stood before him, she knew it was true. Yes, it had been quick, but Aditya had showed her feelings she had never believed existed, when she stood by his side she knew there was nowhere else she wanted to be. But, if he didnt love her back, she would only get her heart broken even more

"Why are you stepping away from me" he asked, grabbing her hands. "Ive only just got you back"

"That night, I, I told you something do you remember" she queried

Aditya bit into his cheek, her confession had been haunting him constantly. Now he knew she was safe, he wasnt sure how to react. He wasnt capable of love, the last thing he wanted was to give her false hope. "No, I dont remember, im sorry"