Zindagi tu hai kaha

Chapter 13

Its music ceremony of Mariyam and whole house is busy in its preparations. Best numbers of bollywood are listed for evenings. Neighbour aunties are all set with folk lyrics. House is fill with laughter and happiness. But there is only one person who seems to have a foul mood today.
Since morning Aditya has done his best to trouble zoya. Wherever she goes, whatever she does , he made it a point to be present around. Not only this! He texted her all morning with cheesy lines. If a murder was forgiven for zoya today it would have been his. For sure!
Just then the phone buzzed again. Zoya didnt had to check on name as she already understood who is the sender.
She tapped her phone and read the message.
"You look really pretty in pink. But my favourite color on you is Red." She fumed at his compliment, and instantly the message was send to delete. she walked out of room and found a garland hanging carelessly on wall. Zoya quickly ties her hair in bun and fix the garland back. When she brush her hands off she hears another ping from her phone.
She checked her phone and it read "Oh you look so gorgeous with your hair open but even this bun suits you Love."
Zoya had it enough! She clutched the phone in her hand and makes a Bee line towards her room. There is no use to scold him , she knew it. Thus, she choose to shut herself in her room till the function starts. With a determine Mindset she shuts the door and locks it.
"What does he think of himself? Why cant he leave me alone" she strolled around her room. She picks up a magazine in front of her and settles herself on bed. Just when she is about to open page one, her phone pings again. Her eyebrow squeezed and she brings herself to read the text after a little argument with herself.
"Oh my little Mad girl, locking up yourself in your room wont help you at all. You can shut me but not my memory!lets see, mera pyar kab tak tumhe us kamre me rehne dega. Count down began 1..2..." How can be someone so much shameless! She scowled
Pressing the red button for longer time she brought her phone to shut up for sometime.
Zoya kept her phone aside and prepared herself mentally to not step out of this room and make him win.
Only an hour later she found the book slapping on her face straight. Surprised! She looked around. Oh god! She slept while reading it. Her eyes became groggy and she decided to wash her face to feel fresh. Zoya keeps the book aside and walks straight to washroom. She opens the tap and splashes water on face. Instantly zoya feels fresh and relax again. She picks up the towel and began wiping her face when there is a knock on the door.
"One minute." She screamed from washroom
Placing the towel back on its place she walked upto door and opened it.
She finds no one around , she calls out for someone in a hope she will get a reply but no one answers back.
Zoya shrugs her shoulder and gets back inside and shuts the door. A minute later again she hears the knock.
Zoya  calls out again but there is no answer.
"Aditya? Is it you?" She called back . But still no reply.
She opened the door again to see the face of trouble maker. But when she opened it she found no one but a beautiful bouquet of Roses, neatly placed right in front of the door with a note on it. She kneeled down and took the note. Zoya began reading it , half sure its from Aditya already.
"Dear Zoya,
Beautiful Roses for a Beautiful Girl."

There was no name written in it. Zoya wanted to throw them away but what is the use if she throws it without him seeing it. She decided to teach Aditya a lesson and put a full stop on his romeo behaviour. She picks up the flower and gets inside the room, shutting it close after her.

Soon the evening arrived and house lightens up with lights and decoration. Guest have began to come and everyone got busy in making an effort to make this even as best as possible. All decked up was Mariyam soon brought down by her cousins. Aunties had gathered and soon the music is about to start. As seconds passed by everyone began enjoying the moment except one who looked exceptionally restless.  Aditya waited at the stairs which connected to Zoya room. He had tried to call her a couple of times but she had kept her phone switched off the entire day.
Just when he made up a mind to barged in her room and bring her down with him willingly or unwillingly. He found her sweet perfume enchanting his nerves and calming him down instantly. He kept his eyes shut inhaling her beautiful fragrance. A smile appeared on his lips when the perfume got even stronger. He could feel her eyes on her and he already have imagined her to staring back at him in confusion.
"What are you wearing?" He asked with his eyes shut.
Zoya felt startled and backed up. she began walking away but he caught her wrist and made her stand with him.
"Reply" He demanded
"Why dont you open your eyes and see for yourself." She talked back. Feisty ! He smiled inward.
"I dont need eyes to look at you zoya. I can see you with out them too." He gave a little pull on her wrist and got her behind pillar.
"So then you must know what I am wearing" she smirked in a challenge while he just let head rest on her shoulder.
Aditya softly slides his hands on her arm till he could feel the bangles on it. "Red, blue and pink color." He brought them to his lips and kissed it.
He then circled his tight and secure arm around her waist while breathing on her skin. His warm breathe and close proximity were not helping zoya either, she wanted to move before he could exposed her feelings to him but the hold of him on her made it impossible for her to move an inch. His hands had reached to her duppata which were locked on her waist with neatly. He used his fingers to release and whispered on her ear "White and Red combination" 
Her breathing had now become uneven. Aditya smiled at the effect of him on her. She was clearly fighting within herself to control her feelings. His hands roamed freely on her waist until he decided to end this torture before he looses control on himself. He turns her around and backup her on pillar.
"You are wearing a Red Sharara with blue and pink working on and i can already say my girl is looking gorgeous in this outfit." He was right! It surprised her as well as his words made her blush and she tries to run away from him. As she pushed his shoulder,his hand made a contact on her bun and her hair kissed the air and flies all over places. Thats when he opened his eyes to look at her. When he said she is looking gorgeous it was an understatement. She was looking breathtaking. If be had one more heart , it would be too claimed by her until now. He felt extremely proud of his choice , there was no comparision of her beauty. His lips quivered with thirst while his hands struggled to keep it to himself. Her backless blouse was not helping as well. He watched as she struggled with the hair to put them behind her ear neatly. She had a frown in her face and her lips ,they were murmuring something. Whatever she was speaking he could not hear because he was completely enchanted by her innocence.
"What is wrong with you?" She glared back on anger . Zoya felt more annoyed with the foolish grin he had on his face. She so wanted to snatch that away from him. It took her hours and help of her cousins to set the duppata and hair neatly. And all he did was to cause them disaster.
Zoya waved her hands on his face to get him back on earth. "What is your problem ? Why cant you just leave me alone?" She scolded him

"My problem....its you." He said with a laugh but it was not a joke it was his truth.

"Aditya, I am not interested in you. Please understand" she folded her hands in front of him and he envelops his hands on her.
"What should i do to make you interested then?" He had a grin on face and naughtiness was visible in his eyes.
She scratched her hand back to herself.
"Aditya!!" She screamed and headed back to her room. She picked up the flower and got back down. When she returned she found Aditya on same spot where she had left him

She looked at him and then the flower. She checked around for a dustbin and threw the flowers harshly in it.  She shuts her eyes as she was afraid to see him hurt.
But when she checked him , he looked indifferent. Infact he had an amusement on his face.
"Aditya why are you smiling? I just threw the flowers you gave. You should be upset and not be happy" she yelled again.
Aditya darted towards the flower and then back to zoya. "They are not mine" with that he burst out laughing.
"What do you mean they arent yours ? You gave it right. You kept it in front of the door." He heart beats fast and sudden fear engulfed her. He got to be joking. She reminded herself

"Its not mine Zoya. How could I give you roses when I myself hate them." He explained " if i had to give you anything that would be white lilies. Your favourite flower and not some random bouquet" he added further.
Zoya could feel fear building up inside her. If not him than it could be only one person. Roses were his favourite flower. He gifted her this whenever they met. A trail of memories crossed her mind and she had to blink several times to push the tears that began to form in her eyes.
"Hello!! Now who is zoning out here?" Aditya waved his hand in front of her face.
She eyes the flower and than at aditya's face. She could not connect the dots. Why she was feeling her being watched the entire mehendi ceremony. Its should be him. It cant be, why would he come back..he left her alone. He just cant return. Can he! Is she being paranoid. What was it?
She didnt even realized when tears began flowing freely from her eyes. It was when Aditya's cold fingers touched her cheeks to wipe her tears, realization had hit her.
That was a time when aditya too felt there was something his girl was hidding from him. And as much as he wanted to know, he didnt ask her. She needed time and he was ready to give it all. He wanted her to trust him with all her problems and secrets. He promised himself to gain her trust and wait for the time when she is ready to open it to him. But for now she just needed someone to hold her and stand by her. He was ready to hold her hand and stand behind her like a pillar. He was ready to protect her. Whatever was troubling her ,he was ready to remove it out of her life. He glanced back at flowers and than at Zoya. She was staring at it without blinking eyes. He wiped her tears once again and took her in a hug. No questions, no soothing words, he just hold her close to him with his arms around her tightly and protectively.....
It took a while before she circled her arms across him and moved more closer to him.