Chained✔

13. The Foundation

Zoya said breaking the silence "The engine must have cooled by now. Hum gaadi start karte hai aap dhakka dijiye."
Aditya nodded. Zoya sat down and started the car and he started pushing. After a few minutes the car started but just as the wheels rotated it splattered a whole lot of mud on Aditya's face. Aditya looked aghast. He came in the front and when Zoya saw him she started laughing. She said "Aapne kya hooliya bana liya apna paanch minute mein."
Aditya snorted and said "Tumhari pyaari baarish keechad as a bonus le aati hai. So I got the bonus today."
Zoya said "Awwww. Rukiye hum aapka chehra ponchne ke liye kuch dete hai." She took out a pack of wet wipes from her bag and her phone. Before handing over the wipes , she quickly captured a very muddy Aditya. Aditya rolled his eyes and said "It is amazing how you can enjoy so much in others apathy."
Zoya laughed and said "The great Dr. Hooda covered in mud. That's not a spectacle you see everyday. Ab li jiye yeh wipes aur ponch lijiye apna mooh."

Still laughing at the picture she had taken she went and sat in the car while Aditya wiped his face and his hair. Suddenly a smile unnoticed by him crept on to his face as he thought of Zoya and her antics. That girl was always so full of energy and positivity that it was impossible to relate sadness with her. Yet, Aditya remembered , there was a certain amount of hurt and sadness in her voice as she spoke about her singing capabilities. A voice in Aditya's head said " Are waah, Adi aaj tereko Zoya ki harakatein cute lag rhi hai? Tu apne alawa kisi aur ke baare mein bhi soch rha hai. Kya ho gya? Dushman ko itni jaldi dost bana liya ?"
Aditya replied to the voice "Aaj jaise usne hospital mein saari situations ko handle kiya , I couldn't help but befriend her. And she is right ab jab shaadi ho hi gyi hai, it's better that we accept it and maintain a friendly relationship at least. Roz roz kaun jhahdana chahta hai."
The voice said "Waah. Zoya effect kaafi jaldi ho gya. Subah tak jisse nafrat karta tha usse dosti kar li. That's a first Adi."
Aditya replied "It's not a deep friendship. It's more like enemies turned pleasant acquaintances. Gehri dosti mein toh time lagega."
The voice said "You never know. If it clicks, she might be the first good friend you would ever have."

Aditya said "Maybe. Somehow her vibes makes me remember the old Adi."
The voice said "Maybe she will bring that Aditya out of the past."
Aditya cleared his head as he heard Zoya saying "Andar aayenge ab aap. Kehte hai baarish achi nhi lagti lekin phir bhi bahar khade hai."

Aditya got in and started the car and drove. They didn't say anything to each other the whole journey. Both were lost in their own thoughts. Both thought about how the whole day had changed their perspective about each other. While Zoya was still awestruck on the fact that Aditya had stood up for her , Aditya was in admiration of Zoya's presence of mind and her calmness in dealing with every situation.

They reached home and Harsh along with Mri were waiting for them in the hall with worried looks on their faces. As soon as the door opened and Mri saw them she rushed and hugged Aditya and then Zoya. Harsh got up and said "Aditya , Zoya kahan the tum log ? Itni baar phone kar rha tha. Adi, tumne toh 10 baje bola tha ki tum nikal gye ho. Abhi raat ke 1 baj gye hai."

Aditya said "Haan voh hum phas gye the baarish mein aur mera phone mein charge bhi khatam ho gya tha. I am sorry if you all got worried."
Harsh said "Yeah I understand. Agli baar aisa kuch ho toh phone kar dena pehle. Ab jaao change kar lo."
Aditya left and even Mri went to sleep after giving Zoya a kiss. Zoya was about to leave for her room when Harsh asked her "Zoya, Aditya ne tumhare saath kuch galat toh nhi kiya na aaj. I mean , is that why you both got late. You can tell me."
Zoya said "Mr.Hooda. Aisi koi baat nhi hai. In fact aaj toh humne Aditya ka ek alag hi roop dekh liya."
She narrated everything that had happened to him and then said "I told him that it would so much better for both of us if we become friends and he agreed."

Harsh said "Zoya, I knew it. Koi aur jo nhi kar paayega voh tum karogi. Aditya needs a friend. Use ek saathi ki zaroorat hai jo uske saath bhi rhe aur uska sahara bhi bane."
Zoya said " Humein pata nhi ki hum dono kitne ache dost banenge lekin hum itna jaante hai ki hum iss dosti ko poori tarah se nibhayenge."
Harsh kissed hee forehead and said "God bless you. Ab jaao jaldi aur kapde badal lo warna thand lag jaayegi. Aur ek aur baat , tumhe main bachpan se dekh rha hoon , I see you as a daughter of mine. Mujhe please Mr.Hooda kehke mat bulao. Call me baba"

Zoya smiled with joy and said "Ji baba. Aapko pata nhi yeh sunke humein kitni khushi mili hai."
Harsh hugged her and she went. She saw Aditya already sitting with fresh clothes on and with two cups of steaming coffee in his hand. He looked up at her and said "Zoya , yeh pilo tumhe bohot better lagega. Maine khud banai hai. I am sorry mujhe pata nhi tha ki tumhe kitni chini chaiye. Maine apne hisab se daal di."
Zoya said "Humein toh coffee hi nhi pasand. I am tea person. Lekin aapne itne pyaar se bana kar di hai so I would love to have it."
She took the cup from his hand and sipped the coffee and said "Ek baat bataye aapko. This is the best coffee i have ever had. Everything is just perfect in this."

Aditya smiled and said "Tumne kabhi mujhe kitchen mein dekha nhi hai. I can give every chef in this country a run for their money."
Zoya said "Really. Phir toh hum bhi dekhte hai ki aap humse kitna better khana paka lete hai. Ek din aap humein aapka best khana khilayega aur hum aapko. And then we will ask Mri and Baba to judge."
Aditya said "Challenge accepted. Kal raat ka dinner mein hi karte hai yeh challenge."
Zoya said "Done."

She went to change and after she came, Aditya said "Zoya.."
She turned and said "Ji
He said "Main bolna chahta tha.... I mean I wanted to say that.........ummm. I wanted to thank you."
Zoya said "Thank me ? Why ?"
Aditya said "Aaj jaise tumne hospital mein saari situations ko handle kiya uske liye. It wasn't easy but you did it and that too with a smile. Aur voh end of the day ka stunt, voh toh main kabhi nhi bhuloonga."

Zoya smiled warmly and said "Actually hum bhi aapka shukriya karna chahte the. Aaj jo aapne Dr.Kapoor ko bola voh humne suna. Thank you for standing up for me."
Aditya looked embarrassed and looked down because he hadn't thought that Zoya would have heard him. Zoya took her pillow and was about to sleep on the couch when Aditya said "Main soch rha tha ki kyun na hum alternately couch pe soye. Aise kisi ko bhi uncomfortable nhi lagega. Toh aaj tum bed pe so jaao , main yahan so jaoonga."
And without any further arguments Aditya went to sleep on the couch and Zoya was left on the bed.

Both of them said goodnight to each other and went to deal with their own thoughts. Zoya lay on the bed thinking how much Aditya had changed overnight. He had become considerate and kind. Though he was still very serious but he wasn't grumpy all the time. She just hoped that this shade of his would last for some time.
Aditya on the other hand was amazed with himself. After a long time he had made coffee for someone and had actually thought for someone else other than himself. He was slowly turning into the old Aditya. He wished that his and Zoya's bond should grow because getting Zoya as a friend was a good thing happening to him after a very long time.

Precap : Zoya and Aditya in the kitchen. Zoya cuts her finger and Aditya tends to her. Their bond deepens as they talk about themselves to each other.

So my fellow readers how was the chapter. Are you liking how the story is progressing? Is the pace of the story fine? I will soon reply to all your comments so please don't stop writing them. I love your views and your comments so keep them coming. Do vote. Lots of loveee