Chained✔

15.Baring out the Past

As Aditya and Zoya entered the party  , he introduced her to everyone and then said "This is my wife Dr.Zoya Siddiquie Hooda." That was when Zoya blushed slightly because she loved the fact that Aditya had stuck true to his word and had not snatched her surname away from her. It made her proud to be his wife. All around her people talked about his greatness and the lives he had saved and she couldn't help but smile at all the praises. As for Aditya he just kept watching her socialize and noted her various hand movements and gestures that she used while speaking. His eyes also travelled to the nook of her neck where he noticed a small butterfly tattooed. It was the first time he had seen her properly. Somehow he was attracted to her beauty and he wasn't shy to admit it to himself.

After the party ended , Zoya and Aditya left in their car. It was way past midnight and suddenly Zoya said "Aditya, gaadi rokiye na please." Aditya said "Kya hua achanak se?"
She exclaimed "Voh dekhiye na , ice cream aur vada pav ka stall. Humein bada mann kar rha hai khane ka."
Aditya said with an incredulous look "Lekin tumne abhi party mein bhi toh khaya tha na. Kitna khaogi?"
Zoya said "Aree lekin voh toh bas starters the. Aur vada pav aur ice cream ko kaun mana kara sakta hai. Hum toh aadhi raat ko neend se jaagke khale. Chaliye na humare saath. Phir hum usko aise sea ko face karte hue khayenge."

Aditya knew there was no point arguing with her once she had made up her mind about something. Both of them got out of the car and Zoya asked the vendor to pack two vadapavs and said "Ek mein zyada mirchi aur ek mein thoda kam teekha." Aditya said "Tumhe kaise pata ki mujhe zyada teekha pasand hai."
Zoya looked at him and said "Humein sab pata hai."
Aditya hit his head and said "Sorry for asking."
Zoya grinned and said "Aapko konsa flavour pasand hai?"
Aditya said with a straight face "Kis cheez ki baat kar rhi ho?"
Zoya said "Ice cream ki , aapko kya laga?" Then suddenly she understood the not so subtle double layered joke. She rolled her eyes and Aditya started laughing hard. She said "Humein nhi pata tha ki Aditya Hooda aise jokes bhi karte hai."

Aditya stopped laughing and said "I was the man with the most filthy mind in college. I could turn the most innocent of conversations dirty."
Zoya said "Just like Joey."
Aditya laughed and said "Yes but though i was ruggedly handsome I never had a string of good looking girlfriends."
Zoya said "You never had a girlfriend in college?"
Aditya shook his head and said "I never believed in casual flings and I never found anyone to be serious with. But I had many proposals coming to me."
Zoya smirked and said "Haan zaroor."
Aditya said "What ? You don't believe me ?"
Zoya said "Aap jaise akdoo insaan ke saath kon si hi ladki jana pasand karegi?"
Aditya said "Are main bol rha hoon  na main pehla utna akdoo nhi tha. I was popular and mostly every girl  loved my looks and my brains."
Zoya said "Aap khud ki tareef kitni zyada kar sakte hai na. Matlab ek baar shuru ho gye toh rukte hi nhi hai."

Aditya dismissed her words with a flick of his hand and said "Apna vada pav lo aur chalo udhar baithte hai."
They sat on the cement wall facing the sea and Zoya was swinging her legs and munching her food when  Aditya said "Tum bolo . Tumhara koi boyfriend tha?"

Zoya didn't speak as her mouth was stuffed with bread but nodded and showed the number two with her fingers. Aditya said "Do the?"
Zoya said gulping down her bite  "Haan. Ek second year mein aur ek fourth year mein. Dono ke saath che mahine ke liye rishta tha fir voh apne raaste aur hum apne."
Aditya said "Lekin dono mein problem kya thi?"
Zoya said "Dekhiye dono ke saath aise superficial attraction thi. Jab zyada depth mein unko jana toh humein kuch khaas ache nhi lage dono."
Aditya said "Kyun."
Zoya said "Are ek connection hota hai na ki aap uss insaan ko bina dare sab bol do, like a sense of security and comfort . That wasn't there. I couldn't be my true self nor could I be uninhibited with them. Isliye humara koi  azeez dost bhi nhi hai. Aisa nhi hai ki humare dost nhi hai but I don't have that one special friend with whom I can be myself."
Aditya said "I understand."
Zoya said "But it's okay, I like being alone."
Aditya said "Lekin insaan kisi na kisi ka saath toh chaiye hota hai na."
Zoya looked at him and said "Toh aap hai na. Aap toh ab humare saath hi atak chuke hai unfortunately for me."