Untrodden path: Adiya story

Storm wreaking havoc

He ran his finger through his hair as he drove through the thick forest. Her fragrance still invaded his senses time and again, just a few days ago he had found solace holding her for a few precious minutes. Kissing her on the forehead he had left her safely with her family for there were other issues to solve.

Aditya parked his car and slowly started walking in the dark alleys. He could hear his own footsteps as he made his way to his destination past midnight. 

'Aditya Hooda has come to meet me finally.'

Came the old, cold and detached voice somewhere in the shadow of the night.

"She has been killed off too. They did not let her contact me and she finally gave up her life."

He conveyed it to the person objectively.

'Bless the soul of that woman, she did not deserve to die such a painful death nor did her daughter.'

Aditya sighed when he heard a little emotion in the voice.

'Did you tell her about Sakshi ji's death?'

The shadow started a low rumbling laughter when there was no response from the other side.

'You have grown soft Aditya almost fragile, does love do that to a man?'

"Stop right there."

Aditya growled at the old man's question.

'So emotional Aditya, how will you tell her the entire truth.'

The voice passed Aditya his tumbler of rum after gulping some shots. Aditya drank from it for it was an unspoken rule.

"Truth...also means I might lose her forever. Truth also means risking her life."

Aditya confessed as a conflicted soul.

'Shut up Adi, you talk about risking her life what about my sister your mother's life. They killed her Adi, all my life I have spent in the shadow for I will only step in the light when I avenge my sister's death. I never wanted your life to be eclipsed by hatred and vengeance Adi, but these people are dangerous what if they come for her?

"If even a scratch is there in Zoya's body I will ...."

Aditya stopped for again the same deep laugh that scared him as a young boy was heard.

'Is this some kind of assurance to your own self? At this moment when you have made this trip to meet me something might have happened to her. Go away Adi, I always taught Rajveer and you that neat rum poured on  wounds are like a woman's arm they heal you but might have devastating consequences. Go and protect those arms that is both your storm and solace. She is nearing towards truth Adi tell her before she comes to know on her own'.

His mentor, the only surviving member of his mother's family,his uncle's words rang on his ears as he tightened his grip over the steering wheel. 

Aditya called her number at the break of dawn but the phone was not ringing, he continued trying to reach her number but to no avail till he finally reached the city. He frantically dialled Arjun's number,

'bhai where have you been? Noor and I are so worried, how could you two just take off?'

Aditya could here the screech of own tyre as he brought his car to a halt.

"Arjun....she is not with me"

His voice was trembling as he talked to his younger brother.

"Zoya....where did you take off?"

A deep cry came from deep within.

Somewhere in the suburbs of Mumbai....

Zoya could sense her Aditya's  anguish even miles apart. A sudden splash of water brought her back to her senses.