Completely Lovestruck

• | Thanks But No Thanks! | •

The next morning Hooda house seemed more lightened up and peaceful as Harshwardhan wasn't shouting at his wife according to his daily routine nor did Aditya create any ruckus, screaming around. As usual, he had gone for jogging at the park with Yuvaan and returned in time for breakfast as Anjana was helping Maria prepare breakfast for the family while other maids of the house were busy with household chores. 

As Vinita, a young maid was sweeping the floor around the dinning table, Zoya descended downstairs adjusting the stole of her Black and Silver Kurta suit. She was all set to leave home for some personal reasons and she decided to have breakfast first thing.

"Good morning Zoya ma'am, hume aapke dher se ghar laut ne ki khabar subah mil gayi thi. Ab aap kaisi hai?", she questioned with a smile. Zoya stopped in front of her and returned the kind gesture by placing a hand on her shoulder lightly.

"Good morning Vinita, aaj main bilkul teek hoon aur thank you for asking. By the way, aaj khaane mein kya banaya gaya hai? Khushboo toh bohot umda aarahi hai.."

"Ji ma'am, aaj kuch special dishes banane keliye sir ne advice kiyatha. Isliye aaj Mushroom Hash with Poached eggs, Pancakes, Herb Omelette aur Breakfast Burrito prepare kiya hai. Aap kuch bhi kaa sakthi hai", Vinita said while sweeping the dust near the windows.

"Baap re, itna saara khaana! Harshwardhan uncle aap logo ko itne saare dishes banane keliye kyun kaha? Aaj kuch special day hai Vinita?', Zoya asked out of curiosity, patting her chin with her index finger as she felt that the pompous was quite weird. Vinita stopped working and gave a smile.

"Nahi ma'am, kuch khaas nahi hai. Shaayad aap ab is ghar mein rehethi hai toh.. Mujhe aisa hi lagrahatha aur Maria aunty bhi keherahi thi ki shaayad yahi wajah hogi. Aap please baitiye na Zoya ma'am, main bhi kitni buddhu hoon. Aapko baitne keliye bhi nahi kaha.."

Zoya went into pondering over what Vinita said as she took off her White colour handbag off her shoulder and placed it on the dinning table. Vinita pulled over a chair slowly for Zoya to sit and marched out of the dinning room with the broom when Anjana walked towards the area with two other maids, who were carrying the breakfast meals.

"Zoya beta, good morning! Kal teek se soyi na? Mujhe toh abhi bhi gabrahat horahi hai jab mujhe kal raat waali baat yaad aati hai toh! Really Zoya, I was so tensed kyun ki ghar ke bachche time par laute nahi the.."

Anjana patted Zoya's head with affection and took a seat next to her as the maids placed the dishes on the table and started turning over the plates. Zoya nodded her head and touched Anjana's shoulder.

"Aunty, aapko bhi a very good morning aur ha, aap kal raat ke baare mein zyaada mat sochiye. Main bilkul teek hoon aur yaha, aap sab ke saath hoon. Ab please aap khaana shuru kijiye...."

Zoya admitted honestly while her mind wondered over to last night incidents. How she mistook Aditya for a theif as she walked towards the kitchen in the middle of the night, how she tried to avoid his rhetorical questions and finally, her brainless, stuttering answer to his final question. She was acting idiotic when she should have acted wise and answered Aditya so that he wouldn't have stand a chance to retaliate with his words. What's wrong with me?

"Jab jhoot bolna nahi aata toh jhoot bolne ki koshish bhi mat karo! It's called wasting time Zoya! Better make up a good excuse next time!"

She shivered at the thought and took her hand away and clutched both her hands together tightly. Anjana in the mean time, agreeing with Zoya started serving herself but Zoya's immediate change of demeanour didn't go unnoticed by her. She looked at the girl curiously and graced her lips with a smile.

"Zoya beta, tum teek ho? Dari hui kyun lagrahi ho achanak? Is there anything I can help you with?", she asked feeling concerned about Zoya.

Zoya suddenly felt that she should maintain decorum in front of the Hooda family without letting them know what's going on in her mind and shook her head in rejection as she also started plating food for herself. She really liked how Anjana was acting as if a motherly figure towards her, it felt as if she wasn't alone at a strangers house.