Adhura Alviida 2

all is well that ends well

With eyes full of tears and unshed emotions, Aditya's eyes didn't leave Zoya. She looked up from the bench in the eerie setting of the courtroom. She tried her best to stifle her emotions, she should've been used to this by now but she wasn't. She couldn't look at Aditya in the eyes, no matter how much he ever hurt her, because he always read her eyes and that too, easily. She wouldn't let him have the opportunity to read her eyes one last time.  She didn't want him to know the pain he felt. Who was she fooling? Of course, he knew, she just didn't want him to be able to see it again.

He made his way to the bench on the parallel side, while his eyes didn't leave her as she bit cheek to stop the tears that threatened to fall.

Agar zindagi ke baad kuch hai, toh wahaa bhi ham saath hoge
( If there is an afterlife, then we will also be there together).

His promise at the time of their marriage echoed in her mind as the judge started the divorce proceedings. His voice was blocked out by the images of their wedding flashing through her mind. Never had she imagine they would be in this situation today.

"My client, Mr. Aditya Hooda, is requesting partial custody of his daughter."

Zoya's eyes jolted up to Aditya as his lawyer began speaking. She felt her hands clench into a fist as she heard the words come out from the lawyer's mouth. She wondered how badly it would be for her if she went over and slapped Aditya across the face. If she grabbed his collar and screamed asking how he had the audacity to ask for custody of the child he left to die.

"That is not possible. Mr. Hooda is unfit to be a caregiver to his daughter." Her lawyer retaliated.

Zoya breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the judge's expression change. "And why is that?" He asked.

"Because Mr. Aditya Hooda is a schizophrenic patient. He has been having violent episodes, seizures and hallucinations. He is being medicated for his treatment until now. How can such a man be entrusted with the care of a small child?" Her lawyer spoke in one breath.  "Here are his medical reports." The lawyer went to the judge handing him the file as Aditya's lawyer turned around and gave him a look reflecting his horror. Aditya felt his breath stuck in his throat. He looked at Zoya immediately.

Zoya's trembling hand barely made its way to cover her mouth. A tear dripped past her eyelash and onto her cheek as the lawyer's words took time to register in her mind. Her face mirrored the uncertainty and ache she felt inside her heart. She looked at Aditya as his eyes now remained closed with his head hung down in shame. As she looked at him, suddenly everything made sense. It all registered.

How foolish had she been to ever think he would've let their baby pass away without a hint of regret. She didn't know the reason behind his reluctance was so grave. Her heart sank in to a puddle of regret as she looked at him, frozen in her place. He looked so tired, worn out, and defeated. The secret he hid from her so long was out in the open. And he felt defeated. He didn't know if to be relieved or how would he face her after this.

Seeing the amount of distress in the courtroom and the silence. The judge summoned the case to halt until the following day. Before Zoya could even look at him, Aditya had made his way out of the courtroom. Her eyes looked at his retreating shadow in pain. She had no business hurting him like this.

**

Aditya lay at the edge of his bed with his hands enveloping his knees that were brought up to his chest. The streams of tears that flowed reflected the hurt in his heart. Not knowing what to do or say, he felt hopeless. The pain of Zoya finding out the truth didn't hurt as much as the fact that he had lost his family forever. He had lost any chance of seeing his Aadu again.