Zaroorat

What are we? (2)

Precap

Zoya! Zoya! Please don't cry, please don't panic. 'Main hoon na, kuch nahin hone dunga.'

Part 2

He quickly pleated the sari as best he could and tucked it into the petticoat. It was a makeshift solution and there was no way she would be able to make it to the car without embarrassing herself so Adi did the only thing he could think of. In a swift motion he put one arm around her shoulders and one under her knees and lifted her off the ground.

'Adi!! She exclaimed. What are you doing? Put me down! What will people say?'

He looked at her a little annoyed,

'Zoya what do you think people will say if your sari becomes undone again as you walk to the car. Trust me, I know what I'm doing.'

She had no choice but to do as he said. He quickly walked out of the cinema hall and to reduce the embarrassment of the situation he started shouting,

'Please get out of the way everyone, she has injured her ankle, I need to take her to the doctor. Please out of the way!'

Despite being as distressed as she was, Zoya was grateful for the solution Aditya had devised. By making it look like she was injured, he avoided the obvious glares and looks they would have received if he had just walked out carrying her in his arms.

He quickly reached the car, put her in the passenger seat, jumped in the driver's seat and began driving. Neither of them spoke throughout the whole journey and when they arrived at her house, he ran around to her side of the car to lift her out. Just as he was reaching for her, she lifted her hand to stop him.

'Aditya, it's fine I'll go by myself now. I don't need you'.

The comment was meant to hurt him and it did its job. Zoya was angry and embarrassed and she didn't know what else to do.

'Zoya please listen to me, this sari will not hold till you get upstairs. Please just let me take you up and then you can do or say whatever you want'.

He followed up hesitantly, 'I'll leave immediately after if you want me to'

As mad as Zoya was, she knew he was being practical and so allowed him to lift her and take her home.

It was quite late and so no one in the building was awake which meant they managed to escape all the accusatory looks and questions.

Zoya unlocked the door and Aditya took her upstairs to her room and placed her on her bed. With his job done, he didn't know what else to do so he just stood there, staring at her, allowing her to make the next move.

'Aditya, I need you to leave.' She was looking directly into his eyes and scrunching her sari together trying to keep her emotions in check.

'Zoya please please let me explain. Please don't tell me to leave please before i explain'

They were both almost in tears but unable to fully express what they were feeling. Before Aditya could say anything further, Zoya continued,

'Aditya I...we...we shouldn't have done that Aditya. Why Aditya?'

She looked up at him pleadingly. To most people, her words wouldn't make sense but Aditya knew what she was asking him from her anguished voice.

She wanted to understand why he had kissed her so suddenly and she wanted to know why she had allowed it, why she had encouraged him. She needed answers from him and herself but she didn't have any.