Zaroorat

Chapter 9

The door clicked open and Zoya looked up. For a second she thought maybe Arshad came back to talk to her but when she saw Aditya she was relieved.

Little did she know that they were about to go to battle.

She was so occupied with dealing with the Arshad situation, she had totally forgotten that Aditya had gone to the airlines. When she saw his face as he stepped into their cabin, she thought it must have gone badly. He looked so solemn and forlorn.

Despite the anxiety she was feeling she wanted to make him feel better and remind him that even if it didn't work out this time, she had faith in him and she was confident it would happen for him soon.

Before she could say anything, Adi beat her to it.

'Am I to congratulate you Zoya?'

She was immediately confused.

'Congratulate me for what Aditya?'

'On your marriage. You're becoming Mrs Habib are you not?'

Zoya's heart stopped beating. So he had seen Arshad but he has misconstrued the entire situation.

'Aditya please...'

Before she could continue, he lifted his hand to stop her.

'Thank you for doing me this favour and showing me exactly how you feel about me.'

His words stunned her but it was crushing him to speak to her that way. He was doing everything he could to keep his emotions in check but was failing miserably. Noor had asked him to remain calm but now how was he supposed to do that when he felt like his love, his life was slipping away from his fingers?

Tears threatened to spill from his eyes and he was using anger to mask them.

'Zoya when I told you I loved you and asked to give our love a chance, you refused. You said you couldn't fall in love again and I told you you could. I told you that you deserve love. I gave you space and I said if you find someone else to love it would break my heart but I would let you go...but this...Zoya you want to marry a man that doesn't love you? That you don't love? You would prefer to marry a stranger over me?'

He could no longer control his tears and began to sob as he continued,

'Were you lying to me this whole time Zoya? I don't understand what's going on?'

He brushed his tears away from his face vigorously as he tried to calm the emotions raging in his heart.

'Why are you doing this Zoya? None of this makes sense to me!'

Zoya started to panic. This was getting out of hand and she had to resolve this misunderstanding immediately. She walked up to him and put her hands out to get hold of him but he stepped back

'Aditya please please listen to me...'

'What should I listen to Zoya? Are you going to try and make excuses? Are you telling me I'm mistaken about the reasons that man was here?'

An idea struck him as he wiped his tears. He walked up to her and grabbed her arms as he spoke.

'Zoya is your father forcing you? I won't let him! Please tell me, I won't let him.'

'No one is forcing me to do anything Aditya.'

He misunderstood her statement and pulled back before she could stop him.