Bonne lecture!

~•~•~•~

[ • ONE • ]

"I am really happy to see many of my old tenth-A students here.", the lecturer silently said. "Now, let's go on with the attendance, and start the session."

"Mr. Singhania, principal sir has sent a new student for the eleventh grade section."

The new pupil smiled and faced the others, roughly scanning the faces, before he started. "Hi, everyone. My name is Aditya Hooda."

"Isn't the new guy looking good, though?", she dreamily whispered to her friend.

"Cute? More of an arrogant person, he is.", she mumbled to herself.

"I am sorry for calling you names. Anyways... hi, I am Aditya, Aditya Hooda, from all over India. I think we should forget our first encounter, and start afresh. So... friends?", he forwarded his hand for a formal handshake.

"And I am not interested in befriending someone like you."

"Someone like me?", he smiled mischievously.

"Haan, ek number ke besharam, behaya, aur kamzarf insaan hain aap. I don't want to be your friend."

"Last warning, or I will go complain myself. I have noticed that Aditya never pays attention to the class, even his group of friends, all of them are the same. Aditya, you need a good company, someone who may help you with your studies. Remember, it's now or never. For now, you will move to the front row, next to... yes, next to Zoya. At least, you won't be distracted much during lectures."

"Don't worry, Ziddiqui. I don't have any contagious disease. Cool!", she rolled her eyes at his sarcastic answer, when she suddenly felt his hot breath fanning her ear. "Or maybe, you are feeling quite shy to be sitting next to a handsome and charming boy like me."

~•~•~•~

[ • TWO • ]

"We will always love each other, won't we? We will never change, right?" He narrowed his eyes at her question.

"Things will change, Zoya... We will grow up, we will go through a lot of things... but we will always love each other, more and more each passing day..."

"Hello?", she asked sleepily, trying not to wake her parents.

"Hi!", a mere whisper from the other side.

"Aditya..." She muttered, low in her throat. "What if Abbu or Ammi would have answered your call instead of me?"

"I am really sorry, I couldn't get any sleep. And...I wanted to hear your voice." She smiled, shaking her head when she heard the latter.

"Not fair, huh, Zoya. You are spending more time with this Aditya than me. You forgot your own best friend since he is here.", she whined like a child looking at Zoya. "And you, mister Aditya Hooda, you stole away my bestest friend. I have my rights to be mad at you."

"Well... I wish I could lend you your best friend but...she is so irresistible. I am head over heels in love with your pyaari si dost." He blurted out dreamily whatever came his mouth, when he felt a gentle punch on his abdomen.

"I am sooooo happy. Finally, my friend has also fallen for someone who loves her. I can't believe you fell in love with Aditya, though. But I am so happy for you... And you can always come to me when he, you know...misbehaves. I won't spare him if he hurts my Zoya." Zoya looked at her with unbelieveble look as they both broke into a fits of laughter. Suhana spread her arms wide as Zoya joined her in a bear hug.

She took a seat at the corner of the bed, listening to the music intently, travelled back into the memories. She hid her face in her palm as she bursted out into fits of giggles, shaking her head like a complete fool. She threw her arms around her body, and rocked her body.

A curve formed on his lips involuntarily when he noticed the radio that was placed on the table beside him, turning it on. He brought his knees closer to his chest, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, as he could hear the soft music on the device.

"Hey look! A shooting star." Aditya shouted, making Zoya look quickly into the sky. She quickly joined her hands together, smiling to herself before she gently released her lids. "What did you ask for?", he asked but she just smiled, "Time will tell."

"As you know we are hosting a farewell for our dear students next week and we hope you enjoy the farewell and hope you enjoyed and learnt from this academic year as much as we have. Thank you everyone."

"You look absolutely stunning. Did you just do that on purpose?" Listening to her, Zoya felt all the heat rushing to her cheeks.

"Is he already here?" Suhana smirked at her making Zoya even more embarrassed. "Just go inside. I am sure he must be waiting for you as impatiently as you are."

"They were just pulling our legs. Don't get upset.", she tried consoling when he smiled at her. "I am not upset. Just that... seeing all the eyes on my girlfriend woke the protective boyfriend in me."

"Protective... or maybe, possessive one.", she replied.

"Do you mind?", he asked back.

"I like it... when you feel so attached to me.", she replied in a shy voice, looking down at their hands playing together.

He dragged her outside the venue towards the classrooms. "Aditya, what are you...", she tried to ask.

He held up a finger to his lips. "How could I ask that in public? We need some privacy as well, right?"

She continued doubtfully, "What are you going to ask?"

He asked, an idiotic smile on his face, "Kiss."

"Zoya....I wanted to tell you." He started hesitantly. "I am going to Paris...next week.", he said, looking in her eyes.

"You mean, on a vacation?" She said as she couldn't process what he just said.

"Zoya, I am going to Paris for further studies. I wanna make a career. I am..." His voice trailed off.

"For how many days?"

"I don't know, for maybe three years or maybe four or maybe five. I don't know....." A lone tear tickled down from the corner of his eye.

"Zoya, I promise I'll make this work out. We can do this together. We are stronger than this, right?" She nodded her head several times. "Yes." She breathed out.

"All the best Aditya for your future. Fly high and reach the sky. And... no matter what happens, this stays.", she said pointing at their intertwined hands.

~•~•~•~

[ • THREE • ]

College was dismissed, creating a commotion in and around as students started making their way out of the huge gate.

"Miss. Zoya Siddiqui, there is a letter for you.", said her friend, placing an envelope on her desk.

She picked up the cover to check the sender's name and a huge grin spread across her face when she read the name written on it.

Tina made an apologetic face, "Zoya... I am so sorry. Your birthday is just around the corner and I won't be there..."

Zoya gave her an unbelievable look, "You are worried about my birthday, woh toh har saal aata hain. You go and take care of your mother. I will pray for her speedy recovery."

Tina smiled and hugged Zoya tightly. "I will take care of her, don't worry. I will miss you, yaar."

Zoya smiled to herself as she remembered him and slowly whispered to herself, "I wish you were here."

She shook her head sideways and sighed, "Zoya, aap bhi na. How can he be here? He is in Paris, aapse bahut jyada dur.", she muttered low in her throat, when her eyes fell on a man, making her freeze at her position, and she felt her jaw dropping till the ground.

"Happy birthday, Zoya.", he muttered softly.

As he opened the door, he fell on a young woman, a sarcastically wide smile on her face as she looked at him. "Hi, Adi."

"Hey! To what do I owe your beautiful visit here, at this time?", he sarcastically smiled. "Don't you have a boyfriend to annoy, instead of me?"

"Well, I don't have any boyfriend to 'chat' with via letter or even phone, but I know someone who has sent something to hers, and I was to give it to him. Fine, your bad. I am going.", saying so, she was about to go away when she was pulled to stay in her position. "Wait! She sent me a letter?"

"This place is very special for me. Hum aur Aditya aksaar yaha aaya karte the." Her small smile widened as her mind travelled back into the past.

She was lost deep in her thoughts when she realised the darkness around. She turned and found no one, the area all silent and dark, as a sudden wave of panic rose in her chest.

"Noor? Kahan chali gayi yeh?", she whispered to herself, before the area surprisingly lightened up leaving her wide-eyed.

A loud gasp ran out of Zoya's mouth at the person her gaze fell on. "Aditya?"

"Zoya Siddiqui, you have invaded my heart and made me realise how much I love you... I have completely surrendered myself to you, emotionally, physically, soulfully in each and every way possible... Everything seems so meaningless without you, as if there is no positivity left in the world... I have realized there is no Aditya without his Zoya..."

"Noor, Suhana, it's time."

"I love you, Aditya. I really feel blessed to have you in my life."

"And I will be there, forever, to annoy you and adore you as much. Je t'aime."

~•~•~•~

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K & S