Bonne lecture!

21/11/2018

"Zoya!! Where the hell are you gone guys ?", she held the phone away from her ear as the loud female voice through the phone pierced her nerves because of the loud ambiance at the party. "The party just started girl."

"Hey Rita! Huh so sorry yaar, we got to leave all by sudden. Urgent call from home.", she looked at the man driving. "I-I will talk to you tomorrow."

"Okay! But you'll need to make up for this sweetheart. This is certainly not done!"

"I promise your treat, is that okay for you ?"

"Yes! Take care baby."

She cut the call with a smile and looked outside through the window, the drive going on in silent mode. But not for long...

"Who was that ?", Aditya's sudden intervention made her look back at him. "Who ?"

"The one... you were dancing with."

"Oh, Rahul ?", her innocent reply made his fists tighten their grip on the steering wheel.
"You seemed to be enjoying his company.", he tried to focus his mind on the road but his thoughts were beyond his control.

"Well, he's sweet and quite fun.", liar! You didn't even enjoy his company.

But the jealousy in the man's voice next to her made her go for it.

"Fun...", she chuckled discretely as she saw him gritting his teeth. "Is he... is he your friend, or old acquaintance ?"

"As if you were interested..."

"N-no no.. not really. But let's just have a conversation until we reach home.", he noticed her looking at him surprised. "I get sleepy when I get bored driving."

"Then listen to music.", she went to turn on the radio when he stopped her again.

"Won't you ever talk to me ?"

"Have you ever cared about it ?", as she snapped back, he got fed up and left his trials incomplete concentrating on the lane.

She sighed. Internally, she disliked herself for being distant when he was trying his best. "I-I just met him at the party. I have never seen him in fact.", she glanced at the silent Aditya as he started ignoring her. But her words still reached his ear and the thought of his wife talking casual with a stranger, smiling and being all sweet empowered his calmness and he forcibly pushed his foot on the accelerator. But, opposite to what he expected, the car started slowing down, stopping completely at a certain point.

"What the hell ?", he tried to start the engine but both the trials failed. "Oh no please!"

He got out of the car and checked what happened, but no use. The car was in repair, and he didn't know much about it. Zoya was standing out next to him as he closed the bonnet. "I will call for a mechanic.", she nodded understanding and he walked away to talk as she took a seat on the bonnet. Waiting outside would be much better than inside, without the air conditioner working. Breeze, peace of mind, loneliness... at least the car sweetly broke down in a bearable spot.

"Okay thank you. Make it fast!", he hung the call as he neared. "Mechanic will be here within few minutes. Let's just wait inside. It's getting colder."

"I am fine. You go inside."

"Zoya, you are going to catch a cold. Please don't be stubborn."

"My health, my decisions. Why are you acting like you actually care ?"

"Because I c-", he stopped in midway. "Forget it!"

"Exactly, that's what happens every time though, nothing new.", she muttered frustrated that all her conversations with him always ended to be a disaster.

She suddenly felt a drop of water falling on her head and she looked up confused. As she held her chin up, another couple of droplets landed on her face, making a quite wide smile spread on her face. And then, few other drops, before a heavy rain all by sudden started drenching the surface. She gasped like a little child as she felt the wet drops covering her fully, starting from her hair to her hidden feet behind her underskirt. She slowly stood up from the bonnet and stretched her arms out feeling each and every tear hitting on her face, eyes closing on their own. She was getting drenched, her clothes were fully humid, nothing mattered to her. But, it was not the exact same for everyone.

Standing by the bonnet, a little bit far from her, Aditya looked at Zoya's moment of enjoyment as she twirled round and round, a sweet and innocent smile painted on her lips, looking like an angel coming all the way from Heaven. Her white saree sticked to her features like a second skin now, letting her curves show off their beauty. She was divine, ethereal, flawless. And he could stay there looking at her only, his entire life, he thought. His own unknown feelings cheated his years of 'hatred'.

She opened her eyelids and fell on the man standing there looking at her - or more precisely admiring her, and realized she has been stared at for a while. She left her arms down to her thighs and she smelled her face warming up in awkwardness while his eyes didn't move an inch away from her. She immediately turned back and held the edge of her pallu around her shoulders. Not of a big use, yet she couldn't help feeling embarrassed, and was about to get back inside the car when a sudden hold on her shoulder stopped her. And her grip on the drape loosened, revealing her almost-bare back again covered by her now wet hair.

He walked closer to her and slowly closed the distance between them, as he smoothly brushed his hand around her waist. Her weak heart started beating faster feeling the cold hand on her skinny features and she squeezed shut her eyes as his hand tickled her softness. Soft like a rose that was getting crashed by a rush of emotions. His right hand fingers slowly took over her wet hair strands and swiped them on the right to let him observe her smooth skin coming out from the back, her hair hanging on her shoulder. She suddenly felt his hot breath against her cold neck, sending shivers down her spine and she stopped moving when she felt his much warmer lips on her neckline, taking away all her senses. His hot saliva mixing with the rain drops on her wet neck made her feel sensational butterflies fighting inside her stomach, and her fists crumpled her dress badly. In a matter of seconds, their cold state melted and they were all feeling heated and safe even under the rain.

"Wh-what are you ...", she got interrupted and gasped as he softly bit her skin, pulling her closer to his chest. As his head slowly backed away, she turned hers on the left and looked up at the man in astonishment. "What about this company ? Is it sweet and fun as well ?"

She widened her eyes at his audacity to make her feel so embarrassed. What was he planning even ?

He made her turn on her heels and held her close, her bare waist feeling sensations as his palms settled around it. As much as she tried to take off his hands, he tightened the grip and made any further interruption not happen.

Why was it so hard, she could never answer. But it was. He was making it hard for her. And she could feel her forbidden feelings burst out in her each time he did anything.

He slowly leant into her and was getting ready to seal her lips as his forever, when a sudden light flashed on them, distancing them. They heard a horn getting louder and louder nearing and he looked up annoyed at the sudden disturbance just to notice a car coming towards them. He came back on his senses and looked back at Zoya who did the same, cheeks reddening at what was about to happen between them. She immediately removed his grip off her and stepped back, not willing to feel awkward in front of the unknown man. He is your husband, that's not wrong, screamed her conscience. But her mind still didn't get convinced for PDA.

"You are the one who called for a repair right ?", the third man asked interrupting their thoughts.

•••

The drive fell back into silence, both of them trying to comprehend what's happening to them. Was this right to feel so ? One month ago, they were still arguing like two kids over the smallest of issues and today, nothing was the same. Nothing, since that incident.

"Oh! You guys are already back home ?", they got into the house to Anjana coming out of the kitchen holding a carafe full of water. "Oh dear! You both are totally drenched. Marcus!!", she held their cheeks worrying.

"Mah, we are fine. We jus... *achoo* just got drenched a li-", Aditya tried to talk when his mother interrupted.

"A little ? Really ?", she patted on his shoulder. "What was the hurry to come soon, in the rain ?"

"Mah, it started raining when we were stuck on the road as the car got broken down."

"And you will tell me that you were standing outside, under the rain, until it gets vanished, right ?"

The young couple looked at each other at her sudden and surprising question. Even though she was just being sarcastic, but they knew that was the actual fact. They were standing under the rain, letting the water drops get heated as they were being... Aditya immediately shook his head removing all the sudden reminders from his head, as they were still standing in front of their mother.

"Go and take a shower fast, before you get sick.", Anjana pushed them into their bedroom, and they stood numb as the mother walked away ordering them what to do.

"Y-you go ... here.", Zoya looked up at Aditya as he spoke. "I will use another bathroom."

And he vanished to the guest room, leaving Zoya alone in their common bedroom. She was not yet used to his change of behavior towards her, and today situation was all confusing her. They no more seemed to be the distant, hatred-filled childish Aditya & Zoya, but something else. Something warmer, closer, more like what a relationship would look like, should look like.

•••

She stood in front of the mirror, changed into a fresh set night kurti and pyjamas, drying her hair when she spotted a little reddish area on her neckline, taking all her focus into its control as she softly felt it against her fingers. She remembered the exact moment that happened a couple of hours ago, when he marked his place in her life under the rain. When he held her close to his soul, as if he protected her from any misconceptions about his feelings. When they were about to share their first kiss.

Unknowingly, blush crept out of her cheeks, and a genuine smile spread on her lips. If not forever, she at least felt herself being his for a little while. Her heart fluttered in a rushing happiness that made her feel liked, maybe even loved. This red stamp certainly made her his. She could never think of anyone else adoring her. She was stubborn to believe, but her heart knew feelings happened long ago.

Aditya entered the room as he fell on Zoya still overwhelmed by her looks. Her smile confused him and slowly he neared her until he realized what she was staring at so admiringly. As he noticed her fingers grazing softly his mark, his heartbeats accelerated and stayed there staring at her. She was looking even more beautiful adoring him in such a way. She was priceless. He again facepalmed at how he remained so ignorant all these years. She was right, he was really a dumbass.

He coughed making her come back on her senses and she froze before looking back at him.

"I wanted to talk to you. So... coffee time ?"

Seated on the terrace, two coffee mugs, a coffee filter and a chips-filled bowl accompanying on a tray, the young people settled for a peaceful conversation.

"You didn't leave this habit of eating chips with coffee, did you ?"

"You must taste the combination before judging.", she prepared the mugs

"I di... I didn't judge. I just... asked. Now please don't get upset.", he internally sighed thinking how they would have a proper and calm conversation if they would always hype at each of their talks. "Hey, I only take two spo-"

"I know, I only added two spoons of sugar. Don't worry.", she put the tea spoon back in the sugar container and forwarded the mug to him. "I have been making your coffees since long."

He looked stunned at his wife as he held his mug, letting her prepare hers. She glanced at him at times, feeling his stare, and looked back at the view of the city in front of her mixing the sugar in her cup.

"You wanted to talk. How about doing that ?", she sipped her drink and Aditya moved his eyes from her, quite upset of her blunt answer.

"Zoya! Don't you feel... we should stop all our issues and start afresh now ?", Aditya subconsciously looked at the city targeting her words towards Zoya, before looking at her.

She looked down at her drink as he kept staring at her. "I don't want to spend all my life fighting with you and hurt both our families.", she sighed. "I want to ... to be happier. Smile more being with you. I want to spend happier moments with you. I want to give this relationship its chance Zoya."

She turned her head up to him as he continued. "I know, our childhood has never been a pleasure to remember. But let's just believe it was us being two immature kids, who just kept arguing about anything.", she glared at him. "Okay fine, I used to be an annoying child, you were always the precious princess.", she hit on his shoulder. "Ouch, Zoya!"

"I thought we were no longer supposed to argue. And teasing me is a form of argument."

"I wasn't teasing you.", she raised an eyebrow. "Ok, sorry !", a pout on his lips, he rubbed his shoulder. "But gosh, that hurts you hulk.", she hit him again. "Zoya !!"

"Shhhhhhhh you idiot. You're going to wake everyone up.", she held a finger in front of her lips.

"And yeah, from now on each time you'll be teasing me, or doing whatever else that would annoy me, you will be gifted a pyaara sa-", and again a hit. "thappad from me. So that I could help you stop teasing me.", she smirked.

"Unfair ! Then even I-"

"A man who hits a woman is not a mannered gentleman.", her smile wider.

"Oh!", but he smirked as well, leaving her confused. "You don't worry dear, I have my ways.",

"What will you do ?"

"There is no fun in spoiling it. You may certainly know it soon.", he put back his mug on the tray and held a few chips in his hand to munch. "Anyhow, for a fresh start.", he thrusted his hand to be shaken, and she did as he asked.

"For a fresh start."

•••

"Zoya, my tie.", a childish whine echoed in the room

"In your drawer, like always.", replied she as she entered the room holding some pressed clothes of theirs.

"My bag... UGH WHERE IS MY BAG ?"

"Here you go.", as he closed the cupboard, he saw her holding his case.

"Ugh Zoya, I don't know what I would even do. Thanks a lot sweetheart.", he pinched her cheek.

"Alright, make it fast. You will be late to work."

"See you tonight."

As she waved bye at Aditya, she went back to her work, a genuine and happy smile cherishing her happiness nowadays.

"Oooh careful! Bhabhi, what happened ?", she suddenly bumped into Arjun as she walked looking down, unaware of what was happening around.

"Arjun! Sorry I didn't see you.", she chuckled rubbing her head.

"Yeah I have noticed that. You seem lost in some very important thing. Or... maybe someone.", he smirked.

"Shut up you !", she hit on his shoulder and walked back to her room, a shy smile making his worries vanish in the air.

"Keep smiling best friend, that suits you more.", told the brother-in-law as she went away.

Zoya walked in the room and sat on the bed as her smile still rested on her lips, unable to disappear since that night.

"Aditya! Aditya, where are you taking me ?"

Holding his palm in front of her eyes, he made her walk up the stairs, the confused woman tightly holding his arms not to fall.

"Aditya, please tell na. Why are you taking me to the terrace at this time ? I have so much work to fin-"

"You always have so much to do. Can't you free yourself for your husband for some time ? We are almost there. Just wait."

"I am struggling walking blindly with this saree. You could have waited for me to change into pyj-"

"Alright alright, here we are!", he opened the door and removed his hand from her eyes. "Open your eyes slowly!"

As she blinked open her eyes, she fell on the beautiful set up on their vast terrace. Bright garlands of lights hanging here and there making the dark night brighter, candles lined up on the ground by the white railing. At the first sight, her mouth left a gasp out while he was adoring the way her eyes shone looking at the surprise. As she looked down, a petal-made path took her to the center spot circled by some other red lighted candles, before looking around her all like an amazed child.

"Wow!", she whispered loudly. "So... Do you like ?", he softly asked.

"Like ? Aditya, this is awesome. I loved it.", her sounding excited warmed up his heart as he smiled at her cute reaction. "But, why all this su-"

As she looked back, she bumped into Aditya standing close behind her and backed away in surprise, the man immediately grabbing her by the waist. "Careful !", and his mere husky words again woke her feelings up as she stood straight, pairs of eyes locked into each other. "Ms I ask so many questions, can't you just enjoy whatever you are gifted ?", he snapped her back to Earth.

"But all of this...", he held his index finger against her reddish mouth and sealed her ability of uttering any word once again.

"Tonight, I will talk, you will just listen.", lost into his mischievous stare, she let him speak. "Zoya, I know we had a very bad beginning of marriage life. We kept arguing, throwing tantrums at each and every act of ours. We never wanted to be in this relationship first of all. But maybe we just never knew everything that happens, has a reason to happen.", she looked at him intently as he spoke. "To be honest, if you would have asked me months ago, then I would have never believed I would say this, but you've become an important part of my life. I may be someone very stubborn, rude, always looking like the angry-young-man. But even the most ruthless people have a heart and feelings. And you helped me realize I am not the man I am supposed to be. I am not a rude person, just maybe lost. I didn't have the best childhood after all. Being taunted, growing under family pressure. Pa used to go on business trips, mah was busy with house chores and duties. I still remember when Arjun and I used to spend nights at your place, because my parents would be out for the night or even the weekend. Then you having more attention from pa and mah, making me so jealous. I swear I used to hate you so much, as a kid. Do you remember ? Once pa brought us all four gifts from a trip, and being so irked that you got some bigger teddy than me, I threw it in the mud. And then I got so scolded that day.", she chuckled at their childhood foolish acts, as she revised each and everything he was telling.

"I remember! That day uncle was so mad at you and I was adding so much to it, that my abbu scolded me as well.", and they laughed harder.

"But... I would say that perhaps us being "enemies" as children was for us to change and be what we are today...", his voice softened slowly as he cupped her cheek and she unconsciously closed her eyelids letting him continue with his soft gestures. "Zoya! I j-just think ..."

Unable to hear the following part of his sentence, she opened her eyes and looked at a nervous Aditya staring at her. "W-what do you think Aditya ?"

"I think... I am...", as she anticipated the words that were about to come out, she sensed her heart running faster inside her chest. "I am..."

Please say it Aditya, you can't imagine how long I would have been yearning to hear this from you somehow, she screamed loud in her mind.

Gosh why am I not able to tell her what I have been practicing for days, he thought as he was staring at her intently.

Say it idiot, she groaned in her mind.

Then stop looking at me first, he sighed as his heart talked loud.

"W-what Aditya ?"

"Zoya I-", he groaned.

She sighed angrily, "Look, if it's to waste my time, then I have lots of work to do, so let me go."

"I love you !", she turned back in anger and as she stepped away, the last words of his stopped her legs moving, surprised at the loud confession, and she stood still back to him. "I love you Zoya. A lot !", she turned to face him, holding a smile as he stood there looking at her emotionally, before falling on his knees and stretching his arms. "I love you so much. Beyond the infinite."

She felt fresh tears blurring her vision before rolling down her right cheeks, as both smiled heartily. "Will you accept this child-cum-husband as your soulmate and be mine forever ?"

Wiping her tears, she slowly walked to him and kneeled down in front of the man. "Too late of you asking Janaab Aditya Hooda, I have always been yours unfortunately.", and she hugged him as tight as nothing mattered in the world more than this moment, and Aditya replied to her embrace. "I love you too Hooda."

And she put the closure point to her restrictions as she finally confessed her feelings to Aditya, holding her control for months. "You dumbass took so long to say this. You're are seriously such a late lateef.", their cries of happiness turned into sweet chuckles when he suddenly tickled on her waist, as his weapon. "Sorry sorry sorry I won't do it again. Please stop!"

He stopped and both backed away smiling at each other with stains of tears in their eyes. He swiped out the droplets from her cheeks and cupping them warmly, kissed her forehead with utter love and intensity, the feeling of winning over the hardest hurdle floating in his heart. It was official, they were in love and finally together forever by heart. He looked back at her opening her soft eyelids, beautiful curves drawn on their lips and he leaned his forehead on hers, cherishing each minute of their "now and tomorrow" in their hearts.

A fresh new start that made her life less heavy. She had a new friend and a soulmate in the form of her life partner. She became his wife, not just namely, but also by heart. She felt cared. She felt loved. She was his.

Her reverie time got interrupted as her phone suddenly beeped as a message got delivered. Just reading the name of the sender brought a smile on her face, that grew wider at the reading.

"Be ready tonight! I've got a special gift for you on my shelf. Wear it and come out at 7pm. Driver will take you to me. See you tonight gorgeous."

She stood on her feet and opened the cupboard to fall on the box he was referring to, with a red-colored chiffon saree and few more accessories in it. When did he even set all this in the cupboard without her aware ?

"Hmmm... so janaab planned a date huh ? Last time he surprised me being the romantic one.", she blushed as she reminded their last night out few days ago. "Now, my turn to impress you. Be ready Mr Shouhar!", a mischievous grin appeared on her face as she caressed his gift.

And that's how, LOVE HAPPENED.

~•~•~•~

End of Love Happens (Shot 3)

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© a shrucreationsx' pen work

~•~•~•~

Hello friends! Kaise ?

Well that's not even a question to be asked since the news about Bepannaah probably getting off air happened. I am in real trauma since I heard that. I can't...

Anyhow...

So finally... finally I am done writing this. *cry cry cry*
I am so sorry for all those who have been waiting for so long. I will try not to be this irregular in the future, but I don't want to promise anything knowing me. *facepalm*

Tell me what you feel of it, I'd love to know. Because this was so much rushed and I know it's not good. But still wanted to post it for you guys because I am making you wait. I thought to edit some parts before posting but at the end, no time ! *sighs*

Please forgive all the English grammars, spelling, language issues and co. I suck at literature!

Love,
Shruthy. ♥️