Aditya

I woke up to the soft weight of Zoya clinging to me, her arm draped across my chest, her face nestled against my shoulder.

For a moment, I just lay there, not wanting to disturb the peace of this perfect moment.

Her steady breathing was a soothing rhythm.

I carefully slid my arm out from under her, moving slowly to avoid waking her. She stirred slightly, her grip tightening for a second as if she didn’t want to let me go.

I paused, holding my breath, but then she relaxed again, her head sinking deeper into the pillow.

I caressed hair out of her face. "Wake up, shortcake."

I quietly got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom.

After a quick shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and headed back into the bedroom. The room was filled with the soft scent of her perfume, lingering here...always.

When I stepped closer to the bed, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight before me.

Zoya was still fast asleep, curled up under the blanket, looking so peaceful.

Her dark hair spilled across the pillow, framing her face, and her lips were slightly parted as she breathed softly, a sudden thought struck me—something Maa always used to say about nazar.

How people’s admiration, even with the best intentions, could bring bad luck if one wasn’t careful.

I chuckled to myself, realizing that I was utterly incapable of not admiring Zoya.

She had me captivated at all times, with no escape in sight.

I stood in front of the cupboard, rifling through my T-shirts.

Just as I was lost in these thoughts, I felt a familiar warmth press against my back. Zoya’s arms slipped around my waist, and she pulled me into a tight hug. Her touch was soft, comforting, and still laced with sleep.

Her sleepy lips brushed a kiss against my shoulder before she rested her cheek on my cool skin, sighing contentedly.

"Good morning…” she murmured, her voice husky and drowsy, still clinging to me as if she were trying to merge with my body.

“Morning, shortcake. Still very sleepy?” I asked, trying to turn around to face her, but she held me tighter, not ready to let go just yet.

“Very…” she mumbled, her breath warm against my skin. “You’ve already showered?”

“Yeah, I did.”

"Uhhn..." She let out a soft whine, one that made me grin. “Why…? I wanted us to shower together…”

Her lazy palms began to caress my abs, her fingers tracing slowly, teasing patterns that sent shivers through me.

They inched lower with a deliberate, painful slowness that made it hard to think straight.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain control of my senses.

“Maa must be up by now…” I reminded her, more to break the spell...than anything else.

“Shit… You’re right,” she muttered, suddenly realizing the implications of us getting carried away.

I turned in her arms to face her, cupping her face gently. “Don’t you have work, baby?"

"What’s the time?”

Her eyes shot open wide as she glanced at the clock on the wall. “Gosh! I’ll be late!”

In an instant, the sleepy haze around her lifted, replaced by a mild panic.

She pulled away from me, already mentally calculating how fast she could get ready.

But even in her rush, she was still the most adorable sight to me. I watched her fumble around, grabbing clothes and muttering to herself, her cheeks flushed with the realization of the time.

“Relax, Zoya,” I said with a soft chuckle, pulling her back into my arms for a quick, reassuring kiss on her temple.

"I need to be quick..." she kissed my cheek and as she darted off to the bathroom to get ready, I couldn’t help but shake my head, laughing to myself.

Even in a rush, she was perfection—my own little piece of chaos, wrapped up in love.

I was in the kitchen, sipping on my coffee, savoring the rare quiet of a morning off while Maa checked through the breakfast Neelima had prepared.

But that quiet evaporated the moment I saw her.

My mom was talking about something—probably expressing concern about how busy Zoya always was—but her voice faded into the background as I took in the sight of Zoya.

She was a vision of focus and elegance. Her fitted trousers and that silk shirt tucked perfectly into her waist, every detail sharp and precise, just like her.

She was on the phone, balancing her files in one arm while gesturing with the other as if the person on the other end could see her. "Yes, Mr. Patel, the figures for Q2 are consistent with our projections. But I think we need to dig deeper into the market trends for a more comprehensive analysis," she said, her tone sharp yet measured.

I leaned against the doorway, watching her work her magic.

There was something so captivating about Zoya in work mode.

She was commanding yet approachable, and it was clear why she was the head analyst.

I smiled to myself, proud of how she handled everything with such grace.

Just then, my mom came bustling in from the kitchen, a determined look on her face.

She approached Zoya with the same energy she had when scolding Arjun and me as kids for not finishing our meals.

"Zoya, beta, come have breakfast," Mom said, her voice leaving no room for argument. She reached out and gently tugged at Zoya's free arm.

Zoya shot her an apologetic look, still on the phone. "Just a minute, Aunty. I’m finishing up here."

But Mom was having none of it.

She started guiding Zoya towards the dining table with a firm but gentle hand. "No, no, work can wait. You need to eat properly before you leave... What's the point of working so hard if you don't take care of yourself?"

Zoya tried to juggle the phone and her files while being gently dragged to the table. "Mr. Patel, could you please hold on for just a moment?" she said into the phone, clearly struggling to keep her professional composure.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I watched the scene unfold.

Zoya gave me a pleading look as Mom all but pushed her into a chair at the table, where a freshly prepared breakfast awaited her.

“Aditya,” she mouthed silently, her eyes begging for some sort of intervention.

I just grinned and walked over, grabbing one of the files that had nearly slipped from her grasp. “Mr. Patel?” I said in a half-teasing, half-serious tone as I put the file on the table. “You might want to call Zoya back after she’s had a good breakfast. She’ll be much more focused after that.”

Zoya shot me a look but I could tell she was trying not to laugh. “Mr. Patel, I’ll have to get back to you in a few minutes,” she said, her tone much softer now.

As soon as she hung up, she turned to my mom. “Aunty, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. It’s just that this report is crucial—”

Maa waved off her apology with a warm smile. “Nonsense, Zoya..
.I understand you’re busy, but you need to take care of yourself too. Now, eat. Everything else can wait.”

Neelima nodded in agreement, smiling as she placed a plate of avocado toast and half-done eggs in front of Zoya, along with a steaming cup of coffee. "Here you go, didi."

"Is that even going to fill you up?" Maa asked, her tone skeptical as she peeled and cut an apple for Zoya. "You need to eat properly, especially with your busy schedule."

Zoya smiled appreciatively. "It’s perfect, really. I usually eat light in the morning."

I leaned in close, brushing a kiss on her temple. “You really need to learn how to say no to my mom. She’s impossible to argue with,” I whispered.

Zoya chuckled softly, shaking her head. “I’m beginning to see that.”

"Alright, once you're done, I'll drop you off at work," I straightened and went to get the keys–a sudden, horrifying thought hit me like a bolt of lightning. I froze, mid-step, as the realization washed over me—condoms.

I had hidden a box of condoms behind the flour container in the top cabinet.

And I haven’t moved them since.

If Maa found them, I’d be as good as dead.

Worse, if Zoya found out before I could move them, I’d be hearing it from her too.

Without a word, I casually made my way to the kitchen, trying not to look suspicious.

My heart was racing as I reached up to the top cabinet.

My fingers fumbled for the box, and I finally felt the edge of it. With a swift motion, I grabbed the box and quickly shoved it into my pocket, praying that neither Zoya nor anyone else would notice.

I let out a relieved breath, shutting the cabinet door quietly, but in my mind, I could already hear Zoya’s voice if she had caught me.

“You really hid them there? The hell is wrong with you, Adi?!”

I winced just imagining her furious expression.

Zoya could be a force of nature when she was mad, and this would definitely get me into hot water.

But I’d dodged that bullet for now, and no one was wiser.

As I turned back, trying to act like everything was perfectly normal, I couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

How reckless could I be? I shook my head at my own stupidity.

Hopefully, Zoya would never find out about this or I’d have a whole lot of explaining to do.

"By the way,” I began, trying to sound casual as I continued to drive...“I’ve got the next three days off.”

"That's....so great!" She looked into my eyes.... "I'll get to sleep beside you..." She mumbled with a satisfied smile that made me nothing else but amused.

She was multitasking again, gathering some files from her bag while also checking something on her phone.

Suddenly, she decided to rummage through the car’s glove compartment—probably looking for a pen or some receipts she had misplaced.

I glanced over, not thinking much of it, until I saw her hand freeze as she pulled out a small box.

My heart skipped a beat.

Oh no.

Not again.

“Adi?” she called out, her voice laced with confusion and something else—mild irritation, maybe?

She held up the box of condoms she’d just discovered, her eyes narrowing.

“Why do you have these in the car?”

I almost choked on air.

This was not how I expected our morning drive to go. “Uh… those?” I started, trying to play it cool, but the heat rising in my cheeks probably gave me away. “Well, you know… emergencies?”

She shot me a look that was somewhere between disbelief and amusement. “Emergencies? ....Seriously, Adi?”

I laughed, trying to defuse the situation.

“Okay, okay... Maybe I was just being extra cautious. You never know when you might need them, right?”

Zoya rolled her eyes, clearly not buying my excuse. “This is too much, Aditya.... You are stocking up in the car.... just in case....” She smirked, "unbelievable."

Seeing that she wasn’t exactly mad, I decided to tease her a bit. “What, are you upset I’m being too prepared?....I thought you’d appreciate a responsible boyfriend.”

She shook her head, laughing. “I swear, you’re something else.”

I bit my lip, knowing I had to come clean now or this would spiral out of control.

“Actually… there’s something else I should probably tell you.”

Zoya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What now?”

I hesitated, but it was better to rip the band-aid off quickly. “Well, uh… I kinda hid another box of condoms in the kitchen.....Behind the flour container.”

Her jaw dropped, eyes wide in shock.

“You hid condoms… in the kitchen?” She looked like she was trying to decide whether to laugh or strangle me.

I cringed, scratching the back of my neck nervously. “Yeah… I didn’t think that one through... I was just trying to be prepared...but it completely slipped off my mind...and when I remembered...I feared what if Maa saw it....., but now that I think about it, that was pretty dumb."

Zoya stared at me for a moment before bursting into laughter. "I don't believe this...."

"Hey! I panicked okay...but don't worry...I removed them from there..."

As Zoya held the box of condoms in her hand, her eyes narrowed, and I could see the wheels turning in her head. The disbelief was almost palpable.

“Adi, but why are you stashing them in random places?” she asked, her tone half-amused and half-accusing, as if she couldn’t believe she was even asking this question.

I tried to keep a straight face, but the absurdity of the situation was getting to me. “What do you mean ‘why’? I obviously don’t make balloons out of them…”

She scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

I shrugged, deciding to double down. “Look… I have an extremely irresistible and very, very hot girlfriend. All a man can do is be cautious.” I shot her a teasing grin, hoping to ease the tension.

Zoya rolled her eyes, trying to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“Was that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Take it as you may…” I replied, winking at her.

She sighed dramatically, but I could see she was fighting back laughter. “You’re impossible, Adi. Seriously....what is wrong with you?”

“In my defense, I was just trying to be prepared.... You know how unpredictable things can get around us.” I wiggled my eyebrows playfully, trying to lighten the mood.

She finally cracked a smile, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe she was having this conversation. “Ridiculous.”

"Eh... I don't care...” I quipped, leaning over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"you don’t seriously hide them everywhere, do you?" she asked, shaking her head as if she couldn't believe what was happening.

I let out an exasperated sigh, deciding it was time to come clean. "No, you don’t get it, Zoya. It’s not just about being prepared—it’s about survival," I said, half-joking but also half-serious.

"Survival? Really?"

I kept my eyes on the road but couldn’t help the grin tugging at my lips.

"Yes, survival. It’s me who always has to rush around the house, scrambling to find a condom while you stay,
..looking all… irresistible and half-naked and..., kissed senseless. Do you even know how painful that is?"

Zoya’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she kept her cool. "Painful, huh?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "So, this is you doing yourself a favor?"

"Exactly!" I exclaimed, nodding emphatically. "Do you have any idea how torturous it is? You’re there, looking like that, and I’m frantically trying to remember where I put the damn condoms..... It’s like a cruel game of hide and seek."

"So your solution is to keep them hidden all over the house and car?"

"Yes, because it’s better than the alternative of having to ruin the moment," I said, glancing at her with a grin. "I’m just being practical. Keeping them handy or nearby saves time, energy.... and a lot of unnecessary stress."

Zoya bit her lip, trying to suppress her laughter.

"I’m just doing what needs to be done," I replied, feigning a serious tone. "And if that means stashing condoms in creative places, then so be it."

She shook her head, still smiling. "You could’ve just told me, you know... instead of going for your little scavenger hunts."

I chuckled, reaching over to take her hand. "Maybe, but where’s the fun in that?"

She rolled her eyes but squeezed my hand back.

Her fingers intertwined with mine... and I couldn't resist the urge to press gentle kisses on her fingers.

Her teasing tone broke through my reverie. "Adi, focus on the road," she said, her smile evident even in her voice.

"Multitasking shortcake...I can drive and love you at the same time."

I brought her hand to my lips again, pressing a soft kiss on her knuckles. "And you love it," I said, letting my eyes twinkle with mischief.

Her mock sternness was endearing. "Yes, but not when it endangers our lives."

I chuckled, feeling her thumb brush lightly against mine. "Don't worry, Shortcake. I've got this."

Her smile was my reward, and it made my heart swell.

As we neared her office, I could sense her reluctance to part ways.

I pulled up to the curb, my expression shifting to something more earnest. "Have a great day, Zoya...."

She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on my cheek, her warmth lingering on my skin. "You too, Adi... Thanks for the ride."

As she started to get out of the car, I gently pulled her back for one more kiss. "See you love.." I whispered, my breath mingling with hers.

She blushed, her familiar fluttering gaze making my heart skip. "Love you too. Drive safe, okay?"

I winked at her, letting go of her hand. "Always."

Later that day, as I sat across from Dad in the living room, I could sense the conversation heading into deep waters.

He put down his newspaper, adjusting his glasses as he looked at me with that familiar, measured gaze.

It was a look that always signaled something serious was coming.

“Adi,” he began, his voice calm but probing, “I’ve been thinking… why haven’t you considered marrying Zoya yet?”

The question hung in the air between us, heavy and unavoidable.

I shifted slightly, trying to gather my thoughts.

“Paa, it’s not that I haven’t thought about it,” I started, my tone cautious. “It’s just that… it’s too soon. We’re still figuring things out, learning about her..... I don’t want to rush into something as big as marriage.”

Dad raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced.

“Too soon? You’re already living together Cheeku, sharing a life. How much more figuring out do you need?”

I sighed, leaning forward slightly, trying to make him understand.

"Living together and being married are different, Paa. We’re still getting used to each other...There’s still so much we don’t know.”

He folded his hands in his lap, his expression thoughtful. “I understand that, Adi, but I’ve always believed that marriage is about growing together....You don’t need to have everything figured out before you take that step.....Besides, I don’t see much difference between what you’re doing now and what a marriage would be.”

I chuckled lightly, running a hand through my hair. “There’s a difference, Paa. A big one. Marriage changes everything—it’s a commitment that’s meant to last a lifetime. Us living together...it's majorly convenience, we are so busy with our jobs..we barely find time for each other and… I don’t want to add more pressure on us right now.”

Dad nodded slowly, absorbing my words. But I could see the wheels turning in his head, the familiar determination in his eyes.

“Zoya is a lovely girl, Cheeku. She’s warm, caring and smart. What are you waiting for? Bring her home, make it official.... she deserves a family too.”

I looked away, trying to find the right words. “It’s not about waiting for something specific, Paa..... I want our marriage to be built on a strong foundation, not just because it feels like the next logical step.”

“I see your point,” he said slowly, “but relationships are always a work in progress. You won’t ever have all the answers, son. Sometimes, you just have to take the leap and trust that you’ll figure it out together.”

I met his gaze, appreciating his wisdom but still feeling conflicted.

Dad leaned back in his chair, sighing softly. “You young people these days… always overthinking.... But I get it, Cheeku.... Just remember, you don’t have to have everything perfect to start something beautiful.”

“I appreciate that, Paa,” I said, genuinely touched by his understanding. “But for now, I think we’re on the right path. We’re happy, and that’s what matters.”

He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “As long as you’re happy, Adi. But just know that when the time comes, we’ll be here, ready to welcome Zoya into the family with open arms.”

“I know, Paa. And trust me, when the time is right, you’ll be the first to know.”

I thought we were wrapping it up, but Dad’s expression turned more serious. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing with concern as he asked,

“And what about your religions? Have you two thought about that? Are you planning to have a conversation about conversion or…?”

His question hit me harder than I expected. It was something Zoya and I had lightly touched on, but we hadn’t delved deep into it.

Religion was important to both of us, but we had always focused more on our connection than the differences in our faiths.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, knowing this was something I needed to address with more clarity, both with Dad and with Zoya.

“We’ve talked about it, Paa,” I said carefully, “but we haven’t decided anything concrete. We’re both comfortable in our own beliefs, and right now, that’s enough for us.”

Dad frowned, clearly not satisfied with my answer. “Adi, religion isn’t just about personal beliefs..... Have you thought about how it will affect your future together? What about your children, if you have any? How will you raise them? These are big questions, son.”

He continued, "I trust you... I know you’ll make the right decisions for both of you. But remember, marriage isn’t just about love. Just make sure you both keep talking, no matter how difficult the conversations might get.”

"I understand Paa."

“Aditya,” he began, his tone calm and measured, “I want you to know that your mother and I didn’t object to you and Zoya living together because we trust you..... We’ve seen how you handle yourself, how you’ve always made decisions with a level head, and how you’ve grown into a responsible man. ....That’s why we didn’t step in and try to stop you. We know you wouldn’t do something without thinking it through.”

I felt a mixture of relief and gratitude at his words, but I knew there was more to it.

Dad was never one to let a matter go without giving it thorough consideration.

“and...” he continued, leaning forward slightly, “it’s not just about trust, Adi. It’s also about understanding that the world is changing.... I’ve seen how happy you are with Zoya..... And in today’s world, living together before marriage isn’t as unusual as it used to be.... People do it to understand each other better, to see if they’re truly compatible......Your mother and I get that.”

“I understand, Paa,” I said, nodding..
. ".... We’re taking our time because we want to make sure we do this right.”

“And that’s wise,” Dad agreed. “But remember, Adi, the foundation you’re building now will set the tone for your future together... You’re in a live-in relationship, and that’s fine, but it’s not something to be taken lightly. It’s a step, not a destination. Eventually, people will expect you to move forward, and when that time comes, you need to be ready.”

I appreciated his perspective, " We are just not in a rush."

He smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. “I know you aren’t. And that’s why I didn’t go against it. I trust you, Cheeku.... I know you wouldn’t take a step like this unless you were serious about her, and I can see that you are. You’ve always been someone who values commitment, and I have no doubt that when the time is right, you’ll take the next step.”

"Thanks Paa."

Dad nodded, his expression softening. “You’re my son, Adi. I want what’s best for you. And if Zoya is who you’ve chosen, then she’s already part of this family in my eyes....You have a good head on your shoulders."

Hearing those words from my father meant the world to me.

It wasn’t just his trust— it was his belief in me and Zoya.

~~~

Thanks for reading. ♥️

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