I stretched in my bed, the sunlight streaming through my curtains, I sat up, rubbing my eyes. I stood up slowly, shoving the chair out of the way I walked toward the bathroom, shutting the door behind me I began to clean my teeth and wash my face, tying my hair up I walked into the kitchen to see Aditya facing me

"Morning, I made you tea"

I narrowed my eyes, I didnt trust him, not even slightly "Not that I dont appreciate the tea, but why are you still here, isnt it time to go home"

"Bored of me already, there was me thinking you and I already shared an unbreakable bond" his comment rubbed me up the wrong way quickly

"I dont really know what you think of this neighbour hood, but usually we dont refuse to leave someone's house when they were nice enough to let you in, in the first place"

His eyes fell to my hand and he tutted, pulling the tea from my hand and rubbing his thumb gently against the burn "That was when I didnt live here, now I'm back, so get used to it"

I pulled my hand away "This is crazy, I want you to leave my house, you cant do this" I was near screaming, this man was insane

"Not enjoying my company habibti" he leant against the side, grabbing an apple and bit into it, I looked away at the apple juice that slid down his chin

"I would just like to be in my own home alone, that to much to ask for"

He smiled joyfully "Course not, all you had to do was say"

I went to argue, to tell him how I had already told him, but was taken back when he kissed my cheek again, the strong smell of coffee and cologne surrounding me as he did so, then he left

XXX

Glad to be free of my neighbour for a while, I decided to top up on my groceries to give myself something to do when I felt my trolley bump into something, I looked across the trolley to see Aditya facing me, how on earth was it possible to meet him again?

"Doing some shopping I see, I hope you'll be getting more apples" he pulled his trolley back and allowed me to pass

"Why, if you want apples, get them yourself" before I knew it, he had placed a bag of apples in my trolley, I went to take them out only to have him grab my hand

"Oh come on habibti, lets not pretend you hate my company" his smile smug

"Id rather have company off a rat" I bit back, still not over his refusal to leave my house earlier on, I continued to walk forward trying to finish my shopping fast when I heard him laugh from behind me, I turned to see him bent down infront of a woman, helping her pick up her groceries

"No, no, its my fault, I got so distracted by a beautiful lady like yourself" oh ever the charmer he was! I rolled my eyes, continuing to walk on until I heard him run up to me

"Sorry habibti, was just getting that woman's number, she sure is fine" he simpered

"Why are you apologising to me, I was quite enjoying shopping without your company" though I was slightly annoyed that he had been so nice to that woman when she had bumped into him, his attitude with me had been completley different when I had done the same

"That's quite a bitter tone for someone who claims not to be bothered" I felt him wrap his arms around mine, his hands next to mine on the trolley, his mouth beside my ear "Its okay to be bothered, I would be if it was you"

His voice sent a cold chill down my spine, I ducked under his arm quickly wanting not to be so close to him for any longer than absolutely necessary "Look, can you just stop following me everywhere, I just want to shop in peace and sit at home in peace"

"Oh Zoya, haven't you realised by now, that the more you ask me to leave, the more I will stay"

XXX

I placed down my shopping bags outside my house, slightly relieved that the woman in the shop had distracted Aditya so I could get away and slightly annoyed that his attention on me was so superficial, the moment another woman came his way he was gone, he was aggravating, childish, immature and above all a womanizer, unlocking the door I stepped inside, kicking the door shut behind me and walked to my kitchen

After unpacking I decided to settle down and read for a while, as much as I wanted to sit on the balcony in the cool air, I didnt want to speak to Aditya so would have to cope with reading in the warm with the windows open, after reading for a while I looked down at my watch to see it was 10pm. My day had been tiring and all I wanted was to sleep, pulling the shawl over my body I relaxed into the sofa, to tired and lazy to make my way to my bed

XXX

Shoving the shawl off of me, I jumped up from the couch, it was far to hot to sleep, grabbing a glass of water I made my way to the balcony to see Aditya had fallen asleep on the chair, guilt trickled through me at the possibility that maybe he had fallen asleep waiting for me, it was true he seemed to know no one here and he hadnt mentioned any family, maybe I had been to harsh to quickly "Aditya" I called, hoping to wake him up so he could go back inside, the way he was sat looked very uncomfortable

"Aditya" I called again, when I heard no reply I shouted louder but he still made no movement, the way his arms rested on his sides worried me that maybe something had happened, but I had no way to get to him, that was when I recalled the Friends episode I had seen once, where Joey had made a giant poking device with chopsticks, but I had none, tapping my chin I ran to get my washing line support pole, in hopes it would be long enough

I leant forward, gripping the top of the bar with my left hand, my right hand gripping the support pole, but I was still a few inches far, I lifted my feet, bending my legs so my stomach was resting on the bar of the balcony I finally managed to touch his arm, only to have his eyes shoot open, his hand grabbing the pole quickly, I let out a scream as I felt my body be yanked forward even more

"Habibti, what are you doing" he crowed, pushing the pole back which made me fly back from the bar and bang into the doors behind me

"I called your name, but you didnt wake up, so I was worried something had happened" I was breathless, trying to regain my breath I leant slightly forward, noting how his eyes softened at my words

"I dont like to sleep indoors alone"

"Why" I covered my mouth with my hand straight away "Sorry, you dont have to answer that" though my mind was spinning with possible answers to my questions, I couldnt help but yearn to know about my mysterious neighbour

"Hey Zoya, its 4am, why are you even awake" he stretched, yawning

"Its to hot"

He nodded "That would be my presence in the neighbourhood"

I rolled my eyes, though unable to stop the small smile on my lips, he was quick on his feet "So, when are you meeting the woman from the shop"

His brow inched up slightly "Why are you so interested, jealous"

I laughed sarcastically "Ive known you for what, two to three days, what's to be jealous of"

He shrugged "No woman wants a good looking man to suddenly stop looking at her and look elsewhere"

Yes, he was correct, but it was nothing I was going to get to worried over, he could do what he liked, he was interested in one thing, one thing I wasnt willing to just hand out, I looked up to see a shooting star, I smiled "Make a wish"

"What" he laughed

"Its a shooting star, make a wish, it always comes true"

He closed his eyes, though the expression on his face showed he had no belief in what I was saying, his eyes opened slowly "What did you wish for"

"I cant tell you, or it won't come true" I shook my head, I still had no idea what fascinated me about him so much to use my wish on hoping to find out more about him, maybe I was just taken in by his good looks. "Im going back to bed, goodnight Aditya"

"Wait, Zoya"

"Hm" I turned my head over my shoulder to look at him

He smirked, head tipping to the side slightly and he raised his empty mug "Here's looking at you, kid"

"You've seen the film Casablanca" it shocked me that he was even one to watch a classic as old as that

He nodded "Since youve seen it to, im sure you understand the meaning"

I nodded in reply "He was saying it in a flirtatious manner to Ilsa, but I guess deep down he meant that she was never meant for him, he felt a lot for her, but he would only ever keep looking at her, nothing more, he had to many issues to get through like his drinking to even consider more" I breathed out

"A very in depth analysis" he admired

"I cant work out if youre saying it in the way that you're still looking at me and not the other woman or if you will only just look at me, nothing more" I hadnt realised when I had walked forward, so taken in by his elegance and charm that showed no matter what he did or said

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly "Ill let you know when I work it out, goodnight habibti"

"Goodnight Aditya"