Goodbye was only meant to be for a short amount of time, it wasn't meant to be the last word you heard before you lost someone forever. It was so easy to think you had forever, and when reality finally came around, it was soul destroying.

Zoya had tried to tell herself every day since her mother's suicide that she would just wake up and this would all be a nightmare, but the pain that consumed her, yanking at her heart every time she breathed and the immense loss that left her so incomplete was a constant reminder of the emptiness she felt now her mother was dead

She had heard it all, the apologies, the sympathetic glances, the pain that shook the house and her family. But still she couldnt allow herself to believe her ammi was truly gone. Because life was cruel, but this cruel? She refused to accept that Allah would take away the woman she loved the most

But it had been the silence before the storm that was the most unsettling. Her abbu continued on with his daily life, smiling and laughing until he was alone in his room with the door locked, then he would cry himself to sleep.
Noor wouldnt talk, wouldn't eat, all she would do was sleep, then wake up screaming for her ammi while she sobbed loudly against a pillow

Zoya stood up shakily, grabbing her phone she finally decided to listen to the many voicemails Aditya had left her.
She hadn't had the heart to reply or pick up the phone, she just needed silence and she knew that seeing him would make all of this a reality.

"Zoya, I know this is hard, but please dont shut me out"

"Zoya please just pick up your phone, atleast text me and let me know that you're okay"

"Zoya, shutting everyone out wont help, just let me be there for you"

"I get it if you dont want to see me, I shouldnt be pressuring you, this is all my father's fault, so I get it if you blame me, hate me if you want, punish me, but dont punish yourself"

Zoya pressed the call button, sighing heavily. Aditya picked up straight away
"Zoya, you're okay, tell me you're okay"

"Im okay, I need you to send Arjun here, Noor really needs him"

Aditya huffed "And you, what about what you need, do you need me to come to" he had never felt so nervous, he really wasn't sure what he would do with himself if she didnt want to see him anymore

"No" she paused as she heard him release a shaky breath

"Okay Zoya, if that's what you want, ill send Arjun and I wont disturb you again"

"No, I need you to meet me at the park near my house please"

Aditya smiled, right now he didnt care what she thought of him or if she just wanted his help, as long as he could spend time with her, he was happy "Ill be right there"

XXX

Zoya opened Aditya's car door as he arrived infront of her. She tugged at the seatbelt and pushed it in, she jumped as she felt his hand on her knee

"Zoya" he whispered

"Dont, please just" she shook her head "Dont, I didnt come here for your sympathy, I need your help" she turned her head to face him, her brows furrowing at the loss of his stubble on his cheeks, without thinking she raised her hand, running it across his cheeks
"Why did you get rid of it"

"Lets just say I was starting to have more hair on my face than on my head, and I didnt want to scare you off when I saw you after all this time" he smiled

"Grow it back" she muttered, then looked away, her hand back on her lap

"I will" he smiled, hopeful again that they would be okay

XXX

Zoya reached out for Noor, hugging her tightly "Youll be safe with Arjun I promise, but as of now you cant stay here, you remember Ammi's note hm, she wants us safe and until I can gurantee that, you can't be here"

Noor wiped her tears "Stay safe aapi, I can't lose you to, please" she gripped onto Zoya's hand, wiping away her tears with her other hand

Zoya kissed her forehead, then turned to Arjun "Please look after Noor, I am trusting you with her"

Arjun nodded "Ill protect her with my life" he picked up their bags, waving as he walked out to the car, his hand on Noor's back as she sat in the car.

Zoya turned to Aditya "Thank you for helping me find the house for them to stay in, and for helping me send my father to the pilgrimage in Kerala, I just hope it will help him" she glanced around at the house, tears filling her eyes as she grabbed the picture of her and her family off of the wall and held it to her chest

"Lets go" he muttered, rubbing her back before he picked up her bags

XXX

Harsh glanced around as the doors of his home swung open. He stood up from his chair as he eyed Aditya suspiciously.
"Finally decided you cant live by yourself then son, well its good to see you"

Aditya smirked, stepping to the side to reveal Zoya. Harsh fell back against the sofa at the red sindoor on Zoya's forehead.

"Susar" Zoya smiled, stepping next to Aditya. Her veil still on her head, her fingers tight around the garland she wore, her scarf tied to Aditya's kurta.

"You married this" he gasped, his hand on his chest "You" he choked as his wife ran over

"Harsh, come on, lets sit you down" she muttered, turning back to face Aditya with a small smile as they entered the house

XXX

Aditya stood at the window beside Zoya. They both looked up at the stars, Zoya stepped closer to him and leant her head on his shoulder "You really think this is a good idea" she asked quietly

Aditya nodded "No one but us knows this marriage is fake and its the best way to make him angry, we have to unsettle him first" he winked "Just dont go falling in love with me"

Zoya smiled "Id never even dream of it"

Sorry this is so late! Do let me know your thoughts! Also, we're still 95! Yayy