3 Weeks Later-

Every moment mattered. Every single moment was crucial because it built up a lifetime, one small moment could change your life, for the good or for the bad.

Zoya sat up from the bed, her fingers tracing the lines underneath Aditya's eyes. It was like an addiction, once she had started touching him, she hadn't been able to stop.

It was an adventure of sorts, she was slowly learning about him, experiencing him. It was a feeling that made her knees wobble and her head spin, but she loved it- because she loved him.

She loved how his hair fell sloppily to the side as he slept, she loved how his eyes would light up before he cracked a joke, she loved how he would smile so wide at her, that she couldn't help but do the same, not being able to stop smiling- even when it hurt because she loved him that much.

But in falling in love, there was always the risk of falling and not being caught. Yet she knew, he would always catch her, because thats what he did, he saved her, he was her saviour. But this time, this time she was going to save him, she would spend her life fixing what Pooja had broke.

Zoya stood up, stretched, grabbed some clothes, then made her way to the bathroom.
"Today would be different, today would be better" she whispered under her breath, because maybe if she said it enough, she would believe it.

Aditya sat up, his hand wandered over the cold space beside him.
"Zoyaaaaa" he called "Come back to bed" he led back down, his eyes still shut

"If you get up now, we can shower together" she replied sweetly making him dart out of bed and towards the bathroom, but she slammed the door in the nick of time
"Sorry Aditya, I just really needed you out of bed" she giggled

"Not fair Zoya, not fair" he chuckled

XXX

"Ma in law" Aditya called, lowering himself to take her blessings

Sakshi smiled, the few weeks at the pilgrimage in Kerala had done her the world of good, she felt happier, more at peace. "I want to take Zoya out, get to know her"

Aditya smiled "Really ma in law, because she would love that, wouldnt you Zoya" he nudged her

Zoya nodded happily, although it felt strange to spend time with Pooja's mother, she knew Sakshi was important to Aditya, and if she was important to him, then she was important to her
"I would love to, im ready if you are"

Sakshi walked beside Zoya silently, the air was awkward and Zoya really had no idea what to say
"So um, Aditya, have you always been close" she asked softly

Sakshi nodded "Always, since he was a little boy, he is still just as mischevious" she smiled

"What was he like, when he was young"

"Naughty, cheeky but kind, always kind, hey lets go there" Sakshi pointed out, her eyes widened as she felt something being pointed at her back

Zoya turned back to see the taxi driver from before holding a gun to Sakshi's back
"No, no dont please dont hurt her" Zoya begged

"Well how about you come with me, and I will leave her alone" he sneered

Zoya nodded, stepping forward slowly, then he reached out, grabbing her and pushing Sakshi forward, she banged her head, groaning as she rolled over

XXX

"Adi, Adi, its Zoya, she got kidnapped" Sakshi shouted as she ran in the house

Aditya jumped up "Who took her, where did they take her" his heart was racing at the possibility of losing the woman he now loved

"A man, I dont know who" then her phone buzzed, it was a picture of Zoya tied up

"I know where that is" he shouted, before running out

XXX

Zoya lifted her hands, banging on the door "Hello, is anyone there" she raised her scarf to cover her mouth as she coughed from the smell, then fell back as the door was pushed open

Zoya was pulled up by two burly men and dragged across the room towards a big barrel filled with water, they shoved her face down into it as she struggled in their hold, her feet scuffing against the floor until she was pulled up again, gasping for breath and spluttering

"Why are you doing this, you're crazy, an utter psycho" she was interrupted as her head was dunked back into the barrel
Pooja pulled her back up by her hair

"You know what Zoya, I am doing this so I can have my husband back, with you gone, he'll come back to me"

"You really think that, have you not considered that if im dead, he will hate you even more"

Pooja's eyes narrowed, her face darkening "Finish her" she spat before storming out, the last thing she heard was Zoya's screams and shouts

XXX

"Shes finished ma'am" a man said, opening the door to show a bruised and unconscious Zoya

Pooja smirked, tapping her cheek "Goodbye Zoya" then she turned away "Burn this place down" she kicked over the petrol can and walked out

Aditya jumped out of the car, his eyes widened as he saw the fire spread, then Pooja was stood before him, a man behind her with Zoya in his arms, her face was black, her body burnt, her eyes wide, those same eyes he had fell in love with, stared back at him lifelessly

"Its over Adi, I told you" He reached out, grabbing Pooja's neck "I should kill you for what you have done"

He pulled away as the man dropped Zoya's lifeless body to the floor
He ran forward, pulling her to him

Every moment mattered. Every single moment was crucial because it built up a lifetime, one small moment could change your life, for the good or for the bad and he had been to late, the most important moment of his life he had missed by minutes and now she was dead

Aditya pulled her closer, his fingers tracing her arms, wiping away the blood then glancing into her eyes. It was like an addiction, once he had started touching her, he hadn't been able to stop, but he would have to, because this was the last time he would ever hold her close

He couldnt cry, he couldnt breathe, all that surrounded them was the crackling fire and the pain of her loss

He loved how her hair fell sloppily against his arm, he would savour this moment, he loved how her caramel eyes would light up before she smiled so wide at him, that his heart raced, clenching so tightly at the thought of losing her to the point it became excruciatingly painful, but he had never cared about that, because he would always remember how she smiled at him like he was something special

But in falling in love, there was always the risk of falling and not being caught. Yet he knew, she would always catch him, because thats what she did, he saved her and she saved him he was her saviour but she was also his. But this time, this time he hadn't been able to save her, he would spend his life regretting what Pooja had done.

He held her head in his lap tightly rocking her "Zoyaaaa" he shouted "Come back to me" he sobbed loudly, her body now colder than before
"Its not fair Zoya, its not fair" he sobbed "I love you, I do, we still had so many more moments to share"

With one last shaky breath, he kissed her cold lips, then lifted his hand and closed her eyes.

It was true. Love really was as red as blood.

Lol I bet you all hate me right now! Lots of hints in the story, anyone pick them up?