*The next day*

[It had been a rather hectic day for Zoya, but she was relieved it was finally a Friday.

After helping Tara out with her homework, she walked upstairs to check on Nani, who was laying down.

Zoya had begun to notice how tired and frail Nani had become, and she understood that she had to everything in her capacity to care for Nani.]

Zoya: Nani, chalein, uthein, chai ka waqt Ho Gaya hai

Nani: (Getting up) Haan Beta, thank you

Zoya: Yeh lijiye

Nani: Arre Beta, yeh toh pheenka hai

Zoya: Haan ji, Aapki sehat ke liye cheeni munaasib nahi hai, isliye

Nani: Phir chai ka Kya mazaa hai phir?

Zoya: Bahut maze hai! Chalein, pi lein

Nani: Tara Kya kar rahi hai?

Zoya: Baahar khelne gayi hai

Nani: Accha theek hai, aur tum Kya karogi ab?

Zoya: Nani, Aaj Jumma hai...Kya hum aaj dargah jaa sakte hai?

Nani: Yeh bhi koi puchne ki baat hai? Zaroor jaao Beta! Aur Haan, apna Naya suit pehenkar jaana theek hai?

Zoya: (Smiling) Ji Nani

Nani: Tumhaare paas chaadhar aur phool ke paise hai? Ruko main tumhe——

Zoya: Arre nahi Nani, humaare paas paise hai, aap aaraam karein. Kissi bhi cheez ki zaroorat padhe toh humein phone kar lein, theek hai?

Nani: Haan Beta, tum jaao, Main Bilqul theek hoon

[Zoya returned to her room, and changed into a white chikankari Lucknowi Kurta, paired with a white embroidered sharara, and a light pink dupatta covering her. She swapped her earrings for slightly heavier ones, and obviously, she looked beautiful as ever.

She stepped out, and needless to say, she was excited.

She longed for a personal conversation with her god, and now she could finally attain that. She could finally complain to him and then thank him for everything.

Clutching the chaadhar and flowers in her hand, Zoya draped the dupatta over her head and entered the dargah.

Meanwhile, Aditya, who was heading home after work, passed the dargah, and stopped in his path. Something came over him when he saw the dargah. Something that called him inside.

Aditya didn't believe in god, but all he could see himself doing was entering the dargah. Too fascinated by what was drawing him closer and closer, he carefully watched the intricate walls and then looked through them.

Somehow, he felt so peaceful. Like something was there, that was there just for him.

As he looked through the walls, his eyes fell on Zoya, who looked ethereal as ever, as she was involved in her prayer.

For someone who had barely ever entered god's home, he spent an obnoxiously long amount of time, simply observing her, trying his hardest to not look like a creep.

She looked divine and sublime, her lips murmuring and changing her god's name. ]

Zoya: (Crying while praying) Allah miyaan, abhi bhi yakeen nahi hota ki hume aapke sajde mein jhukna naseeb Hua hai...Itni mushkilo ka saamna karne ke baad hume toh yakeen Ho Gaya tha ki hum zinda nahi bachenge, lekin phir bhi...Phir bhi aapne humaari jaan bachaa Li...Tara aur Nani jaisa parivar diya...Shukriya...Shukriya...S-Shukriya...

[When Zoya opened her eyes, Aditya immediately turned around, in a bid to hide himself, and scurried away from the dargah.

However when Zoya stepped out of the dargah and made her way home, she noticed Aditya, standing a few steps away from her. Still ridden with guilt, he tried talking to her but Zoya turned around walked the other way, clearly signalling that she was still hurt.

That same night, As Zoya set the dinner table, she heard the doorbell ring and opened the door to see Aditya standing outside, with a bouquet in his hands.]

Nani: Kaun hai beta?

Zoya: Aditya, Nani

Aditya: Hi Nani! Zoya...Hi

Zoya: Dekhiye, yeh guldastaan dene ki zaroorat nahi hai, aap—-

Aditya: Kissne bola yeh tumhare liye hai? Arre yeh toh meri pyaari si Tara ke liye hai! Tara ko roses bade pasand hai!

[Zoya looked at him in awe while he confidently walked and took Tara in his arms and began playing with her. She was surprised because she had never seen this side of him before.
His rather childish side.]

Tara: Dita!!

Aditya: Haan ji, Tara ji, Kya haal hai aapke? School kaisa tha?

Tara: Bahut Accha!

Zoya: Humne khaana lagaya hai, aap sab kha lein...

Aditya: Tum nahi kha rahi?

Zoya: Nahi, Hume bhook nahi hai

Aditya: (To Tara) Waise Tara, tumhaari Zo ko bhook Kab lagti hai? Jab dekho toh bhook hi nahi lagti unhe!

Tara: Haan! Zo, humaare saath khaana Khao na! Hum Aapko khilaayenge!

Zoya: Tara, aapko takkaluff lene ki zaroorat nahi hai...Theek hai, hum thoda khaayenge, aapki khaatir

Aditya: Chalo! Aur Haan, khaane ke baad Main dessert banaaonga, kyun Nani?

Nani: Haan Haan, bana lo!

[Zoya was still having a hard time trying to understand this Aditya.

During the dinner, they kept exchanging glances, and somehow, that caught Nani's eyes.]

Nani: Kya Hua? Sab theek toh hai tum dono ke beech?

Zoya: J-Ji Nani...Kya hona hai? K-Kuch nahi hua hai...

Aditya: Accha mera khaana Ho Gaya, Main dessert banaane jaa raha hoon

Nani: Haan theek hai beta, jaao

[Zoya's attention was constantly fixed on the kitchen, her mind constantly trying to figure out what the hell aditya was up to.

After dinner, as she placed everything back in the kitchen, but her eyes were too focused on what Aditya was doing.

As she put the dishes back in the fridge she heard a loud sound. Immediately she turned her back and saw a steel plate on the ground and Aditya's burnt hand.]

Zoya: (Worried) Ya Allah! Kya kar rahe hai aap?!

Aditya: (In pain) Woh...Main koi Naya dessert try kar raha tha, aur yeh garam tha...

Zoya: Garam steel ke bartan ko koi bina kapde ke uthaata hai Kya? Chaliye!

[Holding his hand, she ran the cold water on his burn and proceeded to apply the ointment, whilst he just silently watched her.]

Aditya: Yaar, iss Sab ke chakkar mein mera dessert kharab Ho gya hoga!

Zoya: Ya khudaya, aap toh intehaai hai! Aapke dessert ko Kuch nahi hua hai, humne gas off kiya hai, jaayein, jo banaana hai, banaayein

[Zoya annoyingly left the kitchen, while Aditya smiled childishly, and honestly speaking, neither of them knew what was going on.

But Aditya's childish antics could just be a good sign.

(Hopefully).]

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New update!

Also, I'm not Muslim so if there's any inaccuracies in terms of the dargah scene or anything, I'm sorry! This was based off what I've seen in movies and tv shows so there's chances I may have made a mistake here or there.

Thank you for giving the book so much love! Keep reading and voting, more exciting things are yet to come!

Love youuu

Chandni 💕