*The next morning*

[Aditya woke up to find a cold cloth placed on his forehead and when he turned around, he saw Zoya fast asleep, resting her head on the corner of the bed while seated.

He removed the cloth from his forehead and simply gazed at Zoya.

He was surprised that Zoya sat up all night, just trying to bring his fever down.

He noticed the peace that dawned on her eyes as she slept. The way the waves of her hair covered her face as she slept. The way her nose ring sat so daintily on her nose.]

Aditya: Zoya...Utho, Subah Ho gayi hain?

Zoya: (Sleepy) Huh? Subah Ho bhi gayi? Ya Allah, hum toh yahi so gaye!

Aditya: Ji, Good Morning, Zoya mohatarma

Zoya: Woh...Pata nahi aankh Kaisi lag gayi humaari!

Aditya: Ji, ab jaayie, so jaayie

Zoya: Nahi, Tara ko taiyaar karna hai. Arre, aapka Bukhaar kaisa hai?

[Zoya placed his hand on his forehead, and then got up to clear up the mess.]

Aditya: Yeh Sab chhodo, tum jaao, Main kar lunga

Zoya: Nahi, Nahi hum kar le——

Aditya: (Holding Zoya's hand) Main kar lunga, kaha tha Na? Tum meri ghulaam nahi Ho. Jaao, Taiyaar Ho jaao, ek ghante mein niklenge

Zoya: Ji, theek hai...

[Zoya quickly got ready and soon they left to drop Tara.
Aditya noticed how tired and weary Zoya looked, her eyes seemingly bloodshot.

Rather than taking the usual route and dropping her off at the market, he dropped her home.]

Zoya: Arre, aapne Ghar tak kyun drop kiya? Ab aap late Ho jaayenge

Aditya: It's okay. Ghar jaakar Kuch waqt so jaana

Zoya: Ji, theek hai,

[The moment she reached her room, Zoya quite literally fell on the bed and was fast asleep. Little did she know that she would wake up at around 6 PM.

She woke up and when she looked at the time, she quickly ran to the living room, figuring that Aditya would be there.]

Zoya: Sorry, pata nahi tha Itni der lagegi...Ya Allah!

[Zoya was scared when she saw a group of 2 men sat around in the living room, dressed in the Air Force uniforms, and Aditya getting up, looking rather embarrassed.

Afraid, she looked at Aditya, and he simply nodded his head, trying to console her.]

Man:Adi, toh yeh hai Bhabhi! Namaste Bhabhi ji!

Zoya: (Confused) N-Namaste

Man: Main Jameel, Adi ka sabse Accha dost!

Zoya: N-Namaste Jameel

Man 2: Main Adam, Adi ka dost!

Zoya: N-Namaste Advay...

Jameel: Aapko shock dene ke liye maafi chahta hoon, agli baar apni Mrs. ko saath lekar aaonga

Adam: Main bhi!

Aditya: Ho gayi tassali? Ab toh chalo ghar!

Jameel: Bilqul nahi! Bhabhi, Adi ne aapne shaadi mein apne sabse acche dost ko nahi bulaaya!

Zoya: Woh...

Adam: Accha maaf kar diya! Chal Jameel, newly married couple ko bahut tang kiya hai

Aditya: Thank god, Chalo! Chalo!

Zoya: Arre, aise kyun bhaga rahein hai aap? Jameel, Adam, Aap dono Chai piyenge?

Adam: Of course bhabhi!

Zoya: (Smiling) Abhi banaate hai, aap baith jaayie

[Zoya was making tea when Aditya came up to her, looking at her apologetically.]

Zoya: Kya Hua?

Aditya: I'm sorry...Woh Aaj unhone Mere haath ki ring dekh Li Aur phir bataana padha. Bahut zidd kar rahe the ki tumse milna chahte the, infact maine tumhe phone bhi——-

Zoya: Aap safaai kyun de rahe hai? Hume koi aitraaz nahi hai

Aditya: Maine unse kaha hai ki hum dono ka love marriage Hua hai, aur——

Zoya: Ya Allah, yeh kaha? Waise, Aur Kya keh sakte the...Khair, chodein

Aditya: Woh Kuch ajeeb sawaal puchein toh Mujhe maaf kar dena, Please

Zoya: Aap Itna hype kyun Ho rahe hai? Jaayie, apne dosto ke saath baithiye, hum chai lekar aa rahe hai

Aditya: Nahi, chai dono saath mein denge, Do

Zoya: Arre, lekin——

Aditya: Hazaar baar kaha hai tumse, tum meri ghulaam nahi Ho. Tumhi ne kaha tha Na, ki dono baraabar ka kaam karenge, ab Chalo

[Zoya watched Aditya take the tea to his friends and instantly, her mind remembered Yash. The way he treated her as an equal, not as his personal servant.]

Jameel: Aye haye, Chai kamaal ki hai!

Adam: Iss thand mein elaichi waali chai ki baat hi Kuch Aur hai, kyun?

Zoya: (Smiling) Shukriya

Jameel: Accha Bhabhi, hum nikalte hai

Zoya: Aap Log shanivaar ko Ghar aa jaayega, shaam ko, apni family ke saath

Adam: Haan, definitely!

Jameel: Yeh hoti hai mehmaan nawaazi, Adi, Bhabhi se Kuch seekh!

Aditya: Yaheen par maar khaayega? Chal, Bhabhi yaad kar rahi hogi!

Adam: Haan Chalo Jameel, Adi ko apni biwi ke saath time spend karna hai!

Jameel: Chalte hai! Bye!

Zoya: (Smiling) Bye!

[Soon enough, Jameel and Adam left.]

Aditya: Saturday ka plan...Uss Sab ki kya zaroorat thi?

Zoya: Aapke dost bahut acche hai, isliye...

Aditya: Zoya, lekin——

Zoya: Aapne chai piya?

Aditya: Nahi, socha tumhaare saath piyunga

Zoya: Theek hai, hum banaate——

Aditya: Nahi, tum jaao, iss baar Main banaaonga

[Zoya shrugged her thoughts and sat down on the balcony when a few minutes later, she smelled the fragrance of chai.

Aditya placed a cup in front of her and sat a respectable distance away from her.]

Zoya: (Sipping the tea) Elaichi waali chai ki baat hi Kuch aur hai

Aditya: Mujhe sirf elaichi waali chai hi pasand hai

Zoya: Sach? Hume bhi!

Aditya: Haan, lekin Pooja humesha adarak waali chai peeti thi, jo Mujhe Bilqul nahi pasand

Zoya: Hume bhi! Yash bhi adarak waali chai hi peete the! Humaara galaa bahut jalta hai

Aditya: Hain na? Kitna ajeeb hai hum dono ke pasand...

[Aditya and Zoya, who were smiling, instantly fell silent.
Aditya continued sipping on his tea, as did Zoya.]

Aditya: Sorry...

Zoya: Aap baar baar maafi maangna bandh kijiye, Aditya

Aditya: Pata nahi kyun, tumse Jab baat karta hoon tab kabhi kabhi Pooja ka chehra aa jaata hai

Zoya: Hume baar baar yehi ehsaas hota hai jaise hum bewafai kar rahe hai...

Aditya:(Tearing up) Pata hai, Pooja ke jaane ke baad, zindagi puri black and white Ho gayi...Isliye Yahaan aa gaya, Mussoorie. Pooja meri Best Friend thi...Jab usse baat karta tha tab aisa lagta tha jaise woh sabse Accha advice deti thi

Zoya: (Wiping her tears) Yash bhi humaare Best Friend the. Unhone aise waqt mein humaara haath thaama Jab humaare apne ne bhi humse muh modh liya tha...
Hume nahi lagta ki hum kissi aur se iss tarah mohabbat kar paayenge...

Aditya: Hmm...

Zoya: Aur Aapko?

Aditya: Pata nahi...

[That evening, both of them sipped their teas, enjoying the blissful silence and just enjoying the weather.

But Aditya's answer to Zoya's question may have predicted something. Something only time would tell.]

—————————
EID MUBARAK TO EVERYONE!! Aaj dabaakar Biryani aur kebab kha lo, aur apne family ke saath khushiyaan manaao! (my Friend told me Eid aaj raat se shuru hota hai, so hence my wishes, apologies if they're late/early lol

Double update! Hope you guys like this one!

Love you ❤️