*A week later*

[Aditya was busy preparing dinner while Zoya was sat with Tara, helping her with her homework.]

Zoya: Nahi Tara, 10 + 2, 12 hota hai...Itni jaldi bhool gayi aap?

Tara: Mujhe yeh sab pasand nahi hai, Zo-Zo, Mujhe maths Bilqul nahi pasand

Zoya: Kya karein Tara, homework toh karna hai na? Chalo, yeh last sum reh gaya hai, usske baad homework khatam! Chalo, shaabaash

Tara: Yeh lo! Ho Gaya!

Zoya: Shaabaash! Wah, yeh sum toh sahi kiya hai aapne!

Tara: Yay! Bass, Mujhe Aur nahi karna

Zoya: Haan Bhai, Chalo, books bag mein rakho Aur Chalo, khaana khaane

Tara: Haan! Haan!

[About 10 minutes later, Tara, Aditya and Zoya were sat on the dining table, having dinner.]

Zoya: Dal bahut acchi bani hai, Aditya

Aditya: Thank you

Tara: Dita, Aapko pata hai, Maine Aaj apna homework pura kiya!

Aditya: Arre Wah! Meri Tara hai hi Itni bahaadur!

Tara: But Main badi hokar maths nahi padhungi

Zoya: Accha? Toh phir Kya banna hai aapne?

Tara: Main na...Main bahut badi actress banungi

Aditya: Wah...Aapko acting aati hai?

Tara: Haan! Haan!

Zoya: Kyun nahi aati hai humaari Tara ko? Humaari Tara Sab jaanti hai!

Aditya: Chalo, yeh bhi sahi hai!

Tara: Dita, aap humesha se Air Force pilot banna chahte the?

Aditya: Haan, humesha se! Accha, Tara, Tumse Kuch puchna tha

Tara: Haan Dita, bataao na!

Aditya: Parso, meri regent ki ceremony hai, Matlab Mujhe promotion mil rahi

Zoya: Arre, Wah! Mubarak Ho Aditya!

Aditya: Thanks...

Tara: Yay!

Aditya: Toh Tara, Aap humaari ceremony ke liye aayengi?

Tara: Sirf Main? Aur Aapki princess Zo Zo?

Aditya: Uh...Haan, Zoya bhi...

Tara: Pakka aayenge, kyun ZoZo?

Zoya: (Shyly) Haan...Haan...

[Aditya helped Zoya dry the dishes as she washed them, but neither of them could get over awkward things had become between both of them.]

Zoya: Dekhiye, hum jaante hai ki aap sirf Tara ko apne function mein dekhna chahte hai, isliye hum Tara ko Ramu Kaka ya aapke dost ki biwi, Ruksaar ya Roop ke saath bhej denge...Koi bahaana banaadijiyega

Aditya: Main Aisa Kuch nahi karne waala hoon...Tumhe aana hai toh aao, warna mat aao, tumhaari marzi

Zoya: Kiss baat ka Itna gussa dikha rahe hai aap?

Aditya: Really? Ab phir se behass karna hai tumhe?

Zoya: Hume bhi koi shaukh nahi hai aapse baat karne ka...Bade aaye!

[Aditya dried the dish and stormed out of the kitchen while Zoya looked on in anger. She'd be lying if she said that even his tiniest antics wouldn't make her blood boil.

But both of them were so stupid that they barely even realised that sometimes (which was most of the time), they'd argue for no reason at all.]

*2 days later*

Tara: Zo-Zo! Aap abhi tak ready nahi hui? Dita abhi Kuch Laane gaye hai, 15 minute Main aa jaayenge Chalo Chalo!

Zoya: Tara...Darasal meri tabiyat thodi bahut kharab hai, isliye...

Tara: 2 hours pehle aap Bilqul theek thi! Chalo! Chalo! Dita humaara wait kar rahe honge!

Zoya: Tara, Humne kaha Na hum nahi...

Tara: Aap nahi aayenge toh main bhi nahi jaaongi, simple!

Zoya: Yeh Kya bachpana hai?

Tara: Meko pata hai aapka jhagda Hua hai, lekin Dita ne apni family ko bulaaya hai, humko jaana padega!

Zoya: Toh aap jaayie Tara...Ruksaar Aunty ke saath chalengi na?

Tara: Main apne Papa ko apne Mummy ke bina dekhne nahi jaaongi!

[At the moment, Zoya's heart froze, and so did Aditya's steps. They looked at each other rather triumphantly, and for a second, forgot the numerous fights and arguments that took place between them.

Tara just called Aditya and Zoya, Mummy and Papa.

Zoya noticed the shock that appeared on Aditya's face and he noticed the tears on her face. They didn't even have to utter a word and they understood everything.]

Aditya: Zoya...

Zoya: Hum...Hum abhi taiyaar hoke aaye...A-Abhi aaye...

[Zoya rushed into her room and smiled to herself before quickly changing her clothes. She changed into a beautiful lace wine coloured saree.

She didn't even know why she was smiling so much as she wore her earrings, but she felt so happy. The feeling, word that she longed for was finally hers.

She walked out of the room, and was about to walk out until she saw Aditya in his room, smiling to himself, holding a tie in his hand. He noticed Zoya's reflection on the mirror and instantly turned around, stuffing the tie in his pocket before being quite literally blown away by how stunning she looked.]

Zoya: (Smiling) Chalein?

Aditya: Tum...Tum aa rahi Ho?

Zoya: Haan...Hume bhi pata nahi tha ki hum aayenge...

Aditya:(Leaving) Chalo, Main gaadi lekar aata hoon

Zoya: Aap shaayad kuch bhool rahe hai

Aditya: Kya?

Zoya: Aapki tie, dijiye

Aditya: Nahi Main kar lunga

Zoya: Jaldi dijiye, Warna Tara phir se shor machaayegi

[Hesitantly, he placed the tie in her hand and she calmly tied it around his neck, while Aditya just took the moment to appreciate how beautiful she looked. This was probably the first time he had ever noticed how beautiful she was, or maybe the first time something related to her even remotely mattered.

Aditya was slightly happy that Zoya was going to be there, supporting. He didn't know why just her presence gave him some kind of strength.

After putting on his tie, she gently ran her fingers through his collar and his coat, straightening it and erasing the faint lines, before gently dusting his shoulders off.]

Zoya: Yeh lo, Ho Gaya

Aditya: T-Thank you...

[They reached the event about half an hour later, where they were escorted to three seats that read "The Hooda's".

Something weird came over Zoya when she saw that, because even in her head, she was Zoya Arora, not Zoya Hooda. She felt weirdly uncomfortable by the term.]

Aditya sat down with Zoya besides him and Tara on her lap, and soon enough the ceremony began.]

Man: And now may we please bring on stage, with a huge round of applause, Mr. Aditya Hooda, The New Air Chief Marshall for the Indian Air Force!

[A round of applause roared through the auditorium and humbly, Aditya got up and walked up to the stage, while Tara cheered and Zoya clapped and looked on.

Zoya's eyes watched as Aditya was felicitated, and somehow, she felt unusually happy.

Proud, in a sense.

He looked so incredibly handsome in the uniform he wore, and Zoya noticed the way his eyes glimmered.

Soon the ceremony was over and it was time for the dinner.]

Man: Mr. Aditya Hooda! The new Air chief Marshall of the Indian Air Force!

Aditya: Mr. Kapoor! Thank you sir!

Man: I'm very proud of you my Son! Issi tarah apni mulk ki hifaazat karte rehna!

Aditya: Yes sir! Humesha!

Man: Oh, and who is this beautiful lady? Mr. Hooda?

Aditya: Uhh...Sir...This is my wife, Zoya

[Zoya immediately looked at Aditya when she heard his words.

This was the first time he'd ever publicly called Zoya his Wife.

His Wife.]

Man: Of course! Mrs. Zoya Hooda!

Zoya: (Nervously) N-Namaste...

Man: Namaste!

Man: Waise Adi, tumhaari shaadi kab hui thi? I wasn't invited, very bad!

Aditya: Sir, woh...

Zoya: Darasal sir humaari shaadi kaafi jaldbaazi mein hui thi, isliye, lekin Aapko ek dinn humaare Ghar aana padega! K-Kyun, Aditya...?

Aditya: Haan! Haan!

Man: Of course, Of course. Accha ab Aaj ke dinner ke liye aage chalein?

Aditya: Ji, Ji, Chaliye, Chaliye

[Zoya walked a bit ahead until she felt Aditya gently hold her arm.]

Zoya: Kya Hua?

Aditya: Thank you...Mujhe bachaane ke liye

Zoya: Koi baat nahi...

Aditya: Tara kahaan gayi?

Zoya: Usse bahut neend aa rahi thi toh Humne Kaka ko bulaakar usse Ghar drop kar diya hai, abhi so rahi hogi

Aditya: Right, okay...

Zoya: Ab chalein?

Aditya: Haan, Chalo, Chalo

[They were sat the fancy round table, with Aditya sat next to Zoya, and he noticed how visibly nervous Zoya looked.]

Jameel: (Raising a toast) To our new Air Chief Marshall, Aditya Hooda! Cheers!

Adam: Woohoo! Iss baat pe Bhabhi ke haath ki amazing biryani Banti toh hai!

[Zoya began giggling, and for a second, Aditya just simply turned to his side to see her smile.]

Jameel: Woh chhod, Aaj sabki nazarein Adi par hai, lekin Main dekh raha hoon ki Aaj pure function mein Adi ki nazarein sirf Humaari bhabhi, Zoya par thi! Kyun Adi?

[Embarrassed, Aditya looked away, and he was terrified because of what Zoya would think of him.]

Roop: Uffo, Bass bhi karo, Kitna tang karoge!

Aditya: Right? Thank you Roop! Tum Log sach mein Kitne vele Ho! Aur Jameel, tujhe toh Main dekh lunga!

Zoya: (Calmly)Arre, shaant Ho jaayie, mazaak kar rahe the...

Jameel: Yeh hui na baat Bhabhi!

[Aditya looked at Zoya surprisingly and she slightly smiled to herself, before looking down and away.

The night was so different from what Zoya and Aditya would have ever expected, and that was what surprised the both of them.

The car ride back home was so unusually silent, until Aditya turned on the radio and a song played.]

"Abhi na jaao chhod kar, ki dil abhi Bharaa nahi..."

Zoya: Yeh gaana...

Aditya: Yash Aur Pooja ka favorite, hai na?

Zoya: (Sad) Haan...

Aditya: Tumhaara favorite gaana Kya hai?

Zoya: Humaara...Pata nahi...Hum zyaade gaane nahi sunnte hai...

Aditya: Seriously? Koi baat nahi, Main kaafi acche gaane sunnta hoon, tumhe bhi acche lagne lagenge!

[Zoya simply smiled at looked ahead, while Aditya was still gazing at her.]

Aditya: Waise, Thank you...Aaj aane ke liye

Zoya: Hume aakar bahut khushi hui, Aapki kaamyaabi ke liye mubarak Ho

Aditya: Thank you

Zoya: Aaj Tara ne——

Aditya: Indirectly hum dono ko Mummy Aur Papa bulaaya, Right?

Zoya: (Excited) Haan! Haan! Hum itne Khush the, Hume aana hi tha, Tara ki khaatir toh aana tha!

[Internally, Aditya's heart slightly dropped a bit, when he got to know that she attended the award for Tara's sake.

But what was Aditya even expecting? ]

Aditya: Woh Bass Mujhe saamne se papa bula le...Meri toh life bann jaayegi

Zoya: Humaari bhi, Aditya, hum Taras rahe hai woh lafz sunne ke liye

Aditya: Woh dinn bhi aayega, Mujhe pura yakeen hai

Zoya: Inshallah.

[Aditya parked the car a bit further away from the house and when they got out the car, Zoya was slightly taken aback by how chilly it had become.]

Aditya: Tumhe neend aa rahi hai?

Zoya: Ji? Haan, thodi si, par kyun?

Aditya: Perfect! Yahaan par ek Thela hai, banda kamaal ki Chai banaata hai

Zoya: Accha? Theek hai, Chalte hai phir

[Zoya and Aditya walked towards the tea stall, and upon noticing how cold Zoya was, Aditya instinctively removed his jacket and placed it on her shoulders, before she quickly wore it and placed her hands in the large pockets.

They sat down on the tiny and weak wooden bench, and Aditya returned with two tiny cups of tea. He placed the cup in her hand before pulling out his phone and playing a song, and Zoya looked at him in confusion.]

Zoya: (Confused) Kya...Kya kar rahe hai aap?

Aditya: Main kayi baar Yahaan aata hoon, chai peeta hoon Aur apne favorite gaane sunnta hoon...Ajeeb sukoon milta hai

Zoya: Hmm...Waise chai kaafi acchi hai

[That night was solemn. Just tea, two individuals and Aditya's favourite songs looping through the night.

Zoya somehow liked learning these tiny, intricate things about Aditya. Somehow, it made her intrigued, made him somewhat human.

Not the 'saddu' 'khadoos' Aditya, Zoya was so accustomed to seeing.]

Aditya: Waise kaunsa gaana accha laga tumhe?

Zoya: Hmm...Abhi tak Kuch Accha nahi laga

Aditya: Seriously? I'm offended, meri music Sab ko pasand aati hai!

Zoya: (Giggling) Sivaai humaare

Aditya: Koi baat nahi, Kuch toh pasand aa jaayega tumhe...

Zoya: Usska pata nahi...Aapka favorite kaunsa hai?

Aditya: Mera? Yeh waala...

[The song played and Zoya intently began listening to the lyrics.]

"Dil hai ki maanta nahin,
Mushkil badi hai,
Rasm-e-mohabbat, yeh jaanta nahin..."

Zoya: Gaane ke alfaaz toh bahut sundar hai...

Aditya: Aadhi Lyrics Itni bhaaru Urdu mein hai, mere samajh ke baahar hi hai!

Zoya: (Smiling) Shaayad isliye Humaari Urdu sunn kar aap Itna Khush hote hai, kyun?

Aditya: Khush? Please, tumhaari Urdu sunnte sunnte dimaag ki dahi bann gayi hai!

Zoya: Lagta hai aur bhaari alfaaz ka istemaal karna padega phir, kyun?

[Zoya and Aditya shared a light giggle and neither of them even understood that this was probably the first time they felt at such ease with each other.]

Zoya: Ab Ghar chalein?

Aditya: Haan, Haan, Chalo, Chalo

[They walked home and eventually called it a night.]

Aditya: Good Night

Zoya: Good Night...Arre, ek minute, aapka jacket

Aditya: Thank you

[That night, neither Aditya Nor Zoya could sleep, mostly because they were remembering random moments of the night.

As Zoya tied her hair up and gently patted Tara's head, who was fast asleep, she just found herself singing a line of a song.]

Zoya: (Singing) Dil hai ki maanta nahi...

[Did she just find her favorite song?

Well, well. Someone would be happy.]

—————————
So sorry for the late update! I'm travelling so like wifi is really shit lol

Hope you guys liked this one!

Also please tell me honestly, do you guys feel like the story is being really rushed? Be 100% honest, I really won't mind!

Thank you for reading! Hope you guys liked this!

Love you ❤️