*Later that day, at around 9 pm*

[Zoya was helping the cook with the dinner when suddenly the doorbell rang, and immediately, her heart began racing. It had to be Aditya, and Zoya already knew that Aditya disliked her and distrusted her.]

Zoya: (Scared) A-Aap yeh sabzi Dekhiye hum darwaaza kholkar aate hai

[Zoya walked to the door and opened it, and there stood Aditya.

Aditya Hooda.

With his cold blooded stare, he entered the house, and needless to say, Zoya was instantly intimidated. She took a few steps back until her feet hit the sofa and she fell on it, with Aditya's stare almost piercing through her soul.]

Aditya: Toh aap hai iss ghar ki aaya, right?

Zoya: (Scared) J-J-J...J-Ji...

Aditya: (Angry) Kyun aayi Ho yahaan? Iraada Kya hai tumhaara? Kahi tum chor ya murderer toh nahi——

Zoya: Khuda ke w-waaste, h-h-hum Aisa karne ki s-soch bhi n-nahi sakte!

Aditya: Toh phir batao kyun aayi Ho? Kal hi Auli se bhaagi thi, aur Aaj toh tum Mussoorie se nikalne waali thi, right? Kahi tum mera peecha toh nahi——

Zoya: (Crying) K-Kya anaap-shanaap bak rahe hai aap! H-Hum Mussoorie se jaane waale hi the lekin humaare paise khatam Ho gaye the Aur——

Aditya: Of course, bechaari abla naari, right? Tum mujhe bewakoof samajhti Ho Kya?

Zoya: A-Aapko humse Itna gussa kyun Hai? Aap Hume jaante tak n-nahi hai aur——

Aditya: Lekin main tum jaise logo ko acchi tarah se jaanta hoon! Kya pata tum sach Bol bhi rahi Ho ya...

Zoya: Dekhiye——

Aditya: Nahi, tum suno. Meri nazar tum par hai, samjhi? Nani ya Tara ko kharoch bhi aayi toh main tumhe nahi chodunga, samjhi?

[Zoya looked at Aditya tearfully until she heard Nani's voice.]

Nani: Chalo, Khaana khaayein?

Zoya: (Wiping her tears) J-Ji...

[Dinner was beyond uncomfortable.

In some sense, Aditya was right, Zoya thought.

She had just escaped yesterday, and here she was, becoming a nanny to a 3 year old girl. That is in all cases, suspicious.

But Zoya was helpless, and that was something Aditya's cold heart was unable to understand. Her self respect didn't allow her to steal money or do anything disgraceful.

Often, Abbu's words would keep playing in her mind. The words he spoke when she decided to marry Yash.

It had been a year since Yash passed away, and Zoya being Zoya, wasn't going to let go off his memory, therefore she decided to stay with his family.

But she couldn't forget Abbu's words after Yash's funeral.

She was so dazed that she barely noticed that Nani had asked her to pass the roti.]

Nani: (Placing a hand on Zoya's shoulder) Zoya...

Zoya: Huh? M-Maaf kijiye...Yeh lijiye, paani

Aditya: (Rudely) Unhone roti maangi thi, paani nahi

[Nervously, Zoya handed the roti to Nani, while trying her hardest to not meet Aditya's eyes. Zoya had begun to understand that the scariest part of living in Mussoorie wasn't just going to be hiding from her in-laws but also facing Aditya almost every day. She'd be lying if she didn't say that just his presence managed to raise every inch of hair on her body.

Thankfully, dinner got over soon enough and Aditya left, but Zoya's mind was still burdened by the weight of his words.

"Meri nazar tum par hai, samjhi? Nani ya Tara ko kharoch bhi aayi toh main tumhe nahi chodunga, samjhi?"

His threat had no doubt, terrified Zoya beyond bounds. All she could think about was what he'd do to her.]

Nani: Zoya, tumhaara kamra upar rahega, Tara ke kamre ke bagal mein. Kamra bahut ganda hai aur——

Zoya: Koi baat nahi Nani, hum saaf kar lenge. Aap jaayie, so jaayie

Nani: Theek hai beta, good night.

[It had been almost an hour since everyone had fallen asleep, but Zoya was simply unable to. Every minute, her mind began thinking of ways of her wretched in-laws would find her.

And Zoya being Zoya knew the only way she could clear her mind was by keeping her body busy, and she naively decided to go for a walk.

A walk at 12:30 am.

She wrapped the only cloth with her; her white chiffon dupatta around her body, and stepped out of the house, before slowly closing the gate and walking out of the colony and onto the somewhat busy streets.

She noticed the air in Mussoorie had a different fragrance. There was something about the air that was somewhat sweeter.

As she walked, she got a whiff of cigarettes, and instantly, a memory replayed in her mind.

*Flashback*
[Zoya entered the balcony of her home in Auli, and saw Yash immediately extinguish the cigarette and flick it away.]

Zoya: (Annoyed) Kitni baar bataayein aapko Yash, cigarette peena sehat ke liye Accha nahi hai!

Yash: Uffo, Sorry yaar, aadat Ho gayi hai innki

Zoya: Aadatein badli bhi jaa sakti hai!

Yash: Whatever you say, Madam!

Zoya: Hume woh packet dein, chaliye!

Yash: Zoya...Yaar! Yeh sahi nahi hai!

Zoya: (Throwing the cigarette packet in the bin) Bilqul sahi hai! Aap jab 70 saal ke honge hai, tab khud humse kahenge ki 'Thank you Zoya, tumhaari wajah se Aaj Main zinda hoon" ]

[Too deep in her own thoughts and fantasy, Zoya took the cigarette away from the man's hand and threw it on the floor, only realising about 30 seconds later that he wasn't Yash.]

Zoya: (Throwing cigarette) Kitni baar bataayein Aapko cigarette peena acchi baat nahi hai———

[Of course the man was Aditya.

Out of the entire male population in Mussoorie, she had to throw his cigarette.]

Zoya: (Scared) ——Yash...Aap?!

Aditya: (Angry) Tum? Peecha kyun nahi chodti meri!

Zoya: Woh...Hume laga ki...Yash...S-Sorry...

Aditya: Yahaan Kya karne aayi Ho?

Zoya: Woh...Hume jab neend nahi aati t-tab hum walk par jaate hai...I-Isliye...

Aditya: (Sarcastically) Haan! Haan! Yeh toh garden hai na? Tum bahut hoshiyar Ho waise! Aayi thi apne sasural waalo se bhaagne aur raat ke 1 baje aa gayi tehelne! Taaki woh Log jo shaayad yehi-kahi Ho, tumhe asaani se dhoond sake, right?

Zoya: (Scared) N-Nahi woh d-darasal...

[Looking Zoya dead in the eyes, Aditya took a step towards her, to which she took a step behind, and her mind was internally screaming and cursing herself simultaneously.

Why the heck did she end up rubbing shoulders with everyone?

Almost tripping on the wires that were besides the pole, he caught her in his arms while she tightly gripped on to his crisp dark blue shirt.

Somehow, Aditya was always right on time.]

Zoya: (Scared) S-Sorry, w-woh...

[Carefully getting back on both her feet, she continuously looked down whilst fidgeting with her dupatta and then slowly walking away.]

Aditya: Ruko

Zoya: (To herself) Ya khuda, pata nahi yeh Aur Kya kahenge humse!

[Scared, she turned around and he walked up and stood besides her, to which she looked at him rather confusingly.]

Aditya: Ab chalogi bhi ya yehi par rehna hai?

[Confused, Zoya began walking while Aditya maintained the same pace as her.

No one knew why Aditya wanted to walk with her, not even himself, even though he disliked her with a strong passion.]

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Here is chapter 3!! Eeks hope you guys like it!!

Thank you so much for reading ❤️

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Chandni 💕