*A week later*

[A week had passed, but once again, there was no news of Aditya. Zoya called up the army service helpline day in and day out, but there was no response.

The war was over, then why the hell was it taking so Long for his body to come?]

Tara: Aapne bola tha Dita aayenge! Mujhe unse phone par baat karni hai! Abhi!

Zoya: Tara Humne kaha na, woh apne mummy papa ke paas hai, dimaag Na kharab karo mera!

Tara: (Crying) Aap bahut bure Ho! Mujhe Dita chahiye!

Zoya: kasam se mujhse bura koi nahi hoga! Bahut tang kar liya hai aapne hume! Chalo, school jaao!

[Zoya was beyond frustrated, because she herself didn't have the answers to any of Tara's questions.

Tara went to school crying, and Zoya did the same at home. She found herself in Aditya's room, once again, and she noticed the black shirt that was on his bed. She carefully folded it an opened the cupboard, to place the shirt back, and just then, her eyes fell on the brown packet, that was inside the cupboard.

The packet looked so eerily familiar, and when she held the packet in her hands, she carefully removed the big silver jhumkas that were in it.

The same jhumka's he gifted her months ago, and she denied it.

She began crying even more when she held his gift close to her chest, whilst she cursed herself for being so heartless to him.]

Zoya: (Crying) Kash...Kaash Humne yeh le liya hota...kamaskam aapke chehre ki muskaan toh dekh Paate, aakhri baar hi sahi...

[She stood in front of the mirror, and wore both the jhumkas, before she walked to the framed photo of both of them that was in the living room and picked it up.]

Zoya: (Crying) Dekho? Humne aapka taufa pehen liya...Bahut khoobsurat hai...H-Humein maaf kar dein...Humein Maaf kar dein...

["Puche dil toh kahun main kya bhala...
Dil sawaalon se hi na de rula...
Hota kya hai aahista aahista...
Hona kya hai aahista aahista..."

Zoya had never felt so helpless before. It almost felt like everyone was out to get her, to get her happiness. Like she wasn't even deserving of happiness.

She cursed herself for not having Jameel or Adam's number, but she cursed herself even more for walking into Aditya's life. What would she tell his family? Did they even know about their Son?

Did everyone know about Aditya, apart from Zoya?

Zoya didn't report to work that day. Heck, she had taken at least 3 showers that day, and only she knew why she was behaving so unusually.

She had barely eaten, the last time she had a cup of chai was 89 days ago.

Yes, the day Aditya left.

She tried having a sip, but chai just didn't taste the same, and now, it was tasteless.

She had become so pale and frail, her dark and Dove shaped eyes that once sparkled with mischief and zest, were now bloodshot and weary.

That evening, when Tara returned from school, Zoya held her close to her chest, because she was a piece of Aditya.]

Tara: (Crying) Mujhe Dita chahiye, m-mummy...D-Dita...

[Zoya's eyes grew in surprise when she heard Tara's words.

Tara called her mummy.

Tara called Zoya, mummy.]

Zoya: (Crying) Meri Zindagi, mummy ki jaan, woh aa jaayenge, woh...woh aa jaayenge...

Tara: (Crying) Mujhe bahut neend aa rahi hai, Mummy...

Zoya: Aa jaao meri jaan, hum sone chalte hai, chalo

Tara: Nahi, aap nahi sote, sirf hum sote hai...Aap toh jaage rehte Ho, mummy...

Zoya: (Crying) Aaj hum bhi soyenge, chalo

[Soon enough, Tara fell asleep, but Zoya didn't.

She pulled out her black diary and sat on the couch, before she began writing. Before she vomited her feelings in her book.]

Zoya: (writing) Aisa kyun hota hai, ki insaan ki ehmiyat, usske jaane ke baad hi Ho jaata hai?

Aditya woh taaze hawaa ki jhonke jaise thay...Aa gaye Kuch lamho ke liye, aur khushi ki khusbu barsaakar na jaane kahaan chale gaye

Kaash unnse keh paate, ki woh bhi humein acche lagne lage hain. Kaash yeh keh paate ki Humne unnki baahon mein ajeeb sukoon paaya hai, jinnki humein barso se talaash thi. Kash yeh keh paate ki humein Aaj Kal khud se koi shikayat nahi hoti...Aaj Kal hum khud ko pasand karne lage hain...

Unhone Hume—-

[Her pen stopped when she heard loud banging on the door, and her heart raced in fear.

The banging just didn't stop, and terrified, Zoya, first locked Tara's room, and then headed to the kitchen and held the knife in her hand before she slowly approached the door.]

Zoya: (Scared) K-Kaun hai!

[There was no response.

Just incessant banging.

Zoya took a deep breathe, and closed her eyes  whilst holding on to the knife, opened the door, ready to Attack, when a strong force held her hand, and terrified, she opened her eyes.

The sight in front of her made her drop the knife instantly, but she held on to the wall behind her, to grasp what she was seeing.]

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Cliffhanger!!!!

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