*Zoya is sat outside a therapist's office, and she instantly gets up, when Aditya walks out*

Zoya: Kaisa raha therapist ke saath?

Aditya looks lost, maybe even a bit empty.

Aditya: Theek tha.

Zoya watches Aditya walk towards the car, and she quickly follows him.

*In the Car*

Zoya: Aap...aap theek toh hai?

Aditya switches on the radio, and upon hearing the song, a smile appears on Zoya's face.

Zoya: Aditya...Dekho...humaara favourite gaana!

Aditya doesn't react, and Zoya's face falls flat.
The rest of the car journey is uncomfortably silent.

*At Home*
Zoya enters the house after Aditya, and she watches him as he walks to the bedroom and shuts the door.

Slowly, she opens the door and finds Aditya sat on the bed.

Silently, she sits next to him.

(I foresee this song playing in the background, so do listen to it!)

Zoya: (softly) Aditya...

Aditya: (emotional) Main...main aaj bohot roya hun, Zoya.

Zoya: Aur ab kaisa lag raha hai aapko?

Aditya: Halka.

Aditya's hand reaches out to Zoya's, and he holds on it, tightly.

Aditya: Tum saath hoti ho toh sab halka sa hi lagta hai.

Zoya simply lays her head on his shoulder.

Zoya: Chai pi lein?

Zoya raises her head. Aditya, placing his hands on her chin turns her to face him.

Zoya: kya dekh rahe hai aap?

Aditya: Tumhari aankhein.

Zoya raises an eyebrow, rather flirtatiously.

Zoya: Kyun?

Aditya: Bass. Sundar hai.

Zoya smiles and lowers her gaze, before coyly blushing.

Aditya: Tum balcony mein baitho, main chai lekar aata hoon.

Zoya: Nahi, main-

Aditya: Main chai banaaonga aaj.

Zoya leans forward, before placing a kiss on Aditya's stubbled face. She smiles, and leaves the room.

Aditya, surprised as ever, begins to blushing, before running his hand over the kiss spot. He by all means, looks like a school boy. He simply smiles to himself.

*In the Balcony*
Tara is sat on Zoya's lap, and Aditya is sat in front of them. They simply gaze at the sunset, while silently sipping on their cups of tea.

Zoya: Tara, woh dekhiye, Parrot! Wahaan pe!

Zoya's eyes light up in excitement, as she speaks to Tara, but Aditya doesn't look at the parrot. He simply turns to his side and looks at her.

The crinkle in her eyes, the way she smiled with simply her lips, the curls that rested on either sides of her face. Her pointy nose, dainty nose, husky laugh.

Why was he doing this? What was happening to him?

Why was it that amidst his black and white life, and terrible mental health, she was like a coloured film? Why did she remind him of spring? Lush, dewy, fragrant?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HKbt19q3Rc

(I imagine this song playing)

Zoya turns to face him.

Zoya: Aapne dekha kya? Parrot?

Aditya: Huh? Nahi, nahi dekha

Zoya: Miss kar diya aapne toh! Dekhna chahiye na!

Aditya: Agar dekh leta toh mujhse kuch aur miss Ho jaata.

Zoya: Matlab?

Aditya: Kuch nahi, chhodo.

Zoya simply smiles and sighs.

Tara: Mumma, mujhe neend aa rahi hai

Zoya: Itni Jaldi? 6 hi toh bajje hai, Tara

Tara: Sula do na!

Zoya: Tara par-

Aditya: Main sulaata hun, aa jaao

Zoya watched Aditya carry Tara in his arms, and follows him to her and Tara's room, where he lulls her to sleep. Zoya simply looks on, observing this tough man's gentleness. His soft eyes, lowered voice, the way he gently put her to sleep.

It's only a matter of minutes before Tara's fast asleep, and Aditya walks to Zoya, who is too busy observing Tara.

Zoya: Isski tabiyat toh theek hai na?

Aditya: Haan Zoya, thak gayi hogi aaj, chalo baahar chalein, warna uth jaayegi.

Zoya and Aditya return to their respective seats on the balcony; only this time, they are sat closer than before.

Zoya: Woh therapist acchi hai na?

Aditya nods.

Aditya: Mujhe nahi lagta ki mai Bilqul theek Ho chuka hun, par shayad dheere-dheere...woh bhi ho jaayega

Zoya: Bilqul hoga. Zaroor hoga.

Aditya and Zoya stare into the silence, until Zoya giggles.

Aditya: Kya Hua?

Zoya: Hum bas soch rahe hai...zindagi bhi kitni ajeeb cheez hai na?

Aditya: Kya matlab?

Zoya: Matlab...ek waqt tha, jab meri shakal dekhte hi aapko chidh aa jaati thi

Aditya: Tum bhi toh chidh jaati thi...yaad nahi, uss dinn, jab tumhe bazaar mein Mrs. Hooda bula liya tha, itna gussa kiya tha tumne!

Zoya: Kyun ki aapne hadh paar kar di thi! Aap behen ya bhabhi bhi toh bol sakte thay

Aditya: Chee! Kuch bhi!

Zoya: Kya kuch bhi?

Aditya: Ab koi ladki insaan ko accha lage, toh woh usse behen thodi bulayega!

Zoya: Kya matlab? Aap...aap humein pasand karte thay?

Aditya: Nahi...pasand nahi...par kuch toh tha shayad, jo mujhe kheench raha tha..:

Zoya: Accha, matlab aap humein pasand bhi nahi karte thay!

Aditya: Tum bhi na...ajeeb hi ho! Accha yeh batao, tumhari kya raay thi, mere baare mein?

Zoya: Hmm...humein toh aap bohot khadoos lagte thay pehle, matlab bohot zyaada. Aap daraate bhi thay bohot

Aditya: Kuch bhi...maine kab daraaya hai tumhe?

Zoya: gusse mein aapki aankhein bilqul laal ho jaati hai, aapko pata nahi hai, par saamne waale ko toh bohot darr lagta hai!

Aditya begins laughing.

Aditya: Aur Phir? Raay badli ya nahi?

A kind smile appears on Zoya's face.

Zoya: Badli na...bohot badli. Jo kuch bhi hai, aapne meri jaan bacha li thi uss din...humaare liye wohi lamha kaafi tha. Bina hume jaane, aapne apne ghar mein sone ki jagah di...woh hum kabhi bhool nahi paayenge.

Zoya turns to him, and he simply smiles.

Zoya: Aap bahar se jitne sakht hai, utne hi andar se naram hain, pata hai?

Aditya continues smiling, and leans towards her, before resting his head on her shoulder.

Aditya: Thank you, Zoya.

Zoya: Kis baat ke liye?

Aditya: Pooja ke jaane ke baad...main zinde murde ki tarah hi tha...tum aa gayi aur...

Zoya: Aur?

Aditya: Pata nahi...par zinde murde ki tarah toh bilqul bhi nahi hoon.

Zoya looks at him and smiles, before clinging on to his arm.

That evening, something fell right. As Aditya rested his head on Zoya's shoulder, he was beginning to feel a lot of things.

He was beginning to feel stronger, calmer, better.

He was beginning to fall for Zoya.

————————————-
Hello my loves! I hope you like this one!

Take care!!