*Later that evening*

Aditya and Zoya watched the guests leave before shutting the door behind them. Zoya walked to the table to clear the cups, and Aditya rushed to help her.

Aditya; Main kar leta hun na

Zoya; Arre koi baat nahi, hum kar lenge. Main safaai kar leti hun, aap Tara ko uthaayie, usse homework bhi karna hai

Aditya; Tum uthaao, safaai main kar leta hun

Aditya takes the tray from Zoya's hands.

Zoya: arre, aap-

Aditya; Main kar lunga.

Zoya: Theek hai.

Zoya is about to walk away when Aditya stops her.

Aditya: Accha Zoya, Suno na

Zoya turns.

Zoya: Ji?

Aditya: Woh...Main...Tumse kuch zaroori baat karni thi

Zoya looks worried.

Zoya: Kya Hua? Sab theek toh hai?

Aditya: Haan haan, bas aise hi kuch baat karni thi

Zoya: Toh kijiye, hum yahin hain

Aditya: Nahi...abhi nahi. Raat ko.

Zoya sighs and smiles.

Zoya: Accha theek hai, kar lenge baat

*Later that evening*

Zoya was busy sorting out documents, while Tara watched TV. And Adi? He was nervous as ever.

Aditya: Tara, time dekho, sona nahi hai?

Tara: par kal school nahi hai Papa

Aditya: Arre phir bhi, sona chahiye, kyun Zoya?

Zoya was too busy to hear Aditya.

Aditya: Zoya!

Zoya: Hmm? Kya hua?

Aditya: Tara ko sona chahiye, nahi?

Zoya: 10 hi toh baje hai, aur kal Saturday hai, dekhne dijiye na TV

Aditya: Accha? Theek hai...

Aditya gave up because he didn't know what to say. He had to be a little more patient. He had no other choice.

*That night*

It was now midnight and Aditya, who was patiently waiting, had just put Tara to bed. He was about to walk back to the living room when he saw Zoya yawn and walk to the bedroom.

Zoya: (yawning) chalo, good night

Aditya: Arre, lekin, Zoya...

Zoya finished yawning.
Aditya began yawning.

Aditya: Mujhe neend mat dilao Yaar!

Zoya: Kya Hua?

Aditya; Tumse baat karni thi, yaad hai?

Zoya: Bohot zaruri baat hai kya? Kal nahi ho sakti?

Aditya: (nervously) Woh...ummm...accha theek hai, so jaao

Looking at Aditya's sullen face, Zoya turned back and held his arm.

Zoya: Chai pi lein?

Aditya simply smiled.

*On the balcony*

Zoya carefully took a sip of her tea before placing it on the floor. Aditya who was sat besides her nervously fiddled with the handle of his cup.

Zoya: Kya baat karni thi Aapko? Sab khairiyat hai na?

Aditya: Haan, sab theek hain

Zoya: Toh phir?

Aditya: Zoya...Tumse jab mila tha, tab i didn't know what to expect. Khair, mai toh kuch expect hi nahi kar raha tha. Uss raat na jaane kaise tum mujhe mili, koi bahar bankar. Chee, bohot filmy line tha na?

Zoya laughed.

Zoya: Bilqul bhi nahi. Aage boliye

Aditya: Tumse jab shaadi hui thi, tab bhi mujhe yeh sab bohot ajeeb lagne laga tha...but pata nahi kaise aur kab, cheezein badal rahi thi. Promotion, sarhad pe jaana, mera depression, itna sab kuch hua, aur tum humesha saath thi. Bohot saal mujhe aisa laga jaise main purane walay Aditya se mil raha hun.

Zoya simply reached out to his hand and held it. Right.

Zoya: Yeh sab kyun bata rahe ho Humein? Kya hua hai?

Aditya turned to face Zoya, and took her hand in his, before placing it on his chest. on his beating heart. Zoya looked on, confused.

Aditya: Yeh mehsoos kar rahi ho? Aaj saalon baad, mujhe aisa lag raha hai jaise ki main normal hoon. Jaise main bhi cheezein mehsoos kar sakta hoon.

Zoya still looked confused.

Aditya: Kuch samajh nahi aa raha hai, haina?

Zoya: Nahi.

With her hand in his, Aditya closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This was it. This was the moment.

Aditya: Zoya...main...

main tumse pyaar karne laga hoon. tumse...tumse mohabbat hone lagi hai.

Zoya looked shocked as ever. Her face turned blank.

Aditya: I'm in love with you, Zoya.

Zoya: Aditya...

Aditya; I know, ki ho sakta hai ki tum aisa feel nahi karti ho mere liye. Shayad kar logi, shayad nahi karogi, and that's okay. Usse mera pyaar kam nahi hone wala hai, Zoya. Isliye mujhe na tumhare jawab ka intezaar hai, aur na koi ummeed. Bas tumhe bataana chah raha tha.

Zoya: Adi, yeh sab...yeh...pata nahi main...main kya bolun.

Aditya: Kuch bolne ki zarurat nahi hai. Tum chai peeyo. Lo.

Aditya placed the mug near her mouth and she took a sip, before looking at Aditya and then lowering her gaze.

Zoya: Kab hua tha yeh?

Aditya: Pata nahi. Shayad bohot pehle hua tha, lekin ehsaas ab ho raha hai. Shayad kal hua tha, lekin ehsaas ab ho raha hai. Pata nahi, Zoya, par hua hai zaroor.

Zoya simply sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, blankly staring at the view in front of her. What had just happened? Aditya...was in love with her?

whatever happened to the marriage being a compromise? why was Zoya struggling?

How different Yash and Aditya were. While Yash planned an extravagant evening with flowers and decorations for his love confession, Aditya chose a quiet and chilly night, with two cups of tea for company.

Zoya: Humein waqt de paaoge?

Aditya; Waqt? Kis baat ke liye?

Zoya: Pata nahi, Aditya. Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha.

Aditya simply placed a kiss on her forehead.

Aditya: Sone chalein?

Zoya nodded her head.

Before Aditya walked to his room, Zoya held his hand and gently placed a kiss on his cheek.
Then, she turned around and went into her room.

She didn't know if she could and would fall in with Aditya. She needed time. But with him, she knew she'd be okay. She knew love would find its way back to her, and when it would, it would wait.