* A few weeks later *

Aditya woke up at 8 AM soon after his alarm rang and was surprised to find Zoya, not in her room. He woke Tara up and got her ready for school, and then found a note on the dining table that said:

'Sorry; aaj jaldi jaana pada, zaruri meeting thi. Naashta bana diya hai, aap aur Tara kha lijiye
-Zoya'

Aditya sighed to himself before he went to get dressed for work.
Zoya's work life had become so busy that Aditya and Tara barely saw her at home. She'd either have to leave early or she'd reach home late, and somewhere, Zoya's newfound friendship with Aman began to annoy him, just ever so slightly.

*Later that day*

Aditya hesitantly picked up his phone and texted Zoya. It was lunchtime, maybe he could meet her for lunch? It was only one hour, but that was better than nothing.

*Text*
Aditya: Aaj lunch karogi mere saath?

Zoya: Ji zaroor.

Aditya simply smiled to himself. He set his hair up and grabbed his keys before driving off to Zoya's office. Zoya was stood outside the office, waiting patiently as ever, and her eyes lit up when she saw Aditya's car halt in front of her. She walked and sat in.

*In the car*

Zoya: Kaafi jaldi aa gaye aap!

Aditya: Haan bhai, biwi ke saath sirf ek ghanta mila hai!

Zoya simply blushed.

*At the restaurant*

Aditya: Aaj bohot kaam tha kya?

Zoya: Haan...aisi hi kuch samajh lein, naye clients aa gaye hai, toh unhe sambhalna padh raha hai.

Aditya: Tumhare boss acche hai kya?

Zoya: Haan, sabhi acche hai, Aman ji-I mean, Aman humaare acche dost bann gaye hai.

Something about that doesn't sit well with Aditya. Obviously!

Aditya: Kahaan ka hai woh?

Zoya: Dilli ke, haal hi mein Mussorie shift hue hai, unke parents yahaan rehte hain.

Aditya: Accha.

Zoya: Yeh sab chhodein,aap bataayein, aapka kaam kaisa chal raha hai?

Aditya: Office ka kaam hai, boring sa, maamooli sa.

Zoya: Nahi, lekin accha hai, kamaskam aap yahaan toh hai, humaare aur Tara ke paas.

Aditya smiles and gently squeezes Zoya's hand.

Zara is about to take another mouthful of food when her phone rings. She picks it up and her face changes expression.

Zoya: *on the phone* Ji, Ji, hum abhi aate hai, hume 15 minute dijiye, thank you.

Aditya: Kya hua?

Zoya: *leaving* Humein jaana hoga Aditya, office ka kuch zaroori kaam aa gaya 

Aditya: arre khaana kha tou lo...

Zoya: Nahi, humein jaana hoga

Aditya: Accha ruko, mai tumhe drop karta hoon

Zoya: Nahi nahi, aap araam se khaaiye, hum auto le lenge, bye!

Zoya disappears with the wind, and Aditya sits there, dejected. 60 minutes with Zoya got cut to 15 minutes with her. Just 15 minutes. 

*Later that day*

Aditya was too lost in his thoughts of Zoya to focus on work. He picked up his phone and texted her.

*Text*

Aditya: Kaam sort out ho gaya?

Zoya picked up her phone and smiled upon reading his message. She was about to type when a hand taps her shoulder.

Aamna: Zoya, reports taiyaar hai?

Zoya immediately puts her phone aside, leaving Aditya on seen.

Zoya: Ji, yeh lijiye, hum baaki ke 2 reports kal shaam tak de denge.

Aamna: Perfect, thank you Zoya.

Zoya smiles at Aaamna. 

Time flies, and soon it's evening. The sun sets, and somewhere, Aditya's hopes dwindle, especially after Zoya didn't reply to his message. 

Zoya picks up her bag and is about to leave for the day, when she crosses paths with Aman, Om and Ria. 

Ria: Ghar jaa rahi ho?

Zoya: Haan...

Aman: Dinner kar lo na humaare saath? 

Zoya: Nahi, agli baar, kaafi der ho chuka hai, Aditya humaara intezaar kar rahe honge

Ria: Toh usse bhi bula lo! Humaari bhi mulaqat ho jayegi phir

Zoya: Accha...Rukiye, main unhe phone karti hoon.

Zoya calls up Aditya, and almost immediately he picks up the phone.

*On the phone*

Aditya: *Coldly* bolo

Zoya: Aapne khaana kha liya?

Aditya: Nahi.

Zoya: Accha hai, humaare dost dinner pe jaane ki baat kar rahe hai...aap bhi aayie na? Akele jaayenge tou humaara mann nahi lagega.

Aditya: Nahi, tum jaao, mujhe bhook nahi hai.

Zoya: Kyun,kya hua? Aapki tabiyat theek toh hai?

Aditya: Haan sab theek hai, tum jao, main sone jaa raha hoon. Bye.

Zoya: Arre Adi-

The phone suddenly disconnects, and Zoya immediately senses that something is wrong. 

Aman: Kya hua? Woh aa raha hai?

Zoya: Nahin...darasal, Tara ki tabiyat theek nahi hai, isliye mai ghar ke liye nikalti hun, agli baar aaungi, pakka.

Aman: Kya hua Tara ko? Ruko, main tumhe drop karta hoon-

Zoya: Nahi, nahi, hum chale jaayenge

Ria: Taqleef ki baat nahi hai Zoya, chalo, hum tumhe drop kar dete hai.

The car halts outside Zoya's home, and Zoya hesitantly gets off. 

Zoya: Aap log andar aayie na...

Ria: Kisi aur dinn, pakka! 

Zoya: (Smiling) Thank you. Humein ghar pahunchane ke liye 

Aman: (Smiling) No problem. 

Zoya opens the gate and walks into the house, and finds Aditya sat in the living room, reading a book. He looks up and then goes back to reading, without uttering a word. Zoya places her bag on the table and heads to Aditya, and sits beside him.

Zoya: Kya hua? Aapki tabiyat theek hai na?

Aditya: Haan.

Zoya: Aap gusse mein kyun hai phir?

Aditya: Main gusse mein nahi hun.

Zoya: Jhoot bolna hai tou kisi aur se boliye.

Aditya puts his book down and walks away to the kitchen. Zoya follows him, and wraps her arms around him, and rests her head on his back.

Zoya: Boliye na, kya baat hai? Aapki khaatir humne dinner ke invite ko bhi mana kar diya!

Aditya: Bohot bada ehsaan kar diya tumne!

Zoya steps away and looks at him, a bit tensed.

Zoya: H-Hum mazaak kar rahe thay, humara tou waise bhi mann bhi nahi kar raha tha

Aditya doesn't say anything.

Zoya: Ab aap baat bhi nahi karenge humare saath? Bata toh dijiye humne kiya kya hai?

Aditya: Tumhe apne kaam ke alaava kuch aur nazar aata bhi hai? Main nazar aata hoon? Tara nazar aati hai?

Zoya: Aditya, that's not fair...

Aditya: Kya wajood hai mera tumhari zindagi mein?

Zoya: Yeh kis kism ka sawaal hai? Aap humare pati hai!

Aditya: Woh toh isliye kyun ki humari shaadi majboori mein hui thi! Uske alaava, kya wajood hai mera?

Zoya begins tearing up. 

Zoya: This is not fair, Aditya

Aditya: Kya fair nahi hai?

Zoya: Aap duniya bhar ke logo se milte hain, apne dosto ke saath milte hain, humne kabhi kuch kaha hai aapse? Aapse humaare wajood ka matlab pucha hai? 

Aditya: Woh alag baat hai...

Zoya: Kyun? Kyun ki aap mard hain aur main aurat?

Aditya: Zoya...

Zoya: Aapke kehne par humne socha ki chalo iss naukri ke liye apply karte hain, jab naukri mil gayi tou mujhse zyaada khush toh aap thay! Ab office jaaongi toh zaahir hai, ki office walon se mel-jhol hoga, nahi?

Aditya: Tum baat mat badlo

Zoya: (crying) Hum kuch nahi badal rahe hai, hum bas aapke saamne aapke double standards dikha rahe hain!

Aditya: Meri shikayat office se nahi hai, Zoya. Mujhe...tumhara aise gair mardo ke saath ghumna theek nahi lagta. Pata nahi unke kya iraade-

Zoya: Aap humaare iraade toh jaante hai na?

Aditya: (Sighs) Dekho, main jaanta hoon ki humari shaadi humaari marzi se nahi hui hai, aur-

Zoya: Aapko lagta hai ki hum aapko dhoka denge?

Aditya: Nahi...I mean...sorry, main shayad insecure ho gaya tha...pata nahi kya ho raha hai mujhe

Zoya walks to Aditya and cups his face gently in her hands. 

Zoya: Shaadi bhale hi majboori mein hui ho, hum kabhi iss rishte ko dhoka nahi sakte. Hum kabhi aapko dhoka nahi de sakte. Itne waqt se jaante hai aap humein, hum pe itna toh bharosa kar lete...

Zoya wipes her tears and walks away to the balcony to be by herself. She didn't know how to react. Why was Aditya jealous? Why did he ever think she would deceive him? True, she didn't love him. Not yet. But that didn't mean she wouldn't ever be able to.

Aditya slowly approached Zoya, who was silently crying to herself. He gently touches her shoulder, and Zoya shrugs it away, still upset.

Aditya: I'm sorry, Zoya. Meri taraf toh dekho.

Zoya turns around revealing her moist eyes, and almost immediately, Aditya pulls her close to his chest and embraces. 

Aditya: I'm sorry. 

He gently kisses her forehead, and Zoya rests her head on his chest. She hadnt felt a comfort as warm as this one. In his arms, Around him. 

Aditya: I love you.

Aditya places a kiss on her cheek, and they remain there, just like that for a few minutes, and in all that time, that is all Aditya and Zoya need. Each other.