*2 weeks later*

[Nani was pleasantly surprised to find Zoya in Tara's cupboard, rearranging her things. It was no lie that in just 3 weeks, Tara had become an integral part of Zoya's life.]

Nani: Zoya, Kya kar rahi Ho Beta?

Zoya: Kuch nahi Nani, yeh almaari bahut bikhra Hua tha, Bass isse samet rahe hai...Kya Hua, Sab Khairiyat toh hai?

Nani: Haan Haan, Bass puch rahi thi

[While Nani sat on Tara's bed and spoke to Zoya, Aditya returned from work, and holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand decided to visit Nani first, rather than head home first and noticing the open door, quietly entered and shut the door.]

Aditya: Nani! Nani! Ajeeb hai, koi jawaab hi nahi de rahi?

[Aditya walked up the stairs, looking for Nani, until he heard a voice, that sounded rather sad.

It was Zoya.

He stopped in his tracks to overhear the conversation, although his conscience repeatedly cursed him for doing so.]

Zoya: (Tearing up)...Phir bhi...Phir bhi Yash ne humesha humaara saath diya...Hum maa nahi bann sakte the, lekin kabhi bhi iss dard ka izhaar nahi kiya...Lekin Nani, pata nahi kyun, pata nahi kyun lekin Tara ne Humaari zindagi bhar di hai...Ek ajeeb si khushi milti hai jab hum Tara ko gale lagaate hai

[Aditya relaxed his face upon hearing Zoya's words, because they reminded him of something.]

*Flashback, one year ago*

[Aditya waited outside the hospital room, his eyes bloodshot and weary. It had been over 5 hours since he got a call about Pooja's accident, and he prayed hard.

Not for one life, but two.

The operation room door opened, and the doctor walked out, looking rather dismal, and Aditya rushed to him.]

Aditya: (Crying) D-Doctor! Doctor! P-P-Pooja...A-Aur...Aur——

Doctor: I'm so sorry Mr. Hooda, but severe bleeding ki wajah se hum aapke bacche Aur biwi ko nahi bacha sake...I'm so so sorry

*Flashback ends*
[All Aditya could remember at that moment was feeling hollow and empty. Incessantly numb, like something had been sucked out of him. The day he lost the love of his life and his unborn child.

Somehow, Aditya was slightly comforted. Comforted because Tara, although not his real child, was his Daughter in the truest sense. He could never forget the two year old girl that lost her way to his home, and the way her eyes sparkled with innocence. In some ways, Tara was the child Adi could never have.

He cleared his thoughts and knocked on the door, and when it opened, he saw Zoya standing in front. Upon seeing Aditya, Zoya quickly wiped her tears away and turned around, but unfortunately for her, he already knew the reason behind them.]

Nani: Arre Adi Beta? Itni jaldi? Aur yeh phool? Kya Hua?

Aditya: Woh...Nani mera promotion Ho Gaya hai, isliye yeh phool Aur chocolates lekar aaya, aapke liye

Nani: Jeete raho Beta! Khoob tarraki karna! Ruko, Main abhi aarti ki thaali lekar aaongi!

[As Nani left hurriedly, Zoya and Aditya could somehow sense awkward tension between them. Zoya finally decided to speak.]

Zoya: P-Promotion ke liye m-mubarak Ho...

Aditya: Thank you

Zoya: Jab Yash ka promotion hua tha, tab Humne unnke liye sevaiya waali kheer banaayi thi, lekin sach bole toh sevaiya dekhkar hum ajeeb sa lagne lagta hai!

Aditya: (Nostalgic) No way! Mujhe toh sevaiya bilqul bhi nahi pasand, lekin Pooja sirf woh hi banaana jaanti thi, isliye Main chup chaap kha leta bass!

[Unknowingly, Aditya and Zoya found themselves smiling, maybe because of the memories of their spouses, but in that moment, both Aditya and Zoya realised that they both had been widowed.]

Zoya: A-Aap...A-Aap bhi?

Aditya: Ek saal pehle, ek car accident mein.

[Zoya noticed how his face went blank whenever he spoke of Pooja. It was evident that Pooja's death had made the biggest void in his heart.]

Zoya: Kya aap——

Aditya: Mujhe iss baare mein baat karna pasand nahi hai

Zoya: Lekin——

Aditya: Apne daayre mein raho, samjhi?

[Aditya annoyingly stormed off while Zoya looked at him in confusion.
Somehow, she understood his pain, and she was relieved that he did too.

Maybe now he could be less cruel to her.]

*The next morning*

[It was a stormy and rainy morning, and quiet evidently, Tara didn't want to go to school.]

Zoya: Haye Allah, ab school ne bola hai ki Aaj bus nahi aayegi! Ab Tara ko school kaise bhejein?

Tara: Simple! Hum Aaj school nahi jaayenge!

Zoya: Bilqul bhi nahi! Aapne school jaana hai, Bilqul jaana hai!

Tara: Zo-Zo, please!

Zoya: Nahi!

Aditya: Bag le lo Tara, Chalo!

[Zoya and Tara turned around and were surprised to find Aditya standing behind. Dressed in his uniform, Zoya was slightly mesmerised by how handsome he looked.]

Tara: (Excited) Dita!

Zoya: Accha ab jaao innke saath, koi sharaarti mat karna!

[Tara excited grabbed Zoya's hand, trying to bring her along, but her feet didn't move.]

Zoya: Tara hum nahi aa sakte, aap jaayie innke saath

Tara: Nahi! School jaaongi toh Zo-Zo Aur Dita ke saath!

Zoya: Tara, zidd nahi——

Aditya: Jaldi Chalo, raaste mein bahut traffic hoga

[Zoya hesitantly nodded and picked Tara up in her arms, before stepping out of the house. She was surprised to find Aditya standing outside, holding an umbrella for her, and opened the door for her, helping her and Tara get in. ]

*In the car*

Tara: Zo-Zo, Hume school ke baad Ice cream khaana hai

Zoya: Bilqul bhi nahi, aap bimaar padh jaayengi! Iss thand mein toh bilqul bhi nahi

Tara: Zo-Zo!

Zoya: Accha pehle school jaayein, phir dekhenge, theek hai?

[The car halted in front of the school, and Aditya got out the car, and held the umbrella, while opening the door for Zoya. Aditya noticed how unsure Zoya looked as she saw the big puddle in front of her, and placed his hand out, to which Zoya looked at him. Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his, while carrying Tara in her arms and got out of the car.

As she dropped Tara to her class, she noticed the way Aditya's eyes glimmered as he waved Tara goodbye. It sort of comforted her that he had begun to understand how important Tara was to her.]

Aditya: Main tumhe Ghar tak drop karunga, chalo

Zoya: N-Nahi, hum k-khudse chale jaayenge, Aapko zehmat lene ki zaroorat nahi hai

Aditya: Mussoorie mein rahe sirf ek mahina Hua hai, Chalo

Zoya: N-Nahi, Humne kaha na, hum chale jaayenge, w-Waise bhi hume baazaar jaana hai

Aditya: Jo karna hai karo, Mujhe Kya?

[Aditya got into his car, while Zoya stood outside, holding on to the umbrella.

What if those men were still in Mussoorie, hunting for her? It had been almost a month since she last saw them, but it had become impossible to say anything. She hesitantly walked ahead, but the wind and heavy rains proved far too powerful, and the umbrella quickly slipped off her fingers, until another hand caught it, and Zoya looked on.]

Aditya: Ho gayi puri zidd? Chalo ab

[Defeated, she followed him back to the car, and sat down, while he drove off.]

Aditya: Kya lena hai bazaar se

Zoya: D-Dawaai...Aur thodi s-sabzi Aur...Kitaaben

[The car ride was unusually solemn, and Aditya turned on the radio, and upon hearing the song, both of them got excited.]

Aditya and Zoya: Yeh Gaana!

Abhi Na jaao chodkar, ke dil abhi bhara nahi

Zoya: Yash iss gaane ko roz suna karte the

Aditya: Pooja bhi...

[They immediately looked away from each other, slightly surprised by the numerous similarities they had.]

Zoya: Kitni ajeeb baat hai na? Hum dono ka qissa, hum dono ka dard...

Aditya: Tum Mere baare mein Kuch nahi jaanti

Zoya: H-Humaara woh matlab nahi tha, hum bass——

Aditya: Yeh raha bazaar. Jaldi waapis aa jao, Mujhe kaam par bhi jaana hai

Zoya: Aap jaayie, hum Ghar chale jaayenge

Aditya: Tumhe ek baari mein baat samajh nahi aati?

[Annoyed, Zoya ventured into the market and began her shopping. To be safe, she pulled the dupatta over her head and covered her face, whilst her senses remained on high alert.

She quickly bought medicines and books and headed to the market, which was crowded than ever, and as she stood there, heard a loud voice.]

Man: (Shouting) KOI NAHI HILEGA! KOI NAHI HILEGA!

[Zoya instantly knew the men.

She had internally accepted her defeat. Noting the guns in their hands, she had understood that if she moved an inch they'd find her and kill her.]

Man: (Holding a picture) KAUN YAHAAN ZOYA ARORA KO JAANTA HAI? BOLO!

[Zoya's eyes widened in fear.]

Man: SAARE SHAADISHUDA LADKIYAAN ISS TARAF, AUR AKELI LADKIYAAN ISS TARAF!

Zoya: (To herself) Ya Allah! Ab toh innhe pata chal jaayega! Hum unko inks hawaale——

[She felt a rather familiar hand in hers and found Aditya standing besides her, drenched, and he walked with her and stood besides her. Zoya was tightly clinging on to his hand.

It was so unusual that he just knew when she was in trouble. How somehow, he'd just be there.

After not finding Zoya, the men gave up and left the market, but Zoya stood there, surprised.

As the men left, Aditya quickly let go off her hand and walked ahead, but this time, Zoya held his wrist.]

Zoya: T-Thank you...T-Thank you...

[Aditya silently nodded and walked ahead, while Zoya followed.

They were both drenched, but somehow that didn't matter to either of them.

All that mattered was that they were safe.]

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Hope you guys liked it!!

Thank you for reading!