You Make Me Come Alive!

38. "An episode of Savdhaan India..."

“Zoya… do you know why I left him?” She asked tiredly with a sad smile. 

I frowned. Is there more to the story? I shook my head answering her.

“But what difference it will make?” I asked in frustration. It won't change that she broke his heart. 

“Zoya…” She sighed.

“I had no choice. I was… You know, life sometimes put some hard choices in front of you. First choice, wrong. Second, very very wrong. What will you choose?” She asked and sat back at her place.

“I will certainly try to come up with a third choice.” Zoya answered curtly not sitting back.

“I am not like you Zoya. I chose wrong between wrong and very very wrong. But that doesn't mean I don't love him.”

What??? I didn't know how to react to this now. I was finally thinking of talking to Aditya and check if he will reciprocate. Then tell him about my feelings for him. But here she is back clearing her stance. Wow! What a luck you have Zoya!

“Zoya… where are you lost?” She called me back to earth from my thoughts.

I sat back at my chair in front of her.

“Oh…! Nothing!” I asked brushed it off and sat back at my place.

“So, is there a misunderstanding between you both?” I asked, trying to give her a genuine smile.

“Yes! Will you help me clear myself…?” She pleaded with a smile. I nodded.

I remember him saying that he don't know if he loves her or not. That means if she also suffered like him and the situation is a real culprit, then he will understand her. He will forgive her and take her back. 

“Thank you so much Zoya!” She smiled wide showing her gratitude.

We talked for some more time. We exchanged our numbers. Then she left, giving me a quick hug which I wasn't able to reciprocate with my whole heart. I also left the cafe in few minutes, gathering my thoughts.
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“Oh really Zoya? She left him, when he was nothing and now, is back because he is shining like a star in the business world! ” Aarohi argued.

I was on a video call with my best friend. I told her everything that happened today. Somewhere, I think she is right. But why would Pooja lie? She is herself capable of earning. She and Aditya studied together.

“No Aarohi…. back then she was forced to leave him.… She didn't want to but she had to leave him.…” I spoke, tiredly.

“Did she gave you an excuse for that?” She asked and I nodded.

“She told that she do not have a brother, that means her parents do not have a son and she is a girl. So, what she meant was they didn't take her as their heir. Now, there is this boy whom they trust and only she knows how much cunning and cruel he is. She can't disobey her parents or else they will disown her and taking it as advantage that boy can harm them for their property. ” She kept listening intently.

“When she told them about Aditya, they said they don't like him and she can't be with him and if she do not return back after breaking ties with him they will disown her. So, she had to rush their….” She kept thinking for a minute and then started.

“Zoya…. Don't you think it's a story picked from an episode of Savdhaan India. The only difference is no crime happened…” She told her thoughts and then chuckled.

“Aarohi…. Stories in savdhaan India do come from real life.…” I said, sighing.

“Zoya…. I…” She wasn't able to anything on that.

“He have the right to know Aarohi! Afterall he love her.”

“And don't he have the the right to know that you love him? Isn't it all about him?” She fired back.

“Won't it be unfair to Pooja? Maybe I have more chance to be accepted because he is thankful to me.…”

“How can it be?” She looked at me incredulously.

“Aditya will choose one of you both whom he love and who makes him happy! If it is competition, it is equal! You should tell him.”

“If he chose Pooja above me.… It will ruin our friendship…. I am not telling him anything….” I voiced out my fear.

“But Zoy-”

“No Aarohi! Please…. let me do it…. I am not selfish! She has returned and he love her. If she is his happiness, who am I to come in between them.… I am going to make her meet him!”
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November has started and the weather is turning cold. I am taking Pooja with me to Aditya's house. And I think I am doing the mistake of not informing him about this meet. But if I told him, he won't meet her. He is angry. It's one day after I met Pooja. 

After ceremony Aditya called me. We talked. Mostly he talked. He told me that loved the gift I gave him and he even wore them to the ceremony. During the conversation, I got to know that he is gonna be home today.

“Zoya…” Pooja called me before I could ring the doorbell of his house.

“I look fine, right?” She asked. 

I controlled the urge to roll my eyes.

“Ya.” I replied and was going to ring the doorbell when she again stopped me.

“Wo… Actually, his mother don't like me much…” She trailed off.

“It's common. The fact is you love him and you aren't gonna give up on him. Or are you?” I gazed at her to hear her answer. 

“No. Not at all!” I nodded and finally rang the bell.

Somebody, maybe the domestic helper, opened the door. I walked in and Pooja followed me slowly.

“Arey! Zoya… Come! Come!”

Aunty, Aditya's mother, welcomed me with a big smile. She always do. Today was no different. I can talk to her whenever I want to.

“Adi is not home Zoya…” She informed me adjusting the sofa pillows.

“Oh..!” I was here to talk to him or say, make him meet someone.

“But we can enjoy!” She suggested smiling wide, pouring a glass of water for me.

Okay! Take a deep breath Zoya! Not Aditya yet, but his mom!

“Aunty, you won't mind na, if someone else join us too?” I asked with a nervous smile.

“Why would I? Is it Noor?” She asked with a smile.

I shook my head and called her in. 

“Hello… Aunty…” Pooja came and greeted aunty.

Aunty smile started to fade away slowly but she composed herself clearing her throat.

“Sure… Come come….” She spoke with a light smile.

Before we could settle ourselves, she gasped loudly looking into her mobile.

“Oh no!” 

“What happened aunty?” I asked.

“Sorry Zoya dear. Actually, I promised my friend to meet her in half an hour. If you don't mind can we talk some other day?” 

Oh! Oh! Hard luck Pooja! 

“Sure Aunty… Some other day…” I agreed with her and she smiled warmly at me.

That was our cue to leave the house. Now the problem is, if Aditya got to know that I brought Pooja here, he will straight forwardly come to me and question me. Lord! Save me then!
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