The Love Algorithm - AdiYa FF

Chapter 11

The cool night breeze rustled through the sheer curtains by the open terrace doors. The city lights shimmered in the distance, a stark contrast to the quiet stillness of the terrace where Zoya sat, staring absently at the moonlit sky.

Beside her, Noor shook her cup of tea, while Pooja leaned against the terrace railing, swirling her own cup in thought. The three of them had been sitting in silence for a while, but the tension was palpable.

It was Pooja who finally broke it. "So... wished him?"

Zoya glanced at her, suddenly coming out of her thoughts. "Who?"

Noor scoffed. "Your fiancé and his birthday. The same fiancé you refuse to even acknowledge." She arched a brow. "What's going on with you, Zoya?"

Zoya sighed, looking away. "Nothing. It's just... complicated."

"Complicated?" Pooja repeated, settling onto the chair beside her. "Zoya, I love you, but this is ridiculous. You're going through with a wedding you don't even want?"

"I don't have a choice," Zoya muttered.

Noor shot her a sharp look. "What do you mean you don't have a choice? You're literally here in India, living your life the way you wanted. Why is this alone different?"

Zoya hesitated, then rubbed her temples tiredly. "Because this was the condition. My dad only let me come to India on the promise that I would consider this marriage. He's been trying to get me engaged to Arshad for years, and when I told him I wanted to study first, this was his compromise. He agreed—on the condition that once I was done, I'd marry Arshad."

Pooja exhaled. "And you actually agreed to that?"

Zoya frowned. "I didn't think it would get this far. I thought... maybe with time, things would change."

"Lol! And did they?" Noor asked pointedly.

Zoya shook her head, looking down. "No. Abbu is convinced this is best for me. And honestly... I don't have the energy to fight him anymore."

Noor set her cup down a little too forcefully. "Zoya, you have to fight. This is your life. You're going to spend the rest of it married to someone you don't even care about? Just because your father thinks it's a good idea? And you don't have the strength to fight?"

Zoya sighed. "It's not that simple, Noor. You know how my Abbu is. He believes he's doing what's best for me. Since I have known him."

Pooja, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "But do you believe it's best for you?"

Zoya looked at her, her throat tightening. The answer was clear, but saying it out loud felt like betraying everything she had been raised to believe.

"...No," she admitted softly.

Pooja leaned forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Then why are you still going along with it?"

Zoya swallowed. "Because I don't know how to stop it."

There was a long pause before Noor spoke again, her voice softer this time. "You just... say no, Zoya. You're not the same girl who left her life behind for someone else's decisions. You came here to make your own choices. Don't let this one be made for you."

Zoya blinked, feeling an unexpected sting in her eyes.

Pooja reached over, squeezing her hand. "You don't have to figure this out alone, you know. We're here. We'll help you."

Zoya let out a shaky breath, nodding. "I just... I need time."

Noor sighed but relented. "Fine. Take your time. But promise me something?"