The Love Algorithm - AdiYa FF

Chapter 11

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The late afternoon sun filtered in through the high windows of Aditya's room, casting soft golden streaks across the white walls. The easel was set up as usual, brushes lined in a crooked row on the workbench, and a soft instrumental track played in the background—something classical, something quiet. It was a holiday and Zoya decided to drop in a bit earlier for the art class that day.

Aditya was painting, while Zoya overlooked and gave suggestions here and there, while Aditya had his eyes wander to and fro Zoya, while his fingers made its way in the canvas.

"So", Aditya cleared his throat, and before he could even think if the next words were right or not, he blurted out, "Wished your fiancé yesterday?"

Zoya gave an amused look at him, "You sound just like my Abbu!"

Aditya rolled his eyes, "I respect your father, but please do not compare me with him! I am anything, but controlling like him."

Zoya chuckled, "Relax! I meant to say that you seemed to be more interested regarding me wishing Arshad, than my Abbu even."

He didn't know why, but since last evening that name irked him like anything. Arshad. Especially hearing it from Zoya. He knew he was feeling and acting all strange since the previous day, but he didn't know how to stop or interpret those feelings too.

Zoya took another brush and tried to make a minor modification in his sketching, and as she did, Aditya finally spoke. "Zoya... can I ask you something?"

She sighed. "Are you going to stop if I say no?"

"Probably not."

Zoya gave a soft laugh despite herself, while she continued painting.

Aditya leaned forward. "I know I asked this yesterday, but your answer wasn't convincing at all. Why are you still saying yes to him?"

She paused mid-stroke, took a deep breath, as she continued.

"It's not that simple, Aditya."

He moved closer and said, "I know your father's expecting you to keep your word. I get it. But you're not a child. You can say no if you are not okay with it."

Zoya looked at him, and said with a light smile, "Not in my family, Aditya." She said in a deeper voice, "Not when you've grown up knowing that every decision was already made for you before you even asked the question."

Aditya frowned. "That's not fair."

"I know it's not," she replied, "But I am used to it now."

Her fingers curled tighter around the brush as she spoke.

"My Abbu... he's not a cruel man," she said quietly. "But he's a man who's always believed he knows best. And when he says something, it's not a suggestion—it's the final verdict. And my Ammi... she too knows it's wrong, but her opinions or feelings don't even have a place in our family. So, without a choice, she's always stood by him. Even when she knew that I wanted something different."

Aditya's voice was soft now. "So, finally what happens to what you want?"

Zoya sighed, "I don't know. I get it sometimes, with some conditions. Just like Arshad now."

He tilted his head. "But Arshad isn't some thing that you can avoid using even if someone forcibly gives you. He is a person and as far as I understood, you don't want Arshad."

"Yes. I never said I did," she murmured.

"But you also never said you didn't, yeah? Did you try telling them?"

Zoya looked away, biting the inside of her cheek. "Because I don't have a reason to not marry him, Aditya. I don't have anything to say. He's decent. Educated. My parents like him. It's... easier."

Aditya stared at her for a long moment. "Since when did 'easier' mean 'right'?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she turned back to her sketch. And slowly, she began to draw again—this time, her strokes firmer, bolder.

"You come from a different world, Aditya," she said, still focused on the canvas. "Your parents, uncle, aunt, even your grandparents, they are the coolest people I have come across. You all are like friends. You call your dad by his name sometimes. You joke with your mom. You have choices. You have freedom. I don't. And that's exactly why I don't expect you to understand my predicament."

Aditya's heart tugged at her words. He reached out, gently plucking the brush from her fingers and placing it aside. She blinked, unsure, but before she could ask, his hand didn't leave hers.

Instead, his fingers slowly laced over hers, soft but warm.

Zoya stiffened for the briefest second. Not out of discomfort, but because something about the contact felt dangerously tender. His thumb moved lightly, absentmindedly across her knuckles; a soft caress, unintentional, but enough to race her heart.

"Zoya," he said, voice low, "just for once...forget what your father wants. Forget what the world expects. Just...listen to your heart."

She stayed frozen. Aditya's eyes were steady on hers. Not intense. Not demanding. Just pleading. And he didn't know why he was still so invested in this too.

"Ask yourself," he whispered, "do you really want this? Not because someone else chose it for you. But because your heart says yes."

Zoya didn't reply. Because in that moment, her heart was no longer silent. It was loud. It was aching—and somewhere, it was beginning to ache for him.

His fingers still rested against hers, his thumb gently tracing the base of her hand, and Zoya didn't know why she didn't try to pull her hand away or even push him away. She didn't stop him too.

She looked at him, and her eyes unknowingly softened. The world around had gone quieter. The room's usual rustle from the chimes felt far away. And everything else, every worry, every obligation, faded.

Her phone vibrated in her bag, the light flashing:

Abbu Calling...

But she didn't notice. Not right away. Because her eyes were still lost in his, and her fingers had curled, just slightly, into his. His deep brown eyes and its intensity had already started piercing through her heart.

And in that stillness, without words, without conscious thought, something unspoken bloomed. She didn't know it yet.

But in that touch, in that question, in that stolen pause between right and wrong, unknowing to her, Zoya's heart had already started choosing.

And maybe, it wouldn't be the choice her father expected. And more importantly, at that moment, it wasn't whether she wanted Arshad. It was a new question:

Do I want Aditya?

Does she? She probably has just started. But will she give in to it soon, when she is strongly grounded by Waseem's clutches? Not going to be an easy task, but at the same time, Aditya Hooda is irresistible too. ❤️‍🔥Zoya already seems to go weak in front of him. And Aditya is already acting like a possessive jealous boyfriend, than a disciplined student. 😉 And who do you think will realize the love for the other at first? Aditya or Zoya? ❤️

And with so many catalysts all around them, it shouldn't be such a hectic task too. But it's gonna be a treat to watch these two passionately and intensely fall in love. 🔥❤️ That too, Aditya, who never had an affinity towards quiet, extremely conservative and shy girls like Zoya, and Zoya, who was never taught to even think about something her father didn't approve to falling in love with a man totally opposite to her; how their algorithm works out is going to be one hell of a ride! 🥰

Let's wait and watch all that, while I come back with another interesting and romantic fun-filled chapter! ❤️ Hope you all liked this update, and do let me know with your votes and comments! Have a great weekend! 😘