26. "You can't see me like this!"

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Abhimanyu stopped the car in front of Aarohi's house and everyone climbed out. It was around two in the morning and they are back to Aarohi's home after celebrating Chirag's birthday.

“I shall take your leave then…” Abhimanyu started. Aarohi nodded with a light smile. 

“I will see you guys tomorrow…” 

“Bye Abhi!” Aditya bid him bye with a genuine smile. 

“Bye Abhimanyu…” Zoya waved her hand. 

Then nobody moved. Aditya was looking at them with a smile, waiting to see off his new friend. While Aarohi and Abhimanyu were waiting for him to go in so they can spend few minutes for themselves. Zoya looked between these awkward people as if they have grown two heads. She shook her head at Aditya.

‘He is the stupid one and calls me stupid…’ 

“Aditya come with me!” She ordered him holding his arm.

“Arre par… I am here to see him off…” Aditya explained. She looked at him in disbelief.

“Aarohi will do it… You come in…” She started to drag him with difficulty as he wasn't ready to budge.

“But…” He trailed off as she dragged him in.

“Zoya…” He whined and she looked at him. 

“I was there to see off Abhi…” He reasoned. She smirked at him and they entered the main door. 

“Someone wasn't even ready to come here… And now even seeing off the friend… Wow!” She teased while walking in the living room.

“Haan…” He started as they stopped walking. She looked at him while he didn't.

“Someone asked me till when I will keep escaping… So I am trying not to…” He spoke, rubbing his nape with a goofy smile. 

Zoya couldn't help but grin. It is working. Yes, it is working! Bringing him here is working.

“Zooyaaa….” Aarohi called as she came in. They both turned around to face her.

“Happy?” Zoya asked with a teasing smile. Aarohi punched her arm lightly making her chuckle.

“Wait here!” Aarohi stopped both of them and ran inside.  

Both looked at each other with confused expressions.

She came back and taking Zoya's hand, she  placed a key on it. Zoya looked at her and then at key bewildered.

“Key to your home…” Aarohi cleared her confusion, nodding at the key.

“It is all clean and fit to stay. I thought you are coming after so much time, so you would want to see it.” Zoya smiled.

“Thank you…” Aarohi scrunched up her nose in denial at her gratitude.

“Zoya?” Aditya called her and both of the girls looked at him.

“We have to check in hotel?” He asked unsure. Aarohi frowned.

“You both can stay here. He will take the guest room and Zoya, you share room with me.” Aarohi spoke immediately in order to stop them.

Zoya smiled and shook her head.

“There is no need now Aarohi… We can use my home to stay.” Aarohi pouted. 

“You go and sleep now. We wouldn't want to see dark circles under bride's eyes…” Aarohi glared at Zoya making her chuckle.
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“Have I came here before?” Aditya asked looking around as Zoya was unlocking the main door of her home which is opposite to Aarohi's house. 

“Yeah.. to attend my birthday party. Once in your lifetime.” She spoke and entered in. He followed her, frowning. 

“Once?” He muttered which she heard. 

“Even after inviting you, you never attended my birthday party after that.” She answered as she removed white sheets from furniture.

‘Aarohi really made the home fit to stay. It's all clean here.’ She thought. 

“You know my home was so far. It took so much time to come here.” He made up the excuse as he stood behind her. 

“Ofcourse! Why not!” She started, turning towards him with her hands on her waist. He took a step back.

“And then you had tutions, sports practice and what not. As if you were the only one in class who used to study. We all were fools. Hmm?” He shook his head, pursing his lips tightly.

“There are so many things you did Mr. Hooda, I will avenge every bit of it.” She tried to say seriously but it came out in a playful tone. He spotted the ghost of smile on her face and sighed in relief.

She laughed out loud looking at him. 

“Look at your face Aditya. You got so scared.” She spoke in between her laugh.

“I wasn't scared…” 

“You wish!” She spoke chuckling. 

She turned around and started to fold the sheets. With a small smile on his face, Aditya brought their luggage in. 

“Zoya…” He called her and then pointed at the luggage. 

She came towards him and tried to take her bags but he stopped her.

“I will keep them…” She nodded. 

As they climbed the stairs, Aditya looked at the photo frames hung on the wall.

‘Is that little Zoya?’ He thought looking at the photo of a man and lady carrying their new born baby.

“That's Noor.” Zoya cleared his confusion and they reached at the foot of the stairs. 

“That's my room…” She pointed towards the door near the stairs. 

“You can take that.” She pointed to the room adjacent to hers. 

He first kept her luggage in her room. She smiled wide entering her room. A medium sized red teddy bear kept on her study table caught her attention. She picked it up and gazed at it for with a serene smile on her face.

Aditya who came to wish her goodnight after keeping his luggage in his room, didn't have the heart to disturb her peaceful state. She looked so much at peace. 

‘That teddy bear is so lucky…’ His heart sighed. 

“Zoya…” He finally called her not wanting to hear rubbish from his inner voices. 

She looked at him attentively.

“Good night…” He wished.

“Good night Aditya…”
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‘Wow…. this is so serene…. ponds with rabbits in them swimming and jumping…. trees with cupcakes, candies and lollipops on them….. can I take one…. looks yumm…. zoyaaa… hmm… who is disturbing me in this beautiful place… oh that dog is barking…. shoo… shoo! zoya….. again? Who is it! Get out! I am taking this cupcake… it is so yummy…. ’

Zoya snuggled more in her pillow while enjoying her morning sleep. 

“ZOYAA…!” She opened her eyes with a jolt hearing her name called so loud. 

The first thing she saw after opening her eyes was blurry face of Aditya leaning on her.

“AAAAA!!” She shouted and covered herself till her head from the blanket. Aditya jerked back.

‘Ahh! Idiot.. he just can't see me like this in my morning state. Hairs all messy, eyes all sleepy, morning breath. God!’ She groaned inwardly.

“I am sorry. Really sorry. I never wanted to invade your privacy. I was knocking on your door for atleast ten minutes but you didn't reply. Not having any choice I had to come in to wake you up.” He explained.

“It's okay. Thanks.” She replied still staying in blanket. 

“What's wrong?” He asked with a worried expression.

“You can't see me like this….” He heard her muffled voice. 

“Like?” He asked amused. 

“What time is it?” She asked not coming out of the blanket. 

“It's half past ten now…” He replied looking at his wrist watch.

“WHAT??” She sat up with a jerk. Her hairs all over the place. He hid his smile. 

‘Not see like this… Like like this… But she is not looking bad at all. Such a kid she is…’

“I overslept…” She mumbled and picked up her mobile from bedside table. 

Ten missed calls from Noor. 
Five missed calls from Maasi.
One missed call from Arjun.
Twenty messages from Noor.

She sighed heavily.

“You didn't oversleep. You slept late.” Aditya corrected her with a smile. She too smiled getting his point.

“You freshen up. I am waiting downstairs. We will go together to Aarohi's house.” She nodded. He walked out of her room.

‘Such a weird start of the day.’ She thought and walked towards the washroom.
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“Good morning Aunty. Good morning Abhi…” Zoya and Aditya greeted both of them as they entered in. Abhimanyu asked sitting in the hall and Aarohi's mom was going in the kitchen. They wished back and Aarohi's mom walked in the kitchen.

“Good morning Zoya bete…!” Zoya turned to her side to see Aarohi's father walking towards them 

“Good morning uncle!” She wished almost squealing. Aditya too wished him.

“Morning… May I know who this young man is?” He asked to no one in particular after reciprocating Aditya's wishes and sat down on the sofa.

“Uncle… He is Aditya Hooda… Our childhood friend.” Aarohi's father nodded with a warm and welcoming smile.

“I hope you have a nice stay here…” 

“Thank you uncle…” Aditya spoke. 

Zoya spotted Aarohi walking down from stairs in a hurry.

“Aarohi! Slow down…” She called out.

“I am up…..,” Aarohi started as she came and stood beside Zoya. 

“and ready.” She completed. 

Her father shook his head and went back to reading newspaper. Abhimanyu stood up sighing.

“Finally…” Aarohi glared at him.

“Let's go and have breakfast…” Aditya said. 

Aditya and Zoya started to go in. At the same time Aarohi and Abhimanyu started to move out. This is how they stopped each other's way.

“Aree? Aren't we having breakfast?” Zoya asked frowning.

Abhimanyu looked at Aarohi smugly. 

“I will tell them. Don't worry…” Abhimanyu spoke in a mocking tone, still looking at Aarohi. She looked everywhere but towards him.

Aditya and Zoya looked at each other bewildered.

“Guys… What's wrong with both of you?” Zoya asked, irritated.

“Wo.. they didn't get complete sleep last night na… They would have been talking with each other…” Aditya spoke showing his understanding towards them. 

Zoya looked at him in disbelief. 

“Aditya!” She chided him. He closed his mouth with a mischievous smile on his face.

Zoya turned to Aarohi and saw her scowling at Aditya.

“Like really Aditya?? We returned at around two in the morning and you expect me to still talk. Do I look like an idiot to you..?” 

“No.. no! You don't look like an idiot. Though you are….” Aditya replied and pursed his lips to bit back his smile. Zoya's eyes widened.

“WHAT?!” Aditya broke into fits of laughter and Zoya too bit back her smile.

Before Aarohi could attack Aditya, Abhimanyu held her back by her waist. 

“Abhi! Leave me!” She ordered, wriggling in his hold. Abhimanyu had an amusing smile on his face. 

“Aarohi… It's okay.. now leave it…” 

“Abhi, he always do that!!” 

“Aditya! Stop now! Please..” Zoya asked Aditya quietly, to stop laughing. 

“Okay.. okay… I am sorry…” Aarohi stopped wriggling furiously. Abhimanyu too loosened his hold on her.

“Atleast you are not as stupid as Zoya…” Aditya completed and both the boys laughed out loud, having a hi-fi.

Aarohi and Zoya glared at them.

“Are you both done?” Zoya asked seriously.

Both of them nodded, calming their laughter down.

“Okay… Enough of jokes! I am telling you guys our plan for today. First of all we are visiting temple. Then we will have are breakfast outside. Then we will go to jewellery shop. We will collect our engagement rings from there and Zoya, you will help me choose some jewellery which we have already shortlisted,” Zoya nodded.

“Then we will have lunch. Only if we felt like. And then we will go mall to shop for clothes and other things any of us want.” Aarohi completed. Zoya agreed smiling wide. 

“A long long day ahead….” Aditya muttered. 

Zoya glared at him. He gave a sheepish smile. 

“Let's go…” Both the girls moved out, talking excitedly. Aditya and Abhimanyu followed them out, shaking head on their excitement.
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“You are lying!” He accused.

“I am not Arjun! Trust me. From the morning only, he is being like that old Aditya who used too prank and make jokes out of every small thing.” Zoya spoke desperately, trying to convince Arjun. She was walking behind the three of them as they were entering temple.

“If it is true, I am so damn happy!” 

“It is true…” Zoya rolled her eyes.

“Thank you so much Zoya! All because of you…" Arjun spoke with gratitude.

“Shush! Isn't he my friend…” 

“Sure. Acha, I will talk to you later. I have work here.” 

“Okay… Bye…” 

As soon as Zoya ended the call, Aditya jogged up to her. 

“Come on Zoya! Why are you stuck on this mobile phone? Come!” He dragged her with him.

‘There is so much difference in this Aditya and the Aditya I met six months ago. He ran away just by recognising me and here he is enjoying with all of us. We have really came a long way.’ She thought.
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