Chapter-18

Here's a special one...❤️

Zoya rushed through the once claustrophobic corridors to her cabin. She is very happy today as it is Tanya's birthday and she has to complete her today's appointment very fast. She entered her cabin happily contrasting to the first time when she entered here. She was nervous and scared at that time and now she is confident and not at all scared.

She opened her diary to check the list of appointments. She has a teenager girl to talk to. Fun! It has been six months since she has been a psychologist and she can't do anything else than enjoying this phase of her life. She is very glad that she chose this profession and she will always be thankful to the person who helped her in all this. She doesn't know about his whereabouts and she cannot gather her courage and call him throwing her self respect in a corner. She will not lose that self respect now no matter what happens. With much difficulty she has learnt to value herself and will not forget that value for a person who doesn't value her and her friendship. She still asked the authorities to call him while taking the job as she valued the little, precious...pure friendship between them. But, on getting no answer she accepted the job. She wiped the little tear drop at the corner of her eye with her thumb and exited the cabin to her destination.

•••

"See, you can't keep all that bottled up inside and survive...you need to get everything out...you really need to..." Zoya said keeping an assuring hand on the girl's shoulder and urging her to speak up. She went forward and wiped her tears with her hands. The girl smiled through tears and hugged her, really tight. She caressed her head lovingly and said,"You can take me as your elder sister and share everything with me...and this sister is your friend also...and when I say that I mean it...if you have anything to share or to say, I'm always here...just like your sister..." She kissed her head.

"If di would have been here she would have said the same...thanks Zo di..." She said while releasing her from the hug.

"I will think about this and thank you for giving me a sister again..." She sniffed and wiped her tears.

"Stop this crying now...your Zo di wouldn't let you cry like this in her embrace...hungry?"

"N-" Her phone rang.

"Yes, mom I'm coming..."

"I should go now.."

"Should I come?"

"No, no...my house is by the corner only...Bye..."

"Bye..." Zoya said and saw the retreating back of the girl. She started moving towards the main road just when her gaze fell on the little temple by the road's side. Why not have some peace of heart!? She thought and entered the temple premises.

She was walking around when she saw someone. "Aditya?" She whispered to herself. She went forward and saw him. His cheeks wet with tears, hands clutched together tightly and face pleading. All her hate melted when she saw him in that moment. A person who used to laugh and smile at every single thing was here pleading to God and crying. She wanted to go and hug him, wipe his tears and relieve him of his worries. She moved her right leg forward to move in his direction but took it back when she remembered something. Who am I to him? What if he pushes me away? What if he is angry at me too and will become more sad after seeing me? I should not disturb his little talk with Him.

She moved away from him with tears in her eyes and exited the temple but not before wishing happiness for him.

•••

"Zoi, let's take this cake also..." Tanya said picking up a big box of cake.

"How much cake will you eat, Coco?" Zoya said pushing the cake box back.

"It's my birthday na...then only that will happen what I say!" She said picking the box back and discarding it carefully in the trolley basket while passing a devilish smile to Zoya.

"You know why I kept your name Coco...?"

"Nope!" She said looking for the soft drinks.

"Because you eat chocolate a lot! Stop eating that much chocolate otherwise one day you'll become a chocolate.." She said laughing and imagining her dark brown skinned, melting and smelling like chocolate.

"You are talking like my Mom...no matter you've changed so much in these two years..."

"I had to..." She muttered lowly.

"Did you say something?"

"No, we forgot the chocolate COCO!"

"Oh yeah, but first let's take the chips..." She said and started walking towards the chips' section. Zoya saw HIM there smiling and when he saw her, he turned around and walked to the billing counter. He, surely doesn't want to meet me.

•••

Zoya was sitting on the window seat, looking outside and thinking intently about something. Whenever she closed her eyes, Aditya's tear stained face came in front of her eyes. She can't see her best friend like that even though if the friendship is one-sided. She wants to help him. She opened the messaging app and saw a green colored circle beside the name Aditya. She opened the chat and saw his message I'm returning tomorrow.. dated one day ago. He did remember informing her about his return. She kept all her ego and every grudge towards him aside and started typing something. What if he doesn't take her to be his friend, she does take him as one!

"Meet me at the Ice Cream Parlour..." She messaged and sent the location of their today's meeting spot.

•••

Zoya checked her phone while standing outside the ice cream parlour.

"It is showing that the message has been read then why hasn't he come till now?  What if he doesn't come? What if I keep waiting for him all night and he don't show up!? I will satisfy my ice cream craving first and then wait for him. Even if he doesn't come, I can enjoy the ice cream." She thought and went inside to buy 'some'.

The sight of the multi colored ice creams arranged before her watered her mouth instantly. She placed her order and collected it. When she turned with the ice creams in her hand, she bumped into someone.

"Zoya!" The ice cream accidentally stained his hoodie. The earlier black hoodie now had a pink color mark.

"Oh, I'm sorry" She said and started moving from there. Yumm...Ice creams...I can't wait to eat them...

"You messaged me to meet and now you are moving away saying I'm sorry..?!" She turned at his voice and saw the person with the pink stain. Her eyes met his and the air stilled for both of them. There was worry in his eyes while joy in hers. Her best friend came!

"You came!?" She said moving towards him.

"Yeah... I'm sor-" Before he could complete his sentence, he was engulfed in a tight hug.

"I missed you so much... I'm glad you are back..." She said still hugging him tight forgetting that her hands were full.

He was taken by surprise by the sudden outpour. He expected her to shout, to beat him, to slap him but, she just embraced him. His hands slowly went towards her shoulder and rested there lightly. His heart full of emotions. He was taken into an embrace after so long. He didn't lose one more person in his life, maybe.

She released him and saw his moist eyes. She wanted to remove every tear from his eye. The reason still being unknown but she wanted to...so badly. Let's give him a return gift for what he did to me... She thought and made a note in her mind to help him with all her mind, soul and...heart.

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Hope, you liked this chapter. Did yoj expected Zoya to be present there kn the temple while Aditya was in his weak moments or Did I got you all by surprise? Do let me know in the comments...

This was a special chapter. Aditya earned a new person in his perspective while in reality he has earned many... Let's see what happens in the upcoming chapters...and THANK YOU for every vote, every comment, and every read... Giving your time to this little peice of mine means a lot and I can't thank you all enough...❤️❤️

I just wanted to say that the updates may be late as I have my studies also to deal with along with other stuff and I also don't want to serve you all chapters which I myself don't like. It takes time to think, plan and then write...Hope you understand...❤️