Chapter-20

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"Hello, I've reached the place and your agent can't be found here..." Aditya spoke into the phone and looked around to spot the agent.

"Sir, is the door open?"

"I haven't checked that." He went towards the door and pushed to see if it was locked or not. To his surprise, it was not.

"It's open."

"He must be somewhere around Sir... You can view the site our agent will be there in less than a minute..." He cut the call with anger and proceeded to get inside.

He entered the place and was welcomed with dust. There were spider webs all around, the dust was flying in the air, smell of damp walls clouded the place. But, what Aditya saw was completely different. He saw himself sitting behind his table, the sunlight from the window falling on his face and a smile gracing his face as he attended a patient. He saw several others waiting outside in the other room. A fresh, flowery scent flowed in the air in his imagination. He imagined himself working from day to night and also imagined her,...them. Them celebrating their success, their failures and their life. A new member entered his life, Tanya. Maybe, they can be a golden trio...may-.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and immediately turned around, perplexed. Tanya. She started sneezing as she took a deep breath.

"Where is Zoy-" His sentence was cut short by the pinge of his cellphone. He unlocked it to see a message from the person whose name he was about to take.

'Aditya, I can't come today, Sorry...Have a busy schedule today but don't you worry, Tanya is absolutely free!😁'

Oh... He thought. Tanya snapped her fingers in front of his face to bring him back to reality.

"Where were you venturing, bro?" She asked with a smirk.

Is she Zoya's friend? They are completely opposite!

"You travel a lot without even spending money! Tell me the tip also, I will also be able to save money..." She asked with gleaming eyes with a hidden hint of humor. Aditya just clicked his tongue and turned around to have a better look of the place.

He went to the room with the big window and his eyes started travelling from corner to corner thinking of how to design it.

"Did you like it?" Tanya asked folding her hands at her chest and looking around.

"I loved it!"

"After all, this is Zoya's choice...you will love it only! She knows you so well!"

"Who? Zoya?"

"No, me!" She let out a chuckle.

"Of course her! When you were away, she used to talk about how much she wanted to become like you...but much more better...and whenever she talked of you she became so much serious...At first, her eyes would always get moist at your mention but then I don't know what she told herself...she used to just smile at your mention...and the day when you told her that you came back...she was so happy but also worried...I asked her about the reason for her worry but I think she didn't want to tell me or share about that to me..." She spoke while looking at nothing particular.

She turned towards him and continued, "She values your presence in her life with all her heart... don't let that presence become a memory, Aditya...you really mean a lot to her..." She saw some tears fill his eyes and got the hint which she wanted to see. He values her too!

"Ohho, what have I started talking...what will you place near the window?" She asked changing the topic.

"I haven't thought anything specific but will figure out with time..." He blinked his tears and said.

"Oh.., we need to work a lot...it is so dirty right now...this will take time..." Tanya said looking around the room.

"Are you sure you want this?"

"Cent percent!"

•••

"Wow, this looks so good, now!" Zoya said as she entered the room where the other two were. It has been a month since they are giving this place a makeover. The walls were painted, the plaster was done and the place was cleaned thoroughly.

"Haina?" Aditya said as he faced Zoya.

"Absolutely, mahn!" Tanya said.

"You should have seen this place before, Zoya...It looked like a dirty, smelly dungeon! But, now see my magic...this place is completely transformed..." She said raising her imaginary collar. Aditya smacked her head lightly.

"Ouch!" She squealed.

"Accha, you are saying as if you have done everything...in fact you just came here, sit and eat...it was me who looked after everything..." Aditya said.

"Haww...what about my credit...I also helped a lot in fact it was me who suggested this place...you owe me a treat Aditya..." Zoya said.

"Treat!?" Tanya squealed with happiness.

"We'll think about that..." Aditya said as he passed them both a fake smile and stuck his tongue out in a mischievous way.

"Adi-" Zoya's sentence was cut short by the loud ring of Tanya's phone. Dr.Neil. Tanya excused herself and went a bit far from them to attend the call.

"Who is it?" Aditya asked.

"The screen flashed Dr.Neil..." Zoya said making a pout.

"The neurologist?" Aditya asked.

"Hmm..." Zoya hummed as her face turned into a smirk.

"Why are you smiling like that!? It's scary..." Aditya said keeping a hand on his chest acting to be scared. Zoya straightened her face and said," Listen, I have a plan..."

.

.

.

"Sorry, it took long..." Tanya said as she kept the phone back in her pocket.

"Do you know Dr. Neil, Aditya?" Zoya said totally ignoring Tanya.

"Yeah, he is my friend...such a nice human he is..."

"Who? Dr.Neil?" Tanya asked. Zoya hid her laughter.

"Tanya!? When did you come?" Zoya asked totally surprised.

"I came just now...what were you talking right now...friend, Dr.Neil...what was it?"

"Oh that, nothing...they were just casual talks..."

"Yeah..." Aditya said.

"Neil!" Aditya said excitedly looking behind Tanya. To their surprise, Tanya's cheeks turned red on his mention and she turned around after setting her hair neatly. When she didn't found anyone there she turned back again to find them both laughing. They both giggled hard holding their stomachs.

"Did you look at her face!" Zoya said trying her best to control her laughter.

"It was like a full grown RED TOMATO!" Aditya said laughing hard after completing his sentence.

"Stop it you both!" Tanya shouted.

"Aww...such a secret keeper you are, Tanya..." Zoya said placing her hand around her shoulder while Tanya just glared at her.

"If you need any help, you can ask me..." Aditya winked after saying this.

"I AM GOING!" Tanya said moving towards the exit.

"Where? To meet him?" Zoya asked questioningly.

"Go to hell!" Tanya shouted as she moved out leaving the other two to roll on the floor laughing.

"I am going to take some stuff from home for the office...I will be back in some time..." Aditya said holding his stomach.

•••

Aditya picked up the photo frame and placed it very carefully into the box. He placed some papers and other motivational frames, some books and some motivational showpieces. His hand stopped in the midst as he spotted something round and sparkling. Zoya's gift! He looked at it and thought of Zoya instantly.

"I will tell her today, how much I also value our friendship and that she is not the only one who is keeping this friendship between us alive... I'm too trying to overcome the distance...I will tell her I will surely tell her..."

"She values your presence in her life with all her heart... don't let that presence become a memory, Aditya...you really mean a lot to her..."

"I will not let our friendship become a memory, Zoya... you also mean a lot to me and when no one was around you were...I also value your presence in my life with all my heart...and I will let you know that today..." He thought as he very delicately picked the globe and placed it safely on the nearby tabke to be taken to his new abode.

•••

"Yes, we will meet tomorrow...and I will bring your favourite chocolate too!" Zoya said as she attended the call of the same girl from that day. Talking to her reminded her of Aditya's broken state. She needs to know why was he so much broken at that time. She will try to talk about thag matter to him as soon as possible. Surely!

Aditya entered through the glass door with a big box in his hand. He wasn't able to look what was ahead him and was just moving in an idea that his path is clear.

The box fell from his hands when it hit someone. He looked down and saw everything from the box scattered on the floor. He let out a loud sigh. He looked up to find Zoya rubbing her head with her hand.

"Can't you look and walk…" She said with eyes closed while still rubbing her forehead.

"Sorry…" He said and sat down to gather up all the items and put them back in the box.

"Oh, it's you!" Zoya said as she recognized the  voice. She also sat down to help him gather up his items.

Her hand stopped at a beautiful family picture. There was a couple in it with a little boy, maybe five years old, she guessed.

"Is this you?!" She asked pointing at the boy.

"Umm…yeah…"

"You look so cute…!!! And your parents they look so good together, specialist your mother…she is so beautiful!" She looked in awe at the frame. Aditya smiled in response.

"Where are they now?" Zoya asked out of nowhere catching him off guard.

'Should he tell her? Should he tell where his parents are? Should he disclose everything to her?'

_________________________________________

Here, is a long chapter...*sigh* After so much time, finally! Hope, you liked it...

I really love their trio plus them teasing Tanya collectively was so cute...😍

I left the chapter on a cliffhanger 🤭 I will try my best to update the next one soon...❤

Hope, you are liking the story...😃 and don't forget to give your precious reviews...We'll meet in the next one...Bye...💖