Chapter-24

Here's the next one...❤️

"Aditya?" Zoya asked keeping her shaking hand on his already shaking shoulder. He was sitting under his desk, head rested on his knees, hands doing their best to hide his face as he sat there shaking vulnerably.

Zoya's hand made him flinch and she removed her hand from his shoulder, instantly. He looked up and then did she saw his eyes and face. The eyes which always glistened with happiness and life were red and filled with guilt, regret and pain today. The face which used to spread light was now in darkness itself.

"Aditya, are you fine?" Zoya asked in a low voice, feared to see his reaction. She forwarded her hand towards him for him to hold and come out of the 'darkness' of the desk. He looked at her pleadingly, sobbing lightly, asking for help.

"Aditya...?"

"Zoya…" He sniffed looking at her with pleading eyes.

"Aditya, come..." She signalled her eyes at her hand. He looked at it and then looked back at her eyes.

"Come... Everything is alright…Come..." He shook his head not believing her words.

"Come..." She said more softly, trying to make him feel the warmth of her words.

"You are fine...come..."

His hand slowly raised from his knee and started moving in the direction of hers. His fingers touched hers while their eyes were still locked. Hers assuring his. His hand moved a little further and his fingers reached her palm. She clasped his cold hand in her warm one, transmitting 'warmth' from her body to his.

"Come..." Zoya said and carefully pulled him up. As soon as he was out from under the desk, he launched his body on hers. She was slightly taken aback by the impact but regained her balance soon. Her eyes welled with tears seeing him in such a vulnerable and broken state.

"Maine sab kuch barbaad kar diya..." (I destroyed everything…) He whispered in her hair, holding onto her 'tight'.

"Aditya...?" She kept her hand at his back and separated their frames.

"Zoya, maine sab barbaad kar diya..." (Zoya, I destroyed everything…)

"Aapne kuch barbaad nahi kiya hai..." (You haven't destroyed anything…)

"I have..."

"No, you didn't…. Infact you are the one who has mend many shattered things...you are the one who has corrected many destroyed things..."

"Zoy-"

"Aapne kuch barbaad nahi kiya hai, suna aapne?" (You haven't destroyed anything...Did you heard me?) Zoya said as she cupped his face in her hands and wiped the tears with her thumbs.

"Balki aapne kayi barbaad cheezon ko joda hai jaise. . . humein...humare dil ko...humari zindagi ko...aapne humein hasna sikhaya hai, logon par firse yakeen karna sikhaya hai...humein firse jeena sikhaya hai...Aap wo hain jisne is chidiya ko firse udna sikhaya hai..." (In fact, you have mend many destroyed things like. . . me...my heart...my life...You taught me how to laugh, how to trust people, again...how to live life, again...You are the one who has taught this bird how to fly, again...)

"But, Zoya...Ma...it was my mistake... everything was my mistake..." He cried more as he hugged her back. His cries muffling into her hair. She on the other hand had no clue about what was he talking. He did told her that his mother had an accident but, is there more to it? She stopped her curiosity right there and thought to comfort him first.

She made him release herself from his hold. She then wiped his tears that further tried to break him down.

"Work can wait...It's enough for the day..." Zoya said as she held him by his wrist and dragged him out with her. She made him sit in the passenger seat and herself got settled in the driver's. He looked at her confusedly, but when she didn't look back at him, he looked down at his lap sadly. He looked up when he felt the car stop. He looked around to see where have they reached.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and so did his. When he didn't move, she exited the car and opened his door.

"Come, Aditya..." She said softly.

"But, where are we?" He asked in a low, hoarse voice.

"If you trust me, then you will get off the car this instant..."

"Zo-"

"Do you trust me or not?"

"I do..."

"Then, for what are you waiting! Follow me!"

He got down lifelessly and closed the door behind. Zoya went behind him and closed the door properly.

"Let's go..." She said as she held his hand and locked the car.

.

.

.

Zoya stopped when they reached an old, not-very-well maintained house.

"Which place is this?" Aditya asked, fear evident in his voice.

"You ask lot of questions...!"

She opened the metal gate that led to the bungalow and entered the premises.

"It's trespassing..." Aditya said as he went behind her.

"Believe me, it's not!" Zoya said as she went further inside.

The old bungalow was surrounded by garden which had dried, lifeless leaves spread all around...No one even caring of the grass or the pots or even the flowers. Aditya stopped in his tracks as he didn't like the idea of going further inside. Moreover, this place was cold than any other place.

"Zoya, do you know Paranormal science? Or are you a fan of such activities?" Aditya said as he acknowledged the place around him further. To his surprise Zoya was no where to be found and his heartbeats just paced up thinking of the possibilities.

He moved in the direction where he last saw her and there he saw her. She was holding the hand of an elderly woman, maybe helping her climb the stairs that led to the main door. She had a smile plastered on her face and the old lady also seemed to be happy having seen her. She held her hand firmly and didn't left it until they climbed all the stairs. At the top of the stairs, an elderly man made his way towards them. He kept a hand on Zoya's head as if giving her blessings and Zoya smiled in return.

All of a sudden, they all looked at Aditya. He started feeling self conscious. Zoya talked to them gesturing to him in between from time to time. Is she telling them about me!? He had a self conflict on this question until she snapped her fingers in front of his face.

"Daydreaming?" She asked trying to read his eyes.

"A-a who are they?"

"They are Uncle James and Aunty Emily..."

"Why are we here?"

"You ask so many questions Aditya...that too all of a sudden... I'll explain everything to you..."

"Actually, when I was small na...I used to visit them everyday and play with them...their children are settled in abroad and they hardly visit them... whenever I'm sad or feeling low na...I visit them... seeing them smile and laugh...I feel happy...when they can still laugh and smile even though with so problems in their life then why can't I?"

"But, why you brought me here?"

"To make them meet you..." She said simply showcasing him a big smile.

"I don't want to meet anyone..." He turned in his place and started to go but felt a tuck at his hand.

"Please just for once...they will be happy...I already told them about you..."

"What did you tell them?" Aditya turned abruptly and asked.

"Nothing which I shouldn't...I-"

"Zoya, whatever you witnessed at the clinic wasn't anything...ok? You don't need to...you don't need to feel pity for me..."

"First listen me out and then make your assumptions Aditya and why would I feel pity?" He looked at her in disbelief.

"I told them that I brought a friend with me too this time as he was free... Nothing else...Come, now..." She dragged him holding his hand.

When they reached the stairs, she spoke, "I used to climb these same stairs...when I was small...the dry leaves used to crush beneath my small feet the same way they do now...I used to hold my father's hand and climb these stairs one by one... excitedly...I grew older... climbing these stairs but then abruptly stopped coming when..."

"Zoy-"

"Look, we reached!" She squealed when they reached the door which was already open.

"Come, Zoya..." The elderly woman said as she dragged her inside while Aditya kept standing at his place not moving.

"And you are?" She asked turning towards him.

"Aditya, aunty..." Zoya spoke for him.

"Let him speak for himself...he can speak na?" She asked looking with at her while Zoya just started laughing.

"I can speak..." Aditya said coyly.

"Yeah, and also become timid..." The woman said.

"Just like a teenager..." Zoya completed the sentence and they both hi-fied, making Zoya laugh all the time.

"Is someone getting bullied?" The old man asked keeping an arm around Aditya's shoulders.

"No-" Aditya began but was soon cut off.

"We were just having fun...Both the children come after me... I'm preparing cookies..."

"Really Aunty?!" Zoya squealed.

"I was missing you and was thinking of calling you over...but see, what a lovely surprise..." She said looking back at Aditya as he stood rooted to his place. Aditya smiled at her.

"Nice to meet you, son..." The old man said making his way to the couch.

Son... Aditya's heart leaped at the mention of this word. It has been so much time since someone has mentioned him as Son... Moreover, with warmth and...love.

"Nice to meet you too..." Aditya said smiling with glistening eyes.

"Why are you standing there...come and make yourself comfortable...feel as if it's your home...and I mean it...you can literally just move around anywhere as you wish...and also sneak out some cookies..." He whispered the last line to him.

Emily cleared her throat and said, "What is my old husband telling you, son?"

"Nothing...my old, sweet wifey..."

"So, what do you do, Aditya"

"I'm a clinical psychologist..."

"Oh... that's great...Can you treat my mad wife?" He asked in a hushed voice. Aditya laughed at that totally unaware of the fact that someone looked at him from the corner of her eye and smiled.

"I'm a psychologist Uncle...not a psychiatrist..."

"Are they both different?"

"Of course..." Aditya said.

"I will have to find someone else then..." He said thoughtfully before laughing loud. Aditya too joined him in laughing.

"Someone tell me the joke too..." Emily said.

"Nothing just formal jokes..." Aditya said as James winked at him.

The aroma of the choco-chip cookies felt the entire room and he inhaled it deeply.

"The cookies are ready!" Zoya said as she brought a plate full of cookies to the living area.

She kept the plate at the centre table and settled beside Aditya on the couch handing him a cookie.

All the four started laughing and enjoying as the evening went by. The old couple throwing funny insults at each other. Everyone relished the cookies and a day that started as sad and gloomy for Aditya became the day with the utmost happiness as it ended.

Aditya finished the cookie that was in his hand and laughed as Emily cracked a lame joke which received a lame reaction from James. He looked towards his right as he felt someone staring at him, only to be welcomed with a smile.

"You look good when you laugh..." Zoya said as her hand went up his cheek and dusted off some remains of cookies from his face. She was totally unaware of the impact her this little gesture had on him, earning him a sleepless night of thoughts.

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I'm really sorry for the late update...but I was just not in the mood to write... don't know why... This weather is getting the worst out of me...Hope, you liked this chapter...Also, I tried to compensate the late updating with a long chapter...🤭❤️ It's the double the size that I usually write...❤️ Apologies for the late update...