Chapter-30

Hope, you like this one...and don't skip it... it's important...❤️

Zoya ran through people, heaving heavily. She looked around while running and saw the beautiful green grass and the blossoming flowers. Mild sunlight was falling above everything but the footpath was sheltered by the huge trees. She looked around and saw many people, some were doing yoga, some kids were playing football, some were playing badminton.

She paused for a moment to change the song in her earpiece. She was choosing a song when she noticed a kid falling down from her bicycle. She ran towards him to pick him up but a man reached him before her. She paused before some steps and watched them interacting. He was handling the kid so well! Then, a lady reached near him and the boy hugged her. Must be his mother... The lady wiped the boys tears and soon the boy started smiling and laughing. Her heart melted seeing the scene before her. The man picked up the boy and the lady took his bicycle. So, they are a family...

She was feeling so good after seeing them. They talked, and laughed and did whatever they could to make the boy happy. Zoya's eyes filled with tears seeing the love between the three. Maybe, marriage is not a bad idea... She thought involuntarily making herself shock by her thoughts. She continued jogging concentrating more on the song than the disturbing thoughts in her head.

•••

The boy's cries echoed in the surroundings as tears started flowing down his cheeks in a never ending pattern. Aditya came running to him and sat on his knee to match his height. He told the boy something and in some time the boy started laughing. They did their signature handshake and the boy was back to being normal.

Zoya came to them and wiped the boy's tears with her hand and then showed him a candy floss. The boy instantly grew happy and hugged Zoya. Aditya picked up the boy as Zoya dragged the mini scooter with her.

"I love you Mom and Dad..." The boy said focusing on the candy in his hands.

"We love you too..." They both answered in unison.

Aditya came closer to Zoya and landed a kiss on her forehead.

"I love you..." He said.

"I love you too..." Zoya replied smiling brightly as Aditya embraced her.

Zoya woke up startled as she registered her dream.

"What the hell was it!? Me and Aditya? No! It was a dream Zoya...It was a dream..." She assured herself.

"I love you Mom and Dad..."

"Mom and Dad? Me and Aditya? Thid can't be possible!"

"I love you..."

Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered the scene from her dream. Her breathing escalated and sweat beads started forming on her forehead. She remembered the look in his eyes and now she cannot unsee it.

She remembered the forehead kiss and touched her forehead involuntarily, closing her eyes. The dream in front of her closed eyes. The embrace...she could still feel his warmth around her. The imaginary warmth...the protective warmth...

She shook her head frantically to remove all these thoughts.

"Just do something Zoya...and STOP thinking about marriage and all !" She told herself. She was trying to convince her mind but it was again and again going to the dream.

"Maybe I should eat something..." She thought and stood up from her bed and advanced to kitchen to fill her mind and stomach with food.

•••

After some days...

Zoya was reading a book while sitting on the comfortable chair. She flipped the page and drank a sip of coffee. She was sitting in a cafe, by the window, waiting for someone. She kept the book down as a line got stuck in her head.

"Please, let love in... Don't let your heart vanish..."

She pondered on this thought and let it sink in her head. The lines replaying in her head in a loop.

"Don't let your heart vanish..."

"Hey!" Tanya snapped her fingers in front of her eyes. Zoya flinched on seeing her.

"Where were you lost?"

"Was just thinking something...you tell where were you from so long?" She asked checking her wrist watch.

"I was just a bit busy..." She replied blushing.

"With Neil?" Zoya raised her brow at her.

"Zoyaaa...." Tanya trailed off hiding her cheeks with her hair. Zoya laughed at her behaviour. She love teasing her!

"Coffee?" Zoya asked.

"I already ordered...they must be preparing..."

"You know what happened!?" Tanya asked excitedly in a whisper.

"What?" Zoya asked in a whisper.

"Neil proposed me yesterday!" She said covering her mouth in shock.

"Really?" Zoya asked shocked and happy.

"Yes!" Tanya squealed happily.

"Oh my God!" Zoya couldn't stop the smile that was breaking on her face every now and then.

"What did you say?"

"Yes... obviously..."

"Oh my God!" Zoya exclaimed as she put a hand over her mouth to stop her from shouting.

"When is the wedding? Did he gave you a ring? Oh God, I can't wait for your marriage! I have so much to do! My bestie is getting married! Oh my-"

"Zoya, stop! Everyone is watching us..."

"Oh sorry...I got over excited..."

"Yeah, you were acting as if you were proposed..."

"Oh, stop with that..." Zoya said in a casual manner.

"Why should I stop now?" She asked looking at her with a smirk.

"Because I said so! Show me the ring..."

"See..." She showed her left hand to her.

"It's beautiful..."

"I know..."

"Tell me the details...from the start to the end... everything..." Zoya said as she rested her chin on her hand kept on the table.

"Ma'am, your order..."

Tanya took a sip from her cup and said," Let's begin..."

.

.

.

"That's so amazing!"

"Right!?"

"He took me to McDonald's and proposed me with burger and fries..."

"That's how you wanted it, right?"

"I do love Neil but food is first priority..." Tanya said laughing.

"I'm so happy for you..." Zoya said genuinely. "It feels like yesterday when we met...in the college..."

"Seriously mahn...I bumped into you, remember?"

"Of course I do! And then you dragged me to the class and didn't left my side and I was so irritated..."

"Your face told me the same" They both burst out laughing remembering the old days.

"What about you?" Tanya asked taking a bite of her cheese roll.

"What about me?" Zoya asked confused.

"What did you tell Uncle?"

"I said no to him...I...I can't marry...I...just can't do it..."

"Why?"

"You know why?"

"Just because of that Yash?"

"No because of me...what if I do the same mistake again?"

"Mistake...really Zoy-"

"Tanya, I have thought about it a lot...and I've figured out that when a relationship collapses, one is not be blamed...both have a fair share of mistakes...What if I do the same mistakes again and the past repeats itself..."

"You are scared..." Tanya said sighing.

"No, I am not! I'm being reasonable!"

"You are being stupid...Will you ruin your life because of him?"

"I can live alone... it's not that big of a deal..."

"Convince yourself as much as you want to...but you feel the need of having a person beside you...to hold you when you cry...to whom you can share your sorrows without any hesitation...who will look at you as if he is the luckiest in the world to get you...you will feel that emptiness....I just hope that you realise it in time...before it's too late..." Zoya looked down as she dug deep into her thoughts. She was processing every word she said. Really? Would I need someone to lead a happy life?

"I don't want to marry! I'm okay with leading a normal life also..." Zoya answered looking down at her empty coffee cup.

"And what about love?"

"What has gotten into you Tanya today?"

"Don't ignore my question..."

"When I don't want to marry why would like to fall in love?!"

"What if you already are?" Tanya asked. Zoya stopped tracing the edge of coffee cup as she looked up at her shocked.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" She asked as her dream replayed in her mind.

"I'm talking about the reality..."

"It seems that you took something inappropriate today..."

"Really Zoya? I can't believe this..." Tanya said as she keaned back in her chair and massaged her forehead.

"What you can't believe Tanya!? I'm not in love!"

"Really what about Aditya then?" Tanya asked leaning forward.

"I-I don't love him..." Zoya stated in a low voice as she remembered the events from the dream.

"Say this with his name..."

"I-I don-t lo..ve Adi-tya..."

"You are stuttering and you are nervous which clearly shows that you are lying..."

"I'm not!"

"I also took psychology Zoya...I know when people lie..."

"You weren't serious in classes..."

"Convince yourself with whatever you want to...but the truth is that you are lying..."

"I'm going home..." Zoya stood up and took her handbag.

"You also know what the truth is... I've done my job as a friend...now it's on you whether to be rational or not...second chances are given to only fortunate ones... don't lose it..." Zoya stood there listening toher and exited the café without saying anything.

•••

Zoya was sitting on her bed with her hands rested on her knees and her head atop her hands. She was looking out from the window at the night sky and she couldn't help to stop the tears that were streaming down her face endlessly and silently.

"How can Tanya talk to her like this?"

"What if you already are?"

"Don't let your heart vanish..."

"No! I don't want to think about it..."

"Second chances are given to only fortunate ones..."

"Convince yourself as much as you want to...but you feel the need of having a person beside you..."

"I don't want anyone in my life!"

"I love you..."

"I love you too..."

She blocked her ears with her hands and shook her head violently. Tears were still flowing down her face. Only He can help me...

She got up from the bed and took out the prayer mat. She covered her head and sat on it. She saw the moon before closing her eyes and raising her hands up for praying. She talked to Him as a friend, as if He was someone very close to her. She asked her every question. She let out her every query, every confusion in front of Him for Him to help her and guide her path.

She was now unaware of her surroundings as she focused on the darkness in front of her eyes and then suddenly saw HIM. He was giving her his most enchanting smile and she opened her eyes in a jerk.

"I lo-ve him..." She said in almost a whisper.

"I love Aditya?" She asked as she looked out of the window at the night sky.

"I love him..." She said confirming herself as everything replayed in front her eyes. Their first meet, the day at the park, the day at the beach, his smile, everything...from the start till the end.

"I can't do this...I can't..." She said as she slowly started sobbing.

"I can't give love another chance... I don't want to break my heart again...I can't go through everything again..."

"So, you will never give it a chance? Just because of your past experiences..."

"I'm always here if you need any help..."

"Why are you doing this to me Aditya...Why is God doing this with me...I don't have enough courage to go through everything again..."

"You have much more courage than you think you have...I have seen you change and only a courageous person can do it.."

"Will I ever found my forever, Aditya?"

"I don't know….even I ask that question to myself everyday…."

She stood up from her place and wiped her tears.

"I will give it a chance...I don't want to regret it later...the future will be what it is...I will take care of my present..." She said in a determined voice as she kept a hand over her heart.

_________________________________________

Zoya's realized...😃 Do tell me your views about this one...

Also, take care of yourself and take proper precautions. The previous year is repeating itself...😣 And, also take care of your mental health...even that is important...❤️

See you in the next update Bye!

I updated earlier this time😌