Zoya stood there on the porch while Aditya poured his heart out. At times she felt jealous and at other times she felt helpless. She could only do as much for this man standing in front of her. The mood lightened up when Aditya told her about his flying adventures and a few funny incidents. It was so easy to talk to him, to understand him, to love him!

Adi: That's enough and more of everything about me. Now it's your turn to tell me things about you and mind you I want to know everything.

Zoya simply smiled looking at him. "So you want to know everything?" "Yes" Aditya said.

Z: There isn't much to tell Aditya. I did the initial years of schooling here and then my parents sent me to Dehradun for final years of schooling. I made my best friend for life there- Mahi, Mahi Arora. After my schooling, I moved to London to finish my Law degree where I studied with Arjun and now I am here.

Adi: Mahi is Yash's sister right? The same Mahi you mean?

Z: Yes, I didn't know you know Yash as well. I am very close to him too. He would very frequently come to Dehradun to meet us and during breaks at times we either went to Bombay to party to holiday where Yash was shooting.

A: Yash was my classmate in school and we hated each other. the hatred is still on you know.

Z: Are you serious?! You guys still fight? Hum Yash ko ache se jante hai. Woh aisi bachkani harkatein peeche chhod chuke hai

Aditya pulled Zoya close to him and put his arms around her waist. He looked at her and said..

Adi: Zoya, ab tum meri team mein ho, to please Yash ki side lena band kar do warna I have my ways of shutting you up.

Z: Accha, to ab aap humein bolne bhi nai denge?

A: Ek baar aur bolo and I will show you how.

Z: How Mr Hooda, how will you shut me up?

A: I will kiss those lips of yours till you decide to stay quiet hone wali Mrs. Aditya Hooda.

Zoya hadn't realized Aditya was referring to kissing her when she had started playfully arguing with him. She now blushed and thought about how will it feel when Aditya kisses her. The moon was all bright and shining and in the moonlight Zoya looked resplendent. Her white sharara made her look angel-like, and Aditya couldn't stop admiring her beauty. 

Z: It's really getting late Aditya. I thik I should go home now.

A: Zoya, stay for a little more while. I want a little more time with you. Have waited for so long to finally have someone in my life who actually wants to be with Aditya, the person I am and not the name Hooda that I carry.

He held her hand and they walked towards the swing. They both sat on the swing and he lied in her lap.

A: Do you mind if I rest my head on your lap. This way I'll be able to rest too and be able to focus on my theory. By the way are you hungry? I can order some sandwiches and coffee from kitchen.

Z: I am good but a cup of Hot cocoa won't hurt. Yes, you can rest up on my lap but I didn't understand about your theory.

A: I am not able to decide if you look prettier tonight or this moon. Aisa lag raha hai jaise mera chand zameen pe utar aaya hai Zoya.

Z: Aap bhi na Aditya. Kuch zyada hi flirt kar rahe hai hamare sath.

A: Zoya ma'am flirt uske sath kiya jata hai jise pataane ki koshish ho. You and I know you're already mine, so I don't need to flirt with you. This is called romancing and I agree I am guilty of romancing.

Zoya smiled and gradually rubbed her fingers in Adi's hair. He kept looking at her and with each passing minute he was sure of the fact that Zoya belonged to him.

A: You know Aditya means Sun? And this "Aditya", gets his "Life" which is "Zoya" from the Zoya sitting here. So whenever there is sun I am there with you and whenever there is moon, remember Aditya is thinking about you.

Z: I really didn't know you could romance Mr. Hooda.

A: Abhi aapne Aditya Hooda ko jana hi kahan hai!

Aditya suddenly got up from Zoya's lap and stood up. He held Zoya's hand and made her stand up too.

Z: Kya ho gaya suddenly aapko Aditya. Humein apna hot chocolate to finish kar lene dijiye.

A: Zoya, main ek minute tumhare paas aur baitha to I won't be able to resist myself from kissing you and I don't want to do anything now which will make you uncomfortable.

Zoya looked at him and smiled. She actually wanted him to kiss her. **Her thought bubble: Mr Hooda, ab to humne ikraar bhi kar liya hai. Apni aankhon mein pyar bhar rakha hai aapke liye, fir bhi aap duur hai humse.**

Z: Kya aap humein ghar drop kar denge?

A: Itni jaldi jaana chahti ho chhodkar? 

Aditya was playing with Zoya's hair with his head still in her lap. He pulled her hair gently tugging her face closer to his and slowly began to sing: 

"Abhi naa jao chhodkar, ke dil abhi bhara nahi. Abhi bahi to aayi ho, bahaar banke chaayi ho. Hawa zara mehak to le, nazar zara behek to le. Ye shaam dhal to le zara, ye dil sambhal to le zara. main thodi der jee to lun, nashe ke ghoont pee to lun. Abhi to kuch kaha nahi, abhi to kuch suna nahi"

Zoya held his face and said, " 3 baj rahe hai subah ke, jaana to padega ab." 

A: Okay, come let's drop you home.

While they got up and started walking towards the car, Zoya turned to Adi and asked, "Ab aage kya Aditya?"

A: Aage matlab? I am looking for opportunities in India. Will be easy for me. You can pick a wedding date. Waise bhi Pa is starting a business for Arjun and you. Uske baad 4 bachhe.

Z: Aap thoda zyada aage ka plan kar rahe hai Aditya. Hum aapse near future ki baat kar rahe hai. 21st ko uncle aunty ki anniversary hai and they want to announce our engagement then.

A: And do you have any problem with that?

Z: Aditya, kya aap itni jaldi is new relationship ke pressure ke liye taiyyar hai? I mean, Pooja and....

A: Zoya, Pooja aur mere relationship mein sirf main hi main tha. Pooja to kahin nai thi. I know I've been stupid about it and I want to get done with it. I want to move forward in life. I want to move on with you. Zindagi bhar sath dene ka waada kiya hai tumne Zoya.

Z: Humein pata hai Aditya. Humein bas aapki fikr hai. Hum aap pe koi pressure nai daalna chahte.

A: Ek vaada karo aaj, leave all these worries for me. Just be there by my side. I promise, I'll make everything right for both of us.

**Zoya's thought bubble: Aapse pyar karne lage hai hum Aditya Hooda, zindagi maang lijiye, who bhi de denge**

Z: I promise. I will equally share responsibility for everything between us. Kya hum aapse ek cheez pooch sakte hai?

A: Bilkul

Z: Kya is rishte mein pyar hai?

Aditya paused for a moment and turned around to look at Zoya. He didn't want to lie at all. This relationship was the closest he felt to being relevant, being mattered, being cared for. He knew love will come through, and when it does, it will bind them in an unbreakable bond.

A: Chalo ab, late ho raha hai. Kuch time mein tumhe wapas aana hai yahan.

Zoya realized Aditya didn't want to answer her question and also this that maybe she'd fallen for him first, but she promised to wait for him. For him to love her like she'd begun loving him.

Z: Wapas yahan? Kyun?

A: Mujhe uthaane with the bed-coffee. Who kya hai na, I don't wake up easily if I have a late night and everyone's scared of waking me up. Mom to busy hongi, to ye ab aapki responsibility hai na? (smiling)

Zoya smiled, she could see Aditya take small steps towards their relationship. She knew this somewhere in her heart that once Aditya begins to feel exactly how she does, he'll be the anchor of this.

Z: Hum aa jayenge subah. Aur koi farmaish janaab?

A: Ek hai

Z: Kya hai?

A: Ek kiss. Can I kiss you Zoya?

Zoya looked down and then looked up at him. She nodded her head. Aditya held her hand and softly pushed her against the car facing towards him. He looked at her lips and then in her eyes. He then rested his nose against hers and she could feel his warm breath on her lips and her face. She softly parted her lips and Aditya glued his lips to hers. He softly grazed on her lips and held her face. He couldn't stop from leaving her lips. Zoya broke the kiss and looked down. She tucked her hair behind her ears. Aditya looked at her and then looked at the moon in the sky. He whispered to Zoya, "Ye Chandni raat meri zindagi ki sabse khoobsurat raat hai."

He opened the car door for her and drove off to drop her to Siddiqui mansion.

Z: Aapko bata de ki hum apne friends ke sath vacation pe ja rahe hai. To Scotland, I'll be gone from 6th October to 4th November.

A: To tum ye apne shauhar ko bata rahi ho ya permission maang rahi ho. Because agar ye permission hai to ma'am permission denied.

Z: For your kind information, hum aapko bata rahe hai. Aur ye shauhar shauhar kya laga rakha hai. Abhi tak aap hamare shauhar hue nai hai.

Aditya stopped the car in front of Siddiqui mansion and didn't unlock the car.

Z: Car to unlock kariye.

A: Shauhar nai hua hun iska matlan hai there's a chance you'll leave me and go? Can you do that Zoya? Chhod dogi mujhe?

Z: Hum aapko kabhi nai chhodenge Aditya.

Aditya took Zoya in his embrace and said to her, "Waada karo Zoya, tum meri ho. Humesha meri rahogi, no matter what."

Z: I promise Aditya. Hum aapko kabhi nai chhodenge. Zindagi bhar aapke hi rahenge.

Aditya kisses Zoya on forehead and opens the car lock. She steps out of the car. He says, "I'll wait for you to come and wake me up."

18th September: 3 days to the anniversary party

Zoya wakes up feeling tired. But she had a huge smile on her face. She'd reached home only by 4 in the morning and by the time she could sleep it was already 5. Before sleeping she checked her phone and she'd received her first text from Aditya!

Message from Aditya Hooda: 4:49 AM

I'm off to bed, waiting for you to come and wake me up. If coffee doesn't do the trick, you know a kiss will. *wink*

It was 8:30 AM, by the time she got ready and dressed up, it was 9:15 AM. She stepped down to meet Ammi & Abba.

Waseem: Itni subah aap taiyyar hokar kahan ja rahi hai Zoya?

Z: Abba, Hooda House, woh Anjana Aunty ko thodi help chahiye thi.

W: Abhi se naye ghar ki saari responsibilities utha li hai aapne?

Z: Abba, please. Aap tang kar rahe hai humein. (smiling)

W: Achha, sorry bete. Hum aapko tang nahi karte.

Zoya reaches Hooda house and Anjana is delighted to see her there.

A: I was waiting for you only Zoya! Had to take your ring size, Adi, Arjun & I are going to pick up your & Noor's rings. I've already sent the sizes for Adi & Arjun to Roshnaq.

Z: Ji Aunty, Ammi was telling me. Has Aditya woken up yet?

A: Do you think? I've just sent Victor.

Zoya had a small laugh on her face. She'd kill to see Adi's expression when he finds Victor waking him up instead of Zoya. In a minute Victor comes running down.

V: Ma'am Baba is angry, he said he'd asked Zoya ma'am to wake him up. (Victor & Anjana both look at Zoya)

Zoya gets slightly embarrassed but gets up taking the mug of coffee from Victor's hands.

Z: Yes, umm.. give this cup to me. I'll go and wake him up.

Zoya walks to Adi's room and steps in. Adi is sleeping in his open shirt and lowers. He's lying on his stomach. Zoya goes and ruffles his hair. He immediately holds her wrist and pulls her closer. Zoya falls on him.

A: Where were you?

Z: I was downstairs. By the time I reached, Victor had just stepped in.

A: So how do you plan to compensate for being little late?

Zoya kisses Adi on his cheeks, "Like this." Adi continues to hold her and softly pecks on her lips. He says, "Good Morning Zoya. Please ensure I wake up every morning for the rest of my life with your lips glued to mine."

Z: From now onwards? I am not living with you so it isn't possible.

A: So you'll have to pay penalty for it

Z: And what is the penalty?

A: Whenever we meet, you'll have to let me kiss you double the times you've missed.

Zoya steps back and looks at Adi," This isn't fair."

A: Everything's fair in love and war and to put it on record, this isn't war my jaan.

Zoya blushed. So Adi had begun feeling similarly as her! She knew this was the start of her fairytale romance!