Hey guys,

I am here with the next part.

Hope you guys like it.

HOPE - THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SOUL
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" Ahhh... My head " Aditya woke up with a serious headache. " Wanna some more drink, Bhai? " asked Arjun sarcastically.

He looked at him who was giving at him disappointed look. He groaned in pain as the headache hit him again.

Arjun forwarded a glass of water with some pills. " Here, take this "

Aditya place the glass on side table after gulping the pills.

" What were you doing at Zoya's house, Bhai ? " Arjun asked and he looked at him confused.

Zoya

" Ms. Siddiqui's house ? I was there? " he asked confused.

" O yes Bhai..!! You were there fully drunk..!! You should thank Zoya, to handle you last night. " he said and he shut his eyes.

" Then, How am I-? "

" I was searching at every bar but you were no where. I called you and thank God, she picked up and told me that you were at her house, Safe. I brought you here immediately."

He had some faded memory of last night, but they were not clear.

" Why did I go to her house, Last night ? " he put some pressure on his brain to remember the things but groaned in pain due to severe headache.

He sat there for few minutes with closed eyes, then put the duvet on his hair laying on the bed again.

**********************************************

Aditya entered in the office after the lunch time. He looked towards her cabin finding her to engross in the work. His stare remained on her for more than a minute. Her eyes flickered and she bobbled her head up. As soon as she lifted her head, Aditya averted her eyes that instant and rushed towards his cabin. Zoya shook her head and started doing her work again.

Aditya came out after the office hour. He was working late because of his project needs new investors. He was about to sit in his car when he saw her standing on the other side looking for a cab. He looked behind her to see the puncher tyre of her car. He wait for sometime then headed towards her direction.

" Mmmh.. Ms. Siddiqui " he said clearing his throat. She looked at him startled. " Yaa Allah, You scared me..!! " she placed her palm on her heart.

He put his hand in surrender . " Sorry. " She nodded and he looked at her hesitated. " May I..May I drop you, home ? " He said pointed at her punchered car.

She gave a glance at the car and shook her head. " No, Thank you Mr. Hooda. I'll take a cab " He looked at the dark road and shook his head. " I..I insist "

She looked at him surprised and he gave her a small smile. She nodded and they headed towards his car.

There was a defining silence in the car. Aditya was looking straight and she was looking outside. They turned towards each other and gave an awkward smile and then turned their heads again. Aditya turned on the radio and a smile spread on their lips to listen to the person's voice.

'Hey guys, Yours RJ AJ is back with the Romance Masala this time, only on Radio City 91.1. What a lovely whether is tonight.'

Zoya opened the window and a cold breeze hit on her face. She closed her eyes and her hair flowed with the flow of air.

' Isn't it a weather, in which you hold the hand of the person you love and have a romantic long drive. So what are you waiting for..Leave you boring work and spend some quality time with your soulmate, with this beautiful song, which is on the way '

Dekha hazaron dafa aapko
Phir beqarari kaisi hai
Sambhale sambhalta nahi ye dil
Kuch aap mein baat aisi hai🎶

Lekar ijazat ab aap se
Saansein ye aati jaati hain
Dhoondhe se milte nahi hain hum
Bas aap hi aap baaki hain🎶

Pal bhar na doori sahein aap se
Betaabiyan yeh kuch aur hain
Hum door hoke bhi paas hain
Nazdeekiyan yeh kuch aur hain🎶

Dekha hazaro dafaa aapko
Phir beqarari kaisi hai
Sambhale sambhalta nahi ye dil
Kuch pyar mein baat aisi hai🎶

Their eyes find their way to each other and stay there for few second. Zoya averted her eyes first and he cleared his throat in awkward way. The atmosphere of the car was turned suffocating for both of them. An uneasiness was making her way in their heart.

Aditya turned off the Radio and Zoya gave him a small fake smile.

" Ehem.. " He cleared her throat. " Last night.." She stiffened at the mentioned of it. It was a weak moment for her and she doesn't want him to remember her broken state.

" If I did..I mean.. If I said something wrong last night, then ...I ...I am sorry " he said and she looked at him blankly. " And Thank you, ..for handling me till Arjun came " he said but his eyes were fixed on the road.

" Its..It's alright..Mr. Hooda " she said still looking outside the window.

They turned silent again. But little did they know that something changed after last night. Both were feeling lighthearted as if someone shared their pain and making it faded in a memory.

**************************************

2 Weeks passed and there was a change in their bonding. There were less arguments, less insults, less pain for both of them. They were behaving  calm towards each other, listening the perspectives of other, taking the business seriously not trying to trashed each other works.

Sometimes they had their lunch and coffee together with the staff. They are still not friends but they are not enemy either. Its like they are understanding each other.

" Mr. Hooda. We have a meeting with Mr. Raheja 3'O Clock. Are you ready? " she pointed towards the clock which showing 2:45 pm. He nodded and grabbed the file and headed towards the conference room.

He prepared all the papers and presentation. After two weeks he got someone to invest in his project. All he wants to impress the person coming in few second and he can start with this Project.

" Good Afternoon Mr. Hooda. Sorry, I am late ..!! " He shook Aditya's hand and turned towards Zoya " And you must be Ms. Siddiqui, I am Samay Raheja " He said with twitching lips and forward his hand for handshake.

Zoya placed her hand in his hand and he caressed it with his thumb holding it more than the necessary. Aditya looked at his behaviour and his palms turned into fist without his knowledge.

Zoya released her hand and gave him a fake smile.

" Shall we start Mr. Raheja " Aditya's voice made her snap out of his stare which was fixed on Zoya. He laughed slightly " Of Course "

He sat on a chair and Aditya started with his presentation. He was telling about his ideas and benefits of the project but his fist were clenching tightly to see him looking at Zoya lustily.

He shut his eyes and continued with his presentation. " Aaah... That's enough Mr. Hooda. I am pleased to invest in your company's project. I am sure you will be happy Ms. Siddiqui "

He said with a devilish smirk and Zoya gave a full blown smile. " Of Course Mr. Raheja. Thank you so much for investing in our project "

She said happily. A smile spread on Aditya's lips when she mentioned it 'our project'. But his eyes burned with anger as he saw him approaching her with his greedy stare.

He came in front of Zoya and shook his head when he tried to held Zoya's hand. " Thank you MR. Raheja. We will meet again, then."

Aditya said with finality in his tone and for a second he find himself intimidated by him. He gave a bright smile to Aditya. " Of Course, We will meet again. " he completed the sentence by looking at the Zoya behind her shoulder. She hid herself more behind him and Aditya shook his hand firmly.

As soon as he left the conference room after bidding his greetings, Zoya took a deep breath.

" You will not attend the next meeting with him " Aditya declared.

' Huh ? " she looked at him confused. " Mr. Hooda, he is our investor, and he expected both of us to be present in the next meeting. I have to be there " Zoya said, but she herself was afraid about this next meeting. She wasn't getting good feeling about this new guy.

" I said, you are not coming.And That's final " he growled and she looked at him blankly.

" But- "

In a flicker of eyes, he grabbed her from shoulders and pushed her to the wall. " Didn't you listen what I said, Ms. Siddiqui ? " he whispered angrily. " You. Are. Not. Coming. In. The. Next. Meeting. With. Him. "

He said every word specifically with a deadened tone and she gulped.

" Do you understand? " he put more pressure on her shoulders looking at her with burning eyes. She yelped in pain and he his eyes widen realizing what he was doing.

He took few step back immediately and raked his hand in his hair frustrated. He looked at her who had the glassy eyes and he lips were trembling. He shut his eyes cursing himself under his breath.

" Sorry "

He said the last word before he stormed out of the conference room hurriedly. Zoya kept looking at the door blankly.

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So, This is the second Part.

Just last part left. Will update it soon too. 😊

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Till then

Be happy and keep smiling

#Love #Ragika💕