Zoya walked into the lobby of Zosh's building. The receptionist smiled and let her through without asking any questions. Zoya took the elevator up to the top floor, the floor where Aditya and Arjun's offices were located.

That morning, she woke to a sleeping Adiya and an otherwise empty bedroom. Aditya seemed to have left for work extra early. A few hours later, she got a call from Noor Siddiqui, a well known photographer and also her cousin. Noor and Zoya grew up together, but they really became close when she was still a struggling model. Noor was her first photographer and she went on a fashion assignment abroad around the same time Zoya got pregnant. They lost touch around that time. However, she was now back from her two year assignment.

That was reason Zoya now stood in Zosh's grandeur elevator. Noor wanted to have lunch with Zoya today and catch up.

Zoya has been calling Aditya all morning to let him know that she will be out with a friend, but he hasn't been picking up her calls. No surprise there. So Zoya decided to simply drop by before her lunch date with Noor. At first she hesitated to come...knowing that Aditya won't be too pleased in seeing her. But she wanted to let him know none-the-less that she might be late coming home tonight. She stepped out of the elevator and was greeted by a huge poster of Pooja Mathur.

She walked up to the picture and longingly looked at it...her picture used to be there as well. When she used to be the face of Zosh.

"I still say your picture looked the best on that wall." Zoya turned to the owner of the deep voice and came face-to-face with a smiling Arjun. She smiled back as he approached Zoya and gave her a peck on the cheek, greeting her.

"What are you doing here Babhi?" Arjun asked, curious.

"I came to tell Aditya something...is he in his cabin?" Zoya asked as casually as possible, trying to sound like it's the most natural thing for her to visit her husband.

"You're right on time. He just came back from a meeting. Go right ahead." Arjun replied before going on his way.

Zoya reached Aditya's cabin door and took a deep breath before knocking. When Aditya replied, she entered. It's amazing how a person's expression can change in a second. Aditya's expression went from curious to frosty with a blink of an eye.

"What do you want?" Aditya asked emotionlessly.

"Sor...sorry to...sorry to bother you...you wouldn't answer your phone, so..." Zoya stammered.

"Come to the point. I don't have all day." Aditya said cutting her off.

Zoya took a deep calming breath before continuing, "I just came to tell you that I'll be going out with a friend today..." "So?" Aditya rudely cut her off again.

He shuffled some papers on his desk before continuing, "I don't care what you do and who you do it with." Aditya said, dismissing her. He didn't bother looking back up, even when he heard his cabin door gently close.

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Aditya entered his mansion to find one of his maids still there. She bowed in front of him in greeting. Aditya frowned, "What are you still doing here? It's..." he asked curiously and looked at his watch, "11:30 pm."

"Forgive me sir, but madam is not back yet and she gave me specific instructions to stay with Adiya until one of you came back." The maid said before bowing again and making her exit.

Aditya frowned at the maid's retreating back. 'Not back yet? Where could she be this late at night?' he thought to himself. Then he remembered Zoya mentioning earlier today that she was going out with a friend. 'But who would she be with this late at night...?'Aditya paused, thinking, and then shrugged off the question. 'Like he cared...if he's lucky she won't come back.' Aditya thought stubbornly, brushing off his previous thoughts.

He took a quick shower and hurried to the nursery. He didn't spend as much time as he liked with Adiya, since Adiya was with Zoya most of the time. Aditya reached the nursery and his usually cold face softened when he saw Adiya in her crib, playing with her teddy bear.

"Hi baby..." Aditya murmured as he lifted Adiya into his arms, pressing a gentle kiss on her temple. Adiya cooed, putting her chubby little hands on Aditya's cheeks. When Aditya smiled, Adiya giggled as the stubble tickled her chubby hands.

Aditya sat with Adiya in the rocking chair and softly hummed a lullaby. When Adiya's eyes finally closed, Aditya glanced at the clock...12:15am.

He wasn't waiting...of course he wasn't waiting...

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Zoya stepped into the mansion at 12:45am, expecting the maid to still be there. She frowned when she didn't see her anywhere. She specifically told the maid to stay with Adiya until she or Aditya came back. 'Does that mean Aditya...? No...he never comes back this early. The maid was probably around somewhere.' Zoya thought.

Zoya looked around the empty house. It felt...lonely...so lonely. Just bricks...no warmth...no love...no happiness. Even though Zoya masked it well in front of Noor, she felt a little hollow inside, Aditya's words still ringing in her ears from this afternoon. His words have always been harsh...and they have always pierced Zoya's heart, bruising it little by little. When was the last time she felt her own heart beat? Years...All she felt now was numbness.

Zoya went straight to the nursery, wanting to check up on Adiya before she went for a shower...and she was welcomed by a warm sight...

There was Aditya...sleeping on the rocking chair while holding a sleeping Adiya in his arms.

Zoya watched them for a few moments, soaking in every detail...capturing this moment in her memory. It was rare to see father and daughter together like this...completely unguarded and at peace.

She then moved as quietly as possible, taking a blanket and placing it over their sleeping forms. She lightly caressed Adiya's cheek before kissing her head. She then glanced at Aditya's sleeping face...she knew she shouldn't have...but she couldn't help herself. She placed a gentle kiss on Aditya's forehead as well, before quietly leaving, closing the door behind her.

Aditya opened his eyes slightly, catching a glimpse of Zoya's retreating back, before he simply stared at the now closed door. He looked at it for several moments, lost in his thoughts...hidden emotions reflecting in his eyes; until he felt Adiya shift in his arms.

"sssshhhhh...." Aditya softly said as he went back to soothing his daughter.