*2 MONTHS LATER*

Aditya stopped working in his cabin and picked up his ringing cell phone. His heart skipped a beat after he heard what the person had to say on the other line.

"I found her...she's living in an apartment in Mussoorie. The place is under Noor Siddiqui's name." Arjun informed over the phone.

"Thanks bhai..." Aditya whispered before hanging up. He took a long breath to calm his racing heart. He then turned to his phone again and dialed another number.

"Get my jet ready." Aditya ordered into the phone as he made his way to the door.

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"Really...I can't thank you enough for helping me." Zoya said for the umpteenth time.

"Oh stop it now appi, that's what family is for...we help each other." Noor said, brushing off Zoya's gratitude. Her face then became serious as she continued, "I only wish I could do more...seriously Zoya appi, why don't you just divorce him?"

Zoya stayed quiet for a moment, contemplating the idea. "I need to think more about this. Divorce is a big step and I need to consider Adiya as well. I can't deprive her of her father's love...but at the same time I can't go back after what happened." Zoya replied back, her heart aching remembering that night...remembering the ugliness of it.

After a drunken Aditya left that night, Zoya couldn't stay in that house any longer. So she took her daughter and left. Before she even realized it, she was knocking on Noor's door. Noor took Zoya in without a question and patiently waited until Zoya finally told Noor everything. It wasn't long until Noor helped Zoya and Adiya settle into her apartment in Mussoorie. She told Zoya that she could stay as long as she liked or at least until Zoya decided what she wanted to do with her marriage to Aditya.

In all honesty...that night scared Zoya to death. Sure Aditya didn't rape her...he realized what he was doing before it was too late, but the incident scarred her none-the-less. Did he really hate her that much to do something like that? The fury she saw in his eyes that night...it chilled her to the core. Whatever little hope she had from the marriage vanished after that night. She felt nothing now...nothing.

"Zoya appi are you listening?" Noor asked, interrupting Zoya's thoughts.

"Huh? Oh sorry...Umm...what did you say?" Zoya asked, giving her full attention to Noor.

"I was asking where Adiya is." Noor continued.

"Oh she's sleeping; she should be up in about ten minutes." Zoya replied. Noor and Zoya continued chatting until a knock on the door interrupted them.

Zoya knew who it was even before Noor opened the door. She felt that cold feeling wrap around her heart...and freeze it.

"What do you want?" Noor asked in a venomous tone as she faced Aditya, her eyes shooting daggers.

Aditya didn't bother answering Noor; his whole attention was on Zoya, who was standing behind Noor in the living room.

Their eyes met and there was only silence...the air around them was thick with tension and no one said anything. After a few moments, Aditya finally spoke.

"Zoya..." he murmured affectionately.

Zoya took a sharp intake of breath. The tenderness in Aditya's voice surprised her. It's like he caressed her with his voice. He never used that tone with her before and it was completely foreign to her.

"Zoya, can I talk to you?...Please..." Aditya gently requested. He gave a pleading look when Noor protested.

Zoya hesitated, a battle of emotions raging inside her, but finally placed a hand on Noor's shoulder. "It's ok...I'll be fine." she said in a soft tone.

Aditya gave a hopeful look. Noor, on the other hand, didn't like the idea one bit. However, seeing the composed look on Zoya's face, Noor decided to give them some time alone.

"I'll be right outside if you need me..." Noor said. She gave Aditya a warning glance before exiting the apartment.

The door closed gently and silence filled the room once again. Neither said anything until Aditya took the initiative and made the first move. He stepped forward.

Zoya stepped back in defense. Aditya saw alarm enter Zoya's eyes and his heart sank...it was all his fault. It was his fault that she was scared of him.

Zoya cursed herself in her mind for showing weakness. She wanted to look strong in front of him. She wanted to show that she wasn't afraid of him anymore. That she didn't care what he did anymore. Aditya took another cautious step, and this time Zoya stayed firm. She looked at him coldly, showing no emotion on her face. But if Aditya calling her name tenderly surprised her...what he did next completely shocked her.

Aditya went down on one knee and lowered his head in front of her. "I'm sorry..." he murmured softly, "I'm so sorry...I'm sorry for the way I treated you...I'm sorry for blaming you...I'm sorry for hurting you...I'm sorry for not cherishing you. I know that night wasn't your fault and yet I kept on blaming you. I've been a horrible husband...mein samaj nahin paya...mein pehchaan nahin paya...please...mujhe maaf kardo...I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me..." When he looked up, his eyes were glistening and his face held deep regret.

Zoya swallowed hard, an attempt to stop the tears balling up in her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She couldn't believe the man kneeling in front of her was her husband, the man who hurt her countless times through their marriage. The great and powerful Aditya Hooda who ruled the fashion world with an iron fist, was down on his knees asking forgiveness. She saw the sincerity in his eyes, but she could not forget the pain he gave her.

Adiya's cries saved Zoya from saying anything to Aditya at that moment. She rushed to the bedroom and picked up her daughter, gently patting her back and shushing her. A tear slipped from the corner of Zoya's eye and she quickly brushed it away, afraid that Aditya might see it. When Zoya turned around, Aditya was standing by the entrance, his face full of emotions at seeing his daughter after 2 months.

Adiya noticed her dad as well. She made gurgling noises and extended her chubby arms towards Aditya, asking for her father's touch. Aditya excitedly went towards her, but caught himself and suddenly halted. His eyes shifted to Zoya when he realized she was still uncomfortable by his presence and he was trespassing in her bedroom.

Adiya began fussing when she saw her father stop, and began to whimper before letting out a wail. Aditya immediately took the last few steps and took Adiya into his arms, hugging her tightly. He placed several kisses on Adiya's face and buried his face on the curve of Adiya's neck, inhaling her baby scent. Adiya stopped crying and nuzzled into Aditya's neck, liking the familiarity of her father's strong arms.

Aditya then shifted his eyes to Zoya, who was quietly watching them. She hasn't said a word to him this whole time. Aditya didn't know what was going through her mind, but gathered up the courage and spoke again, "Please come home Zoya. It's so empty without you and Adiya. I want my family back...please...give me another chance...come back home", he pleaded.

After another moment of silence, Zoya finally spoke, "How can you expect me to forget everything so easily?"

Aditya stayed quiet and Zoya continued, "You say that the house feels empty without me...my life has been empty for the past two years...our marriage has been empty for the last two years...my heart's felt empty for the last two years. How do you plan to fix that?" she asked. When Aditya opened his mouth to apologize again, Zoya raised her hand, silencing him.

"Enough Aditya...you've said what you had to say. Now it's my turn to speak and for you to listen..." Zoya said firmly, "I've wished for you to accept me as your wife ever since we got married. Despite everything you said...I still hoped that maybe...maybe you'll develop feelings for me...just like I did for you..." Zoya paused to steady her quivering voice. When she had control again, she continued, "But you crossed the line that night."

"I'm so sorry Zoya..." Aditya said, "I was drunk...and I was jealous thinking that you started liking Yash..."

"But that doesn't justify what you tried to do" Zoya said, cutting Aditya off.

"Sach mein Aditya...aap humse inti nafrat karte hai kya?...Ke humhe iss tara zaleel karne pe uttar aaye?" Zoya asked, her eyes tearing up, their hollowness an indication of her broken soul.

"No...no...it's not like tha..." Aditya began to explain, hating himself even further. But he was cut off again. "Enough Aditya. I've had enough." Zoya said firmly, her decision sounding final.

However, Zoya walked closer to Aditya and caressed Adiya's face, who was resting her head on her father's shoulder, completely oblivious to the pain surrounding her parents.

"I'll come back home." Zoya whispered, "For Adiya's sake...I'll come back home. She needs her father." she stated. Hope rose in Aditya's heart but was crushed with what Zoya said next.

"But there can never be anything between us...ever." She then looked at Aditya, eyes cold as steel. "Image is everything right Mr. Hooda?", Zoya asked, using Aditya's own words against him.

"I'll be your wife in front of everyone. The world will see you as a happily married man...but you will never have access to my heart. You've broken it too many times...and I refuse to give you that power again."

Zoya took Adiya from Aditya's arms and turned to place her in her crib. Zoya then turned to look at a devastated Aditya and said in a chillingly steady voice, "You may leave now. I will need a few days to pack everything before I move back with Adiya."

Aditya's heart felt like itwas bleeding. He gave Zoya a defeated look and quietly walked away.

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