Chapter 26

Sunlight seeped in through the curtains illuminating and shining its glows on the wrapped up love birds. Peace lines have itched on their foreheads. The sweet scent of drenched in sweat and warmness envelopes around them. Zoya stirs while squishing her eyes with a groan. She smiles snuggling close to the warmth as the sunlight wasn't falling on her anymore. Aditya's lips curve up in a smile seeing her head on his shoulder and her arms neatly draped around his waist. He had placed his palm over her head blocking the sunlight from disturbing his Titli's sleep.

Zoya opens her eyes slowly and looks up feeling herself tangled in his arms . Aditya gives her a heart-warming smile , caught in his smile she gives him a smile back . He drops a small kiss on her forehead .

"How are you feeling now?" He asks slowly

Zoya jerks back to reality as she looks down while pulling the duvet off to see him shirtless and her t-shirt ridden up exposing her inners . His arm around her bare waist . Tears brims her eyes as she misunderstands him , "What's all this?" , She whispers yells

Aditya looks at her narrowing his brows confused "What?" he asks softly

"You took advantage didn't you?" Soon as the words leave her mouth Zoya regretted the way he harshly pulled away from her. The hurt and the anger in his eyes spoke volumes. She was wrong yet again!

"This is what you thought of me?" He didn't shout yet the softness in his voice broke her

She didn't mean to but he was gone before she could explain. Zoya pulls her t-shirt down as she slips into her slippers. The moment she felt the pang of pain in her abdomen the memories of last night come back in a flash . The extreme care and affection he had displayed her during this time – many men wouldn't do it. Yet she hurt him without thinking. She sits on the bed as tears brim her eyes. She wronged him yet again.

Zoya wipes her tears off hastily seeing him walking out dressed up. He had worn the shirt not even bothering to call her. So is the thread that was binding them too loosened up? Zoya sees him walk up to her. Her lashes lower down seeing him leaning over her. She sees trough the corner of her eyes to see him placing a glass of water along with fenugreek seeds .

"Have them – it will help with the pain" with that said he walks out not even turning around to look at her .

A lump forms in her throat as she ends up choking out a sob "How can I let you go when you being so caring?" , She was trying to be selfish when at the first place it was her who wanted to leave him but isn't it human nature?

Luna jumps onto Zoya's lap while purring as if asking Zoya not to cry. Unable to bear the agony she was going through she hugs Luna crying.

***

Aditya knew anytime soon he had to let her go. Not when she had started losing trust in him? , how could she accuse him on something so low? Sat in front of the lawyer who was drawing up the papers. Aditya could not help but feel as if a part of him leaving his body. How can he go without her? he had got used to her affection, care and little arguments. How can he?

Aditya walks into the room that day noon to see her arranging his shirts on the wardrobe. Each step he took towards her felt like an eternity a part of him leaving his soul little by little perhaps.

The silence filled each nook and corner as she held onto the wardrobe door tightly. Her heart clenching with the thought of why he would be here. Her breath quickening with each step he took forward. At that moment even the birds had ceased to sing. The silence was like a gaping void, needing to be filled with sounds, words, anything.

His own breath is rapid. Was he really gonna do this? The thought of not having her around squeezed his insides. Will he be able to go on his days without seeing her heart warming smiles? or the hugs he would give her?

A nervous sad chuckle leaves his lips once he reaches her. Zoya couldn't look into his eyes she knew she is gonna breakdown badly if she looks into his eyes .

"Ti—Zoya" , another nervous chuckle leaves his lips. His own eyes blurring

She turns around her lashes lowered down to the tile patterns down. Pulling her palm he places the papers in her hand . She didn't have the strength to read what was written. She isn't strong neither brave. Her heart was shattering like a glass

"That was it nah? Titli – All we had?" , The sadness in his voice followed by a sad chuckle made her own eyes blurry. Her fingers gripped tightly around the papers as he held it from the other corner.

"Was it easy to let me go?" Her voice cracks

"Isn't this what you wanted?" , He retorts back

"Not--after yesterday" she whispers softly as a tear makes its way down her cheeks but he had already left not hearing from her side.

The papers in her palm get crushed mercilessly as she falls on her knees sobbing silently. Why did he do this? Why? Can't he just talk to me once again? How can I leave him that too not after the closeness of yesterday.

***

She couldn't even think of staying another minute in his place not when he had indirectly put her out of his life. She hadn't even read the papers neither she had any idea of doing so. She wanted to but she isn't that brave to see his signatures on the piece of paper she was holding in her hands right now.

Each nook and corner of the room had memories of them together. Those giggles and little banters. The mirror she was standing in front of right now had the most memories of them together. Each morning the way he placed sindoor and the small affectionate kiss he places on her forehead. Those little touches which would tingle in her heart while the butterflies would fly in her stomach, So this was the end to everything?

Aditya smiles sadly while running his fingers on the kitchen counter. The same place where he had pulled her in his arms between his legs. The same place where they made food together. Few touches here and there she would blush. She had thought he hadn't noticed but he did through the corner of his eyes. Her eyes fluttering close while he would place a soft kiss on her forehead was the best of the memory he ever had with her. But after yesterday having her so close to him in his arms and now knowing he wouldn't ever get to have her this close hurt him bad. Gulping down a glass of water Aditya walks out of the kitchen as he stops dead on his tracks panic filling in as he saw her standing in front of him with her suitcase held in the other hand.

***

The car stopped right in front of the railway station. His hands clenched tightly on the steering wheel. Never had a twenty minutes drive felt long yet it did, hearts attached in longing yet the stubbornness wins over. Emotions heavy, the birds chirping nor the silence in the surrounding could bring calm and peace. At that moment he wanted to stop her and she wanted him to stop her yet the brain takeovers as hearts wails.

She steps out of the car nor looks was passed to his side neither his head turned to look at her one last time. Heavy steps she moved forward neither had he looked at nor had she turned. No goodbyes were neither said as she left him and his life.

In loneliness, she sat in the bench until her train arrived to take her away from here ..from his life. Her eyes would dart to the platform entrance once in a while longing she would be able to get a glimpse of him. She lets out a whimper as each time she is disappointed. He didn't come behind her! Why would he? after all she was the one who wronged and accused him . The train from Mussorie to Delhi arrives at the platform. She wipes her tears hastily as she stands up while pulling her suitcase with her . A part of her breaking and perhaps she was leaving her soul behind. She was leaving the man with whom she had fallen so badly. Love hurts they say and she was feeling it right now.

"Zoya"

She stops on her steps hearing his voice. A hope blooming in her heart as she turns around to see him stopping a few feet away from her panting for breath with Luna on his shoulder.

"You left Luna"

The smile which was appearing disappears as she hears his words. He had come yet again to give her the kitten, her Luna, not for her.

As soon as Luna sees Zoya it jumps from Aditya and purrs caressing Zoya's leg as if asking her to carry her. She smiles seeing Luna as she pulls Luna into her arms. He didn't even want to have a kitten which she bought! Zoya thinks sadly while caressing Luna's furs.

Aditya looks away his mind reeling from how restless he was until he had seen her. He had gone home right after dropping her and sat on a sofa. His mind was full of her. He imagined her in front of him on every nook and corner. Not even an hour exactly he felt like his soul had left with the new Aditya she made. He missed her like Tom would miss his Jerry. Aditya looks down feeling someone caressing his foot. He looks down to see Luna whimpering her eyes blurry and looking around as if searching for someone.

"You too are missing her – don't you?" Aditya asks for the first time carrying Luna in his arms, someone he disliked, he was missing his Titli so much that he wanted to find comfort in the little kitten she got home.

"Ask her to come back Luna –How can we both go without her? We need her Luna to don't we?" Aditya cries while hugging Luna.

"Why does it happen to me every time? each time I feel I am getting happiness – I am deprived of it –Why Luna? –Why didn't she stop? Why couldn't she just slap me and stay here? I need her Luna"

The kitten who didn't know what to do whimpers a little in his arms, She had been used to him always pushing her away but seeing him holding her close in his arms she couldn't do anything but whimper a little.

Aditya pulls back and looks into Luna's eyes as if trying to read what those eyes were trying to tell him. A small smile on the kitten's lips with a purr was all Aditya needed to know the answers. He was going to meet her once.

Aditya shakes his head hearing her call him "Aditya", he wipes the thin layer which had coated his eyes and turns to face her a small sad smile playing on his lips.

"I am –leaving," She says with difficulty.

He nods and walks by her side. Silence - The Feeling of separation fills in their hearts as they felt heavy while walking side by side.

Zoya takes two steps forward while gulping the lump which was forming. He holds her wrist as tears pool up while standing in front of her .

"One last time " He whispers before engulfing her in his embrace tightly as if she would vanish while burying his head on her nape letting the tears fall freely wetting her shoulder.

She muffles a sob while fisting her palms wanting and at the same time unable to hug him back . She was left to choose between her heart and his happiness. Zoya sobs silently in his arms her palms clutching his shirt from behind tightly as if scared to let him go. After what felt like eternity Aditya pulls away to see her looking down as if scared to gaze into his eyes.

Zoya walks away in fast steps she knew a minute she'd be there she'll end up hugging him yet again. Aditya looks at her going with Luna running behind her. She helps Luna into the train while getting in herself. A last glance at him before she moves away from his side. She leans onto the train door while letting the tears stream down. This was way too harder than she thought it to be.

Aditya looks down trying to get rid of the thin coating layer which had made his vision blurry. She was going away and he could do nothing to stop her. He sprains his neck feeling the wetness in his shirt shoulder. Her wet tears and the way she clutched him was as if she was scared to let him go .. was she feeling the same way he did? .His lips curve up in a small smile as he rubs of his tears.

Zoya places her palm on her neck feeling wet there. His tears – Was he crying for me? Did he want me as much as I do? Zoya looks out to see him standing in the platform. She sees him pulling out his phone.

"Hello Mahi"

He was loud enough to grab her attention. Zoya looks at him, her own brows narrowing.

"Yes –I am ALONE at home"

Zoya fists her palm hearing him tell that he is alone at home that too exaggerating the word.

"Yeah I am very much single – "

"Single from when?" Zoya mumbles pissed seeing how he was talking not even glancing at her.

"What date? tonight?"

That was enough for Zoya to lose her temper. She jumps from the train as it was taking off along with Luna after throwing her suitcase.

***

I really don't know how it turned out to be! I am sorry if it wasn't up to expectations

I am a bit caught with my work life and personal reasons so updates might take a bit of time. I am sorry in advance : ) and thank you for ones holding up to me still