Aditya and Zoya stared at each other without a word for an hour. The sound of the door being unlocked bought them back to their senses. Zoya got up and said 'Start the preparations for the engagement.' She left , wiping her tears that now fell from her eyes uncontrollably. She went to her room and closed the door. Aditya saw Arjun staring at him with a helpless expression. He  said 'Let's get started.' Arjun nodded. So Aditya worked till midnight and fell asleep on the couch. Zoya came out from her room and saw him. She pulled out a blanket from her closet and wrapped it over him. She outstretched her hand to stroke his hair. A tear drop fell from her eyes on his forehead. Zoya went after some time. Aditya opened his eyes and touched the place where the tear drop had fallen. He said to himself
'Why can't you just say it once? Am I not worth fighting your inner demons for ? I wish you would say it Zoya. Say that you care for me. Say that you love me. Take the first step and only then I can take the next. Let this not be an incomplete love story. I want to be yours forever. But I cant be so unless you ask me to.Please Zoya.. before it's too late.' He wished that Zoya could have heard what he said. The next day passed and Aditya completed the arrangement for the engagement. At night he went to Zoya's room and said 'So big day tomorrow.'
She smiled a bit and said 'Yeah. And even the press is going to cover it. The preparations are all good ?'
Aditya said 'They are as perfect as you are... I mean as you wanted them to be.'
He then paused for a while and then
took out a small box from his pocket. He gave it to her.
Zoya asked 'What is this ?'
Aditya  said 'It's just a small engagement present.'
Zoya opened the box and saw a beautiful locket made up of a blue stone. She asked 'Is it a diamond?'
Aditya said 'A very rare diamond.'
Annika picked it up gently and said 'This is beautiful. Honestly, you didn't have to get this . It must be so expensive. I really can't accept it."
She was about to return it to him when he caught her hand and pressed the locket back in her palm
He said "This is the only thing that you will have to remember me by. This is the only thing that will make you feel safe and secure because I know that's what I make you feel. This is the only thing that will help you get over your worst days. This is the only thing that will make you regret your fears and your hasty decisions. Please take it. I can offer you so many things but at the moment I am helpless and this is the only thing that I can give you."
His voice was quivering because of the tears. He saw Zoya's brown orbs shedding silent tears. He cupped her heart shaped face and wiped her tears. "You can't. Not while I am here. You can't cry. I wont let you."
Zoya didn't know what to say. She took the chain and tried to put it around her neck but failed as her hands were shaking and Aditya asked 'May I?'
He put the chain gently around her neck and said 'There you go. It looks nice on you." He smiled sadly.
Zoya and Aditya stared at each other in the mirror. After some time she said 'Thank you for this. I will keep it with me forever.'
Aditya whispered in her ears while gently brushing his lips to her ear lobes. 'You will always  have me forever.'With that
he left and Zoya touched the area where Aditya's lips had brushed and closed her eyes.
She clutched at the locket and held it in her fist and before she knew it she fell asleep with tears streaming down her eyes.

The next morning she woke up and found  her room ready with all the things she would need to get ready for her engagement. After doing a bit of work , she decided to get ready. She looked radiant in her midnight blue gown with stars. Her hair done up in a carefully careless bun had few locks of hair falling on her face which made her look beautiful. She was glowing and when she came down all eyes were just on her. Aditya just couldn't help but keep staring at her. He had never seen anything more beautiful. She was more beautiful than a princess and more graceful than a fairy. Abhimanyu came forwards to take Zoya's hand and led her to the place where everyone was seated for the engagement. Mr.Sharma complimented Zoya and she smiled. Aditya noticed how beautiful her smile was. He thought , 'if only Zoya had called off this marriage, that smile could have been mine to watch for my entire life. I never thought I would fall in love but now when I have fallen in love so hard I can't do anything about it. I hate being so helpless." He wanted to scream but was restraining himself.
Mr.Sharma asked for the engagement rings to be brought to them. Zoya slid the ring in Abhimanyu's finger but the ring to be put on Zoya's finger slipped from Abhimanyu's hands. Aditya and Arjun looked for it and Aditya found it. He was still on one knee as he held out the ring to Zoya. They looked at each other with the exact same thoughts racing in their minds. Zoya took the ring from Aditya and placed it on her finger. The engagement ceremony ended and Mr.Sharma said 'This calls for a customary dance from the couple.'. The lights dimmed and the music played. Zoya and Abhimanyu did a slow waltz while Aditya watched from a distance. When it ended Aditya asked Zoya for a dance with him. He put one arm around her waist and pulled her close. He whispered 'You look ravishing.' Zoya smiled and  said 'It's the magic of your locket .' Zoya and Aditya danced lost in each other and thinking of everything that they could have said , had said and the time they had spent with each other. They were trying to communicate without words when suddenly the door opened and their trance broke. They turned and saw a woman with policemen. One of the policemen said 'Aditya Hooda you are under arrest under the charge that you harassed this lady here.'
Aditya looked shocked and Zoya looked at him. Aditya  shook his head but Zoya turned away.

What will happen to Aditya? Is he innocent and will Zoya believe him? Stay tuned for more. Do drop in your comments and views. Lots of love..