Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Aditya took one last look in the mirror before walking further down the hallway. Sure, he was nervous, who wouldn't be? But now was the only chance he'd get to try and make his best friend see that he was all man and no longer that stupid boy. If he didn't win her over by the end of the trip, he'd do the decent thing and let her go- even if it broke his heart, which of course, he knew it would.

Peering down at his watch, he rounded the corner, "Munchkin, are you read-" halting in his steps at the vision before him, his mouth fell open to say something, anything, but quickly shut at the very second she began to hop up and down.

"Meow, Meowwwww" Zoya held two fingers above her head like cat ears and bucked her head as she stood atop the countertop on one unsteady foot.

"What are you doing?" His brow raised as he took in the madness that was his brown-eyed girl.

Jumping at the intrusion, she spun toward him. "There's a thing on the floor" her finger waggled at it, "I thought if I sounded like a cat it might go away" she shrugged. Okay, so maybe she sounded crazy, maybe a little bit silly, but who cared? Definitely not her. There was a method to her madness, cats ate bugs so, therefore, bugs would fear cats... right?

"Um," he ran a hand down his face, stopping above his lips to hide his smile. Clearing his throat, he smirked. "Zoya" he began, not really knowing what else to say. "That's an ant".

Rolling her eyes, Zoya clicked her tongue in annoyance. "I am aware of that, ants crawl, they also bite, I've watched enough marvel movies to know how this ends, I wasn't destined to be Ant Woman!". Placing her hands on her hips, she offered him a scowl only to stumble on her heels and rock forwards "OH MY GOSH, WHAT IF IT'S A FLEA?" She yelled.

"Then you'll be Flea Woman" Aditya snickered at how wide her eyes were as she blinked at him with a pout on her lips.

"No, you fool" she waved her hand at him. "Fleas jump, oh my god" her shoulders slumped at the realisation, "Fleas jump!". Before he could respond, she was leaping through the air and into his awaiting arms, her legs tight around his waist and arms locked around his neck, "Don't put me down, don't put me down" she cried. At this point her childhood bully was her float, the only thing saving her from drowning in flea-ants.

Faltering back into the wall, he looked down at the woman in his arms in admiration. "Hello, Munchkin" the corner of his lips twitched to hide the smile he so badly wanted to show.

Scrunching her nose up, she blew out a large breath "Can't you just call me Zoya, you know, like normal people do?"

"Oooh the claws are out, kitty" he chuckled into her shoulder. Deciding it wouldn't be right to miss this opportunity, he put on his best innocent expression, "Don't you know, fleas are attracted to cats?"

Her mouth formed a perfect O the second she realised the bane of her life was actually right- for once. "Um, Woof?" She tried.

This time, he threw his head back, a loud laugh crawling up his chest as he did. "You really are something else, you know that, right?"

"Of course" she flicked her hair. "Now, take me to my suitcase, Driver" she ordered, a wide grin on her face.

Usually, he'd take this moment to say something flirty, but since this was the closest he'd ever got to her, he had no intention to ruin it by opening his mouth and sending them back to step one again. Heading to the door, he tightened his arm around her waist when his older brother came into sight, gritting his teeth, he almost released a growl. "Karan" he spat.

"Aditya" he smiled smugly.

Oblivious to the elephant in the room, Zoya jumped down. "Hello, I'm so sad you can't come with us on holiday" she frowned, "It won't be the same without you".

His brows joined as he peered down at her. "Holiday? What holiday?"

"Heh?" She exclaimed far too loudly, "You didn't know? Tauba, tauba!" Twisting on her heels, she pointed her finger at her arch-nemesis "You didn't tell your own brother we were going away?"

His face paled. "Munchkin, I" he paused, if he told her the truth that this was Noor's plan then she'd be in trouble and he didn't want that, he also didn't want to take the blame and ruin the tiny bit of progress they'd just made.

"Munchkin, you what?" Smacking her hands on her hips, her gaze turned cold. Why was it every time she thought he was good that he proved her wrong? What really was the point in trying to be his friend when he treated his own brother this poorly? "Why aren't you saying anything?" Hitting her cheeks dramatically, she leant in "Are you covering for someone? Is this like one of those Detective shows I like? Do I have to work out the clues?" Bopping on her feet, she almost clapped out of excitement.

Slinging his arm over her shoulder, Karan chuckled. "Seems my brother wanted you all to his self, I wonder what he was planning on doing to you all alone up there?"

"What, what do you mean?" Zoya felt her mouth go dry at his words, surely he didn't mean what she thought he meant?

"I think you know" he shrugged.

Her eyes widened significantly "I think I do" she nodded. "He's going to take me into the forest, tie me to a tree and dance naked around me as he summons a spirit, isn't he?" See, she'd heard of these tales before, but it'd never crossed her mind that Aditya was in a cult. Then again, it seemed so obvious now; he'd gone away for years, disappearing into thin air, he'd gotten a hell of a lot more muscular and last of all, he seemed so disturbed about something. It was the most obvious conclusion, she almost hit herself for not thinking of it before.

"Wait, what?" Hitting his forehead, he swore under his breath. "No" shaking his head, he placed his hands on her shoulders. "What do bad men do to good girls?"

Pulling a face, she hummed in confusion "Oh, oh, I know, they take advantage of them!"

About to sigh in relief, he was taken aback when she continued.

"By telling them lies because they're gullible, right?" Zoya crossed her arms over her chest as she stepped away. Looking between the brothers, she giggled at their downtrodden expressions, "I'm only joking, I know neither of you would do that to me, even the big bad wolf over here" she nudged Aditya playfully. If she was being honest, she was most confused, but then again, wasn't she always?

"You do?" Aditya's jaw dropped.

"Course!" She hit his arm. "You aren't the sly type, you'd hurt me to my face rather than behind my back".

His face fell at her words. "You really think that?"

"Why would she think anything else?" Karan butted in.

"You" he snarled in disgust. He went to step closer only to feel a hand on his chest. Looking down, he stopped, "Noor?"

So as not to make a scene, she pushed him away quickly then grabbed her sister's arm. "We have to go" eyeing her warningly, she tugged her away.

"But, Karan" Zoya spoke, slightly befuddled at what had just happened. "Noor, stop" pulling her arm away, she looked around. "Am I missing something here?"

"Yes," Karan turned to her, "Me". Exhaling loudly, he scratched the back of his neck "I'm coming too, these guys just wanted to keep it a surprise, isn't that right?" A coy grin overtook his lips at the clear win.

Noor's nose scrunched "No it is no-" this time it was Aditya's hand on her shoulder preventing her from saying more. "I mean" she smiled politely, "No it's not fair you spoiled the surprise, but it's okay, you can pay me back by riding with me and Arjun, after all, you owe me now".

Chasing after her as she walked away, he grabbed her elbow. "What was that about?"

"You know exactly what it's about, Karan" she shoved him back. "I will not allow my sister to suffer the same fate I did, I kept your secret, now it's time you pay your debt, I covered your ass when you needed it most and now I'm cashing in, leave my sister alone!"