Unexpected

A few days later:

"Aditya I don't think this is a good idea." Vedika was saying as she and Aditya sneaked out of the hotel, saving themselves from the eyes of the anyone who could possibly recognize them.

Aditya was wearing a low-on-face cap and Vedika had her scarf up, covering half of her face.

"We can't just stay locked inside with the fear of someone spotting us."

"I know you deserve this after today's win but babe— you know what? Let's do this." Vedika said, pulling her shoulders back in brace up mode.

"Yes where did that come from?"

"I can't just sit scared. We got to face the world." Vedika said as she and Aditya stepped out into the parking lot, sneakily making their way to the car stood at the far end.

"Get ready for mid night drive my love." Aditya said opening the passenger side door.

Vedika pulled up her calf length dress and settled herself on the seat. She looked at the necklace sitting in the middle of her breasts, a thin silver chain with star pendant glowing yellow.

"I see you really like it. This looks good on you, to be honest." Aditya said as he noticed Vedika checking out the necklace.

"My boyfriend thought this through."

"Lucky man huh? Your boyfriend."

"He apparently is."

Aditya and Vedika were now out on the roads of Sydney, enjoying the glow of night lights while passing through chilly breeze. Aditya slowly reached out and held Vedika's hand laying on the smooth cloth of her dress. She creased his palm with her thumb, she knew he likes it.

"Vedika."

"Yes Aditya?"

"I love you." Vedika giggled to this and crossed her fingers into his.

"We both love you too Aditya."

"Both?"

"Me and the baby."

"Of course." Aditya laughed his full blown laugh as he detached his hand from Vedika's and placed it on her thigh.

"Isn't this amazing that Asad and Preesha are dating. I'm so happy for them." Vedika said trying to diverte the attention.

"It really is. I'm happy too." Aditya said but instead of taking off his hand, he crawled it further above her thighs, making it almost near her pubic area.

"Aditya please I don't want to have sex in a car. Don't try to seduce me while driving." Vedika shoved his hand away and Aditya pouted in defence, showing his disappointment via the cute eyes.

"Well you missed your chance. Do you wanna stop for fries?"

"Yes yes totally. I don't want to eat in restaurant, bring them here."

"So here goes for dinner in the parking lot." Aditya pulled up inside the parking lot of an open restaurant and got out.

"I'll be back." He said through the window before taking off in the direction of the restaurant.

It was no more than 20 seconds when a boy of age around 19 came on her side of the door and started clicking her pictures with some high quality digital camera.

"Excuse me you can't do that. Stop it." Vedika urged but before she could roll up the window, several other people came around on both the side of the car.

"Vedika are you and Aditya still together?" A teenage girl asked while almost getting into the car through the window.

Almost all of them were probable Indian cricket fans and the number was just increasing.

"Please get away. Please go." Vedika was almost down to tears but the flash lights were clicking continuously.

"You slut." Someone from the crowd called. Vedika closed both her ears with the front of her palms.

Suddenly a hand came in through the window and reached for her but never touched. Suddenly she felt the crowd disappear and voices started fading.

"Vedika." Aditya's soothing voice pulled her out of the panic zone. She slowly lifted her head and looked at Aditya sitting beside her. She was surprised looking at him as she didn't notice him get inside.

Looking out of the window, the crowd was being dispersed by some guards of the restaurant.

"Vedika?" Aditya said again, "Are you okay?"

"No no Aditya."

"Vedika come here. It's okay." Aditya pulled her close on the seat itself but she refused to budge, shaking uncontrollably.

"No I'm fine. I'm fine." Vedika chanted, not looking at Aditya in the eyes.

"Vedika look at me honey. Look at me." Aditya said composing.

"Aditya please get me out of here. Let's go, please drive."

"Okay. Let's go." Soon they were out on the road, among the cold breeze but with very different emotions.

Every other second, Aditya felt the urge to reach out to Vedika and ask her how she was but he already knew the answer. A look at Vedika and his heart broke into a thousand pieces. She was just resting on the seat, staring out of the window.

Within next 15 minutes, they were pulling up in the parking lot of the hotel. Not wanting to startle Vedika, he slowly got out of the car and came on the other side.

"Hey babe, we are back. Come on out." Aditya pulled on the door but Vedika didn't budge.

"Is anyone outside?" She asked.

"No there is no one Vedika. I saw."

"Check again Aditya. Please." Aditya went around the car to look for any human sign but the place was silent as a cemetery.

"No one is here Vedika, except me and you. Now come out." Aditya opened the passenger door slowly and helped Vedika out of the car, then together they approached the hotel entry.

——

There Preesha and Asad were in Mumbai, out on dinner date, sitting inside a restaurant, waiting for the food to arrive.

"So do you like this restaurant Preesha?" Asad asked.

"Be honest Asad. Did Vedika tell you about this restaurant?"

"What are you talking about? Why would Vedika tell me about this restaurant?"

"You bad boy. You asked Vedika about my favourite restaurant, didn't you?" Preesha said and Asad laughed, throwing his head back.

"How did you figure it out?"

"Its so obvious Asad. Umm...wait Sofia is calling. Hey what's up?" Whatever Preesha heard from the other side, suddenly changed her expressions from smiley to worried.

"Oh my God. Is she alright?"

"Oh great. How did they found out about them?"

"Okay I'll make sure of that. See you tomorrow." With this Preesha ended the call and placed the phone on the table with a sigh.

"What happened?" Asad asked.

"Vedika is in hospital."