There is something sexy about watching guys drive. And watching the guy you love driving is the hottest thing in the world. Maya couldn't help but steal glances at adhi's direction as he kept driving. How effortlessly he did a one hand turn. Maya was mesmerised.

She still had no idea where they were going for their first date. Adhi said it was a surprise. Maya loved surprises. Maybe it was because she never got them. Not for her birthday, not for anything. She usually had to remind her parents that it is her birthday.

Adhi's voice shattered her from the highway to her pathetic life.

"You excited?" Adhi aske with a grin on his face.

"Yeah. I love surprises" maya beamed.

"Really? Then I'll keep on surprising you" he winked. Maya blushed and looked out the window.

"I've never gotten a surprise before." Maya admitted.

"What?? Not even a surprise birthday party?" Adhi's eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Especially a birthday party." Maya had a sad smile on her face.

"You are an only child right?" Maya nodded.

"Then why haven't you had a birthday party before?"

She smiled at him. Sadness lacing her face. "Because my birthday is the same day my mother died".

Adhi's eyes widened. He immediately stopped the car in the middle of the road. The swears of the people on the road took him back from his haze and started driving again.

"Im so sorry I didnt know. But you were talking to your mother on the phone the other day right?"

"Yup. That's my step mom. My mother died giving birth to me. My dad married my step mom 6 months later. She never treated me differently though"

"Then why haven't you had a birthday party yet maya?"

Maya chuckled. "I know there is a global image of an evil step mom but my mom is an angel. The devil here is my own Father"

Adhi didnt seem that shocked as before. But he took maya's hands in his and squeezed offering her as much support as he can. Maya smiled and intertwined their fingers. She couldnt explain what was happening to her. Its like she felt as if she can talk about anything with him. Like she knew him since years ago. It was like Adhi was maya's safe place.

"There were no birthday parties or celebrations for me. Dad didnt find it was important. " Adhi's heart squeezed. His face reflected that pain.

"When i was a kid i used to cry and put a tantrum to get a party because all my friends were having birthdays, everyone but me. My mom couldnt see me crying and she would beg my dad. But when he started hitting her i stopped asking."

"How old were you?"

"I dont know 10? 11?" She looked at him and saw him clenching his jaw. He was angry.

"Are you angry?" Maya put her other hand on his forearm.

"No. Yes. No." adhi chuckled. "Why does your dad treat you like that?"

"I dont know for sure. He doesnt like me. I think its because of my birth mom. Maybe he thinks i killed her."

Adhi huffed "What the hell? How is that your fault?"

"I dont know. Im not even sure if that is the reason. He loved my mother. Maybe thats why he chose not to have anymore children." Maya sighed.

She loved her father. Despite everything he did to her. Everything maya achieved was to make her father proud. She used to think that if she made him proud he would start liking her. Adhi pulled the car into an underground parking lot. She didnt see where they were as she was lost in memory lane.Adhi parked the car. He undid his seat belt and turned towards maya.

He cupped her cheeks in his hands and looked into her eyes. His gaze was strong enough to pierce through her soul.

"Baby. I dont know what your dad's problem is but it sure is not a reason to treat his child this way."

Maya smiled and covered his hands with hers.

"You didnt kill your mother. Your dad propably feels guilty. And he's taking it out on you. Did he ever hit you?" Adhi's eyes were filled with concern.

"Yes." It came out as a whisper.

"Son of a.." Adhi cursed but immediately apologised.

"Im sorry im ruining our date." Maya apologised.

"No. No maya. I want to get to know you. Your problems, your likes, dislikes, fears. Everything i wanna know everything about you".

God what i do to deserve this guy maya thought to herself.

The walked hand in hand out of the parking lot and maya saw the huge arch of the venue.

'"OCEANARIUM'"

A huge smile spread across maya's face. She was an absolute sucker for oceans and beaches. How the hell did this guy know that? She looked at Adhi and found him looking down at her and smiling.

"Well???" Adhi asked.

"Its perfect" maya scooted towards adhi and gave him a side hug and began to pull away . He immediately put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards him. They walked towards the oceanarium in each others arms.

They entered a viewing room a wash with blue light. On the other side of a glass wall was the biggest aquarium tank maya had ever seen. Cruising in circles were dozens of fish. She spotted one that looked like nemo and pointed it out to Adhi. He just laughed and pulled her even closer.

They passed several huge tanks. There were a glass tunnel like facility where the fish swam over there heads. Maya was absolutely amazed by this and was gawking at it with her mouth open. Adhi seemed to enjoy every moment enjoyed even more seeing maya happy.

In one corner of a tank a life-sized plastic ginger bread cottage with bubbles coming out of the chimney. In the opposite corner, a plastic sculpture of a guy in an old fashioned diving suit knelt beside a treasure chest,which popped open every few seconds.

In another tank were mermaids. Girls with red and pink hair in mermaid suits were swimming across the tank in clean swift motion. When guys used to stop infront of their tank they would wave and blow kisses to them. One particular mermaid with red hair was focused on Adhi a little too much and was blowing a lot of kisses to him. Maya got so angry and practically dragged a laughing adhi to the next tank.

"Are you jealous?" Adhi asked with a wicked smile on his face and wiggled his eyebrows.

"What??? Nooo" maya said and pulled him even faster. Which made him laugh even harder.

There was a photo booth in the corner. Adhi and maya waited in line for a long while and clicked a gazillion pictures in the booth. They made 2 copies of each photo and each kept one. They spend the entire afternoon at the oceanarium. When the clock struck 3 Adhi dragged maya to the cafetaria.

"Maya im starving. How are you still so active? Im practically drained."

"This is the best day of my life. Of course im active. I dont want to waste a minute of it." Maya beamed.

"Okay. But best day of your life cant end without food."

They ordered large burgers and one extra large coke. At first maya was shy about sharing the same straw but she got over it as she remembered he was all over her mouth yesterday. They left the oceanarium at 4 pm. They got in the car and adhi drove to the opposite direction of their college.

"We're not going back?"

"Nope date is not over yet" He flicked maya's nose and drove again.

Adhi was perfect. He understood her without her even saying anything. During that drive to god knows where Adhi asked Maya more about her. He didnt pry much and stopped when he understood that maya was uncomfortable. It benefitted maya though. Getting it out of her chest felt great. Someone who wont judge her for talking about her father. She got so much hate when she talked about it in the past. But Adhi was a whole another story.

Adhi stopped the car in a crowded place. Maya finally got where the were. The Beach. Maya squeeled in ecstasy and began to unbuckle her seatbelt. But Adhi hands appeared out of nowhere and pulled her into a kiss.

This kiss was different. It was fast and needy. It was like he was holding back all this time. He devoured her mouth maya couldnt match his pace but didnt let go. When he finally pulled back both were panting. He looked into her eyes with such desire. He leaned in for another kiss but a camera flash hit maya's face.

Adhi immediately pulled back and looked at the direction of the flash and found the devil incarnate standing there with a wicked venomous smirk on his lips.

Jeeth just clicked maya and adhi kissing.

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