Whoa things are escalating quickly. It was supposed to be just our first date now im standing in his kitchen wearing his clothes and cooking his dinner. Who are you and what did you do with maya??

It was almost 10pm. Preethi and Taniya must be worried sick by now. Maya asked adhi to put in the noodle and masala and switch off the stove when the water is boiled off. She took her phone and it was flooded with text from Taniya and Preethi. Her mom even called twice.

Where do they think I am? Lying in a ditch?

Maya dialled Preethi's number and waited. By the second ring curses were flowing through the phone like a waterfall. Maya just put the phone away from her ears for a few minutes and waited. When the conversation became slower she placed back to her ears.

"You have no idea how worried we were. I even called jeeth to check if he knows something."

Maya's eyes grew wide. Like super wide. "What the hell Preethi! Why would you call that son of a bitch? "

Adhi's head peaked out from the kitchen door. Eyebrows towards the sky.

"Whoa. Someone's in a bad mood." Preethi exclaimed.

"Of course im in a bad mood. That guy showed up at our date and had a huge fight with adhi."

"What!!??" 2 voices echoed from the other side of the phone.

"Yeah. Adhi's hurt. I think he broke his hand."

"Where are you now? Hospital?"

"Ask her which one we'll go now" Taniya and Preethi voiced their concerns.

"No. We're not at the hospital" maya let out a sigh.

"Then where are you? "

"Adhi's place." Maya blushed scarlett.

"Whattttt???"

"Ohhh my godddd" The squeeles and scream of the girls made made maya laugh.

She was so lost in the conversation that she didnt notice Adhi standing right beside her. She jumped when she saw him and he motioned her towards the dining table.

"Maya you sure about this? I mean its just your first date and your already at his place. Dont you think this is going too fast.?" Taniya asked.

"Taniya its not what you think. His mom is working tonight and that guy can barely pick up his phone with that hand. I cant leave him alone like that" Maya whispered to the phone but saw adhi blushing through the corner of her eyes.

Shit! He heard.

"I know. But still....."

"Oh please Taniya not everyone thinks about sex all the time."

"Just give her a few hours it will start" Taniya left her 2cent comment too.

Preethys voice boomed through the phone. "So you're staying there tonight? "

"Yup I'll make it back by 6 am. Isn't that when the guards change their shift?"

"Yeah...." preethy sounded far off. Which means she was plotting.

"I'll steal the keys from the warden.. somehow.. and then open the door for you at 6. " preethy informed her of the game plan. She was such an angel.

"Okay I'll see you tomorow then"

"Allright. Oooh maya did you know taniya got promoted to 2nd year."

"Heh?? How?? I thought she was repeating this year." Maya scratched her head in confusion.

Adhi's protest came from behind."Maya food is getting cold."

Maya gestured him to start but he didn't. Instead he put his chin on his good knuckle and watched her.

"She was going to but the copying accusation got nullified and she got a notice just now to join 2nd years from tomoroww."

"Thats great.Taniya baby congratulations. You won against him" maya was so happy for taniya.

"Thanks maya." Her voice was nothing than a whisper. She didnt share maya's enthusiasm. Maybe she was getting emotional.

"Okay then see you tomorrow." Maya began to disconnect but

"Ooh and maya...."

"Yeah.."

"Dont forget to use protection." She could feel Preethi's smugness through the phone.

"Ughhhhh" maya blushed scarlet and immediately cut the phone. She thought about the foiled package in the first aid box.

If adhi was single what was it doing there? We werent using it. Then who?

Wait were we gonna use it?? Was i ready for that? Naaaaaah .

"What happened?" Adhi's voiced brought her back.

"Nothing. Just preethy." Maya sighed.

"Ah that explains the swearing" adhi chuckled. He gave her the plate of maggy. He even drew a flower on the plate with ketchup. Could he be more cuter?

Maya smiled at his attempt of decoration. Adhi puffed his cheeks and was waiting for a compliment.

"Its beautiful" maya said and adhi beamed. Maya chuckled again. They dug in to their dinner.

"Did you know taniya got promoted to second year?" Maya said between chewing.

"What!!? How??" Adhi looked shocked.

"I dont know the details but preethy said that the copying accusation somehow got nullified and due to Taniya good grades they promotes her to second year. She doesnt have to repeat this year again."

"Huh, thats good right?" Adhi looked perplexed.

"Yes it is. Then why do you look upset?"

"Nothing just... jeeth doesnt go down that easily. Why did he just let it go?" His forehead wrinkled in thought.

"Maybe because he got a new target now." She pointed to herself.

"This is bad." Adhi stood up from his chair and started pacing the hall.

"Why?" Maya too stood and went to his side.

"Because now he got all his attention on you. And i made it even worse by fighting with him." He let out a sigh "This is all my fault."

"No. No its not. Dont blame yourself. I hate it when you do that" Maya cupped his face in her hands.

"Whatever happens we'll deal with it." Adhi snickered "im supposed to say that to you. You make it sound that im the one in trouble"

"What can i say. Im an optimist" maya gave a cheeky smile and wrapped her hands around him. He brought her head to his chest and brushed his lips on her temple.

"You done with your food?" Adhi asked her through her hair.

Maya jumped out of his grasp "Noooo. I didnt even eat it properly" She started swallowing big heaps of maggy and it made adhi laugh.

They were both washing their dishes when"We should go to bed" Adhi whispered in her ears.

Maya froze. And adhi felt it he too stiffened a little.

"I didnt mean that." He huffed " you go to the room and sleep. I'll sleep here on the couch"

Maya looked down to the floor and fidgeted with her tshirt for a while

"Could you um.... could you drag the couch to the room and sleep there?"

"You're scared to sleep alone?" He asked. Maya nodded without meeting his eyes.

"Maya the couch wont fit through the doorframe. Its too small" Maya looked to the couch and the frame. Yes the frame is too small.

"I'll sleep on the floor maya" he put his arms around her shoulders and rested his chin on her head.

"No. No you cant. Your hand" she took hold of his injured hand and drew small circles on it.

"Then what are we gonna do?" She didnt reply. Adhi turned maya to face him.

"Maya i would never touch you without your permission. I wont take advantage of you. I give you my word." There was so much sincerity in his eyes.

"I know that. I trust you" it was true. She trusted him more than anyone in this world. The word trust brought a kind of shine to his eyes.

"So can i sleep with you? " Maya blushed and adhi's eyes widened.

"That didnt come out right" Adhi cleared his throat "Can i sleep next to you?" He lowered his head and met maya eyes to eye. She nodded.

Im gonna sleep next to adhitya sankar. Taniya was right. Now I'm thinking about it.

They were laying side by side straight as a log. Maya was buried nose deep in the blanket. Adhi was staring at the ceiling with sweat dripping down his temple even though the fan is on full speed. He was clearly uncomfortable.

"Okay this is awkward." Adhi shattered the silence.

Maya giggled. Adhi looked her for a moment and then both burst into laughter. During the laughter maya's eyes caught on the family picture on the night stand.

"Adhi where is your dad and brother?" His laughter died out. Sadness lingered in his face

"Uhnmm theyyy....."

Ohh god. Were they dead? You are an idiot maya. You dont just ask people where there families were?

"Im sorry i didnt know" maya made apologetic eyes and rose on her elbows.

"What? Maya no. Theyre not dead" adhi chuckled.

"Ohhh thank god " she fell back on the bed with a thud. Adhi laughed even harder but stopped.

"My mom and dad are divorced." He sighed.

"Ohhh" maya turned towards him and folded her palms under her cheeks. Adhi also turned and faced maya. Their eyes met and maya swear she could feel electricity in the air.

"May i ask what happened?"

"They got divorced when i was 14. He took all our money. Didnt even compensate my mom or gave us child allowance. He didnt even ask for our custody. Arjun my brother was 18 then. He said that dad was happy to get rid of us." Maya's heart ached for adhi. It must have been so hard for him.

"Dad had a girlfriend, propably why mom divorced him in the first place, he is married to her now. I have a step sister. She is 3 years old. Dad doesn't like us interacting with Arya but her mother is a sweet women. She is a home wrecker but when it comes to her child she is a good mother. I see arya from time to time. I'll introduce you one day."

Maya smiled. He had a little sister and a big brother. So lucky. Maya always wanted siblings. Being alone in that house with her psycho father was beyond damaging.

"After the divorce we were in a really bad condition. My mom didnt have a job. She's not a certified nurse. She stopped her studies in middle to get married. Thats why she cant work at any hospitals.We had no money. No support from family. We were practically considering suicide at that time." Maya's eyes widened. Thats why he noticed my scars. She touched the scars on her hands under the blanket.

"Then arjun took matters into his hands. He stopped studying and started working at a nearby workshop. He was an engineering student, but when he started working as a mechanic we diasgreed. But he said it was a passion thing. But we knew it wasn't."

"So you're here on a scholarship?" Maya asked.

"Hmm mmm" he hummed.

"Mom too started working in a nearby clinic as an assistant. I too wanted to help so i started doing small part time jobs. I worked as a waiter, library assistant, i started taking tutions. But when arjun found out he gave me a big slap. He told to focus on my studies and" his voice cracked and a tear rolled off adhi's cheek.

She didnt know what to say to him. Maya moved automatically and put her head on his chest. His heart was beating so fast. His arms came around her and held her tight. He took a deep breath.

"He's a father to me more than a brother. He knows what im thinking and he'll fulfill every one of my wishes." A sob erupted from him and maya held him tight. Tears welled up in her eyes too.

"Im sorry i dont..." adhi began to apologise and move his hands.

"Shhhhhhh" maya held a finger to his lip and silenced him.

"Its okay. Im here. I got you" she hugged him tight. He sighed.

"Ive never told anyone this." Adhi said.

"Thats okay. You're secrets safe with me" she whispered and held him tight. They remained like that for a while. Then maya looked up and met his eyes.

"Maya" it was all he said before flipping her onto her back and hovered on top of her supporting his weight on his arms which were on either side of her head. And then his mouth covered hers, tumbling her into a surge of desire. She arched against him.The blanket covering her was quickly tossed on the ground. Encircling her arms around his neck, she crushed her lips to his.

You smell like peaches, he murmured over her tingling skin. And taste like strawberries.

His mouth moved everywhere, hitting pleasure points all over her neck, shoulder, jaw, throat, and back to her waiting mouth.She couldnt have said anything if she had wanted to.Maya let out little gasps of pleasure as he changed angles, deepening the kiss, our tongues dancing. But when his hands reached the rim of her hoodie maya's eyes flew open.

What are you doing maya?

"Adhii" she let out a breathy sigh as he moved to her neck.

"Mmmmmm" he replied

"Stop" he pushed his shoulders away.

He rose from her neck and looked at her. Both of them were panting. His eyes were glossed over as if he was in some kind of haze. He must have saw the uncertainity on her eyes.

"Im sorry. I didnt .." he moved from her and sat up on the bed. She followed.

"Im sorry maya i didnt think... i lost control." He chuckled

Maya smiled. " i know. Me too".

He looked to her. "I should propably sleep in the couch."

"No its okay. Promise to sleep"

"Okayy i promise".

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