ADHI'S POV

"Honey I think you are pregnant." Raji aunty pulled Maya into a hug.

Maya's eyes were wide like footballs and her mouth hung wide open. She quickly opened her mouth to object but I jumped up from my seat and enveloped her in a hug. Her hands went limp at her sides.

"Maya im so happy. Thank you so much for this wonderful gift. I cant believe we are going to be parents." I acted away. I spared a quick glance at our hosts. Manny was trying so hard not to laugh and was covering his mouth with his fist. Raji aunty was like every daily soap mother who knew her children were going to become parents and swiped a tear from her eye.

I could feel maya getting uneasy and the next thing I knew I was being pushed away from her.

"stop okay, Just stop!" she yelled. The whole room went silent. I was preparing myself for a slap but she didnt even glance at me. She sidestepped by me and went over to raji aunty and grasped her hands. "aunty.. im not pregnant "she whispered.

"are you sure maya? Because the signs are stating the obvious." Raji aunty raised her eyebrows. "oh is it because you guys were using protection? Honey those things are not that dependable. It doesnt work half the time" she voiced.

Dear god take me now. Oh boy this just went to straight sex ed. Manny and I shifted on our feet, thats one thing guys across the world would agree on. Sex ed from parents is a big no no.

Maya shook her head vigourously "No no its not" she sighed and pulled raji aunty to a side and started whispering In her ears. I was sure she mustve said something period related to her. Raji auntie's face lit with understanding. She looked at me with pity in her eyes and grasped Maya's hands and looked like she was reassuring her. Maya nodded back.

They again looked at me. Okay thats suspicious. What did they talk about?

They came back to our side, maya came and stood next to me. To my surprise she held my hand and patted it. "Im sorry, Im not pregnant. I know you were really expecting it but . . . im sorry" she stammered. My eyes widened in surprise. Wow could she act, she even made her voice tremble, like she was about to cry.

I put my arm around her shoulder and pulled her to my side swiftly. Her eyes widened for a second but quickly sobered up. She laid her head on my chest. Time stopped for a second. I lowered my head to her hair and breathed her in. Her body still smelt of peaches, but her hair it smelt of vanilla. I have no idea how to get vanilla in to your hair. Girls.

I felt Maya smelling me too. She softened in my arms. My grip on her tightened, for a moment I forgot where I was, by looks of it Maya did too. But a sharp cough brought us back from heaven to earth. It was Manny. Raji aunty was looking anywhere but us. We quickly parted and stepped away from each other.

It was almost 8 am in the morning by then. We went back to our breakfast, None of us speaking, maya wouldnt even look at me.

After breakfast we quickly got down to business Mannys father had woken up and we quickly decided on the Pooja. It will be performed tomorrow at dawn. Which meant we might have to stay the night. Together.

MAYA'S POV

Oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap.

This trip is going to hell and deeper. The pooja for Tara and Arjun's happy marriage life was set to be performed at dawn. That is not uncommon, in india most poojas are done at that time because we believe that the channel from earth to the heavens are open during that time. But my concern is much bigger than that.

Adhi and I have to stay here tonight. In a room, together, in the Same Damn Bed!

I can barely stand next to him and not swoon, now the same bed. This is not happening. I fisted my hair in my hands. A sharp knock to my left jerked me to reality.

"Maya are you done yet? Whats taking you so long?" Adhi yelled through the bathroom door. I quickly changed out of my clothes and wore the soft pink cotton top and white leggings. I pushed the bathroom open and almost hit Adhi in the face.

"Whoa watch it jumpy" he grinned.

"You're jumpy" I muttered and rushed past him. I heard his chuckle from behind me. He was in a good mood since what happened today in the kitchen. I have no idea what came over me. The moment I hugged him it was like I was stuck to him, i didnt wanna leave. Ever. Its like I knew peeling off of him would hurt like hell. And it does hurt.

I sat down on the small bed in the middle of the room, Im guessing this is mannys room. By the number of harry styles posters stuck in the cupboard door and bts photo cards laying around, it is definitely his. Unless his mother is an army. It is possible. Those seven boys have some magnetic kind of aura. Once we experience it there is no going back.

I glanced at the bed once again. This is going to be torture. The bed can barely fit Adhi alone, now we both have to sleep in it. Even if either of us decide to sleep on the floor, the rough cement floors will scrape our backs for sure. I was doomed.

After calling home to inform amumma that we had reached safely I went to living room and found Suresh uncle reading the newspaper, the morning news running on the tv infront of him. UGH! Dad's and news channels. They put soulmates to shame.

I sat next to him and chatted a little bit. As every Indian dad, he was grumpy about the son in law and asked if he was taking care of me properly. As much as I would like to rat Adhi out, I wouldn't want to unleash Suresh uncle's astrological wrath on him. So I just painted adhi as the best husband in the world and the grumpy man in front of me lightened up a little bit. No matter how annoying or naggy this family might be, they were loving people. They have seen me since I was a baby and Raji aunty is nothing less than a mother to me. Nor less am I her daughter.

Maybe that's why she wanted me to marry Manny. For me to be her daughter for real. And I went and married an asshole. or fake married an asshole. Whatever.

Just as I thought of him, the asshole walked out of 'our room'. He was wearing a long sleeved maroon t-shirt and black sweatpants. His face and neck glistened with a fine line of water. His hair was frizzy and untamed, like he styled it with his hands. His right hand was in one of his pant pockets and the other was holding a phone to his ear.

I swallowed. Why does he have to be this hot? When he saw me his face lit up and he. . . smiled at me. . .

Since when were we in smiling terms?

He walked over to my side and plopped next to me in the couch. I didnt even realise I was staring at him until he wiggled his eyebrows at me and put an arm over my shoulder. My expression mustve been horrifying because he laughed. "Why are you looking at me like that babe?"

"babe?" I shrieked and he pinched me in the shoulder. "owww!" I shrieked again.

"what happened?" Suresh uncle asked from beside me.

damn it. I forgot he was here.

"uhmm.. nothing uncle" I flashed him a smile. He went back to the paper.

"What the hell are you doing?" I whispered through gritted teeth.

"Im doing what we were sent here to do." he whispered back.

I scoffed and tried to push his arm off my shoulder, but his arm slipped and went to my waist.I stiffened, his arm loosened for a second and tightened the next. I curled my hand into a fist. Do Not Give In Maya. He bent down and whispered to my ear "don't act like you don't like it, maya. I know what I do to you" I shivered. His laugh tickled my ear.

"You certainly think a lot of yourself" I muttered back.

"Speaking of thoughts, What did you say To Raji aunty in the kitchen? She's been staring at me like im some lost puppy this whole time" Adhi muttered.

A chuckle rose from my lips, I quickly clamped a hand over my lips and tried to tame my laughter.

"What did you say to her Maya?" he looked at through knitted eyebrows.

"I said. ." I giggled again " I said that im sure im not pregnant because, your performance in bed is . . . you know a little. . . Vanilla" I did a gesture with my hands which indicated more or less.

The look on Adhi's face was priceless. If I had my phone with me I would click it and save it as his contact image. His jaw hit the floor and eyes narrowed. He mumbled a few gibberish words and then stared into space. I broke into giggles, my body shook.

He looked at me again, but this time his expression wicked. I reared back a bit. He grinned at me and spoke "I thought you liked vanilla baby, And would you like to check whether its vanilla or. . . any other flavour?"

"Really? Ice cream jokes? you're getting old dude" I whispered and pat his arm

"oh yeah, then what happened in the kitchen today? don't tell me that I made it up or anything, cause im pretty sure what I saw". I could picture that wicked smirk on his face, but I didnt dare to look at him.

"it was a-" he cut me off "please don't say it was a mistake maya" his voice was sad, desperate almost.

I finally gathered the courage to look at him and I saw the sadness that reflected in his voice lingering in his eyes. Our eyes met. For the fist time in a long time, I felt that there was more to him than what he did in the past. His breath caught, and his eyes dropped to my lips. I swallowed, I felt his grip at my waist tighten painfully, but I liked it. I couldn't believe myself, I like this feeling. This rush of feelings doesn't happen to me with anyone else. It was exhilarating.

"Maya, what does-, Oh god!" I heard Raji auntie's squeak behind me. Adhi's hand left me quickly, And he moved away from me. I was cold all of a sudden, the absence of his warmth was disappointing.

Dear god, What is he doing to me? I was blushing all of a sudden, and it wasn't fake.

"Im sorry, I didnt. . ." Raji aunty started and went into a fit of giggles. Suresh uncle joined her after a second. Oh god did he see everything too? The old couple gave us a knowing look and moved to the next room.

Adhi cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, clearly as embarrassed as I am. I could only hear a few words Suresh uncle said before they left the room. kids, young age, times, love, adorable being the few I could make out.

Love? My foot? There is no such thing as love, there is only pain. At least in my life it is.

I stood up and took one look at Adhi and found his eyes already on me, I walked over towards Manny's room, trying to leave the rush of hormones behind.

The day went fast after that, I spent the entire afternoon in Manny's room reminiscing our good old days. Adhi mostly stayed in our room and when he was out of the room he was with Suresh uncle. They got along quickly. So quick that Suresh uncle took him to his nearby consulting office to get the stuff for the pooja. Adhi even got Raji aunty in his sleeve.

After we set everything for the pooja and prepared dinner and ate it was almost 11 pm. Raji aunty ushered us to bed saying we have to get up at 4 am and be ready by 4.30. I froze at the kitchen door. BED!

What am I going to do? We could barely keep our hands to ourselves in public, how are going to refrain from doing that in closed quarters. I slowly creeped towards our door. Raji aunty saw me lingering and told me not to worry. She gave me permission to have Sex at her house. She says she wants a grandchild soon. Even gave me tips for it. I have to bleach my ears now.

I slowly pushed open the creaking door open. My heart jack hammered in my chest at the sight infront of me.

Adhi was lying shirtless in the bed. His hands set behind his head and looking at me.

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