Matters of the Heart

Chapter 4

After dropping off Everly home, on his way back, Adam could not thinking about Maheen. He felt really bad to have lied to Everly. 

Yes he was, in fact looking at Maheen, but that was something he wanted to keep it to himself. He was very well aware of how Everly felt about him and but he did not know what he felt about Maheen. He could just be in his head about Maheen or it could be more, he did not want to make a big deal about it until it was a big deal. 

In the school next day it was very difficult for Adam to keep his attention off of, Maheen. He just hope that Everly was not noticing his uneasiness. 

Adam's daydreaming ended when the period bell rang and the teacher walked out of the class. It was free period for the whole group. Hence they decided that they should spend it in the library. It was very unusual for them but they all headed to the library for some peace and quite. 

The school library was huge in its own sense. The library did not take up much space in width but it had almost 3 stories high. One could see all the floors from the first floor as the middle portion was hollow and the sides had desks, computers and places where you can lounge and read books or finish your homework. As much as Adam's group was categorized in jocks, they all were pretty serious about their quality of education. 

They all split as soon as they entered the library to find book that interested them and their purpose in the library. Some went towards finishing their homework, some went to read facts book and Adam went to the section of fiction books. While searching for the book he wanted, Adam crashed into Maheen. 

"I am so sorry!" Adam said to Maheen. 

"It's alright, please just watch where you are going." Maheen replied in the most humble was possible. 

"I am really sorry, you are okay right?!" Adam confirmed.

"I am perfectly fine, Adam. You don't need to bother much about me." This time around Maheen had a sense of sarcasm in her voice, which portrayed hurry and a bit of disgust in it.

"Hey." Adam moved two steps back and continued, "Just making sure you are okay. You are reading Eleonor Oliphant is completely fine! I love this book."

"Yeah, heard a lot about it, thought would give it a try!" Sarcasm was yet again in her voice. All Maheen wanted was to just go to her seat where her friends awaited her and start reading, it is not everyday that they get a free period in the middle of the day.  

"I want to read it too. When you are done let me know how it is." Adam said

"Sure." Maheen rolled her eyes and took it as a que to walk away.

"Why is she being so rude to me? Have I done anything?" Adam contemplated aloud as he say Maheen walk away from him. "Well anyway." And Adam too grabbed a book and headed to find his friends. 

He released a long sigh when he say that his group was sitting with the Maheen and her friend, it was obvious because he saw Kyle and Tia cuddling. 

Everly came from behind Adam and said, "What did you get to read?" Adam's concentration was broken by her voice. 

"Yeah its just something I picked up." A distracted voice triggered Everly. 

"What's wrong?" Everly enquired, and Adam pointed his finger to show where they will be sitting for the rest of the hour. Everly let a long sigh too. 

"Well we gotta do what we gotta do, bruh!" Everly imitated Daniel and they both chuckled and found their way to sit on the table. 

Maheen had no particular wish to make small talks and hence continued reading. Anna being Anna greeted Adam and Everly as they took a seat beside Maheen. Adam felt a little awkward and gave a disappointed sigh to Everly. Everly and Adam talked to each other about their day. Adam being as charming as he was it made Everly look deep into his eyes. They laughed on the jokes they made and talked about whatever came to their mind. 

Getting disturbed by their conversation Maheen said to Everly, "He, can you please keep it down a little, some of us are trying to read here." Before Maheen could finish her statement, her face was already buried in the book again.

Adam stared at Maheen for a while, not in anger but in a mystery that why is this girl so rude or non-social. Without saying a word he got up from there and moved somewhere else. Adam could not help but contemplate an enigma that is Maheen. But he also did not want to impose on her. If she was repelled by him, then so be it, this too shall pass, he consoled himself.

Unfortunately for Maheen, but fortunately for Adam, the bell rang and they all had the same class to go to. Kyle and Tia went hand in hand, followed by Maheen and Anna and then the rest of them.

The class started with the professor introducing the students to Shakespeare's Macbeth. Adam had no interest and soon he caught himself staring at Maheen. 

She was an exquisite looking girl, he admitted to himself, and very different from the rest of the girls in terms of the way she dressed. She always wore full cloths, never revealing any part of her skin and always covered her head with hijab. She was not only an enigma as a personality, she also had her body a well kept secret. And that made Adam more curious. 

As Adam glanced at Maheen, Everly was the one stealing glances of Adam. She really liked him. Everybody new that. But Adam did not just date anybody and she knew that. He really had to like someone to make the first move. She had been her friend for the longest time, and still could not figure out what ticked in him. He had, had one girlfriend in all the while Everly knew him, and nothing after that. 

Adam's concentration was broken when the professor called out him and Maheen. "Maheen and Adam, please come here." Adam got nervous but he still went with full confidence.

"So how are my favorite students?!" The professor said excitedly. "Well it's about to be better. There is an interschool debate competition and I want both of you to participate in it. Yayy. Sorry I am more excited because I think we can win this time!"

"But sir..." before Maheen wanted to protest, but then she thought it would look amazing on her college applications. So she became quite.

 "The debate is a month later and the topic is Women empowerment. I want you to prepare the best that you could, because we are winning this thin. All the best, prepare well."

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