Matters of the Heart

Chapter 8

It had been almost 2 weeks since Adam and Maheen, had been having regular conversations, civil conversations to be specific regarding their debate preparations. 

They had gotten to know each other a little better over the phone but still remained strangers to each other in real life.

It was the English class and every body with full concentration listened to everything that the professor had to say. When the bell rang everybody gave a grave sigh as none of them wanted the period to get over.

As all the student got up to leave the professor called out Adam and Maheen. 

"Hello, guys! How is everything going?"

"It is going good, sir." Adam replied immediately.

"It's good sir." Maheen said in a low tone after an enthusiastic Adam.

"How's the debate coming along?" the professor asked.

Adam and Maheen both looked at each other, and said "We have started preparation the research and everything, we have to divide parts and be prepared for the counters." Adam replied and Maheen nodded in agreement.

"I mean I trust you both on the speaking part, but have you actually spoken everything and judged how its going? Also, I hope you both have seen each other's notes so that no points are overlapping." The professor said in concern. 

Adam and Maheen looked at each other because they had no such answers to the questions the professor was asking. All they had done in the last 2 weeks was go over the topics and had their own "debates" as to what should go in. They hadn't actually seen what the other person had written. 

"No sir. We haven't done any of the above." Maheen said in a low tone. 

"Well, you have 2 more weeks, so you guys better get on it!" The professor replied in a cheerful and relaxed manner. 

After walking out of the class in complete and utter silence, it was Adam who finally spoke, "So what are we going to do about practicing this thing?" He said in the most casual manner, perfectly concealing his glee he felt as he thought of spending time with Maheen. 

"I don't know Adam." Maheen replied in a bit of an annoyed manner. She did not want to spend time with Adam, alone. She was not very comfortable in talking to him for hours as well. Meeting was a whole new ball game. 

"You know you don't have to be so rude all the time right? You can have a bit of fun. Wrinkles come quick on faces that frown a lot." Adam said while maintaining his composure as much as possible. Because one thing he had figured about Maheen was that she was cold on the outside but during their conversation he had gotten to know the softer side of Maheen. 

Maheen was a bit surprised on hearing Adam. As far as she knew, he would have lashed out by know on the way Maheen had reacted. He did have some anger issues, but they seemed to be diminishing down a bit. 

"Umm.. I don't know we can do it after the school in the library if you want?" Maheen suggested, bringing her fake arrogance a bit down and avoiding having to meet outside of the school. 

"I am sorry, that will not be possible, because I have football practice after school, and after that I don't think we will have access the library." Adam put forth what he had to expecting a burst from Maheen, but he was surprised as to not receiving any from her. 

Maheen on the other hand, was not keen at all to meet up with this guy after school or outside of the school. In hope of taking care of this in school she asked politely, "How many days do you have the practice for?"

"Well, unfortunately the days of the debate practice and the days of my match perfectly over lap, my matches start next to next week, and the debate is also in the same week. So I am afraid we will have to make time after school, because our coach gets very strict when the season approaches."

"Okay, after school then." Maheen started walking after coming to terms that meeting after school was inevitable, she began to understand the predicament that he was in too.

"Hey wait up! When, where, time?! Shouldn't we discuss that?" Adam again was seen running behind Maheen. 

"I will let you know a bit later, is that okay?" Maheen said as nicely as she could and walked away. 

************

"What are you smiling about?" Everly asked Adam, as she took a seat beside him in the cafeteria with her boring lunch. 

Adam, did not know that people could see that he was smiling, he kept his hand on his mouth and replied in a low tone, "I am not smiling, why would I be smiling?"

"You were." Everly reiterated what she saw.

"You saw wrong, I am not smiling." He defended himself and at the same time both of them were joined by the others in the group. Surprisingly, there were few additions to their table this day.

"Hey, I hope you guys don't mind if they sit with us?" Kyle checked with the group members. 

Standing were Tia, Anna and Maheen, patiently waiting to be seated.

"Yeah of course. No issues at all." Everly was the one to reply and make space for the three addition to their table. Obviously Kyle and Tia sat together, Adam was sitting beside Everly and opposite were Danial, Sam, Anna and Maheen. The place that Maheen got was right in front if Adam. She sat there with a little resistance and kept her head down as long as they were sitting there. 

Everly was the one breaking the awkwardness on one side of the table while the other half, happily chatted along. 

"How is the debate coming along? Preps going okay, Maheen." Maheen for the first time raised her head up from her lunch and said, "Yeah. It's good."

Expecting something more, Everly listened keenly when she saw her head buried again, she exchanged a brief look with Adam and Adam continued, "We have only prepped for now, need to meet after school and practice for the same." He gave more information to Everly.

"Meet after school huh?" Everly had a hard time swallowing the fact that Adam would be spending more time with Maheen, that too outside of school.

Adam just gave a nod and continued eating. Everly gave a long stare to Adam, just simply thinking how could she ever stop this man hanging out with people who were not her. 

Maheen on the other hand caught Everly staring and thinking, whatever she was thinking. She thought, this girl either like Adam very much or is really possessive about him. In anyway she had no business in interfering in their matter. She had to meet Adam for a purpose, and that's what it is going to be.

*********

The last bell rang and Maheen decided to head to the library instead of going home to finish up her homework. She decided to meet Adam in sometime in school itself and go somewhere nearby to practice. 

After finishing all her work, she headed to the football ground and took a seat on the stand. When Adam looked towards the stand, she waved and let him know her presence. Her wave seemed to be a bit enthusiastic which made Adam come running towards her. 

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Enquired Adam. 

"I was in the library finishing up the work, thought I will meet you here and from here we can go." Maheen explained herself. 

"Will you be okay waiting. We are finishing practice in a bit and then I shall get out of these stinky clothes and meet you."

"Yeah that will be fine. I will wait here. I have my book to keep me company." 

Adam nodded and headed back to the field. 

As he went Maheen could not help but stare at Adam. She thought there was something about sportsman that really attracted her. As Adam played, her mind wondered as to how would it feel to be his girlfriend, how would it feel to be in his arms.