23. Maya

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Aaryan must have reached home by now. He dropped me off more than an hour ago. I can't believe that's all there is to it. I can't believe we won't be seeing each other again. Whatever it was between Aaryan and me, it's over.

I can't sleep. My flight to Hyderabad is the day after tomorrow. I looked at the clock; it's after 10 p.m. I rolled out of bed. I'm not going to school tomorrow. Mrs. Alieen received a letter from me. I stepped out onto my balcony. It's pouring outside. I sat on the swing, fiddling with the plants and daydreaming. Anticipating how my life will turn out.

I met Aditya. He was great. He was actually very good. The type of person your mother would want you to marry I said? Yeah he's exactly that. He's got everything under control in his life. But I know he's not right for me, no matter how good he is.

It had been approximately a half hour, and I was still sitting on the balcony when my phone rang. Nobody would call me right now.

I dashed into my bedroom to get my phone. Aaryan had called. My heart began to race as I read his name. What could it really be? I answered the phone right away.

"Hello?" I called out but received no response.

"Aaryan?" I called out once more. On the other end of the phone, I can hear his breathing and the sound of heavy rain.

"Maya?" He almost whispered. I didn't respond.

"It's raining, isn't it?" He stated.

"Yes" was all I had to say.

"Then open the door," he stated simply.

"Wait, what?!?" "Aaryan, where are you now?" I inquired as I dashed to my front door and opened it.

He just stood there. The rain was pelting him. His shirt sticking to his body showing his bare skin through. He had his phone in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other. He's had too much to drink and drive! I dashed towards him.

"Aaryan, are you mad?" I shouted, trying to keep him upright as he stumbled forward. "Wait, what were you thinking? You could have killed yourself!" Aaryan's eyes were bloodshot and gloomy when he stared at me.

"I needed to see you, Maya," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "I couldn't bear the thought of being alone anymore. I'm sorry." His words hung in the air, mingling with the sound of raindrops hitting the pavement. Despite my anger, I couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for him.

The rain continued to fall, drenching both me and him to the bone. I didn't care; all I wanted to do was make sure he was okay in the moment.

"Maya, I need to tell you something." He grabbed my chin to get my attention.

"You can tell me whatever you want, but first let's get in the house." That's what I told him before letting him into my house.

We were both drenched. He's not drunk enough to pass out, but he's extremely drunk. I led him to sit on my leather couch. I hurried inside, quickly changed into dry clothes, grabbed a number of towels and cotton clothes, and went into my living room to find him already shirtless and drinking from the bottle. I reached him and took the bottle from his hand.

"Aaryan, please stop." I gasped, powerless, pleading with him to stop.

He stopped looking at me and gently touched my cheeks, saying, "If you want me to stop, I'll stop; don't say please."

I was at a loss for words. He's sweet, even when he's drunk.

I laid the towels next to him and dried his hair with one of them. He just sat there, waiting for me to finish my work. When I felt dry enough, I removed his soaked shirt from the floor and placed it in the laundry with my wet pyjamas.

I grabbed a bottle of water and walked to him, offering him some to drink. He started drinking the water. I walked into my bedroom and took a few shorts I had of my brother's .

When I walked out to give him the shorts, he had almost finished the bottle.

"Aaryan? These are the only shorts I have. Change into them." I said to give them the shorts.

I noticed his face; he was lying down and staring at the shorts in his hands. I knelt down and took his shoes off for him. When I turned around to put his shoes on the shoe stand, he caught my wrist.

"I need to tell you something, Maya." He stated.

"Tell me whatever you want; I'll listen, but first you have to change into something dry. I'll be in my room; please call whenever you change, okay?" I told him.

He responded with a nod. I walked into my bedroom and adjusted the bed. I entered the kitchen and grabbed the mop to clean my floor. Aaryan called me after I finished mopping my bedroom floor.

I went into the living room, picked up his trousers from the floor, and threw them in with the other clothes. I then proceeded to clean the couch and the floor. Aaryan was just watching me do my thing. I stared at him after I finished.

"How do you feel right now, Aaryan?" I inquired about him.

He just nodded his head.

"Aaryan, you're sleepy. You'd sleep just standing there. Go to the bedroom and sleep."

"Not until I talk to you."

"Fine, I'll come and listen to you once you go into the bedroom," I responded, pointing with my hand to my bedroom.

When I finished my duties, I went into the bedroom to find him struggling to sleep. He was cuddled up in my blankets on my bed. He must be freezing. He's wearing nothing but the shorts I gave him.

"What do you want to talk about?" I inquired.

"I regret showing up like this, Maya. I'm sincerely sorry, but I was afraid I wouldn't see you tomorrow if I didn't come."

"Why do you want to see me?" I questioned.

"Maya, I'm in love with you." He whispered, and my world just stopped.

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*WordCount 1009*

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