#1 in the London Universe series:
Anaya Oberoi, a final-year student at a prestigious college in India, was thrilled to be selected for a student exchange at King's College London. But there was a catch-she had to live with foster parents. To her su...
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I was overwhelmed by a lack of self-control, perhaps due to the exhilaration of the risk or the unforeseen consequences of my actions, as it was the first time I had ever engaged in such a thrilling encounter. I felt a deep sense of regret as she left, her legs trembling, knowing that I couldn't offer her the comforting aftercare that I typically would.
I was exhausted after traveling for twelve hours, and the jet lag was hitting me hard. I fell asleep as soon as my body touched the bed.
____________
THE NEXT MORNING
I woke up and glanced at the clock; it was already nine in the morning. After taking care of my morning routine, I stepped out of my room about half an hour later. As I descended the stairs, I noticed that Anaya's parents were already up and seated at the dining table. I approached them with a warm smile.
"Good morning! How was your night?" Anaya's mother asked, returning the smile.
"I think I finally managed to overcome the jet lag, aunty. Thank you for asking," I replied gratefully.
Her father, setting aside his newspaper, chuckled and said, "I doubt this girl is going to wake up anytime soon."
"It's almost ten o'clock. Who knows when she finally went to bed," her mother added, glancing at the clock with a hint of concern.
"Oh, let it be," her father replied, defending his daughter. "She must be exhausted from being away from home for so long."
Her mother chuckled softly and added, "I'm just glad she's back. I can't wait for her to share all her stories." Turning her attention to me, she asked, "Noah, tell me more about London and its culture. How was it? Did Anaya enjoy her time there?"
I chuckled softly, thinking of Anaya's reactions to the city. "Oh, she loved it. At first, she was a bit overwhelmed by the size and pace of everything, but she quickly adapted. She was especially fond of the museums and the parks. I think the art and nature really resonated with her. She'd often spend hours just wandering around, taking everything in."
"Now, how many more questions are you all going to ask about me?" Anaya playfully protested.
"And what's wrong with that?" her mother shot back, folding her arms across her chest in the same way Anaya often does when she's feeling defensive.
Anaya walked closer, a small smile playing on her lips, and took the empty seat beside me. "If you're going to ask questions about me, at least do it in front of me," she replied with a huff, trying to sound annoyed but not quite pulling it off.
Before the playful banter could continue, her father interrupted, his voice filled with affection. "Good morning, my princess."
"Good morning, Papa," Anaya responded, her expression instantly softening as a charming smile spread across her face.
