Shattered Desires

Chapter Thirteen

Maya's POV

My voice choked up as I saw them clustered together by the bar, sipping on some drinks. Aryan looked slightly drunk and was tripping over his feet. Caleb, who was still short was bearing the brunt of his weight. Nicholas sipped some sparkling champagne as he had his eyes focused on me, his mouth in a familiar flirting smirk. He hadn't recognized me.

Wong was sporting a beard and his hair was up to his shoulders, making him look like a polished homeless person. He was laughing at Aryan's drunk position and a petite doll faced women was clinging onto him.

Then I finally saw him. Ved Shastri. He held the same cold expression that I had seen all those years ago. His jaw had the faint shadow of day old stubble on it and his hair had tracks from his hand running through it all the time. His eye was fixated on me and it looked like he was looking through me, at my soul. I feared that he had recognized me.

But there was no time to think of that. I had to start singing.

I wanted to keep my eyes closed so I wouldn't see the reaction of everyone. Because internally I knew that even if Ved couldn't recognize me for how I looked, he would know now. I continued singing as I looked in Vikram and Priyanka's direction.

After singing the next few lines, I looked in Aryan's direction. To my horror, he was making a fool of himself in the back as he did a snake dance for my song on top of a barstool. Nicholas and Caleb tried covering him. Looks like they were still loyal as ever to him. Wong on the other hand had settled down with his petite princess at a table where he looked at me, recognition flashing in his eyes. How did he know? I quickly turned away and resumed singing.

Finally, as I finished and the background singers began their last stanza, I looked in Ved's direction. His dark orbs instantly locked mine in and I was forced to look at him. His mouth was parted in an O as he took me in fully. I felt the familiar rush of vulnerability as I looked at him because he was the only one who could make me feel exposed to the entire world, away from the shell I was always hidden in. Then suddenly, the flashbacks washed over me like fresh water.

My expression turned agitated as I recollected the embarrassment I had gone through in high school that had changed me as a person. I looked away instantly and left the stage, tears clouding my vision as thunderous applause filled the hall.

I ran outside as I gasped for air. The stars twinkled lightly in the cloudy sky. The tears fell easily down my cheeks and I held my head in my hands. Then the heavens opened their eyes and the rain thundered down on the cold earth. The water enveloped me fully, soaking me to the core.

My salty tears mingled with the fresh rain as I cried softly. Then I saw him suddenly in front of me. He towered over me, much taller than when I had seen him last. Ved looked down at me, his own eyes filled with agony. He touched my cheek ever so softly.

I gasped at his mere touch. It sent warm tingles around my cold body. I leaned into his touch, yearning for him. My mind screamed out to me that this was wrong, but I had no control over what my body did.

Ved removed his hand and looked down at me. His head was bowed down lower than mine. I gasped softly because I knew that Ved bowed down to nobody except for his mother.

"Ved." I whispered softly as I touched his stubble laced cheek. He looked up at me as I cupped his cheek in my hand.

Suddenly a clap of thunder resonated above me and I was jolted back to reality from the fantasy I was currently living in. I looked at Ved horrified, now in a new light.

Painful flashes came across my vision of my bullying in high school. Ved's smile crossed my vision more than once and then it ended at his rejection and insult after his heartwarming proposal.