Ajay

Too stubborn. 

This is how one can describe Maya. It took me like a century to pull her and make her sit in the car. My hands were still paining with the whole pulling scenario. I have never done such a thing in my entire life. Thanks to her, for this first-hand experience. 

It has already been an hour but still, she couldn't find her perfect clothes. She kept on chanting 'no' with thousands of reasons and excuses ready in her pocket. The fact is, there is only one reason: cost.

" Just take whatever suits you. I will pay for it." I was saying this every five minutes but as I mentioned, ' too stubborn.' 

" It...It's not about money! It doesn't suit me at all. The dress is too short and tight. Let's forget about this"–she glanced at her wristwatch and continued," Look, it's getting late. It won't look nice if I arrive late for the party. We should head that way." Saying that she proceeded to the exit door when I pulled her back. 

Grabbing her hands, I took her to the dressing and makeup room while she struggled to break free and kept on yelling, " What exactly do you want? Leave me." 

" You talk so much!" I said, glaring at her while she was equally shooting daggers at me.

" Can I help you, sir? " My eyes shifted towards the girl standing in front of me. 

" Yes, can you please get her a perfect party outfit which suits her? Also, make sure the make-up fits on her. She should look beautiful." In my mind, I already know that no makeup in the world can change her tomboyish attitude. 

Anyway… that is not at all my concern. It will come to me as a shock when she acts in a ladylike manner. And I am not prepared for that.

I sat on a chair and randomly scrolled through my phone to find hundreds of unread messages piled up. I had earlier turned off the notification tab because it is so irritating when it keeps on buzzing and vibrating each time a new notification pops up. 

I typed and replied to a few of them when I heard someone say, " Sir, take a look at your princess." 

I looked up to see Maya in a peach and blue long dress and her hair styled in a bun. She indeed looked gorgeous, unlike her face which told otherwise. I thought I noticed her lips curl up but then her face was soon back to her arrogant, angry and about-to-kill-you looks. 

But wait— did she say your princess?

" I think you are getting it wrong. She is just someone I happen to know. Please don't get the wrong meaning." I confirmed before she gets the whole thing wrong. 

My princess?! Never! 

I heard Maya sighing in relief while the girl attendant shifted her gazes back and forth. "Oh, I thought she was your girlfriend. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I will take the leave then if you say." 

She left soon after I nodded at her. I took steps closer to Maya who had a weird expression on her face. 

" I can't believe there was a dress in this world that would suit a monkey." Her face darkened at my remark and her eyes were about to shoot me dead. I snapped my mouth shut immediately.

Better to keep my mouth shut for now before she shuts it forever. 

" I will go out first. Then after a few minutes, come outside and hop in the car." I took out the key to the car from my pocket. Twirling it around my fingers, I stepped out of the shop almost forgetting about the paparazzi.

As expected a few were still standing. Anyways, I managed to escape. Getting inside the car, I started the ignition. After halting the car, I turned to find Maya searching around for the car. 

She tugged a few strands of hair behind her ear and looked for the car. I felt an unfamiliar sensation as she advanced towards the car, pulling the ends of her gown. I had always regarded her as a tomboy but now she is proving me all wrong. 

What am I saying? I must be going insane. 

I started the car again when she almost came running and stopped near the car. "What are you trying to do? " she asked in her usual irritated tone. 

" Not your business. Get in the car. Why were you walking like a turtle?" 

" Not your business." She repeated the same thing which I said and was about to get in the back seat when I said," Sit in the front." 

I was only asking her to take the passenger's seat (there is no other intention). She scans my face and says, " I don't want to. Anyways, why would you want a turtle to sit beside you? " She smiled at her own words and got in the back seat. 

This is Maya Padwal whom I am dealing with. I pressed my temples as I am reminded of how stubborn she is. I had been a social klutz in my younger days and that made my parents get me into a theatre troupe but I was least interested. It was the same troupe where Maya used to be a member. There had not been a single day when she didn't pull me and force me to go to the theatre along with her. 

To be honest, it had been a torture for me — practicing and performing with her on stage ending on the note of outrage. Slowly I developed a liking for acting and that's how it went by. I had decided to make acting my career. My nerdy, socially awkward person was moulded into a confident individual. Okay, not like Maya but still… to some extent.

I accelerated the car and came to a stop all of a sudden. Turning back I found Maya sitting in an unnatural position. Her face turned pale and her expression darkens as she gives me her signature deadly stare. A few strands of hair were all over her face. I smirked inside my head and bit my lips hard to stop my laughter which could cost me my life.

" Quit driving if you can't," she said with gritted teeth. Her eyes were blazing with rage. 

" I had told you to sit in the passenger's seat but you didn't listen. " 

She groaned and muttered something under her breath. Getting down from the car, she took the passenger's seat and sat with arms crossed.

" You should have done this earlier," I said, smirking. Well, I won against stubborn Ms Monkey. For this once, at least.

★★★

Maya 

I am just a step away from burying him alive. 

With arms crossed and a deep frown on my face, I stared at the road from the window. A steady and gentle breeze swept away a part of my anger. A thin layer of clouds veiled the silvery-white moon as it looked more beautiful than ever. 

I glanced at Ajay whose eyes were fixed on the road. He definitely has sharp facial features. What am I thinking? Argh! 

As I curse myself for thinking such stupid things when I saw his lips curl up into a smirk. " Stop drooling over me. I know I am very handsome." 

" Dream on," I retorted and turned to the other side. I can't believe he could say that.

Why would I drool over him? Pfft.

Just then my phone vibrated in my hand. It was a message from Ayushi.

Enjoying your night, huh? XDXD

If sitting in a car with the person you hate counts as enjoying then I am having a blast.

Yeah… Let me come home and show you how much I am enjoying it! 

The reply came soon enough—

Lololol… Don't get so excited already. You will have thousands of things to get excited over, especially Ishaan. Go my girl, win over them all. 

The name itself made me nervous. Right, I forgot about him with all this around me. Last night I was thinking about getting him a present but I was so lost and confused and today, I didn't even get time to think and decide because of this idiot who grabbed me out, without taking my so-called 'consent'. 

—Ayushi, what present can I buy for him? What will he like? 

After waiting for a few seconds, I get a reply—

Get lost...I am watching Boys over Flowers with Pranav. Select anything you like. 

This girl is an antique piece. I wonder how Pranav is doing. I put down the phone as it is pointless to wait for her reply. What should I do? My mind goes blank like a white sheet as I keep thinking about the best gift I could give him. 

What about a watch? Nah, that's so common. 
A perfume? Why would he need that? 

I sigh deeply and bury my head in my hands.

" What's wrong? Why are you sighing so much?" 

" None of your business," I said without looking up. 

" I don't think I heard about any monkey sighing like this." He once again is getting on my nerves. 

" You must know a lot about monkeys. Perks of being a member of the monkey clan," I said, grinning while he kept his focus on the road not before glaring at me. It is such a waste to argue when I am dying, thinking of a perfect present for Ishaan. 

Ask Ajay about it, you stupid. He knows him better than you do— a part of my brain shouted at me all of a sudden. It was true that he knows Ishaan better than me but I didn't want to talk with him. Every single conversation with him always ends with us glaring and shooting daggers at each other. 

Right then my eyes fell on a gift shop at the roadside. " Stop the car… stop it, stop it." I chanted shifting my glances from Ajay to the gift shop. 

The car came to a halt and I stepped out of it. 

" What happened?" Ajay asked with his wide eyes filled up with curiosity.

" None of your concern," I said without turning back to him. I carried on walking, ignoring his unlimited plan of yelling and getting the answer to his question which is left hanging in the air. 

After looking around the shop, my mind which was already void like a blank sheet turned out to be almost dead.

Dead, in the sense, it stopped working after looking at the marvellous presents hanging on the wall and a few displayed in the square display box in front of the shop.

" What are you looking for ma'am? " The voice snapped me back and I was somehow back to my senses (maybe half). I looked up to see a male employee or maybe the owner, greeting me politely. 

" Oh, I was looking for a present which I can give to someone dear." I blurted out my hidden feelings just like that. But it's not like anything will happen because the person in front of me doesn't even know me.

Lucky me that Ajay, the idiot didn't hear. Not that I care, just I had to waste a considerable amount of time and energy on giving him answers and arguing with him.

" Sure, ma'am. I will show you a gift item which is popular among lovers nowadays." 

Lovers? Oh. my. God. Why is my heart beating so fast? 

" No no. We aren't lovers." I wanted to add that we only met yesterday and we don't even know each other well. But I can't ignore that I wanted to make him someone important in my life. A soft smile spread across my face as I calmed myself. 

The man, for a second, gazed at my back and his eyeballs were on the verge to pop out and his jaws dropped at the sight. I turned to follow his gaze, only to meet eyes with Ajay who was standing at the entrance with a deadpan face.

" Who is that someone dear? "

~•~

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