Ajay

My eyes wavered at Maya's petrified face. I never saw her this scared and partially shaking in fear.

I turned to look at Ishaan who took a deep breath and frowned, leaving in a hurry before we could take any action. I could see the annoyed and displeased look on his mother's face which she soon masked by a calm smile. The traits of being an actor.

" Ma'am, I know I shouldn't speak here but I need to. It was okay till you looked down on me as someone trying to take advantage of his money and position. But shouldn't you at least let me speak? Today is his birthday-," Maya spoke, grabbing the whole room's attention.

" So now you are agreeing that you are one. I have seen a lot of people like you. You are absolutely nowhere compared to us. This is about the prestige of the Kapoor family. Act like the outsider you are. Are you not happy after ruining the party?" The venom dripped from her every single word, glorifying her authority over the air in the room.

This was the very reason why Ishaan can't get along with his mother. I and Sarah could never speak in front of her. She even criticised me for being an outsider but after my name made headlines with praises, I didn't have to face that criticism.

I always took in their hate and discrimination for a lot of reasons but today, I felt disgusted by her words.

" I am sorry... for ruining the party. Excuse me."

Maya lowered her head and soon left the room with tear-pooled eyes. I stood frozen on my spot, can't comprehend what just happened in front of my eyes.

" Aunty, Maya is not that type of a girl. She is truly nice and talented. She belongs to us. Our industry. Just like me and Ajay," Sarah raised her voice.

" Ajay has got everything with his ability but what about this girl? She is just another type of Priya. I am okay till she keeps herself away from Ishaan and you too, my child, don't stay around her," she said looking at Sarah who turned away her face. Her voice sounded too sweet which made me more furious.

I looked up, gritting my teeth to control my anger and let out hollow laughter. "Ma'am, I have always respected you but I don't think I can do it any longer; not after this. Whatever she is, she isn't a gold digger... and I am not sorry that I couldn't keep quiet this time."

I turned around and left the room.

I closed my eyes and pressed my temples. Did I just say that to Alisha ma'am?

" What did you just do, Ajay?" Sarah asked as she shook my arms.

" Yeah, you know what I did. Whatever. I didn't like the way she spoke about Maya. She isn't like that. Why would I keep hearing that nonsense?" I frowned thinking about what Alisha ma'am said to her.

" I am telling you that it was so cool. I am impressed. Sure enough, Maya will be glad about it," she slapped my elbow. "...But I never expected that from you."

" Me neither," I muttered softly, doubting myself.

" But where to find them now?" I asked, nervously, remembering the terror on her face and tear-filled eyes. And also Ishaan left in anger just taking his jacket along with him.

She bit her lips and dialled his number, "Switched off? But why-?" She tried again but had no luck. I tried Maya's number and this time she was just refusing my calls.

" She is just hanging it up," I pressed the dial button for the fifth time now but she just declined it.

" Let me try it. Maybe she is just doing that seeing your number," Sarah said.

It struck me like a clap of thunder that she still looks at me as her biggest enemy. She definitely doesn't want to talk to me at this moment.

" Unreachable."

After trying to call her a couple of times more, we decided to look around for her. " You go ahead, let me stay here. I need to handle those," she said, pointing at the paparazzi in front of the gate.

" Okay, I will call you later." She nodded. I ran towards the parking area when tiny raindrops fell on my face, head and palm.

With my half-wet clothes, I ran inside my car and started the engine. But where am I supposed to search for her? I just drove down the side alley and came across the roads very familiar to me.

Driving away from my old flat, I ran my fingers through my hair, looking at the places around, but with the rain blurring the windows, it wasn't letting me look out of the window.

I parked my car aside and picked up the umbrella from the backseat. I never thought I would get impatient and frustrated like that when she wasn't picking up my calls. I never thought I would be running around the wet streets. I never thought I would speak like that to a senior actress and producer when I was used to hearing those words; only for that girl whom I claim as my biggest enemy.

I don't even know why I am searching here. Feeling defeated and exhausted, I was about to get inside my car when I got a glimpse of a girl sitting with her head hung down on a bench. She was wearing a long salwar kameez, making my little hopes perish.

Can she be Maya? She looks like her but was she wearing salwar kameez?

As I turned around, I thought of reaching her, seeing her badly drenched in rain. I ran towards her. " Excuse me, are you okay?" I asked, not sure how to put words to my feelings. What if she isn't Maya?

I tilted my head to look at her. I kept my umbrella over her head. She was shivering badly but kind of jerked at my voice. As she looked up at me, my mouth fell open and I saw her pale face.

It was her. Maya.

She looked up at me, trying hard to keep her eyes open. She blinked continuously and gripped her head. Her messy hair was tied in a loose bun and her face lost all its colours. She stared at me tiredly as her lips parted in a sob. "Ajay."

I gulped looking at her state. Her swollen bloodshot eyes and her tear-stained face made my heart clench in pain. " Yes, Maya. It is me. Are you okay?" I held the umbrella over her head and bent on my knees to come to her level.

Keeping the umbrella in a perfect position to keep it straight on top of her head, I took off my jacket and put it on her soaked body.

" Ajay," she repeated, breaking into a cry. As my anxious heart ached at the sight, I held her arms which were shaking continuously. She clutched my sleeves tight, dropping her head over my shoulders, tears rolling down her cheeks.

" It is okay. It's fine. You are safe," I whispered as soft as ever. I was never good at comforting people and it always managed to make me uncomfortable when someone cried. Today, when she is crying, I had a weird desire to hold her, comfort her and whisper comforting words.

She closed her eyes and I raised my palm to rub off her tears. My lips parted when I felt her skin burning with fever. "Stupid, why would you sit here in the open? Are you crazy or mad?" I cried out in anger.

She hardly kept her eyes open and mumbled, "You...stop nagging."

This girl is still arguing. Not surprising. Without giving a second thought, I carry her in a bridal style, wrapping my jacket around her. "Sorry for this. But I had to do it."

" I can walk... leave me."

" Not happening." She moved a little on her spot but didn't protest much. My heart grew heavy at her drained state. Tears were still rolling down her cheeks which were now damping my shirt. "Hold me tight. Or else you will fall. "

She held my collar tight and her cold hands brushed past my warm ones, triggering my senses. I gulped hard as I saw her hand clinging to my collar.

Opening the car door, I made her sit in the front seat. " Where are we-," she started but I cut her off.

" Go to sleep," I said, getting in the car. I pulled out the extra black jacket from the back seat. It was indeed like a magician's hat. A 24-hour open shop. I keep everything like this just to keep my privacy to myself.

I wrapped the jacket around her body which she pulled up, covering herself properly with half-closed eyes.

As I was about to take the right turn to Parvati Buildings, I realized it would take a lot of time to reach there. She needs immediate treatment. I take the U-turn to my old apartment in Oberoi Springs.

I called up Dev, my PA. " Dev, Just do me a favour. Call over the doctor." I pressed my ear next to the phone, keeping it over my shoulders.

" Why? What happened, sir?"

" Maya is having a fever. Just call him right now." I hung up the call as I parked the car. I turned towards her and was about to tap on her shoulders but I stopped midway when I saw her sound asleep.

As I stared at her clumsy face, our old days flashed before my eyes.

I sighed, pulling the loose hair strands behind her ear. Getting down, I carried her in a bridal style once again. This time my already injured fingers ached but I carried on.

Before I knew it, I was inside my flat. I looked around for the maids and instructed them to get her some clothes to change.

" Did you call the doctor?" I said when I saw Dev pacing around. He pulled out something from the drawer.

" Sir, I called him but he is out of town right now so he prescribed some medicines which will be enough for now. He said he will send some other doctor if the medicines don't work." I nodded and took the medicines and prepared a cool, damp cloth.

I got inside my room to see her lying on the bed.

" Sir, her phone and bag are kept on the table. Sir, will we leave or if you want we can stay-?"

" You can leave," I said to the maid and took steps near the bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I tapped on her shoulders with a little hesitation. She slightly opened her eyelids and struggled to sit up when I held the back of her neck and her shoulders, supporting her to sit upright.

I handed her the paracetamol which she popped inside her mouth and gulped with the water. She pressed her head and fumbled, "Where is... this place?"

" You are safe. Just sleep, " I said, taking the glass from her hand. I didn't want to tell her anything more right now. Pulling up the blanket on her, I took the nearby chair, bringing the wet cloth and bowl.

Why does she have to speak up in places where she shouldn't? Why does she always get herself into trouble, dragging me into it as well? And why am I even caring for her?

There are too many 'why' going on inside my brain with no answers for them. But seriously, what is this feeling right now? I am mad at her for just sitting in the rain. I am mad at her for agreeing to that nonsense about her being a gold digger. I am mad at her for not receiving my calls, running about the town and ending up in bed- sick. I hate her but I just felt like my heart shattered when she cried holding my sleeves.

" Why do you have to be sick? I didn't know monkeys can get sick. You should know where to stop. You are so stupid," I mumble as I check her temperature. She hugged the blanket and whimpered in her sleep.

Her phone rang loudly on the table, startling me all of a sudden. Oh, she will wake up. Picking it up, I rushed out into the dining space. Ayushi.

I picked it up to an extreme shout, "Where are you, Maya?! Have you forgotten the receive button? I tried to call you so many times. What were you doing? I know you are having fun with Ishaan. I am not stopping you but we are worried yaar."

" Ah... hello Ayushi," I said hesitating for a bit. I didn't know how to answer her when she was flooding me with questions. Precisely, Maya.

The line went silent and soon she replied, "Ajay? Um... Where is Maya? Not any problem, right?" She asked with a calculated tone of voice.

" She is... a bit sick. But don't worry she is with me. I will safely bring her home tomorrow. "

" What? Is she okay?" Her voice filled with worries.

" She is better now. She just needs a little rest. Don't you worry, she will be fine."

" Ah... Okay," she said, stumbling.

" Trust me, your friend will be taken care of," I said when I heard a chuckle at the other end.

" But still..." she hesitated. " Well, okay then, let me leave the job to you. Just call me if anything goes wrong. Good night to you both." I hung up the call after wishing her good night when I received another call. This time on my phone. Sarah.

" Ajay, I am leaving for his farmhouse now. I need to have a talk or two with him. By the way, how is Maya?"

" She has a high fever. Don't worry, I will look after her. But why would you go there? Did you find Ishaan?"

She sighed and said, " No but I think he will be there. It may take a week or two, so don't worry. You please look after her. I can manage things here." She hung up the call after her last message to take care of Maya.

I was worried about Ishaan. He just left the place after arguing with his mother. Whenever he does that, it becomes too tough to get through him.

However, he manages to keep a front to avoid people reading through his mind. Being an actor, somewhere we all have expertise in covering all the emotions from time to time.

I peeked through the door of the room to see her sleeping peacefully. Tiptoeing my way inside, I pressed her forehead to see the temperature coming down slowly. Keeping the wet cloth on her forehead one more, I wiped her tear-stained face.

" Sorry I couldn't say anything when I was supposed to say. Maybe, if I had done that before, you would not get yourself sick like this. Don't get sick again, monkey. You make me worried," I said softly. I was about to pat her head but halted in the middle. Later, I just tapped my finger, gently on her forehead.

I blink promptly, trying to avoid my thumping heart. I switched off the lights only keeping the bedside lamp on. I turned to take a glance at her the last time before walking out of the room. Plopping on the sofa, I closed my eyes to calm myself.

I gave up on the thought of sleeping. My mind was jumbled up like my earphones that are kept on the table; however much I try to pull it out straight, it just gets more and more tangled.

★★★

Maya

Dark and dark. I could hear feeble sounds. I wanted to open my eyes but I didn't have any energy left inside me.

I could only think of Ishaan who just left like that. I remember his heartbroken face, the anger mixed with the sorrowful pair of eyes glancing at me before he left.

I ran behind him taking huge steps without minding the rain, the water-logged streets, or the honking of the vehicles. I kept running, not looking at the path but continuous calls from Ajay, Sarah and Ayushi led me to lose track of the way he took.

I felt my head burning and my hands and legs turning cold. Taking the bench at the corner of the road, I clutched my head because of terrible pain. My phone kept ringing on my side, tears rolled down my eyes as those words rang in my head.

She is nothing but a gold digger.

No, please no. I don't want to remember that.

I gave you everything- money, fame, power and prestige. Then why can't you listen to your mother for once? Why do you need to go around with these types of girls?

Just stop-

You know very well about your position. You are a born star. You should have boundaries between insiders and outsiders. You know the difference, right?

Argh, I can't take this. Just st- " Maya?"

I looked up at the voice calling me with a tear-stained face to see someone with a tall physique. My blurred vision didn't allow me to take a clear look at the person's face.

I slowly made out his steady gaze, his half-parted lips, his sharp jawline and his black jacket. As I stared more closely I noticed his face.

Ajay.

I blinked continuously in shock to see him here. I was too tired to fight with him anymore. "Ajay," I called out.

I broke down as I saw him kneeling down, keeping his umbrella over my head. I held onto his sleeves as I cried my soul out.

I didn't know why was I crying in front of him. I didn't know how I ended up being a crybaby when he was in front of me. With his hands covering my shoulders, I felt like crying out loud just this once. For just now, I want to throw out my burdened heart. I didn't have my tomorrow prepared. It will get embarrassing for sure but I can't help it today.

Maybe, I am just not strong enough.

~•~

Happy friendship Day to everyone! ❤❤

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