Author’s POV  

“ your left side, third table……that black hoodie howtie has been staring at you since long “ Jenny whispred to Maya, who didn’t show any  interest which  is very unsettling for Jenny because Maya is so fond of men, who are hot and breathtaking.

She wouldn’t miss a chance to admire the  beauty that god has gifted to a man. But now, when  She did not even lift her gaze up and try to find the hottest guy in the restaurant where they were sitting, Jenny knew there’s something off with her. 

Jenny had meetings to attend and people to meet up with. Her day was perfectly scheduled by Nia. but the moment she got a call from Maya saying that  she is in need of company Jenny didn’t think twice before asking Nia to cancel her meetings for now and reschedule them for tomorrow. 

But ever since Jenny came here as per Maya’s given order the only thing she is getting to see is Maya’s poker face. By then Jenny knew she had got a job babysitting her grumpy friend-Maya. 

She tried asking her but Maya being the stubborn woman, only gave blank expressions as replies and stayed muted. 

Stomping her fist on the table Jenny controlled herself from yelling at Maya as she  asked “ okay now I'm losing my patients..speak up withat’s matter with you ? ” 

Maya looked up, sighed heavily, looked left and then right but  Jenny. 

“ Stop with that act, it doesn’t make you look miserable anyway “ Jenny shrugged, holding her gazing at Maya. 

“ I’m not trying to look miserable “ snapped Maya shooting daggers at Jenny, who sneaked out her tongue at her. 
“ Seriously ? What are we ? five ? “ Maya was irritated, but she knew Jenny was trying to make her mood sober. 

It’s been two days now, and Maya still couldn’t get over what Asher said before leaving her apartment. Along with that, he has been ignoring and avoiding her in office as well.

At first she thought it might be because he’s awkward but later she understood that he’s willingly ignoring her.

He wouldn’t even spare a glance at her while walking right across her, and being in  the avoidable part of his day to day life didn’t make her feel any good.
Because, Asher used to give more attention to her even  when she  was bothered about getting attention from anyone.

He would always look for her, in coffee breaks as a chance to sit with   her and have his coffee. With every possible opportunity Asher has shown her that he cares for her more than a colleague.

And now when he doesn’t even spare a glance at her, it makes her feel like she has done something unfair to him. 

“ ohh please….just open that  damn mouth of yours “ Jenny uttered each word greeting her teeths with irritability. 

Maya looked down, played with  her fingers and took deep breath before saying “ i slept with Asher” 

“ I was expecting something like a werewolf or vampire walked into your life and made you one of them, “ she scoffed trying to lighten the situation as the big drawn on Maya’s face was already telling her that there’s a lot more to come. 

“ Okay i’m leaving” Maya stood up and grabbed her bag to leave but stopped when Jenny held her hands and muttered a sorry. 

“ I was just….trying to be funny….” Jenny gave a lipped smile in hope to melt Maya’s heart.

Maya rolled her eyes “ well, then you should stop trying to be funny because it’s not working “

Both of them set back on their respective chairs. As Jenny made a sorry face that Maya couldn’t resist but melted in those puppy eyes of Jenny. 

“ my bad…” scrunching her nose, Jenny gave an apologetic smile. 

Maya could be such a pain in ass when she is moody .

That's one of the reasons why Jenny  or Sam won’t choose to mess up with Maya when she is upset or moody. Being the elder daughter of the family Maya has already come across many things that made her grumpy and instant reactor. She has spent the half of her life trying to please her parents who would never feel enough with Maya. and by the time Maya reached rock bottom of emotional breakdowns due to  family pressure on her to be the best elder daughter Maya’s emotions turned into ice which stopped melting for people who doesn’t makes sense in her life. Responsibility and expectation crushed the innocent soul of hers and after a point she had to pick herself and stand for herself against her parents who always wanted her as their puppet. She studied and got into IIT that saved her life being wasted by her toxic parents. After getting into Goldman Sachs which pays her enough that she is able to look after herself and her needs Maya stepped out of her home which was not less than a prison for her. 
She restarted her life, she rented an apartment and her friends aided her to make that house as home. She is living on her own, and that’s enough for her. But somewhere in the process of becoming mature and strong Maya lost the gentleness of hers, not like she would complain about it. Because becoming rude and mean only helped her to keep those fake people away from her life. 

It’s been years now, she has been living her life on her own terms. Job, owning a home and some savings for the future is how she planned her life.  Everything was going as per her plan except Asher. 
Asher is the most unplanned part of her life.   

After spending two horrible days of ignorance from Asher Maya  couldn’t come up with a solution to know why he’s the way he is now and not the way he was before. 

she got so used to the attention and observation from him that now when he's being indifferent she isn't able to take that. 

Because she personally liked the attention she got from him. It made her feel like there’s someone who thinks she matters even  though  they don’t share any relation that could define them. She was content by knowing that there’s a person named Asher who is always there for her, without expecting anything from her in return.

“ so, what were you saying…Asher….haan “ Jenny gathered her thoughts about the time when Maya  spoke about Asher to Jenny. 

“ don’t judge okay… '' Maya asked and Jenny shook her head instantly.
Although Maya knows that she can count on Jenny yet the insecurities inside her was making her question. In the past three years Jenny has been the pillar of Maya’s emotions. Whenever someone or something breaks Maya, makes her miserable Jenny always stood by her and helped her to deal with the grief. And she is also aware that Jenny knows how sweet  and gentle Maya is beneath the hard and rough attitude of hers that she shows to the world. 

Jenny hasn't met Asher in person but she surely knows a little about him since Maya had once talked about him to her. Maya seems less interested in Asher back then.

At that time Jenny didn’t know that someday, in a restaurant she and her best friend will be meeting to discuss Asher. 

“ so he come to drop me off to my apartment, i offered him a drink as a gesture of gratitude…..we drank…ordered pizza….we talked….blabbered….and “ she licked her lips anticipating a response to continue  further.

“ i'm listening.... Keep going, “ said Jenny, reaching out her hands.
“Probably we were drunk and got carried away, “ added Maya, stealing a glance at jenny.

“ Next morning i got freaked out when i saw him on my bed…Naked…..i was perplexed….clueless and i came up with the idea that i’ll act cool about it…..” she continued while Jenny kept listening to her without interrupting.

“  because out of nervousness i thought….he’s just some passing clouds in my life…..i didn’t want any emotional connection with him…so i was about to tell him that….whatever happened between was one time thing and will not repeat.” She  trailed off after making sure that  Jenny is listening to her without judging her. Seeing the warmness in Jenny’s eyes Maya  took long breath and continued “ but…before i could say anything…he said that  whatever happens between us was a mistake…A MISTAKE” she said the last words a bit louder that it made few other people look at her strangely who were present in that restaurant.

Looking around Jenny slowly said “ it’s okay…you don’t have to take that as hard as it is “ 

“ No…i mean how could he say that  it was a mistake ?” Maya vociferated loud making Jenny shook her head.

The past two days she spent between guilt and rage of being nothing but a mistake for him. The mere thought of it was enough to poke her emotions that she was burning deep down all these days. 

A frawn formed on her face when  she  continued “ damn, it wasn’t a mistake…..i don’t regret anything…..in fact….i wanted him as much as he  wanted me….it was mutual…..i thought none of us would regret it “

Maya had been edgy for two days after hearing him saying it was a mistake. Eveyrtime she recalls those words she would go crazy. It wasn’t a mistake of course. 

Maya had always dreamed of getting dirty with him, even though she would not accept this out loud in front of him but this is the fact. Asher has been in her fantasy list since long or since the day she saw him walking to her with  an effortless smile that swept her whole existence.

But at that time she  was in relationship with Ruben and unwantedly she had to stop herself from imagining about Asher when she was getting fucked by Ruben.  

Jenny remained quiet all this while, with a blank face. Because she could feel a kind of tension and desperacy in Maya’s tone that she never sensed before. She was uneasy and her eyes screamed the disappointment caused by Asher. 

In that exact moment Jenny realised something. 

Noticing the silence and lack of expression in Jenny’s face Maya stopped ranting and asked  " don’t be a stone…say something ”

“  You like him......” came Jenny’s question following a warm smile from her.

Now, Maya really regrets asking her to speak. 

“ You were better off being shut “ Maya rolled her eyes while drinking mocktail.

“ No…wait……you love him…..don’t you ? “ exclaimed Jenny, making Maya choke on her drink.