*Flashback*

"Hillary, get on the bus now!"

"Marcus, don't pour your water on the ground!"

"Lucy, did you use the bathroom?" I asked tiredly. Taking a trip with a bunch of preschoolers was not fun business and this Ved hadn't shown up yet.

"Enga ponna ivan? (Where did this guy go?)" I wondered and gave him a call. The familiar ringtone came from behind me.

"Oh good, you are here. Why are you so late?" I asked Ved, my hands on my hips.

"Sorry, Mom needed me to drop Virat off at a friends house." he said. We both helped all the kids onto the bus, made sure our supplies were there and finally took a seat. The supervisor saw my tired state.

"Hey Maya, you can take a nap if you want. I have everything covered here." she said. I had been up from 5:30 in the morning after all. I smiled at her gratefully and put my head back on the uncomfortable, hard cushion. I was sleepy but my neck was killing me.

Suddenly, without any words, Ved put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. I rested my head on his shoulder, which was much more comfortable. I felt a slight flutter in my chest but decided to dismiss it. I closed my eyes and snuggled into the warmth of his body, sleep eluding me easily.

I woke up refreshed as Ved poked my cheek repeatedly.

"Is this any way to wake up a person?" I asked as I caught his finger midair before he could poke me again.

"Sorry. But we are here." he said looking out with a smile. The beach looked beautiful, the sun's rays sparkling on the gleaming blue ocean.

"This is beautiful." I said softly.

"Do you want to freshen up and change?" Ved asked.

"How did you know that I had to change?" I asked him, my eyebrow raised.

"Ved knows all baby." he told me with a wink. Then he added in a stage whisper: "Nobody comes to the beach with a sweatshirt."

I lightly slapped him on his arm and went in search of a bathroom to change into more beach appropriate clothing. I changed into a pink, purple and white maxi dress with a purple light cardigan on it. After securing my hair with bobby pins, I walked out, beach ready.

Ved had also changed into a pair of shorts and a shirt. When he saw me, he whistled slightly. "Shut up duffer. Act civilized for once, there are children here." I hissed.

"Bade bade deshon mein.." I reached for my sandal in warning. He put a finger on his mouth and stopped himself.

We waked over to the kids and while Ved engaged some of them in volleyball, I took some kids to the water. We didn't go too far into the water though.

Then Mrs. Markham brought out all the sandwiches for lunch and we ate in animated chatter. After lunch, we decided to drive back when Ved stopped her.

"Ms. Markham, do you mind if I steal Maya for five minutes? I promise that we will be right back." he said. I looked at him curiously. What could he possibly show me?

*Present Day*

A few days later, I had successfully managed to avoid Ved at all costs. But there was no school for me to attend in the first place because we were on break. After break, we only had two weeks left for finals.

Vikram and Priyanka knew that I was depressed and tried to engage me in their activities but I chose to stick to my monotonous routine. I felt like a third wheel with them and I knew they needed their private time as well. I no longer taught Virat's batch so I didn't have to meet Ved at the pool. I still assisted at the learning center as well as went on with my singing and academics.

But one fine afternoon, I was just fed up. Nobody was home and I had just received another text from Aryan. This was another form of his torture. He would just keep sending me useless, rude texts and I chose to ignore them but this was the last straw.

*You are such a plain jane, easy to toy with and control.* it read.

I threw my phone across the room, not caring if it broke. But he was true right? I was a nice person and people used me for that. Sure, I might have a daring and aggressive side but I was always a nice and quiet person. My daring side came out rarely. People viewed me as an introvert, hence easy to use apparently.

I threw my pillows and books at the walls, venting out my frustration.

How. Dare. They. Think. That. Way.

I didn't deserve this. I didn't deserve to be heartbroken. I didn't deserve to be sitting around with trust issues. I didn't deserve to get the rude looks at school.

"I DON'T DESERVE YOUR RUDENESS!" I screamed to nobody in particular.

Vikram and Priyanka walked in and saw me throwing things.

"Maya, stop! You are going to hurt yourself!" Vikram said in concern. Priyanka was with him and they both pulled me into their arms.

"Hey, it's ok." Vikram said and Priyanka stroked my hair. Vikram picked up my cracked phone and read the messages that Aryan had been sending me.

"That son of a-" I stopped him.

"Vikram, no. You will not stoop lower than him." I said firmly. I was not going to accept another fight. I was done with the fighting.

"Why didn't you tell us that he had been harassing you through text?" Priyanka asked.

"There is no reason for you to take all that shit he has been giving you." Vikram said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Guys, I need a change. I can't live like this anymore." I said, running a hand through my hair.

All through my life, I had never been called pretty or beautiful. No guy had looked down at me with love but rather fear or disgust. I wanted to change all of that. I was done hoping for people to accept me for who I was rather than how I looked. Now I had to give in after all these years of nonchalance and ignorance. I was going to become one of them.

"Priyanka, I need a makeover." I said, uttering those dreaded words from my mouth. The words I thought I would never say.

Priyanka's eyes spoke volumes of shock. "Are you sure Maya?" She was the only one who could help me. Even though she dressed simply herself, she still had great style tips.

Vikram looked at me, fury in his eyes. "Are you crazy? Are you seriously going to give into those lunatics? Maya, people will remain to be shallow-"

"That is exactly why I have to give in Vikram! I am done living life by my rules. I had to give in at some point and now is the time for that! People will remain to be shallow and the only way to get accepted in society is to become like one of them!" I said, a tear rolling down my tear dried cheek.

"Calm down. Shh." Vikram said, wiping away my tears. "If this will make you happy, then do it. I know that you crave acceptance but never forget Maya, Priyanka and I will always accept you for your personality and not your looks."

Priyanka pulled me in a hug and Vikram joined his head towering above all of us. As I stood there, wrapped in warmth, I knew that in my heart, I could never be happy for changing myself for society. But I would have to live with it.

Because I craved acceptance.

A/N: Hey Guys! Surprise Update! I am sorry for being MIA for so long on this book.

1) What does Ved have to show Maya at the beach?

2) Maya is finally going to give into society! Do you agree with her?

Please keep voting and commenting! Thank you so much for supporting me and encouraging me to keep writing this book. I still get readers even though I have the book officially on hold. Thank you all so much and let me know what you thought of this chapter!