*Flashback*

It was the annual Diversity assembly at school and I was participating in a Kathak fusion dance performance in front of my entire school with Priyanka and some other girls. It took extensive practices and Ved also was present, helping us with feedback and such. Vikram was arranging our props with his mother so the boys were also part of the effort.

The day finally arrived and I was wearing a black and red Kathak costume with black leggings and bells on my feet. Everybody was dressed in the reverse combination and we were ready to go on stage. We danced our hearts out and I could hear everyone's silence as they watched us flying across the dance floor. Suddenly, just as we were going to do our complicated ending pose, I slipped on something and was about to land on the floor but Ved caught me in his arms. I looked at him deeply and the girls were slightly confused but managed to finish the dance with the ending pose without me.

I could spot Aryan looking disappointed at Ved's save but I was grateful. A broken ankle was probably the last thing I could handle at this time.

"Thanks Ved." I said, standing up. I spotted Aryan looking disappointed so he was probably behind the banana prank. Meanwhile, Ved walked towards Aryan. I looked at him curiously. What was he going to do?

"How dare you Aryan! Why did you try to make her trip?" Ved asked, pulling Aryan's collar. A fight broke out that was finally stopped by the principal. The duo was immediately ushered into the Principal's office. I was worried for Ved.

I changed out of my costume and walked to class. Everyone was gossiping about me in AP Computer Science and I sat down in my seat, crouched down. In the middle of class, I was called out of class to go to the Principal's office. Everyone began whispering even more. Oh Ved, what have you gotten yourself into?

I walked down to the office, my head hung low. I entered and found Ved and Aryan sitting down in the chairs, Aryan pressing an ice pack on his jaw when Ved looked like he had a black eye.

"Hello Mr. Jon." I said, greeting my principal.

"Hello Maya. It is in my understanding that you fell on a banana peel towards the end of your performance and Ved saved you?" he asked.

"Yes." I said, confidently.

"Do you know who might have been responsible for putting the banana there?" Mr. Jon asked.

"I didn't see anyone Mr. Jon." I said.

"Well, Aryan here was the one who was responsible for the banana. Ved's camera captured Aryan doing the same." he said. I gasped, although I knew that Aryan was the one who was responsible.

"Since Aryan threw a banana peel and also fought with Ved, he will be suspended for a week. Ved will be entitled to 10 hours of community service." Mr. Jon concluded.

Ved smirked at Aryan and walked out with me. I began to speak to him.

"I am so sorry Ved, it's my fault. I can't believe he gave you ten hours in community service. I feel so guilty." I said.

"Hey, it's ok. It's only ten hours and the time will go by fast when you are there with me." he said with a smile.

"Oye hello, what is this new thing now?" I asked him.

"Yes madam, some time ago you were saying 'Oh Ved, I am feeling so guilty?' and now you are backing out?" he asked.

"Ved, I am sorry. I am so busy with college apps. I don't think I have the time..." I trailed off.

"But you were saying yesterday that you are taking the kids from daycare to a daylong trip to the beach?" he asked. It was true. Early Learning School had decided to take the kids on a little field trip to the beach so they could have some fun and the parents would also get a free day. We always did small events/field trips like this in the weekends so the parents can get a little break.

"You are right, but what does that have to do with this?" I asked.

"I could come along with you, help and also get my ten hours signed off?" he asked.

"That's a great idea! I have to ask my supervisor though." I said.

"No problem. Let me know what the plan is by the end of the week." he said.

"Ok." I said with a smile.

Little did I know that this trip would throw my feelings into a complete state of confusion and possibly undeniable attraction.

*Present Day*

The next morning after Vikram and Priyanka had left, I showered and freshened up. I changed the Band-Aid on my hand from where the rose had pricked me. It was still snowy outside and I just felt like sitting in my room all day but I knew Paati would yell at me. After getting dressed in a red and black kurti and leggings, I went downstairs where Paati was reading her weekly Tamil magazine. 

"Here she is. Waking up so late in the morning Maya. This is bad for a girl. I woke up at 5 every morning and milked the cows..." I tuned her out and began fixing myself a bowl of cereal. Mom put a hand on my shoulder.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"Yes mom." I said, smiling weakly at her.

"Nobody listens to me in this house!" Paati boomed. Dad gave me a look from his laptop and signaled me to look at Paati.

"Sorry Paati." I said.

"Fine. Today you and I are going to my weekly bhajan group and you are going to sing." Paati declared. Paati went every week to a bhajan group and spent the entire afternoon there, gossiping with the other grannies that came there and sang a few bhajans (devotional prayer songs) of her own.

"Paati, I.." I trailed off when Dad cast me a pleading look. I had a ton of homework, exams were coming up and I still had to finish my volunteering hours for school.

"I will come." I said, defeated. I couldn't go against Paati and a bhajan group was the last thing I wanted to go to after yesterday's incident/ I studied for some time in the morning and then got ready to go to the bhajan group. After lunch, Dad took Paati and I to the bhajan group along with interrogating me on what song I had to sing.

"Sing that Meera bhajan." he said. Finally we arrived at Aryan's house?

"Dad, this is Aryan Khanna's house!" I said.

"This is where we are meeting today." Paati said and left the car.

"Dad, I can't face him!" I said.

"Maya, you are a strong woman who is fearless. I am sure Aryan will not put you down. Besides Paati and a bunch of other grannies will be there so you don't have to worry. I will pick you up at exactly 4:00." he said. I got off and surveyed their large house.

I was extremely nervous and walked in with Paati. After saying my namaste to everyone, I sat down next to Paati. The grannies began to sing. They weren't that great but I could feel myself loosen up to the music. After a couple of songs went by, we had a snack break. There was no sign of Aryan yet so I was relieved. Aryan's mom passed some drinks and snacks to us and I managed to eat a little.

After some gossiping, we began to sing bhajans again. As we neared the end if the bhajans, Paati asked me to sing. I began to sing, losing myself in the lilting lyrics and the joy of the song. The other grannies also looked happy and mesmerized as I sang.

Halfway through the song, I looked at the picture of Baba that was kept in the center of the entire group. Next to the picture of Baba was a mirror with decorations on it. But what was reflected in the mirror shocked me.

Aryan, Ved, Caleb, Nicholas and Wong stood in the doorway, watching me sing. I shut my eyes in an instant, trying to block out their image from their brain. I continued the song with distraction, my eyes flooding with tears from yesterday's memory. I finished the song successfully and opened my eyes, my lashes wet with the tears I blinked back.

But it wasn't a vison or a bad dream. They were truly standing there, Ved with an expression of shock on his face.

A/N: Cliffy! What did you think of this chapter?

1) Ved's save! But he has to do community service for fighting with Aryan. What do you think is going to happen?

2) Maya's encounter with the gang at the bhajan group! Are they going to harass her?

Please keep voting and commenting!