*Flashback*

"Could Ved come along with us, please? Since we are short on staffing, it would be even more beneficial." I said, speaking to Ms. Markham, the supervisor of The Early Learning Center, where I worked as a teaching assistant.

"I guess it would be ok." she said. I thanked her and called Ved immediately.

"She said yes!" I exclaimed.

"That's great! I'll start packing then." he said. After working my shift, I went to the pool to assist my once a week swimming class. Ved's little brother Virat was in the class and he was adorable! I changed into my one piece swimsuit and got into the water. Virat jumped in and hugged me, his tiny body against mine. He was a fast learner and was surely going to advance to the next level.

"Hi Akka (sister)." he said.

"Hi Virat! Ready to learn today?" I asked him. He nodded his head. We started off with some basic strokes and floating techniques. Then we finally ended the class with games.

"I will toss this ring somewhere here. The person who gets it without their goggles, wins!" I announced. Swimming without goggles was hard but it was a skill that needed to develop from the very first level of swimming.

"Can I go first?" Katie asked. I nodded and she dove underwater, only to remain unsuccessful after a couple seconds. One by one, the others went and emerged unsuccessfully. Virat looked underwater in uncertainty.

"Virat, why don't you try?" I asked him.

"I'm scared of being underwater for that long." he said softly.

"Virat, all of us are scared of doing something. What matters is that we should overcome it and challenge ourselves to face our fears. I will be by your side, I promise." I said to Virat. He reluctantly dove underwater and stayed there for longer than the other kids. I was almost about to look underneath and check if he was ok but he emerged with the ring in his hand!

"Virat! That's awesome! You are the winner of today then." I said. I always handed out some candies at the end of every class and handed Virat an extra one and he sucked on his lollipop happily. As I got off the water, I spotted Ved walking towards me. I quickly wrapped the towel around myself. I was very self conscious about how I looked in a swimsuit, especially because I was on the chubby side.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Usually isn't aunty supposed to pick him up?" I asked him.

"Mom was busy with Aunty for Aunty's dance classes. You look so tired though." he said.

"Ya, I was out the whole day after school. Haven't stepped inside my house since I left for school in the morning." I said.

"You need to take things easy!" he said. "Go and sleep, once you go home."

"I will." I said and went inside the changing room after saying good-bye to Virat and Ved. Then I went home and hit the bed, much to Paati's dislike.

*Present Day*

I immediately looked away and sat next to Paati. I shook in fear and quietly sat down as they finished the arati. The boys collected the prasad and stuck around the room, hopeful that I would get up. But I was rooted to the spot.

Paati stood up after the arati and conversed casually with the other grannies there. Meanwhile Aryan's mom approached me.

"Hello Maya. You sang wonderfully and I enjoyed it a lot." she said with a smile. She seemed nice to me and made me wonder where Aryan got all his bad manners from.

"Thank you auntyji." I said with a smile. I was acutely aware of the fact that Aryan was looking defeated that he couldn't approach me but I focused on his mom.

"Have you met my son Aryan? Wait, let me call him." she said. Wait, what? No! She couldn't do that!

"He is in my Advanced Computer Principles class Aunty." I said, my smile stretched painfully across my face while in reality, I was burning in fear. Why was I so weak at their appearance? This wasn't my personality! I wasn't a weak person! I was supposed to stand up to them and here, I am fearing his mere appearance.

"Oh, then you would have met him. Go and talk to him, his friends are also here." she said. She called Aryan over.

"Aunty, I wish I could stay and talk but I have to go to the pool for my volunteering hours." I said quickly.

"Atleast say hi, na?" Aryan sneered at me. Wong and Caleb stood there with a smirk when Nicholas was eating some random snack. Ved stood their with an expressionless face. I couldn't bear to look at Ved but I forcefully greeted the boys.

"Hello Aryan, Nicholas, Caleb, Wong and...uh...Ved." I said, stuttering at Ved's name. His face, that was pale before seemed to have bloomed back to life at the mention at his name. I walked away only to be stopped.

"Where do you think you are going?" Aryan asked.

"She's going to me boy." Paati announced from behind. Paati knew about Aryan's troubles and who would know a grandmother could be of such help? I had never been so relieved to see her though. Aryan froze at the sight of Paati. She was that intimidating.

After a few seconds, Paati cleared her throat. "Have you not been taught any manners boy? Will you not greet me?" Paati asked. A genuine smile spread across my face slightly.

"Uh...sorry Paati. Namaste." he said and gestured for the boys behind him to do the same. Ved was still looking at me, a faraway glance in his eyes. Paati didn't know about Ved's true colors so she started talking with him amicably.

"Ved kanna, how are you? It's been so long since you came over to our house." Paati said.

"Vanakkam Paati." Ved greeted, masking his emotion smoothly.

"Maya and you have been busy isn't it? These exams are taking up all your time. Tell you what, you should come over sometime next weekend." Paati said, grinning.

But Ved and I both knew that he would never be welcomed in my house again. He simply nodded, gave me a ghost of a smile and walked away. I turned back, to calm the shudders that took over my body. After taking a couple of deep breaths, I had calmed down and left with Paati.

I was distracted at the pool and Sarah told me to leave my shift early. I came home to a surprise visit from Vikram. He noticed my off mood and after we had gone up to my room, he sat on my bed and faced me with a serious look.

"What?" I asked him.

"You know what I am talking about. Are you still upset about yesterday? Did anything happen?" he asked, more like bombarded me with questions.

"Look Vikram, it's going to take a long time to get over the betrayal. But yes, I had gone to Paati's bhajan group today and it was at Aryan Khanna's house." I said, dragging the last part out.

"WHAT! What did Aryan do? Did he harass you?" Vikram asked.

"Vikram, that's not all. Ved was there too." I said, and that was all it took me to remember Ved's stone face.

*Flashback*

The next day at school, Ved approached me. "Can I come over?" Ved asked.

"Where? And why are you asking me permission?" I asked him in confusion.

"I have to ask you permission, it's your house after all." he said.

"My house? Why do you need to come over?" I asked him as we walked down the bustling hallway.

"It's been three months since this school year started. And I have not come over even once to your house. You have hung out plenty at mine. In fact. my mom and you are like besties now. Vikram and Priyanka come to your house a lot so why can't I?" he asked me as he tossed his apple in the air.

I faced him, stopping in the middle of the hallway. "Tomorrow, we have to leave for the field trip. And besides, I can't do tonight either because my mom's old college friend is coming over with her family."

"Fine, but I will come least when you expect it." Ved said. I smiled and waved him off. 

But would he spring upon me like that, least when I expected it? But I didn't know the full truth now. I didn't know that Ved would be full of surprises in the future.

A/N: Hey Guys! How was the chapter? I'm not gonna bother with a long author's note but leave me some good comments for this poor writer who is typing up a chapter for her readers late at night :D