3 years later:-
"You look amazing" a lady complimented Maya and she said thank you for the nth time today. Indeed she looked beautiful. Wearing a white saree paired with just simple jhumkas she looked like a goddess.
She walked past a group of people and her eyes searched for the man because of whom she was here. Not finding him anywhere she knew where he would be. Noticing no one's eyes were on her she slipped away from the so called Diwali party.
"Not again Adi!" She almost screamed at the man who was sitting comfortably beside the pool smoking cigarette.
"Shit!" He cursed and crushed the cigarette.
"You promised me" she folded her arms infront of her chest and glared at the man who was still sitting on the bench.
"I know. I am sorry. I couldn't control myself" his head hung low.
"How many times have I told you that whenever you feel the urge to smoke just think about me or if I am around just hold my hand" she sat next to him.
"Yeah! Sorry" he apologized again.
"It's fine but don't repeat it again" she smiled looking at him.
"You look so beautiful today" he complimented her.
"Thanks" she hugged his left arm and shifted closer to him.
"Are you enjoying?" He asked to which she rolled her eyes. They were attending Mr. Rao's Diwali party who was one of the investors in Aditya's company. He didn't want to be alone in this boring party so he brought Maya along with him.
When Maya along with her mother shifted to Mumbai what she least expected was to find a friend. But one day she bumped into Aditya in her apartment elevator and they instantly clicked. Aditya was not only her friend but her neighbour as well. Over the years they both grew close and now were bestfriends.
After Maya came to Mumbai she never looked back. She did send a wedding gift to Agastya but never met him. Agastya called her few times but the conversation between them was now very formal. And as the time passed those calls stopped coming. Both of them got busy with their lives and now were happy. She wasn't sure about him but she surely was happy.
"Can we go home?" she asked.
"The party has just begun. Just an hour more and then we can leave" he said and took her small hands in his big once.
Aditya's phone started to ring and he excused himself to get the call. Maya sat there and admired the man infront of her. He was tall, dark and handsome. He was successful and loving. He was stubborn but Maya knew how to make him do things.
"Let's go. If people see we are missing from the party they might start gossiping about us" he held out a hand for her and he happily took hold of it.
"Wait" she stopped on her tracks.
"What?"
"I need to pee" she said sheepishly.
"Oh! Come I will show you the washroom" he said and pulled her along with him.
"No it's fine. I will go by myself" she said.
"You sure?"
"Yes! I am not a kid, Adi" she rolled her eyes at him.
"Ok! I will be waiting" he left.
Maya smiled looking at his retreating figure and walked towards the ladies restroom. She quickly did the business and washed her hands. She stood infront of the mirror and stared at her reflection. She actually looked beautiful. The bindi her mother forced her to put added more to her looks.
She smiled looking at herself. That was the last day she dressed up for someone. Now whatever she does was for only for her mother and for herself and sometimes for Adi. Looking at her reflection one last time she exited the restroom only to bump into someone.
"Ouch!" She rubbed her forehead.
"Are you okay miss?" the wall whom she bumped into spoke.
She froze. She knew the voice.
"Excuse me?" he tried to grab her attention again.
She mentally thanked God that her hairs were covering her face. She didn't wish to face him. Not now not ever.
She didn't move a inch and continued looking at his polished black shoes. All the memories came back like running water. How they met, how they became friends, how she started having feelings for him and how he unknowingly broke her heart.
She thought she had moved on until today when they met again.
"Miss?" Agastya bent down a little bit so that he could see her face. "Maya? Is that you?"
Shit!
She slowly raised her head to face him. Her dark brown orbs met his black ones and she shivered. He looked mature and more handsome.
"Hi!" she whispered.
"Oh my god! What a pleasant surprise. How are you?" He hugged her and the owls in her stomach which she thought died started flapping their wings ones again.
Maya fought with herself whether to hug him back or not. Before she could decide anything Agastya pulled back.
"Look at you. Looking all gorgeous in a saree. It's been so long since we met. How are you?"
"I am fine. You?"
"I'm good. How is aunty?"
"She is fine as well. How is N-Naina?" he stiffened.
"Naina? She is fine....I guess" Maya looked at him suspiciously.
"Are you here to attend Mr. Rao's Diwali party?" she asked trying to have a normal conversation and get the hell out of here.
"Yes! And you?"
"Me too."
"You came here alone?" he asked.
"No actually I am here with--" she was interrupted by Aditya.
"Maya?" he walked towards stopped once he was next to her. "What took you so much time? I was waiting for you. Are you alright?" Aditya asked completely ignoring the man standing infront of them.
"I am fine Adi. Stop worrying so much" she spoke trying to ignore Agastya's questioning gaze on her.
"How can I not worry about you, babe?" Aditya slipped his arms around her waist and she smiled.
"Who is this gentleman?" Aditya finally noticed Agastya.
"Adi this is Agastya my friend from school--" she pointed towards Agastya and then pointing her finger towards Aditya she continued "--and Agastya this is Aditya my neighbor and--"
"--And her best best best friend, right Maya?" Aditya asked to which she can't help but nod. Maya didn't fail to notice the fallen face of Agastya when she introduced him just as her friend and Aditya as her bestfriend.
Agastya's jaw clenched and his hands formed a fist as he was trying to hard not to sperate Maya and Aditya away from eachother.
"Maya your mother was calling. She wants you to be home before midnight. Let's have food and then leave. Okay?" Aditya said and Maya again just nodded. Well she wants to be out of this place as soon as possible.
Aditya along with Maya started walking where the party was being held. Maya could still feel Agastya's heated gaze on her.
"Aren't you coming?" she asked Agastya.
"You go I will join you guys" Agastya said with a fake smile on his face.
He was hurt. Firstly, she stopped talking to him and when they met after three years he found out that she had replaced him. What hurt him more was her closeness with that Aditya. She never allowed any male who wasn't Agastya anywhere near her and now she was okay with Aditya touching her, hugging her and God knows maybe kissing her.
Okay!!!!! They met again after three years.
A lot is about to happen. What do you think about Aditya? Also, Agastya and Maya.
Is Aditya a third wheel or a cupid? You will know soon.