Maya's POV:

I'll tell you everything, Avi. I know you'll get hurt in the end, but I have my own reasons. I thought in my mind, composing myself.

"Did you remember what you wrote in the letter about why I became distant from everyone?" I asked, looking into his eyes, to which he nodded his head.

"I was 12 when that incident happened. An incident that left a deep scar on my heart and soul. Remember, you and Anna always used to warn me not to trust people blindly? But I didn't pay heed to your words. Or, to be precise, I didn't understand your words properly at that time. But that was the first time in my life that I understood your words when I faced betrayal from my own friends. They turned their backs on me when I needed them the most. Avi, I was sexually abused by my senior."

I gulped a huge lump in my throat and closed my eyes. A lone tear escaped from my eyes. I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was looking at me wide-eyed.

"Yes, I was sexually abused by my senior, not once but twice; the first time he harassed me on the school bus. When I went to give the complaint, my friends said that I was the one who ran behind him as he was the popular guy in the school. They said that I was just making an issue to gain attention and popularity. How could they, Avi? Which girl will put her self-respect and her dignity at stake just to gain some stupid attention from people? For God's sake, I was just a 12-year-old kid. They spread false rumours throughout the school, making me a laughingstock in front of everyone. They left no stone unturned to mock me and degrade my character. No one trusted me when I made a complaint. My bus in charge informed my class teacher about that incident. I tried my best to prove that I was innocent, but how could I when my own friends stood against me? My class teacher warned me to change my behaviour, but the principal sir, trusted me, and that was enough for me. He gave that guy a warning, but could we change rogues like him?"

I shut my eyes in pain. I wish I could forget that day in my life and erase those scars.

"One day we were having a special class. I was sitting in my place and writing my notes, waiting for the teacher, when a girl came and told me that my teacher was calling me to collect some notes. I was getting bad vibes, but I chose to ignore them. I was going to the staff room when I was pulled into an empty classroom. I was shocked and terrified because there he was, the same boy who was responsible for all the mess, standing in front of me along with two of his friends. I was blank for a moment. I tried to escape, but they locked the door. He slapped me hard on my face and pulled my hair."

My body shivered as I rewound all those dreadful memories. Avi hugged me tightly and made me sit on his lap.

"He threw me on the ground and came up above me. I tried to push him, but his friends held my hands and legs."

I could never forget or forgive them in my life.

"He touched me inappropriately all over my body with his filthy hands."

I will never forget those touches that made me feel disgusted with my own body.

"I shouted for help in the hope that someone would come and help me. He once again slapped me hard and shut my mouth with his hand. I wriggled and tried my best to free myself from their clutches. But I failed. They were three and stronger than me, and I felt weak and dizzy because of his slaps. He tore my shirt, and I felt numb and lay there crying under him. I prayed to God a thousand times in my mind to save me from that creature. I knew the chances were less as the room was in a corner and no one could hear my pleas and whimpers."

I still remember screaming for help, hoping that someone would come and save me. I looked at him. His eyes pooled with tears, and I could see a plethora of emotions in them.

"The door burst open, as if listening to my prayers, and there stood my saviours, my math teacher Ahalya Ma'am, Surya, and the peon, just as he was about to kiss me. I didn't know what would have happened if they hadn't come at the right time. The three tried to escape from the other door, but Surya had locked it from the outside. My teacher immediately covered me with her dupatta, and I didn't remember what happened as I had fainted."

He hugged me tightly and wiped my tears. I broke down in his arms. It's been more than 10 years since that incident took place, but still, I could feel as if it happened yesterday. No one should go through that pain; it is so traumatic. I hid my face in his chest while he encircled his arms around me. I tried my best to control my tears, but they were not stopping. Argh! He patted my back and kissed my head. His touch always calms the storm inside me.

I raised my head and looked into his eyes while he looked into mine. I could spend my entire life drowning in those dark brown eyes.

"You always deserve the best, Avi, not a person like me. That's the reason I always suppressed my feelings for you. I saw you getting attached to me. That's why I started avoiding your calls, messages, emails, and especially you," but he cut me off before I could finish by pressing his lips against mine.

I tried to match his pace, but he was kissing me aggressively, pouring all his anger out. Our tongues fought for dominance while he bit my lower lip harshly. I'm sure it's going to bleed. Soon, we broke the kiss in need of oxygen. We joined our foreheads together, and all we could hear were our raging heartbeats.

"Never. I mean, never say that you don't deserve me. You are the best thing that has happened in my life, Bunny. I still remember the first time I took you into my arms. You know, you are so tiny and fragile. I was afraid to hold you. You held my pinky finger tightly in your tiny fist. That day, I promised myself that I would always be with you, though I was only a 4-year-old kid. You were, are, and will always be my little Bunny who rules my heart. I guess it's me who failed in protecting you," he said, and before he could say more, I placed my hand on his lips and shook my head negatively.

"This much had happened, and how come no one in the family didn't know about this? What happened after that, Maya?" asked Avi.

"That's because they didn't know about it. Only me, Adi Dadda, Jhansi Atta, Anitha Atta, and Vijay Mama knew about that incident in our family. They didn't even tell their spouses about that incident. My school principal was Adi Dadda's classmate, so when Ahalya informed the principal sir about the chaos, he informed Adi Dadda. Those boys were expelled from school and given a black mark. Their parents apologised to us, and Adi Dadda, Vijay Mama, and Jhansi Atta made sure they got the punishment they deserved and also shifted them to another city with his connections. And you do know about Adi Dadda, right? He is very protective when it comes to me. I was unconscious for two days and hospitalised. When I opened my eyes, I expected my parents to be beside me."

I gulped the lump and composed myself.

"When I opened my eyes, I saw Jhansi Atta and Adi Dadda sitting beside me. When I asked them about my parents, they said they couldn't come because they were out of town for work. Adi Dadda just informed them on the phone that I was ill, as it's not an issue to be discussed over the phone. They told our maid to look after me. That day, I asked them to promise that neither of them would inform my parents or anyone at home. I didn't know why I asked that at that time. But at that time, I felt it was right. I want to forget that incident right there. But could we forget those dreadful memories easily?"

Even today, I couldn't forget those dreadful memories that snatched away my mental peace. They are the nightmares of my life.

"I tried my best to deviate myself. I became involved in my studies. If there is something that gave me peace of mind in all the chaos, then it is drawing and cooking. I used to nudge Anju Maa and Janu Maa to teach me cooking. Amma and Nanna didn't even have time to glance at me and Nandan as they were busy with their work. I slowly slipped into depression. I used to have nightmares and sometimes panic attacks too. Adi Dadda forced me to go to counselling. That's how Anitha Atta knew about my past. I stopped interacting and used to stay in my room after school. I used to hug my Nanamma's photo every night. Thathayya was worried about me, and he felt sick. I felt bad seeing him like that. Why should he suffer because of me? I started to spend time with him. Every evening we used to do gardening, go for walks, and play games, and he used to narrate stories to me. At some point in time, I forgot what happened on that day. But still, somewhere, the scars were still imprinted on my heart."

"I used to be afraid to trust new people. I'd built a wall around my heart. I started to stay away from everyone, especially in school. My friends, who supported him, came to know his true colours. They approached me, begged my forgiveness, and asked me to be their friend once again and give them another chance. I forgave them because I wanted to be free from the past. I knew what they had done was wrong, but I didn't want to keep any connection with them, so I forgave them. I told them not to approach me again because I could never forget the words they hurled at me. But in all this, I didn't know when Surya came close to me. I really owe my life to him. If not for him, I didn't know what would have happened to me on that day."

"Though he had saved me on that day, I was afraid to accept him as my friend. I didn't even know his name until that day, though we were in the same class. I was afraid to trust a person again, but slowly he made a place in my heart, and I didn't even know when he became my best friend. It took me one year to trust him and get comfortable around him. I still can't believe it's been 10 years since our friendship began. I felt safe and comfortable with him, just like I used to feel with you guys."

"Then you went to the hostel for the graduation. Though I used to write letters and talk to you on the phone daily, I used to miss you badly. Every day, I used to scold you in my mind a thousand times about why you were born earlier than me. If we were of the same age, then we could be together all the time. And maybe that wouldn't have happened to me. But we couldn't change the things that were already written in our destiny, right?"

"Then, after a year, Thathayya passed away. Nandan used to be busy with his friends, and Amma and Nanna got busier with their work. Once again, I started to feel lonely. Sometimes, I used to hang out with Anna, Sravya, and Surya on the weekends. But still, I used to miss you badly. I knew if I said that to you, you wouldn't even think twice about coming to me and leaving everything over there. I stopped taking care of my health. Anna and Surya used to scold me for my carelessness. Sometimes Surya used to take me to his house. Niranjana Aunty and Laxmi Nanamma used to pamper me a lot."

"You know, Avi, I feel jealous of all of you sometimes. You have such amazing parents who understand you, pamper you, and encourage you to chase your dreams. I studied hard so that I could pursue agricultural engineering. You know, right? I have always wanted to become an agricultural scientist. But when Nanna didn't agree to it, I felt my world come crashing down. I thought my amma would support me, but as usual, she supported her husband. I tried my best to convince them, but they didn't agree."

I closed my eyes and leaned my head on Avi's shoulder.

"Sometimes I used to wonder where my Genie was, who used to make me sleep on his stomach, cuddle me, and fulfill all my wishes before I told him. Where was my Amma, my superwoman, who used to tell me bedtime stories and make all my favourite dishes? There was a time when they used to leave no chance to pamper me and Nandan."

I wish they could have trusted me.

To be continued...

Keep smiling and take care ❤