Mayas POV

The door got opened and I saw him standing in front of me with a puzzled facial expression. He wasn't wearing the same outfit from earlier. He was wearing a grey shirt where his first couple of buttons were opened. He normally didn't open his shirts like that. I remembered how he liked it best having all the buttons closed. But it was late now though, so I figured he was about to undress to eventually go to sleep. 

I was panting and sweating. I had been driving like a crazy and on the way, I almost ran a dog over. I had to pull aside to talk to the dog owner and I used most of my time trying to apologize for my crazy driving. It was a middle-aged woman who got so scared that I couldn't just leave her without saying sorry. The lady was not happy with it and she kept scolding me for almost killing her precious dog. I felt so bad that I ended talking with her for over half an hour just to calm her down. When I realized that it was getting late, I had to move on. 

I just had to see James and tell him that I was sorry. He was probably feeling really bad now and maybe he was just staying home being frustrated. I wanted to fix it all and explain everything. Nothing had to be hidden anymore. I wanted James to be in my life.

'Maya' he said with a surprise in his tone.

'James I'm so sorry for snapping at you back there. I was panicking and it was all my fault. I mean... I didn't know that my parents had invited those people'

I saw how he kept letting me stand outside the house. I hoped he would at least let me inside. It was after all cold outside and I didn't have any jacket on. I forgot it at my parent's house as I was so fixed on getting here. I just stood in my saree, with all my makeup and bangles on. Every time I moved or waved my hands according to hand gestures while talking, they made sounds.

I kept rambling for a while. 'My mom just told me it was urgent. So, when I came there, I saw what it was all about and James, I'm so sorry that I made you feel neglected. I wanted to tell them about you but it's just so complicated because my culture is so different, but I love you, James. It's you I want... I just wanna...'

I stopped talking when I noticed there was someone behind him. My lips tightened and I made sure not to utter a single word anymore. This was so personal, and this was supposed to be a private conversation. I didn't want anybody else to hear about our little talk.

Maybe he was with Connor or some of his colleagues to talk things through? I straightened my neck to try and have a look behind him but he kept closing the door too close to him so I couldn't.

'Maya, I...' He ran his hand through his hair and let out a frustrated groan. He didn't look thrilled.

'James, who is it at the door?'

My whole body froze. Was that the sound of a woman's voice?

No, that couldn't be. James would never do that. Maybe it's Anna.

Then I noticed the golden locks and a small figure. It wasn't Anna. This was someone else. She came toward the door and opened it wider, so she was exposed to me. The woman who was standing behind him was wearing a short dress that left nothing much to the imagination. It was a lowcut neckline too, so her breasts were almost popping out of the dress. Her hair was a bit messy and she had a wine glass in her hand.

'Maya, it's not what you think...'

My brain wouldn't function properly anymore. Something very unpleasant was roaming around my stomach by now and I felt sick to death. Was James having this woman over in the middle of the night? Were they having...? The possibility of them doing it until I interrupted them made me so nauseous. Then I noticed how he also smelled of alcohol. Had he also been drinking?

Then it clicked for me. Everything else didn't matter. The cold didn't bother me anymore. The dress didn't either. The tiredness overwhelming me vanished. I was fully awakened by now and it was like I was melting within.

James cheated on me. He chose to sleep with another woman because I made a mistake. In the end, he couldn't wait for me. Did he do this to get revenge?

Now Oliver's words from the bar hit me.

Seriously, do you really think that a man would wait on you this long? I'm sorry to burst your little bubble there, but you are almost forcing your boyfriend to cheat on you. Is that what you want?

My tears fell down my cheeks like they were running a marathon. I didn't hold back either. I just let them fall freely. As a matter of fact, I felt like falling myself. I took a step back and placed my hand in front of my mouth to hide the sob that was creeping up. I saw how he tensed up and he was looking like a real culprit. It was clear that he was busted and that he didn't want me to find out. That's why he had the door so close to him when he opened it.

'Of all the things you could have done to me... And you chose to do this? How could you' I asked with hurt evident in my voice. My eyes were burning now. I could feel how anger and shame were filling me up from inside.

'Maya, listen I...' I didn't let him finish the sentence. I was not ready to hear another word from him. I was not letting him talk to me for one second anymore. I wanted to leave. I took a few more steps back and then turned around to run away from the property. My tears wouldn't stop, and I was almost struggling to see clearly as I ran.

I could hear him yell after me, but I just opened the door to my car and sat inside. I locked the doors so he couldn't open. Now he was outside and banging on the window.

'Stay away from me! I never want to see you again!' I screamed at him still with closed windows. But he could hear me for sure because I saw how he stopped trying now. He just stood still. He looked sad. I started the engine and wiped the tears away. Before I drove off, I opened the window slightly.

He looked hopeful and leaned in to get closer.

'And if you ever think about using the spare key that you got from Rose before, I will report it to the police. I want you to stay the hell out of my life'

Then I closed it again and stepped on the speeder.

When I got to the apartment, I didn't bother calling anyone. I didn't want to reach out to Rose, not to my sisters, not to my parents. Not a single person was needed now. I wanted to just be alone.

How come I always met people who couldn't love me for who I was? My family, my culture, my everything? Was I destined to be all alone? Was I destined to just marry someone out of pure loyalty and honor? Was I not worthy of being loved?

I sat on the couch, still in my saree and all the heavy jewelry. James didn't even bother to talk it through. He just assumed and then he went and had sex with someone. How could he get himself to do that? I knew I had messed up in some way. I knew I should have told my parents about him. I could have handled it differently, but I was as much shocked as he was!

He didn't even want to understand the world that I lived in. He just stormed out. How was I gonna tell my parents now that James was just like every other guy? That he couldn't be trusted.

Why did he do the exact same thing that Oliver did against me?

I cried and cried. It was like I was unstoppable. I just never thought James would hurt me like that. Did he want time to think? Fine, I would have accepted that. Did he need space to think about our relationship? Fine, that would have been fair too. But did he really need to go that far to make a point? I knew I should never have told him about Oliver. I should never have told him what it made me feel. Only because he knew it, he had the best way to hit me the hardest.

My cellphone was ringing over and over. James was calling me without any pause between. I took the phone, turned it off and threw it away. I walked determined into the bathroom, got all my clothes off, and found something comfortable to wear. Then I got my computer out and turned it on.

I knew I was irrational and emotional. But I had to getaway. I had to get as far as possible away from the man I truly loved. The man who ended up hurting me so badly that I almost wanted to end my life. I felt so betrayed and ashamed.

I clicked on the site where tickets could be booked. I searched through all kinds of different places to go. 

Rome, France, Amsterdam, Canada...

Scotland, Spain, Greece...

I finally decided on the destination that I wanted to go to. It was strange and terrifying. But I had to get away from here for a while. I had been saving a little bit up the last couple of months as I had sold a lot more paintings lately. And I had also worked more at the Cafe as I wanted to save up for my wedding someday. But to hell with that! I was probably never going to be married - at least not with a man I truly loved. James had proven that to me now. All my hopes were over. I just had to go through this on my own.  

I texted my sister, Sascha about my decision but I left out the information about James and what I had witnessed. I told her I just needed some time to think and there was nothing to worry about. I mean, I couldn't just leave without telling anyone about it. That would worry people. I just didn't want to explain anything or tell them how I felt either. 

Sascha was one I could trust. She assured me she wouldn't tell the rest of the family. But she was obviously worried about me. I told her not to tell Vinni about this. When I gave her all the information about my stay and the time of flight and etc. we said our goodbyes and I went to bed. 

Tomorrow I would leave New York for a period of time. I needed time to think and collect all the feelings that were inside me uncontrolled. And no one else would know where I was.

The next day I got my luggage and got passed through the control. There were people everywhere. It was crowded and hot. I was awestruck at this huge airport. I didn't travel often so this was very unfamiliar for me. All the signs were in their native language. People were busy doing their work and passing through to get to their terminal. I had my luggage in my hand and walked outside where people were crowding to meet their loved ones. Someone had signs with names on and someone held flowers and flags to greet their family. I searched through all the people and caught the sign where my name was on it. I walked over to the little man and smiled.

'Hi, I'm Maya Ravikumar'

The man gave me a wide smile. He missed a couple of teeth, but he looked kind.

'Welcome to Sri Lanka, miss Ravikumar. I will take your luggage and the car is right there' He pointed his dark finger over at the white van. I smiled and followed him. 

Okay, wow! Interesting how things turn out, huh? 

Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I will upload another as soon as I can. Thank you so much for supporting me by voting and commenting. You guys are amazing. And I'm surprised to know that there are more girls out there who know the feelings that Maya goes through in life. 

Keep on supporting me dear readers, because you are the reason I write so fiercely and passionately. <3