Day 9 (IV)

"If things were just up to you, you'd give me everything I wanted, and well, I'd never leave you. So what gives me the right to leave you because of things that aren't in your control?"

...

When I'm met with silence, I switch on the lights and look at him expectantly, waiting for a response.

I clear my throat again, "Who's Maya, Ayan?"

He sighs before sitting up at his place, "Where did you hear that name?"

"Kidnapper asked me if I knew where she was. And, he even assumed that I'm your wife. Wife, Ayan! Do you know how ridiculous that sounded? And he didn't even let me correct him and just pointed a gun to my head. And there was another guy, who looked familiar somehow. He bandaged my arm and fed me, which he shouldn't have because... oh, my God... the food was awful. I never want-"

"Naira," he groans, cutting me off, "Quit rambling and go to sleep."

"Sorry," I mutter sheepishly before narrowing my eyes at him, "What do you mean 'go to sleep'? Answer the freaking question; who's Maya?"

"She's my m-" he goes completely still before saying drily, "maternal aunt."

"Oh," I say, looking at him in confusion, "then why did he want to know where she is?"

"Because," his face is grim when he speaks, "he's her boyfriend. Or, was, I don't know her relationship status. Nor do I care."

"Eww," I say, not masking my distaste, "why would she date that... that... that piece of scum?"

I pretend to barf, and he smiles, shaking his head, "I don't know, sunflower. Why don't you ask her?"

"I would if I knew where she was," I say, rolling my eyes, "that reminds me, he said that you'd know where she is. Do you?"

"No, I don't, and I'm tired, so I'm going back to sleep now."

"What do you mean no!?" I yell at him, going in front of him, and shaking him repeatedly, "He was pretty confident that you know where Maya is, and trust me, he wasn't bullshitting me. Stop lying to me, and tell me where she is.

"Or, I swear to God, Ayan Khanna, you wouldn't live to see the light of the day!"

He stares at me, blinking, and then faces away from me.

I let out a loud gasp when I realise how he just... ignored me!

"Ayan," I grumble, "tell me where she is. It's the only clue we have; we might even find out why he-"

"Can you shut up for once?" he looks at me coldly, shooting me a vicious glare, "I don't know where she is, and it's none of your business anyway. Do me a favour and stay out of it?"

I meet his eyes with a glare of my own, feeling hurt by his choice of words, and will my voice to be steady, "None of my business? You aren't the one who got kidnapped, I was. I was the one who was tortured, abused, barely fed, Ayan. If I hadn't escaped, he- he... he was going to sell me for my body. And you say it's none of my fucking business. Screw you; you are exactly like those guys out there. I thought maybe- just maybe you'd be different, but of course not, I was wrong. Can you do me a favour? Stay the fuck away from me."

"Naira, I'm sorry; I... I didn't mean to... I didn't think," he tries to reach out for my hand, but I step away, dodging his hands, "Please, if you'd just listen-"

"Get out," I say, shoving the bedsheet into his hands.

"Naira, where will I-"

"I don't care, leave," when he doesn't move, I yell, "I said leave, Ayan!"

He slowly goes towards the door, looking at me one last time before shutting the door behind him.

...

After taking a shower and wearing my old clothes, I leave the room to see Ayan lying against the wall, the bedsheet failing to cover his naked torso. Unable to stop myself from admiring him from head to toe, his features make it hard to look away.

"Hey Nai-Naira," he gives me a small smile, getting up and stuffing his hand in his pocket nervously, "Good morning..."

Sleep wasn't a friend last night, and looking at his shuffled, messy hair, and his tired eyes, I'm guessing he didn't get much sleep either.

I clench my jaw, remembering how he behaved last night, and avert my gaze from him.

"Are you still angry at me?" he asks nervously. Ignoring him, I pick up the bedsheet and dump it on the couch inside the room before glancing around the room to see if I've left anything inside.

"Naira, I'm really sor-"

I cut him off by throwing his t-shirt on his face, "Save it."

Removing it from his face, he sniffs it, "It smells like you. You smell so good."

I look at him horrified, "Did you just- Eww!"

"Aww, look at that; she speaks!" he exclaims, slipping on his t-shirt.

"Don't," I say, sternly, "Don't try to use your charms."

"Oh, but I will," he grins, stepping closer to me and placing a hand on my cheek.

"If you don't remove your hand right now, you'll regret it!" I threaten him, trying to control my breathing.

"Okay," he steps back, surrendering his hands up in the air. "Sorry."

We both head to the front desk in silence to check out of the motel.

"I hope you had a good night's sleep, ma'am," the receptionist says, eyeing us with a smirk before nodding at Ayan, "sir."

That's it; I've had enough of this woman. Curling my hand tightly around the key card, I give her a severe look.

"No, Martha," I say, glancing at her name tag, "We didn't. And for crying out loud, stop smirking when you see two people together. Don't you have a life of-"

Ayan cuts me off by covering my mouth with his hand. I glare at him as he smiles apologetically at the receptionist, who is looking at me in horror, before dragging me away.

Great! Just great...