First Time Ever

First Encounter

Chapter-2

First Encounter

I looked at him long and hard but his eyes remained glued to mine, never blinking, never wavering.

He had made up his mind.

He deserved to know, yes, but was I willing to tell? Was I ready to give away that part of my life? Did I have it in me?

“Mama?” he took my hand in his, “Please….”

I caressed his cheek once more and looked at him, taking in his appearance, seeing only traces of me in him physically but on the inside, I knew, he was an exact replica of me and now that he was determined to find out about his father, he would. No matter how hard I tried to pursue him otherwise.

“You look just like him”, I have never said those words out loud even though I knew from the moment I first saw him. He was every bit like his father and it has always haunted me.

“I do?” he stared, wonder stuck at me. I felt a deep pain in my heart.

“Yes”, I couldn’t look at him anymore, the joy on his face, it was too much for me to handle.

Taking a deep breath, I continued, “His name was………..”, the words were at my tongue but I couldn’t make them roll off. There was a sudden tightness around my throat. When was the last time I said his name out loud? When was the last time I even thought of that name?

Years, it had been years.

“Mama?” Azan looked at me expectantly.

Looking up again, I asked the gods to give me strength to go through this, “Keith……”, the word left a sour taste in my mouth, a throbbing in my heart and a hole in my being, “Keith Night.”

“Holy smokes!” I could do nothing but stare, with mouth wide open. The place was beautiful, breath taking, the filtered sunlight coming in through the huge glass windows, of which there were a whole lot. The tiled floor was spotless and the sunrays hitting it bounced right off. The walls were painted in different but calm colors, colors I couldn’t even name properly.

Right ahead of me were numerous sofas and couch and behind me was a modular kitchen. On the left were two rooms, I assumed to be bedrooms, on the right was a staircase, so freaking beautiful as though it has been carved out of the most splendid wood. Beyond it were some other rooms and to its right was a glass double door opening out in the lawn.

My first thoughts about the apartment: I absolutely loved it!

Moving forward, I took in everything. No matter how hard I would’ve tried, it would have been impossible to find a place like this back in India. Flagstaff wasn’t so bad after all.

I wished with all my heart that the feeling remained for my three year stay here. It would really make my life a lot easier.

“Hey!” I heard a loud excited voice and the next moment a beautiful blond was standing in front of me in a cute one piece.

“You’re pretty”, that flew out of my mouth before I could even think.

“Thank you”, she smiled, “I am Lita.”

“Lita?” that sounded Latino. I wanted to ask her about it but couldn’t muster enough courage. We had just met and I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by firing questions at her.

“Yup. And you are?”

“Haya,” I introduced.

“Ha…ya?” okay my name never sounded more strange coming out of anybody’s mouth. It was kind of shocking.

“Ahmm…..yes”, what else could I say? It was as impossible for her to pronounce it correctly as it was for me to meet Randy Orton.

“So you’re the newbie?” she came jogging to me and linking our arms, took me on a tour of the apartment.

“You don’t look from around here. Where’re you from?” she asked once we were in our room. Apparently we were sharing one and for once I didn’t mind. This apartment had four bedrooms and accommodated six people including me.

“India”, I told her unpacking my stuff.

“Ooh… from the land of Taj?” she gave me a crooked smile.

“Yup. I am”, I tried to replicate her smile but failed.

“So why The States?” she was sitting cross legged on her bed and that made her dress ride even high, reaching above her thighs.

I found myself blushing and quickly looked away.

“Because it had the only college willing to give me a scholarship,” finished with unpacking the bags, I moved onto folding the clothes.

“Of course it has. What are you persuading?” she kept asking and I kept answering while stuffing my clothes in the fancy looking closet.

God everything in this country was of standards that I never even dreamt of. Did I deserve it? Could I do it justice? Well only time could tell.

It was almost eleven, we were sitting in the living room watching television when we heard a loud honk and the wheels of a car screeching against the road.

The next moment Lita was on her feet and literally flew to the main door, “Brandon!” she screamed and threw her hands around the neck of the guy who just appeared at the door.

Since his face was towards me, I could easily make out his brown eyes and brunette hair. He looked handsome.

“Hello love”, he said parting slightly and kissing Lita square on the lips. I felt my cheeks begin to color again so I turned to television instead.

I was not used to show of affections openly, so very openly. It was kind of uncomfortable.

“And she is?” I heard Brandon ask.

“Oh she’s our newest flat mate”, she answered cheerfully, “and my roommate!”

“Hey there”, he waved at me. He seem friendly.

“Hi”, I smiled meekly at him. The environment was becoming strange every passing second.

“I am Brandon,” he introduced, “Lita’s boyfriend.” As if that wasn’t clear already.

I smiled at him, again weakly, “I am Haya.”

“Hey..ya?” he looked confused, “that’s a very unusual name.”

“It is,” he managed to mess it up even more.

“Isn’t she a cute little thing?” Lita cooed leaning onto him. I got the feeling that I should get the hell out of there.

“Ya?” the way he said it made it quite clear that I should indeed leave them alone.

“A…..umm……guys..,” I was feeling really out of place.

“Why don’t you come and see my room Brandy?”

Did she forgot I was supposed to sleep in the same room? God would I ever be able to touch that bed again without feeling disgusted?

“Why not?” he smiled wickedly at her. I wanted to scream at them that I was right there in the middle of the room, sprawled over the sofa?

“Come babes,” taking his hand in hers, Lita lead him to ‘our’ bedroom.

‘God have mercy on me!’

I have seen things like this in the movies but watching it happen right in front of me was not so exciting. I would prefer it on the screen or in novels.

Yup we Indians were closet perverts!

Not feeling like eating after witnessing all that happened, I switched off the T.V and let my sleep filled eyes have their way. The sofa was quite comfortable.

It wasn’t so bad considering its softness and fluffiness and amidst some rather unusual voices coming from my room, I fell asleep.

Someone was shaking me, I could feel somebody’s hands gripping my shoulders. My eyes snapped open when I heard a male voice and without even thinking my arms shot out to grab his wrists. Then everything happened in a blur. Shifting my position so as to stabilize my centre of gravity, I pulled him in with every ounce of my strength reversing our positions.

He ended up flat on his back on the sofa with me strangling him between my thighs. Still holding his wrists.

The first thing I noticed were his shining blue eyes, wide, staring at me with a hint of surprise.

Then his lips curved up in a half smile, “Nice,” he commented in a voice like liquid, “but I was just trying to wake you up and ask why were you sleeping on the sofa?”

He wasn’t Brandon but some other guy. Another one of Lita’s boyfriend?

“That’s none of your business,” I tightened my grip on his wrists.

“It is considering I live here”, he replied, his smile widening even more.

“What!” okay that took me by surprise. I knew that six people lived in this apartment but there was a guy as well? I felt a headache coming.

“I know you might be enjoying this position,” his eyes gleamed with humor, “I am but would you mind getting off?”

My cheeks burned a deep red so quickly letting go of his wrists, I jumped off him.

“Thank you,” and it was followed by a loud laugh.

“Jerk!” I cursed under my breath.

“So why were you sleeping on the sofa again?”

“Because my room is currently occupied!” he must have been informed about a new entry in the house, just like Lita.

“Oh,” he rubbed his wrists gently and looked in the direction of my room, “Lita?”

He knew? Of course he did.

I just nodded. He was handsome, really, really good looking. From his blue eyes to his black hair and pale complexion, he really looked like a movie star.

“Why don’t you take Brandon’s bed then?”

“Brandon’s bed?” Oh God tell me it isn’t what I am thinking it is. Please God!

“Yup! He lives here as well,” he stated simply.

Apparently Gods above were too busy to answer my prayers.

“How many guys live in here?”

“Three including me.”

If my parents knew about this they’d order me to pack my things and take the next flight home.

Hence I would never tell them, ever.

“You alright?” he asked. He seem even more handsome when he looked at me like that.

“Ya…..yes,” I stuttered.

“Good. So are you coming?” he was moving towards the rooms on the right.

“Where?” I was confused.

“To Brandon’s room.”

“Huh? Of course not! I am good here,” I slumped down on the sofa making a sour face.

“You know they did it on the sofa as well,” he informed and I jumped off the thing as if it was about to bite me in the butt.

And the room was filled with the sound of his laughter, “You can sleep on my bed if you want, its germ free. I assure you,” he winked at me.

“No! I better sleep on the floor.”

“Your wish,” he yawned and went to his room, “by the way it will be fun having you around.”