Chapter 1

'Congratulations! You got in! My baby is going to CALLINGTON!!!', my mother exclaimed while waving my acceptance letter in her hand.

That's India for you. Privacy is a foreign concept here. Your phone is never your phone. Your life is never yours to talk about and your freakin' letter from CALLINGTON is never yours to open. It's all in the hands of your parents.

Not even god has any power over them. We have multiple methods for bringing him down to his knees... at least that's how I think it goes.

Anyway... too much about India and its cultures. I got accepted into Callington!! This is the only thing I ever wanted. To get out of this country. Travel to a foreign land and meet new people with different morals than mine!

***

Two weeks later I was packing my bags to Boston. God, I loved the thrill of it all.

' You got your passport?'

'Shit! Ma! I think I forgot it at home'

'What! What will you do without me? We have to go back. Hai Bhagwan! ( oh god!)'

'Ma! Chill. I was just kidding. I got my passport. See?' I said taking it out of my pocket.

'And- '

'My ID and my Visa and my laptop.'

'So you're all set?'

'Yes'

'Pakka? (Sure?) '

'Haan pakka ( yes sure)'

'Ok then'

'If you two are done... may I step in. I believe my daughter is going as well', my dad said, bringing my mum out of her reverie.

He hugged me tight and told me to take care of myself

With that I was gone... all set-as my mother said- alone but determined to find my way in the world.

***

It took me three days to reach Boston.

There, I was gonna stay the night. So I found a B&B, which has always been my personal favorite and walked up to the front desk.

'Hello dear! How may I help you today?', the lady behind the counter asked me. I was instantly awestruck by her beauty. It wasn't as if she was a 21-year-old model or something, she was old... probably the age of my grandmother, but her eyes were green and her hair was so white that they were silver. And she had the warmest smile.

I found myself thinking that that lady is the perfect person to run a B&B. She was radiating the feeling of home. I felt like I was facing my own grandmother then.

I must have been staring for a while now because the next thing I heard her say was

'Are you okay, dear? Do you want something to drink? Water, maybe?'

'No! I was just thinking about something' I said trying to brush off the awkwardness 'May I have a room for a day please?'

'Sure! Under what name?'

'Maanya... Maanya Mall' I spelled it out for her as I knew that mine is not a common name.

I paid her the price for the room and headed upstairs with my luggage despite her constant request to let her carry my bags.

My room was only on the first floor so it wasn't any heavy labor. I spent the night counting everything that is different in America from India and fell asleep at the speed of light

What? Don't judge me. I'm not lazy. I just have jet lag!

The next morning I woke up to a loud knock on my door. I hopped out of the bed to greet the sweet lady good morning. Except it wasn't her

I was facing a 6'2 tall guy with dark green eyes and dark brown hair. The kind of brown that's just almost not black...like mine. This guy was a tree. How was he so tall. And his abs were visible through his shirt. It took me time to focus on the situation instead of his pink lips that were tracing the cutest smirk across his face. Suddenly I was very aware that I was wearing my short shorts and a t-shirt with no bra... yowza!

'Good morning ma'am. Breakfast ends in the next four minutes.'

'Oh! thank you?'

'Damn right'

With that, he turned and went away. I watched him as he walked away. What? An eye candy is an eye candy.

'Three and a half minutes.' He announced as he stepped on the staircase.

OH MY GOD. He is so pretty. Wait! Did he call me ma'am? and more importantly... did he say three and a half minutes? yowza! no time to shower. Let's just change and eat. The shower can wait till after.

I hopped down the stairs faster than a rabbit and took the last piece of bread. It was strange that only two slices were left. I thought not to think much of it and filled up my plate.

'By all means... help yourself' said the talking tree.

'And you are?' I asked pulling my best poker face.

'Carter Evans... my granny owns this place and-'

'That lady is your grandma?' I asked

'Well that's what I said, isn't it?' He continued while munching down an apple ' Anyway she isn't here because she had to go for her walk. And I'm gonna be late for my first day of college because of you'

'Me? What did I do?'

'Well you didn't wake up on time... which means I couldn't have closed the kitchen early'

'Sorry... if it's any consolation I'm late too'

'It isn't but it sure as hell doesn't make me feel like I'm having the worst day today'

'Say what you want... but I'm still having a relatively better day'

'Really? How so' He gestured towards my messy hair and untidy clothes to enquire

'I am in a place I have never been in and am going to be in a place where everyone wants to be'

'Yeah? and where's that?' He asked while he took my plate from me and dumped it in the dishwasher

'Callington University' I answered sincerely

'No shit' He...warned me

'I swear... why does it matter to you'

'Because!... bedhead! I'm gonna go to Callington too'

***

'I don't get it... why are you mad? You don't even know me and I'll just check out and then you're free to go wherever the hell you want' This guy was getting on my nerves!

'I'm not mad about that. I just... forget it. Go get cleaned up. You have five minutes.'

'What the-? Fine!'

***

Carter's POV

She's right. It shouldn't make a difference to me. For all I know... she's one of those girls who take other's advantage and then leave them be. But granny was talking about her with so much enthusiasm.

It was the first time she was happy ever since mom and dad. She smiled all the time. And I could have cleaned up the kitchen early. I mean she's the only guest. She doesn't even know the timings... but I just want to protect her. I just want to protect my granny's smile. It's the only thing that's important for me.

'Ok... I'm ready Mr.stopwatch' she was still on the first floor and was hopping down the stairs. Honestly, I would like her to stay here for as long as possible but I'll find a way. That's my thing.

'Mr. What?'

'Mr.stopwatch! You know? with your deadlines and all. It's the perfect nickname for you'

'I have a name, Carter' I stated as I took a step closer to get the keys to my bike 'And you are not my friend' I took the keys as I smelt the sweet smell of her perfume. She is one girl who hasn't been all over me ever since she saw me. And I don't even know her name! I know what my nickname should be... idiot.

***

Manya's POV

Getting ready was like trying to work with a ticking time bomb. What is this guy's deal? "five minutes", Who does he think he is? His grandma is so sweet... why is he like this?

I came down the stairs and stood in front of him. My one grievance? I called him Mr. stopwatch while coming down.

'I have a name, Carter and you are not my friend' He said as he inched closer to me. Our faces were so close that we were breathing the same air.

I can feel tears welling up in my eyes as he turns around and walks out the door as if nothing happened.

He stood in front of his bike and asked me to join him. I decided to confront him while he was driving. He couldn't run then.

'What you thinking about bedhead? hop on!'

'Yeah...no, nothing'

I hopped onto the seat with both my legs on one side, only to discover a very confused Stopwatch staring at me

'What are you doing'

'What does it look like? sitting on the bike'

'Like that?' He gestured to me... all of me

'Is something wrong with my clothes or... my hair?'

'No' he said while massaging his forehead 'It's your legs... put them on either side of the bike'

'Oh okay' I said as I recalled all the movies I have seen. I swung my right leg to the other side of the bike 'Better?' I asked

'Yeah' he said as he sat on the bike while smiling to himself.

I was grateful that he could not see my face cause I was blushing as red as a tomato.

'Shit' I said as Carter revved the engine which drowned my voice

'You said something?'

'No' but I'm about to...

'Okay then'