Chapter 1

In Kanyakumari...

The dark clouds slowly covered the sky as the cool breeze flowed through the classroom.

Akshay:

"Students, it looks like it's going to rain heavily. We'll end the class here for today. Don't waste time-go home safely."

"Thank you, sir!" the students said happily before rushing out of the classroom.

Akshay stood near the window, watching the raindrops fall one by one.

A strange feeling crossed his mind.

"Why do I feel like this rain is going to change something...?"

He smiled at his own thoughts, picked up his bag, and walked back home.

---

In Chennai...

The sound of shouting filled the house once again.

Maya:

"Mom... Dad... please! Stop fighting."

Neither of them listened.

Sneha:

"Your father is the reason for all this!"

Dev:

"Oh really? You're the one who keeps arguing!"

Maya closed her eyes in frustration.

Maya:

"Enough! I've heard the same arguments for years.

You both say you love each other, but all I see are fights.

Dad, you raise your hand on Mom.

Mom, you hurt Dad with your words.

Did either of you ever stop and think about how all this affects me?

I'm tired... really tired."

Both of them fell silent.

Maya:

"I've made my decision. I'll stay with Grandma and continue my studies from there. Maybe being away from all this is better for me."

Sneha:

"Maya... please don't leave."

Maya:

"I'm sorry, Mom... but I need some peace."

Without waiting for another word, Maya walked into her room and started packing her things.

_______

The moment Maya walked out with her luggage, both Dev and Sneha tried their best to stop her.

Sneha:

"Please, Maya... don't go. We can work this out."

Dev:

"Give us one more chance, dear."

But Maya had already made up her mind.

Seeing that she wouldn't change her decision, Dev and Sneha silently accompanied her to the railway station.

The three of them stood on the platform, waiting for the train. No one spoke a word. The silence between them was louder than any argument.

Soon, the train arrived.

Maya hugged her parents before boarding the train. She found her seat near the window and kept her bag beside her.

Dev and Sneha stood outside, looking at their daughter with teary eyes.

Maya:

"You both know I love you... right?

I'm not leaving because I hate you. I'm leaving because I want both of you to sort things out.

Please... when I come back, I want to see both of you happy together.

I'll finish my B.Com and then I'll come home."

Both Dev and Sneha nodded silently, unable to hold back their tears.

Maya had just completed her 12th standard and was only eighteen years old. With dreams in her eyes and hope in her heart, she began a new journey that would change her life forever.

________

At Akshay's House...

Akshay entered his house, changed into a simple T-shirt, and sat down with a file in his hands.

Looking at the evidence collected so far, he spoke to himself.

Akshay:

"I'm very close to finding the drug dealer who's supplying drugs to the students in the village schools and colleges."

He clenched his fist.

"I just need solid proof... that's all."

A cold smile appeared on his face.

"Once I get it... I'll make his life a living hell."

Akshay was an orphan who lost his parents at a very young age. Growing up alone, he studied hard and never gave up on his dreams. His determination and dedication helped him become a DSP at a young age.

He is 28 years old....

Now, for a secret mission, he was living undercover as a college professor in a village.

Teaching wasn't new to him. During his college days, he had worked part-time as a tutor, teaching children to support himself. Those experiences made it easy for him to blend into the role of a professor without raising anyone's suspicion.

To the villagers, he was just a kind and respected professor.

But in reality, he was a fearless DSP on a dangerous undercover mission.

_______

On the Train...

Maya sat by the window, happily reading her favorite comic book while the cool breeze played with her hair.

Studies and Maya were... let's just say they had a long-distance relationship.

She was an average student, but when it came to painting, cooking, singing, and making crafts, she was a complete all-rounder. Give her some paper, glue, and colors, and she'd happily disappear for hours creating something.

Being the only daughter, her parents had always showered her with love. Whatever she wanted, she got. So she never really learned to ask for much.

As she was turning another page of her comic, she noticed a group of men looking at her.

One of them whispered,

"Machan, don't keep staring. There are girls even prettier than her in our village. Come!"

Maya rolled her eyes.

"Good. Then please go and stare at them instead!" she thought, resisting the urge to say it out loud.

Not wanting to deal with their nonsense, she closed her comic book, wore her earphones, hugged her bag like it was her personal bodyguard, and pretended to sleep.

Within minutes...

She actually fell asleep.

____________

The next morning, the train reached the station.

Maya got down with her backpack and suitcase.

Unlike the perfect movie heroines who step out of a train looking flawless, Maya looked like... well, someone who had actually slept on a train.

Her naturally wavy hair had become even wavier, sticking out in every possible direction. Her eyes looked a little puffy from sleep, and the kajal she had applied the previous day was slightly smudged under her eyes.

She quickly rushed to the washroom, washed her face, and wiped away the smudged makeup.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she sighed.

"Much better... at least now I don't look like a sleepy panda."

She combed her wavy hair as much as she could, though it still refused to listen.

"Fine... do whatever you want," she muttered to her hair before picking up her luggage.

She wasn't a picture-perfect heroine.

She was simply Maya-messy, expressive, a little dramatic, and effortlessly cute in her own way.

Maya got out of the station and saw an auto waiting for her.

Her grandmother had already arranged it.

After a short ride, she finally reached her grandparents' house.

The moment she saw her grandmother, she dropped her bag and hugged her tightly.

Maya:

"Grandmaaaa... I missed you!"

Grandma:

"I missed you too, kutty. Now go freshen up. I've cooked all your favorites."

The word food was enough.

Maya:

"I'm going!"

She ran to her room like an athlete racing for a gold medal.

A few minutes later...

"Grandmaaaaa!"

Grandma:

"What happened now?"

Maya:

"I forgot my shampoo."

Her grandmother laughed.

"The grocery shop is right next door. Go and buy one."

Maya:

"Okay!"

She happily walked to the shop.

The moment she entered, she noticed a giant... or at least that's what it looked like from her height.

A tall man, nearly six feet, stood in front of the counter.

Maya, being exactly five feet, looked up.

...and up.

...and up again.

"Is he buying groceries or checking the ceiling fan?" she thought.

She couldn't even see his face-only his broad back.

Ignoring the human tower, she smiled at the shopkeeper.

Maya:

"Anna, one shampoo, please."

The shopkeeper took the last bottle from the shelf and stretched it toward Maya.

Her hand reached out.

Three...

Two...

One...

A large hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the shampoo before she could.

Maya slowly turned.

The human tower had stolen it.

Maya:

"Excuse me... I asked for that first."

Without even looking at her...

Akshay:

"I asked first."

He paid the bill and casually walked away.

Maya stood frozen.

"Excuse me?! That's my shampoo!"

She wanted to argue.

She wanted to chase him.

She wanted to throw the empty basket at him.

But...

She was an introvert.

So instead of saying anything...

She silently stared at his back with the deadliest glare she could manage.

If looks could kill...

Akshay would've needed another undercover officer to solve his own murder.

Maya (in her mind):

"Congratulations, Mr. Coconut Tree. You've officially become Public Enemy No. 1."

With no shampoo left in the shop, Maya sighed dramatically.

"Great... First day in the village, and I've already lost a battle... to a shampoo thief."

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