S.E.C.R.E.T

Hello. I am writing my first FF here and hope you like it. Please leave your precious comments. Thanks (ALL CHARACTERS ARE FICTIOUS. ANY RESSEMBLANCE IS JUST PURELY BY COINCIDENCE)

EPISODE 1: The first encounter (Part 1)

- A university in Switzerland-

After a long and tiring day, Max was walking back to his car eating a banana. When he was over, he threw the peel in a careless movement not bothering where is fell. His lids were closing over his blue eyes as he hadn't slept the night before as he needed to complete an assignment. Suddenly heard a loud cry which shook him. He turned around quickly to see what happened. He saw a girl who fell down and then he realised that it was because of the banana peel. He ran over quickly to help the girl stand up and perhaps also say that he was sorry.

THE GIRL with caramel skin and black hair shouting with an accent: WHAT THE HELL DUDE! (loudly) MY BUM HURTS

MAX thinking to himself : What a dirty mouth she has! No manners ...(to the girl) I'm sorry, I was so sleepy and I did not know where I threw the peel.

THE GIRL: You should keep your eyes open you ''s***c*****(🤬)'', now my dress is ruined.

MAX examining whether her dress was really torn or not: Forgive me Miss but I don't see where... you are just overreacting.

THE GIRL(in hindi): ''Anday ho kya??'' Are you blind??

MAX: No I am not ''anday'' taking a 100 Euro note out of his pocket and hands it over to her which she happily accepts. Here, buy yourself a new dress and I am sorry again.

THE GIRL: Tum hindustani ho? Are you indian?

MAX: No, but my mum is a Mauritian of indian origin from Kolkata. She knows a little bit of hindi so I learnt from her. But I am not that fluent and I don't understand everything. And I uess you're from India. How long have you been studying here?

THE GIRL: How do you have blonde hair and blue eyes if your mum is of indian origin? Yes I hail from Chandigarh. I do not study here. Actually I am here for an educational visit with some other people from our university in India. We are visiting Switzerland also to see the differences of how life is here and in India.

MAX: Actually my papa is German and my mum also has fair skin and light brown hair.

THE GIRL: Oh that's why you also have accented ''english vinglish'' as well.

MAX: My mother tongue is German and French. I was born in Dubai. (his phone rings)

VOICE ON PHONE: Max , wo bist du? ( Max, where are you?) You were supposed to come and pick me up. Where are you?

MAX: I will explain later ... I am on my way now. (disconnects) (back to the girl) I have to go now. I am Max by the way. What is your name?

THE GIRL: Premawatee Lallwantee lekin sab log mujse Preethi naam se jaanti. (but everyone knows me as Preethi)

EPISODE 1: A new encounter (Part 2)

Max got into his black Porsche and started the engines when he was suddenly stopped by Preethi , the girl from India , who stood by the car window. She held a piece of paper out to him with her phone number on it and they both said their goodbyes again. Max drove through the streets of Zurich which had started turning white from flakes of snow. He pulled in front of the headquarters of a famous fashion magazine called "MODE". A woman with brown hair, wearing a deep red trench coat and a pair of nude studded Valentino pumps got in the front seat next to Max. She looked in her mid thirties.

MAX: Hallo Mama, wie geht's? (Hello mum, how are you?)

RAINA: You are asking how I am doing Maximilian. (She never called Max by his full name unless she was really angry) I am going to miss my flight to Dubai. What took you so long?

MAX: A girl...

RAINA: A girl! Did you forget that I was flying back today? By the way I've already sent my suitcases with my assistant and she is waiting for me at the airport. I also wanted to meet you before I left so we could head somewhere for coffee where we could talk. Now I am going to see you only at the end of December.

MAX: I know but I'm so sorry. It happened because of a careless mistake. A girl slipped on a banana peel that I had just thrown and fell. Apparently the girl's dress was ruined as well and she was making a big fuss out of it so I gave her 100. And guess what!

RAINA: Quoi? (French for what?')

MAX: Elle vient de l'Inde. (She is from India) And we introduced ourselves, that's what took so long.

RAINA: So, because of some gold-digger you forgot about me. Max, didn't it occur to you that she could have slipped on purpose because she was trying to catch your attention. And she gladly accepted the 100 without refusing.

MAX: Mom you are over thinking things. How could you say something like that? You haven't even met her.

RAINA: How can I say such a thing! Oh you already forgot what had happened with Champa, our maid back in Germany.

MAX: I know mom, the mafia girl who was working undercover as a maid. But Preethi is nothing like that girl.

RAINA: Champa was making you rebel against your own family. She tried to take you away from me. If I hadn't...she paused...we would have lost everything. Anyways let's stop talking about it now.

MAX: What did you do mom? You were going to say something. Tell me.

RAINA: Don't worry she will never bother you again.

Half an hour later, they reached the Flughafen Zurich (Zurich Airport).

They entered the airport building and Max greeted Zara, Raina's assistant at "MODE". They were travelling to Dubai to attend a fashion event. Max said goodbye to his mother and Zara and they checked in and left. Suddenly, a familiar face catches Max's eyes as he turned around. It was Preethi and she called out to him.

MAX: What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to go back in two weeks?

PREETHI: My life is in danger. Someone tried to shoot me after you left. I am taking the flight back to India via Dubai.

MAX: What? Who could be after you? Didn't you inform your group about this incident?

PREETHI started crying: There was no educational tour, I lied to you earlier. I was going to meet a friend of mine who studies at the university when I fell over your banana ke chilake' (peel). I have been living in Switzerland for six months. I worked for a family in India as a nanny and they recently moved here. Then it all started, I had the feeling that I was being followed a couple of weeks ago. Then today all this happened. When I was in India, I borrowed money from a man in the village called Munnusawmi. I wasn't working at that time but I promised to pay him back as soon as I would be able. Unfortunately, I was never able to repay him as I never found a job. He was so angry that he wasn't getting his money and one day he sent his goons to our house. They killed my parents and my two small brothers. (she started to cry louder now) I hid in the cupboard and luckily they couldn't find me. I escaped quickly when they left to the train station but Munnusawmi's men were there and they were looking for me. I bought a ticket to Jaipur where my kaka (uncle) lived and when I turned around I saw Munnusawmi. I was so scared that I pushed him and he fell. I got into a moving train with the help of people who was in front of the door. I made my way through the crowd and finally found a seat in a compartment. I heard gun shots behind as the train left the station. When the train came to a stop, I realized that I took the wrong train and I was in Mumbai. I had no more money left to pay for a ticket to Jaipur so I found a job as a nanny in a rich family in Mumbai and I decided to move with them when they were coming here.

MAX: What a sad story... do you think that it was that guy who fired at you?

PREETHI: I believe so... I have to go now Max, the gates are closing. It has been a pleasure to meet you. (she leaves)

Preethi was sitting in the economy class waiting for the plane to take off when a hostess came over and told her that her seat was being upgraded to business class. She followed the hostess and saw that Max was there.

PREETHI: What are you doing? You shouldn't have. Why are you here?

MAX: I want to help you. What you told me was so touching... I would like to offer you a job at our house in Dubai. You could work as a cook as my mom and dad were looking for one. They are currently staying there and when they go to their other home in Germany, you could stay and take care of the house.

PREETHI: You are clearly an angel Max Ji. I have to admit that I didn't really want to go back to india as I don't feel safe after what happened. I would gladly accept. But don't you have to attend class back in Switzerland? You barely know me and yet you are doing me such a big favour... and what were you doing at the airport?

MAX: It's Friday today and I don't have classes until next Wednesday. So i'll be back by then. I was dropping my mom off. (He didn't tell Preethi that she was on the same plane as she didn't want to risk Preethi wanting to meet his mother and that the meeting turns into a fiasco. Raina could also insult Preethi and Max could not let such a thing happen, not after what Preethi has been through. He decided to tell his mom everything calmly when they land.)