The moment Shrithik came out of his room Sameera's eyes widened. She quickly stood up and moved towards the boy who was looking ready to leave. He had a backpack which was full of clothes.

She pointed towards his bag and asked

"What is this?"

With a blank expression, he replied

"Bag. I'm leaving. These are the clothes I will need so I have them. Since, Shrey is not here, I'll also leave. I don't actually have a place so I can't take the furniture. So if you want you can keep it and if not you can do whatever you want."

Sameera furrowed her eyebrows.

"Why? You don't need to go."

"You know, you can actually speak your mind. You will no longer have to tolerate me. Thanks for letting us live."

Saying this he started leaving but was stopped by Sameera, who grabbed his wrist.

She softly spoke.

"Hey, what are you saying. You are my friend. You can stay here as long as you want. It's not a big deal."

And that's exactly what Shrithik has problem with. He doesn't want to be someone just living there because he doesn't have a place. He doesn't want to be the unwanted guest. Sameera is saying that she considered him as a friend. But she could also be saying it, to not hurt him.

"No, sweetheart. It's okay. I really don't mind going. You don't have to do th-"

She shook her head a tugged at his hand.

"That's exactly what I am saying, Shrithik. You don't have to go. Don't go."

Shrithik smiled at her. It really looked like she wanted him to stay but he really should not burden her anymore.
Smiling lightly, he shook his head softly, removing her hand from his wrist.

"No sweetheart."

Sameera glared at him, then stomped towards his back, forcefully snatched away his bag from him and slammed the door of his room open. She threw in his bag, slammed it shut.

She looked at him, still glaring.

"You are not going anywhere, old man. And that's final. If you will, remember, if you'll just think of leaving, I'll lock you in."

She said and stomped towards the kitchen. She stopped abruptly and turned around,

"I'll also pluck every hair out of your head, while you will be sleeping."

"Sweetheart-"
He started but was cut off by her.

"Noooo, don't say anything. You are not going anywhere and it's final. And final means final, no further arguments."

Saying this she continued her stomping towards the kitchen.

Shrithik smiled. An unknown warmth was filling his chest. Before he could understand why, Sameera once again came thumping her legs on the ground.

"You are cooking what I am saying. I want noodles, aloo k parathe and halwa."

Shrithik's eyes widened. Three dishes? And all completely different? How is he gonna make them. Sure he was an amazing cook, but still.

"Sweetheart, you sure? Will you be able to eat them. It's too much you know. I'll just make one of them. Yeah?"

Sameera shook her head in no vigorously. Then she looked at him with an adorable pout and puppy dog eyes.

"Please? Pleaseeeee? Please, old man."

Shrithik sighed, it's not like he had any choice.

"Okay"

Her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Okay?"

He nodded and she grinned.

"You are the best old man in this whole world." Saying this she made her way towards her room.

Shrithik sighed.
"Best old man, huh? How many old men does she have?"

He murmured to himself and prepared himself for his today's task.

____________________________________

"No, I don't want to hear anything. Leave this house or give me my money. You have a day. Decide it."

A landlord was yelling at his residents. Shrithik was passing by so he heard it.
He dropped the idea of leaving yesterday only. And his life was back to normal.
Not normal actually. It was pretty different, because he was missing Shrey very much.

He realised that it has not even been whole thirty hours after his departure and he was being dramatic. But hey, Shrey is his bestfriend afterall.

Shrithik once again got bored and decided to go to Sameera's college. It was a intresting place. Types of jokers can be seen there.

He was finding her when he heard two students talking and stopped.

"This is the money. ₹4000 of two days. But don't you think it's a bit too much rent of your bike?"

First person asked handing the second one the regarded money. Second one shook his head and took the money.

"It's actually cheap. You would have to give at least a five hundred more to anyone else for one day."

Second one sighed.

"Okay then. I'll see you later."

"Okay."

Shrithik resumed walking. His thoughts wandering off to the guy from the morning, who was asking for the house rent. To his own landlord that was ready to kick them off, for not paying rent on time. And now those two guys.

Shouldn't he also be giving Sameera money. Afterall she has let him and Shrey with them for free without any restrictions and was good to them.
And she's been doing more for Shrithik. Like he's mostly attached to her arm, and wherever she goes like movies or restaurant she pays for him.

He should pay her. For that he'll need her laptop. He quickly went towards the cafeteria as it was her free time now. Her class must start in fifteen minutes, so he needs to find her quickly.

He was right. She was sitting at her table with her friends laughing and chatting. Her eyes were twinkling with mischief. And next moment Maaya was on the floor, because Sameera pulled her chair, laughing her ass off along with everyone else.

They quite down just a minute later. Shrithik went to her and whispered in her ear.

"I want your laptop, Sweetheart. Just for sometime."

Sameera looked up at him and smiled a warm smile. Taking it out of her bag she kept it on the table.

"Ofcourse. Here, take it."

Shrithik nodded and grabbed it while Sameera hid it from her bag.

"I'll go home. If you want anything, call me."
Shrithik said and she nodded.

Home. It was really strange saying that word. People tend to get confused within house and home. They are two different words which meant the same according to dictionary. But they were different. House is just a building. But home, it's a feeling. A place where you feel calm. A place where you can cry freely, laugh freely and feel safe. A place where you can hide from the outside demonic world. A place where you can come back after a long day of wandering.

Shrithik never actually had one. During his twenty four years of visible life, he lived in a mansion. But it had merely four people to live there other than maids. After that he just wandered here and there. He still didn't had a place. A place where he can feel peace. Then Shrey came, bringing Shrithik at peace. But it was just Shrey. His peace was only with Shrey. He still cannot say that the place they lived in was home.

But Sameera's flat, it was his home. He didn't know why. But it was his home. He didn't feel suffocated staying there alone. That house held their laughter in it, happiness in it. And that was enough for him to get his peace.

But now, it is once again disturbed. Because Shrey was not with him. He was still okay, but it was feeling like a part of him was missing. He was feeling something, he couldn't explain. What was it, he didn't know.

Shrithik opened the laptop shortly after reaching home. He had a bank account. And as much as he remembered, he should have some money in it. As Shrey was not there, he didn't need it.
To his surprise he had loads of money in it. Total 1.5 lakhs.

He went to the nearest ATM and took out ₹20,000. It should be enough, he thought. And if not, he still had plenty.

When he came back Sameera was already there as it was six in the evening.

"Oh hey, old man."
She smiled at him and continued playing in her phone.

"Um.... Sweetheart?"

She looked up at him.

"Yes?"

"Here."
He said handing out all the money. She furrowed her brows and stood up. Going near him she gestured towards his hand.

"What's this? And why are you giving me this?"

He scratched his neck and looked her in the eye.

"Rent. It's been a month since, we shifted here. So, rent. I hope this is enough, if not you can tell me, I have more money, I can give you. I didn't actually knew what was the rate, so I just brought ₹20,000."

Sameera raised one of her eyebrow. And then kept her hands on her hips in a sassy position.

"And who told you I want rent?"

"You don't?"

She shook her head.

"But why? Today only I saw two people who were asking for rent to the people they let use their things."

She took the money out of his hand and counted it. Then she placed them in the front pocket of his t-shirt. Patting his chest, she said softly.

"Because they were not their friends, nor they are me. Now go, return this money to whoever you took it from."

He held her wrist mid way of going back. Once again taking his money out he placed it in her hands.

"It's mine sweetheart. You don't have to worry that I have taken it from someone else."

He said slightly understanding why she was not taking it. It's extremely logical to assume that he had taken that money from someone else. And this money might be very much for that someone else.

She smiled at him and once again placed it in his pocket.

"Okay. So go and keep it yourself. I don't need your rent. But wait a minute! If you had it from before, why didn't you gave it to your previous landlord?"

"Ahhh that......I actually forgot that I had some. You were there and you proposed that idea of living with you, so I didn't remember it."

She nodded in understanding.

"How did you have it anyway?"

"Shrey had an extra bank account. And because I was free I did some students' assingnmennts online and asked them to transfer that money to that account."

Sameera laughed.

"I really cannot be more sure that you are a nerd. Seriously we, here are dreading doing our assignments and you are asking to do. That's really great."

"Hey, I am not a nerd. Have you ever seen yourself studying? You don't even look up."

They both knew that it was a very, very, very true. So they dropped the topic there. They both were nerds and didn't liked to be called one.

"Okay. If you don't mind can we order something. I'm really in no mood to cook."

Shrithik questioned and Sameera vigorously shook her head.

"No. No way. Either you cook or I will. But no outside food today."

Shrithik didn't know what was today so he shrugged.

"Okay. So you cook."

Sameera's jaw hung low. She expected him to say something like this
'ughhh. Fine sweetheart. You are so annoying.' but not to tell her to cook.

She frowned.
"This is not fair. At least you should have tried."

"For what? To pass this? No way. Now go. I'm hungry."

She stomped her foot.

"Why do you even need to eat food?"

"I'm not a ghost sweetheart. Now shooo."