THREE MONTHS LATER

I VIKRAM I

"Come on guys, bring in new ideas. Put some thought into it", I tell my team. We're having a team meeting to decide this month's budget costs and whatnot. And saying my team is bored as fuck would be an understatement. They'd rather sit in their little cubicles, playing videogames in their PCs than sitting around this table in my office.

And this fact just makes me glad that I'm the project manager. Fun times.

"Tum roj yahee kahate ho", Samrat speaks up.

(That's what you say everyday.)

"Achcha agar aap is par vichaar karate hain, to mujhe aapase roj nahin poochhana padega", I tell him.

(Well, if you consider it, I won't have to ask you everyday)

"Sure! Sure! Whatever you say. You are the project manager", he says.

"I'm glad you atleast got that right", I tell him.

I hate this guy. I really do.

He hates me too because if it weren't for me, he would've been promoted to the project manager position. And he's always bitter about it.

Twenty minutes later, we come to a decision and I end the last meeting for the day. Soon I pack up and turn off my system before heading out of the office.

As soon as the door to the lift opens, I come face to face with Lakshmi. Lakshmi and I went on a few dates. It wasn't anything serious. We just wanted to see if there was anything between us.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel any connection. But she did. So she didn't take my rejection too well. But that doesn't mean she wasn't graceful or professional in handling it. But just that being in the same room with her became a little awkward.

I debate getting inside the lift. I could wait for the other one, but it's still on the ground floor. I can't take the stairs since it's the ninth floor.

I get in asking her, "leaving early?" I know that she usually leaves after 5.30pm. she said so herself on one of our dates. And it's only 5pm now.

"Yeah. My mom is coming to visit", she says.

Cue the awkward silence.

As soon as the door opens when we reach the ground floor, she rushes out and I heave a sigh. I reach the underground parking in a few seconds.

I start my motorbike after strapping the helmet on. After potting my gloves, jacket and shades on, I drive out of the underground parking.

It's hot in Bangalore. The temperature has reached an all time high of 35°c. I think the last time it was this hot was during the 1930s or something.

As soon as I reach my apartment complex, I slow down. After parking in my spot, I take off my jacket and gloves before I take the lift to the fifth floor.

My apartment is just above Karthi's. Since both him and Shraddha were on a trip for the last few days, I haven't seen them for a week. It's not their honeymoon. They've been postponing their honeymoon for the last three months.

As soon as I enter my apartment, I remove my shades and crooked tie. No matter how many times I try, I always end up with a crooked tie. It's embarassing.

I follow my routine of taking a shower, making a light snack before sitting infront of my PC. I play COD for an hour before Karthi calls me, telling he's back and that he needs help asap.

I save my game before turning off my system.I put on a plain tshirt before taking the stairs to his apartment. As soon as I knock, the door gets opened by none other than Karthi.

Shraddha is sitting on their living room couch eating potato chips out of a bag. I take a seat next to her and steal some of her chips. She narrows her eyes at me but I look innocently back at her as I steal more chips. She rolls her eyes before turning to Karthi, who's bringing all these boxes out of their spare room.

"How was the trip, children?", I ask them.

"It was great", they say at the same time before smiling at each other.

I make a gagging sound and Shraddha slaps my hand away when I try to steal more chips.

"So, what's going on? Why are you taking all these boxes out?", I ask Karthi.

"Oh yeah! I'm moving them to the store room. I have to clear your old bedroom for our new roommate", he says.

Huh? Roommate?

"What roommate?", I ask him, confused.

"Oh, didn't I tell you? Meera is coming to live with us. She's Shraddha's sister, remember? She got admission at Garden City University and she's been looking for hostels since university hostels were full. So we told her she could stay with us", he says.

I tune him out as soon as he says her name. It's a name I've been trying in vain to forget for the last three months. Just as I think I'm over whatever spell she cast on me, she's back apparently. To remind me.

I don't know if I'm happy or not about her moving tight beneath my apartment. I just know that I'm excited. I'll see her almost everyday. On second thought, I think I'm definitely happy.

Wait, does she know I live in the same apartment complex as Karthi?

"Does she know I live above you guys?", I ask Karthi.

" Um, no? Is there a reason she should know that?", He asks, doubt colouring his words.

"No, I was just asking", I tell him.

He looks at me with narrowed eyes. After a moment he goes back to going through the contents of the box.

"I need help in clearing out the room for her", he says.

"Sure. What do you want me to do?", I ask him as I get up from the couch.

"I need you to take these boxes that I've checked into the storeroom", he says and I get to work.

Within an hour, we've cleared out my old bedroom. Only the single bed and dresser remains. Shraddha said she'd mop the floor if we cleared the living room.

"So, when will she be here?", I ask Shraddha as I make them tea. Yes, I'm making tea for all three of us. Because if either of them made it, it would taste like shit. But they are ungrateful little brats, because they always say it tastes same as the shitty tea they make. I think not.

"She'll be here tomorrow evening", Shraddha replies as I pour the tea into three cups. I hand her one and take the other two to the living room, where I give one to Karthi.

I can't wait to see the look on Meera's face when she realises I live just above her and that we'll probably see each other everyday.

After we finish our tea, we chat for a few minutes about their trip before I head back to my apartment.

As I hit the bed after dinner, I think about her. About everything that happened three months ago. I never thought we'd meet again after all this time.

In the past, I wanted to talk to her but I never tried because I thought it would just make everything harder.

She's been on my mind a lot these past months and now she'll be here, right under my nose.

Dreams do come true.

* * *

I MEERA I

"Dad, I'll reach the station in a few minutes. I'll call you later. And I'm going to live with my sister and her husband not some stranger, so tell mom to stop worrying", I tell dad as I check all my bags.

The train will stop any minute and if I don't have all my bags ready, I'm sure they'll be lost forever in the rush of the crowd. I have six bags in total, one of which is filled with snacks and pickles my mom packed for Shraddha and Karthik. I'm the one stuck carryibg it. I'm not sure how I'll get these out of the train safely.

"All right. Call once you reach Shraddha's apartment", dad says before ending the call.

I pocket my phone before grabbing two bags in each hand. I grab the bag with the snacks but it's too much, so I throw it over my shoulder. The other bag on my shoulder contains all my paper works and certificates to be submitted at the university among other things.

I got my bachelor's degree last month and applied for my masters in various universities. Garden city was among my top three universities. So when I got a call saying, they accepted my admission, I didn't think twice. It was decided.

But the problem was hostel facilities. Their hostel in campus was already full, so I had to look for a new place to stay. When Shraddha and Karthik heard about it, they offered to let me stay with them. And even though I wasn't keen on the idea of staying with a newlywed couple, I had no choice.

So here I am.

I wait for everyone to get out of the train before I slowly get out. I'm sure no one can see my face since I'm covered with bags and I fell like I could break my back any minute now. I quickly walk towards the waiting room outside the platform before slowly depositing my bags on the chairs. I stretch my back before opening the water bottle and taking a few gulps.

I haven't eaten anything since I had lunch.

So, I buy a big packet of potato chips from a nearby shop. I'm halfway through the packet, when I hear someone calling my name.

I look up from my chips to see Karthi and Shraddha walking towards me. I wipe my hands on a tissue before hugging Shraddha and Karthik.

"Did you wait long?", Shraddha asks

"Nope. Just a few minutes", I tell her.

"How was the journey?", Karthik asks.

"It was alright. But I almost broke my back carrying all these bags", I tell him.

He looks at my bags and takes a double take. "Whoa! Did you pack your whole room into these?", He asks.

"One of them has all the snacks and pickles mom made for you guys. I think that is the heaviest bag", I tell them.

"Oh yeah? That's great. Your sister doesn't know jack about cooking", he says as he grabs my bags. "But these sure are heavy", he says as he grabs my bags.

"You act as if you are any better. You burn water, for god's sake", Shraddha says.

"Glad to know I'll be living with great culinary artists", I tell them.

I let Shraddha borrow some chips from me. In any other situation I wouldn't have let her have it. But since I'll be living with her for the next year, I don't say anything.

Soon we load my luggage into the back of their jeep.

"You had a jeep? I thought you had a car", I ask Karthik.

"No, it's my friend's jeep. I thought this would be better since mom said you had a lot of luggage", he says.

I nod before getting in the back. As we start driving, I take in the city. I've been here a few times when I came for Shraddha's admission in college and when I came for her graduation ceremony.

But now I look at the city in a new light. I'll be here for the next two years, maybe for longer, if I decide to take up a job here.

I talk about everything at home and Karthik and Shraddha talk about their trip. After driving for half an hour, we enter a residential area. It's apartment after apartment as far as I can see. Most of them have six to seven floors, some has more than twelve. Karthik pulls up into an apartment complex named Sagar.

He parks the jeep in the underground parking before grabbing three bags. Shraddha And I carry the other three to the lift.

"We're on the fourth floor", Karthik says, "we've already cleared out a room for you. It has a bed and a dresser along with an inbuilt wardrobe. We added a nightstand too."

"Thanks, guys", I tell them.

"No need to thank us. We're happy to have you here", he says.

He sounds genuine and it immediately makes me feel better. I felt like I'm imposing on them. Karthik is a great guy. So If he says he's alright with it, then I guess it's alright.

He stops as soon as we reach apartment number 4C. He twists open the door before picking up the bags.

Don't they lock the door?

He enters the apartment followed by Shraddha and me. I look around. The living room has two couches next to each other facing a lage TV on the opposite wall. The kitchen is at one end of the apartment. It looks decent with a few appliances here and there.

I can see the door to one of the bedrooms, right to the kitchen. From the living room, the hallway extends to the left.

"We're here. Did you finish setting up the night stand", karthik says out loud as he drops the bags to the floor.

Is there someone else here?

"Yeah, one of the screws were missing, so I had to go out to buy one. It's ready now", I hear a vaguely familiar voice say.

The voice sounds familiar but I can't place it. Before I can ask Shraddha who it is, the owner of the voice turns around the hallway and enters the living room.

What. The. Fuck?

This isn't real!

It can't be!

Standing before me is none other than Vikram, smirking face and all.

My brain has stopped working. I can't think. I know my mouth is open wide.

Shraddha moves past me to the kitchen. She takes something out of the fridge before placing it in the microwave. Karthik takes two of my bags and walks in the direction Vikram came from, leaving me alone with him in the living room.

"Hey Meera! Long time no see", Vikram says. His smirk hasn't faded a bit.

"What the hell are you doing here?", I ask him.

His smirk widens, if that's possible. "Now , now, is that the way you talk to your new roommate?", he asks.

What. The. Fuck!?

"What roommate?", I ask him.

"Oh! They didn't tell you? I live here. We're gonna be roommates", he says with overly fake enthusiasm.

"No, you're not. I'm out of here", I tell him. I keep shaking my head. I can't think properly.

"Oh, you wound me, Meera! Is this how you talk to me when you meet me after such a long time? Didn't you miss me?", he asks.

Why is he still talking?

"No, I did not. And this isn't happening. Seriously?", I ask him.

Why didn't Shraddha or karthik say anything?

"It's going to be great", he says.

No, it's not.

Just then, Karthik returns. When he sees me glaring at Vikram, he seems taken aback, before he introduces him, "Meera, this is my friend, Vikram. You met him at the wedding, remember?"

Oh, I remember alright!

"I didn't know he was living with us", I tell Karthik.

"What are you talking about?", he asks.

"You didn't mention your friend also lives here", I tell him, keeping my eyes on Vikram. I try to sound curious rather than accusatory.

"Um, he doesn't? He lives in the flat above", Karthik says making me whip my head in his direction.

"What?", I ask.

"Yeah, he lives in the flat right above", he says.

I turn to Vikram to see the jackass covering his mouth with his hand.

That asshole!

And I fell for that stupid lie way too easily.

"Vikram, can you show her to her room?", Karthik asks him.

"Sure, no problem. Come on, kiddo. I'll take you to your room", he says. I'll kill him.

He grabs the bag on the floor before extending his hand to me. I glare at him.

"Suit yourself ", he says with a shrug before walking into the hallway. To the left, there is an open bedroom. He takes the bag there and places it on the bed.

"Why did you do that?", I ask him as soon as we enter the room.

"I'm sorry, but you should've seen your face. It was too damn funny. You looked like you were about to have an aneurysm. You're way too gullible for your age", he says chuckling.

"Shut up", I say.

"And to be honest, I used to live here with Karthi before Shraddha moved in. And this used to be my room", he says, making himself comfortable on my bed.

"Wait, so is that bed yours too?", I ask him, horrified.

"Oh yeah! It has some great memories. I have spent countless nights in this bed engaging in all kinds of adventures. I hope you'll have same experiences in it ", he says and my eyes bug out.

"What the fuck?!"

"I'm kidding! It's a relatively new bed. They bought it after their marriage. This was supposed to be a guest room. But they ended up keeping all their wedding gifts here", he says making me relax.

We stare at each other for a few moments. Me, trying to take all this new information in and him observing me.

"So Meera, you're here", he says after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah. When did you know I was going to be staying here?", I ask him. He wasn't surprised at all. Of course, he wasn't. They probably told him. The only one they didn't say anything to, was me. Well, it's not like I can blame them. They didn't know our history, so they probably thought it was insignificant.

"Yesterday, actually. I couldn't wait to see the look on your face when you realised it. And you didn't disappoint", he says. I roll my eyes at him.

"You better get some rest. You must be tired from the journey. I'll be on my way," he says as he gets up from the bed and move towards me. I move back against the door.

"And Meera, I have to apologize", he says as he stops in front of me.

"For what?", I ask him.

"For breaking our promise ", he leans down, "I couldn't stop thinking about you these past three months", he says and when his beard lightly grazes my shoulder, I shiver.

He smirks as he looks at my face. I'm sure I'm red. I can feel blood rushing into my head.

"See you later, Meera", he says and the way he says it make me know he means it.

With that, he moves out of my room, leaving me to think about what happened in the last few minutes.

I sit in my bed before looking around. The dresser is placed in a corner. The inbuilt wardrobe is right next to it. It's pretty bigger than I expected. The nightstand is placed right next to the bed. There are three windows facing the bed. They are opened and as the cool evening air rushes in, the curtains billow inwards.

A few minutes later, Karthik calls me to have dinner. But I decline saying that I'm tired. He tells me to take rest and we'll talk about everything in the morning.

After keeping my bags inside the wardrobe, I call my dad to let him know I'm here safe and sound.

I open one of my bags and grab a T-shirt and shorts before taking a shower in the bathroom next door. Their room has an en suite bathroom. So, I have this one all to myself.

After taking a much needed shower, I dive under the neatly folded blankets. I fluff the pillow before resting my head on it. My hand comes across a piece of paper as I unfold the blankets.

I open it to find "It's good to have you here. Yours, Vikram" written in a decent handwriting.

A smile blossoms on my face without my consent. That idiot.

Why does he have to make it hard for me to forget him?

For the last three months, as much as I tried, I failed to keep him out of my mind. He managed to take over some of my dreams but now he's here, in flesh.

I still can't believe after all this time, we're meeting in these circumstances. And I have to admit, a small part of me is excited.

I don't know what the future holds, but something tells me everything's about to change.

It doesn't take long for me to fall asleep.

* * *

Hey guys!

I didn't have to go to class today. So I had time to write another chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it.

Did you think they would meet like this?

What do you think will happen next?

I'm excited to write the rest of the story. Like I said before, I plan to end the story in about 50 chapters.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Until next time,
Love,
Gayathry.