Chapter 21

Had originally been posted on IF.in. I'm starting from the start for the people whom have not read my story and have added some changes for the interest of the reader.

Episode 20

The sun just begins to rise. Priya wakes up.

Priya: (thinking) where am I? Where's everyone else?

Priya gets out of her bed and walks towards the window. Priya opens the curtains and see the sun rise behind the hill tops. A smooth orange light fills the room. She puts on her shoe and runs downstairs. She walks into a sitting room, which is connected to a small kitchen, and goes through a door which leads to the backyard. She walks out and sees a pool and a swing near by the pool. 

Priya: (walking towards the pool) hey he has a pool but to bad I can't swim.

Priya sits next to the pool side swaying her hand back and forth in the water, looking at the sun rise. Anurag comes out of the bath room and is about to go in bed when he see someone near his pool.

Anurag: (thinking) who could that be?

Anurag puts on his (men's) tank top and goes downstairs to the back. He begins to walk towards her.

Anurag: (unable to see it is but thinking its Manisha. He shades his face to see who it is.) Manisha! Is that you?

Priya: Nope it's me Priya.

Anurag sits the same way she is, but in the front of her, facing her.

Anurag: oh! So what are you doing here?

Priya: I believe I'm sitting.

Anurag: really what if I threw you in that pool then you'll be swimming.

Priya: don't even think about it. I can't swim.

Anurag: ok. So like I asked, what are you doing here?

Priya: I could be asking you the same question.

Anurag: but I asked first.

Priya: so I asked after you it more important and current.

Anurag: old is gold.

Priya: fine you got me. I woke up and when to the window to see where I was. Then I saw the view and wanted to come down. Now what's your answer?

Anurag: oh I came down to see who was sitting next to the pool.

Priya: (looking at his house) your house looks like a hotel more then a house.

Anurag: I know. After Mohan friend moved out, the guy who brought it had a big family, so he built extension to the house. But I didn't want to break it down, cause everyone got there own room and because if I broke it down you see the sitting room. (Pointing to the sitting room) I will have to break down that room too. I like it; I don't want to break it down.

Priya: yeah that room is nice. Mostly cause it covered with glass. (Looking at the back room that juts out of the house, which is covered with glass all around the room. 2 feet from the floor, is wood, but the rest is glass).

Anurag: how come you were so tired yesterday?

Priya: tired.

Anurag: yeah after I woke you up, you told me 5 minutes and when back to sleep.

Priya: oh sorry (moving her arms as she talked) yesterday night, wait, I mean the night before yesterday, no I mean.

Anurag: (grabbing one of her arm) I know what you mean, just go on. (He lets go of her hand.)

Priya: I was talking to my Nanni and Avinash.

Anurag: It seems like you love your Nanni the most.

Priya: (looking and swaying her hand in the pool) yeah.

Anurag: and Avinash.

Priya: yeah (quickly turning to look at Anurag. Startled) No no no. we're just friends. Just friends. (Anurag gives her a mocking smile) It's true we're just friends.

Anurag: when did I say you weren't (quoting with his finger) just friends (he looks at her sarcastically)

Priya: (mad) Anurag! (Hitting him on the arm)

Anurag: But can I tell you one thing, it's not my fault that you're to shy to admit you like him. Love does that to people.

Anurag raises his eye brow. Priya splashes water at him. Anurag clean his face.

Anurag: (swaying his hand in the water) Oh so you want to play that way

Priya: (shaking her hand in front of him) you better not even dare. (Anurag splashes water on her.) Ah!

Anurag: (copying) B!

Priya: Stop it    

Anurag: (copying her) stop it

Priya: that's it.

Priya and Anurag begin splashing water at each other. Priya accidentally falls into the pool.

Anurag: (seeing Priya fall into the water) Priya!

Priya: (trying to swim. Drowning) Help!

Anurag: (giving her his arm) Grab my hand… Priya grab my hand.

Priya: (still drowning) help…

Anuag jumps into the pool to save Priya. Anurag grabs Priya and takes her out of the pool. Priya lays there with her eyes closed.

Anurag: (on top of Priya, slapping her) Priya, Priya,

Priya: (coughing) oww you're hurting me. (Holding her cheek)

Anurag: (moving to the side) Sorry! I thought I lost you.

Priya: (coughing, sitting up) you won't lose me that quick.

Anurag: (getting up) so you weren't lying that you can't swim.

Priya: (shivering. Walking to the house) I don't lie on life or death situation. (Pauses) Well I'm going up stair to take a shower. Where's the bathroom.

Anurag: (walking with Priya) I should take one too. It's in your room. The same side you walk in

Priya still coughs.

Anurag: are you ok? You want me to get the doctor?

Priya: no it's ok. I feel better.

Priya and Anurag walk into the house. Manisha come down the stairs.

Manisha: what happen to you?

Anurag: nothing we fell into the pool.

Manisha: ok you guys get ready. I make some coffee. Oh yeah can one of you wake up Arjun and Pritem.

Priya and Anurag go upstairs.

Anurag: you wake Arjun I'll wake up Pritem.

Priya: ok but where's Arjun's room.

Anurag: oh sorry! Let's start from your left, from the end of the hall to the front. That room is has a mind of its own. It opens and closes on it own. Then it's Pritem, then Arjun, and the room your standing next to, was Juhi, now its your. Now from the right, all the way at the end its Mitesh room, then Manisha, then my brother, then mine.

Priya: Oh great I had to be next to Arjun. (Anurag starts to laugh) what?

Anurag: that the same thing Arjun said when I took you to your room last night. Well I have to wake up Pritem.

Anurag leaves to Pritem room. Priya goes into Arjun room.

Priya: (shaking Arjun) wake up Arjun, wake up or else I spill water on you again. (Arjun moves to the side, grasping on to his pillow, stilling sleeping) Fine that's the way you want it.

Priya takes the half filled glass of water and spills it on Arjun. Arjun gets up and sits on the end of his bed mad. Priya looks at Arjun and runs out the room. Arjun runs behind her and slams the door closed. Priya runs out and bumps into Mitesh.

Mitesh: what do you get out of bugging him?

Priya: It's just that he looks so cute when he's sleeping, that it bugs me.

Priya goes into her room. Mitesh walks down the stairs.

Arjun: (with his back again the door) this will be the last time you bug me, Priya.

Both Priya and Arjun enter their own bathroom. Priya comes out before Arjun. Priya walks down stairs and into the small kitchen.

Manisha: you came out quick.

Priya: yeah!

Manisha: (handing Priya coffee) don't you love the scenario

Priya: (taking the glass) Yeah it so beautiful. I'm going out there right now.

Priya walks out to the back and towards the swing and sits down. After a few minutes, Arjun comes out of the shower, drying his hair. Arjun takes a glimpse out of the window and see Priya getting off the swing and walking next to the pool. Arjun look at Priya, as if this was the first time he has ever seen her. Arjun gives a smile and turns to leave. Priya looks up at her room window and see a white dull figure.

Priya: what was that?

Manisha: (calling for the door) Priya it's about to get cold you should come in.

Priya: ok (Priya looks up at her window, the dull figure disappears. Thinking) it might be my imagination. (Priya walks towards the house).