FF (Virman) Walking on Sunshine, C7, p42, 2nd Aug

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There was a fair complexioned man sitting behind the desk, with dark hair, in his forties or at least I assumed. He was dealing with one person at a time in the short queue, I looked toward my Dad who went and sat back on the blue corporate type chairs like he was used to this kind of atmosphere. My brother was too busy already trying to find a new interest as he made his way to where the flyer's were kept 'How To Become Captain Of Your Own Yacht' seemed like an intriguing choice to him, as he seemed so engrossed in reading it from this distance.
"Hi, may I take your name" said the fair man in his deep voice breaking my observation of trying to get used to this place. I felt like my throat had been tied up in that moment, which was definitely not what I needed right now! I was dying of embarrassment, speak I shouted to myself, otherwise you'll be sure to make a fool of yourself. I didn't have a chance to look back and see if there was anyone else behind me, but a brisky voice had been coming from someone who seemed like they were behind me, the voice hadn't stopped at my silent stuttering, which meant I was safe from being labelled the fool just yet.
"Yes, I'm sorry, my name is Manvi, Manvi Chaudhary, I believe that..." I was going fine until my voice trailed off like I had a sore throat, carry on Manvi I told myself once I excused myself and cleared the knot in my throat. "Erm, sorry, I believe I have a trial flight with Paul at Two pm" I managed to finish. This small sentence seemed like a victory based on the struggle I had getting through it.
The guy hadn't noticed the nervousness in my voice - thank god, or maybe he did, but wasn't bothered by it, he skimmed through his paper database, and muttering my surname over and over again until he'd pointed it out with his ballpoint pen, and replied "yes I believe you do, if you would like to make way to the bar, which is just outside those front doors and literally across the drive, you can wait there comfortably until Paul arrives and he'll find you himself, okay." He finished with a friendly smile, after putting down his pen which he just used as a pointer to direct me. "And that would be one-hundred and thirty-five pounds for the Cessna one-five-two trial flight please."
"Yeah sure," I said fiddling through my handbag embarrassed yet again, as I almost forgot that I had to pay!


Just in case I had done anything embarrassing I chose not to look back in fear from allowing myself to be recognised by the man behind me. As I turned to leave I could hear the conversation after my exit continue instantly, while I was trying hard not to deliberately eavesdrop, I could still hear the guy who seemed pretty tall, judging solely on his silhouette that was slightly visible from my blind spot, he was moving in behind me and greeted the receptionist in an informal manner, and high-fived him while feeling the need to speak extremely loud.
I instantly grew a biased hatred to this tall unknown guy; I absolutely hated it when people spoke like everyone is listening to them alone, is it really so hard to talk in a pitch low enough just for the people who are in the given conversation, why do they feel the need to let everyone know what they're doing on their so-called Friday nights, I wondered in bother.
"Virat Vadhera" said the receptionist followed by a very loud and obvious sigh, "now what brings you here so early...oh wait let me guess...was it an early night in bed doing revision that kept you?" he chuckled aloud sarcastically.
"Hey Vinod, my man...just chill" said that same cool husky voice that was on the phone bragging like he was front news a short while ago, "I happen to take my lessons very seriously okay, and there's nothing I'd rather do more than fly" he responded with a hint of amusement in his voice while trying to portray himself seriously.
"Of course you would, I'm sure a bottle of Vodka and Red Bull would be equivalent to flying high, right?" replied the reception guy again, but this time joining in with the campaign for sarcasm that was trending between them, "you're up at Three-thirty pm, on Runway five - okay," and then I heard a set of keys being thrown to him "make sure you check the Aircraft it just came out of service..."
The conversation continued, but I couldn't hear the rest as the voices went into a blur for me as I moved away.
I didn't know what to expect just yet, a semi-nervous breakdown already taken place - well of some sort at least, and an irritating encounter seemed to have cropped up unexpectedly, I wondered eagerly what would come next!

To calm my nerves I told myself that I probably wouldn't be sticking around too long anyway, I even managed to convince myself after several attempts. It all depended on the flight test now, which for some unclear reason I found myself dreading right now.
"We're all set to go Dad" I shouted over to him and my brother before heading to the bar, which upon reaching I found to be very appealing I must say. Dad and Dabinder, or rather Dabbu had quickly ordered chilled beers and a Coke for me without asking; holding on to them cautiously both of them made way outdoors where all lessons were taking place for us visitors to see. It was easy enough to filter the crowds and tell who was new there amongst the people that were well acquainted with the place, a bit like that mega tall guy back in the reception area, who I could tell was definitely not new around here, and from what I could guess they clearly shared relationships on a more friendly basis here - well at least that's what it seemed like from where I was stood.


The view was mind blowing while sitting in the garden area, the green grass was freshly cut and spreading its aromatic whiff into the air for us to enjoy. There were flight tests running right before us, for some I could tell were going up in a plane for the first time and others who were so used to it that it seemed like they were running everyday errands. There were so many young people here, and here I was thinking I'd got off to an early start at my age, but clearly not early enough. I laughed at the teen adults that were waving to their friends or family like it was there first day at school or something. Okay so maybe I'm being a bit too judgemental for my first day, but I realised that I just needed to do something to get my nerves through this tough time which were busy fluctuating like pathetic bouncing balls for personal entertainment.

My so-called Instructor finally found me, he was tall, tanned, bald and looked European. He shook my hand and introduced himself as Paul, and I of course responded as Manvi, "Manvi Chaudhary." He briefly shook hands with my Dad and brother, and turned back giving me a nod to follow his lead, when we quickly left.
This was it! I could begin to feel my heart doing wild cart wheels without any kind of precision. Before I knew it I was in front of the Aircraft - well an Aircraft. I couldn't believe it, I tried to remain calm, but it had become way to difficult by then, all the adjectives related to the word 'happiness' or 'excitement' in the Oxford dictionary put together couldn't justify the belated look in my eyes!
Paul begun to guide me around the body of the Cessna One-Five-Two Aircraft, while briefing me with the basics of the Plane. The tyres had to be checked manually, the right and left Ailerons needed to be manoeuvred to their farthest depths they were capable of just to check if the hinges were functioning well, including the tail of the aircraft, and even checking the basic appearance of the Plane, which was better referred to as the fuselage. These were just a few of the things he mentioned, but the important fact he pointed out was that everything had to be checked manually before the Aircraft gained any altitude. Once we were inside the cockpit, which happened to very tight surprisingly, he once again guided me through the instruments on the cockpit which was pretty much everything on the 'dashboard' you could say.
"I know it's a lot to remember, but you'll get used to it," he said as he placed his headset over his ears and told me to do the same. Wow I really felt like I was part of a movie now, it felt great. "Obviously you can't be asked to remember everything, that's why we have a checklist ready in every Aircraft, because there's so much to ensure before you go up" he said, giving a reassuring smile, "we don't expect any individual to memorise every last detail" he threw in casually.
"So I don't have to go mad remembering all that" I confessed with a breath of fresh air.
"No you don't Manvi," he smirked finding my confession amusing, "we call that 'the walk-around check' because that's exactly what we're doing" he smiled.
I seemed to have already liked this guy, he was an easy personality. He put the key into the engine and guided me through with words, and then with a roar the engine came to life. Jesus I was nearly taken off guard there, it was like sitting in a live monster, except that we was controlling it; well he was.
Now I found myself in the exact same position as everybody else that I had been making fun of earlier on. Seeing my Dad and brother sitting there with that proud smile on their faces watching their daughter taking her first real step towards her dream was a feeling that I couldn't even describe to myself. It was truly something I thought as I released a deep exhilarating breath of satisfaction and before I knew it, my hand had gone up and I waved at them just like everyone else. With a big grin like a child that was sitting on their new bike for the first time, I sat waving frantically, even though I felt a little childish I didn't care, I carried on, and they waved back looking exactly the same! That for me became a memory that would remain unforgettable, stamped in my mind forever like it would in a photographic memory. Whether I went ahead with this flying course or not, this moment in my life will always be one of those that would never leave me. Everything about this moment was just perfect - an unusual word for me to use, because nothing is ever perfect for me in usual circumstances, but for once I couldn't have put this word to better use.

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The single propeller began turning clockwise on the nose of the Plane, and was gaining huge impact within seconds. It was revved at 700RPM (revs per minute) while standing idle, after a few short minutes Paul pulled the throttle and revved the engine at 1200 RPM to taxi the plane, which was the standard speed to taxi the Plane onto the runway. Yes taxiing the Plane onto the runway, I didn't even know how to drive! Let alone manoeuvring the Aircraft on the ground, not to mention the rudders which were literally like I was paddling my feet like a duck: left, right, left, right, within the same second, it was absolutely amazing at how such little movement was making the hugest difference.
Finally we'd made it off the grass, using only my feet to steer us out onto the concrete runway, and then Paul took control "I have control" he said clear and loud.
"You have control" I replied giving him a single nod, to let him know I had abandoned any form of control of the aircraft, which was very important apparently he explained earlier, as this could lead to major confusion whilst having a Co-Pilot alongside your flight, therefore clear means of communication are absolutely vital.


"Golf, Bravo, Romeo, India, Zulu, Tango, Zulu, on Runway Seven ready for take off - all clear ahead?" Paul spoke through the radio transmitter and sought final confirmation.
"Golf, Bravo, Romeo, India, Zulu, Tango, Zulu ready for take off, on Runway Seven, Paul" Informed the lady's slightly fuzzy voice back to us.
He pulled the throttle out a little more, and the engine was instantly revving faster or in my terms 'roaring with more force', the speed was now 1400RPM, and I, midst all this was getting thrilled to my stomach! Slowly he'd pulled the throttle out with full force and the engine was thundering at 2400RPM, when I noticed that we were beginning to lift from the ground in small intervals, bouncing along the way! And then it happened he let go of the brakes which was literally at the tip of the rudders using only your toes to press down with, in order to keep the Plane from going anywhere.

This time it was Paul who was paddling his feet mega fast, the Plane was jerking from left to right within split seconds, right now controlling was definitely 'key'. I could feel the Plane doing more bounces along the way, ones which had slightly bigger leaps then before, and my stomach hosted butterflies going wild from the new discovery, and that was it the bouncing converted into glided footsteps, slowly I could see the distance growing between us and the ground, then the people sitting in the garden area, next the runway which soon turned into a long black strip that looked like a tainted river in the dim night, grand houses with tennis courts and swimming pools in the back gardens suddenly looked no different to the birds eye view from Google Earth, and finally when I remembered to look up we were almost amongst the clouds, if I put my hand out it would've felt like the heavens were within reach, and the smile I boarded with had imprinted itself somewhere onto my soul, it was a happiness that could never be re-lived.

"This is Paul is here, our aircraft is successfully airborne - over." Once he was done with all the formalities he let me take control of the Plane, which was a lot more comfortable to control up in the air then it had been on the ground, it felt simple for the time-being, and nothing short from feeling like we were almost floating.
"It's like being free" I said as I tried to look through the big soft thick heavenly looking velvet cloud in front of us. I'd always looked at the clouds and tried to make pictures in my head during long drives when I was little, and never had I thought back then in my entire life that I would ever be so close to one - not one but many, it was like 'a walk in the clouds' literally for me, it was so beautiful that using words to describe this phenomenon would be an injustice to the view my eyes had been bestowed with, being able to see the world from a different view was quite magical. Looking up to the skies from the ground has led me to think many things in the past, but today looking down from the very same skies made me believe what a wonderful life we lead, how these little moments in our lives compile a huge archive of wonderful journeys from childhood, how the world suddenly looked like a safe place to be, sitting up here amongst the clouds felt like I was living a dream while being awake, which criticises the statement in itself, but reality screamed to me that dreaming dreams was not impossible, and living them was just like building yourself a new beginning, like a step into a world to discover oneself.
"Trust me, you're anything but free, when you're up here, though I know what you mean, but the thought of being free up here for long is actually frightening" he said breaking through my prolonged thoughts.
"Why do you say such a thing?" I asked curiously.
"Well can you imagine being lost up here," he looked over to me nodding my head in a frantic 'no' once I'd given a quick scan around me.

"Exactly, it's one of the first things we tell everyone, never be mistaken that you're free up here, you must always be alert of your surroundings and other aircrafts, sometimes even birds" he warned with a raised eyebrow. "The word 'free' itself means an excuse for being slack, leaving behind any priorities I would say, and that's not what you're looking for here I'm afraid" he smiled with pity.
So I guess I was wrong about the 'free' part, but secretly at that point in time that is what I had felt like and it wasn't a feeling I wanted to show the exit door to just yet, but he didn't need to know that. It was at that point that I'd decided I was here to stay, that feeling that dominated me earlier of not wanting to go ahead with the lesson had totally burnt out with fuel in the engine - to hell with all that. What had I been thinking back there, that I would just step away from the whole thing because a little nervousness struck me at a bad time - no way!

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Two weeks later I was back for that long Summer. I decided to stay at the accommodation on the Airfield itself, I figured it would much more exciting then anywhere else! Apparently the rooms were all booked out, and I was rumoured to have been lucky as I got a room so quickly. But it was only later that I found out that most people that resided in the room that I'd taken had either moved out or left, because the roommates were a handful. The most interesting part was that they were all Indian - okay so I saw many brown slash Asian faces on my first day here, but what were the chances that I being Indian myself will come across the only apartment that had two other Indian people, okay so later I found out it was three. Maybe it was a cultural thing, I mean how could they all specifically be put together? Anyhow that wasn't my concern, my only priority were my lessons here - full stop.


It was okay I shrugged I turned to inform, "I'm happy with it, thanks" I said to the gora guy who was showing me around my new accommodation. "Er, so do I have the apartment to myself for the Summer or something?" I asked curiously finding all the rooms empty and the lounge in pretty much a huge mess.
"No." He chuckled, did he find something funny about me, what was he laughing about? "I'm sure you'll have the privilege to meet them pretty soon, perhaps later on tonight if you're lucky, but the hot girl that lives in that room over there is safe you know, but she's gone home to visit her Parent's for two weeks" he replied back with a smirk plastered over his pinkish face the whole time.
"Wait, you mean that I'm sharing with two guys?!" I asked with surprise, "but no one said anything about my roommates being guys" I disputed.
"Tough choice Madam, this was the only available room for the Summer, and seeing as you wanted to move in so quickly you should consider this a win win situation" with that he left.


Great! I slumped back into the sofa and relaxed a while, well at least this would be a calm chilled out Summer, I thought. Well the odd few flying lessons here and there, and getting my Club Membership sorted out, and my Medical Certificate was also scheduled for the month, but it didn't seem like too much too soon just yet. The Kitchen was sort of filthy, and I'm sure I heard that guy say there was a girl that lived here and she was obviously Indian, which made me wanna be sure she couldn't have been this untidy. Maybe it was the guys, 'cause the gora guy did say the 'hot girl' was away for now. I wondered what the guys were like, they're also Indian, this could be interesting, man I wondered what Dad would have to say about this, I sat laughing to myself.

I so needed a chilled drink, I headed over to the fridge only to find it empty. Man! What kind of people were living here, I mean what did they eat, there wasn't even any food in the house, I cursed them already as I rummaged through all the empty cupboards. The only thing I found that could quench my thirst was two bottles of chilled Foster's beer, it was the only option, and tap water just wouldn't do. Without thinking twice I popped it open with my back teeth and gulped down a whole half in one breath, I flexed my neck muscles to relieve myself from the hard day's strain, first I started unpacking, and then I decided I would soak in a nice hot bubble bath - oh god that sounded so good to me right now, maybe I should go with the bubble bath first. I popped into the bathroom to check it out, and ran back out almost immediately, "Oh yuck, yuck, yuck!" I squealed jumping up and down from one foot to the next. "Nasty!" My beer had almost found it's way back up the same pipe it travelled down a few minutes ago, "okay, just take a deep breath Manvi, take a big long deep breath" I breathed in and out and used my hands like I was helping the energy flow better around me. "First I'll unpack, then clean out the Kitchen and the lounge, and if I survive long enough I'll see if I can work a miracle on the bathroom" I dreaded while planning my day to settle in, 'comfortably'.

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"Phew" I finally sat down after taking three black bags of rubbish out from the Kitchen and lounge alone, and then neatened out the small store room which was difficult to do, as the light wasn't working inside, and it kind of gave me the creeps too, so I tried to hum a favourite tune to keep my mind occupied, just so I wouldn't freak out. It did look like the perfect hot-spot a ghost would pick to hideout, I thought worrying whether I could be right about it.
The front door had flung open and a guy...no a tall guy, sort of cute, walked through the door, managing to give me a mini heart attack just as I had the theme of ghosts and ghouls running in my mind already - man this guy picked the perfect moment to freak me out! I let out a pathetic shriek. "Jesus! You scared the hell out of me!"
"I didn't know you had it in you" he said casually as he bit into an apple, and walked over to the couch and put his dirty shoes all over the coffee table I'd just polished.
"You didn't know I had what in me?" I asked back confused as I walked over to him attempting to fling his dirty feet off the table, "and do you mind! I just polished that table" I said trying to peck his feet away with my own foot as I didn't want to touch them with my hands.
"Hell...isn't that what you just said," he replied looking back up at me and yawning, well he looked tired maybe that was the reason for his slack attitude, "...oh and no I don't" he added. I was a little slow to get what he meant, but later realised that he was trying to say he didn't mind ruining my efforts, god I hated him already!
As if this wasn't enough, he went and laid down all over the couch without removing his shoes and was knocked out within minutes.
"Hey! Hey! Wake up! Wake the hell up!" I nudged vigorously, "you can't sleep here, can you at least have the decency to go to your room and sleep" I tried to get through his thick head, "who the hell are you anyway?" I asked whacking the cleaning cloth in my hand over his arm in sheer agitation, his breathing reeked of alcohol so it was hardly like he'll notice anyway, which explained why he was knocked out.
"Virat, Virat Vadhera" He mumbled, as he got more comfortable on the couch. "That's who I am, and hit me with that nasty cloth and watch what I do to you" he managed to threaten in his drunken state!
"Like I care, one down, one to go" I said to myself, "if this one has turned out to be like this, then god help me with the second guy" I feared screwing up my lips in bother. To hell with all the cleaning, I'm gonna go to bed too, why should I waste my time, and besides at least I got through the whole day without using that dirty disgusting bathroom, I'll work on that wreck tomorrow.

I will upload the next chapter tomorrow, hope you enjoy it guys.

Do press like and leave your comments 😳.

Tink 😊

Wow!!! I loved it!! Can't wait for the next part!! Also I love your writing style =)

Originally posted by: meriyaar

omg! Tink i didn't know u were on this forum too. Good to c u :D it's nice to see this story on virman too. Waiting 4 the rest and i would lov a pm 4 the next part :) take care xxx

"Virat!! Oye Virat!! You bas***d...open the goddamn door!" Threatened an unknown voice that broke my sleep, in the morning, well at least I think it was morning. "Viraaat!" The voice continued yelling. "You bloody traitor open this damn door and face me like a man I say!"
What the hell was happening? I ran out only to see the front door shaking, oh my god, I had a drunkard sleeping on the sofa, and a psycho trying to break down my front door! What do I do? My best bet was that I should wake the drunkard up. I began to run towards this so-called Virat but then stopped, "wait a minute, what if he's too drunk to retaliate, I needed some kind of back up of my own, but what..." I wondered. Not having time to think, I ran into my room and grabbed my highest heeled sandal I hardly ever wore and resorted to it as a handy weapon - okay so it weren't exactly a weapon, but it would surely cause some damage. Right, so I ran up to Virat again and shook him hard this time, wasting no time, "get up Virat, get up!" I tried to yell in an alarming whisper, which is probably why it weren't so effective.
He mumbled something that required subtitles, and went back to sleep. "GET the Hell Up!" I shouted finally getting pissed off.


"What the hell happened?" He woke up startled, "'..and who are you?" He said holding his head like he had a headache or something.
"You know as much as I'd love the formal type introduction, I really don't think we have time for all this," I said rolling my eyes and wondering why I was even explaining these minor things to him and instead I decided to cut a long story short, "look there's a psycho out there banging on that door, and I'm warning you that I'm not going to be the one to open that door, your hear me? and besides it doesn't look like he wants me, so I'll give you some free advice and suggest you surrender" I offered trying very hard to keep calm yet helpful. His eyes wandered over to my red sandal, and for a moment he looked at me like I was the psycho.

"Virat!"
"Oh man not him" he got up taking his time.
Not him, did that mean he knew him, he knew him! That was a good sign right? but how could he possibly know this guy, he sounded like he was out to kill him. While I was on my knee beside the sofa still trying to figure things out, Virat had already gotten up 'unprotected' and headed to open the door. I followed his footsteps quickly keeping my sandal prepared and ready for attack. But before I could say 'watch out' the psycho had already punched Virat in the gut and he'd flexed forward, only to be hit again in his face with a blow that took him by surprise, and this time he'd gone flying back.
"Oh my god" I yelped at the fight.
The guy had now come into our apartment, and he was attacking Virat full on filmy style like the super villain, except this villain looked far more like a hero, and during all this all I did was watch, and then I remembered the sandal in my hand, well now would definitely be a good time to use it I thought, but for some reason I didn't really want to. While he was making a mess of the whole room tipping and tossing over the furniture, Virat had finally fought back, and meanwhile I realised I should be calling the police, I instantly lit up and ran off to find my phone.
"You traitor, you traitor!" Was all that guy was shouting, and Virat was only telling him to "wait"!
For what? So he could beat you black and blue I silently thought. "Stop!" I shouted, and for a split second they both listened, and that's precisely when I realised that I didn't actually have anything to say, and cleared my throat nervously in order to buy some time "Er, I...er...I, I have a sandal in my hand, and I'm not afraid to use it!" I threatened, I'd heard similar lines like that in films loads of times, but for some reason I don't think I had quite the same affect.
"You are joking right?" Questioned the intruder.
Was that my cue to say something? 'cause I was certainly at a loss for words, "erm" I gulped and cleared my throat again, "no" was all I let out meekly. God! I should just jump out of the window and kill myself right now. Without bothering to pay any attention to me, both of them got back to fighting again, what was this like some kind of freak hobby of theirs?
"Look wait...just wait Viren!" Virat addressed finally giving me some proof that he actually knew this guy. "I know why you're upset, but it just happened by mistake, I swear." He said backing off from him with his hands up like he'd actually surrendered.
"A mistake, my girlfriend calls you to drop her off at the train station we were supposed to be meeting at, and guess what...she didn't arrive!" He said with artificial surprise, and telling it to me like I was interested. Well actually I was, but I still didn't get most of it, so I guess I waited around to hear more, this was better than TV soaps, where were the popcorn - okay forget I said that, wow sometimes I surprise myself and wonder if I'd be eligible to get the role of the vamps in Indian serials.
"I couldn't say no to her, she was alone and cold...and...alone...and cold..." Virat attempted very very poorly.
"What?! You just said that. Twice" Viren shouted back.
"No I didn't, okay fine, maybe I did. But look she really was alone and cold man, so I offered her a ride, and let's just say she got a little too cosy, so I hated to let her out in the cold."
Okay so now I was mega confused, 'cold', was that Viren really going to believe that. I simply had to intervene "'..but it's Summer, I had to sleep with the windows open all night to get any little breeze, so why on earth was she cold?" I couldn't help asking with a frown clearly indicating that either you're friend's chatting shit dude, or either I ain't living in the same world as you, and I think option A seemed much more appropriate in these circumstances.
"Good point" cheered Viren.
So now this psycho was on my side, or was I like on his side?
"Hey but out, and who are you anyway?" Virat asked me, again.
"Will you stop saying that!" I said, "it's very annoying, I feel like I'm talking to that bloody fish 'Dory' from Nemo."
"You mean stop asking that..." he tried to correct, just to get back at me.
"Yeah yeah, whatever, it still doesn't change anything." I said rudely.
"And you still haven't told me who you are," he said again through gritted teeth.
I sighed heavily to show my agitation, "fine" I said overlapping my teeth on my bottom lip, "my name is Manvi and I'm your roommate unfortunately."
"Well you hardly left me any choice to say 'nice to meet you' because as you can see, it's clearly not" he answered back equally rude.
"Consider this your lucky day! Because the feeling's mutual" I replied plastering a fake smile over my face and crossing my arms across my chest.
"Sooo, now that you guys have met. Allow me to introduce myself" said the psycho turning to me to shake my hand, I looked down forced to wonder where it had been. "I'm Viren, your second roommate" he added.
"What!!!!!" No way, this freak was not living here too! This was outrageous, no way, I am not living here with these two zombies for the rest of my Summer, I've barely lived here a night, and I've faced god knows what! This can't be happening, I can't even trust myself to pass out, what's the guarantee these two would call for professional help, they'd probably leave me to rot there and die, or worse maybe they'd bury me alive somewhere. Oh my god, what the hell was I thinking, pull yourself together Manvi, I'm sure it ain't all that bad. I was breathing more faster than I could imagine, in fact I felt like I was on a super fast countdown to exploding! There's another girl who also lives here, she'll be back soon to share your share of the stress, so until then Manvi just keep yourself calm. You can get through this.
"So I guess that must mean you're happy to see me" said a clearly confused Viren.
"Something like that" I answered back trying to keep up the act of kindness.

I had to get away after that I so needed to breathe. I left for the Cafe, and used the Cafe facilities to freshen up and brush my teeth, after breakfast I'll go home, clean out that grotty bathroom and have a nice long soak. I already had a headache, since I'd landed in that apartment with two roommates from hell. I hadn't even changed from my baggy sweats and I already looked like I was a disaster. Not even having an appetite I forced my breakfast down my gob, but taking my time. I ordered two cups of tea, just to make sure that they'd left by the time I got home. I groaned out loud, not caring what people thought of me, and placed my head on the dining table, but really wishing to bang my head on it a thousand times.

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When I got home, it was silent, I couldn't hear anything, but I'd gotten too happy too fast. I could hear them playing on the Xbox in one of the rooms, and the lounge was back to square one, in fact it was even worse then before. Wrappers, empty bottles, Pizza boxes left open, it was pathetic. I tried to avoid them from knowing that I was home, and went to my room and tied my greasy and messy hair up, and went to the bathroom with all the domestic detergents I'd just purchased to make that bathroom fit enough for a lady.


"What are you doing?" Asked Viren catching me off guard.
"Nothing, I'm just over the bloody moon that I get to clean all your crap out of this bathroom, that's all" I said as pleasantly as I could so it was obvious I was hating it!
"Well don't let me stop you" He answered.
God, did these guys actually have any kind of concern for anyone, I mean I was being sarcastic but surely he got it, right? Otherwise why would he reply like that? Maybe because men are dogs, I decided instead.


Now that's what you call a spic and span bathroom, I was so proud of myself, that I was able to cut through all that grime within...oh gawd - two hours, and I thought I'd done it within half an hour or something. Well it didn't matter now anyway, I ran the bath with hot water and added all my therapy bubble baths and salts, and waited for it to fill while I got my clothes and towel ready to finally soak, like forever.

I could hear someone whistling just outside my door, I couldn't tell which out of the two disasters it was. I ran out with my stuff to get to the bathroom as fast as I could and quickly slammed shut the door behind me, and smiled at my victory, at least I got into the bathroom before one of them could ruin it again.
I dipped a finger into the water to see if the temperature was okay. "Perfect." Just as I was about to remove my baggy top, I heard a voice, that same voice! I knew I'd heard him somewhere before, he was that guy that was speaking over the counter like he wanted to tell his life story to the world, all of a sudden his name ringed a bell too, 'Virat Vadhera' was that same guy who was behind me in the queue on my first day here, the Vodka and Red Bull guy, no wonder, it all made sense, he obviously enjoyed socialising on a very annoying level.
"Just in case you think I'm a pervert, I'm warning you beforehand that I didn't see anything..." his voice trailed off.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" I gasped, and quickly tried to get my clothes back on.
"Okay fine, I admit maybe I saw a little bit of skin, but that's all I swear" He joked sarcastically. "And what the hell am I doing?" He repeated in my tone. "What the hell are you doing? Undressing like that while two hot guys are in the house." He carried on further without any shame.
"Hot guys..." I said flatly.
"Fine, I confess, 'hot guy', I won't tell Viren that you don't find him hot" replied besharam Virat.
Was he for real, he just carried on putting words in my mouth without me actually thinking any of those kind of things, "eerggh" I vented my frustration aloud, I thought I locked that damn door. "How did you get in?" I asked instead, refusing to pay attention to anything else he said. "'Cause I locked the door" I said reassuringly.
"Or did you?" He said flipping on the other side of the door, to show me the broken hinge and lock. The whole door had to be replaced before a lock could actually be of some use here. This was a joke right, I couldn't believe this, "I can't take a bath like this, what am I supposed to do now?" I shrugged my shoulders in disbelief.
"Why not?" He asked like I was a weirdo to ask such a question.
"Because I'm a girl" I said like in the 'duh' tone, but he didn't react.
"Really now what makes you think that" he said trying to be funny.
"Very funny, but seriously I ain't getting in that bathtub without a lock on that door" I warned.
"It don't make no difference to me, and besides you would never have noticed if I didn't tell you, doesn't that prove to you that I'm a true gentleman," he praised himself, it was good point actually, but I still couldn't strip with two unknown guys in the flat.
"Well Jeevika don't seem to have a problem with it - and hey we ain't no perverts you know" he convinced. I so badly wanted to believe him, but I couldn't afford to take the risk, I was way too shy to be able to take one risk. I looked back at my bath like it was a long lost relative that I couldn't even bid farewell properly to before we parted in slow motion, "what a waste" I sighed in definite defeat.
"Oh don't worry babe it won't go to waste" he said as though I should have been happy by this news, and he slipped his t-shirt off in front of me, revealing his toned body.
"Oh god...do you mind...I didn't book for a stripper you know!" I shouted while covering my eyes "and don't call me babe!"
"What!" He tutted with attitude, "girls would absolutely die to get one glimpse of me looking like this, let alone in a bathroom while I'm stripping, so yeah consider yourself privileged okay and feel free to take a good long look while you can," he smirked while deliberately flaunting his upper body to my direction, although I did manage to see his totally fit muscles that made him almost look like a god, so in a way I could understand what he was on about, but I still played dumb. Girls never tell. "Don't act like you don't want to now!"

"I wish you'd just drop dead you friggin' jerk!" I attacked as I barged my way out of there before he pulled the full Monty on me!


I left unable to bear the torture any longer, and just headed to the gym instead and taking a shower there. My lovely bath had gone down the drain literally, my apartment was hell to live in, and I had to put up with this all Summer. The water felt good on my body, I took my time to drain out the tiredness and accumulated stress in me, as I knew I should be calling home and telling my family just how great everything is going here, and how perfect the start of my Summer was, and what great roomies' I had, and blah blah blah...
I felt terrible lying to my family, but it was for their own benefit, otherwise they'd just stress, and this way everyone would be happy, well everyone except me of course.

_____

As I stared outside the open window from my bed at the night sky, everything seemed so perfect.

Virat and Viren had gone out during the night and I finally had the apartment to myself, the rest of the place was a tip, but I gave up with that already and dropped any ideas for trying to keep anything clean except for my bedroom. As I lay there thinking about what I'd found out about my roommates I couldn't believe it, I would never have thought that Virat and Viren were both Aerobatic Pilots, that was absolutely amazing! I could never even dream of doing something like that, I would be scared out of my wits. But I did have a general liking to the fact that they both had a very unique talent. Viren had a likable personality, and Virat well he reminded me of a an open book, except he was strangely undiscovered. Sort of like an e-book, I guess that was a better way of putting it, he was like an e-book up-to-date and modern with today, but his originality was left behind on some paperback book sitting on a shelf gathering dust somewhere. Yeah that sounded much better I decided as my eyelids were gaining in on me, and I eventually drifted off.

Thank you for reading, and for all your lovely comments on the previous chapter. I hope everyone that asked for PMs received them.

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