SS- Two tales- updated pg 48 18/1/14

It was an unusually rainy day, Jeevika was perched against the ledge, staring out of the window. Watching the rain drops fall from God's eyes onto the dry ground below, whilst thinking about all those stresses and pressures in her life. Work, her boyfriend, Maanvi and of course Maanvi's boyfriend as well.

'Di," Maanvi's voice brought Jeevika out of her trance. Quickly wiping her tears, Jeevika left went towards their small kitchen to make dinner, as she knew that it was her day to cook and soon Maanvi would start screaming.

"Di, where are you? God why can't I ever find her," Maanvi wandered around the living room, where Jeevika work's things were scattered across the dining table. Papers everywhere, laptop on, a warm tea, she couldn't have gone far.

"There you are!" Finally she found Jeevika in the kitchen starting to prepare their dinner.

"Di, luckily you haven't started yet." Jeevika peered up as she grabbed the onions from under the sink. There she saw Maanvi dressed in short red sequenced dressed with her black heels.

"Kyle just called, I'm going out with him for dinner. Don't wait up," she tossed the onion back under the sink.

"Maanvi couldn't you have told me before. Wait I forgot Kyle just calls and you jump. Anyway cya,"

Stumbling across the room, Maanvi grabs her sister from behind and places her head in her shoulder.

"Don't be like that. You do we make plans at the last minute, and it's not like you and Viren are any different. Call him over. You've got a free house now," nudging her sister, Maanvi left giggling.

"Don't forget your keys, I'm not letting you in!"

There were the last words Maanvi heard from Jeevika that night as the rest of the night was spent with Kyle and his wishes.

Covering her head with jacket, Maanvi ran as soon as she saw Kyle's black Honda pulled up. Trying to avoid the rain she closed the door quickly, before he sped off into the distance.

Jeevika was home alone, her iPod was playing in the background, not that she knew what was playing. However, she couldn't sit in silence. Her phone sat beside her, on silent, she wasn't sure whether to look at it. She didn't want to look just in case Viren had called or texted.

She and Viren had been seeing each other on and off for over two years now. They both were teachers in different schools, but met when they were training at the same institution. They had got into an argument which started off about work but quickly digressed off. Jeevika wasn't sure whether she was ready to argue again or if the cooling period of enough.

She picked up her iPad and started to read over a lesson plan she was preparing, when suddenly the doorbell rang. Flicking the iPad cover over she placed it onto the sofa, before getting the door. Standing there soaked, Jeevika looked at Viren before she could even react he kissed her. Pushing himself in the house, he closed the door behind him. They forget everything and headed towards the bedroom. He pushed himself closer to her and started to kiss her neck as she began to loosen his trousers. As they fell onto the bed.

Hours later.

SLAM! Startled by the noise Jeevika carefully lifted her duvet, as Viren was fast asleep. She got out of bed, grabbing her nightgown that lay on the floor she left her room to see what had happened. As she left her room, the lights were off, after stumbling around in the darkness, Jeevika heard a faint noise. It was Maanvi was crying on the sofa.

Rushing over to her Jeevika tried to comfort Maanvi, she knew she had a fight with Kyle but also knew not to get into the details. Everything she did it never ended well, when the conversation was about Kyle or their relationship.

Two months ago, Maanvi came home in a similar way and Jeevika went ballistic at Kyle about how he was treating Maanvi. Nevertheless, it was not enough to scare Kyle, he was the kind of person that didn't listen to anyone and didn't accept his faults. Kyle instead blasted Jeevika and they both got into an intense argument.

Maanvi began to narrate what happened. She had broken up Kyle. They were having problems for a while and tonight she found out that he slept with someone on his business trip three weeks ago. Jeevika comforted Maanvi letting her cry her heart out on her lap. Jeevika knew not to say anything, she simply caressed her hair as they both fell asleep on the sofa.

The next morning, Viren woke up and looked over to find Jeevika missing. He called for her thinking she might have popped to have a shower, but he didn't hear the water running. Slowly getting up, he picked one of his trousers from the cupboard and headed out to have a look, grabbing his phone as he left.

"She's not here. Leave!" Jeevika went to slam the door, when Kyle wedged it open with his foot and pushed the door back open.

"This is between me and Maanvi. We will sort it out. No one needs to stick their nose in where it is not wanted,"

"Kyle I'm not saying it again, you are not meeting Maanvi and she is not here, so just leave," As Jeevika's voice raised Viren came into the room. Kyle was leaning over Jeevika. Noticing Kyle behaviour, Viren grabbed him by the collar, muttered something inappropriate and shoved him out of the house.

After weeks the insensitive texts, messages, and impromptu visits from Kyle had stopped, Maanvi was finally allowed to get on with her life. Since her break up every day was the sane, she woke up, headed to work and came home. Jeevika was getting worried about her as this was not her Maanvi. The one who would constantly be chatting and would enjoyed her nights out.

"Maanvi!" Jeevika was in the living room and was just about to head out, she shouted across room. "Shreya called. Everyone's going out tonight. Viren and I are going. You should come to. Be ready, we are leaving at 8," With that Jeevika slammed the door and left.

Jeevika and Viren returned an hour later and got ready for the evening. Wearing a low cut purple dress with pencil heels, Viren went semi casual with a simple shirt (where his top button was not done up) and black trousers. He went to watch some football on the TV, because the girls were still getting ready, as he called for Maanvi, she was already in the living room waiting for her ever so fashionable late sister.

Viren headed towards the bar to get first round of drinks. He squeezed back through the room, trying to avoid spilling any of the drinks to find Jeevika and Maanvi chatting with some friends. Nudging them, he passed them their respectively wines whilst he had a cider. Kissing Jeevika on the cheek, he left her and Maanvi and went to see some of the boys.

The music had started and the volume was perfect. Well perfect enough not to hear anyone and having the need to shout to speak to the person next to you. The night was going well, the drinks were flowing, but also the conversation and people were already dancing. It was a pleasant change for Maanvi but it had its benefits for Viren and Jeevika as well who couldn't get hands off each other. After some time, Jeevika and Viren wanted to leave the party. Yet, Maanvi wanted to stay; she was going to take a taxi with one of her friends later that night.

Jeevika wrapped her arms tightly around Maanvi.

"Be good and don't drink too much." She gave her a sloppy kiss.

"Remember... Actually I don't remember."

"Come on you, we're leaving." Slurring his words himself and grabbing Jeevika towards him, "Maanvi never gets as drunk as you anyway, cya at home,"

Jeevika and Viren left for the night as Maanvi carried on have a good time. Maanvi was enjoying the night, the music was great, and she and the girls basked in every moment.

Staggering up to the bar, Maanvi went to order the next round of drinks.

"One vodka and coke and three falling stars,"

"A falling star?" Maanvi looked over and saw a guy. He was about six feet tall, and somewhat muscular but still lean. He had dark brown hair that waves down to his ears. His eyes are a slightly darker shade of brown, like coffee. He seemed to have an adorable smile, but that could be the alcohol talking.

"What's a falling star?" She questioned the handsome stranger.

He waved down the bartender again, "Actually, make that five falling stars. Well let's find out." Showing her that smile again, the bartender placed down his drinks onto the cushioned coasters thing that all bars seem to have. He picked up one shot and passed the other to Maanvi. They clinked their shot glasses before both downing the shot.

Slamming the glass down, "What was that!"

"It was great wasn't it, leaves a fire going down, it's sambuca and Jack Daniels. You're welcome for the shot, but what did you want to order?" He whistles down the bartender again.

"Can I get two white wines, one rose and a double vodka and coke," When all the drinks were brought, Maanvi went into her purse to pay him, but before she could, the handsome guy had already paid.

"I can pay for my own drinks!"

"Their all yours? Wow! I'm impressed," He smirked, Maanvi simply stared at him and was about to walk away, "I'm sorry, I was kidding. I just thought... Well I don't know really, but this way you can then buy me a drink later. I'm Virat; let me help you with these."

Maanvi took two drinks while Virat helped with the others, (his drinks were taken by his friends) they squeezed back through the room towards Maanvi's friends.

Part 2- Page 2

Part 3 Pg 4

Part 4- Pg 6

Part 5- Pg 8

Part 6/7- Pg 11

Part 8- Pg 14

Part 9- Pg 17

Part 10- Pg 19

Part 11- Pg 20

Part 12- Pg 21

Part 13- Pg 22

Part 14 (two posts)- Pg 24

Part 15- Pg 26

Part 16- Pg 27

Part 17- Pg 28

Part 18 - Pg 29

Part 19 - Pg 30

Part 20- Pg 32

Part 21- Pg 34

Part 22- Pg 36

Part 23 - Pg 37

Part 24- Pg 38

Part 25- Pg 40

Part 26- Pg 42

Part 27- Pg 43

Part 28- Pg 45

Part 29- Pg 47