ArShi FF: ROOM-MATES by Archana Vinod (UPD PART 5, PG 7)

INDEX

PART 1: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4397906&PID=123599339&#p123599339

PART 2: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4397906&PID=123605279&#p123605279

PART 3: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4397906&PID=123690306&#p123690306

PART 4: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4397906&PID=123704366&#p123704366

PART 5: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4397906&PID=123831926&#p123831926

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ROOM-MATES

An original story by Archana Vinod

*** STRICTLY NO PLAGIARISM***

*** FAIR WARNING - May contain mature scenes, words or descriptions. Reader discretion advised.

"What's meant to be will always find its way..."

PROLOGUE:

Set in Dubai, "Room-Mates" will tell the story of how fate brings together what destiny managed to break apart - Arnav and Khushi.

On the brink of getting married to the love of her life Arnav, Khushi's world comes crashing down when one fine day he tells her that they can no longer be together. A ton of questions unanswered, she is left to suffer in bitter hatred and confusion as he walks out of her life without another look at her.

But three years later, fate proves to be a better player as they are forced to cross paths once again.

PART 1

Khushi is desperate as she browses the classifieds and her social networking account online. She is working on a temp job under a long term visit visa in Dubai which is due to expire in a few weeks. But most of all, she is in dire need of a place to stay.

Khushi shares the small dingy apartment with three other girls. The flat is pretty crummy and congested with four beds crammed into the small room, a single bathroom which they need to fight for every time and an equally tiny kitchen. Oofff!!! How pathetic! But she has no choice except now...

The rental contract of her apartment is due to expire by the end of the month. Worst part is that the vicious landlord had mercilessly hiked the rent by 50% which is way beyond her budget. She had plenty of points to lay out before the landlord... to convince him to bring down the rent... like how filthy the building was... how poorly it was maintained... how all the bachelors in the building were a pain in the ass at night... how drunk men messed up the elevators at night... and the landlord's reply?

"Not my problem... take it or leave it..."

Well, Khushi decided to go with the latter. Leave it. She's fed up as it is. Why on earth should I pay an unbelievable amount for this piece of shit? Let me see if I can find a better place to stay..

Problem is... it's all the same. Better residential apartments came at double the price her current landlord was offering, and the thing is that this bugger knew it. He also knew that she would eventually end up renewing the contract. Ha-ha-ha!

No ways, I'm not going to give up so easily. In frantic desperation, she scours the internet for advertisements offering apartments for rent. She wouldn't mind if it's shared, but at least it should be better than the current one plus it should be affordable.

She chats with few of her friends on Facebook and passes the message. "I really need a place to stay... I don't have much time. I really don't want to carry on with this blood sucking parasite of a landlord."

As she tries to search for more of her old friends on Facebook, she comes across one particular profile which makes a heavy block of iron drop from her heart straight to her guts - Arnav Singh Raizada.

She opens his profile and sees a really cool picture of himself used as the profile pic. She is instantly overwhelmed with an intense fluttering in her stomach and chest. She had actually forgotten how handsome he used to be! But that was three years back! Now... he's literally a sex god. Or Greek god whatever... Unbelievably handsome.

But then... her admiration for him is instantly replaced with seething anger, hatred and an irresistible urge to slap the shit out of him. Just look at him! The smug smile, the oh-so contended look on his face... how can he be so happy after what he did to me?

She opens up his photo album and begins to browse through. It's flooded with pictures that gives one the impression that he's the most happening thing in town... the coolest person ever... the most popular guy around... Arrrghhh! Just look at this son of a... she gnashes her teeth angrily. Her brows narrow. Her nostrils flare madly. Her breathing is rapid and shallow and she feels a strange heaviness in her chest that's waiting to explode.

She scrolls through his news feed - posts that show he's the most sensible one around. That he's "something". Khushi's hands tingle with the unbearable urge to beat that "something" into a rubbery mess. God, I hate this guy so much! So much! SO MUCH!!!!

The comments under his photos make her even mad!

"Wow... handsome... How do you manage to look so cool every time?"

"Great look."

"Arnie, are you free tonight?"

And his replies...

"Thanks :D Genetics I guess ;) "

"Thanks ;)"

"Booked for the night... maybe this weekend?"

Khushi is so mad now that she could scream her lungs out! She wants to tear her laptop apart, disassemble it by the nuts and fling it out of the window.

KHUSHI: (mutters angrily) Go f**k yourself you nasty son of a---

She prepares to shut down the tab but pauses as his latest post catches her eye.

"WANTED: A WIFE - inbox me for the details. This is not a joke so serious inquires only please."

Khushi gapes at the post. It was posted just now... about a minute ago. What the hell does this mean? Advertising for a wife? This is bullshit.

Khushi's mind spins full swing now. A voice screams in her head to close it and get on with her life... but another creepy voice croons in her head to message the old rascal. What have you got to lose? Nothing! PM him. At least you'll get to know what he's up to! Better still... you'll get a golden opportunity to screw his sorry ass! Make him pay for the pain he put you through!

With a deep sigh, Khushi sends him a private message: "What's the scoop? Would love to know. And yeah, this is a serious inquiry."

She sits back and takes a deep breath. God! Writing those few lines took a lot of effort and energy. She's breathless and sweating already. I don't think that he'll reply. I'll be surprised if he does. In fact, he'd be a shameless son of a gun if he does. Actually, I'd love it if he replies. I've got a score to settle.

To her astonishment, she gets a PM... from Arnav.

KHUSHI: (whispers) Oh my God...

She opens the message.

"Let's talk. Here's my number... 9998867854."

Khushi is frozen. He replied? He actually replied to me? You've gotta be kidding me! Her hands are cold and clammy as she picks up her phone and dials the number. Her head buzzes noisily as she waits for him to answer the call. But worst of all... she feels a large lump build up in her throat. It's been a long time since she had heard his voice. To be honest, she's afraid to hear that voice again... the sexiness overload that could make her heart pop out of her chest, that could make time stand still... that could give her that feeling that she's going to pass out any minute... She's afraid cause these are emotions she never wanted to experience ever again. At least not because of him.

ARNAV: Hello?

Khushi's shallow breaths come to a grinding halt. She freezes to a rigid block... she feels like a dead body with rigor mortis setting in... Oh my God... shit! Shit!

... TO BE CONTINUED

PART 2

Khushi isn't breathing anymore. She's weak and wobbly all over. Her temples throb violently enough to erase all memory of who or what she is. Her mouth goes dry that all what she can try and gulp down is a huge glob of solid saliva. Her eyes bat rapidly and swell up to bursting point, so much that she is literally blind. His crooning voice seems to have sucked the wind straight out of her guts and the strength out of her fingers.

ARNAV: Hello?

She can't stand up to him. That tone in his voice always managed to work up a storm in her guts no matter what the situation. Her knees knock together and her heart feels faint. Oh my God, I... I don't think I can do this. No... NO! I'm going to hang up!

Her lips and fingers shudder nervously as she struggles to hold the phone with her cold sweaty hands. She tries to talk but all what comes out of her mouth is a choked up sputter and a hoarse croak.

Arnav sighs deeply and smiles from the other end. He can literally see the scene right in front of his eyes. And he's actually enjoying this - the way he can still make her go "ga-ga-ga". Maybe even better than before.

ARNAV: (in an amused tone) Hey-lowww?

Khushi goes into a choking fit and finally finds her voice.

KHUSHI: (gasps) H-hi.

The minute she utters those words, she realizes how stupid and awkward she sounds. So goofy and idiotic! And him? He does a great job of sounding and looking cool round the clock. Argh!!! She begins to feel more and more inferior in front of him. And that's something which she doesn't want.

ARNAV: (giggles) What took you so long?

KHUSHI: (clears her throat and takes a deep breath) Erm--- nothing. Was--- j-j-just thinking something.

ARNAV: Really?

Khushi's eye lids begin to flutter involuntarily again. That sarcasm in his voice!

KHUSHI: (coldly) Yes.

ARNAV: Mind if I ask you about what?

Of course I do you dickhead, she thinks to herself as her nostrils flare madly, it's none of your f*****g business anyways. Why don't you keep your nosy attitude to yourself? Try digging around my stuff again and I'll knock your block off. Well, she would have loved to say this, but...

KHUSHI: Actually yes.

ARNAV: (giggles) Ah! No worries!

The sexiness in his giggle and the sarcasm in his voice puts Khushi in a very bad state of mind. She had hoped that after all these years, he would at least have a trace of remorse, but it doesn't look like it. He seems to be enjoying his super cool life... after what he did to me.

KHUSHI: (desperate to end the call) About the message. What was that about?

ARNAV: Haan, that one. Which reminds me, are you in Dubai? I've noticed that you're calling from a Dubai number.

KHUSHI: Yes, I'm in Dubai now. Working.

She says that with a hint of pride in her voice, as if being in Dubai meant that the person had managed to sprout a couple of unicorn horns around the head. A rare feat!

The Dubai factor actually puts her at ease. She begins to feel more relaxed now compared to the initial starting trouble. She had forgotten how she loved to spend hours lying with her head on his strong carved tummy and talking about anything and everything under the sky. But still, the pain which he put her through had urged her to build a virtual Chinese wall around her. Absolutely impenetrable.

ARNAV: Now that's a lovely co-incidence. I'm in Dubai too.

That's the last thing she wanted to hear. At least being in Dubai had made her feel victorious by a point. But now, she feels like a big zero. How can this guy get successful at everything? He's certainly one god damn Midas with a golden touch.

KHUSHI: (in a flat tone) Oh, is it? Where?

Not that she wanted to know... the thought of him being so contended and successful made her churn to death inside. At least once, she wanted to see him bear the brunt of his deeds.

ARNAV: Bur Dubai, close to Bank Street.

KHUSHI: (in a low voice) Oh, achcha.

ARNAV: Two plus years.

KHUSHI: Uh huh.

Enough bragging you lousy excuse for a man, did you just call me to load my plate with your boring stories of conquest? Jeez.

ARNAV: Which building do you stay in?

KHUSHI: Al Khurram, block B.

ARNAV: Co-incidence again. I'm down your building. Come down. Let's talk.

Her heart skips a beat. No wonder she could feel his burning presence. He was so close to her after three years.

KHUSHI: (stunned) What?

ARNAV: Let's talk about the AD. Come down, I'm waiting.

She's damn nervous now. A part of her is dying to fly out of her apartment's balcony straight into his open arms. But another part of her cringes with the cautiousness of a cat that flopped face down in to a tub of hot boiling water.

KHUSHI: W-why ca-can't we just talk on the phone?

ARNAV: (in an "as a matter of fact" tone) Because we can't. Simple.

Who is he kidding? He just wants to see me. Does he really think that I was born yesterday? Bloody bugger.

KHUSHI: No. Sorry. If it's something we can discuss on the phone, well and good. Or else forget about it.

She prepares to hang up.

ARNAV: No-no-no. Wait-wait. Just hang on.

KHUSHI: (tries to sound important) What is it? Hurry up. I don't have all day.

ARNAV: Okay. I'll come to the point. The thing is that I'm actually trying to rent in a decent apartment. I've found a brand new studio flat in the heart of Karama. Great spot, easy access to everything. The apartment is not that bad either. I've seen it. Best part is that it's very affordable.

The apartment talk irritates her. He probably knows that I'm looking for a place to stay as well. I'm sure that he might have come across my Ads on the expat forum and daily classifieds. So he's doing this on purpose, to try and get me to be jealous of the stupid dingy apartment he just rented out. Hah! But I'll get a better one.

KHUSHI: (uninterested) So?

ARNAV: So I need a room-mate to share the flat with.

KHUSHI: So put up an ad in the papers. Why are you telling me?

ARNAV: Because the room-mate has to be my wife.

Wife... Oh, I see where this is going!

KHUSHI: So get married. And stop knocking on the wrong door.

She ENDS the call with a vengeance. She heaves deeply as she flings her phone onto the bed in a fit of rage. At least I got to give him a tight slap on the face. Virtual sort of. But even these contending thoughts could not do enough to stem up the old pain from brimming over in the form of tears.

Her phone RINGS again. Incoming call from Arnav's number. But she's too broken to answer it.

Wife... how dare he even say that word! How can he forget so fast? If he had stood by me and stuck to his words I would be his wife now! But I was always a second banana to him.

The buried pain of the past begins to resurface once again and sends her into fits of loud sobs.

FLASHBACK SCENE (3 YEARS AGO):

OUTSIDE KHUSHI'S WORKPLACE - AFTERNOON

Khushi comes rushing out to an anxious Arnav waiting outside her office building.

KHUSHI: Arnav! Oh God! Where have you been all these days? I tried calling you like crazy! I sent you so many messages, e-mails! Where the hell were you?

Arnav is quiet for a moment. He seems to be lost and deeply worried.

Khushi watches him carefully. It seems as if he hadn't slept in days. His eyes are masked with dark circles and wrinkles. His stubbles are more dense and in desperate need of a shave. Certainly, something is wrong.

KHUSHI: (places a comforting hand on his arm) Arnav... what happened? Everything okay?

ARNAV: (in a low voice) Khushi... I'm sorry... but...

Silence.

Khushi is afraid now. What's he coming at?

KHUSHI: But what?

ARNAV: (sighs) We-we can't be together anymore.

Dead silence. Arnav pretends to not have seen the tears stinging in her eyes.

KHUSHI: (in a choked up voice) W-what do you mean?

ARNAV: (rudely) Exactly what I said. It's over.

KHUSHI: (begins to cry) B-but why?

ARNAV: Don't ask me any questions please. We can't be together. End of story.

KHUSHI: (very broken) No... this is not you. Tell me that someone forced you to talk like this. I know that you can't talk to me like this. Because I know that you love me. And I know that you can't live without me. I know that you need me! We were going to get married to each other next month, remember? We also---

ARNAV: (cuts her out) Khushi, seriously. You need to stop dying in the past. Just lace up your boots and get on with life. That's what a real woman should be like. Do you understand? Now get this loud and clear. It's over. Everything.

Arnav turns around and begins to walk away abruptly. Khushi is shocked.

KHUSHI: Arnav?

Her faint moans of helplessness are unheard by Arnav as he stomps away to his car and drives off like a maniac.

KHUSHI: Arnav... No--- no--- wait----

But... it's all over.

END OF FLASHBACK SCENE.

... TO BE CONTINUED

Originally posted by: virika23

interesting!! dead body with rigor mortis!! seriously? ! very much curious to know what happens next. waiting eagerly

Originally posted by: pravallika

Very interesting...

He ditched her three yrs back saying that they cannot be together and happily enjoying his life ( i suppose )

And kushi is struggling to find a decent apartment for her stay..

So going by the title, i think these two will become roommates after their phone conversation..

Waiting eagerly... continue soon..

Originally posted by: ..PT..

Very interesting.