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

Originally posted by: pravallika

Plzzz make an index on page 1 dear..

It would be easy for your readers to know which chapter you have updated :)

Originally posted by: jyothirockz

Great story, but why did Arnav hurt her if he loved her so much ? So all this requirement of wife and Apartment is it a lie ? What ever caused him break her heart, does the reason still hold good that he did not try to seek her forgiveness ?

Originally posted by: sathyaish

khushi is in a very bad condition. hope arnav stands by her and khushi accepts and believes in arnav.
plz pm me

Originally posted by: -Reader-

Hi Archana,

I read the prologue and first part earlier today. First part was very interesting...hoping to catch up with rest of the parts and comment soon :)...

I have a request, can you please add Index on first page and change the titles too when you update (part and date)...that's the standard all writers follow on IF and it will be easy for readers to know that you updated :) ... I didn't realize you had 4 parts up :)...

Late update, sorry to keep you guys waiting! L Writer's block can be vicious when coupled with a foggy head! Ugh! Thankfully it's clearing up slowly. Here's the next part, hope you guys enjoy J

ROOM-MATES - PART 5

By Archana Vinod

Three years... it has been three long years since she last saw him and yet her heart leaps and pounds dangerously in her chest. She fears that she'd go into cardiac arrest. The world seems to black out before her and all what she can see is the blurry image of Arnav closing in. The familiar clench in her tummy and the huge apple in her throat gives her a sinking feeling. Her face glistens with sweat as she burns and flushes all over. A cocktail of emotions bubble up in her - relief and gratitude at first followed by seething anger, burning hatred, excruciating pain and frustration.

Why did this guy come here? Couldn't he have simply transferred the money? Why the bloody hell did he have to come running all the way here? To laugh at my plight? To remind me of the past? Or to deliberately show me his arrogant, conceited face and the mind blowing life he's living? And how the heck did he find out the exact floor where I stay? I've never wanted to set eyes on him again, never even think of him again and yet someone up there seems to be determined enough to get me to talk to him, turn to him for help. What kind of a test is this? If I had a choice, I'd never even let my dead body cross this guy's path! He doesn't even deserve it! I always feared that this day would come and did my best to avoid it but...

Arnav's soft eyes meet Khushi's hazy ones and sends her heart fluttering in anguish. Unable to meet his gaze any longer, her eyes begin to bat rapidly. Arnav slows down as he closes in, his curiosity lingers around the pile of bags stacked up outside the door.

ARNAV: (to Khushi, in a low voice) What's going on?

Though his voice was barely a whisper, it almost seemed like a SCREAM. The moment I dreaded has come at last... where he'd stand right in front of my eyes with a truck load of questions and I'd have no choice but to open my mouth and talk!

KHUSHI: (mumbles, looks away) That... I had to...

The landlord stands and glowers at the pair impatiently.

LANDLORD: (cuts them off rudely) Is someone planning to pay me my money?

Arnav is instantly irritated.

ARNAV: Yes, just give us a moment please.

LANDLORD: Aren't you people ashamed of yourselves? Shameless lot! You've made me wait here for almost forty five minutes. And now you're asking me to wait again? What the f**k!!!

His loud stinging words annoy Arnav to the core. He curls up his hand into a tight fist, whips out his purse and stomps towards the man while pulling out the money. He is red in the face - a sign that he's boiling mad! Mad and steaming enough to punch this guy's face to the floor!

ARNAV: (through clenched teeth) No one's running away with your god damn money. Understand? (slaps the cash onto the man's open hand) Here's your money. Now you can go and shove this up your lame ass.

He mumbles the last two words and turns around to leave, but of course, the landlord has a really sharp ear.

LANDLORD: Excuse me! What did you just say?

Arnav doesn't stop to answer, he simply storms away.

ARNAV: (mumbles) F**k you.

Khushi watches him as he marches into the elevator and bangs the door shut. The landlord is really pissed off.

Today... is probably the worst day of my life, thinks Khushi dreadfully.

LANDLORD: (loud) The nerve of you people! Firstly you lot delay my payment, make me wait and then dare to raise your voice and insult me? I made a big mistake! I should have just handed you over to the cops.

A WHILE LATER

Khushi is out on the streets with her bags - a large suitcase and an average trolley bag. She is literally clueless as she glances at her watch. 9:15 PM.

Where do I go from here? What do I do? I'm so drained of cash and have no place to stay.

A passing taxi pulls over.

CAB DRIVER: Where to Ma'am? Airport?

Khushi stares blankly at the man and nods in the negative. The cabbie gives her an amused smirk before driving away.

The high voltage encounter with the vicious landlord had gotten a ton of adrenaline pumping through her veins. As the surge begins to die down, the dull ache in her legs and the wobbling fatigue throughout her body intensifies. She pulls into a park, takes a deep breath and settles down on the suitcase as she lets the big reality, i.e. "today" sink in.

It is the month of December. Incredibly cold. Around 5 degrees Celsius. She looks around desperately as the icy gale bites painfully onto her bare skin. In all the sudden uproar, she had missed out to take her sweater from the office. Now the only way would be to get it back tomorrow. But how will she survive this torture till then? She'd probably die of frost bite before day break. To top it off, she's starving!

A warmly dressed couple passes by, laughing and chatting over a nice, big cup of hot molten chocolate. Oh... how I'd wish to gulp down something piping hot! But a simple cup of coffee would cost ten bucks. I really don't have that much with me!

The pain of helplessness brings tears to her eyes. Why does this keep happening with me? Maybe I should just go home... straight to my parents. Maa would have prepared a nice cup of tea for me now and a fresh batch of pakodas. I could have curled up in bed with a nice book. But I'm here. In this wretched place. Alone... helpless... unwanted...

All these heart wrenching thoughts remind her of Arnav and heightens the pain.

FLASHBACK - 3 YRS BACK

Khushi's face is tear stricken as she holds the phone close to her ear and cries. She's on a call with Arnav.

KHUSHI: (panics) Please... Tell me where I went wrong, I'll fix myself up. I'll be a better person. I promise. But just don't say that you want this to be over. Please... you can't do this to me. Please! Just listen to me. Just--- hello? Hello?

The line goes dead from Arnav's end. It's all over.

She desperately tries to get through to him but all what she gets is a "the subscriber you are trying to reach has either switched off or is not reachable. Please try again later."

KHUSHI: No... pick up. Pick up! Come on!

She tries again, but it's the same.

KHUSHI: No... you can't do this to me. You can't... you can't...

END OF FLASHBACK

Khushi is almost blue as the frozen gale howls mercilessly onto her. She hugs herself in an attempt to keep warm and also... to comfort her writhing insides. Her tears dry up even before it can roll down. She is breathless now. It's unbelievably cold. Any more she will freeze to death!

KHUSHI: (whispers) God... stop... stop... please... please let the sun shine on me... let the sun shine... (gasps breathlessly) let the sun shine...

Then... just like a prayer that has been heard and answered, a thick warm jacket falls gently over her shoulders and instantly cuts out the merciless torture of the biting wind.

... TO BE CONTINUED

Originally posted by: Uzii

So nice that arnav came to rescue her n i think this jacket man is also him.