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ALL THE LITTLE THINGS
(Dedicated to the dearest Lady Charvi of ours!)
(The story is placed in the future so feel free to imagine yourselves as you'd like to :P )
The scorching heat of June, the drops of sweat peddled near her foot weren't helping her. Finding yourself in a new city is difficult in itself, and the fact that bad weather and a bad mood couple up to go along with it, it just makes the situation worse.
But Charvi wasnt going to give up so easily! After all, having completed her graduation, this is what she looked forward to. A post grad course would give her all that she would want. Having studied psychology, she knew hers all too well and knew, come what may, she would get herself through it.
But the long gush through the town in a crummy auto rickshaw, in which she sat huddled around her suitcases reminded her of something far more beautiful and heart-warming. Her Home, back in the capital. Family, friends, all had wished her well, but none had been able to make it their to help her settle down, atleast for the first few days. She couldnt blame them either, they were striving to make the life best possible for her itself.
"Madam, Address?" The driver sitting ahead asked in broken English. Foreign lands and foreign languages within India itself was scary enough.
Charvi pulled out the address on her mobile from the email that had been sent to her from the housing agency she had come into contact with. As the driver saw it and nodded, he said in a tone excited,
"Almost reached Madam, nice area!"
As Charvi took her phone back, she began scrolling through the tons of WhatsApp messages that had come in over the last few days.
Some read, "All the Best!" "Congratulations!", all positive, but there one that caught her heart and eye at the same time.
"Happy Birthday Beta, love you."
It was her birthday. The 9th of June. Or what she had better come to know over the years as "Admission Season".
Birthdays really down hold any meaning until and unless celebrated with friends and family, even if they are miles away. She did have her share of wishes, but what she really wanted was something.. special. No, not a set of fireworks dedicated to her or even a luxurious party, but maybe just a little surprise. Its the little things she liked.
Scrolling further down, Char came across a few contacts that she had always been fond of in her list.
"Sau"
"Rio Di"
"Sumo"
They did talk, but she really wished to see them once. Even after all these years, stupid talks about how Pootna would have eaten kids, or how Mandavi would have made Bharat cry, they still made so much sense.
The last few months had been tough, and Char could not make out time for them either. They say, time gives you a lot, but takes a lot from you as well.
"Madam, right side," Came the auto drivers jubilant voice as he got down and helped Char with her luggage.
Char smiled as she looked to the pristine, white buildings to her right.
"Paradise Villas," she read the name of the building. Yes, that was it. Her home, atleast for the time being.
She handed over the fare to there Driver, along with an extra few Rupees.
"Why Madam?" He asked.
"Its my Birthday today, take some sweets for your family Bhaiyya," she replied with a flashy smile that could make hearts flutter.
There driver smiled and accepted the same graciously.
"Thank you Madam, you will get very good gift from God."
Char smiled as she took her things up to the front gate.
Wiping the drops of sweat off her forehead, Charvi called up the woman in whose house she would be staying as a tenant.
"Madam, Ive reached. Can you tell me what the Flat Number is exactly?"
"Yes Beta," came a sweet voice from the other side, "Its A-901, on the topmost floor. The security will help you up, its just two buildings. The girl you will be sharing the room with must be there already, she just shifted a few days ago. You can be friends with her. Ill be reaching there tomorrow. "
Charvi thanked her as she kept her phone away and the security began to help her on her way up.
Everyone and everything around seemed so nice. Lush green gardens surrounded the building she would reside in, and the surroundings were calm and serene with tall trees and beautiful flowers grown on them. Even though she was not sure as to whether to make this particular house her abode in the city fir the next few years, she would definitely enjoy her time here and make some friends.
Friends. Her mind went back to the girl her house owner had mentioned of. Charvi had deliberately chosen of a shared rent, it would make her feel less alone in the big city. But she felt a little worried too, as to how her flatmate would be. It was weird of her not to take any details before, she thought. Would she be nice, or would she turn out to be a ... psycho? He experiences at the Mental Hospital were not so pleasant to say the least :P
"Chahhiye tha na zindagi mein suspense, ab le!" she murmured to herself.
Char found herself in the lift with the guard and suitcases. The 9th and topmost was quite high, to say the least. But it was pleasant, and cool wind gushed in as the lift doors opened up to the 9th floor, and soon she stood in front of a wooden door.
"A-901" Read the doorplate.
"Here Madam, this one," the guard said placing her things at the doorstep. "Only you and Ms. S on this floor."
"Ms. S" asked Charvi curiously.
"Her surname, I dont remember."
"Oh," Charvi said as she thanked him and calmed her breath . So that meant her roommate was a Ms. S?
Sharma? Subramaniam? Srivastav?
God knows.
Taking in a deep breath and preparing herself from the worst (Oh cmon Char why :P ), she pressed the doorbell.
"Coming!" Came a resounding voice fo the young girl from inside.
Char gulped. Her tired figure with the array of suitcases would maybe not give a very good first impression, but what she did not know was that HER smile was requisite enough for the same.
As the girls footsteps came running to open the door, Char looked down and thought as to how she would introduce herself.
Charvi? Ms. Charvi? Or...
"YOU?!!!!!"
Charvi shot up from her downward glance, having not realised that the door before had opened long ago, and the girl standing in front of her looking at her with eyes Popped open wide, As if she had seen a ghost behind her.
But soon enough, Charvis jaw dropped lower than that of the girls standing in front of her. It took her a minute to process who has standing in front of her. The image she had seen on A WhatsApp contact earlier in the morning came rushing to her eyes. Being a psychology student, it is safe to say, her mind "trolled" her.
"S...Sau?" She said again as the bag she held fell from her hand.
The girl standing on the other side gasped in pleasant shock as tears and giggles came rushing to her all at once. She ran over a suitcase in her floppy pyjamas and hugged Char tightly .
"Oh my Govind, am I still dreaming!? Sau, please tell me its not a dream!!! Youre finally here!"
Chars arms flung around her automatically as she felt her heart going wild.
"Sau its me Char! Your Sau! Partner!!!"
"Char!"
"My dear MILU!!!!!"
The two girls couldnt help but thank god for what was happening in that fleeting moment. All that sadnesss that Char had being carrying with her earlier in the day was erased and happiness multiplied. But, there was a lot more in store.
Milu broke away as she looked at Char and pulled her cheek.
"LOOK AT YOU! With those dimples you look better than the picture Aunty sent me!"
"Its a very old picture, I dont have any recent ones," Char replied laughing. She stopped for a moment as she asked,
"Wait, so you knew I was coming?!!!!"
Milu joined in her giggles.
"Ofocurse I did. But I wanted to keep it a surprise, after all, its your birthday! Come in, We have lots to talk now, Sau the flatmate!!"
"OH my, YES!!!"
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Settling themselves on the couch post heavy moving around, Char couldnt help but jump onto her Sau for another bear hug.
"Oh my God, could never have guessed it was you?!"
"Aww," Milu said hugging her back. "I came to know the day you had confirmed your way here. When Aunty sent me your picture, I was shocked, cause its very weird that of all places on planet earth and specially In Bangalore, you'd end up being my flatmate!"
"Guess out story of similar interests continues !!"
"Oh my, yes! But what brings YOU here? Ive come for Post Grad, like you may know. "
"And I my dear, for my MBA," Milu replied.
"Wow! Thats insane! And what about your theatre?"
"Well, lets just say Im more than an actress now. Im directing a play!!"
"SAUUU!!" Char yelled again. Finding joy in others victories was something she was very good at.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang again. Milu looked at the clock and hit her head as she chuckled.
"I totally forgot," she whispered under her breath.
"What Sau?"
Milu made her sit with her eyes closed as she said,
"Lets just say that, this one of my ways to make your birthday special!"
Before Char could say anything, Milu sped off to open the door.
Char could hear a faint few giggles but kept her eyes tightly shut being the good girl she was.
"Open now!" Milu said as Chars eyes met with two of the prettiest women she had seen in her life.
Her very own Bhabhi and Shree Di!!!!
It did not even take Char to make out who they were, for their smiles could not be mistaken by anyone.
"YOU guys!!" Char said as she ran into both of them.
The two women hugged her back rightly like two protective elder sisters.
"Look at you Lil one! Oh my God, youre so cute!!"
"Oh my God, and so pretty too! A post grad, huh?"
Charvi broke away as the four of them came and sat next to each other on the couch.
"First tell me, how did you get all the luggage up? Did you get hurt?" Her Shree Di asked, just like she would.
"Oh my no!" Char replied smiling through her happy tears. "I had help. But GUYSSS" She exclaimed.
"WHAT?! All of them replied.
"How did you all even plan this?! And did I not know about all this?!"
"Well," Milu replied laughing, "We all Also Do use Phones Sau."
"And we can WhatsApp groups too," smirked Milu's Bhajii. "Seriously, It was only when you told us suddenly you would be coming to Bangalore for your Post Grad today that we planned this. Both me and your Vadaa Di managed to make time out, and thats a big feat you know! And oh!"
"What?" Char asked.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" She and Vadaa Di exclaimed together.
The smiles on her face were evident to thank them as they huddled in for hug.
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Tbc...
Cricket
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Hindi TV Shows
