Tilted Windows

The elevator stopped at level 7. Three pairs of feet marched out.

"Which one is yours? We're in 712."

"711."

We're neighbours, then. This is brilliant. Do you have family coming or will you be alone?"

"I'll stay alone. I came down for work."

"Great. See you around, then."

The entered their respective apartments.

Ash's apartment was fully furnished and therefore he just had to settle his luggage. More were to arrive soon, shipment has been delayed by a week. He got freshened up and then took a power nap. It was time to get ready. He chose a navy blue casual shirt, a pair of black pants and a pair of shades. He downloaded the apps Max had told him about and booked a cab. It was a prime location so getting a cab just took less than five minutes. He reached the destination which was just a five minutes away in 20 minutes, though. The traffic was a bit congested and also, the hour was such too.

On entering the restaurant, he scanned for Max and found him sitting in a well-lit corner, perusing a magazine. Ash's face changed. He rarely smiled, so the expression could pass for a smile. He suavely settled down on the seat opposite Max.

"Hey....!" Max's face brightened up radically. He got up and reached out to hug Ash. The feeling was incredible. Max was the closest thing to a family Ash has. Deb was a close friend too, but Max was home. He felt incredibly comfortable.

"I'm so glad that you're here, Ashkins. I missed you and Debzy so much. Ah. This is heaven now." Although it'd sound like exaggeration, Max really meant what he said. Max was in love with his best friends. He was the kind of person who'd date according to his friends' views, even dress to their liking. He was a people-pleaser, but with his own set of ethics. Max wanted Ash over primarily because he wanted his friends to meet his fiancé. They got engaged in a hurry and his friends were unhappy with the pace at which the relationship progressed. They had dated for merely two months, but Max knew that this was it, his true love. Deb was sceptical but Ash encouraged him enough, although he agreed that Deb's scepticism wasn't misplaced.

They ordered a three course meal with red wine to go with it. Max filled him in with details about the office and also, the city. Ash liked the sound of it. Once they finished dinner, they left the restaurant side and entered the club. The music was like anywhere else in the world. Some things unite us, even when we're so divided, Ash thought. They spent a couple of hours dancing and drinking. Max got a call from his partner around midnight and that's when they both left. Because of his earlier experience, Ash decided to walk back home. He now knew the location well too. He was always quick with geography.

On entering his floor, he could still feel the wine in his veins. It was a good feeling. Although beer was his feel good companion, wine suited him just as well. He had a matured tongue for wine tasting, after all. He punched in the security pin and it clicked open. It was then he started hearing screams from the nearby apartment.

"Sunil, don't do this. Avni will wake up. Please be quiet."

"What quiet. B*tch, tell me who the real father is. I know she's not my kid."

"Have you gone mad? We were together every day, until we had her, you moron. How can she have another father, other than you. You're not sane, Sunil. Let's go to a psychiatrist tomorrow, please? Please, jaan?"

"You want to make me a madman and elope with your lover, don't you? You said you went abroad for Avni's treatment, but you went there to meet him, right? That fag*ot who's fu*king you?"

"Sunil!"

Ash heard a slapping noise. He quickly entered the house and closed the door.