ROOMATES

"You lied…."

"Whattt?" he said with a confused look

"You lied" I repeated

"Lied…. Lied about what?" he said having no clue what was I blabbing about.

"You are not staying at your friend's place. You are staying in your car" I didn't even say it as a question

He did not speak for some minutes. I could see terror on his face.

"Yes" he said with an embarrassed tone. "I really don't have much option you know. I still had no luck in finding an apartment and I don't have enough money to spend on a hotel room. I am trying to save money for the rent's down payment"

Now I was the silent one. GOD why do I have to be so verbal about everything…

"sorry…. I didn't…"

"no… you don't need to be sorry"

Can this guy be any more nicer?

Rest of our journey just went by in silence.

I really enjoyed that night. We ordered some Chinese and Italian starters, Indian main course and had hot chocolate brownie for dessert. It was perfecttt… Everyone else had some beers except krutik and me because I don't drink… Yeah you heard it right… I don't drink and krutik had to drive soo…. one Responsible citizen he is…. Mary was the one who did most of the speaking part... you can never be bored around that girl. Krutik and Aman had their jokes coming in between and Dhruv being Dhruv did not speak a word. Well I was happy at least he laughed at the jokes. We left around 10.30 from the restaurant. Krutik accompanied me while I was paying the bill. He also offered to pay. What a gentleman. He didn't force much as he wanted to respect me as his senior. While we were on our way out I don't know where I got this thought and I said it out loud without even realizing

"You can stay with me till you find an apartment"

"Rhea?" he said confused and shocked. Well honestly I was more shocked than he was. Have I gone insane? But then I somewhere meant it when I said that. I know he was a good guy and he would sure not rape or rob me and run away. I have always been a good judge for people's character. That's what I would like to believe at least.

"I have 2 bedrooms, and you can pay for that room I am not telling you to stay for free… yeah I don't have a bed there but you can sleep on the sofa for the meantime and then we can buy the bed later" I was just blabbing all this and he was just watching me in shock. His face looked like I was about to kidnap him.

We reached to the parking area where others were waiting and he hasn't said anything till that time. We bid each other Goodbye and when I was about to leave I hear a voice

"Let me drop you to your apartment Ms Dwani, it's on my way anyways" I looked at others and then him and nodded my head and sat in the car.

He drove out. I didn't know what to say

I couldn't take it anymore – "It's okay if you don't …"

"no I would really appreciate that… More than you know. But I want you to think it through, that….will you be comfortable living with a stranger… especially a man?"

"Why? Are you are serial killer?" I asked narrowing my eyes

"What? No… of course not" he said taken aback by question

"Rapist?"

"Huh?"

"Thief? Psychopathy? Terrorist?"

"No… I am a very simple middle class man who works in your team" He said losing his patience

"Seee, and about the man thing don't worry. I have lived with some stranger men all my life" I said with a sad smirk

"What?" he said

"Nothing important. Forget that I said that" I said bringing back my smile.

"Are you really sure?" He said asking me again

"Yesssss Krutik" I said frustrated

"Thank You so much" he said with a grateful smile.

I gave him my address and the rest of the journey went by in silence

Well when I said I have lived with men, they weren't my boyfriends. Well to be specific I never really had one. They were my grandpa, dad, uncle and cousins. Living with them was same like living with strangers. I belong to a very conservative family where I couldn't talk much freely to the men even women in my house. We always talked only if I had some work never talked about feelings. Well I didn't have any extreme restriction though. Like I was allowed to dress however (only if fully covered), go out with my friends (occasionally), study and follow my passion (if it was related to studies). As I told you they weren't bad but not the kind of people you would want to live with. I never really saw how love within family felt like. I did understand responsibilities but not empathy towards each other. It's like my family is not emotionally invested in each other and that's how I turned out as well. I went through too much during my life that at times I felt I was too strong to be a girl, and living with two brothers was just an addition to those things.

We reached my apartment and I gave him a glass of water as he sat on my sofa and he tanked me for I don't even know I have lost the count till now

Then again I suddenly realized something and of course like every time I said it out loud -