Love Me...Once Again

Chapter 7

''Our cook is on leave.'' Lakshay groaned irritated. The monsoon had drowned the city and the rains hadn't stopped in two days. Their manager had a cooked assigned but he too expressed his inability to commute in such weather. Restaurants , home delivery were closed with internet and wireline services effected. The authorities has asked people to stay indoors till the situation improved.

Naman smiled, he looked at Arun and the latter nodded. ''We all can cook.''

''Sorry, Last time I tried, there was fire alarm in the complex.'' Varun added

''Naman cooks pathetic and all I know is maggi which we missed adding to the grocery list. Lakshay, do you know how to cook?''

''Yes, I have been cooking for all for years!'' He taunted. When hungry, Lakshay personality took a total U turn.

''IDEA!'' Naman exclaimed as if it was a new discovery, all three had been praying about one chance to bring Nirali and Lakshay together and today was that chance.

Naman leaped off the sofa running out of the apartment. He smiled and then pressed the door bell. Nirali answered, ''Yes.''

''Do you have anything to eat. Our cook is off and none of us can cook.''

''You could have asked the other neighbor.''

''There are just 4 apartments on the floor, we occupy 2 , you guys 1 and the last one has an old couple. You know why I knocked here.'' Naman reasoned

Nirali thought, what mattered was that Lakshay was hungry. ''Only one day.'' She warned. Naman bobbed his head up and down. ''Wait Nirali.'' That came from Amisha, her eyes scanning the neighbor

''Get you dishes, we won't give ours.''

''We will return.'' Naman reasoned

''I have no doubt but why should we do the cooking and cleaning. If we give you food, you do dishes for us.'' Nirali's eyes went wide while Naman's jaw was touching the floor. He huffed, ''fine.''

''Do you know who they are? They are celebrities.'' Nirali whispered.

''In their house. Look girl, our maid is off too and will be off for this week. We need help. 4 pair of hands can do dishes faster than 2.'' Nirali wanted to smile, the thing Lakshay hated the most was doing the dishes. He just hated it.

After about and hour, Naman requested them to join for lunch. Amisha agreed because Nirali was dying to meet new neighbors. Amisha scanned the house. ''Show off.''

''Who asked you not to.'' That came from Naman. She narrowed her eyes but decided to stay quiet. The room suddenly felt dense. Nirali stood in a corner waiting for Lakshay to acknowledge while he didn't know if they could go back to normal as in his mind, she had moved on. Varun had been noticing all for long. He wanted to stay away from Nirali but for his friend .

''Long time no see Nirali. How are you?'' With that he hugged her; aware of the outburst. Nirali took a minute to over come the shock and then pushed him hard. ''Don't touch me. I am no one to you.''

''Nirali!'' Lakshay's voice came in to interrupt the outbursts. When their eyes met, he gestured her to calm down and she did. Naman and Arun could only swallow the dryness. Only if Nirali knew that Varun had been punished enough for his childish mistake

''Wait! You guys know each other?'' Amisha asked. She has seen the way Lakshay and Nirali exchanged looks. Moreover, she had noticed the change in Nirali and her behavior for a week now.

Three replies came at once

''We went to same school" Nirali replied. ''We are friends.'' That came from Varun. While Lakshay shocked all. ''We are acquaintances.''