Roommate (ASHAANGI)

Six

"Pretend to be my girlfriend. Come to my hometown for a week. My parents don't want me to come home without a future spouse. This makes us even" He blurts out. Saesha's eyes widen. Shaking her head, she looks at Akshay who was already staring at her. Her eyes get blurry and her eyelids get heavy. Before she could respond, her eyes shut and darkness welcomes her.

"What in the..." Akshay watches her leaning against the table. Before her head could hit the hard surface, he immediately places his warm hand on the table and her head drops at his palm.

"Saesha" he narrows his eyes and takes a good look at her face.

"What are you doing? Wake up" He says, keeping his voice low.

He quickly pats her cheeks gently and studies her breath. Her breaths are steady and slow.

"Saesha, please wake up" his thumb desperately caresses her cheek.

"What the fuck are you doing to her?" A voice startles Akshay and he looks at the owner of the voice.

"What?" Akshay frowns and looks at the guy, who looked who was in his twenties.

"Who the fuck are you and why are you touching her?" the guy flares and Akshay tilts his head to look at the guy properly.

The guy walks towards their booth and looks at Saesha, his features softening.

"Who are you?" Akshay looks at the guy confused.

"Who are you?" the guy asks, his eyes fuming in anger.

"Akshay" he replies and the guy's eyes turn from anger to apologetic.

"Uhh.. Akshay? As in her new roommate?" Akshay pinches his eyebrows together in confusion

"Uh.. Sorry, I'm her friend. Satya" Satya sticks out his hand but Akshay spares him no attention and turns towards Saesha.

"Oh"

"What?"

"She lost her consciousness due to stress. This happens very often. But why was she stressed though? Did that prick do anything to her?" Satya's blood boils in anger and Akshay shakes his head, folds of guilt washing over him.

"I'll take her home," Akshay says before Satya could say anything.

"I can take her though, if you want" Satya shrugs. Akshay slowly snakes his arms around her waist, carrying bridal style to his car.

----------

"She should be awake by now. Why is she still unconscious?" Parvathi sniffles, sitting beside Saesha's unconscious body.

"She will be awake. Stop crying" Akshay hisses at his sister and watches Saesha slowly opening her eyes.

"Oh my God Saesha, you're awake. I thought you died. Oh god" Parvathi attacks Saesha with her hugs, almost knocking out Saesha.

"Let her breathe, she just woke up"

"I thought I lost her" Parvathi's hysterical cries gets louder and Saesha looks at the siblings, confusion etched in her features.

"You're overreacting" Akshay deadpans. Irritation crosses Parvathi's features and she lunges towards him

"Well, not everyone is a robot like you" Parvathi snaps.

"I'm not a robot"

"you're"

"no"

"Yes"

"pisasu" he mumbles and Parvati violently hits him.

Saesha's eyes flutter open and close. Pushing his sister off him, he walks towards Saesha and kneels down in front of her.

"Are you feeling okay?" He asks and she nods in response.

"Move" Parvathi shoves her brother and hugs saesha tightly.

"Please don't scare me again" Parvathi cries. A laugh escapes from Saesha's lips, calming everyone's nerves.

"What made you stress this time?" Parvathi sits at the end of the couch Saesha is lying on, and takes her feet, gently massaging them.

"Umm..." Saesha's eyes finds Akshay's.

"Don't question her now. Let's have dinner" Akshay says slowly, locking his gaze with Saesha.

"You're right. I'll pester you later"

----------

"We're dating." Akshay blurts out, not meeting anyone's eyes. The sound of a spoon dropping on the plate echoes through the room, lifting Akshay's attention.

"Who?" Parvathi asks, taking a deep breath.

"Me and saesha" He lies smoothly and Saesha's eyes widen in response. Stretching her leg under the table, she stomps on Akshay's foot. He looks up at her and shakes his head, before linking his left leg with hers to stop her from her painful stomps. She struggles under his hold but stops eventually to realize Parvathi is unpleasantly silent.  She looks up at her bestfriend to see her absently looking at the plate.

"Parvathi?" She gently shakes her friend's shoulder.

"But you guys have known each other for only 2 weeks?" Parvathi questions and looks at her brother for an explanation. Before Saesha could tell her friend it's a lie, Akshay tightens his hold on her leg from saying anything and meets his sister's eyes.

"Love at first sight" The words leave his mouth involuntarily before he could think twice. Instant regrets washes over him and he looks at Saesha, to make sure she is not going to lose her consciousness again.

'What the fuck' Saesha mouths the words

"What is happening? You being in love? Joke of the century" Parvathi laughs under her breath sarcastically and his jaw flexes.

"Parvathi-" Saesha starts but Parvathi holds up her hand and signals her to stop

"You didn't even tell me" Parvathi mutters under her breath.

"I'm sorry but-"

"Please don't talk to me now. I just... I want to process everything" Parvathi shakes her head and stands up abruptly, leaving the kitchen.

"What the hell?" Saesha throws up her hands in frustration and looks at Akshay for an explanation. He removes his leg from hers and looks elsewhere.

"What do you think you're doing? Why did you lie to her? What the hell is wrong with you? How could you tell her without asking me?" She bombards him with her questions

"Calm down," He says, noticing her shallow breath, and walks to her side.

"How can I calm down?" She slowly drops her head against the table but her forehead comes in contact with a warm hand. She looks up at the hand and drops her head again.

"How can I calm down?" she quietly whispers, almost to herself. Sighing he sits beside her chair, his hand still on the table holding her head.

"As I said, we are going to our hometown just for a week. Pretend to be my girlfriend. My mom.. Well, she will believe us. After a month or two I'll tell her it didn't work out. And she wouldn't force me to marry for the next 3 years as I'll be still heartbroken" He explains in a whisper, afraid his sister might overhear their conversation.

"Mine was one day thing... And yours..." She shakes her head against his hand.

"Fine. I'll do it" She whispers and a grin threatens to break out on his face.

"You owe me a bucket of ice cream, daldamandaya" She mumbles, amusing him with her choice of nicknames.