Finding Love in the City

53. An ideal Sunday

Sundays were always the worst for Aditya. He didn't need to go to work, and even if he willingly remained online throughout the day or went to the office, his boss and colleagues asked him to relax and unwind for at least one day in the week. However, only he knew how lonely he felt cooped up in his own house, suffocated immensely because of the guilt and the despondency pressing him down from all sides. At least the culpability had lessened to a great extent because Piyali had shown her willingness to forgive him. But the melancholy refused to go away. They had all the time in the world, the chance knocking at their doorstep, but the idiotic girl he had fallen in love with was too stubborn for his taste. Hence, he had to drown in his pool of miseries, and what helped him was a six-pack of beers and a packet of cigarettes for lunch.

With his legs propped on the center table of the living room, ankles crossed, a can of beer in one hand and a half-burnt cigarette stick in the other, he let out a ring of smoke, watching it mingle with the surrounding air. He rarely had visitors apart from Abhi, and even that man was busy with his lady love, having reconciled with Shruti. Hence, he didn't feel the need to clean up or tidy the place like his sister used to when she was there.

He trudged up to the fridge well past 6 pm, peeking his head inside to see if there were some leftovers from the bunch of dishes Soumya had cooked one day before leaving and stacked in the freezer. However, except for the brown rice in one bowl and lettuce rolling around the vegetable rack, dried to the point of no return, nothing else was in sight. The carton of milk in the door was also half empty, and he gagged at the thought of drinking it.

Shutting the door with a bang, he went back to the sofa, hoping to collapse on it and continue with his drinking session when the doorbell rang. He groaned at the intrusion. Anyone apart from Abhi was not welcome into his house, and he knew Abhi had a lunch date planned.

Dragging his feet to the door, he swung it open, a frown etched on his face, an expression of disgust for his guest ready to trickle down. But then his gaze fell on the lady standing before him, and his eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

Nandini bit her lips, evading meeting his angry gaze. "I needed to talk to you."

He huffed, rolling his eyes. "I don't think we have anything left to talk about. You are right. We hurt them, so it's only fitting that we continue hurting ourselves for the rest of our lives. You may please leave."

His words left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth, but she couldn't care less at that point. Pushing him inside, she shut the door behind her, languidly twirling at her spot to take a good look at the place. It was as messy as it could get with his clothes lying on the couch, at the dining table, in the kitchen, and empty beer cans rolling on the floor. The TV was tilted on the wall of the living room, and she grimaced at the thick layer of dust that had accumulated on every piece of furniture. Shoes were strewn on each step of the staircase, haphazardly lying around while towels were draped over the chairs of the six-seater dining table. The kitchen sink was in the worst condition with used utensils lying unwashed and gathering the attention of cockroaches and insects while the countertops had half-open boxes of what looked like stale and unfinished takeout.

"Oh, God! What is this mess?" She scrunched her nose when she watched a small cockroach scurry away from her on the floor. "Who lives like this?"

He groaned, raking his hand through his hair. "If you don't like it, leave already. I didn't invite you here."

She pursed her lips. "I forgot how pesky you can be." Glancing around once again, she blinked a few times to get rid of the blurriness caused by the moistening of her eyes. It was so familiar yet some agonizing memories were also associated with the place. Especially with the open balcony where everything had ended.