It Happened In Florida

|Day One|

"Sometimes what you're looking for comes when you are not looking at all"

*Tejasswi*

Is morningmare a thing? Because Tejasswi is having one right now. A horrible one.

When did her life become a rom-com? First, you catch your ex-boyfriend cheating on you in the most dramatic setting. Then you run into him at your best friend's wedding. Then to make him jealous you get into a fake dating arrangement. And now you are stuck living with the pretend boyfriend for 14 days. It's like the universe was not able to figure out which trope to follow.

There has to be a way out of this. She cannot stay locked in a hotel room with Karan Kundrra for 14 days. How will this even work? Apart from the clothes she was wearing right now, she had one chocolate-stained hoodie in her bag, one lehenga and one saree that her stylist had sourced from an Indian designer here in the states and had to be returned in three working days.

One room. One bathroom. ONE BED.

She is going to kill Arshita the next time she sees her.

"Tejasswi" she felt Karan nudge her with a slightly panicked look on his face.

"Are you all right? You look a little pale right now are developing a fever? Should we ask them to call the doctor?"

"No, no I'm alright. Just a little shaken by this news. Our staying together in one room for fourteen days is kind of insane right? I mean it's one thing to share it overnight for two days, we barely even used the room, but this is insane. Right? Insane!"

"Insane" he whispered out slowly, only then did Teja realise that she sounded a little rude.

"Ok, it came out all wrong. But just think, how will it even work? There are a ton of issues. Like I don't have enough clothes for two weeks and judging by the size of your bag neither do you."

"Actually I do, remember my nephew was coming to pick me up? Well we planned to go on a road trip from here, so I asked him to bring my clothes from home. While you were um- thinking, I was texting with him and informed him what happened, I've asked him to drop them off at the front desk. They'll deliver it to the room shortly. You can borrow my clothes if you want" He said shrugging.

Ok, that's not what she expected. But that was not it there were other problems too.

"I am sure you noticed I'm not the most organised person and clearly, you are an OCD master. Don't even try to deny it, you've been cleaning and organising my stuff oh not so slyly ever since you came and don't think I didn't notice those wet socks hung out to dry by the washbasin this morning. You washed my socks while I was sleeping didn't you?"

"Guilty," He said sheepily. "But that's not such a big issue, I like to clean. It's therapeutic"

"And the bed, you cannot sleep on the couch for two whole weeks. You've been straightening your back all morning it's sore, isn't it? The couch is too small. You are so big you won't fit into it."

"That's what she said-

Tejasswi just stood there her mouth agape wondering how on earth Karan can joke around in this situation. Does he have a solution to everything? If she didn't know any better it would seem like Karan actually was looking forward to whatever this is.

"Is this a joke to you?"

"Ok look, it's happened now and it can't change. There is no way out of it. So let's just as well make peace with it. This is not India. My sister and brother-in-law both are doctors here and I know for a fact that the officials are very strict about adhering to these rules. They make random visits to check if they are being followed or not. Let me call reception and figure out details like food, laundry and bills. Meanwhile, you should call back home and inform them you'll be staying for two more weeks. Cancel your flight tickets, and see if they are still eligible for a refund. Let's take this one day at a time"

"Are your parents fine? Are they still here?"

"No, they left already. Early in the morning before all this happened. Thankfully they both are double vaccinated and have no symptoms currently. They'll quarantine at their friend's farmhouse"

"At least someone will have fun."

"Are you saying I'm not fun? You keep hurting me laddoo" he said playfully keeping a hand on his chest and pretending to be in pain. Such a drama queen.

"What fun activities can we possibly do locked up in a hotel room?"

"Aww, you never had fun in a hotel room before? That ex-boyfriend of yours did have some creepily small hands. You can have fun with me laddoo." He winked. He fucking winked.

Tejasswi was visibly worked up, muttering unintelligibly in Marathi while Karan just stood there laughing at Teja cutely stomping her feet.

"Stop calling me laddoo, there is no need to pretend now. We can let go of these nicknames"

"Oh but no offence you do look like a laddoo, laddoo. I can see the chocolate puddings you ate yesterday on your cheeks."

"Do I have to get used to this shit? You teasing me all the time??"

"Yes."

Karan though didn't know any more Marathi than the automated voice message that played while making calls but could figure out by the end of the conversation that Aaichagaawat was not so a nice word which Teja kept grumbling at him.

Tejasswi just sighed and got up to call up her Aai and informed her about the situation. It took 30 minutes of constant assurances to her mother that she is fine and several promises like she'll take care of herself, she'll eat on time, she'll take steam, to finally calm her mother. Her mother even asked to enquire if the hotel provided kaadha. Even though Tejasswi mentally facepalmed at all the extra unnecessary worry and overprotectiveness she was very grateful for her family. She tried to put up a brave front for them, but she knew they could see right through it. She often felt guilty about how much her mother and her brother worried for her. Especially in the last year. Those pitiful looks, constantly trying to get her to go out apart from work, cracking lame jokes to make her laugh, inviting friends and relatives home in hope of her to socialise more. She hopes she gets better at convincing them that she's okay.

She plugged in her phone and then looked at Karan again. He was ordering lunch for them.

"Chicken soup okay for you?"

"Make it sweet corn, I am vegetarian on Tuesdays"

"Oh shoot, it's a Tuesday? I am veg on Tuesdays too. And Thursdays. I keep forgetting."

He placed the order "So they'll be providing room service 24/7, they are sending up my clothes, laundry service is open. Also, they want us to do a rapid antigen test ourselves to see if they need to isolate any of us. They are saying that the hosts, your friend and her husband have asked the hotel to charge their cards but I don't think that's fair considering how I was a last-minute guest and all. So I'll pick up the tab. Just be comfortable."

"We'll split."

"No nee-

And one look from Tejasswi shut Karan up.

"Ok, we'll figure that out when the time comes. For now, let's just settle in comfortably. And listen, I know this is not what we had planned but that's how life is. Unexpected. Let's just try to make the best out of it. Have some fun, enjoy the time off, and maybe it will be a great story to tell one day. Just remember one day at a time."

One day at a time.

A/N: Sorry to all my readers for keeping you waiting. I was just caught up with life. Thank you for all the love in the previous chapters. And also Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to you all. How cute was that story and post today.

I'll come back with the next chapter soon till then Happy Reading.

Song suggestion- @manya_978