LIES

38. CONTROL!

DAY-1

Neil's room

"What's up with this now? Why make new rules all of a sudden ?" Said Neil with irritation
"Nothing is all of the sudden I told you about this yesterday," said aarohi, looking at him
"When did it happen? You said nothing about checking my bags before putting them in the cupboard," said Neil
"You think it's a security check where I am checking your bags so that you can't carry a bomb inside," said aarohi with sarcasm
"So then why are we checking my bags?" asked Neil curiously
"Because I wanted to make sure you didn't come here with ulterior motives," said aarohi in a normal voice
"What ulterior motives ?" Asked Neil while folding his hands
"Like you just come here for this apartment not to, you know, with the idea, of having sex," said aarohi a little nervously
"Haaww, what did you think of me chipkali?, me and sex, what are you talking about, I get your message loud and clear yesterday, now move I have to unpack now," said Neil dramatically before grabbing his bag
"No you stop chamgadar, you can lie all you want, but I know that wouldn't be it, I need to check your bags, for condoms and stuff, so that you don't get any other ideas, is that Clear," said aarohi while glaring at him
"listen to me aarohi, maybe you can do that some other time, right now we need to do a lot of work, so drop this now, and let's get to the work, you already came late," said Neil sweetly
"Awww this sweetly, that doesn't sound fishy at all, " said aarohi mockingly
"What are you talking about? I always talk to you sweetly. That's your problem that you never noticed it before," said Neil defensively
" Quit the drama and move aside," said aarohi while taking the bag from his hands
Neil is now standing near hiding himself behind the balcony door
"you come here, sit beside me and grab your other bag, and your wallet too," said aarohi while sitting on the floor and tapping it to show him where he has to sit, opposite her, she placed the bag between them. Neil gets the other bag and his wallet reluctantly. He is not afraid of her. Just the tone of hers is intimidating him, so he sat exactly where she told him to, opposite her.

"So let's start with this bag, " said aarohi while taking the bag. Neil just got
After checking it thoroughly, she checked the medicine box he got, opened it, and started reading the name and salt on it.
"Are you having a cold and fever? " asked aarohi, genuinely worrying about him.
"No, not yet," said Neil normally
"Then why so many medicines of just that only," asked aarohi curiously
"Well I come prepared, in case we have it or you get sick, I don't want you to suffer because I didn't get it, " said Neil, looking into her eyes
Aarohi just nodded to that, a little stunted that how much he thought about her and how little for himself
" I thought you were looking for something else. Why peak into my medicine box, " said Neil
"Yeah, but I also said other stuff too, like you know viagra and other stimulation stuff, " said aarohi with a teasing smile
" chi yaar aarohi, you think this low of me, out of all I didn't expect you to judge me, " said Neil dramatically, while putting a hand on his chest and acting like having a heart attack
"Would you quit this drama and explain to me why you have these sleeping pills and nicotine patch with you? "asked aarohi sincerely with a concerned expression on her face
" that my therapist suggested to me, for nightmares and nicotine patches are bro given me if I want to quit, "said Neil seriously
"You are seeing a therapist, since when "
"It's been a long, not very long though Said Neil with a sigh
"does it help you, so far" aarohi genuinely wanted to know if it was only her who wasn't that helpful or if someone else also had the same opinion as hers
"not very, but I can't dismiss the result of it," said Neil, lying because he doesn't want to discourage her

" You know I am also seeing a therapist," said aarohi while closing his box
"Yeah, I know," said Neil while looking at her
after aarohi put the box away, there's been a silence that falls between them, so to make it go, Neil speak
"Does it help you, being in therapy," asked Neil
"No, not the way everyone thought it will, but again, I am too messed up to feel any changes this early, let's see," said aarohi with a sad smile
"Did you tell that, to anyone else, "asked Neil with concern in the voice
"Not yet, but maybe soon," said aarohi, dismissing the sadness from her face
to which Neil only nodded
"Now your other bag turn, pretty heavy, isn't it," aarohi said teasingly
"Ok, fine, I get some condom, just as a precaution, do not make a big deal about it, na, let it be," said Neil while taking the bag away from her
"This almost worked on me, but you getting this bag is given away, now sit back here," said aarohi while grabbing his bag
"Fine, but after this, we will be checking yours," said Neil with a scoff
" And what do you suppose to find out in there?" asked aarohi while opening his bag
"I don't know and don't care, but I want to do that," said Neil with a pout
"Fine chamgadar, you can do that no one is stopping you," said aarohi cockingly
"but let's see what you got here," said aarohi taking out a large brown paper bag from his bag
"aarohi can you not touch it, it's personal things there," said Neil trying to take the bag away from her
" Unless you got some tampons I am returning this personal thing of you," said aarohi with a gleeful smile
"Why would I have tampons now?" asked Neil curiously
"That's why I asked you to drop this protest of yours, you half-brain chamgadar " saying this aarohi just drop the contents of the bag on the floor