Let's Fall Together

5. New home, same me

"Finally. " I voiced out my thoughts as my eyes took in the place that will supposedly be my home for the next month at the very least.

The place screamed 'big bucks'. Mumbai was famous for it's skyscrapers and this one could possibly put shame to the word. I had lost count of it's floors after 40th floor, since my neck cried in agony.

Massaging my neck for a little, I began surveying my surroundings. Everything seemed too classy for my middle class self. Even the freaking garden was close to what I had only seen in movies. My bollywood-crazy side was loving it here, while my over-rational side was calculating the expenses to have even a one BHK flat here.

Would probably cost me my kidney.

The idea of living here was thrilling but the idea of living here for free, not so much thrilling. I hate myself for having such a guilt-ridden personality that excepting a favour from someone was extremely difficult for me.

I can't even ask some to click my pictures if I'm not gonna click their pictures in return.

See, pathetic.

The people I'm going to live with, though very close to my mumma, are practically strangers to me. Vaidehi aunty is my mumma's bestfriend, but they have been living away from each other for more than a decade now. I don't think they even recall the last time they met. It's history now.

What amazes me more is the fact they still remained such good friends despite the distance. I doubted I'd have such kind of a friendship in my entire lifetime. I hope this is the story of me and Vedika and that the distance doesn't weaken our bond. I hope.

Entering the elevator, I press the button that read '53'. Yeah, I'm practically going to live above the clouds. Amazing.

I wonder what would happen if suddenly, someday, the elevator stops working. These people will probably lose all their weight by just leaving their houses. The horror of walking down that many stairs makes me consider jumping out of the window. That'd be a more convenient option.

As the elevator stops, I walk out of it, my heels clicking against the marble floor. The sound is empowering. It helps bring my confidence back.

I can do it.

Standing in front of the door, eyeing the doorbell but lacking the guts to press it, I reconsider my decision of coming here.

Is that job really important? I was doing pretty well in my previous job, maybe I took the wrong decision. Maybe I should go back-

Instead I asked my anxiety to go back.

Taking two deep breaths, I pressed the doorbell before my anxiety kicked in again.

It's done. I'm fine.

I heard a clicking sound from the other side before the door pushed open. Vaidehi aunty, wearing a dark-green printed salwar-suit, was smiling down at me like I smiled at panipuri.

Even the thought of panipuri made me smile wide. Vaidehi aunty thought that smile was for her and pulled me into a hug. I awkwardly stayed in the hug, not knowing exactly what one did in situations like these.

Should I pat her back? Or should I-

My dilemma ended as she decided to break the hug but added more to my misery when she pinched my cheeks. Why do all aunties do that? Indian aunties and their obsession with pinching cheeks.

I smiled though there was nothing to smile for. I took the time to see her. I don't remember her much from my childhood, but I could tell she hadn't changed much in these years. She had the same smile, the same eyes with just a little wrinkles around it. The only thing that opposed her image from my childhood was her bob-cut hair, with front bangs. She seemed to be going out somewhere, with her sunglasses above her head and a bag on her shoulders. Maybe she was going out.