Neighbour Next Door

21) Dreams

It felt new, a foreign feeling in all the hearts today. Mallika had woken up in the balcony of her neighbor and she couldn't help but feel a bit of ease in her heart. She had a blanket wrapped around her and a pillow under her head. 

She felt safe. 

Unwrapping the blanket she stood up, stretching her arms and stepping inside his room. He was not there. On the table stood a mug and a plate covered with another one. And a note. She picked it up and read 'Good Morning Sleeping Beauty, here's coffee and omelette for you, I'm leaving for college, take care of yourself and call Ruhi' the note said. 

She left the room and knocked on her apartment where her mom opened the door. Mallika ignored and walked inside straight to her washroom, brushing up their teeth. She ignored the loud knocks her mother made. She had no intentions to talk with a lady who acted like she could dictate her life. 

"MALLIKA I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL BREAK THE DOOR ." she sighed taking the towel and freshning up. After a good 20 mins she came out to find a very angry mother and scoffed at the sight.

"Your dad-

"don't bring dad into this." Mallika said sterly

"bacche, I just want good for you-

"and you shouldn't ask me?" She cuts her off again

"Sit down and then let's talk." Moumita Mehra offers

"I will wait for dad, he will come in an hour and then I will talk." Mallika declares and Mrs. Mehra could just stare at her. Helpless she walks away and Mallika combs her hair neatly and walks away to the next apartment to have her breakfast. She clicks a photo of breakfast and send him with a caption : thankyou so much :)

his reply was almost instant : have a nice day! 

She reacted with a thumps up and quickly had her breakfast and walked to Ruhi's apartment where she found Vivaan as expected. 

"good morning sleeping beauty." Vivaan said with a teasing smile.

"Good Morning." She said quietly not wanting to smile a bit.

"And you said she would blush." Ruhi scoffed at Vivaan

"Arey, she's new generation girl. Vo blush karwayegi, karegi thodi." Vivaan defends himself.

"Guys, I'm here to talk." They both nod and sit down together and she begins retelling what happened yesterday. 

( flashback) 

'hey!' she greeted Saurabh awkardly 

'I like to talk point to point, I had been sent here to take your approval for marriage.' she blinks and then barely nods

'And may I know the reason to get married this early?' she looks at him confused

'You're a passionate woman Mallika, I've how dedicated you are to your career and you wanted to focus on your internships and last year, why marriage isn't that a whole different path?' Mallika had chuckled sadly

'Is it what I'm thinking?' he asks seriously, not liking the look on her face

'I'm just surprised everyone can see my dedication towards my career except my own mother who wants me to get married .' Saurabh's eyes softens

'I'll refuse from my side.' he offers

'Please go and do whatever you want.' Mallika sighed

"you're giving up?' he asks

'I'm taking a break, I don't want anything from anyone. When my own mom cannot understand me, what should I expect from strangers?' she says with a sad smile