invisible string ✓

thirteen

• ADVIKA •

FIVE HOURS LATER…

Ved Singh, the most relatable character of You Belong With Me, was found at the car parking, waiting for us. The moment he saw us, he broke into squeals and jumped on Ishaan in the name of hugging.

“Bro! You made it, finally! Thank you so much!” He squealed as if a five-year-old had got its favourite toy after searching for hours.

“Okay, just leave me, asshole. I'm tired as fuck,” Ishaan grunted and pushed Ved down, allowing Ved to look at two other people who accompanied him.

“Hi, Fior! How do you do?” He smiled at Fiorella and waved in a friendly way. After Fiorella mouthing an, “I'm fine,” Ved shifted his gaze to Advika Bansal the Alien of their universe.

“Ummm… This is…?” Ved tried his best to recognise me, but failed as it was the first time we met each other.

“Yeah! Let me introduce the special person of my life. Meet Advika, my…” Ishaan paused right there and looked at me, searching for words to introduce me to Ved. “She's my… Friend.”

“Oh,” Ved exclaimed and broke into a smile while greeting, “Hi, Advika. How do you do?”

“I'm fine, Ved. Thanks for asking. How about you?” I tried my best to smile, yet couldn't suppress the tingling sensation that was crawling up my chest from my stomach.

“Uh… Fiorella.” I dragged all of my senses back to reality the moment Ved called Fiorella. “Go to Room Number 306 and stay with my sister Vedika for the night. Ishaan and Advika, I have allotted Room Number 301. Apologies for allotting one room for both of you. Since Miss Bansal's visit was sudden, no room was available just for her.”

“Not an issue, man! We can manage.” Ishaan whispered with a reassuring smile and looked back at me with a straight expression. “Shall we go, Advika?”

“Yeah, sure. Good night, Ved,” I greeted Ved and followed Ishaan and Fiorella, my mind living in its delusional slump and making best plans for the night.

What do you think is the similarity between Twisted Hate, The Spanish Love Deception, The American Roommate Experiment, The Love Hypothesis, and The Hating Game?

One bed.

The “one bed” thing was the biggest dream for me ever since I watched Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge when I was fifteen. And, reading these books added oceans of petroleum to the fire of my desire named “one bed”.

No, I neither would take advantage of the situation and seduce Ishaan nor let him take advantage. Maybe, I would stay awake till he enters the deep sleep zone. Maybe, I would admire the way he opens his mouth during sleep. Maybe, I would dream of running my hands through his hair. Maybe, it would be a chance for us to strike up a good conversation. Maybe, I would have the jackpot chance of seeing him half-naked: shirtless and grey sweatpants (oh, you don't know about the iconic scene in You Belong With Me, right? That's the story for another day).

We entered the lift as Ved pressed the numbers 1 and 3 and the door closed. As the lift reached the first floor, the doors opened, allowing Ved to leave the lift.

“Good night, all! See you tomorrow at Haldi,” he exclaimed with a toothy smile and walked towards his room, leaving his guests inside the lift.

I wished that Fiorella's room was on the first floor or the second, so that I could do what couples from books and movies would do at a lift.

Just joking. I can't do such things for real.

We left the lift together as we reached the third floor, my mind preparing for the backup plan: one bed.