Rent Free

5.Let me be your family

Some people, you do not expect them to come into your life.

You don't expect them to talk to you or be more than just strangers.

They're also the ones who, at the end of the day, stay with you, as you just enjoy each other's company, the bickering, the whining as you all fight for the last slice of cake.

And you realized just how surreal these moments can be.

"Okay, the last time," Ishan said before spinning the half-empty pet bottle of coke.

"For real?" Anish asked from his spot beside Shubman on the carpeted floor. "You've not yet had your first kiss? Never fell in love?"

"Yes for the first question," he replied as the bottle stopped, pointing towards you and Ishan. "The only chemistry I've ever had is the subject and I was still bad at it."

"You said that you wanted to become a scientist when you were young," your colleague mumbled to himself before asking, "And for the second question?"

It was Shahneel who coughed a little and got nudged by her brother's elbow.

"Truth or dare, Y/n," Ishan grinned and you were quick to answer.

"Truth," you said, sitting with your legs crossed.

"Same question as Shubi," he pointed to the dimpled cricketer sitting beside his sister, who was sitting beside you. "When was your first kiss?"

"I'm choosing dare," you said while Ara, who was busy eating another slice of cake, added.

"Not in the rulebook," she reminded you.

"We never talked about rules," you said again and she smeared a bit of the icing on your cheek.

She only laughed a little as you swatted at her arm slightly, letting Shahneel help you get rid of the icing with a tissue.

"Then I dare you to tell us when your first kiss was," Ishan gave you an ultimatum.

"Alright," you rolled your eyes playfully. "I lost my first kiss in a one night stand."

"Time to start cleaning," Shahneel announced once you were answering and the human circle dispersed.

You really had two cricketers cleaning your apartment.

Three hours have passed after you cut the cake.

Dinner was ordered from outside.

Your daughter fell asleep some time after your neighbor left, gifting a blanket specially knitted for her, and some money though you'd denied it in the beginning.

She was seen as a grandchild and you could do nothing more to resist.

Shubman and Shahneel got her several dresses and different sets of pajamas, customized with her nickname on each of them.

In addition, there was a tiny silver bracelet, customized with her nickname too.

It was similar to the earrings Ishan got for her, because they were going to twin with each other.

A panda baby sofa from Ara, a pendant from Anish with her initials, and finally, you'd made a scrapbook of all the pictures from her first year.

A small cry, one that increased gradually, interrupted the six of you.

You were about to place the trash bag down when Shubman, who was placing the washed plates back in the cabinet, volunteered.

"I'll check up on her," you let him go and heard the silence come back after a few minutes.

He really is good with kids. Or maybe it was just Nini being even happier every time he's around.

"Ishan, you seriously don't have to," you looked at him as he continued doing the dishes.

"Y/n, is that what you say to your friend?" He looked back at you with mock disappointment. "You should be asking me to clean the rest of the mess we made too."

"Okay, drama queen," you answered. "Why don't you do the laundry?"

"I can do it for real," Ishan told you. "My laundry skills are a force to be reckoned with."

"Like that time you poured mouthwash instead of detergent," Shahneel added from behind.

"It was one time," he argued. "And the color looked similar."

(A/n: Me unpacking my things in my college dorm, and finding out days later that it was not another bottle of mouthwash, but liquid detergent in one)

"Yeah," she agreed. "Because it was coffee the next time."

How does one even-

"I was half-asleep," the fluffy-haired man defended himself.

"That's not so bad," Anisha chipped in. "Ara ate something she thought were mini rice balls, which turned out to be naphthalene balls."

"Wait, do you like naphthalene balls?" Shahneel looked at Ara while her brother walked into the living room again.

"Di, not everyone is like you," he said as she picked the trash bag.

"Actually, I love the smell," you added and he turned silent, only mumbling an 'oh.'

"They're not-" Shubman got the trash bag from his sister's hand. "-so bad. I like them too. They have odor repellent qualities, and are also efficient against pests-"

"It's okay, Shub," you stopped him with an assuring smile. "You didn't offend me."

"Dining table's done," Anish walked to you.

"I'll clean the living room," you said before the sibling duo decided to take the trash out.

They took the elevator and reached the ground floor where the residents could throw their trash.

"So do you like naphthalene balls now?" Shahneel asked as they waited for the elevator again.

In the meantime, she sprayed the pocket sanitizer in her palm and in her brother's as well.

"Not when you sniff them and complain about a headache later," he answered. "It is still a hazardous substance, and I've to make sure that Y/n and Nini aren't affected by-"

"Shubi, this doesn't sound like just a crush anymore," she cut him off. "Or it was never even a crush to begin with."

Silence enveloped them for a while and the elevator doors opened, prompting them to enter it.

The doors closed again as Shahneel pressed the button to the eighth floor.

As the elevator started moving up, she watched her brother standing in the corner with a hint of a blush on his face.

She wasn't surprised.

"Knew it," she replied with a smile growing on her face, knowing what he was about to say.

"I've loved her from the first day I saw her," Shubman confessed.

There goes his wicket.