Rent Free

11.Sera vu

Dès vu. The awareness that this moment will become a memory.

You were born on a moving train. Even though it feels like you're holding still, time is sweeping past you.

Your first kiss was déjà vu. As though one has lived through the present situation before.

For Shubman, your kiss was so familiar.

Experienced, even though to him, it was his first kiss.

That's why he pulled away first and looked at you for a long while, after you kissed that day.

And sera vu, the reverse, the feeling of already remembering something as you are experiencing it.

Shubman knew that the way he felt right now, he'll never forget it.

He keeps remembering the exact minute when his memory was jogged.

The sheer panic of knowing that he'd remained oblivious to such an important part of his life.

Found in an incoherent and borderline unresponsive state on the floor, the manager feared the worst and managed to call Ishan, who's been an usual guest.

He can't remember the exact moment his sister and his best friends walked in through the door.

Even they felt the hysteria in the air, and saw it in the form of Shubman, who was sitting on the floor, back pressed against the wall as the manager tried to make him talk.

What had happened in the span of less than two hours that caused him to break down?

"Shubi," Ishan was the first to speak as he rushed forward, taking his best friend's face in his hands. "What the hell." He barely said to himself and the tear-streaked face.

Shahneel followed. "Shubi." Even though occasionally having been the reason to make her brother cry, she couldn't fathom the present moment. "What happened?"

The youngest of them tried talking, tried to bring himself out of his hysteric state.

"It's okay," Ishan kept repeating, caressing his shoulder. "You're okay. Calm down and tell us what happened."

Shubman tried again, steadying his breath before he spoke.

"Di," his voice wavered. "T-The first time you met Nini, you said she has your eyes."

Shahneel, not knowing why she had to recollect that right now, nodded anyway.

"She doesn't have eyes like you," his voice broke and fresh tears streamed down his cheeks. "She has eyes like me."

-

"Come up with one word and tomorrow's brunch is on me," you were telling Anish as you scrolled through your laptop.

"It's not that hard, Ani," Ara said from beside your desk. "You've watched that video several times. "Titans describe Shubman Gill in one word."

"Why just one?" He swiveled the chair he was sitting on. "Elegant, quality, young blood, aggression, prolific, maintained, talented, good friend."

"Class," she added. "You missed Rashid bhai's."

"Y/n asked me one, I gave eight," Anish pointed out. "That means, tomorrow, 10 am, Burger King-"

His words were cut off as your phone rang, and you signaled for a minute before answering the call.

"Hey, Shubi," you said in the call, making two people 'cough' a little. 'Shut up,' you mouthed while glancing at them.

"No," Ara mumbled back and you threw her an eraser which she caught.

"I'm in my cabin, Shubi. I was just logging out-" You paused, noticing a difference in his voice. "Are you okay?"