Healing Hearts

New beginning

ANIKA

"Yes Baba, I have reached safely. Don't worry too much and tell maa that I'm fine" I said on the phone to my father while standing at the appartment I had rented.

It was a shared apartment and the rent was $530, I had decided that it would be more affordable if I shared it. The renter informed me a week ago that someone agreed to share the apartment, so I was excited to meet my Flatmate.

As I somehow managed to get into the elevator with my bags, I sighed as I was happy to start a new chapter of my life. This all happened months ago when my boards were near and I told my brother that I wanted to try out for a scholarship in NYU.

After a lot of hard work and many other things such as a good SOP and my good grades, I got into Nyu with 90% scholarship. It was enough for me, the rest was paid off with the help of the money my father secretly saved up for my studies.

It was only then when we got to know why there was not much money left in our hands every month after their salaries arrived, because he gave half of it in my savings account since I was in 1st standard. I had to do many other things such as the IELTS exam and the Visa approval, but all of it happened. Because I made it happen with my hardwork.

As I opened the apartment door, I heard a sharp scream before a girl came rushing and jumped on me making me nearly lose my balance and fall but thankfully I held onto the doorframe tightly.

"Firstly what the hell are you? And secondly please get off me before my hands give up and I fall down on top of my snacks bag" I said while looking at the girl in annoyance.

"There's a flying cockroach in the kitchen! It just flew right infront of my eyes!" Said the girl while refusing to get off me.

"Look if you get off me then only I can kill that cockroach" I said before groaning as she finally got off me but immediately stood behind me.

I sighed before stretching abit then walking inside the apartment, I looked around and saw the cockroach right infront of the couch. The girl immediately handed me a slipper and I slowly walked towards the cockroach before smacking it hard with the slipper.

"Thank goodness, I have been trying to kill that evil thing for hours. Oh by the way, I'm your roommate" Said the girl after sighing in relief.

"Ohhh that's why.." I muttered while feeling abit embarrassed that I didn't get the common sense of her being my roommate because she was already in the apartment.

"I'm Ira, Ira Malhotra. Nice to meet you, I hope we can get along well" Said Ira with a soft smile while extending her hand out for a handshake.

"I'm Anika Bose, Nice to meet you too. You have a pretty name" I said while shaking her hand and smiling back at her.

"Tumhe Hindi aati hai?" Asked Ira curiously while looking at me and my smile brightened as I nodded my head.

(Can you speak Hindi?)

"Haan haan bilkul aati hai. Aloo bhujiya khaaogi?" I asked while smiling sheepishly at her as she immediately nodded her head before we both rushed towards the door to bring my stuff in.

(Yes yes of course I can. Will you eat Aloo bhujiya?)

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ADITYA

"Don't you think you should clean up the place?" Asked Nikhil while looking at me while we were sitting on the couch, completely restless due to the assignments.

"I think so, but I'm too tired" I said while rubbing my eyes and groaning softly.

"You know I read in a article that cleaning up your place can sometimes make you feel better" Said Nikhil while looking at me.

"I get it, I know the apartment looks like shit" I said before closing my laptop and immediately getting up and walking towards my room with Nikhil getting up to clean the living room.

While cleaning my room, I saw pictures of my parents and of me and Iranwhen we were younger. Looking at them, I felt a pang of nostalgia hit me. I remembered how our father used to tell me to always take care of Ira because she was really naive back then and everyone took advantage of her.

Ira had moved out a few days ago to her new apartment which she would share with someone, God knows who that will be and whether or not the person will be nice to her. I was thinking of visiting her but she told me not to visit her until she says so because she wants to prove that she's all grown up.

I already know she's grown up but she thinks that I still see her as a naive girl, Well she is an oblivious person that's for sure but I know she's not dumb or naive like before. All I ever hope is that she gets good friends in university and makes wonderful memories for life.

"You looked like a dumb kid" Commented Nikhil while laughing at a picture of my younger self.

"As if you looked any better you fucker" I said while glaring at him.

"Come on I looked very cute when I was young" Said Nikhil while shrugging.

"Cute? You call that horse face cute?" I asked before scoffing loudly.

"Bhosdike kamse kam mujhe ladkiya cute toh bulati thi" Snapped Nikhil while glaring back at me.

(Atleast girls used to call me cute)

"Chup kar chutiye, tere ko sirf ek hi aurat cute bulati thi aur woh teri dadi thi" I said before Nikhil grabbed my collar and I grabbed his.

(Shut up, Only one woman used to call you cute and that was your grandmother)

We both ended up cursing each other with insults someone wouldn't even use for their enemy, before getting hungry and ordering some food and watching 'Doraemon' on YouTube in our TV.

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ANIKA

"Nikhil? My elder brother's name is also Nikhil!" I exclaimed while laughing as I chatted with Ira in the living room while eating snacks I brought from India.

"Really? That's so ironic. You know the Nikhil who's my brother's bestfriend is the most annoying guy to exist, but he's still kind" Said Ira while looking happy as she chatted with me.

"My brother is very annoying too but he's also my mentor. He has helped me alot" I said while smiling softly.

"You know, Anika...Why don't I show you around tomorrow? Our University still has a week before it starts so how about I give you a tour of New York?" Asked Ira while looking at me excitedly.

"Yeah! That would be amazing! I can't wait to go out" I said as I liked her suggestion and nodded my head eagerly.

We spent hours just talking like we were sisters who were separated from eachother. At first glance, I thought that Ira was a weird and loud girl but now I think she's a genuinely nice person and I would love to be her friend.

Around 2 am we both finally felt sleepy and went straight to sleep, I was really excited for tomorrow as it was my first day of exploring and beginning my life's new chapter.

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A/N:

Hello, First of all I'm really sorry for not updating for so long. I had some personal issues which took a toll on me and I was very busy and stressed out which lead my mind to have zero ideas about the new chapter. I thought that it was time to finally start Anika's and Aditya's story, it's a slow burn romance so it'll take time but I promise to make it worth your while.

Second of all, I hope you all liked this chapter? Don't forget to leave a comment and vote after reading so I know you all reading, because sometimes no comments make me feel pretty demotivated. Anyways, I'll try my best to update thrice this week. Take care of yourselves and stay safeᯓᡣ𐭩