Just Roommates? [DISCONTD.]

Part 5: Our Routine

Nandini and Navya entered her new house tugging her luggage along. It had been two days since they met Manik and Cabir and today she was going to shift into the house. Manik had already shifted in the day before. The house was fully furnished and decorated since before so it was easy for them. They didn't have to shop much just minimal necessities were required. Parking her car in the driveway they stepped inside the living room. They could hear voices from somewhere in the home. Just then the door to Manik's room burst open and came out 5 people including Manik and Cabir. She could not recognise the other three.
"Hi!!"a tomboyish girl chirped on looking at them and bounded forward." I am Mukti. Manik's friend and this is Dhruv,"she said indicating at the other guy,"and this is Alya.
"Manik's girlfriend. "Said the other girl smirking at me,her face was dripping with makeup." And you better stay away from him." She added.
"Oh! He's all yours. "Said Nandini smiling sweetly at her. Fake smiles of course.
Nandini could not help but notice the behaviour between the two of them. It was completely weird. Manik seemed to be trying to avoid Alya whereas she seemed to be clinging more to him. Clearly it was just a casual relationship. Bidding her hellos to them Nandini moved to her new room along with Navya to arrange her stuff.
She was just done taking out everything from the boxes. Navya was in the washroom when there was a knock on the door. Opening it,she saw it was Manik. He seemed to be ready for going somewhere out.
"Yes?"she asked looking at him.
"Woh,hum Fab5 bahar jaa rahe hain for party. So I'll be late."he said looking around awkwardly.
"Toh tum mujhe kyun bata rahe ho?"I asked him confused.
He looked pissed now.
"Acha fine. You'll be back by night right. "Asked Nandini.
"Kyun,you're gonna miss me?"he asked smirking.
"Oh shut up. Leave now. "
"Just call me up if you need something okay?"
"Yeah." I said as he turned to leave. "Manik. I don't have your number. "
So after exchanging their numbers Manik leaves with his friends.
It was almost lunch time now. This reminded Nandini that she had to do grocery shopping also.
"Navya? Main soch rahi thi ki lunch karne bahar chalein. Uske baad main grocery shopping kar lungi fir tumhe ghar drop kar dungi."said Nandini looking at her friend sprawled in the bed.
"Sounds good. Bade zoron ki bhookh lagi hai. Tu ready ho ja."
So the two leave for the lunch and then Nandini's most awaited grocery shopping. As she surfed for food items in the supermarket she thought of talking to Manik about this. They will have to share their part of bills.
"Maybe I should talk to him tomorrow."she wondered as Navya dumped nutella jars into her trolley.
After dropping off Navya to her home Nandini drove towards her new home. It was complete eerie silence which greeted Nandini as she entered the living room. She switched on the porch and balcony lights and dumped the groceries on the kitchen counter and went to her room to get freshened up.
Aftee dressing up in a casual white one-piece and tying her hair in a loose messy bun she started unloading the items and putting them in their places.
She thought of starting with dinner.
"Should I cook for Manik? But he has gone out so most probably he'll eat and come. But still?? But why the hell do I care?" Putting a stop to my inner thoughts I decided to cook a bit extra for Him.
Grrrrr. What was this jittery feeling whenever I think of that idiot?
I decided on making a simple dinner of rotis,dal fry with bhindi masala.
It was around 8 when I finished. I took out my laptop and started arranging my required documents for the work. Don't get me wrong here. I am a 2nd yaar Architecture student but I do have a part time job too. Well it was just a internship job earlier but guess the boss liked my work and offered me the job. Yeah it gets tedious at a times but I manage. They have been kind enough to offer me a good position in their Mumbai branch. I was to meet my superiors tomorrow and then college from the day after that. At least it won't be that bad. I know Navya and Cabir. I don't know how Manik will behave in the college and I wasn't sure about his other friends. I was starting to feel hungry now. I decided to eat as I had no idea when that idiot will come. I sat with my plate in front of the TV and started watching the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. It was after a few minutes or something when I heard a car in the driveway. The clicking of the door keys indicated that it was Manik. He was back quite sooner than I expected. May be Alya ditched him or may be he ditched Alya. My sub-conscious did a small happy dance on thinking of it. Oh shut up! I snapped at it when I heard him clearing his throat. I turned around to see him standing behind the couch on the other side.
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I shur the car door with a snap and looked towards the direction of my new house. The porch lights were on. She must be home. I was in a bit foul mood as we had to cancel our plans the last minute. Dhruv and Cabir both got calls from their homes for some errands so they had to leave,leaving me behind with Alya and Mukti. I would have continued the dinner plan with them if Alya hadn't been hinting her seducing plans continuously. So I decided to drop the idea and left the place immediately. Mukti too seemed to have guessed my uncomfortableness so she too agreed. I decided to use my keys to enter for Nandini might be asleep. But she wasn't for when I opened the door I saw her seated on the couch with T.V. on. I went towards her and cleared my throat to catch her attention.
"Hey."she said turning around greeting me with a smile muting the T.V. sound.
"Hi."I replied and walked forward taking a seat beside her on the couch. She was having her dinner. And I was damn hungry. Should I ask if there is something left? No. That would be embarrassing. Wasn't it me who told her I'll be coming late. So obviously she must have assumed that I must have eaten and didn't cook for me.
Just then I heard her voice interrupting my inner banter," You had your dinner right?"
"Yeah. I did. With my friends. "I said lying to her smoothly. But at that precise moment we both heard a grumbling sound which seemed to have come from my stomach. She continued chewing her morsel to prevent herself from laughing.
"Woh we had to cancel the plans at the last moment so."I said looking at her sheepishly.
"It's okay. Just go and freshen up. I'll serve the dinner. "She said keeping her plate down and stood up. That is when I looked at her closely. She was dressed in a loose white dress and a messy bun. But the most striking feature was the single golden anklet in her right leg. It complimented her look.
"No. It's fine. I can-"I managed to speak out while still in a trance.
"Arrey it's completely fine. Anyways I wanted to talk to you about a few stuff. Tum fresh ho jaao."she insisted looking at me.
Nodding I went towards the direction of my room thinking when was the last time Nyonika did something like this for me. I guess never. It was always servants attending to my needs. Never my mother. If you call her so. I considered her as my mother just for namesake. Changing into my shorts and singlet I stepped out of the room to see Nandini heating the fiod in the kitchen. I took my seat on the sofa taking a sip of water from the glass.
"Here."she said placing the plate in front of me on the table. I noticed how beautiful she looked even in this simple outfit. She did not have an ounce of make-up on her skin. It seemed to glow naturally.
Taking a morsel I relished on her cooking. There was no doubt she was an excellent cook. "Its damn tasty."I stated looking at her and she smiled in response.
"What is it that you wanted to talk about?"I asked as we continued eating.
"Umm. I wanted to ask if I have to cook for you everyday. I mean don't get me wrong. I just wanted to know if you eat your dinners at home or not. " she mumbled quietly.
"What say you cook Monday to Thursday and I'll do the rest of the days. And the other will do the dishes.We can order something on days no one feels like cooking."I offered looking at her.
She frowned on hearing my statement. "Tumhe khaana banana aata bhi hai?"she inquired suspiciously. "I don't want to get food poisoning or something. "She added.
"Oh hello. Main kaafi acha khaana banata hun. Okay. Tomorrow is Sunday right. Just wait. You will be served the dishes made by Chef The Manik Malhotra."he said proudly.
"Okay. Then. I am fine with it. And about the house bills too." I said.
"Well we are paying our respective rents. So you do the grocery I'll handle the electricity bill."he mentioned.
"Yeah. "I said giving him a smile in agreement.
"So that's all."he said,standing up and took my empty plate and glass along with his.
"What are you doing?"I asked him.
"It's my turn. For the dishes. Remember. "He replied moving towards the kitchen sink.
"Oh." I switched off thr T.V. and moved back into the kitchen and cleared the counter and took a wipecloth and started wiping the washed utensils.
"Hey there's no need."he said looking at my actions.
"It's fine. I wanted to help. You will be doing the same thing tomorrow." I reminded him.
He was quite a easy person to live with. Cool and easy going types.
"Maybe we should set a curfew."he mused quietly.
"Curfew!! Manik seriously?" I asked looking at him shocked.
"No. I mean. Time limit. After that one should call or message the other that you will be late or something. Just to be sure. You know. "
"Oh. Okay. Yeah we should. 12:30 AM. Curfew time."I said looking at him to see him already staring at me.
"What?"I inquired.
"Nothing. "He said turning to the last of the dishes. Switching off the kitchen lights we were starting to walk to the stairs for our respective rooms when he said,"What should I cook for you tomorrow?"
"I don't eat non-veg."I said looking at him.
"Okay."he said thoughtfully,"and good night. "
"Good night. "
And they both retired to their own rooms.

Her outfit

Her anklet

P.S.:
Phew. Completed at last. I had so much fun writing this chapter. Polite Manik and Nandini. Things will steam up with coming chapters. Don't worry. Till then keep loving my stories. Read,vote,comment fellas. Love u all.
Happy Reading 😊😊
By:_the_globetrotter