More than all the stars in the sky - An Addicted Prequel

Hopeless place

It was past midnight when Virat was walking home from work with his new colleague, Tanya. She has just showed up three days ago for an interview at his work.  He was initially very surprised to see her there. But, when she explained to him how they had always worked together and she was dead bored at this other job, he didn't think much of it. It was true that they had always worked together – in college or their part time jobs.  He was so tired and drained at work to give it anymore thought.  Last week had been really hard. Probably the hardest thing he had to do. He had almost worked round the clock the last few days.

"Really need a drink, dude!" Tanya said for the tenth time.

Virat was too tired to laugh. They had already stopped for a drink, twice. He was too zoned out to relax. He knew the reason. Manvi. He thought about her. He knew in his heart that he was hurting her and he was being unfair. But, somehow, he wanted one small satisfaction when nothing else seemed in his control. But, the stubborn girl just doesn't get it. Just call her. She must be worried sick. His heart told him. He decides to call her after reaching his apartment.

He was almost there when he sees someone sitting by the door in the dark, waiting for him in the cold. He stands nailed to the ground shocked. It was Manvi. She was really here! How did she get here? When did she get in? What was she thinking! "Manvi?" he stares at her confused.

Manvi on the other hand was equally shocked seeing him with Tanya.  She had been so worried and hurt about his behavior that she couldn't stop herself from getting on a bus and getting herself to a different state in the middle of the night.

"What is she doing here?" Manvi asks looking at Tanya.

"Hi Manvi." Tanya gives her a smug smile. "I work here now."

"Here?"

"Yeah, I can see how that can make you feel insecure." Tanya offers with a smile.

Manvi folds her hands and looks at Virat.

"Don't listen to her.  Good night Tanya." Virat send her off. He opens his apartment ignoring Manvi's murderous glances.

"How did you get here?" He asks after managing to get her inside.

"I took the bus." She frowns at him.

"The last bus comes in at 10." He says aloud as his head was calculating that she had been waiting for him out there, in freezing cold, at least since a couple of hours. 

She stares at him with a blank face.

"I should be able to make a hot cup of something here." He goes to the stove and tries to find something in the drawers.  He fumbles over things trying to start the kettle.

"What are you doing?" She asks him annoyed.

"I saw some hot cocoa here. It will get you warm. Did you eat anything? There is probably some cereal..."

"You seriously want me to eat cereal right now?"

"I am sorry...Nothing else would be open at this hour." He looked at her confused. "Maybe bad pizza joints. I don't recommend them."

"You have some nerve! You have not been talking to me since two days!  You answer my calls with monosyllablic text messages!!  I put myself in a godforsaken bus to come see you - worried sick - only to find you with your ex-girlfriend who apparently moved here for you!! AND YOU WANT ME TO EAT FUCKING CEREAL!!!" she screams at him, her voice gradually reaching a high in a crescendo.

"Don't you take that tone with me. If anything, I should be screaming at you." He looks at her unamused.  "And I have nothing to say about Tanya.  She just showed up here. She said she missed working with me. I kind of did too. She is good at what she does. I didn't think much about it. You wouldn't have thought much about it if Karan moved here with me for the same job.  It's the same."