Tomboy Tanya

Roommate

"Table No 9, Iced tea.", I said to Emily who was the in-charge of drinks.

"Coming right up.", she called back.

"Uff.", I sighed squatting beside the wall.

"Hectic day?", she asked turning to me after turning on the machine to fill the glass.

"More or less. Had a few assignments to do before coming here. Energy's all drained.", I said getting up to collect the drinks.

"You want me to get you something?", she asked placing the drinks on the tray.

"I would like a hot chocolate, if I may.", I said.

"Go give these to the customers. I will get it ready for you.", she said nudging me out.

I smiled thankfully at her before leaving.

After placing the drinks and checking if they wanted anything else, I went back inside. The manager had flipped the open sign to closed ten minutes back, meaning that was my last customer for the day.

"Thank you.", I said once Emily gave me my hot chocolate.

After all the customers were out, the chef brought out the dinner for us. Whenever I had my shift in here, I need not worry about my dinner. There are times when the manager gives me breakfast too when I pass by in the morning.

After dinner, I waved at everyone before starting to my house.

It has been three months since I started college and shifted here. I joined the job the next day after I secured it. I was waitress in there, a part time employee.

Scouting a house was difficult than I thought it to be.

After the rejection of the first landlord, the second also followed by. His reason was that he would only rent it for boys. Yeah, misogynist much, I know right. But, thankfully the third person, who happened to be a lady, was happy to rent her house to me.

The next day, I shifted there, much to my mom's displeasure. Mom and dad came and visited once making sure the neighborhood was good, on the day of shifting.

Once or twice a month, they would come and visit me.

"Tanya? Can I have a word with you?", the land lady Mariam asked just when I entered the building.

"Yes, sure.", I said smiling even though my legs were pleading me to give them a break.

"Well, there was little issue with the renting part.", she said.

"What happened? Are you going to throw me out?", I asked bewildered.

"No, no, nothing of that sort. You know after you shifted here, I almost took off all the pamphlets informing about the vacancy. Keyword being almost. It seems I had forgotten a few pamphlets."

"What about that? Do you want me to remove them for you?", I asked.

"No, dear. Let me finish what I am trying to tell.", she said and continued when I nodded, "So the thing is, a guy came around asking for a house to live. Apparently, there aren't any available houses around here. I didn't have the heart to reject him. Neither could I approve his request. So I told him to come tomorrow so that you can decide for yourself whether you would be fine with having him as your roommate. Is that fine with you?"

"It's fine. Is he also a college guy?", I asked.

"Yeah, he is. I thought if you had someone to share your house rent with, maybe you could take some burden of your shoulders.", she said.

"Okay, let's see tomorrow. If that is all, I would like head to bed.", I said unable to take the throbbing any longer.

"Sure, sure, have a good night, dear.", she said before heading back into her house.

The second my head touched the pillow, I was out.

Next day, I woke up to the ringing of the bell. Unable to stand the constant ringing, I dragged myself out of the bed and to the door. I don't understand why people don't let me sleep even on a Sunday.

When I opened the door Mariam was shocked at my appearance. I looked up from her when someone cleared their throat next to her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Tanya, I told you yesterday, right? This is the guy. Can we come inside?", she said thinking that it was directed at her.

"Yeah, sorry, come in.", I said opening the door wide, making space for them to enter.

"Give me a minute, I will be back. Feel free to give him a tour.", I said giving them both a glass of water.

"Meaning, you will let him stay here?", she asked excitedly.

"Let's talk about this after I come back.", I said going inside my bedroom.

After five minutes, I came back to the living room to see them chatting. I cleared my throat after taking a seat across them.

"So what have you decided?", she asked turning to me.

"Yeah, he can shift here as long as he is fine with it. I don't have a problem with it. But I need some time as I have some things to do before he moves in", I said making Mariam smile wider. If I was not wrong, I saw his lips curving a bit upwards.

"That's great. He is coming in next week only. I'll go now. He will stay up for sometime though. You can tell him all your conditions, if you have any.", she said waving before leaving.

"I need some time to clean your room. By the time you shift, it should be ready though.", I said picking the empty glasses to wash them.

"So you are going to act as if you don't know me?"