The Nothing Gang

The Game Starts

"It was a completely new experience, sleeping in an own bed. It is an even better experience when you don't have to share it with someone else. But it's a nightmare when your roommate keeps interrupting your sleep due to her nightmares. And you know what kind of nightmares nerds have."

"You see, most nerds have a reason why they are nerds in their respective subjects. Sometimes, it has to do something with the teachers (I meant of the subjects they hate). It may also be when they have an enemy in that subject. (Of course, the one they hate). But never in my life, I'm being honest here, in my life, I've seen a accounting nerd."

"Accounting nerd? Yes, she's an accountant. And she takes care of all the incomes and expenses of our apartment. And now, I'm beginning to sound like her. But what happens when an accountant has OCD? For example, we are going shopping. Once they get the bill, they first look up the Grand Total and go (in this case let the total be ₹653) then our accounting genius will start doing mental maths (something we stopped once we saw calculators) and then go......
Can you pay ₹326.50? Wait, wait, I forgot to divide the GST."

"And the rest is history!"

*************************************

"No TV after 8."

Preethi came and started implementing the Roommate Agreement.

"But, but, that's not fair!" Priya sounded dismayed.

"Rule 1, Priya, Rule 1!" Shetty sounded like a witch.

"I'm leaving. But with a box of, ummmmm, which flavour should I take? Aha! There you are, Almond and Honey!"

"That's my Friday cereal! You're doomed and I'm going to change the doorlock and make sure the card key doesn't work!"

"Preethi, dinner. Come come come!"

Priya successfully misled Preethi into having dinner.

"Okay Preethi! Which is my room again?"

"The one with a big bed." Preethi replied.

"Ohhhhhh, a big bed enough to be shared between us!"

"No, no, no sharing. I have my solo.cot for that!"

"Why don't you share? Come on broooo?" Priya put up her sympathetic look.

"Your looks aren't going to work with me. Shrieeek!" Preethi covered her eyes with her palms.

"Oh, so you're not my friend? Okay then, bye."

"Good night!" Preethi rushed to her room.

3:27 AM

"Priya, Priya, open the door! Priya, Priya, open the door! Bang, bang, bang!"

"Oh wait for god's sake. I'm coming!"

"Please let me sleep with you. There are chemists chasing me with dangerous chemicals in beakers! Help! Heeeellllllppppp!"

"Please!" Priya moved aside as Preethi ran and jumped onto the bed.

Next day morning,

"Priya, Priya, wake up! Priya, Priya, wake up! Priya, Priya, wake up!"

"Now what?"

"It's time. Good morning, sunshine. The earth says hello!"

"Awwww, come on!"

After a good bath, Priya came and sat at the dining room.

"What's for breakfast, Preethi?"

"What day is it today?"

That's the weirdest answer you'd expect.

"Tuesday?"

"Alright. Since it's Tuesday, you can have the Strawberry flavour Corn Flakes."

"So you have each flavour for each day?"

"Yes. I had Plain Corn Flakes yesterday. Strawberry today. Oats tomorrow. Honey Loops Wednesday. Almond and Honey Thursday. I need to buy it today. Chocos Friday. And, and..... Uh oh, someone's done something to my eidetic memory! Let me go to the kitchen and check out and say."

"No, it's fine. I'll have strawberry cornflakes."

As Priya hurried to her car, Preethi came behind.

"Please drop me."

"Hire a cab!"

"Roommate Agreement, page 55, 5th line. Hurry up!"

Shetty's words popped up in Priya's mind. "Toxic Genius"

Priya tried to overtake Preethi and leave before her. But Preethi was too fast.

"Okay, where should I drop you off? Hope you wouldn't tell me to wait throughout the day!"

"Here's my card. This is where I work."

Preethi hopped onto the front seat. She then wore her seatbelt. Priya started the car and turned on the radio. But Preethi changed the radio station.

"I didn't watch the news today." She said as she waited for the business news.

Priya dropped off Preethi at her office and left, still trying to figure out if it was all a dream.

Preethi was a much respected person in her office. Employees respected her only fearing for their ears.

Preethi entered her boss' room.

"Goid morning, boss!"

"Good morning, Preethi. Are you a Jan-you-ary person or a Jan-ave-ary person? Come on, answer me quick!"

"What do you mean, boss?"

"I am asking how, you geniuses, pronounce January."

"That's simple! We, Indians, we pronounce it Jan-ave-ary. But Americans and English people pronounce it Jan-you-ary, boss."

"I don't care a damn about those idiots. You tell me whether you are a Jan-you-ary person or a Jan-ave-ary person?"

"Well, I say, Jan-you-ary, boss!"

"That's it. Secretary, the next time you pronounce it, Jan-ave-ary, you're fired! Oh, yes, Preethi. After proper verification and consideration, we have decided that you deserve a secretary too!"

"For me? A secretary? But why?"

"Preethi. I see you working hard everyday. And, the company is pressuring me ever since the counselor ran away."

"Oh, okay. Do I get to select my favourite?"

"Yes, yes, go on. I have no time to entertain this kind of stuff."

As she left for her cabin, she saw a few new people waiting outside. Including Shetty.

"Shetty?"

"Hello, my friend! I have decided to work hard by my own and earn money and provide funds for MYOB! How'd my idea?"

"Well, it depends on how you do the interview. And I'll never select you, because you took my Thursday cereal!"

"That's personal stuff. You'll not consider personal stuff for selecting someone professional, right?"

"Let me see. First candidate, please come in."

Preethi's cabin is the weirdest cabin one might've ever seen. Her table had the usual things i.e. a PC, some stationery, but what caught the eye was Jenga blocks.

The first candidate entered the room.

"May I come in, madam?"