Short Stories On DARSHAN RAVAL 💙

17. Ms. Neighbour - Part 3

"Let me open the door.", I told Darshan as I saw him struggling with the house keys. He was carrying all the bags and didn't let me carry more than one so yah I was kinda feeling bad looking at him. I took the keys and opened the door and let him enter first. I shut the door behind then switched on the lights. He put all the bags on the table near the kitchen and asked, "You want something?"

I was feeling I should have asked him the question but ops it was not my home anymore. I nodded negatively.
The place was looking the same, he didn't change much and that made me smile a little. But I had to say the house was looking much clearer now. I picked up the flower vase from the little centre table, it was my favourite. I remembered Vidya gifted me this on my 19th birthday, my first friend in Mumbai actually second after Maanav. I looked back at Darshan, he kept it where it exactly was. He was not that bad.

He walked back to me with a glass of water. "What?", he asked observing my face.

"You didn't change much.", I said taking the glass from him.

"No. You didn't take anything except your things. And it was like a lottery for me. I didn't need to buy anything.", he said with a wink.

"Oh don't be so happy. I will take each and everything when I will shift to my own house.", I said.

"Don't you think you are a little younger then Maanav?", He asked.
"I am a little younger then him. Why does that matter?", I asked casually.

"Of course. I also don't believe in age numbers."

Now I frowned, "What do you mean by that?"

"You left this house and shifted in the next door. Weird. Must be a live in relationship.", he said. And the water in my mouth was almost spilled on my t-shirt. I somehow gulped and reacted, "What?"

"I didn't say it.", he defended himself instantly. "People were saying. I mean yesterday I met with the aunty of 6th floor. She was asking where did I shift. So I told her and then she asked me if you are living with Maanav or not. I said yes and she said they were hoping this to happen, soon.", he explained.

"THEY WERE! This is what the whole building think about us?", I questioned in surprise. "GROSS."

Darshan was still looking at me for an answer and I told, "No man. Maanav is like a brother to me."

"Oh I am sorry.", he said with a laugh.
"I tie him Rakhi every year. No. I have to call Ishita and ask her to come and live with us. I can't bear this rumour.", I said covering my ears.

"Ishita?"

"His girlfriend.", I quickly added. Darshan laughed loudly.

"Don't laugh.", I looked at him then couldn't resist and smiled.

"You're smiling too. Chill. Let people talk. That's what they do. By the way seriously why did you move out? I mean I am sure it wasn't that you didn't pay the rent to your father."

"No it...", I stopped and looked back at his face. He knew. How?

He smiled and gave a node. "I saw your picture in Sengupta uncle's facebook. Sikkim trip.", he cleared.
Right. It was still in his Facebook cover picture.

"It is complicated. He doesn't want me to stay here and I also can't stay here anymore. So it was best to move out. And I am at Maanav's place for now only. I will move out asap. Just need to get a job."

He passed a warm smile, like a consoling one.

"So what do you do except playing guitar?", I asked after a while.

He half smiled while asking, "Now who keeps an eye on who's house?"
"Don't get excited. I am neither blind nor deaf. When you sit on that chair with that guitar in the balcony I can see you too and also hear you."