The room door opened
Three years, seven months, and two days ago...
"You're Arjun, right?" the man at the door asked.
Arjun nodded.
"I'm Appal Rao, the house owner. Your room is on the top floor. I'll show you."
He led Arjun to the elevator. The moment they stepped inside, it groaned under their weight, the metal frame trembling slightly.
"Don't worry," Appal Rao chuckled, noticing Arjun's hesitation. "It works just fine."
The doors rattled open on the top floor. The apartment had two rooms, each accommodating two people, with a shared kitchen and bathroom. The walls were plain, the furnishings minimal.
"Rent is 400 rupees a month," Appal Rao continued. "Deposit is two months' rent. Keep the place clean. Transfer the rent at the start of every month. Let me know by tomorrow so I can decide quickly."
Arjun nodded. "Okay."
He checked out two more houses. By the time he finished, it was already 2 PM. His stomach growled as he spotted a street stall. He ordered some fast food, ate quickly, and wiped his hands on his jeans.
One more house to go. Then I can decide which one is best, he thought.
Taking the train to the next location, he checked his phone—700 meters from the station. As he started walking, dark clouds loomed overhead. Within moments, rain poured down. He checked the time. The return train was in 30 minutes.
No time to waste. He broke into a run.
Drenched, he reached the house and texted the number from the advertisement. No reply. He tried calling.
Beep. Call ended.
Just as he was about to call again, the door creaked open. A droplet from the doorframe fell onto his face. Instinctively, he lifted his hand to shield himself. Between his fingers, he caught a glimpse of the person standing at the doorway.
"Sorry about that. You can come in," she said.
Arjun froze. A flicker of recognition flashed through his eyes. "Ananya?" he asked, disbelief laced in his voice.
She smiled. "Still remember your classmates, huh?"
"How could I forget you? One of the class beauties."
She rolled her eyes. "Flattery won't get you a discount."
He chuckled. "But wait… the name in the advertisement was different."
"Oh, I posted it under a random name," she said nonchalantly.
Arjun raised an eyebrow. "So, are you the owner, or…?"
"Obviously, it's mine," she said, stepping aside. "Come in. Tea or coffee?"
"A towel would be better."
She laughed. "Wait here, I'll get you one."
Arjun bent down near the entrance, struggling to remove his tight shoes. "Once I get my salary, I'm buying new ones," he mumbled to himself.
Ananya returned, tilting her head. "Why are you sitting there?"
"Trying to get these shoes off."
"You can come inside, you know? The maid cleans the place daily. You won't dirty the floor."
Arjun looked up at her, surprised. "Really? Is the rent really 300 dollars?"
She smirked. "Yes. You think I'd trick you?"
He took the towel, rubbing his wet hair. "Can I see the house?"
"Sure. The stairs are next to to the main dorr"
She led him through the apartment—one bedroom, a bathroom, a cozy living area connected to the kitchen, and a small balcony with a decent view.
"The maid cleans everything once a week. There's a washing machine and dryer downstairs," she explained.
Arjun took a deep breath. "It's nice… but can you lower the rent a little more?"
Ananya crossed her arms. "How much are you hoping for?"
"Anything lower than 300."
She sighed, pretending to think. "Fine. 270. But no more bargaining."
He grinned. "I'll take it for six months."
Arjun glanced at his watch. "I need to return to the university. If you're available tomorrow, I can come by, sign the contract, and move my luggage."
Ananya nodded. "Tomorrow morning at 10 AM works."
"See you then, Ananya." Arjun sat down, slipping on his shoes.
She handed him an umbrella. "Take this. Just bring it back tomorrow."
Arjun shook his head with a small smile. "No need. I'm used to it."
With that, he stepped out into the rain. The downpour soaked him almost instantly, but instead of hurrying, he tilted his head back, watching the sky as he walked toward the train station.
Ananya stood at the door, observing him. Some people really know how to enjoy misfortune. She sighed and shut her gate as soon as Arjun disappeared past the garden fence.
Arjun, now thoroughly drenched, continued his slow walk. He glanced back once, catching a glimpse of Ananya's faint smile before she closed the gate. He smirked to himself. From the past two days, this has been my home.
By the time he reached his rented room, it was already 7 PM. He unlocked the door, grabbed a fresh set of clothes, and went straight for a shower. Afterward, he stepped into the hallway and knocked on the next-door room.
"Hey, Rahul, you there?"
"Yeah, coming!" Rahul opened the door, the warm scent of spices drifting out. "I'm cooking. Let's go to the kitchen." arjun said
"You go ahead. I'll join you in a bit," Rahul
Rahul returned a few minutes later, peering over Arjun's shoulder. "What are you making?"
"Chicken curry. Picked up some chicken on the way back."
"Rice or naan?"
"Masala rice," Arjun replied. "I'll make it." rahul replied
Arjun shook his head with a smirk. "I don't get it. you could've gone to a top university. Instead, you're tagging along with me."
Rahul chuckled. "I've learned more from you than I would have in some fancy university. Besides, I got an internship, didn't I?"
Arjun raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, because I applied for you."
"I know," Rahul admitted with a grin.
Rahul leaned against the counter. "I told you to stay with me, but you found another place."
"You live with your uncle's family. A day or two is fine, but six months? That's too much," Arjun said.
Rahul sighed. "I told you, I have a house on the outskirts, near your office. But you wouldn't take it."
"I know. But your uncle and cousins wanted you to stay with them, so I let it be. Besides, I didn't want to be a burden."
"Did you at least find a decent place?"
"Yeah. Forty minutes from my office, rent's 270. It's on the outskirts, but it works."
Rahul nodded. "Good. We can still meet on weekends since we're in the same city."
Arjun smirked. "Technically, I'm in the nearby town, not the city."
They laughed, finishing up the meal and eating together.
As they cleared the plates, Rahul stretched. "You're heading out tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah."
"Tag along with me. I am shifting tomorrow" Rahul replied
"Deal." I also need to sign contract be ready by morning 7 am .
With that, they said their goodbyes and returned to their rooms, the night settling into a quiet rhythm.