DEVI’S POV:

I am glad in a world full of selfishness, there are still genuine people like Roopa aunty and Rudran. They have been nothing but sweet and caring towards me since I moved in. There is no need to though because my own family seems distant to me, maybe because I have been living away from them since my 8th grade.

In a few days, I wont be alone anymore, because my little brother is going to move in with me. He got into the airforce academy in Bangalore and I am so proud of him. Since he worked so hard for it. He is not going to stay with me everyday though, initially he will stay with me but once everything is settled he will move into the academy itself because they will have morning training sessions. He said he will come on weekends though.

I am happy, my parents are coming to my place for the first time, to drop Ram. Though they have been indifferent with me for some reason, I know they love me dearly as well. My mom calls me at least once a week too. Anyways after leaving Roopa aunty’s place, I came in to do a final check of the guest room and cleaned up my room too. I prepared the guest room for Ram, though we are meeting in person after 2 long years I hope he has not had any big time changes in his likings. My room is all set for my parents to live in for as long as they stay. I am going to take the living room’s divaan. Everything is set, I just need to go grocery shopping, glad that IT companies give a long weekend including both Saturday and Sunday.

I picked up a big jute bag I always carry to shop the necessities, locked the flat and made my way to the parking lot, the store is three streets away.

I bought this flat with the money I saved from the day1 I started working, that’s like after two months I turned twenty-two. My income was good from the beginning and my parents also sent me money every month that allowed me to save a lot by keeping my expenses in check in a way that my whole salary remained untouched.

So when the last time I said my mom in a regular convo that I should get a place first as the rents are taking up a lot, and she responded the next day by sending this apartment’s address and that’s when I first met Roopa aunty, the owner stays with her son in the US, So Roopa aunty was the one who gave the tour while the owner is in the call, she is a nice lady too, this apartment was new and for sale. It was a cozy and well ventilated 2bhk and I really liked the environment a lot, though it is hectic to travel back and forth to work and home, I cannot imagine getting a place in the area near my company, its like the most expensive place in the whole country, literally. So after considering everything and checking what I have, I could cover 60% of money and decided to take a loan for the rest. My mom said that she would help but I stopped her saying that there was already a lot of the what they sent me involved as well and I want this property to be bought completely on my hard work. She was proud, I could tell.

Just when I entered the lift, Rudran followed behind. I did not know he was there. After the door closed and the lift started to move down he spoke “Where to?”

I replied “ah.. Just to get some grocery and stuff”

He hummed and after a pause he asked “I heard your brother is coming to stay”

I replied “Yeah he got into the Airforce Academy and is going to come in on weekends”

“So is he fun going dude or silent like you” he asked again in a humours tone.

“I am not silent ok” I said sensing he is teasing me, which he does rarely.

“Sure you are fun too, now don’t get defensive” he again replied in a teasing tone.

What’s wrong with him, he never prolonged his little teasing to more than a sentence.

“Yes I’m fun too and no, I’m not getting defensive” I replied in an unusual sassy way.

“Woah you really are trying, Look at you acting all sassy suddenly” he said.

I did not reply and the door opened, I moved out while he followed silently.

I kept walking without turning back, I was smiling unknowingly, don’t know why.

“Hey I was just Kidding. Do not get angry” He said in a little high pitch.

I immediately stopped smiling, turned to see him, moved back and stood in front of him, while he stood there keeping his thumb in his short’s pocket.

“Is this a joke to you, did you not get any other person whom you can kid with” I said sternly.

His face fell off while he opened and closed his mouth and took a deep breath and started “I am so…”

But I could not hold myself in anymore and laughed, I kept laughing until I lifted my face to see him, he seemed like he is in the state of processing what’s happening and I held his hand that’s on his side to lift it off and said “I was ’just kidding” quoting his previous words and smiled saying “see, ain’t I fun..?”

He finally came into realisation and smiled. I left his hand and stepped back simultaneously saying “Have a nice day Mr Rudran.” I spoke while walking towards my two wheeler and starting the vehicle. I looked back at him through the side mirror where he stood smiling.

 As I started the vehicle I heard him saying “I am going to get groceries too, can you give me a lift.” I stopped the scooter and poked at him walking closer until he stood next to me while I was sitting there wearing my helmet.

“Where is you bike?” I asked.

“We are both going to the same place so it will be easy for me to hold things sitting on the back or I will drive while you sit back” he answered.

“Oh ok then, hop on” I said, because hey.. why not?.

Life is at it’s best these days. What can go wrong anyways.