You’re Trending in my Dreams Page 2

  Luckily for them, an opportunity arrived soon after, when Malvika made friends with Ahana at the gym and Ahana started to discuss her flat-hunting problems. ‘That’s perfect,’ Malvika exclaimed. ‘I have been looking for a place to stay and this works out just fine.’ Malvika mentioned getting another friend along to stay with her and Ahana assured her there would be enough room for all three of them. Once Malvika reached home, she shared the news excitedly with her friend. ‘Garima, I told you about my gym friend Ahana, right? Today we were just talking casually and I told her that we are looking for a PG. Guess what? She was looking for flatmates for her apartment and is okay with us moving in.’

  ‘Me too?’

  ‘Yes. I told her that we both are looking for a PG and she was absolutely fine with it.’

  ‘Awesome. At least now we can have proper food. This mess food sucks,’ Garima said, making a face.

  ‘Not only food, darling, we can have all the fun we want without any hostel warden dancing over our heads all the time. Plus she is the same age as us and so we will have complete freedom unlike a PG where there are so many restrictions—no booze, no late nights. Now we are free to do as we please. That’s what I call life.’

  ‘You know I don’t drink. But I am happy that we can now live life as adults and eat better food than this rubbish at the mess.’

  The next day they completed the hostel formalities and were all set to shift to Ahana’s apartment. Sometimes girls are weary of each other and sometimes they become thick friends. Gradually, all of them had learnt to respect each other’s thoughts and beliefs. Sometimes they laughed together and sometimes they cried. Sometimes they fought and sometimes they persuaded each other into doing silly things. As weeks passed, they knew almost everything about each other and even though Garima was of a reserved nature, she still loved Ahana and Malvika’s company. They helped her slowly open up to them. Even though they had their faults, they loved each other and all of them believed ‘Friends are forever, boys are whatever’.

  When Malvika and Garima returned from their extra classes in college, Ahana brought up the topic of Varun shifting to their apartment. She told them everything that they needed to know about him and everyone agreed eventually.

  ‘It’s going to be a thrilling experience to stay together then.’ Malvika smiled, looking at Garima who was still slightly sceptical about a guy coming to stay with them even though she had agreed to go along with the entire idea.

  When people are meant to be together, no matter what the relationship is, no matter how far apart, the universe will always find a way to bring them together. Varun, Ahana, Malvika and Garima were meant to be together. We can never choose the way life is going to turn out but we can choose the way we spend each moment. Four people with different dreams had decided to stay under one roof. Friendship is a two-way street and requires effort from both sides. How strong was their friendship going to be—only time would tell!

  Friends Are Forever, Boys Are Whatever

  It was a lazy Sunday morning. Without a care in the world, the three girls were fast asleep in their respective rooms. Suddenly Ahana’s phone beeped. It was Malvika. For a moment Ahana thought that Malvika was not at home and asked, From where are you texting?

  Malvika: From my bedroom.

  Ahana: What do you mean??

  Malvika: I mean I am inside my bedroom and too lazy to get up and come out.

  Ahana: You are such a bitch! I was in the middle of a beautiful dream when you texted.

  Malvika: I am going to order some healthy breakfast today. I seriously need to start eating healthy. Have piled on so many kilos eating outside food.

  Ahana: Bitch please. Spare me and go to sleep. And DND.

  DND was of course short for Do Not Disturb.

  Good girls are made of sugar and spice, but these girls were made of vodka on ice.

  After a few hours of lazing around in her bed doing nothing other than Facebooking, Malvika sneaked into Ahana’s room and picked up a packet of potato chips from Ahana’s bedside table. Ahana had planned to dig in to it while watching Gossip Girl or Friends.

  Ahana woke up to see Malvika eating the chips and yelled, ‘Put those aside. I had bought them for munching on later. And madam, you were supposed to eat healthy, right?’

  ‘Calories don’t count when it’s your roommate’s food,’ she winked.

  ‘Such an ass you are.’ Ahana threw a pillow at her.

  Garima got up to ask why they were shouting. Ahana pointed towards the so-called ‘healthy food’ Malvika was binging on.

  ‘Yes, she always eats healthy. Yesterday she ate more than half of my BBQ chicken pizza with extra cheese.’ Garima laughed as she kicked Malvika from the back.

  Finally, everyone gave up on the idea of eating healthy and Garima decided to make pasta for lunch.

  In the meantime, Ahana was busy clicking selfies in front of the mirror to upload on her Instagram account.

  ‘What’s with the sexy pose? Are you clicking selfies to seduce someone?’ Malvika teased her.

  ‘Darling, I don’t need to seduce anyone. Guys surrender with just one glance from me.’

  ‘Oh please.’

  ‘That’s Ahana for you, sweetheart.’ Ahana laughed.

  Malvika went close to Ahana and started rolling her fingers down her neck as if seducing her. Both of them pouted in front of the mirror and clicked pictures like models posing on the ramp at Lakmé Fashion Week. They took off their tops and clicked a few more selfies in just a bra and shorts. Of course, these pictures were for their own personal fun and not to be uploaded on Instagram.

  ‘Are mine a good size?’ Malvika asked, pointing towards her boobs and comparing them with Ahana’s in the mirror.

  ‘They are perfect. Now stop behaving like lesbians and come out for lunch!’ Garima screamed, standing by the door and gesturing at them to come out.

  ‘You want to join us in our selfies? We will upload them and make everyone jealous,’ Malvika asked.

  ‘If I join, it will not be a selfie. It will be a groupfie.’ She winked and added, ‘Anyway, if you point the camera away from yourself for once, you just might find someone interesting on the other side.’

  ‘Don’t start your psychology class again.’

  The pasta was amazing and everyone pounced on it. Once done, they started watching an episode of Friends where Monica asks Chandler, ‘Do you want our guy to be your guy?’ which made Ahana inquire about Malvika’s previous relationships.

  ‘I just wished we could have taken it slow for a little bit. You know, I just wish we could be like . . . on a break . . . and I could just do whatever I wanted to back then,’ said Malvika, reminiscing about her relationship.

  Ahana laughed and asked Garima about hers.

  ‘I am not ready to be in a relationship just yet,’ Garima stated.

  Malvika realized Garima was not comfortable answering questions about relationships and butted in. ‘I will date your guy only if he smells incredible. Else he can buzz off. Tell me about your first kiss. Was it as good as they show in pictures and novels?’ Malvika asked Ahana.

  ‘I don’t take relationships seriously. But my boyfriend was really dumb in the beginning. We used to take the same salsa class and once while practising I whispered in his ears that I was thirsty and needed something to drink. He guided me towards the filter. He was a geek, I guess. He couldn’t understand my signs. When the practice was over and we were in his car driving back home, I gave him a seductive look and held his hand. I told him to slow down at the corner of the road as it was dark. For a moment there was silence and then he started explaining about the music system in his car. His constant blabbering pissed me off. I simply moved towards him and thrust my body upon him. “You are too dumb to handle hints,” I said and smooched him deeply. He was completely shocked. Maybe we should have watched porn first to get him more comfortable.’

  Malvika couldn’t control her laughter upon hearing this. Their gossip continued
for some time. Garima was enjoying all the fun even though she didn’t participate in the discussion much.

  ‘What ridiculous things have you done in a relationship?’ Ahana asked Malvika.

  ‘I would secretly spy on my boyfriend and if I found him flirting with another girl, I would do the same with other guys just to grab his attention. I hated all his female friends for no reason. I would tell him I was jealous of his other female friends but would add “just kidding” to the sentences I actually meant because I didn’t want to hurt him. I used to read his messages when alone. After our break-up there were so many songs that would remind me of him and I totally loved it when he tried to make up after a huge fight. I had even planned my wedding, kids and life with him but things don’t always go as per plan. Now I feel that it was just an attraction, nothing else,’ Malvika stated.

  Though the three of them were away from home, they had created such a strong bond with each other that it felt like a family. Things would have gotten really lonely otherwise. They talked trash, they laughed and even cried together—it was the kind of therapy that money can’t buy. Friendships are what make us strong when we feel weak, happy when we feel sad and comforted when we feel alone.

  ‘Ahana, are you leaving?’ Malvika asked.

  ‘Yes. In some time,’ she answered from the bathroom.

  Ahana had to meet her boyfriend Sid and was about to leave. Malvika was removing her clothes that were drying on the clothes line in the balcony when suddenly her bra fell down at the feet of a man who lived in the same society. He instantly started screaming at the girls.

  ‘Don’t you have any shame? You girls ruin the culture in the society by coming late at night in a drunken state and now you can’t even take care of your underthings!’ He pointed at the bra fallen on the ground as he shouted at them.

  Ahana heard him yelling and came out running from the washroom. ‘That must be Verma for sure. Today I’m going to teach him a lesson and make sure he never messes with us again,’ she muttered under her breath.

  Meanwhile Verma continued, ‘I am going to complain about you girls at the next society meeting. I will not take it—’

  Before he could complete his sentence, Ahana came to the balcony. This was not the first time such an episode had occurred. Earlier too he had created a scene and Ahana had shut him up.

  ‘Oye, Mr Chutiye, did your mother not teach you how to talk to girls? And does your wife know about your affair with the bhabi next door? Should I tell her what you are up to when she goes for a walk in the evening? Bloody rascal, now you will teach us how to behave?’

  Mr Verma didn’t expect Ahana to do such straight-talking. The girls rejoiced as he bowed his head in embarrassment and walked away.

  ‘Don’t listen to such perverts. If you act weak in front of these people, they will dominate you. Now he will never dare to mess with us again. Remember this always,’ Ahana explained to Malvika.

  ‘I understand. But what about my bra? It’s still lying on the ground!’

  All three of them looked at each other and broke out laughing. Ahana was smart and bold enough to speak her mind without fearing the consequences. She knew how to deal with tough situations on her own. She was not a woman who needed a man—she was a woman a man needed!

  After the incident, she left for Belapur in her car to meet Sid. He was a gym trainer who had completed his American College of Sports Medicine certification in personal training and was working with Red Gym in Sea Woods. Ahana and Sid had met at the gym a few weeks ago when Sid had been assigned to train Ahana. His good looks and well-built physique had attracted Ahana and they became close during the training sessions. Sid knew Ahana came from an extremely rich family and didn’t want to miss an opportunity to date her especially since she lived away from her parents. It was just a passing affair but as each day went by, Sid became more serious about the relationship and wanted to sustain it.

  Ahana reached the lounge where Sid was waiting for her.

  ‘You look gorgeous,’ Sid exclaimed, admiring her red tube top and black skirt.

  Being an aspiring fashion designer, Ahana knew how to put a good outfit together. She smiled and gave him a warm hug as they went inside to the more private section of the lounge on the upper floor. Grabbing their seats in a corner of the lounge, they ordered a mint-flavoured hookah along with some French fries.

  ‘What is the secret to your beauty? I can just look at you for hours,’ Sid said admiringly.

  ‘Stop being so filmy.’ She smirked.

  He went closer to her and slowly moved his hand up her thigh. There was no one on the upper floor and they had all the liberty to do as they pleased. He held her by her waist and gave her the wildest kiss ever. Ahana moved her hands over his pants and moaned. They were so engrossed in each other that they didn’t even see the waiter standing by with the hookah and a wicked smile on his face. Ahana hurriedly pulled down her skirt while Sid sat up straight. After placing the hookah on the table, the waiter remarked, ‘You can continue,’ before leaving.

  Ahana maintained a distance this time as they enjoyed the hookah, exhaling smoke rings. Ahana wanted to inform Sid that her friend Varun was soon going to be shifting to her apartment. When she did, he didn’t take it very well.

  ‘Don’t tell me you are serious! You will stay with a guy in the same apartment and you think I will be okay with it?’ Sid shouted.

  She looked around to check if somebody could hear their conversation. Thankfully, there was not a person in sight.

  ‘I am not asking for your permission. I am simply informing you. And if you don’t trust me, you can just go to hell. I don’t care. I am not your slave and I won’t dance to your tune. Be a man, don’t be so insecure. You have to accept me the way I am. I don’t like restrictions and until date I have lived life my way. No one can stop me from doing that. Not even you.’

  ‘Who do you think you are? If you girls are so desperate, I can give you the fun you want. Why do you want a stranger in your house?’

  The mention of her friends angered Ahana even more. He had no business including them in their personal fight. Ahana couldn’t take it any longer. She grabbed her bag and left in anger. Sid tried to stop her but she had made up her mind. No one, not even Sid, could step on her or her friends’ dignity.

  All relationships come with their fair share of fights. Sid stood there helplessly. He knew Ahana was not like other girls who would submit to a man’s wishes. The only choice he had was to accept Ahana the way she was. There was nothing wrong in doing this. When you love someone, you accept the person with all their flaws. She was not betraying him in any way. Sid knew he had overreacted in aggression.

  A man raising his voice can shock and threaten a woman, but a woman’s silence can thoroughly shake the consciousness of a man, and Sid was completely shaken!

  ‘Where are you? We have reached PVR,’ said Malvika over the phone to Ahana. It was a Sunday and they had decided to watch a movie together.

  ‘I will reach in five minutes. Just parking the car in the basement,’ Ahana replied and disconnected.

  Ahana was slightly disturbed by Sid’s behaviour. Since they weren’t serious about each other as yet, she didn’t expect him to impinge on her freedom and decisions. Obviously, her life was her own and Sid’s attitude reflected his insecurity more than care. That had actually hurt her more. Resolving not to think much about it, she set off to enjoy the evening with Malvika and Garima.

  ‘That’s my tee, you whore,’ Ahana screamed as she reached the theatre and saw Malvika at the ticket counter wearing her T-shirt.

  ‘I was getting late. I don’t know why it takes my hair so damn long to dry. Then I didn’t find anything good in my closet to wear for today. I was like, “Not this outfit. Nope, not this either. No. No. Hate this one. Yikes, why do I still own that one? No. Nope.” Then Garima finally suggested that I raid your closet. And I was jealous. Why do you have a better wardrobe than me? Then I thought I should steal your S
uperman tee for the movie.’

  ‘I just hate sharing my clothes.’

  ‘Don’t worry. You can wear my lingerie for the entire week,’ Malvika added.

  Garima couldn’t control her laughter at the annoyed look on Ahana’s face. There was nothing she could do now. All three of them went inside the theatre and took their seats. There was a guy sitting at the extreme left next to Ahana. The movie started and, after some time, Ahana could feel a hand caressing her bare back. She had come wearing a tube top. A few seconds later, she could feel another hand grazing her thigh. For a moment she thought it was Malvika but looking sideways she saw that Malvika was quietly watching the movie. She realized it was an unfamiliar touch when she felt the roughness of the hand. It frightened her for a second, but suddenly she turned towards his side and slapped the person hard enough to make him fall off his seat. As she got up, she kicked and stomped hard on his groin twice and ran, signalling for Malvika and Garima to come with her. From the back door, all three of them made a quick getaway and ran until they reached the elevator. Once in, Garima asked her what had happened.