Let Me Come Home to You

the first look

Meera's pov

"Ayoo ivan vera, irukkuradhula!" (Despite of everything I have to put up with him as well) I sigh in frustration and continue knocking on the door. I have been standing in front of Varun, my neighbor's door for the past ten minutes. But the one thing I did not expect in front of my sight is him. Who's this? Why is he so hot? Tired eyes, dishevelled hair, thin lips. It's like my mind went into a haze for a second. I can feel the lipstick dry on my lips because I have unconsciously made an oh shape. How embarrassing? "You are not Varun." I state.

"I am not." He tugs a small smile at the corner of my lips. A sudden realization hit me. Is this guy, Varun's boyfriend? One night stand? Is Varun gay? "Is he not here?" I ask the curly haired sculpture in front of me. "He is out. Should I convey something?"

"No. I mean yes. No. Umm-" He looks at me amusingly like he is sourcing entertainment from my stutter. "He has my fish. I came to get it back." He points to my thanga meen (gold fish) on a chest of drawers. "Is that yours?" I say yes and he goes to get it for me. The grey tshirt and the shorts and the smirk and the charisma. Get your head out of the gutter Meera. This is not you. Be the nice, perfect girl you have been all your life. I get the bowl from him making sure I don't touch his beautiful hands even by a slight mistake. "Thank You." I force a curt smile and leave.

I step inside my apartment only to get shocked by my own actions. Why did I catch myself looking at the mirror? Why would I think I should have worn that cotton kurti that enhances my body shape instead of the maroon top with outdated frills. This is not you. This is not you. This is not you. I chant to myself like it's the one mantra to keep me grounded. What is Varun is actually gay and the guy I saw over there is actually his boyfriend? It should be. As I stand in front of the mirror, I look at the photos stuck around the mirror. Pictures from all my life and my roommate's. You see, coming from a small town and a family which thrived on the notion that falling in love will bring down the reputation and being constantly reminded of that will not give you the freedom to even eye someone. What if, it accidentally turns into something more? I tell myself it is just a fleeting moment. This is what families like this will bring you. You do not cherish the said fleeting moment and smile to yourself. You panic and try to regulate the one thing that cannot be regulated. Attraction.

Regulating your emotions was one thing. You think about how to reject reciprocity when it wouldn't even be reciprocated. That will bring you insecurity issues on a gold platter. Like right now. Why was I wearing these pants? It was evident to his eyes that I was pear shaped and not the sexy kind.

"Oi" Nive distracts me from my train of thoughts. "Oh hi. I did not notice you came home. Weekend la veetu saapadu. Jolly dha. (Home cooked food during the weekends. Must have been fun.)" I tell her and continue looking at myself. "Let's talk about you. How was the work trip?" She asks and I tell her about the meetings and unreasonable people I had to deal with. "Thangam is back" She looks at our fish.

"Yeah so.."

"Spill." She says.

"I went to get Thangam back from Varun. He was not home and there was another guy instead."

"Okay?"

"Do you think Varun is gay?" I ask her.

Her face instantly morphs an expression of 'are you serious?'. "Varun is not gay."

"How can we be sure?" We hear the door bell ring. "It must be the amazon order. I'll go get it." I say and leave the place.

Aadhith's pov

"Yenda oru breaduh packet vaangitu vara ivlo nerama? (Would you take so much time for buying bread)" I ask Varun as he starts making his famous chicken sandwiches. "Indha pechuh mayiruku oru korachal illa. (You speak so well). You could have gone to get it but no. You had to sleep your ass off."

"I returned the gold fish like you said." He looks at me. "Did you tell her Varun took good care of it?" He asks me with curiosity. This is not good. "No? Why should I?" I ask him as a matter of fact. "Because, the one who came to get the fish back is the one I'm trying to woo, my brother." That was it. That statement was enough to shut my senses about that beauty from the evening. Brown skin that glowed, those puckered lips, those thighs. Those damned thighs. "Why?"

He looks at me like its very obvious. "Bro. Paathela neeye (You saw her yourself). Nive is like the epitome of perfection. Very articulate, kind and that sass. Full package, Macha." Her name was Nive and he was right. She was the epitome of perfection. What I did not like was Varun describing her with awe. I came late into the picture. To be more precise, I came just a couple of days ago. But I did not like it. Aadhith Shekar Kumar. This was it. Varun is your best friend. Paithiyam maadhiri yosikkadha da. (Don't think stupid)

After an hour, he finishes his sandwiches and mentions he would invite Nive everytime he made those sandwiches. Neighbours should not be fraternising this much. The door bell rings. He gets up to get the door. I'm sprawled on the couch when I hear him say, "Hi, ulla vaanga." I arch backwards to see Nive and another woman with her. That is when I realise he took so much effort in the presentation infront of me for these people.

"Guys, this is Aadhith. Aadhith, these are my friends and they live next door. You met her in the morning." I smile and they take seats like they were so used to it. Both of them wear in their loungewear. I was the one that was new to this dinner party. I look at her grey sweats flared and fit at the right places and man the way her thighs moved when she sat down. Chei. Un friend paakuraan avala. Poriki maari pannadha. (Your best friend is seeing her. Don't act like a pervert.) I tell myself and focus on the sandwiches. I was wallowing in hate. She was fully focused on Varun and did not spare a single glance at me. That was my sign. I should be a gentleman and leave her alone.

The devil could not reach me so he put me in this situation. "So what do you do, Aadhith?" The other one asks me and I tell about how I just took over my dad's business here. "So yeah, I take care of things at our office at the moment." I take a sip of the vanilla shake.

"Nive, andha shake konjo pass panriya? (Nive, can you pass me the shake?)" I hear her ask and it felt like my soul came back to my body.

"Nive?" I call out. And the other one responds. I look at the beauty from the evening and tell her. "I thought you were Nive."

She looks at me, confusion evident on her face. And on mine. That is when I hear my bro's voice.

"This is Meera."