Love Me Like You Do

CHAPTER 4

The week after the meeting went by quickly. Tina and Ranvijay connected on text messages and calls, as Ranvijay thought of meeting her and clearing the misunderstandings and all the anger he had for her therefore, they planned a meet and a chit-chat session for both for them three days later the official meeting.

When they met, in the start it was uncomfortable and awkwardness surrounding the air, but with time it again went back to what it used to be, the fun and carefree Ranvijay for the close people and the ones who knows him and the Tina who used to laugh more than being serious and used to c***k lame jokes, the version of herself who in all these years only Arnav had seen. Tina still remained her old version of herself only in front of Arnav, because she felt that since he lost everything at such a tender age the only thing, he shouldn’t lose in the process of a better future is his sister.

Tina told Ranvijay about her life in Germany and the reasons she left unannounced and also apologized for the inconvenience caused to him due to her, for all the police interrogation and questions he had to answer to her so-called extended family because of her.

Ranvijay also told her about his college life, his post-graduation in the best institute in the country, and also how he got selected for the company he is currently working in. He told her everything about his life, his friends and all keeping just two things from her for the time being. Him being the CEO and how his ex-girlfriend in the college broke him beyond amendments and repairs. Similarly, for Tina, she also told him everything about herself except for the topics of her being the CEO and her love life. She also made sure not to touch the topics concerning her past life with her family.

“Ahh! Ranvijay, I need to take this call.” She told him while picking up her phone, and getting up from the seat.

“You know that right, you can take this call over here only. Only if it is not your boyfriend’s call” he told her smirking with teasing in his eyes.

“Sure.” She took his teasing quite really seriously and picked up the call-in front of him, and hearing what the person on the other line said only gave her more stress.

The call was from her broker who was helping her choose her new house in Mumbai, but as expected they couldn’t find the house Tina was looking for. She needed a spacious and modern house with her vibe and aesthetic touch to it but the broker couldn’t find her one. Money wasn’t a problem in her case still all the options that were in front of her weren’t appealing enough to her and Arnav both.

He told her that there were no more houses he could show to her, and the type of house she was looking for is very difficult to be found in Mumbai. But Tina knows finding her type of house could be difficult but not impossible. The broker wasn’t showing her the best houses yet and she didn’t know the reason, might have thought that she couldn’t afford the place or whatever the reason be but it couldn’t be possible that she could not find the home of her dreams in the city that is known to be fulfilling everyone’s dream.

Ranvijay heard Tina’s side of the conversation and also saw how worried she looked with whatever the other person was saying, he wanted to help in some way but didn’t know how. In the past week, while talking to her on call and texts and seeing her perspective towards life he got to know that whatever she does, it’s with dignity and she doesn’t like to depend on anyone for anything, but still, Tina was relatively new to the city and he had been living over there for quite some time now and had a very nice idea of the place.

“Mind if I could help you with the issue bothering you?” He asked her as she hung up the call.

“Umm….I’ll tell you but I guess there is least you could do in this.” She said as she grabbed her spoon again and continued to eat. “So, as you know I and Arnav just came back from Germany and currently we are living in a suite of a hotel we wanted to shift to a place we could call home before Arnav went back but unluckily these brokers are unable to find us the type of place we are looking for and that broker called me to inform that he couldn’t help me.” She told him casually as if it was no big deal.

“So, which type of house you are looking for? Might I be of some help?” He offered to know so that he could help her find the right house for her.

She told him her needs and that money is not a problem really but still the brokers couldn’t find her the required house. He promised her that he would help her find the house and now that she didn’t need any broker to help her with the house, he would be doing that.

Tina didn’t know how he could help her but she trusted him, Ranvijay always used to have a way out of everything, and now also since he seemed so confident that he could help her find the house she knows that he would do that.

The remaining of the day also went by in a blur, they spent the entire day with each other, talking, roaming around gossiping, and reliving the old memories. The day that started with just a quick coffee session because they both needed to go to the office after turned out to be an official break day for both of them. They made excuses and skipped the office as both of them couldn’t find in themselves to leave the comfort they were feeling after so many years and also the fun they were having. Ranvijay and Tina decided that a day's break from the office won’t hurt both of them and since both of them were the CEO they could take a leave without thinking a lot.

The entire day they explored the city, Ranvijay toured his favorite spots of the town, went to various cafes and street food stalls, walked in parks, enjoyed the fantastic Ferris wheel ride, and ended their day with a stroll talking endlessly over ice cream. Both of them could not imagine how much they could talk; Tina hasn’t talked this much in years and Ranvijay hasn’t ever expressed himself or talked so senselessly to sensible except for his friends. He has never expressed himself in front of anyone as the way he expressed himself in front of Tina.

He dropped her at the hotel she had been staying at and promised her that the next time he would drop her at her home and also that he would help her shift in her new home once she finals it, and also that he would soon text her when he would find her perfect condo and they would go to explore the place.

“Why don’t you come inside? I guess coffee won’t be a bad idea and I could explain to you exactly what type of house I want since you seem so bent on being my broker but only if you want to listen.” She told him.

And truth be told Ranvijay felt so happy for the first time in so many years and also with her, he felt emotions he could never imagine he was capable of feeling; he didn’t want to go back to his house and when Tina also said the same without a second thought, he came inside with her to her hotel room. The entire time in the lift he was flirting with her and she was also reverting back his flirts, both were very casual about it and knew it was just friendship between them as Tina wasn’t ready for anything and Ranvijay was afraid of relationships, they already talked in the morning regarding the fact that they would still remain friends like they used to be in college.

Tina knew she was feeling something different about Ranvijay what she hasn’t felt about anyone in all these years but only for him, but they had already talked about it and no matter what, whatever they are having right now is only friendship and nothing more and could also not turn into anything else.

She took him into her suite and Ranvijay was actually shocked to see the type of room she was staying in; he knew she was in Germany and might have earned a lot over there and also by the power that was vested in her she is at a good position in the company she’s working for but to afford to stay at a place like that she must be filthy rich. Ranvijay knew this because staying at a suite like that was very common for him but for her this is great.

He was impressed that she did achieve so much with all the hard work and struggle really paid off. She went on to make coffee for him in the kitchen of the suite while he was busy inspecting the room, he saw that her room was highly cleaned and maintained looking into the fact that there were two people living over there and also that they have been staying over there for more than a month he expected the place to be some sort of a mess but the room was well maintained.

He searched the entire suite for Arnav but couldn’t find him, he thought that he might be out with his friends and enjoying his teen days like Ranvijay himself used to. He knew how fun it is to be out with friends enjoying your life, reliving your childhood memories the memories of your school and college. Till the point he was analyzing the suite, the coffee was ready and Tina called him bringing him out of his stance.

Both of them stood on the balcony sipping on their coffees. And it was quite late in the night and there was no sign of Arnav and Tina was also looking relaxed, so he could not contain his curiosity and asked her about the whereabouts of Arnav, also because he wanted to meet the guy who is the most important in Tina’s life and as he is her only family, he had the urge to meet him as he has met everyone’s family in their friend circle.

“Tina where is Arnav? I didn’t see him and this room also looks like no boy lives here.” He told her laughing at the last sentence

“Ohh, so are you that clumsy? That a clean room for you means no boy?” Tina also continued with the question.

“That, yes I’m hell clumsy, and a room this clean is a rarity for boys I can ensure you that atleast.” He signaled inside her room.

“Okay, so I take it Arnav is no different when it comes to really messed up room, but he is better than you I think by the way you are explaining yourself. He is not that messy and cleans his room once in a long long while.” She laughed remembering how Arnav use to clean the house when left completely on him.

“Obviously, we boys are nothing without the ladies in our lives. Like talking about myself, I’m completely useless without my mom, grandmother, and sister and also my girl best friends. Without all those by my side, I could not survive a day even. I’m what I’m because I know they have my back.” He told her smiling and eyes glistening with gratitude.

“Glad to know there are still people who could so openly confess they need women in their lives, rather than being the alpha males and shouting out to the world they could conquer the world without any women in their lives.” She really admired the answer Ranvijay gave him.

“By the way, where is Arnav? I really want to meet the guy who you pegged is almost alike me even after living with you.” He teased her.

“Ahh, Arnav wasn’t lucky enough to see the place we could call home in Mumbai before he left back to Germany.” She told him thinking he would understand.

“What do you mean left for Germany?” he asked her shocked that Arnav is no longer here in Mumbai with her and she is living alone in this hotel room.

“Didn’t I tell you?... Ohh, sorry I forgot to mention. Arnav is still studying in Germany only; he is not yet ready to come back to India and also, I Don’t want him to study here. Atleast not till he is of legal age.” She tells her seriously.

“So, he is going to be alone in Berlin? Damn, that is a lot to manage at such an early age. I can’t even imagine being alone in a country when just in high school.” He told her flabbergasted because he really could not imagine being alone at such an early age and there, he realized what all Tina might have gone through being alone at such a small age taking care of her younger brother also.

“Yes, he is going to live there only, in our home. He feels that the country is more of a home for us rather than this. This place has only given us scars and horrible memories.” She said with sadness in her eyes. “And moreover, the thing is he is still underage, and keeping him here means taking a lot of risks and I can’t afford to lose him at any cost.”

“Don’t worry, you guys have faced more worse than this. Leaving India was more of a task than coming back over here, so stop worrying about that and focus on finding the perfect home for both of you, before Arnav comes back for his vacation. He doesn’t deserve to live in a hotel room but a place he could call his home in this city and the country he is running from.”

“You really know how to enlighten the mood, don’t you Ranvijay?”

“Ahh, well what could I say, I’m the jock of the party no? And also, on a serious note Tina what I said just now isn’t some joke, it’s the truth. I’ll help you with the house but, trust me you guys have been through hell and this is just the beginning of the happily ever after for you in here.”