3.4
596 Words
“Why didn’t you tell me that you own this place?” Ben breaks the silence.
“You never asked.” Ravana pouts.
Ben can't say anything more to this. She is right.
“Do you own the whole area?” Ben wonders.
“No, just this place. This area is a loss project.” Ravana looks around.
“Why only this place?” Ben questions.
Ben starts to think this might be about him. Ravana smiles while holding Ben's hand.
“Come, I will show you!” Ravana pulls Ben.
They walk to the wall. Ravana removes a few things from there and starts to remove the paper wallpaper.
“What are you doing? Miss Joy will kill me!” Ben quakes.
“She can't do anything to me.”
“Oh yeah I forgot you own the place!”
Beneath the wallpaper, something is written there. It's hard to understand.
“Do you have a pencil?” Ravana asks.
“Yeah.”
Ben hands Ravana a pencil. She rubs the pencil lead on the wall and it starts to show.
“Ben, see!” Ravana says with a smile.
Ben is shockingly looking at the wall. It says, "Ravana". Ben looks at Ravana being shocked.
“How?” He asks.
“I used to live here.” Ravana smiles.
Ben keeps looking at Ravana. He is at a loss for words. Ravana smiles at Ben.
“Everyone starts from the bottom, you see. At your age, I also slept in your room and dealt with the same problems you go through.” Ravana states.
“Or maybe more…” Ravana stops for a moment and says again.
Ben doesn’t say anything. He still can't believe whatever is happening. Ravana puts her hand on Ben's shoulder.
“I know and dealt with your problems. And believe me, I enjoyed those problems more. So no need to feel ashamed of it!” Ravana reassures Ben.
Ben's eyes get bigger in shock.
"She sees through me!" Ben thinks.
Ravana looks around the house.
“Waking up here yesterday was the best. I slept so well after a long time.” Ravana rejoices.
They come out of the room and wash their legs at Miss Joy's place.
“Your room won't be fixed for three days. I have no idea how long the smell would last. Where will you live till then? I barely have any room in my house.” Miss Joy asks Ben.
Ben looks down thinking what to do. He doesn’t even have a job now. Where will he go!
“Ben, would you like to stay with me? Until your room gets fixed?” Ravana offers.
Ben looks at her being shocked.
“I live alone and have enough rooms.” Ravana adds.
Ben doesn’t know what to say.
Miss Joy is staring at them from far and thinks, "Stay in her place? When she lives alone?" She swallows air.
“No matter what, it was my fault. So please let me help you.” Ravana stands up and says to Ben.
Ben keeps staring at Ravana.
“If you feel uncomfortable in my house then should I book a hotel room?” Ravana adds.
Ben opens his mouth now.
“No, it's alright. I will stay with you.” Ben softly says.
Ravana smiles at Ben. Ben can't even smile now. His head is going to blast.
"Staying in the same house as her? Why did I even agree? Damn it damn it!" Ben screams in his mind.
His mind is going blank.
- Writer
