The Gang - 3

Things got better with time. Thanks to a lot of pushing by Vikram and Adi, Kunal proposed to Arushi one fine day. It was done in typical filmy style. He had designed a love e-card for her, which looked like a movie ticket. It had names of all the movies they had seen together printed in it. The card page was then designed to fade as the words “I love you” printed in deep red appeared on the hazy background. They had even tried to include Arushi’s favorite song in it, but it had not worked out. So, immediately after mailing the file to Arushi, Kunal ran up to her cubicle and sang the song personally for her as she had opened the attachment. Needless to say, Arushi had acquiesced, impressed with his efforts.

They were always seen together after that. Seeing their intimacy, Vikram who had never bothered to think about girls and relationships suddenly found his own life empty and lonely and dull. Till then love for Vikram was restricted to pairing friends and teasing them.
“My landlord is such a pain in the wrong place” exclaimed Kunal during lunch one day.
“What did he do now?” Vikram asked.
“He is increasing the rent again. He had just increased the rent six months back. He knows I won’t be able to afford the apartment now. Basically, he is harassing me, so that I leave and make way for new tenants. That ways he would get a higher deposit and better rent” He sighed.
“Why don’t you move into my rented apartment? It’s a two BHK and I am staying alone” suggested Adi.
“Why don’t all you guys stay together” recommended Arushi.
“That would be great. Vikram, you could join us too. It would be fun. Why didn’t we think of this earlier man?”
“Let me think about it. I have no reason to leave my current apartment” Vikram said.
“Come on Vikram. We could share one of the rooms. It would really be fun.” Kunal added.
“I ll think and let you guys know” he said.
“You guys start packing. I am expecting you by tomorrow evening” concluded Adi, before he had a chance to say anything else.
The next night, they moved into the flat. The flat was much bigger than the ones they had been staying in. In fact the place reeked of richness. TV, fridge, music player, computer, washing machine, microwave oven…there wasn’t a single thing missing. They were amazed and realizing their dazed expressions Adi just shrugged his shoulders and said with a smiling face. “It’s because of my mom. She wants me to lead a comfortable life wherever I go.”

The following weekend was one of the best ones of their lives.

p.s: Apologies, if the story has started sounding like one of Ekta Kapoor's soaps.