She sat silently after rechecking the contents of her bag. It felt weird to be in a stranger's home. The fact that he was an Indian helped. Maybe it was the human instinct. Glancing around his home, she knew he was more of a family man kind. Not many men take the care of having family photos framed. Maybe he lived with someone else. There were two rooms. 

"Umm, the food is almost ready. Would you like to freshen up before?" His voice shook her out of her thoughts and she looked ta him. 

"Yeah, I would appreciate that." She gave a grateful smile. 

He nodded his head, "this way."

She didn't have much clothes. She decided to change into her simple pajamas after washing up. She combed her hair and tied them up in a bun. As she stared at the mirror her mind began racing. What should be her next step? For now, she could use Omkara's hospitality. Poor man thought he had hurt her. But what after that? Sighing she walked out. 

"Ahh, this towel..where should I put it?" She asked patting the wet towel he had given her to use. 

"I will take that." He answered walked towards her. 

"No, just tell me..I will..." She quickly offered. 

"Cool. That door leads to a small balcony." he pointed and returned to the kitchen. 

Awkwardly, she walked to the balcony. There were clay pots bordering the small balcony. Climbers decorating the grill. The balcony was indeed small but well maintained, cozy and pretty. She shut the door after hanging her towel on the rope. It totally gave her India feels. "You have a really cute and pretty balcony. In fact, your house is really pretty." She complimented standing behind the chair of the small round dining table he had.

"Thanks!" He responded placing the hotpot on the table. "Why don't you sit?" He spoke before disappearing into the kitchen. She saw him open a closet and bring out two glasses. 

"You stay alone?" She asked wanting to put her curiosity to an end. 

"Yes. Alone. I have put an advertisement for a roommate though. No luck yet." He told her, sitting on the chair. 

She nodded sitting on the chair. "You haven't eaten yet?" She asked when he scooped the fried rice and filled it into two plates. It was almost four and nearing dawn. 

He smiled, "A little midnight munching is always welcome, isn't it?" He replied smiling. 

Omkara couldn't believe he felt so nice in someone's company. Maybe because he had deprived himself of such form of human company. 

"Thank you so much." She uttered smiling gratefully. He smiled formally acknowledging her gratitude. Although the fried rice wasn't well made, she had no complaints. Her hunger was finally satisfied. Omkara was surprised at how tastefully she ate the dinner. He wasn't that good a cook, he knew that. Perhaps she was starving. There was something about her, an aura of mystery, her eyes held secrets and...pain? 

Omkara quickly took a sip of water realizing he was doing it again. He mustn't try to read pain. Must not show compassion. All of it would only lead to him being hurt in the end. He pressed his lips together. 

"What do you do for a living?" She asked as an idea started to form in her head.

"I umm, an art teacher." He answered looking up at her. She had beautiful eyes. They were doe shaped and had pools of light brown.

"What kind of flatmate are you looking for?" She asked curiously. 

"Umm, a simple person with uncomplicated life ways. A decent income to be able to pay the rent. Why do you ask?" He looked at her carefully.

"Umm, I am new in this city. I have to look for a place to stay. As of now, I am unemployed. But in a week or two, I expect to find some sort of job. Would you be interested? I mean I can pay a little advance." She added the latter, warily.

He stared at her dumbfounded, "Are you serious?"

She shrugged and mumbled, "I don't really know anyone in this city."

"How can you trust me so easily?" He asked stupefied. 

"You could have left me on the road. You chose to bring me here, discounting well that I could lodge a complain against you. At midnight, you took the pain of cooking for me. You don't seem creepy. You have pictures of your family in the living room. It's hard to not trust you." She gave him a genuine smile.

"And...why must I trust you?" He asked looking at her squarely. Her gaze flickered as her confidence slipped. 

Omkara smiled as the look of realization slowly flickered on her face. "I am Gauri Verma!" She spoke holding out her hand for him to shake. 

Omkara was only going to nod, however, he also shook her hand not wanting to be rude. He regretted it the moment he did, cause he felt her coldness seep into his warm skin. The contact was oddly electric. She smiled pulling back her hand.

"There is something amiss." Omkara began after overcoming the shock. "I don't trust strangers." 

Not anymore. 

"You're nothing less. For an Indian girl to roam on the streets of New Jersey so late, pale and starving with nothing more than a bag. Can't digest that as normal. Who are you running from?"

Gauri's eyes widened a wee bit at his question. She ran her fingers at the side of her neck. "Why would I run from someone?" She said causually, smiling. 

Omkara's lips tilted upwards into a snide smile. He placed his elbows on the table lunging his body slightly forward. "Lie." 

Gauri gulped, sitting back in her chair. 

"Spill the beans if you'd want to make a deal." He further added.

Gauris sighed, "why do you think I am running from someone?" She asked after briefly sipping some water. 

"It was a guess. You confirmed it with your reaction."

"Are you a psychoanalyst or something?" She asked meeting his eyes. 

Weird although, but that did make him smile. "No. It's just that you lie terribly." 

Gauri chuckled, "was it that bad?" 

"You don't even think before lying. It's as though when you're speaking out loud, when you decide to lie. No thought put into it at all. Plus, you tried lying about your name."

"Impressive." Gauri commented, thinking if she should tell her story to him. 

"Just don't lie. I hate liars." He stated sitting back in his seat. His eyes not leaving her. She was beautiful. Her eyes grew wide. Her nose looked cute and her lips like plump petals. Her portrait would be any artist's masterwork. His eyes paid attention to the strands of hair that had escaped her bun. She looked so pretty without putting any efforts. Indeed, she was blessed with natural beauty. Her cheeks fair, had a shade of pink now. 

"There are family reasons." She began and he looked at her unconvinced. "I didn't want to marry a guy my dad found for me. So I ran away." She spoke without a pause. 

He stared at her,"what!"

"I was being forced." She spoke in a hushed voice lowering her gaze as her smile transformed into a tight line. 

"So you ran away.." he mused. The henna on her hands now made more sense.

"I have no regrets." She replied sighing. "If I hadn't I...I can't even imagine myself trapped in that marriage, with that jerk." Her eyes expressed anger. 

Omkara took a deep breath. "Where are you from?"

Gauri looked up at him and answered. "Nashville, Tennessee." 

"You ran away or walked out? There's a difference." He added 

"Ran away. Didn't have the freedom to walk out." She stated in a soft voice. 

Omkara nodded not questioning any further. He rose from his chair, "come on I will show you the spare room. It's a little crowded with my stuff." He offered to pick up her now empty plate. She nodded in a no and picked it up herself, following him into the kitchen. 

Once the table was clear, he led her to the room. It wasn't big but it was tastefully kept. Against the wall were paintings. He began moving one. "Hey, let it be." Gauri suggested and he turned to her. 

"Sure?"

She nodded in affirmation. "Alright then, sleep a while I will clear his room later. You can stay.."

Gauri smiled, gratitude cascading in her smile. "Uhh, what's the rent I have to pay?" 

Omkara stared at her.  "Four Hundred and Fifty Dollars?" 

Gauri worked out the maths in her mind for a minute. "Cool!" She smiled. 

He stared at her briefly nodding. "Come here, I will show you the .." he indicated towards the washroom. "Left side for hot water and the right for cold. The switch to the bulb above the mirror is here. That's the switch for the tube. And..that one for the exhaust." He explained and walked out. 

Looking at the cupboards of the room he remembered that he had filled them with the extra stuff. "Hey," he turned around she was close behind him and stepped back at his sudden movement. 

"Sorry." He muttered before continuing to tell that, "the cupboards are filled with stuff too. I will clear them later. You get some sleep." He said stepping out of the room. 

She quickly held the door open. "Umm Omkara, thank you for everything." 

Omkara's eyes didn't leave hers. He could easily declare that she was a person who smiled with her eyes. He nodded briefly and wished a quick good night turning away. He heard the door shut and the lock click. He exhaled heavily and walked to switch off the lights of the living area. 

He was walking over to his room when he heard the door open. It was surely her. He headed back to switch on the light. As the room was illuminated again, he saw her bending to pick her bag up. His eyes unintentionally caught glimpse of her cleavage which was very amply visible as she bent, courtesy the loose tshirt. The deep green bra was a perfect contrast to her skin complexion.

What the hell!

"Hey, I forgot my bag." She spoke sheepishly as she looked up at him. Omkara nodded, blinking awkwardly, his eyes refusing to meet hers after that. She wished a "see yaa" and hurried back into the room. Omkara walked to his room after locking the main door. He sat on his bed reflecting on whatever had happened in the past few hours. 

He needed to a shower to relax. He wondered why he so easily agreed to let her stay. Was he repeating his same old ways? Trusting someone, relating to their pain, struggle and journey?

But somehow she seemed different. Her smile ... it was strangely a source of warmth. She seemed like the easy cure to his loneliness. If not a friend, at least, a flatmate could make him feel better. Besides, there was something so alluring about her that he was wanted to be around her. In days, he hadn't felt so nice around someone as he instantly felt around her. He needed sleep, he concluded. Percase after a much needed good sleep he could think straight again.

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-Anami!♡