Move in

"The rent and the maintenance are real. I did not know honestly. When I looked st her, I felt something and she suddenly said yes to my previous request on curtains. So I tried adding to actually understand what is happening and asked for furniture and she said yes to that too. I swear I did not do anything or do I know how to do it again," Inaya opened upto Johan.

Johan exhaled and sat back on his couch. "I trust you, relax, but don't get into any unnecessary trouble," he let it go after giving her a warning. "She must have wondered why she agreed to it, agywr you left," Johan thought about it and said to Inaya.

"I'm sure she did. Or at least the daughter would say it to her mother," Inaya sat back too, with a cushion in her lap, looking at the blank wall. "Good house but so blank," she passed her opinion.

"Just like my life," he said.

"Why would you say that?" Inaya did not like it. "It is upto us, to make it look colourful, wall or life," Inaya educated him. Johan smiled.

"New house, new life," Johan said.

"Yes, for now," Inaya relaxed. Probably the first time since the incident.

"I felt hurt when I think that you hid it from me for all these days," Johan opened up.

"I wanted it to be a surprise," Inaya made it clear.

"Yeah, I get it," Johan found no point talking about it.

"Live well." Johan wished and said nothing further.

*********

*********

It was moving day and Inaya had other two bags of her clothes to carry.

"Let me carry that," Johan rushed towards Inaya, helping her carry her luggage, while walking up the flight of steps.

"Thank you," Inaya felt glad.

"How are you going manage the rent?" Johan asked the most serious question.

"I have taken another work," Inaya informed him.

"Since when?" Johan was surprised again.

"Near here, there is a department store, they were looking for an evening shift part timer. 6 pm to 10.30 pm. I got it," Inaya said happily.

"You really don't consult anything with anyone," Johan said. "I woukd have helped you if you asked or told me about finding a second income source, I could have tried ways to..." But Inaya stopped him.

"I am sure you will help me. But this was important for me to do it alone," Inaya made it clear. She was clearly drawing a line between her and Johan unaware of it.

Inaya walked down again to get the key from the owner, Prema.

"Hello," she greeted Prema. "Good morning," Prema had just woken up as it was only 7 am in the morning.

"It's the first of the month. You told me I can move in," Inaya said.

"Oh Inaya, yes yes," Prema said rubbing her eyes and yawning. She walked back in to the house to her Inaya her keys. And a few minutesater, she returned back with key. "Take care of my house," Prema said and handed the keys.

"I will for sure," Inaya promised.."I'm sorry if I woke you up," she apologised then.

"No,no," Prema. "Not at all," Prema yawned again and said.

"I will leave then," Inaya took her leave and ran back upstairs, panting and gasping for air. She was super excited to see what all renovation has been done.

Inaya unlocked the door. "Johan, come on," she called the man who stood watching the neighboor from the top.

Inaya opened the door and fell in love. The walls were painted Aqua green and white. The furniture matched the shade of the wall. Off white drawers, white doors and windows, wooden sofa with aqua green cushions. A wooden tea poy painted with wood varnish. Curtains also matched the shade of the wall with white curtains and aqua green net/transparent curtains in the middle to let the sunlight in through the windows. She then walked towards the kitchen where the sink looked brand new. The kitchen cupboards were painted with aqua green and handle black. "This is so good," Inaya was over the top. She then walked to the bedroom which was left empty except a double coat metal bed painted white again. The wardrobes were cleaned and painted white one side of the wall had walls ticker of green leaves and branches with pink flowers in between.

"Is this not good?" Inaya asked feeling super happy. Johan smiled, looking at her, and he tousled her hair.

"It all looks beautiful," he said to make her happy.

"Magical," she corrected him.

"I was not expecting this," she told him. "It's like a dream come true moment.

"Dream?" Johan stopped smiling and looked curious.

"I always wanted to live in a house that had decent facilities. I always wanted to give my parents this, but they...." Inaya's eyes filled with tears. Johan patten Inaya's shoulder.

"You need a mattress, bed spread, a blanket, and few kitchen items," Johan told her, trying to distract her from her line of thoughts.