My Roommate is a Ghost… and She Won’t Pay Rent! - Terms & Conditions Apply (Unfortunately for Raghav) - Part 2
Raghav woke up with determination.
Not motivation.
Not confidence.
Just… irritation.
He walked into the hall.
Meera was already awake.
Correction — she never slept.
She just closed her eyes dramatically.
“Good morning,” she said, sipping coffee.
“THAT’S MY COFFEE!”
“Correction,” she smiled.
“Our COFFEE.”
Raghav took a deep breath.
“I’m setting rules.”
Meera clapped.
“Same! I already made a list.”
She pulled out… a paper.
Raghav blinked.
“Ghosts carry stationery?”
“We have time. Lots of it.”
She cleared her throat.
“Rule 1: No screaming when you see me.”
“I LIVE WITH A GHOST!”
“Lower your expectations,” she said calmly.
“Rule 2: Snacks are community property.”
“That’s robbery!”
“That’s socialism.”
“Rule 3: You must talk to me at least 2 hours daily.”
“I have a job!”
“You also had loneliness. I fixed that. You’re welcome.”
“Rule 4: No bringing friends home.”
Raghav laughed.
“Joke’s on you. I don’t have any.”
Meera paused.
“…That’s actually sad. We’ll revisit this.”
“Rule 5: Movie nights every Friday.”
“I don’t agree!”
She stared at him.
Raghav slowly sat down.
“…What are we watching?”
Raghav tried ignoring her.
He opened his laptop.
Started working.
Focused.
Determined.
Strong.
“Your typing is loud,” Meera said.
Ignore.
“You blink too much.”
Ignore.
“You look like a confused potato.”
“…EXCUSE ME?!”
He slammed the laptop shut.
“You are distracting!”
She gasped.
“I am entertaining.”
“You are unnecessary!”
“I am emotionally essential.”
Raghav stood up.
“That’s it. I’m calling a priest.”
Meera leaned back.
“Call two. I like group discussions.”
An hour later…
Raghav returned.
Defeated.
“The priest said—”
“—ghosts don’t exist?” she completed.
“…Yes.”
She smiled proudly.
“I told you. I’m imaginary. Very high-quality imagination.”
Evening arrived.
Raghav sat quietly.
Meera sat beside him.
Also quietly.
For once.
“This is weird,” he said.
“What?”
“You’re not talking.”
She shrugged.
“Thought I’d give you silence.”
Raghav paused.
“…I don’t like it.”
Meera smirked.
“Exactly.”
A few minutes later…
“Say something,” he muttered.
She leaned in.
“You owe me rent.”
He jumped.
“YOU SAID YOU DON’T PAY RENT!”
“Exactly. Now we’re even.”
That night…
They watched a movie.
Raghav didn’t understand the plot.
Because Meera kept giving commentary.
“Why is he running? Just die and become a ghost. Much easier.”
“Stop talking!”
“Oh look, romance. Humans are so dramatic. Just haunt each other, it’s faster.”
Halfway through…
Raghav laughed.
Not forced.
Not polite.
Actual laughter.
He froze.
Meera noticed.
“See?” she said softly.
“I’m useful.”
Raghav looked away.
“…Don’t get used to it.”
She grinned.
“Too late. I already unpacked emotionally.”
And just like that…
The rules were set.
The chaos had begun.
And somewhere between irritation and sarcasm…
Raghav realized something dangerous:
He was getting… comfortable.
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