🩺 A 19 year old frustrated girlie who studies medicine in her free time...
🎧 without music the world has no meaning to me
🎸 recently started learning guiter but has been a vocalist since birth😂😂
📝 writing is the only way to get things off me so half of the time idk what I am even writing since i consider this my safe space( so pls don't judge ). FYI, I'll be mostly writing Fanfics here.
😵 I love to rant so you can see me ranting here ( may or may not be related to outstation)
📷 love to capture moments so might also see me photo dumping here
🥋⚽️🏏 Have been into sports even since my parents decided I could throw punches
❤️ This hopeless lover girl in me never seems to rest but what can I do with just a yearning heart 🤭
📖 My taste of genre in books varies from thriller to romantic.
⚠️ If anyone disrespect me or anything related to me, I just wanna say one thing...you can stop begging for attention
Anyways if you're here still now. Thank you for bearing with me ♡♡. Hope we can have a nice time overall 🤗🤗.
My DMs and Asks are always open 🙃
Here are bits of my daily music for my differnt personalities....
Mashaal lives with his bandmates in a Mumbai apartment when a new neighbor moves in and slowly becomes part of his chaotic little world.
Pairing : Mashaal shaikh x reader
Warning : Please take this as just a fragment of my imagination. It resembles nothing or no one in the real life. Think of it as if they are acting in some movie just as a character ig. Please don't copy my work without my permission.
Special thanks - @darjeelinglemontea for the Header design and also for giving the initial idea of this story.
The first thing she learned about the apartment next door was that the people living there were loud.
Not obnoxiously loud.
Just... musicians loud.
There was always something. A guitar being played at an unreasonable hour. Someone arguing about a song. Someone laughing in the hallway.
She had been living in the Mumbai apartment for barely two weeks when she heard frantic footsteps outside her door.
Then someone shouted, “Kiwi!”
She opened her door. A small cat shot past her. She barely had time to react before she crouched down and caught him. The cat immediately began purring. She stared at him.
“Hello?”
From down the hallway came another voice.
“Don't pick him up.”
She looked up.
A guy was standing at the other end of the corridor.
Messy hair. Black T-shirt. Hands in his pockets. He looked completely calm. Except for the fact that he had apparently been chasing a cat.
She looked down at Kiwi. Then back at him.
“Is this your cat?”
“Unfortunately.”
Kiwi meowed.
The guy walked closer.
“Give him here.”
She held the cat a little tighter.
“He ran into my apartment.”
“Of course he did.”
“You don't sound very surprised.”
“He does this.”
He reached for Kiwi.
Kiwi immediately buried his face against her shoulder.
She looked at him.
“He doesn't want to go.”
He stared at the cat.
“Traitor.”
She laughed.
“You're his owner?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened?”
“He escaped.”
“How?”
“Door was open.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“So... your fault?”
He looked at her.
“Technically.”
She smiled.
He held out his hands.
“Come on, Kiwi.”
Kiwi ignored him. Mashal sighed.
“He likes strangers.”
“Maybe he likes me.”
“He'll get over it.”
She laughed again.
He finally looked at her properly.
“You're the new neighbor.”
“Yeah.”
“I'm Mashal.”
"Hi! I'm Y/N"
He nodded.
“Okay.”
She waited.
“That’s it?”
“What else?”
“I don't know. Nice to meet you?”
“Nice to meet you.”
There was something so casually deadpan about him that she couldn't help smiling.
Mashal took Kiwi from her.
The cat immediately tried to climb back toward her.
Mashal looked at him.
“You've known her for thirty seconds.”
Kiwi meowed.
“Unbelievable.”
She laughed.
And that was how they met.
Over the next few weeks, they became familiar.
Not friends.
Not yet.
Just neighbors who kept running into each other.
In the elevator.
At the building entrance.
Outside the apartment when Kiwi escaped again.
She learned that Mashal lived with four of his bandmates: Hemang, Bhuvan, Kurien and Shayan. She learned that their apartment was basically a rehearsal room that happened to contain beds.
She learned that Mashal had a deeply concerning amount of Diet Coke.
And she learned that he pretended not to care about almost everything.
One morning, she was struggling with two grocery bags outside the lift.
Mashal appeared.
“Need help?”
“No, I've got it.”
“Okay.”
He walked past.
She stared at him.
“Wow.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“You offered help and then actually left.”
“You said you had it.”
“I thought you'd insist.”
“Why?”
“Because you're supposed to be nice.”
“Who told you that?”
She laughed.
He took one of the bags anyway.
“Give me that.”
“You said—”
“I changed my mind.”
She smiled.
“Nonchalant much?”
He glanced at her.
“What does that mean?”
“You know exactly what it means.”
He smiled faintly.
“Probably.”
A few days later, when Hemang got back to the apartment, Mashal was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through his phone.
“You coming to rehearsal?” Hemang asked.
“In a bit.”
Hemang nodded and started walking toward his room. Then he stopped.
“Wait.”
Mashal looked up.
“What?”
“You're smiling.”
Mashal's face immediately went blank.
“No, I'm not.”
“You were.”
“I wasn't.”
Hemang stared at him for a second. Mashal looked back at his phone. Hemang shrugged.
“Okay.”
He started walking again.
A second later, Mashal's phone lit up. He glanced at the screen while his expression softened for half a second. Hemang saw it and he turned around.
“It's her, isn't it?”
Mashal looked up.
“What?”
“The neighbor.”
“No.”
Hemang smiled.
“You didn't even ask who I meant.”
Mashal went quiet. Hemang laughed.
“Got you.”
“Shut up.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were going to.”
“I don't need to.”
Mashal threw a cushion at him.
Hemang caught it, grinning.
“Relax. Your secret's safe.”
Mashal shook his head.
“You're annoying.”
“Yeah.”
Hemang walked away, still smiling.
Then, from the hallway, he called back,
“She’s cute, though.”
“HEMANG.”
“I'm just saying!”
Mashal laughed despite himself and that was enough for Hemang.He didn't need a confession,he'd figured it out.
While, everyone was getting ready to leave for rehearsal, Kiwi was sitting near the apartment door, watching everyone move around.
There was a knock.
Mashal looked up immediately.
“I'll get it.”
Bhuvan glanced at him.
“You're closest to the door?”
“No.”
“Right.”
Mashal ignored him and opened the door. She stood outside.
“Hey. I came to take Kiwi for a while. You guys are going to rehearsal, right?”
“Yeah,” Mashal said.
Kiwi immediately ran toward her. She crouched down and picked him up.
“Come here, troublemaker.”
Kiwi started purring. Mashal smiled.
“You're spoiling him.”
“He likes me.”
“He likes everyone.”
Bhuvan, standing behind them, raised an eyebrow.
“He definitely doesn't like me.”
Kiwi looked at Bhuvan.
Then turned his face back toward her.
Bhuvan stared at him.
“Wow”
She laughed.
“I'll bring him back later.”
“Yeah.”
Mashal hesitated a bit and then added,
“Text me when you get home.”
She looked at him with surprise
“I'm literally next door.”
“I know.”
Bhuvan slowly turned toward Hemang. Hemang was already trying not to laugh. She smiled at Mashal.
“Okay.”
She walked away with Kiwi.
Mashal stood at the doorway watching them until she disappeared into her apartment.
He finally closed the door.
When he turned around, Bhuvan was staring at him.
“What?”
Bhuvan shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I've just learned something.”
“Learned what?”
Bhuvan grinned.
“You care.”
Mashal frowned.
“About Kiwi.”
Bhuvan laughed.
“Sure.”
Hemang walked past them.
“Definitely about Kiwi.”
Mashal rolled his eyes.
“Can we just go to rehearsal?”
Bhuvan grabbed his guitar.
“Of course.”
He paused.
Then added,
“Don't worry, bro. I'll make sure Kiwi gets home safely.”
Mashal looked at him.
“She's taking Kiwi.”
“Exactly.”
Bhuvan grinned.
“That's what I'm worried about.”
Mashal threw a cushion at him.
Bhuvan dodged it, laughing.
“I'm just saying, bro. You're not exactly subtle.”
Mashal shook his head. But he was smiling.
After that, the others didn't need much convincing. Kurien caught Mashal making her tea one evening. Shayan noticed that Mashal always knew when she had come home.
That was enough.
Soon all four bandmates knew.
And naturally, they became insufferable.
“Neighbor calling.”
“Shut up.”
“Kiwi missing again?”
“Shut up.”
“Need help carrying her groceries?”
“Shut up.”
“Should we leave the apartment for an hour?”
Mashal threw a cushion at Shayan.
“I'm going to throw all of you out.”
Bhuvan laughed.
“You can't. You need us.”
“I don't.”
Hemang grinned.
“You definitely need us.”
The more she knew him, the more confusing he became. Mashaal would act like nothing mattered but he'd remember everything.
It was nearly midnight. She had been having a terrible day. She didn't tell anyone. She simply went downstairs and sat outside the building.
A few minutes later, Mashaal appeared.
He sat beside her.
She looked at him.
“How did you know?”
“You weren't home.”
“So?”
“You're usually home.”
She smiled faintly.
“That's your reasoning?”
“Yeah.”
He handed her a cup of tea.
She looked at it.
“My favorite.”
“Yeah.”
“You remembered?”
He shrugged.
“You order it every time.”
They sat in silence.
She eventually leaned against his shoulder.
Mashal didn't say anything.
He just stayed.
And that was when she understood.
He wasn't nonchalant because he didn't care.
He was nonchalant because caring came so naturally to him that he didn't think it needed announcing.
Of course, the building aunties noticed. They noticed everything.
The first incident happened when she and Mashal returned from a late-night food run. They were standing in the lobby, laughing about something, when Mrs. Mehta appeared from the staircase.
She looked at them.
Then at the food bag.
Then at Mashaal.
Then at her.
“Very late.”
She smiled awkwardly.
“Yeah.”
Mrs. Mehta nodded.
“Together?”
Mashaal answered calmly,
“She lives next door.”
Mrs. Mehta smiled.
“Hmm.”
They walked into the lift.
The doors closed.
She immediately turned toward him.
“She doesn't believe you.”
Mashaal shrugged.
“She doesn't believe anything.”
“You know she'll tell everyone.”
“Let her.”
She stared at him.
“You're not worried?”
“No.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because we're just neighbors.”
She smiled.
“Right.”
He looked away.
Neither of them said anything. Because both of them knew that answer was becoming less and less true.
The next morning, she discovered that Mrs. Mehta had, in fact, told everyone. She knew because Mrs. Patil stopped her in the lobby.
“So, you and Mashaal were out late yesterday?”
She froze.
“Who told you?”
Mrs. Patil smiled innocently.
“Nobody.”
“Then how do you know?”
“I live here.”
That was apparently sufficient evidence. She smiled awkwardly.
“We just went to get food.”
“Together?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
There it was again.
That hmm.
She had begun to hate that sound. When she reached her apartment, she found Mashaal standing outside his door with Kiwi.
He looked at her.
“You look annoyed.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Your building has surveillance.”
He looked toward the lobby.
“Ah.”
“You knew?”
“Of course.”
“And you're okay with it?”
He shrugged.
“They'll get bored.”
“They won't.”
“They've been bored for years.”
She laughed.
Mashaal smiled.
Then Kiwi suddenly escaped his arms and ran toward her.
She caught him.
Mashaal stared.
“See?”
She looked at Kiwi.
“What?”
“He likes you more than me.”
“You're jealous.”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
“I just think he has questionable judgment.”
Kiwi purred.
She laughed.
Mashaal looked at her for a moment.
Then quietly said,
“You're still annoyed?”
“A little.”
“Come.”
“Where?”
“Tea.”
She looked at him.
“Your apartment?”
“Yeah.”
She hesitated.
“What about the surveillance department?”
Mashaal shrugged.
“They already think we're dating.”
She nearly dropped Kiwi.
“What?”
He smiled.
“Relax.”
“You can't just say that.”
“I just did.”
He opened the door.
“Come on.”
She followed him inside.
The moment they entered, four heads turned. Hemang looked at her. Bhuvan looked at Mashal. Kurien looked at both of them. Shayan looked at the clock.
“Tea?”
Mashaal frowned.
“Yes.”
“For her?”
“Yes.”
Shayan nodded solemnly.
“Of course.”
She looked around.
“Why is everyone staring?”
Nobody answered.
Mashal sighed.
“Don't mind them.”
Hemang smiled.
“We're just happy.”
“About what?”
“Tea.”
Bhuvan nodded.
“Very important beverage.”
She laughed.
Mashal gave them all a warning look.
“Behave.”
That only made them laugh harder.
The tea was good. Too good. She took a sip.
“You make this really well.”
Mashaal shrugged.
“It's tea.”
“No, it's actually good.”
“Maybe you're just hungry.”
She looked at him.
“That's your response?”
“Yeah.”
“You can't accept a compliment?”
“Not from you.”
“Why?”
He looked at her for half a second too long.
“Because you'll make it a big thing.”
She smiled.
“Maybe I will.”
He looked away.
From across the room, Hemang caught Bhuvan's eye.
Bhuvan mouthed:
Gone.
Hemang nodded.
Over the next few weeks, something changed.
Not dramatically. There was no sudden declaration. No moment where they decided they were becoming something. They simply started spending more time together. She'd knock on their door after work. Sometimes to see Kiwi. Sometimes to return something. Sometimes for absolutely no reason. Mashaal never asked why.
He'd simply move aside and say,
“Come in.”
She started joining them during rehearsals. She'd sit on the sofa with Kiwi while the band played. Sometimes Mashal would look toward her between songs. Just for a second. She always noticed. She pretended she didn't.
It happened on a Saturday. She had plans with a guy from work. Nothing serious. Just dinner.
She mentioned it casually while sitting with the band.
“I'll be out tonight.”
Mashaal looked up.
“With who?”
“A guy from my college.”
“Okay.”
That was it.
No reaction.
No questions.
Nothing.
She nodded.
“I'll probably be back late.”
“Okay.”
She left. The door closed. Mashaal picked up his guitar.
“Let's run it again.”
They started playing. He missed the same chord. He stopped.
“Again.”
They started over. He missed it again. Shayan looked at him.
“That's the third time.”
“I know.”
They started again. Another wrong chord. Kurien slowly lowered his guitar.
“Mashaal.”
“What?”
“You've played this song approximately six hundred times.”
“I know how to play it.”
“Then why are you suddenly playing it like you've never seen a guitar before?”
“I'm tired.”
Bhuvan looked at Hemang. Hemang looked at Bhuvan. Neither said anything. They started again. Mashal missed the chord.
Again.
He sighed and put the guitar down.
“Let's take five.”
He stood up.
Bhuvan watched him walk toward the kitchen, then quietly said,
“He's jealous.”
Hemang nodded.
“Definitely.”
Kurien smiled.
“Should we tell him?”
Shayan shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because this is much funnier.”
A little later, Mashal was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through his phone. He wasn't actually reading anything. He checked the time. Then locked his phone. Two minutes later, he checked it again. Another ten minutes passed. Mashaal looked at the clock. Somewhere beneath, he already knew the problem. He cared. A lot more than he wanted to admit.
She came home around eleven. The hallway was quiet. She was about to unlock her door when she noticed Mashal sitting on the stairs.
She stopped.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
“Why are you sitting here?”
“Couldn't sleep.”
She looked at him.
“You waited?”
“No.”
“You did.”
“I was just sitting.”
“At eleven?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Sure.”
He looked at her.
“How was dinner?”
“Good.”
“Good.”
A pause.
“You had fun?”
“Yeah.”
Another pause.
Then she noticed something.
“You're jealous.”
Mashaal immediately looked away.
“No.”
“You are.”
“I'm not.”
“You're terrible at hiding it.”
He laughed quietly.
“Maybe.”
She sat beside him.
For a moment, neither spoke. The building was unusually quiet. Even the usual hallway noises had disappeared.
She looked at him.
“You know you can tell me if something bothers you.”
“I know.”
“But?”
Mashaal stared at the floor.
“But I don't know what to tell you.”
She waited.
He rubbed his hands together, suddenly looking less certain than she'd ever seen him.
Then he said,
“I didn't like you going out with him.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
He didn't answer immediately.
“Because I kept wondering when you'd come back.”
Her expression softened.
“Mashaal…”
“And I know that's stupid.”
“It isn't.”
“It is.”
He laughed under his breath.
“I've spent weeks pretending I don't care.”
She smiled slightly.
“You're not very good at it.”
“I know.”
He looked at her.
“I care.”
She stayed quiet.
“More than I should.”
Her heart began beating faster.
“How much?”
Mashal looked away again.
Then, almost reluctantly, he said,
“I like you.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
He frowned.
“You knew?”
“Not completely.”
“Then why did you say that?”
“Because you make it painfully obvious.”
He laughed.
“Great.”
She smiled.
“But I wanted to hear you say it.”
He looked at her.
“Okay.”
He took a breath.
“I like you.”
She waited. He shook his head.
“No. That's not enough.”
He turned toward her fully.
“I've liked you for a while.”
She smiled.
“How long?”
“I don't know.”
“You do.”
“Maybe since Kiwi chose you over me.”
She laughed.
“That was your turning point?”
“He has terrible judgment.”
She nudged his shoulder.
“Idiot.”
“Probably.”
They both laughed. Then the laughter faded.
Mashal looked at her again.
“I don't know what happens after this.”
She reached for his hand.
“Neither do I.”
“But I know I don't want you going home next door and pretending this didn't happen.”
She smiled.
“I wasn't planning to.”
He squeezed her hand.
“So...”
“So?”
“What are we?”
She pretended to think.
“Neighbors.”
Mashaal stared at her.
“Seriously?”
She laughed.
“Fine.”
She moved a little closer.
“Love thou neighbor.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
Then, after a second, he added,
“But we're not telling the aunties.”
She burst out laughing.
“Why?”
“Because we'll never know peace again.”
From somewhere above them came the sound of a door opening.
Both of them froze.
A woman's voice floated down the staircase.
“Who's sitting there?”
Mashaal closed his eyes.
She covered her mouth to stop herself laughing.
He whispered,
“Too late.”
The auntie's footsteps began coming downstairs.
Mashal looked at her.
“Run.”
She laughed.
“You're the one who said you didn't care.”
“I don't care about the aunties.”
“You absolutely do.”
“I care about surviving them.”
And for the first time that night, they ran down the stairs together, laughing like they hadn't just changed everything between them.
They had barely reached their respective doors when Mashal's phone started ringing.
"Shit"
She smiled.
“Goodnight, Mashaal.”
“Goodnight.”
Mashaal waited until her door closed. Then he turned around. The moment he opened his own apartment door, four heads turned toward him.
Silence.
Mashaal stopped.
“Why are you all looking at me?”
Hemang folded his arms.
“Where were you?”
“Outside.”
Bhuvan nodded.
“Obviously.”
Kurien leaned forward.
“Did you tell her?”
Mashaal froze.
Shayan's eyes widened.
“You did!”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You didn't have to,” Hemang said. “Look at your face.”
Mashaal sighed.
“Can everyone calm down?”
Bhuvan grinned.
“So?”
Mashaal dropped onto the sofa.
“She knows.”
The apartment exploded.
“No way!”
“Finally!”
“About time!”
Shayan grabbed a cushion.
“I genuinely thought we'd have to organize an intervention.”
Mashaal laughed.
“You're all idiots.”
Hemang pointed at him.
“And?”
Mashaal looked at them.
“She likes me too.”
Another explosion.
Bhuvan jumped up.
“KIWI!”
The cat looked at him.
“Your matchmaking career is complete!”
Mashaal buried his face in his hands.
“This is embarrassing.”
Kurien smiled.
“Wait, wait.”
He looked serious.
“So what are you two now?”
Mashaal looked toward the door.
“Neighbors.”
Everyone groaned.
“That's not what I meant.”
Mashaal smiled.
“Something more.”
Shayan put a hand over his heart.
“Beautiful.”
Hemang wiped an imaginary tear.
“From escaping cats to emotional commitment.”
“I'm going to bed,” Mashal announced.
“Run away,” Bhuvan called after him.
“Unlike you, I have a girlfriend now.”
The room went silent. Mashaal froze. Everyone stared. Then Shayan slowly smiled.
“Girlfriend?”
Mashaal pointed at him.
“Don't.”
“Girlfriend!”
“I'm warning you.”
The entire apartment erupted again.
The Next Morning, She knocked on their door around ten. Hemang opened it. The moment he saw her, his smile became suspicious.
“Hi.”
“Hi. Is Mashaal there?”
Hemang looked over his shoulder.
“Mashaal!”
From inside came a voice.
“What?”
“Your neighbor is here.”
A pause.
Then Mashaal appeared.
He looked at her.
She smiled.
“Can I steal you for a minute?”
Mashaal nodded.
“Yeah.”
They were about to leave when Bhuvan appeared.
“Steal him?”
She stopped.
“Yeah.”
Bhuvan looked at Mashaal.
“Interesting choice of words.”
“Bhuvan.”
“What?”
Kurien walked in.
“What's happening?”
“She's stealing Maashal.”
Shayan appeared behind him.
“Again?”
She looked at all of them.
“Again?”
Mashaal closed his eyes.
“Don't ask.”
Hemang smiled.
“We're just happy for you.”
“Please stop.”
Shayan looked at her.
“Just so you know, he spent half the night smiling at his phone.”
Mashaal stared at him.
“I hate you.”
“You're welcome.”
She laughed.
Mashaal looked at her.
“Come on.”
They escaped into the hallway. The door closed behind them. For a few seconds, neither said anything. They stood there in the quiet hallway. Then she looked at him.
“Your friends are insane.”
“They've been waiting months for this.”
“Months?”
“Unfortunately.”
She laughed.
Mashaal smiled. Then he reached out and gently took her hand. She looked down at their hands and back at him.
“So this is real?”
He looked at her.
“Yeah.”
“You're sure?”
He squeezed her hand.
“I'm sure.”
She smiled.
“You know what's funny?”
“What?”
“We're literally neighbors.”
“Yeah.”
“And we still have to sneak around.”
Mashaal laughed.
“Not because of me.”
“The aunties?”
“The aunties.”
She leaned against the wall beside him.
“So what now?”
Mashaal thought for a moment.
“Coffee?”
She smiled.
“That's your big plan?”
“It's morning.”
“Fair.”
He started walking toward the stairs while she followed.
Then he stopped and looked back.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You were about to say something.”
He smiled.
“I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“That Kiwi really did have excellent judgment.”
She laughed.
“You're giving your cat credit for this?”
“He started it.”
She shook her head.
“Come on, musician.”
He smiled and held out his hand.
She took it.
And together they walked down the stairs, trying very hard not to look like two people who had just fallen for each other in the apartment next door.
Hope you enjoyed the story. Feel free to leave your comments. If you have any idea you wanna share my Asks are always open.
Thank you so much for reading.
Stay tuned for more!!! BYEEE!!!
I kinda found out the concerning lack of outstation fanfics. So maybe I should do something about it. So I was wondering abt writing a few scenarios we can imagine ourselves into 😄😅
So if anyone wanna keep any request or any ideas they want me to write, my Asks are open for everyone. I'll love it if everyone views it as a storyline rather than an actual event cause it's definitely not. So yeah....feel free to leave your opinions.
No explicit requests pls cause it's kinda weird ( no hate though ). No disrespect please.
