Now I know what you are going to think after reading this, it was all made up. But I swear this really happened. The only amendments are the girl's names. Read on and enjoy. Steve.
*****
"Post Grad/Finalist/Mature Student to share with 2 female students, luxury flat in Hove Β£35pw inc.
Tel 0273 ******"
I stood looking at the advert on the university notice board for a few moments as I deciphered it, Hove was a fairly unexciting place and required two train journeys to get to university. Hove and luxury an oxymoron I thought to myself. But Β£35 per week (1991 remember) was very cheap. Luxury back then for a student meant running hot and cold water.
I dialled the number and a rather posh voice answered it, automatically I put on a respectable tone. Explaining I was a finalist at the University of Sussex and wanted a quiet yet relaxed atmosphere.
She gave me an address in Hove. As I travelled on the train I thought about Denise, the only other times I had been to Hove was to watch Brighton and Hove Albion a few times at the old Goldstone Ground (long since gone). I was expecting white, middle class, slightly horsey.
Instead I got, well she looked either Asian (by this I mean from India) or possibly Arabic and tall. She must have been about 5"9' and very slim. However she wore sensible clothes. The other female student was of the same ethnicicity and age but much shorter, quite plump and even more conservatively dressed.
They showed me round the flat which was absolutely enormous and far grander than anything I was used to. I got the impression their families were quite well off obviously due to the fact they could afford such opulence and by some of the things they said. I hope I made all the right noises, reiterating what I had said earlier on the phone. As was the norm in these circumstances they said they had a few more people to see but to phone them back the next evening. I was pleasantly surprised when they confirmed I could be their flat-mate and move in whenever I wanted.
I moved in three days later. Falguni, the tall one, seemed very aloof and would only converse with me if she had to. Rachita was slightly friendlier but I felt she was in Falguni's shadow so I struggled to work her out. Although on the few occasions I was alone with her, I got the feeling, call it a sixth sense, Rachita was staring at me when my back was turned.
About a week after moving in they were discussing a girl on their course. Kate was her name...
'She is such a slut,' proclaimed Falguni, 'she was boasting to all her friends, about how she went to that nightclub, the Gloucester, and just picked up some guy. He had a long-term girlfriend. She was pleased with herself, she should be absolutely ashamed.'
Rachita nodded in agreement.
'Back home that sort of behaviour would not be tolerated, she would be ostracised.'
When they saw me the conversation rather petered out, I must admit I was a bit disappointed, Kate seemed the sort of girl I should get acquainted with.
The two of them went and did everywhere together, almost as if they were the same person. I did have my suspicions, but Falguni had a boyfriend who would visit but never stayed over.
A few days later Rachita said she was not feeling well so Falguni went into uni on her own. I left the flat sometime later but didn't think anything of it when Rachita asked what time I would be back. Once at the university I spent a couple of hours in the library before going to my tutorial. However there was a note on the tutor's door saying it had been cancelled. I could have gone to one of the pubs on campus but being a diligent finalist I caught a train back to Brighton before changing for Hove.
I entered the flat, Rachita was not about but I could hear the familiar sound of the washing machine going through its spin cycle from the kitchen whose door which was closed. I fancied a cup of tea so walked towards the kitchen and opened the door.
There I saw it!
I've never witnessed someone being killed in front of me, a building exploding, a plane crash any of those extreme things. But what I saw was far more extreme.
There before me with her back to me was Rachita, her jumper pulled up, her skirt down and she was rubbing herself up against the washing machine. I don't know how long I stayed there open mouthed shocked.
I then made my way shakily back to my room, my heart was racing, skin suddenly clammy. "My God!" I thought, I've just witnessed my prim and proper housemate fucking the washing machine.
I didn't leave my room the rest of the evening only to use the toilet and brush my teeth. However in the middle of the night I woke up with a rather devilish plan.
Next day I left fairly early and spent most of the day at the University Library. It was nearly 6.00pm when I arrived at the flat to find both girls in the kitchen. I stifled a little smirk as I noticed Rachita's obvious discomfort.
'What's up?'
'It's the washing machine,' replied Falguni, 'it's not working.'
'It was alright yesterday.'
'Yes.'
'So something must have happened to it last night.'
Falguni didn't acknowledge what I said as she stated, 'we'll have to call the Landlord.'
'No,' I replied, 'it might be a blown fuse or something,' as I walked over to the washing machine and knelt down.
'Hmmm, there's a bit of an unusual smell,' I commented as I sniffed the exact spot where I guessed Rachita's pussy had been.
'Really,' replied Falguni.
'Yeah, it smells sort of musky, not unpleasant though.'
'What do you think it could be?'
'Possibly the fuse. Have you got a screwdriver?'
Falguni nodded and went to the drawer where the tools were kept.
'Thanks,' as I set about unscrewing the plug. 'Ah, I see the problem.'
'What is it?
'The live wire's been disconnected.'
'How did that happen?' Asked Falguni.
'I don't know, but something may have banged into the washing machine, or been rubbing up against it.'
The look on Rachita face was a sight to behold.
Prior to the advent of e-mails, the pigeon hole was the only method of university communication between student and tutor. I decided to leave something in Rachita's.
Now whilst I don't profess to be a Monet or Van-Gough, I was quite proud of my little sketch of a washing machine. And to leave my house-mate in no doubt, I wrote in bold capital letters, "I SAW WHAT YOU DID!"
It was quite amusing watching Rachita's obvious discomfort in my presence over the following days. Fortunately, for her I guess, we were never alone as Falguni was always about. However a couple of days later we were alone in the living room as Falguni had popped out to buy some milk.
Poor Rachita was sat on the settee seemingly trying to push herself between the small gap between the seat and armrest in a futile bid to escape.
'Are you okay?' I asked innocently
Rachita did not respond. I looked down at her hands and noticed she was twisting her fingers in knots.
'You look like you're in a spin about something...' I remarked with unabated sarcasm.
'It's not what you think it was.' Her voice shallow and raspy.
'Oh really?'
'I, I tripped.'
'And, landed against the washing machine?'
'Yes, yes that's what happened.'
'Mmm, yes you must have really hurt yourself when you "tripped."'
'How do you mean?'
'Well, you were really moaning and groaning.'
She let out a yelp of surprise.
Enjoying this I continued, 'I guess when you tripped your skirt somehow fell down, and your jumper rose up...'
'Enough,' she proclaimed.
Rachita was curled in a ball in the corner of the sofa. I did feel a bit sorry for her, but not enough to proclaim, 'you know I've a good mind to tell Falguni what I saw.'
'No, no you can't tell her.'
'Why not.'
'She'll tell my parents everyone will know, ' then she muttered, 'the shame.'
'Hmmm...'
She simply replied, 'I, I, I'll do anything.'
'Anything,' I replied, before realising she clearly did not recognise how her offer could be interpreted.
'Yes, money', she spluttered, 'money,' and with that she got up from the sofa pulled out a Β£20.00 note from her purse. 'Take it, take it,' she pleaded.
'Hmm,' I replied as I took it before looking at her desperate face, 'that should do,' I deliberately paused, 'for starters.'
'You won't tell her.'
'We'll see,' I smiled.
A few days later when we were alone, I sidled up to Rachita and handed over some loose coins.
'What's that for?'
'Your change.'
'Sorry I don't understand.'
'I brought you a little present, so hopefully the unfortunate episode I witnessed does not re-occur.'
'A present,' she replied confused.
'It's under your pillow.'
'You went into my room?' Her voice agitated.
'Yes.'
'How dare you!'
'Before you get all high and mighty with me young lady, let me explain, it's not the sort of thing that I can give you publically.'
'What is it?'