The next day..

All set..

I was bit nervous and skeptical as well..

I didn't know how Iam going to give the sketch to Rajesh..

Should I give?

Should I not?

I didn't know for real..

But..

One thing..

Iam so in love with him..

If not now, never..

I didn't know whether I could get one more fair shake to reveal my feelings..

I have to go..

I have to go..

I repeatedly said to myself to calm down my palpitations..

And yeah, I have started..

Pavi's idea was to meet Kathir nearby his shop and to give him the sketch..

Yen di avan idha paatha enna di nenaipaan, I couldn't keep my mouth closed and asked her..

Avan enna nenacha unakku enna? Avana pathi namma edhukku kavala padanum?, her eyebrows were twitched..

Illa Pavi, I was vacillating..

Inga paaru..Naan Kathir ta edhuvum sollala..

Porom, tharom, varom..

Avlo dhan..

Mathapadi avan pesradha poruthu paathukalaam..

Chumma izhuthutu irundha kuduka mudiyadhu..

I don't know whether the luck will strike twice..

She said with a smirk..

I went behind her..

I had the drawing in the note and kept it in my tuition bag and started..

I know..

I know what you are wondering here..

How come I go that easily?

Without any argument?

Actually it happened yesterday itself..

When I said amma that I am going to Pavi's home..

Appa was like Iam wasting all my time in going out and Iam not even touching my books..

Amma as usual started with her usual dosage of polambal that Iam wearing 2 inches of mai rather than studying..

Iam wasting my time by day dreaming..

I showed her my assignment paper and tried my level best to convince her it is a group work that school had assigned us..

Amma saw the paper and kept all the previous complaints aside..

She started new..

Why Iam going to meet Pavi?

Always..

Why she isn't coming here?

I really didn't know how to explain them that we don't have computer at home..

Those assignments need data connection to work upon..

I had asked them for a broadband connection also..

They didn't do it..

I knew..

They won't..

I really wondered how they pestered me to score good marks everytime when they weren't even ready to give me what I want..

Atleast..

Gosh..

Okay..

Nothing more to worry..

And I am here..

At Pavi's home..

Pavi was ready..

I didn't know how her parents were so liberal..

They took everything very easily..

I knew well that she used to share about her crushes to her parents..

They will make fun of it..

I couldn't even imagine such things with my parents..

The thought itself gave me enough nightmares for a whole life..

I completely forgot that Iam here to give the sketch to a boy who is the friend of someone I love..

It's okay..

Crap happens..

And life has to move on no matter what..

Pavi told her parents that she was going to meet Kathir..

All they said was to return back safely..

We started back and I drove the cycle with a great and heavy sigh..

We had reached the bus stop near Kathir's shop..

Hey, inga ninnu enna panna pora?, Avan kadaila irupaan di..
Anga pona dhan paakalam, Pavi was slightly annoyed..

Illa Pavi, avana inga vara sollu..
Kadaila laam venaam..
Yaarachum varuvanga povaanga, sariya varaadhu, I replied back in a stern voice..

She was about to tell something..

But, she stopped..

She shrugged off and nodded her head in a dejective manner..

I know what her mind was thinking..

Yet, I didn't want to stop her..

Or to give her explanations..

I was stubborn over one thing..

I really didn't know how my plan was going to work..

Rajesh might understand..

He might not..

Who knows!

The plan might backfire..

So, yeah, until then, I wanted to maintain my sanity..

I was being so selfish..

Yet, I wanted to be..

Whilst I was pondering in my own thoughts, she went and brought Kathir..

Kathir was in a yellow tshirt which was nasty because of the various masala and powder..

Glad that I could find atleast the colour..

And that dhoti was very pathetic..

I felt them like a rainbow..

Whatever..

They were coming towards me..

I started mentally preparing my own self..

****

I was really surprised to see Pavi when she called me..

I was bit confused as well..

Cos, that wasn't the first time she was visiting our shop..

But..

But..

She was talking to me that morning only..

After all, we were neighbours and she used to talk to me almost everyday..

Then, what's the purpose of this visit?

Only Appa was in the shop..

When Pavi called me, I asked for his permission and he said okay..

So, I went with her..

She was unusually silent..

I was thinking for a minute and let it go..

Let it come, whatever, I made up my mind..

We both went to the bus stop just to see Mullai standing there..

My heart skipped a beat as usual..

Iam seeing her for the past 4 years..

And I don't know why my heart skips a beat everytime when meeting her..

My toes started curling and the unknown feelings rushed through me..

I feel like someone else's soul had replaced my body for each and every step of mine..

Iam going towards her..

Closer to her..

And, a part of me was flying already..

We stopped at the bus stop and my legs stopped and I was literally pushing them on to the floor as if it is going to help me by covering my blush..

I turned to Pavi..

Sollu Pavi, enna vishayam? I tried to keep my voice in control..

Not even an ounce of excitement should be shown..

Enakku onnum illa Kathir..Iva dhan unkitta edho tharanumaam..Pavi said casually..

My heart again started beating fastly..

Enna kudukkanum, I asked in common..

I didn't have the courage to utter her name..

The name that kept my nights brighter all those 4 years..

The flower..

I had to struggle a lot to tie up my running and wavering mind..

She was rolling her eyes here and there..

She took something from her bag..

A note..

Why she is giving me a note?

I shook my head..

She took a paper..

Nope...

That was a sheet..

She rolled it, secured with a band and gave it to me..

And my hands went to get it voluntarily..

Reflex action, perhaps..

When I tried to open it slightly, she stopped me..

I could see her cute half moon nails shining in front of me..

And her tender, soft fingers..

I lifted my face just to see her..

Adhu..

Adha Rajesh ta kuduthudreengala please?, She asked with a puppy face..

The context didn't reach my mind then..

I nodded my head with a smile..

I knew she would start back to home if at all I leave her now..

No..

I didn't want her to..

I asked Pavi, Pavi, tea kudikalaama?

I knew she loved this tea..

She won't say no..

But before she could reply, Mullai replied..

Adhellam onnum venaam nga..

Idha kuduthurunga..

Adhukku dhan vandhom..

Naanga kelambanum..

Adhan..

Pavi, kelambalama?

She was rushing..

Pavi stopped her..

Iren di..

Inga tea nalla irukum..

Kudichitu povom..

Unakku venaam na nee kelambu..

Naan kudichitu varen..

She sat on the stone bench..

Very nice move Kathir.. So, you asked this just to have a tea with Pavi? , My mind started mocking at me..

And yeah, my heart made slow claps..

But..

But..

Mullai sat next to her..

Nee varaama enga poga naan..

Tea ah kudi..

But, kudichitu kelambanum udane..

Solliten..

She made a pout..

I smiled and hopped to the tea shop to get the tea unknowing that the tea is gonna burn my soul..

---Will brew..