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Vaanga vaanga story kulla polaa 🚴🏻‍♀️💜🦋

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♡♡

I made my way to the terrace of my father's house, tossed my laptop bag onto the bean bag, and popped the caps off my beers. I downed half of one bottle in a single gulp while unbuttoning the top three buttons of my shirt.

Elango gave me a puzzled look as he picked up my bag, unzipped it, and dropped my umbrella onto the floor beside me.

He must have noticed I came up here with Seetha, who had her own umbrella.

I glanced at the umbrella, then back at Elango, before focusing on the pouring rain.

"What?"

He asked. I turned to him.

"What?"

I repeated calmly, then looked back at the sky.

"Is it love?"

I shook my head.

"Then what?"

I sighed, sat down next to him on the floor, took another sip of the beer, and placed the bottle between us.

"Professor velaye vidlaa nu irukken"

(I'm thinking of leaving this professor job)

I said leaning back on the wall while scratching my left temple.

"Yen?"

(Why?)

Elango asked me. But, I stayed silent, unsure of when and why this thought had entered my mind.

"Kalaila dhane da un students eh nalla padikka vakka poren nlaa pesuna?"

(Just this morning, you talked about how you're going to make your students excel, right?)

His tone was a mix of shock and disappointment.

I, too, felt disappointed with my own decision. But I had no other choice. I didn't want to immerse myself in those feelings any longer.

"Aama naan dha pesunen. Aana enakku pudikala"

(Yes, I did. But I don't like it.)

"Adhaa yen?"

(Why?)

"Therila da. Therila, yen pudikala. Naan enna pesuren. Yedhukku ipdi nadandhukuren enakku Onnum therila puriyavum illa"

(I don't know. I don't understand why I don't like it. I don't even know what I'm saying or why I'm acting like this. I don't understand anything.)

I shouted.

And he looked at me intently.

"Professor aah illanaa dha Seetha've love panna mudiyum ngradhukkaaga un velai eh vidaadha"

(Don't leave the job just because you can't love Seetha while you're still in it)

I turned to face him, and he gave me a long, angry stare.

"Enna? Andha ponnukaaga dha nee pesura, ipdi nadandhukura. Enakku puriyudhu. Aana unakku yen da adhu purila?"

(What? You're acting and speaking like this for that girl. I get it, but don't you?)

He asked me, and I shook my head, even though I knew deep down that his words were true and my heart was trying to signal my brain, but fear was preventing it from completely understanding.

"Chi. Adhellaam onnu kedayaadhu. Ava en student da"

(Chi. Not like that. She's just my student.)

I said in a whispered tone, while my thoughts swirling around his words.

"Pinna yen irukka Koda'eh illa nu solli ava kooda vandha? Enna nadandhadhu? enna pesuninga?"

(Then why did you use her umbrella even though  you have one? What's going on? What did you both talk about?)

"Onnum pesala da. Ava yen bus le poradhu bayam nu sonnaa"

(We didn't talk about much. She was just scared of the bus, and she told me why)

I said to him, and my lips curved as I recalled how she cutely described her fear of the bus. The way she moved her fingers in the air, swung our bags, and her fluttering lips and eyes as she spoke—her innocent fear was endearing. I could only hum in agreement with her silly past story.

But those..

Those innocent eyes of her—how could they be tied to my rigid life? 

I wanted her to stay free-spirited, living her life independently. I didn't want to dwell on my thoughts about her.

Elango placed his hand on my shoulder, pulling me back to the present.

"Aayush"

I took another long sip of beer, wiped my lips with the back of my hand, and looked at him.

"Elango, Inga paaru, Seetha en student. Avlodha. That's it. She's my student. Adhepdi orey naal le? No.. yedhuvum illa.. nothing was intentional. Naan ava thaniyaa veetukku povaa nu dha apdi poi sonnen. Chinna ponnu thaniyaa povaa nu oru safety kaaga dha. Avlodha. Nothing other than that. Nothing"

(Elango, look, Seetha is just a student. That's it. She's my student. How could I? In a single day? No, nothing was intentional. I only lied and accompanied her because she was going home alone. It's just for safety to accompany a young girl to her home, that's all. Nothing more than that. Nothing.)

The last thing I remembered was Elango helping me into bed, and as he was leaving the room, I called out to him.

"Deiii Elangoooo. Andha ponnu en student da. Vera Onnum illa student. Seetha.. seetha is my student.. seethaa.. see..tha.."

(Elango! That girl is my student, dude. Nothing more than that.)

When I woke up the next morning, Elango was sitting beside my legs and scrolling through his phone. I quietly slipped into the restroom to get ready for college, and we rode there on our bikes.

I was dressed in a camel brown shirt and black pants, while Elango wore a blue shirt and black pants. We took our seats in the auditorium where students were receiving prizes for various categories.

As the cultural events began, Seetha, my student, took the stage with a mic. Elango noticed me and glanced in my direction.

"Don't you dare. She is my student"

I repeated it to him for what felt like the nth time, and he rolled his eyes, turning his gaze back to the stage. But, I continued to stare at him and still with his eyes on the stage, he said,

"Naan onnume sollalaye da. Ohh, unakku neeye sollikiriyaa?"

(I didn't say anything. Oh, are you trying to register that 'student' thing in your mind?)

I turned away and focused on the stage, reminding myself that Seetha is just my student. Nothing more. 

And I can watch her performance, but there's nothing between me and her. 

There will never be an 'us'. It's always just me and her. She is my student, and that's..

Angnyaadae angnyaadae angnyaadae
Yehe yeye angnyaadae
Angnyaadae angnyaadae angnyaadae
Yehe yeye angnyaadae

(Angnyaade-Oh beloved!)

I halted my thoughts as I was captivated by her voice. Seetha sang with such grace that it stunned me.

The entire girls' gang cheered and whistled, joining in with the song, while the boys' gang simply smiled and observed their enthusiastic reactions.

Asandhaapula alliputaanae
Adimanadhil andiputtaanae
Melaga poo pola ennulla
Azhaga poo pookka vittaanae

(With his composed demeanour, he swept me away!
He has come very closer in the heart's depths!
Just like those beautiful flowers of chilli,
He made beautiful flowers bloom in me!)

The co-singer gave her a nudge, and Seetha, as the lead singer, struggled to control her blush.

Why the heck is she blushing now?

"Aaayusheyy !"

Her classmates shouted my name.

I gasped but maintained a neutral expression from outside. Seetha, dressed in a mild purple saree and white blouse, widened her eyes but managed to compose herself, continuing the song. 

Meanwhile, I gritted my teeth in mild frustration.

Vetkathula vikka vechaanae
Vetpathula sikka vechaanae
Pasupuranae malupuranae sodhapuranae

(He gave me hiccups in coyness,

He got me tangled in the heat!

I fumble with my replies, I give excuses, I am messing it up!)

Elangovan gave me a suspicious look, but I ignored him. My frustration simmered, and it eventually turned toward the girl on stage, the root cause of everything.

Alangaari altikittenae

Alungaama alliputtanae
Adikiranae
dhinam dhinamum nadikiranae

(I made such a fuss about being a beautiful damsel,

But, he effortlossly swpet me away!

I hit myself and continue to put on an act every day!)

The crowd cheered enthusiastically for her high-pitched attempt, their excitement palpable.

Angnyaadae angnyaadae angnyaadae

Yehe yeye angnyaadae
Angnyaadae angnyaadae angnyaadae
Yehe yeye angnyaadae

My gaze remained fixed on her as she deliberately avoided even a furtive glance in my direction, her blushing smile only deepening my frown at her behavior.

"Ennaachu?"

(What happened?)

Elango asked me, but I was still trying to understand the reason behind Seetha's peculiar smile and unnecessary blush.

"I don't know what's going on in her mind !" 

I hissed at him, rolling my eyes and scratching my temple with my fingers before ruffling my hair and fixing it again.

Avaga ada avaga ulla manasil
Nulanji maruga
Kaduga indha kaduga avan kadikka
Nenachi karuga

(Him, Oh him, he enters into my heart and makes it yearn!

As he desirously thinks of biting into this mustard,)

She moved the mic away from her lips, then brought it back to continue singing, casually tucking the curls that had strayed onto her cheek behind her ear.

I cleared my throat and straightened up.

En nenaipil kudhikuraanae

En manasil kulikiraanae
Enna paduthi eduthu
Kulapi keduthu paduthuraanae

(He wallops in my thoughts,

He wins over my heart!

He torments me, he confuses me into ruins,

He torments me!)

She formed a half-heart with her hand and tapped her forehead with a playful, smiley annoyance.

En manasu kanna pinnaa aasayinaala

(My heart, in frenzy of desire,)

Her eyebrows lifted in anticipation.

Athukittu odudhupaar goppan thannaala

(cuts loose and runs (to you) automatically,)

She shifted to a pouty expression and waved her hand as if her heart were floating in midair.

The crowd, including the staff, burst into laughter at her playful antics. With a beaming smile, she concluded her action-performance by repeating the first two lines, maintaining her endearing expressions.

Nenaputhaan pozhapayum kedukudhu
Kedukattum un nenapu

(Your thoughts ruin my life!

Let you thoughts ruin it!)

She tilted her chin to the left, as if in acceptance.

Something felt off. It was as if she was caught up in a pointless fantasy.

Varavara adikadi sirikiren
Manasula un nenapae

(As your thoughts come in, I smile often,)

She extended her hand toward the center of the crowd, not aiming directly at me, leaving no room for her friends to tease her.

"You have to speak to her" 

Elangovan remarked. I nodded in agreement.

Asandhaapula alliputaanae
Adimanadhil andiputtaanae
Melaga poo pola ennulla
Azhaga poo pookka vittaanae
Vetkathula vikka vechaanae
Vetpathula sikka vechaanae
Pasupuranae malupuranae sodhapuranae

(With his composed demeanour, he swept me away!

He has come very closer in the heart's depth!
Just like those beautiful flowers of chilli,
He made beautiful flowers bloom in me

He gave me hiccups in coyness,
He got me tangled in the heat!

I fumble with my replies, I give excuses, I am messing it up!)

My gaze shifted to the right, where I noticed the female staff's scrutinizing looks, adding to my discomfort for the first time.

I couldn't bear it any longer. The embarrassment was overwhelming.

Everything is enough !

"Let's leave" 

I said, feeling the weight of the situation.

Elangovan nodded in understanding, and we both exited the auditorium, though her voice still echoed through the speakers.

Alangaari altikittenae

Alungaama alliputtanaeAdikiranae dhinam dhinamum nadikiranaeAngnyaadae angnyaadae angnyaadaeYehe yeye angnyaadae

Angnyaadae angnyaadae angnyaadae

Yehe yeye angnyaadae

(I made such a fuss about being a beautiful damsel,

But, he effortlessly swept me away!

I hit myself and continue to put on an act every day!)

She ended with a huge round of applause and the same "Aayusheyy" from her beloved classmates and friends.

Fuck!

I cursed—not her, but myself.

I'm also the reason for her sudden change in behavior. I shouldn't have safeguarded her like that yesterday.

But I did everything for her safety, and it felt like the right thing to do at the time.

And I felt like I was just trying to save her from her fear. 

Nothing more than that.

"Aayush."

Elango placed his hand on my shoulder, but I shrugged it off, moving away to get some alone time. Elango respected my need for space, allowing me to think things over.

It's not right.

It's completely wrong.

Now, because of this single performance, the entire college might think something is brewing between me and her, which is completely false. It's not true. It can't happen.

I need to talk to her. 

I need to stop this nonsense. 

It's not good for her studies or for my life and also for her life.

If she doesn't care, then I should warn her and make her understand to move on from whatever feelings she might have.

Suddenly, I turned as a boy approached me and Elangovan.

"Sir, football ku neenga varinglaa nu Kaali sir kaettaaru"

(Sir, Kaali sir asked if you're coming for the football match.)

He asked me.

"Naan varen nu solleeru pa"

(Tell him, I'll come)

I replied with a straight face. He nodded and left.

Elangovan and I then entered the auditorium with water bottles in hand and took our seats.

Elango didn't question me; he could analyze that I was lost in thoughts, grappling with anger and frustration.

A minute later, I looked up from my phone and spotted Seetha trying to hide behind her friend. I shook my head and turned away.

As the culturals wrapped up, students and staff began to leave. I told Elangovan I was heading to the staffroom to get my bag and made my way to the main building.

I saw Seetha heading towards the college bus. After scanning the area, I took a different route and positioned myself behind the bus, ready to talk to her.

"Perumaaley, indha bag uh vera varamaatengudhey"

(God, my bag got stuck.)

I could hear her voice, and she turned towards me with a grin. But as soon as she saw me, her smile transformed into a blushing one, which frustrated me more than her stage performance.

Her smile slowly faded into fear when she noticed the intensity of my glare. She gulped and took a step back as I moved closer.

"Sir"

I smirked.

"Oh. So, you're aware of that?"

She gulped again at my deep, angry tone as I closed the distance between us. There was barely an inch between the edge of my shoes and her slippers.

"You sang well."

She shuddered at my proximity, so I stepped back slightly, sighing.

"I just, only helped you with the bus."

I said, annoyed, as I thought that was my main fault.

She blinked, so I continued,

"There should be nothing more in your mind about me, other than me being your professor."

She lowered her head.

So, the warning and my angry tone seemed to work on her.

"Tell your friends to stop. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to address them personally."

I said with the same stern tone. Her eyes brimmed with tears upon hearing my warning.

"Do you understand?"

She nodded.

"Words !"

She flinched at my soft yell.

"Ye-yes sir."

She stuttered, and I softened my tone, speaking to her as I would to my students.

"Good. You can come to me for anything professional. But there should be nothing personal between you and me. Purunjadhaa? edhaadhu pretchana naa enna vandhu paaru. I'll be there as your professor. But, indha crush, love ntu varanum nu kanavula kooda nenaika koodaadhu. Understand?"

(Understood? If you have any issues, come to me, and I'll be there as your professor. But don't entertain any thoughts of crush or love in your mind.)

I yelled this time, and she broke into tears.

I looked at her tears that poured down from her eyes to her cheeks and felt a strange hatred rising within me. My strange obsession with dark colors and her deep black eyes made the hate intensify as they filled with tears.

"Yes sir"

"Go"

She flinched again at my sudden yell, clutched her bag, and hurried onto her college bus.

I stood there, raking my fingers through my hair. 

Everything seemed to return to normal.

I'm normal.

I became normal, again.

Stop your expectations, Aayush. 

I stormed away and sat beside Elango with a thud. He looked at me, eating a good day biscuit that was given to every student and professors for the culturals.

"Ennaachu?"

(What happened?)

He asked me. But I just shook my head.

"Thitteetiyaa?"

(Did you scold her?)

He asked me again, and this time I lifted my face to see him, who was busy eating the biscuit layer by layer like a kid.

My frustration grew.

"Dhum irukkaa?"

(Do you have a cigar?)

He gasped and coughed, placing the biscuit packet beside him on the slab.

"Deii enna? Idhu college da"

(Dude, this is a college)

He reminded me, bewildered.

I sighed and turned away, placing my arms on my thighs, my feet tapping on the floor in an unknown anger towards myself.

Everything felt wrong.

Accepting the job of a professor.

Being rigid towards the students.

Showing rigidity towards Seetha.

Yet, offering help to that same student, Seetha.

Living in this world.

It all felt like my fault.

"Macha"

(Dude)

"Professor velaiku pogala pogala nu sonnaa kettiyaa da nee?"

(Did you hear me when I said I don't want this professor job?)

I shouted, forgetting I was in the college playground. Elango stood up with me, looking around and then at me.

"Aayush."

I gulped, meeting his gaze before storming off to the football court. 

I removed my cuff buttons, rolled up my sleeves, and unbuttoned the top two buttons of my shirt, shrugging it off backward. I then joined the students practicing for the national level football competition, which was set to take place the day after tomorrow.

I stopped a ball kicked by one of the students, tossing it on the ground and placing it between the ground and my show-clad foot.

"Sir."

Yuvan, one of her...

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them to see,

Yuvan, A final-year student, and the others looking at me with wide smiles. I smiled back and kicked the ball.

The practice session continued intensely until the rain, reminiscent of yesterday's downpour, began to fall.

"Enga da poringa?"

(Where you guys are leaving?)

I asked them who were ready to disperse. But on hearing my words they stopped moving and looked at each other then, Charan came forward,

"Sir illa mazha peiyudhu.."

(Sir. Its.. it's raining..)

He said.

So?

"Adhunaala enna? Exams yedhuvum illa le? We have our national match the day after tomorrow. Orutharum Inga win pannanum nu practice pandra maadhiri enakku therila. Nalla velayaadringlaa illayaa nu paaka naan varla. Yevlo capabilities ovvarutharukkum irukku nu, neenga therinjukanum nu dha naan vandhen. That's the main plus point in the competition. Am I right, coach?"

(So what? There are no exams, right? We have our national match the day after tomorrow. I don't know how seriously you're all practicing to win. I'm not here just to see your capabilities; I want to ensure you're aware of them yourself.)

Kaali, the football team coach rushed in front of me.

"Yes sir"

He acknowledged.

"Then what? Yaarukku enna capabilities irukku nu paapo"

(Let's see, who has more capabilities)

I kicked the ball towards Charan, who kept it beneath his foot. 

The others looked at each other before continuing our session amidst the rain, smiles, and some determination on their faces.

Sharp at 7:30, I wrapped my arm around Charan's shoulder and said,

"Charan, Namma football team le irukka boys ellaarum, including substitutes ku oru whatsApp group create pannu. Add me too. Nalikum idhey maadhiri practice irukkalaam. So, ellaarum veetukku correct aah poitaangalaa nu enakku theriyanum"

(Charan, create a WhatsApp group for all the boys in the football team, including the substitutes. Add me too. We can have practice like this tomorrow as well. I need to know if everyone goes home safely.)

He looked at me with a smile and said,

"Sir, already naanga oru group vachirukko. Adhulaye naan ungala add panneeren sir"

(Sir, we already have one group. I'll add you to it.)

I smiled back.

"Sure, Charan. Nee epdi pora veetukku?"

(How are you getting home?)

I asked, removing his hand from his shoulder.

"Bike le dha sir"

(In my bike, sir)

"Ohh paathu ponga ellaarum"

(Oh, make sure all of you get home safely.)

I patted Charan's shoulder, and he smiled and nodded before heading home. I walked to my bike and rode home alone, as Elango had already left, saying his mother called him due to the rain.

I chuckled sadly and rode towards my father's house, my mind still preoccupied with various thoughts. However, after immersing myself in football, my mind felt refreshed, leaving behind the worries that had consumed me earlier. 

Football is my solace, my peace, and my everything after my mother.

Without football, I don't know how I would have survive this world.

It was, is, and will always be my stress reliever.

Upon reaching home, I removed my shoes and placed them in the shoe rack before entering my room.

After taking a warm head bath, I descended the stairs wearing only shorts that ended above my knee. I grabbed the mop and bucket from the guest bathroom and cleaned up the mud I had tracked through the house. 

Then, I went to the kitchen, ignored the casseroles on the counter, and prepared a simple pasta with extra masalas to endure the climate, eating it quietly. Afterward, I went up to the terrace and, as usual, finished off a few bottles of beer before falling asleep.

The next morning, I got ready in a hurry, skipping breakfast despite Elango's insistence, and headed to college. We parked our bikes and took the lift to the fifth floor in silence. Since it was Friday, the whole day was dedicated to project work for the final-year students. My first task was to take attendance for them.

I took the attendance note and started to move out, but I stopped at the staffroom doorway when I saw Seetha and Kamali walking past me.

Seetha pulled Kamali to her left, that's by my side, where I was standing, and she moved to the other side, walking beside Kamali with her head lowered and her fingers fidgeting with her dupatta, revealing either fear or frustration. I couldn't tell.

But at least she didn't act out anything after my scolding about her and her friends' behavior. 

I was relieved that she seemed to understand and move on.

My lips curved into a relieved smile as I entered the class, took the attendance, and instructed the students to work on their projects. I informed them that the third review would occur next week and reminded my team to fill up their project diaries.

Later, Kamali and another girl from the other team came to collect the project diaries.

"How far has the project progressed?" 

I asked them.

They replied that it was halfway done. I told them to complete it and meet me at 4:30 to discuss the next steps and review the current state of their projects. They agreed and left.

I focused on my academic schedules, and after the lunch hour, headed to the first-year class with my laptop bag. 

As I approached the lift, my steps slowed when I saw Vinitha Mam with Seetha.

Seetha glanced at me and quickly averted her gaze, her eyes fluttering, and her fingers fidgeting with the papers in her hands. I shifted my gaze to Vinitha Mam, who was already smiling at me. I returned her smile and noticed the lift number showing 3.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Seetha growing more restless and nervous. I sighed, ignored her, and checked my watch as the lift arrived at the fifth floor.

We all entered the lift, with Vinitha mam standing between me and Seetha. I turned to look at Seetha, who immediately averted her gaze, fluttered her eyes, tucked her hair behind her ears, and gulped. I turned away and exited the lift when it reached the third floor.

Without dwelling my thoughts on anything, I conducted my class, focusing on preparing the students for their model exam.

And when I returned to the final-year classroom to take the afternoon attendance, Seetha was absent. When her name was called, Kamali nervously said she went to help Vinitha Mam with her work.

I frowned at Kamali's frightened face but shrugged it off, although a nagging sense of disturbance lingered in my mind.

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TBC...

Epdi irundhuchu?

And what will that nagging sensation be?

Song lyrics - Google 🌝

Hey everyone, could you please vote and leave a comment? It's not even reaching 200 votes for each chapters yet!

Thank you for the 10k+ reads and my entire heart for who comments in every chapter, but I'm really disappointed that there are only 1k+ votes overall. What's going on? Doesn't this story deserve some of your votes?

See you all in the next update bubyee 🚴🏻‍♀️💜🦋