John

Devathaiyai kanden kaadhalil vizhunthen...

I sang in my mind, staring the angel sitting in front of me. She was sitting opposite to my table. I was thinking for the past one month, how to impress her. As Mathew sir said that Sreedevi loves to read books, I searched for the best seller books of last year and bought one for her. I even wrote a note on it. I thought I would get a Thank you message from her and I could start a conversation with her, but No she didn't. Thats okay, I can plan other ways. I told my mother that I love her. She scolded me to stop playing around, and aproach her directly.

I put my hands inside my pocket and took out the chit paper and held it under the table, revising the proposal I have written in the paper.

"Sreedevi, itha epdi solrathu nu therila.. Kadantha oru varshama ithu solla naan romba thavichirken.. Enak unna romba pudichirik.. Unna kalyanam pannikanum.. Unna naa kadaisi varaikum nalla pathupen.. Ennoda vazhkai thunai ya vara unak sammathama??"

I murmured under my breath byhearting it. I looked up and saw her looking at me wierdly. I crushed the paper and smiled at he

"Prayer prayer" I said and did a holy cross.

"In the name of the father"I touched my forehead "and of the son" I touched my chest "and of the holy spirit" I touched either side of my torso "amen" I touched my lips and smiled at her.

She nodded awkwardly and went back to separating the papers.

"Sreedevi maam?"

"Haan" she looked up at me.

"Athu.." I cleared my throat "Naa book anupirnthen.. Vanthucha?" I asked.

"Oh yeah" she palmed her temple "Maranthe poyiten.. Yah neenga anupuna book vanthuchu sir and Thank you so much. That was very sweet of you" she smiled.

I smiled. No blushed. "No mention Sreedevi... maam.. Athu padichingala?"

"Yah paathi padichen... Innum irukku" she said.

I nodded. So she might have read my note too.

I gulped, looked at the chit paper again. I should somehow propose her. Teachers might come after 9:30. Its only me and her now. This is the right time.
Should I add some more, like this orange saree suits you well? That might be too risky. I dont know what colour saree she is wearing but I assume it is orange. What if it is not orange? She might reject me because I am colour blind.

I cleared my throat, but nothing cane out of my mouth. I felt the words getting stucked in my throat without wanting to come out. I suddenly felt like suffocating and got up from the seat suddenly. I excused and left to the washroom in the right corridor. I breathed out and took out the paper, revised it again.

Or else what about proposing her in a cinematic way?

"Hi Sreedevi, I am John..." I widened my arms "Inga yarayum ivlo azhaga.." I chuckled "Yaaru ivlo azhaga pathurka maatanga... And I'm in love with you"

I shook my head "Venam.. Romba Over ah irukum"

What about,

"Sreedevi.... En amma vuk marumagala varuviya?"

No. Thats too much. Already prepared diologue would be enough. I took a deep breath in and out for few minutes. I prepared myself "You can do it" I said to myself and exited the washroom but gasped and caught my chest when I saw Akash standing with his hands crossed against his chest. I huffed in relief.

"Hai sir" he said with a cheeky smile.

"Hi" I said with a frown pinching my shirt feeling sweaty.

"Sir.. Enna thaan ungalukum enakum neraya clash nadanthalum enak unga mela rombave respect iruku sir" he said leaning his shoulder to the wall.

I waited for him to speak furthur,

"Evlo azhaga puriyura maari class edukringa" he pressed the word 'puriyura' "Ungala mathiri yaaralayum class eduka mudiyathu sir.. 1st std la irunth 10th varaikum enak vantha Maths teachers laye neenga thaa sir best uh" He said in a sincere tone.

I smiled proud of myself.

"Ungaloda worth enak school mudinja aprom thaa sir therinjuthu... Unga kita naa neraya thimura pesirken sir.. I am soo sorry sir" he said.

"Its okay Akash.. Naa athellam onum nenachukala" I patted his shoulder.

"Illa sir naa ungaluk ethachum oru help pannanum sir" he said adamantly.

"Heyy nee enna pandrathu... Parava ila vidu" I patted his forearm.

"Sir neenga Sreedevi maam ah love panringa thane?" He asked me.

I widened my eyes in shock.

"Enak theriyum sir" he grinned "aama thane? aama thane?" He asked teasingly.

I nodded with a blush. He squealed.

"Sollitingala sir?" He asked me curiously.

"Innu illa... Innaik sollalam nu nenachen" I said sighing.

"Ayyayyooo" he yelled making mr jerk "Solli gilli tholachirathinga sir" he said.

I frowned "Yen da?"

"Sir Sreedevi maam love panni ellam kalyanam pannika maatangalam.. Veetla solra maapilaya mattum thaa kalyanam panipaangalam" he said actioning.

"Unak epdi theriyum?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Athu... Naa thaa maam oda pet aache.. Maam enkitta solirkanga" he said.

I got worried. Then there is no way I can woo her.

"Appo nadakathe da.. Inter caste marriage ellam love panna thane da nadakum.. Epdi arranged? Vaipe illa" I said and sighed worriedly.

"Ayyayo sir... Apdilam illa.. Avunga veetla paiyan nalla iruntha pothum aam.. Intha caste religion status ellam paaka mataangalam.. Ithuvum maam thaa sonaanga" he said bringing some hopes for me "neenga poyi veetla pesunga sir" he motivated me.

"Ayoo aana enak avunga veedu enga irukune therilaye da" Insaid anticipating he might have her address and that he would give me.

"Sir.. Kadavul inaik unga pakom thaa sir" he said raising his hands upwards.

I frowned.

"Neenga veedu varikum poga venda.. Just ground floor pona pothum" he said and I looked at him confused.

"Purila da"

"Sir keezha avunga anna vanthurkanga sir.. Avuru thaan maam ah drop panaaru... Avuru kitta poyi pesi impress pannunga sir.. Come on" he said fisting his palm in the air.

"Anna va?"

"Aiyo aama sir.. Inga vaangalen.." He dragged me to the corridor and pointed a man standing by a black car scrolling his phone "Antha karuppu car kitta karuppu satta potu oruthar irukare avuru thaan... Ponga ponga poyi pesunga..." He pushed me towards the staircase "pesi impress pannunga sir"

"Seri seri poren" I said and walked towards the stair.

"Sir?" Akash called me from behind.

I turned around.

"All the best sir" he showed me thumbs up with his both hands.

I nodded with a blush and descended the stairs and walked to the man. I stood beside him, but he didn't notice me. I did a silent prayer, a quick holy cross and cleared my throat. He looked up from his mobile screen. I smiled at him. He smiled back.

"Hai sir" I said.

"Sorry sir naa inga Teacher illa... But Parents meeting respective classes la thaa nadakuth.." He said thinking I was a parent.

"Aiyo no no... I am not a parent" I immediately corrected him "Naan oru staff thaa inga.. Maths thaa ennoda subject" I said.

"I see" he nodded at me.

"Unga kitta konjom pesanum" I said hesitantly feeling nervous all of a sudden.

"Mm sollunga" he said with a smile.

"Sreedevi maam related ah thaan...ungaluke purinjirukum.. Vera ethuk unga kitta pesa poren" I tried to ease not knowing how to start.

He looks smart. He might also know karate or kung fu. I should save my life, if it goes wrong.

He frowned.

"By the way I am John" I said forwarding my hand.

His expressions changed into a scowl. He stood straight, his jaw tightened.

"Sreedevi's colleague?" I added unsure of the change in his expression.

"Ohh nee thaana athu....." He muttered folding his already folded sleeves.

"Huh??"

"Illa neenga thaana athu nu keten.." He said smiling wide.

I was getting confused as his expressions changed second to second. He was scowling last minute and mow he is smiling.

"Ungala thaa romba naal ah pakanum nu nenachit irunthen John sir" he patted my shoulder. My shoulder dipped down with the force. It did hurt. He might be a gym guy.

"Enna pathi solirkaangala Sreedevi maam" I asked delighted.

"Mmmmm... Neraya sollirkanga" he rotated his head either side.

I couldn't help but grin.

"Neenga thane book anupininga With love John nu sollit?" He asked interested.

"Aama sir" I think I have already impressed him.

"That was soo sweet of you Mr with love John" he said sarcastically and now I doubt why he is behaving so odd.

"By the way, I am Ajay" He forwarded me his hand. I clutched it, "Ajay Dev, Sreedevi's Husband" he added hitting me like a bucket of cold water.

My whole body went numb and my mouth parted in shock. Slowly the realisation hit me harder tearing my heart into pieces.

Sreedevi is married? Jesus Christ.

His grip on my hands went tighter breaking my knuckles. He was gritting his teeth. I wiggled my shoulders to get out of the hold. He left my hands with a thud and I shook it in pain. He smiled like a psycho.

"Apro John sir.. Enna solringa" he patted my forearms hardly.

Sreedevi maam was walking towards us, he turned to her and smiled at her.

"Ennachu ma??" He asked.

"Jay en phone pathiya?" She asked.

"Illaye.." He said.

"Naa eduthut pona maari oru nyabagam... Aana anga illa.. Anu maam ku text pannanum" she said.

I have never seen her talking so casually other than being professional.

"Car la irukka nu paaru ma" he suggested.

She checked inside the car, I kept watching her with longingness. I just cant believe she is married already. So I am not the lucky person to get her?

"Inga tha irukku" she said taking the phone from the car seat and came around to us.

She smiled sheepishly at him. He pushed her head.

"Enna panringa" she asked him.

"Dho.. Namma John sir kitta pesit irunthen... Ipo thaan intro kudutharu" he said wrapping his one hand around her waist.

I glanced at his hand on her waist and back to them.

"Oh sorry John sir solla maranthuten.. Ithu en Husband Ajay" she said keeping her palm on his chest.

Romba seekram sollita ma

He smirked at me "Athellam naangale introduce aagitom Devi ma" he said.

She even has a nick name.

"Kal.. Kalyanathuk koopdave ill.. Illaye Maam neenga?" I tried to voice out thouh my throat was parched.

"Haiyo John sir engaluk kalyanam aagi ondra varsham aachu... " Her husband intervened "Devi kalyanathuk aprom thaa inga join panna.. Illa na ungala koopdama irupoma? Anba book ellam anupringa.. " he was being sarcastic again.

I bend my head down gulping twisting my fingers.

"Seri naa poren... Neenga pesunga" Sreedevi took his hands off her and tried to walk away but he caught her hands.

"Enna ma ithu inga kannathula?" He touched her cheeks.

He was purposefully doing it. It maddened me, but I can't do anything he is her husband. Or is he really her husband or are they pranking me? But why should they prank me?

Sreedevi frowned and touched her cheeks. He wiped her cheeks "onula poyiduchu" he pinched her cheeks. Sreedevi blushed and realising that she wasn't blushing for me broke me more.

She walked away to the block and Ajay turned to me. He smiled at me and neared me. He patted my shirt and kept correcting my collars as he spoke,

"So John sir.. Neenga yaaru enna ithellam enak theriyathu" he stated "aana neenga ethuk book anupringa.. Athula ethuk note vachu vera anupringa ithellam enak theriyum.. Yen na naanum oru aambala thaan.. Naanum intha maari fraud vela ellam panirken" he said in a dangerous tone.

I gulped as he continued,

"Sreedevi vena athellam neenga oru paasathula anupirpinga nu nenaikalaam aana naa atha namba maten.. Aduthavan auto vuk ayudha pooja pannanum nu nenaikrathu thappu john sir.. " he patted my shoulders,

"Inime intha book anupurathu, rose anuprathu.. Intha maari vela ellam panninga nu vachukongalen... Ungaluk vazhkaila kanakke poda mudiyatha mathiri panniduven.. Paaka thaan naan ipdi irupen.. Decent boy mathiri.. En history ellam romba bad uh" he said making me gulp more.

He smiled again like a psycho. I nodded at him and moved past him,

"Apro John sir" He called behind. I paused on my way "En pontati vitu oru rend desk thalliye irunga" he said.

I ignored him and walked towards the staircase completely lost. As I was about to step on the first stair, I saw Akash and Joel laughing holding their stomachs on the corrodor of the ground floor.

So he did it on purpose.

I fumed in anger and stroded towards him. I knocked on his head but he laughed again looking at me face. It is not ethical to beat the students so I refrained from beating him. He laughed again and again.

"Enna sir pathu pesitingala?" He laughed again.

Unable to withstand the humiliation, I rushed upstairs to the staffroom and sat on my desk. Sreedevi, my love, ex one side love, was seriously working.

I sighed and sat on my table not understanding what's happening around me. I glanced her again realising how I wont get her in my lifetime.

Ava enna enna thedi vantha anjala.....

-

Hey guys,

John sir🤧🤣

How was the chapter?