Suddenly her eyes close.

Her face moves upwards and her lips part.

Without any thought, I reach down and I...

Kiss her!

Warning: Intimate scenes!

Mithra's POV

The sheet falling right in front of me startled me deeply which caused an involuntary reaction in me and made me jerk back.

'En neram adha kooda seriya panna mudiyala!'

The jerk upset my entire balance and caused me to fall.

'Ahhh... Murugesaa! How embarrassing? I hope I don't hurt my bum or spine in the fall.'

I closed my eyes and tried to make my body rigid as if that would somehow break my fall or make it all hurt less.

Then, I felt two strong arms around me holding me in an embrace. They broke my fall and made me feel that as long as I was in those arms, nothing in this world could hurt me.

I looked up at his face as water rivulets streamed down from his hair because of the rain.

His eyes never strayed from my face and mine never strayed from his eyes.

He exhaled ad his breath surrounded me making me shiver because of the warmth it made me feel.

His eyes fixated on my lips and his lips shivered as he fought down the urge to kiss me.

I could tell that because his grip on me grew tighter and his eyes betrayed him like they always did, they fought with themselves to try and move away from my lips.

For the first time, I saw conflict unfold in those dark brown eyes of his.

I looked down at his lips, they were slightly open and, they were shivering due to the cold. They looked like dark lotus petals peaking out from dark algea covering them.

They were the right amount of rosy and brown, surrounded and covered by his small and trimmed mustache beard which were now wet due to rain.

His most attractive feature was his eyes, I always did love his eyes.

Maybe that's the reason I didn't actually see his lips until now, were they always this tempting?

The fleeting urge I had sometimes to kiss him came back strong and now I couldn't resist.

I closed my eyes and opened my lips, and his lips fell on to mine.

They felt so gentle as they caressed and cupped my lips. He turned as his lips locked mine. He gave two kisses and when I felt him retreat I gave the third one.

He turned his head and his hand slowly let go of my shoulder and travelled to hold my cheek.

He held my face in his hand and went in for the fourth kiss.

My body automatically turned to face him as my arms involuntarily moved to embrace him.

My hands held his neck while my thumbs caressed his cheeks as small bits of his curly hair entangled between my fingers.

Vijay's POV

I stopped after the fifth kiss and moved my face away abruptly. I found myself unable to bodily get away from her because she was holding me close to her and caressing.

I didn't want to lose the intimate warmth of that touch, so I just stood there as she slowly opened her eyes.

Her cheek was pressed into my palm, her face was flushed the tiniest bit due to being out of breath, wet hair fell gracefully on her forehead and brows, her soft lips closed shut and her eyes stared into mine.

Damn, did she always look this beautiful? No not beautiful she looked almost divine like a goddess moulded by nature itself...

I stared into her eyes and her face, carving every single one of those details into my soul to carry with me forever.

Her eyes searched mine, asking me why I let go?

Right! I let go... Not because I wanted to but because I had to...

Her grip on me got tighter and instead of hurting me, it soothed me.

I can't go on like this, I had to do something. I had to make her let go of me.

"Mithra... Vidu.."

I implored her and her grip got tighter.

"Please... " I begged and she immediately let go.

This time I stumbled, she reached out to hold me and I gestured her to stop.

Hurt flashed across her face and I felt self loathe rise in me.

But before either of us could do anything, we saw a car turn into our car and we knew from the first glance itself that it came for us.

The car stopped in front of us and Ani and Sathish got down holding umbrellas.

Ani went to her and Sathish came to me, they both took one glance at us and decided this was right time to scold us.

Complete Idiots!!!

"Enna da eppo ride ku pogalam poga koodaathu nu oru vyavasthi illaya?" Sathis started.

"Arivu irukanum la mithra.. Paaru ippo rendu perum full-ah wet aayiteenga naalaiki health problems vandhuchu na enna panradhu?" Ani continued.

Ah man! These idiots couldn't read the situation at all! I have to cut this down...

"Illa bro naan summa veliya varlam nu irundhen, I ran into her! Naan dhaan ride polaam nu ketten! Ipdi aagiduchu... Sorry!"

Mithra cut in and said, "Ipdi mazhai peyum na naanga vandhuruka maatom la? Ellarum busy ah irundha ennakku bore adichudhu adhaan ride nu kelambitom... Return varappo indha mazhai la sikkitom!"

Sathish shook his head with exasperation while I glared at him and Ani just sighed.

"Seri are you both okay?"

Mithra looked up, at me and then at him. I didn't know what to respond! Like physically, Mentally or emotionally? I wasn't okay anyway.

Sathish added saying, "Adhaan kekran la da, are you okay?"

No! "Yeah... onnum illa!"

They just nodded and Ani lead mithra with his umbrella. Before sathish could the same with me, I asked Ani, "Bro, if you don't mind, en bike-ah car ku attach panlaama?"

Ani nodded and said, "Adhula enna bro? Sure... Just a minute!"

He accompanied Mithra to the car and then made her get inside.

Then he came to me and Sathish. We walked to the bike and then dragged it and attached to my car's behind.

Then I turned to Ani, "Romba thanks bro, nee mithra kooda ukaaru, naanum sathish-uhm munnadi ukaandhuvom!"

Sathish and Ani both looked at me trying to come up with something to make the opposite happen, but I didn't give them any space to speak.

I walked with Ani to the door and we both got in.

Sathish started the car and I leaned into the seat.

'God!!! What have I done?'

This was wrong! This was so wrong! I can't go ahead and form an attachment with her. She deserves a safe healthy love with a stable person.

Not someone like me!

Loving me, no, just getting involved with me will only give her pain!

I embraced myself to give me some comfort and warmth as I suddenly felt cold.

I looked into the rear view mirror and I saw her eyes staring back at me.

They were filled with so many emotions, but all they did was remind me of holding her face in my hand after kissing her.

I felt as is I held the entire world in my palm in that moment.

And she... She looked so divine... So beautiful!

I closed my eyes and dug my fingers into my forearms.

And, all I saw was her! Why was she so beautiful? So divine... So godly!

And why did she have to feel for me of all people?

Beauty can't pair with catastrophe!

Sathish's voice broke me out of my mental turmoil when he asked, "Vijay, are you okay?"

I looked up at him and said, "AC off panna mudiyuma da?"

Sathish looked at me for a split second and then looked back at the road.

"Dei AC heat la thaanda irukku... It's warm in here!"

What? Then why was I feeling this bone chilling cold?

"Ennamo theriyala da, I feel cold."

Sathish scrunched his brows in confusion.

"Adhaan ippo varaikum mazhai la irundheenga la.. Maybe you're coming down with something! Pona udane thoongunga and Naalaiku nalla rest edunga, seriya poidum!" Ani piped up.

Oh yeah! Maybe that's what's happening! Or maybe I miss the warmth that I felt when I was with her! Or maybe both!

I nodded to him and gripped myself tighter. Few moments later, I looked into the rear view mirror to see how she was faring!

She looked fine, a bit wet and conflicted but fine. Thank god!

A few more suffocating minutes later, we reached the hotel. We parked and got down.

I looked at Ani and Mithra, nodded them a goodbye while trying to cover a shiver and then started towards my room.

Mithra's POV

"Do you think he'll be okay?" I asked Ani looking at Vijay's retreating form.

"Maybe! Are you?" Ani asked me.

"Huh"

"Are you okay mithra?"

I shook my head and looked at him, "Why wouldn't I be? I am okay!"

Ani sighed and then said, "You sure about that? Naanga pick panna varrapola irundhu paathutu iruken, there is something going on inside you!"

I looked down.

He completely turned towards me and asked, "Did something happen while you guys were out there?"

Ani wasn't just my cousin, he was confidant. I shared almost everything with him since childhood! But right at this moment, I couldn't make the words come out of me.

I nodded 'no' and said nothing. He sighed and we both retreated to our own rooms.

I got out of those wet clothes and I must say, these warm clothes never felt more comfortable!

I hit the bed to sleep but was stopped by my mobile's ringing.

'Indha nerathula yaaru da!'

The screen read 'Abhi'

'Oh, indha clown ah!'

I picked up the call and asked him "Enna?"

"Missed Call irundhadhu adhaan call pannen!"

"Nethu call panna innaiki call back panra... Nalla varuva da nee!"

"Shabba... Appo vechirava?"

Uhm... "Abhi... Abhi.. Listen... Something happened!"

Abhi responded in the most uninterested tone, "Ennachu?"

I hesitated for a moment and then said, "Adhu vandhu.."

He immediately cut in and said, "Mithra, drag pannadha. Seeikiram sollitu kelambu!"

"Adhu.. Naanum Vijayum!"

He yawned, "Neeyum Vijayum?"

I sighed, "We kissed!"

There was a pause on the other side.

"Wut?"

"Dei kiss pannom da!"

There was another pause...

"Oh! Offfooooo finally kadha munnadi pogudhu!"

This idiot! "Abhi..."

He continued, "Pinna enna... It's good progress but ellarukum nadakurathu thaan! Nee ennamo pudhusa panra maari kekura... You already were in a relationship in 11th standard right!"

"Dei the relationship lasted 10 days. Avlo dhaan! Adhulayum naan eppovume kiss pannala.. Rendu vaatiyum avan dhaan pannan!"

Abhi just chuckled.

"Aanalum idhu vera da.... This kiss felt so deep, so... So... Right!"

There were so many other ways I could describe that kiss, but no I am not saying them to my brother of all people.

"Seri... Seri! Aama mudhalla does he even know that you have feelings?"

Oops! "No!"

He dry chuckled and said, "Hmm.. Nasama pogum!"

"Dei!!!"

"Pinna enna ma.... Naanga laam oru naal vaasal la azhaga therinjiduchuna podhum... Poi love letter ezhudhuvom! Nee ivlo naal la seriya hints koodava kuduka la? Ippo kiss varaikum vandhuchu... Sollidalaam la!"

He had a point! He definitely had a point... But..

"Sollidalaam aana... Oruvela reject pannitan na? Ahn adhulaam panna maatan... But Oruvela pannitan na? So, I'll tell him after I get the confidence that he won't outright reject me."

He yawned again, "Seri edhavadhu pannu po!"

Two days later

Time: 5:00

Vijay's POV

Having this cold sucks... At least it's a lot better now, Thanks to the shower!

It also gives me the perfect excuse to just sit in a room and ignore everything else.

I looked ta my reflection in mirror... God! I looked so flushed and feverish! I sat down on the bed, ready for another nap, and began to set the bed to make it comfortable.

Then, I heard some ring the doorbell. Tsk!

I mumbled to myself tiredly and opened the door.

"Mithra?"

What was she doing here? She was the #1 person I wanted to avoid running into.

"Hey" she said with a little wave.

I stared at her, almost dumbfounded, as I waved back and gestured her to come in.

She was wearing casual tees and jeans with her wavy hair flowing freely behind her. She tucked a stray curl behind her hair and looked up at me.

She then smiled.

How can something so gorgeous get even better?

"Vijay?"

"Huh?"

My voice cracked due to cold and also being dumbfounded.

She smiled again and said, "Well, uhm you were sick yesterday and you didn't come to lunch today either... So I though I'll just check on you. You okay?"

Ahhh damn...

"I- I'm okay. What about you?"

Mithra's POV

"I'm okay! Perfectly alright!" I said with a nod. "If you need anything, let me know!"

He paused for a minute and then nodded.

He looked so cute in his tees and pajama pants. Also, those flushed cheeks and pink nose.. Fever did him good!

Looks, like he just showered, his wet hair is all over his face.

Just like-

That day!

Uhm "Vijay-"

"Mithra I'm sorry!" he cut in!

Huh? Why was he sorry? What was even the need for him to be sorry?

"Vijay?"

"Illa na apdi panniruka koodadhu. The kiss was an accident, but I swear naa venum nu pannala! It was just andha moment la epdiyo.. I'm so sorry, I was such an arse! It won't ever happen again... Naa unna thoda illa paaka kooda maaten! Naane vandha sorry kekalam nu irundhen but ennakku romba asingama irundhadhu.. I'm so sorry!"

All the while he said that, his eyes were fixed on the ground and his feverish frame was shaking a little bit.

I sighed and moved closer towards him...

"Vijay naan idhu unakku sollanum nu romba kaalama aasa pattruken... Aana nee epdi react pannuviyondra bayam, it stopped me.

But ippo naan idha sollala na thappapoidum nu thonudhu"

I held his face with both my hands and said,

"Nee enna thiruppi virumbanaalum illa thorathanaalum, vera enna nadandhalum"

I kissed on his forehead!

"I love you!"

To be continued...

Ta-da!

An update... Finally!

Pretty eventful at that!

I hope you like it.. All of you!

You know it's been a dream, of sorts, of me to direct thalapathy in a breezy romantic drama!

Considering my romance writing skills, it's going to be looooooonnggggg standing!

But like imagine him in a breezy sea backdrop or a chilly bridge backdrop accompanied with Rahman Sir's bgm!

Ahhhhhh 🖤🖤🖤

I hope someone makes a rom com or romance drama with him again!

I've been revisiting old tamil romances and especially vijay movies at that!

Thullatha Manamum Thullum and Sachein have my whole heart.

And then come, kadhalukku mariyathai, love today and Kannukul Nilavu...

Such classics 🤌🤌🤌

So, anyway... how was the chapter? 

I hope you liked it.

Meet you in the next chapter.