Mithra's POV

"When you fall in love, it is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake, and then it subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots are to become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the desire to mate every second of the day. It is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every part of your body. No ... don't blush. I am telling you some truths. For that is just being in love; which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over, when being in love has burned away. Doesn't sound very exciting, does it? But it is!"

My fingers  gently brushed the pages of Captain Corelli's Mandolin as my mind contemplated the words I've just read.

What is love? What is falling in love? Is there a difference?

But more importantly.... what does it mean? Love, falling in love, being in love.. what does it mean?

Does it mean being completely consumed by the feeling of belonging with him?

Does it mean always tethering on the edges of both horny excitement and serene happiness?

What does it mean to make us think that it is okay to throw away the life we have built and believed in for 25 years just to be with him?

And if it is like that... is it pure or is it toxic?

All I know is that I like it... whatever it means!! Whatever it is!! Pure or toxic! I want it. Does it last forever? I don't know... but I want it to last forever.

Wait a second....

I went over my thoughts. 

'Adada... Books padicha ipdi pesu- I mean yousuveengala?!' 

I wondered out loud.

At least, I have this book and Aditi to blame for the corny drama that my thoughts are right now. That girl is amazing with books. Want a good book? Just ask her.. The notebook was good and this one too was good. I still have to read Twilight and fifty shades of gray.

My phone rang putting an end to the little 'in love with literature' moment. I looked at the display... it was Aditi... 'aha.. Noor varsham ma unnaku!!'

I picked it up...

"Hello!!"

"Enna di panra?" came the steadfast question.

"Book padikuren di.." I said defending myself.

"Book padikura neramadi idhu?" She asked incredulously.

"Aditi..." I started in a sing-song voice "I am coming."

"Plan workout aacha?" She asked excitedly...

"Adhu naa vandhuttu solren" I said stressing on 'vandhuttu.'

"Seeikram vaa" she said sighing.

"Varen.. varen... on the way" I lied in order to escape her wrath on not starting yet.

"We are waiting.." she said and hung up.

I looked at the phone for a second and stashed in my jeans pocket.

I placed the book in my hand aside. I locked the door and walked excitedly. I was exceptionally happy today. I believed things were moving forward for all of us. Ironically that was when I decided to stop because I noticed him sitting there slightly tensed. I tip toed to him silently, not that he would notice because he was oh-so engrossed in his thoughts. I stood directly in front of him when he finally noticed me. He looked up at me and I smiled.

"Hey Sreyas... Ellarum anga irundha nee inga ukkandhu enna da panra?"

"Adhu romba tension ah irukku mithu.. avalukku pudikomo illa.." he trailed of tensely.

'Uh-oh... Maatikittene!! En vazhkai la timing ku onnum korai ilave illa!!!' My mind remarked and rebuked.

"Dei Ani panna torture la irundhe naan innum fulla recover agala da.. neeyum aarambikadha da!!" I said as I remembered how horrible Ani was back then. 

"Adhu illa di.." he started again.

"Solladha" I cut him off, "Nee edhuvume solladha."

"Mithra!!" he exclaimed.

"Indha generation pasan-  illa illa, idha kadhai oda pasnagulluku konjam kooda confidence illa" I said shaking my head.

"Adiyei!!" he rebuked.

"Dei.. man up pannuda!!" I said gesturing with my hand.

"Thaaye... Nee po.. naan edhayo panni sethuren... nee po" he said joining his hands mockingly.

"Sethuradha... seeikram vandhuru.." I said throwing an 'Aditi' impression in the middle of it.

He nodded a yes and gestured the same with his hands, clearly fed up.

I, however, smiled and said "Ta-ta" before  walking of to the garage.

As I entered the garage, I was greeted with an excited Aditi and the curious rest.

"Hey, enna aachu?" Aditi asked excitedly, "Plan workout aacha?"

"Yup" I nodded smiling with all my 32 teeth, "nalla workout aachu."

"Work out aacha?" Ani asked shocked, "Epdi?"

"Dei" I glared at him while Aditi gave him a look.

"Avana vidu" Madhu said, "Nee mudhalla enna nadandhuchu nu sollu."

"Adhu vandhu.. I fed him..." I started

"Ooh" came the anitcipated reply and then came the expected question, "aprom?" 

"Aprom.. avan saaptaan, naanga pesunom and then we walked to his room.." I said "Nalla distance irundhuchu.."

"Unakkum avanukkuma?" Iyyappan asked narrowing his eyes mockingly.

"Illa da.. andha ground-kum avanoda room-kum" I answered immediately.

"Aprom?" This time it was Shashank.

'Oorla irukura ella manushangulukkum en love story mela intrest iurkku pol irukke!!' 

"Aprom naanga pesunom... naan invite pannitu vandhuten." I finished with smile.

Their faces had a big 'HUH?!' written on them. 

"Ennadhu?" Ani said incredulously, "Pesitu.. invite pannitu vantiya?"

"Aama!!" I said matter of factly.

"Appo anga onnume nadakalaya?" Madhu asked kind of disappointed.. Aditi just shook her head while sighing my name.

"Hey nee dhaane food-stomach-heart-route-u nu solli anupna... ippo enna?!" I asked shrugging my shoulders.

"Mithra naan route-u mttum dhaan pottu kuduthen" Aditi started in her recently adapted 'love guru' tone, "Destination sernthathukku aprom nee onnum pannalaya?" 

I nodded a no!

"Mithra.. you want him right?" Aditi asked in the same 'love guru' tone. 

I nodded a yes!

"Then up your game!!!!"

I just looked at the ground contemplating.

"Seri! Idhulaam aprom pakalaam. Ippo nammaku vera vela irukku la... adha poi parpom.." Ani said before this could continue further.

I looked at him with a small smile.

To be--- kidding!!! Not yet!!

Meanwhile somewhere else... Her POV

I came in completely exhausted from the events of the day. The competition was in it's final tire and things escalated quickly here. We had tough competition.. so more stress. But I had to say.. the whole college life thing had some spunk to it. The one that my regular life never gave. I want to see this through. I hope I get to. 

Suddenly my phone pinged. 

I picked it up and looked at the caller id. 

Huh? Him? Why would he ping me?

My interest piqued. I opened the message.

"Hello ma'am... vela laam mudujiruncha?"

"Enga vela pathi ungalakku enna kavalai?" I typed away.

The reply came instantly.

"Ore college la irukkom.. oru team la irukkom.. unga vela  enga vela illaya?" 

Oh! Ahaaan!!

"Apdina unga vela paththi sollungale.. adhuvum ennoda vela dhaan illaya?"

I smiled triumphantly.

This time the reply took a second.

"Adhu poite irukku.."

I smiled playfully.

"Ennoda vela-uhm poite irukku.."

I could almost feel his frustration through the mobile.

"Seri- serin'ga poite irunga!!"

And there the convo ended.

This was unusual but strangely made me happy... Maybe he wasn't an ass after all!!

To be continued!!

Wassup wattys!! A kinda long update after a very long time.

I hope this time atleast our management doesn't force a hella lot of classes on us and lets me continue this streak.

On to the story... it's nearing 4k. 

I just can't believe it.

And to the chapter..

How was it?

Did you like it?

And there are questions this time... and ...

Sreyas is going to propose... but to whom?

And why are they all having this gathering kinda thing?

How does it concern Aneglina?

Oh-- there is a new character (maybe.)

Who is she?

And who is her 'not-so-ass-him?'

Keep guessing.....

Meet you in the next chapter!!!