Athulya looked at Siddhik once and moved to the corner. Siddhik too followed her. Pragyan and Sujan followed. 

As expected, they need to touch each other while sitting. Athulya sat at first and then Siddhik. Their thighs touched like they were stick with a gum. Film started. 

Pragyan and Sujan are seriously discussing about the movie as if they are going make one after watching this. They are discussing not only about the caste in the movie but everything literally everything which includes the chair they used in the house in that movie. 

Athulya and Siddhik state, no words to describe that. They are sitting like already touching one another. They can't even move a little. The only thing allowed is breathing, only that will not touch the other. 

Athulya is not sure of what to do. She is highly disturbed. Her heart beats faster and she hate to be like a statue. Her breathe is abnormal. She can sense that. She got afraid whether he too can sense that. he didn't take any step to calm down her. This hurt her, usually he will do something to make her relax. He is sitting next to her like a rock. 

She is trying hard to get a positive point, but nothing came to her mind. His eyes stick to the film. His body didn't moved a little. he appeared to be normal..

Athulya started to think in a different way now. the thoughts, 'so, he is not disturbed by this proximity?, he is not suffering due to the touch?, this didn't affected him? is it nothing to him? is that means my closeness is nothing to him? but he said he like me, is that just to tease me? what about the care then? '

Athulya felt like tearing up and so she tried to pull her shall. Unfortunately, Siddhik is leaning on her shall. 

Athulya -"shall unga pinnadi.. ", She moved front and said to him. Siddhik too moved towards her to take her shall. 

In this process, they are moved so close. They are hit by each others breathe. Siddhik turned a little away to avoid the situation but it results in breathing in her skin. 

Athulya' s heart beat raised at its peak. She also understand that not only Siddhik leaned on her shawl, she too sat on her shawl only. To take that fully, she leaned on Siddhik which resulted in the dashing of her assert with his chest. Both their body felt a current shock and goosebumps. His body stiffened due to the effect. He fisted his hands. 

Athulya- "sorry", she hurriedly said and panted a little. It is too much for her to bear. She then turned towards the movie screen and tried to be normal. 

Siddhik took his mobile in hand and left after gesturing them like having a call. Athulya felt bad for what happened. She tried hard to hold back her tears. The way he went hurt her a lot. 

Athulya mind voice- "ethuku ipadi poraru? enna yen avoid panararu? naan onum venum nu panalayae.. oru vela. playa kathali gnabagam vanthirukumo? ada kadavula athu thaan kallu mathiri utkanthu irunthaara?"

A lone tear fell from her eyes. She keep motivating herself taking deep breathe..

Naan ippo aluthukitu iruka koodathu.. naan avara psycho nu ninachu bayanthapo kooda kovama padama en nilaila irunthu yosichaaru.. 

Enaku samaika theriala nu oru naal kooda kuthi katinathu illa..

ipo avaru upset ah irukum pothu, summa iruka koodathu.. naan than poi aruthal solanum.. 

avaru onum enna vendam nu vilagi pogiruka maataru, kandipa palaya kadhal ah pathina ninaivu vanthu thaan poirupaaru..

daily night onna thane paduthirukom, enna vendam nu ninaichuruntha kandipa distance keep up paniruparu.. 

bangalore la irunthu love panirukanga.. kandipa love panum pothu cinema, park, beach, party nu ellam suthirupanga..

pavam ippo maraka mudiama kastapaduraru pola.. 

oru vela nijamave phone vanthirukumo, namma thaan theva illama yosikuromo.. 

ethunalum poi paathuda vendiathu thaan..

She left out a long breathe, stood up and left. Sujan and Pragyan looked at each other. 

Sujan- "verum thayakam nu ninachom, ithu ethuvum problem ah irukum pola.."

Pragyan- "aana, rendu perum santhosama iruntha mathiri thane da irunthathu.. "

Sujan- "vaa poi pakalam"

Pragyan- "hmm". They both stood at a distance so that she will not notice and followed. 

Athulya searched for him. She found him sitting at the corner looking down. He is in a deep thinking while sliding the ring in his finger. They way he sat looked like a kid thrown out from the class. Even in that state he looked cute. Slowly Athulya moved towards him. 

Pragyan and Sujan hide behind a pillar. They can only see them but can't hear them. 

Pragyan- "ippo ethuku anna ipadi thala thonga potu utkanthirukaru.."

Sujan- "onna oru seat la utkaravachathukka rendu perum ipadi irukanga?"

Pragyan- "athane? dei rendu perukulla ethuvum sari illama irukumo"

Sujan- "hmm, ipo matum avan aththu va thitatum apuram iruku avanuku.. aththu alutha apuram naan theatre nu kooda paka maten"

Pragyan- "nee vera prachanai panatha da, muthalla enna nadakuthu nu paaru. enaku enamo avaru thituvarunu thonala"

At the other side, Athulya sat near to him. Siddhik looked at him. 

Athulya pressed her hand in his and said, "nadanthu mudinchatha pathiyae yosichutu irukatheenga. ellam sariah poidum. onum feel panatheenga.."

Siddhik looked at her with a confusion, gave it a thought and giggled at her. She took her hand away.

Athulya -"ippo ethuku sirikureenga?", she pouted.

Siddhik- "ipo enna nadanthatha ninaichukitu nee enaku aruthal solla vantha..", he asked her with smiling lips.

Athulya -"unga past pathi, unga lover pathi yosichu feel pani thane inga vanthirukeenga? avanga kooda cinema patha memories gnabagam vanthiducha?"

Siddhik- "ennachu nu ellam keka matiah? unoda assumptions than correct nu decide ae paniduviah?". She pouted.

Siddhik looked at her calmly and extended his palm. She looked at his eyes and placed her hand in his. He placed his another hand on her hand and held it tightly. 

Siddhik- "en kooda muthal muthala ivlo nerukama utkanthu padam paatha muthal ponnu nee than.." Athulya looked at him surprised. 

Siddhik-  "Promise, naan en amma kooda cinema ku ellam ponathu illa. Friends kooda poiruken sila thadava. ellarum pasanga thaan."

Athulya -"neenga love panum pothu nijamave..", Her eyes widened while asking.

Siddhik- "enaku appo avlo time irunthathu illa Alya .. naan ipo inga vanthathu unna ninaichu thaan."

Athulya- "enna ninacha??"

Siddhik- "Alya, My past is actually.." he left out a long breathe and said, "i mean... ", he is trying to find words.. 

Athulya -"paravalla solunga"

Siddhik- "Alya namakulla oruthar mela orutharuku nambikkai vanthathuku apuram thaan enala unna nerunga mudium. just asaikaga unna nerunga koodathunu naan ninaikuren.. apadi nerunga enaku guilty ah iruku, unna yemathura mathiri thonuthu. nee enna ninaipionu iruku.."

Athulya -"neenga enna nambalaya?", she looked at him shocked.

Siddhik- "nee enna namburiah Alya?"

Athulya -"ithu enna kelvi? ungala nambamala ippo inga iruken"

Siddhik chuckled and said, "suppose ippo un cousins vanthu naan unna yemathiten, nallavan illa..  naan ithuku munnadi oru ponna rape pana paathen nu sonna nee avangala nambuviah illa enna nambuviah"

Athulya- " avanga apadi ellam solla matanga.. athu poga, ivlo naal namma ore room la thaan thangirukom, enaku theriatha ungala pathi? neenga apadi panna mateenga"

Siddhik- "un cousins kita, naan rape pana try panatha nerla paatha satchi ah, pala per irunthaluma? CCTV footages irunthaluma?"

Athulya kept silent and gave it a thought.. 

Ippo enna solla vararu? rape panalanu solrara?  panen nu solrara? paniruntha enna panuva nu kekurara?

intha kelvi ku enna artham? ipo ithuku epadi pathil solrathu?

Siddhik- "nambikkai ah situations thaan decide panutha Alya? ella proof um avanga kita iruntha nee enna vendam nu vitutu poiduva thane?"

Athulya looked at him, there is a pain and longingness in his eyes. Athulya stared at him for a while. 

Athulya - "illa, neenga paneengala illaiah nu ungala kepaen..", she managed to answer him. The words struck in her throat and she tried hard to mutter those statements.

Siddhik- "naan panala nu thana soluven.. thappu panavan enaiku panna thapa othukitu irunthirukaan.. naan solrathu unmaiah poiah nu epadi kandu pudipa Alya? ena epadi nambi en kooda irupa?"

Athulya looked at him silent. A lone tear escaped her eyes. She is not sure what to reply. She can't imagine him like that. 

Athulya - " yen ipadi ellam kekureenga? enaku enamo pola iruku. neenga apadi ellam panra aal illa. "

Siddhik wiped her tear and said, "ssh, alatha Alya. Emotional agatha. just think". she composed herself and looked down. He caressed her fingers lightly.

Siddhik- "nee enna intha alavuku namburathuku karanam, ore room-la ore bed la pakathu pakathula irunthum naan unna thodathathu thaane? ipo naan unna thotta un nambikkai poiduma?"

Athulya looked at him with a unknown expression. He is right. But she is not having words to say that this is not the only reason. She is not sure when he entered her heart. may be his logics are right, but still she wanted him to believe that she will be with him regardless of the situation.

Siddhik- " i want to kiss you Alya. I need to kiss you. I crave to kiss you. Ipo naan kiss pana nee enna ninaipa? Time kodunu ketutu kiss matum kodukarane nu yosipiah? just idichathuke control poiduchu enaku nu yosipiah? illa intha kiss ah vache naan ellathula irunthum velila vanthuten nu mudivu edupiah?"

Athulya understood that he didn't come out of his past scars. All these questions and oscillations are the reflections. He is not ready yet he wants her. She decided to go with the flow. She completely understood that rather than judging him, she decided to reply him about her point of view.

Athulya looked down and muttered, "enaku unga mela ulla nambikai epavum pogathu. neenga ipo enna ..... athu apadi panna, valakam pola ungaluku ennoda unarvugal ungaluku purinjuduchu nu ninaipen"

 Siddhik chuckled with shining eyes. he didn't expect this answer. Athulya looked at him via corner of his eyes. 

Siddhik- "Alya, enna paaru". Athulya looked at him with a little nervousness. 

Siddhik pulled her close, cupped her cheeks and started to kiss her. He started slowly and then started to suck her soul. Athulya was shocked. She expect him to kiss her but that is a forehead kiss. Soon, she melted in the kiss. Also Athulya understood that, he started to change without realizing it.

On the other side,

Sujan- "oh, kiss pana thaan velila vanthirukangala? naan kooda problem oh nu ninaichen"

Pragyan- "ithu ethuku da ivlo neram pesinanga?"

Sujan- "haan, enga kiss panalam discuss panirupangala irukum.. vaa da polam". They both left. 

On this side, Siddhik left Athulya when air is needed. Athulya blushed and looked down.

Siddhik- "ulla polama?". She nodded.

They both went inside and sat in the couples seat. This time they clubbed their hands and started to enjoy the movie. Now the proximity didn't ignited the desire but it gave them a complete happiness and peacefulness. There is a glow in their face as a reflex.

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How is it?

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Parvathi Suresh Sharma.