Jeeva and Suja sat on the cot glaring at their friend who was almost buried in the laptop. 

Suja: enna da Ivan ivalo naal kalichu vanthu irukom.. ennanu kuda kekama apdi enna tha Da athula pathutu irukan…

Jeeva: yaruku theriyum.. en kita matum solita panran…

Jeeva huffed and looked around into the large room that had been turned into a press editors room in the six months they did not visit there.

Jeeva and Suja were Siva and other two genuine friends like Aari. Aari was his friend right from school days but Jeeva and Suja were his friends from college. After Siva and Aari joined in college these two who were already friends from school easily became a gang of four. 

After Aari's loss, these two were a great support for Siva and helped him overcome and diverted him towards photography.  

Jeeva and Suja left for Dubai for official work for the company three run together before eight months and were in contact with Siva through mobile. After a couple of months they left for Dubai they noticed a change in Siva's behavior. Whenever they tried to contact him except for professionals he cut the call immediately saying he was busy. They got to know about him being on travel more than usual and even when he was at home he was busy surfing something on the internet through Siva's mother. 

They were confused with his behavior until they decided to return back to check on him when Saradha sent them the picture on the desk with baggy eyes when a travel website was open on his laptop.

And when they reached his home Saradha informed them he was in his room and when they left for his room they once again found him buried in his laptop.

When they announced their arrival, they only received a formal welcome before jumping into his surf.

Jeeva who had enough before he huffed and walked to him.

Jeeva: dei Siva… he just got humm as response… dei Siva.. Inga paru..

Siva: apdiya solu.. enaku kekum…

Jeeva had an unbelievable look and frowned at Suja who shrugged back. Jeeva had enough and shut Siva's laptop earning a whine from him.

Siva: Lusu ah da nee… ethuku da close pana..

Jeeva: pinna.. enna nanga vanthu oru mani neram aachu… etho vendatha sontha Karan veetuku vantha nadathara mari nadathukura…

Siva: dei Vela irunthuchu da..

Jeeva: dei etho travel website thena pathutu iruntha.. odana velai gara..

Siva: dei vena.. en velaya atha..

Jeeva: oh ama illa… seri vidu.. Ena tha Vela irunthalum.. ipadiya…

Siva: Ila da athu..

Jeeva: dei nee konja naal va seri illa solitan… phone pana seriya va pesa matingara.. mothala vida athigam ah travel panraiya… veetula iruka konja naal kuda.. epa paru room intha laptop ah vecha adanju kedakaraiya.. enna da nadakuthu..

Siva sighed unable to answer his questions while Jeeva kept nudging him.

Suja: yaru da antha ponnu..

Suja who was silent all the time silent spoke confusing Jeeva and shocking Siva.

They turned to find Suja near the wall which was almost covered with a lot of sticky notes and a jacket was placed on the table in front of the wall.

Jeeva: enna di olara?

Suna: nan olarala… ipa Avan olaruvan paaru..

Jeeva frowned and looked at Siva who was with an thiruttu muli 

Jeeva: dei enna Ava etho solara.. neeyum ipadi mulikara enna ?

Suja: dei Olunga solu.. yaru intha Miss C… she asked, unfolding the jackest that he found in the tent in front of them.

Siva: athu ponuthu nu yaru di sona athu ella illa..

Suja: ithuku melayum maraikanum nu ninaikatha… muditu solu..

Siva: ethuvum illa Suja..

Suja: dei vena..she pulled out a sticky not… chaya.. chandrika… Catherine… ena ambala per ah ?

Jeeva looked at him in surprise while Siva gulped.

Jeeva: dei solu da…enna solara Ava..

Siva sighed before walking to his bed and settling on it and tapping on sides asking them to settle beside them.

Jeeva: paravala solu..

Siva: mooditu vanthu ukarunga da..

The duo glared at him before settling on either side.

Siva: neenga rendu perum Dubai poi rendu maasathuku apram..Oru project kaga nan meghamalai pona.. Apa tha avala pathan… cha.. enna ponnu da gara mari iruntha… Oru tunnel kula pona apa enga irunthu vanthanga na therila robbers 4, 5 peru vantanga.. nanum enala mudinja alavuku try panitu oru point la kekaratha kudutharalam ninachan… apa tha correct time la.. Ava vantha… ena thali Nika solitu… avungala face pana paru.. paah… Nan kuda mothala etho payan nu ninachan… police Ela vanthu Ava helmet ah kalatuna apram tha.. He sighed… Sema ponu da..

Suja: nala iruku da.. ella story layum… heroine ah hero kapathuna.. Inga ultava nala iruku.. apram enna aachunu solu..

Siva: apram enna.. neenga ok va adipadala illa … pathu careful ah irunga nu solitu poita..

Jeeva: avalo thena?.. ithuku tha 6 maasam antha ponna theditu irukiya.. 

Siva: illa da.. nanum avalo tha avala pakava mudiyathu .. peru kuda kekama vitutoma nu sema kadupu aitan… ana anaiku night ah… 

Suja: Anaiku night ah..

Siva: Romba late airuchu tent podalam nu Edam theditu iruka apa.. oru tent pathan… palaya tent ah nu pakara kula… yaro vanthu adichanga… yarunu patha Ava…

Jeeva: ethuku ipa pass podra.. continue panu..

Siva: fight apa adi patathu first aid ella kudutha… Pain ah irukunu sonathu Ava kita iruntha beer ella kudutha…Apram… he said with a tint of blush.

Suja: apram enna da… she asked in eagerness.

Siva: thu.. puthi poratha pora… nee ninaikara mari ella ila..

Suja: nan ena ninachan unaku epadi da.. muditu nadanthatha solu..

Siva: illa thoonga pora apa tha therinjuthu.. tent poles ah maranta poitan nu… 

Suja: Aii apa Ava kooda ore tent la thanguniya da?

Siva nodded, making the other two gasp.

Jeeva: apa payan athula tha kovunthutan..

Siva: aii chi athu ella illa..

Jeeva: vera enna?

Siva: illa da..yaru enna nu share panikara apa nan epadi iruntha… aari ku enna aachu.. apram epadi marunan ella sona.. apa avalum silathu sona..

Suja: enna siv sona?

Siva: athu solama therila… ana.. Avala mari ponnu ella neraya perukum role model ah iruka vendiyavunga da.. 

Jeeva: purila da..

Siva: Ava college padikara apa oru relationship la irunthu iruka.. Avan avala namba vechu.. friends kuda senthu avala force pani ..

Suja looked away with a welled up eyes while Siva pressed her hands in comfort.

Siva: antha incident apram one year room kulaya adanju irunthu iruka.. apa travel related books and website tha help pani iruku.. One year apram.. olinju iruka vendiayathu Ava illa.. Avan tha nu realize pani Veliya vanthu.. ipa last five years ah travel blogger ah iruka… intha mari incident la odanja ponunga ella neraya peru evalo varusham analum athula iruntu veliya vara matanga.. apdi irunthu nan pathu irukan… ana iva vera da… avaloda antha boldness.. antha thanambika.. ella etho paniruchu da…

Suja: antha jacket antha ponu odatha.. he nodded as response.

Suja: yen da ivalo keta nee.. peru kekalaya da..

Siva: atha tha di maranta..

Suja: poda vena..

Jeeva: ama Avan peru kekalanu unaku epadi theriyum?

Suja: anga paru…Sevuru full ah C la arambikara pera eluthi oti vechu irukan… 

Jeeva: Ada paavi… he said, taking a look at sticky notes.

Suja: apa antha pona tha nee ivalo naal internet travel nu theditu irunthaya?

Siva : ama.. Enaku Avala pathi therinjathu ella.. Ava name C la start agu… Ava oru travel blooger.. boxer… ex- conol oda ponu.. aah apram… theera payanam gara oru travel website oda regular follower… ithu Ella vechu ethachu theriyuthanu patha… C la name start agara ella travel blogger's oda details uh eduthutan… ana neraya peroda personal details kedaikala…

Jeeva: Ava tha boxer aacha.. atha vechu paniya?

Siva: panitan.. C gara name la konja peru tha Google la iruku.. athula Ava illa… he sighed.

Suja: love panriya da ?

Siva was taken aback by her question but it not even take a minute for him to answer.

Siva: ipa varaikum therila.. ana nee itha keta second yosicha… Ama…

Jeeva and Suja cooed and hugged him from either sides stumbling him.

Jeeva: super da macha.. ini antha pona Theda vendiyathu enga porupu.. nanga pathukarom vidu..

Siva: thanks da.. 

Suja: epadi enaku oru company kedaika poguthu pa..

Siva smiled and all the three shared a group hug.

Siva and Suja were settled on the dinning table while Saradha walked out of the kitchen with casseroles.

Siva: pasikuthu amma seekram vanga..

Suja: poru da parakatha..

Saradha: ivalo naal senju vechutu va va nu kenjuna apa Ella varala.. inaiku enna da..

Suja: ella kadhal seiyum mayam vera enna… she murmured earning glare from Siva.

Saradha: enna da?

Suja: onum illama..

Saradha: hmm ama Jeeva enga?

Siva: anga paru un pulla panra velaya?

He pointed to Jeeva who searching something in the living room.

Saradha: enna da thedara?

Jeeva: en wallet ah kanom amma.

Saradha: seri atha apram thedikalam.. mothala vanthu sapdu va..

Jeeva: illa ma neenga sapdunga nan ipa vantharan..

Saradha asked him to dinner and then search but he refused and returned to search when she sighed and served the other two.

Suja: Ama appa enga ma?

Saradha: avuru Vela vishiyam ah Mumbai poi irukaru da..

Suja: oh ok na..

Saradha smiled as she served the chapathi and the gravy on her plate.

Saradha: enna da wallet kedachutha? She asked to Jeeva who settled beside suja.

Jeeva: illa ma.. ipa tha gnyabagam varuthu.. nan veetulaya vitutu vaten..

Saradha hit the back of his head: makku.. oru edathula vechutu inoru eduthula theduna epadi da kedaikum… tholacha edathula theduna thena kedaikum..

Siva who was about to feed himself a piece of chapathi stopped when she said that. He frowned trying to process something with her words confusing the others.

Saradha: aii enna da aachu?

Siva: Amma..

He sqeauled in joy before hugging and twirling her confusing the trio more.

Siva: love you ma..

He said and kissed her cheeks.

Saradha: enna da aachu unaku?

Siva: athu ella vanthu solaran ma.. ipa nan mukiyama veliya poganum.. bye… He said kissing her cheeks before running upstairs

Saradha: enna da?

The duo shrugged before the trio frowned looking up at the direction of his room.

After half an hour Siva returned back with his luggages worrying Saradha.

Siva: amma nan avasarama poran.. Ena ethunu vanthu solaran… Carefull ah irunga bye.. dei pathukonga da bye…

He said in a hurry and jogged out of the house while they followed him and stood until his bike zoom past his house.

Saradha: ipadi tha da adikadi poyaran.. ipa enga poran nu therila..

Suja: Tholachatha.. tholacha edathula Theda poran..

Saradha: purila..

Suja: seekram puriyum mommy.. ipa vanga enaku pasikuthu… 

She said and dragged Saradha into the house.

—

Sasi Kumar peeked into the room and sighed once he found his daughter once again lost in her own world. This had become her routine for the last couple of months and when he enquired about it she just gave him lame excuses.

He had enough of her excuses that he decided to confront her today. 

Sasi: rithi kutty..

" Ulla va Dada.. " Charu sat up while placing the book in her hand on the table.

Sasi Kumar sat opposite to her and caressed her hair with a smile which she reciprocated 

Sasi Kumar: Saptiya?

Charu: sapten pa.. neenga..

Sasi nodded and stayed silent for a few minutes.

Charu: enna aachu Dada..

Sasi: nan unaku oru friend ah thena epavum irunthu irukan ?

Charu: ivalo naal apram inaika enna doubt unaku..

Sasi: solu rithi..

Charu: Nee epavum enaku verum dada va irunthatha illa… epavum ah athuku mela oru best friend ah tha irunthu iruka iruka.. neeyum apdi tha amma uh apdi tha…

Sasi: apa un best friend kita ipadi tha ellathaiyum maraipaya..

Charu wordlessly looked away, unable to face him. 

Sasi: ipa kuda enna soli samalikanum thena pakara?

Charu: illa Dada..

Sasi: apa solu what is disturbing you ?

Charu: Athu illa..

Sasi: Yaru antha payan?

Charu looked at him shocked: Dada ?

Sasi: un amma nan love marriage tha panan.. suma solu yarunu..

Charu sighed: nan megha malai ku ponan illa.. 

Sasi: first time single day la thirumba vanthaya apava ?

Charu: aah apa tha.. munatha night kuda neenga call paningala.. athu munadi..

She explained everything that happened on that night until she left the place even before he was awake.

Charu: Dada enna aachu ethachu solunga?

Sasi: ithula nan Sola ethuvuma illa da.. nee tha solanum.. unaku enna thonuthu solu.. anaiku nadantha ethu una disturb panuthu.. that you are affected this much?

Charu: enaku avana first time pakara apava va physical Attraction irunthuchu dada.. lead pana Venda nu tha.. avasara avasarama anga irunthu pona.. ana En nala neram ah keta neram ah therila.. en tent ka vantan.. athuku apram nadanthathu.. Avan past pathi Avan sonathula enaku Avan mela respect vanthuchu.. Apram nan en past ah sona apa.. judge panama.. sympathy katama Avan nadanthu kitathu enaku pudichu… i felt attracted to him ana the hurt my past has given me.. did not let me entertain my feeling… enga ithuku mela iruntha thappu airum nu tha.. kalaila Avan elunthukaraku munadiya elunthu vantan..

Sasi: So you like him ?

Charu: may be dada.. Ana.. from the moment I left from there..etho missing ah iruku.. I feel like I lost something precious.

Sasi: do you love him.

Charu shook her head: therila… intha feeling enaku peru veika therila.. ana anaiku apdi patila vanthathu thapunu matum theiryuthu.. athuku apram etho void create ana mari..

Sasi: Then go search for and fulfil your void.. simple..

Charu: thedi.. kandupidichu?… nana confused ah iruka apa Avan kita enna solarathu..

Sasi: nee mothala poi kandu pudi.. apram un manasu solu enna panrathunu..

Charu: apa if it is something more than just feeling ungaluku ok va ?

Sasi smiled: Nee ena tha antha incident apram veliya vanthu bold ah irunthalum.. nee thevapadama un past yaru kitayum sonathu kedaiyathu… ana Avan kita soli iruka.. he something special nu unaku munadiya un heart ku therinjuruchu… apdi en ponuku special ah iruka payan.. enaku special tha.. so go get him first apram.. ena mudivu edukanum oh apram eduthuko..

Charu smiled and hugged him while he patted her hair.

" Hapada finally dada uh ponnu sirichutingala.. " they heard a voice and turned find Prema, Charu's mother. 

Charu: Amma.. she cooed and hugged her while Prema hugged her back and smiled at Sasikumar with happiness as they finally witnessed their baby's smile after months.

Prema: ipa paka epadi iruku.. atha vitutu epa paru moonjiya thooki vechutu nala va iruku..

Charu: Sorry ma.. nan oru confusion la iruntha.. 

Prema: ama antha confusion peru enna?

 Charu: purila ma?

Prema: nee appa kita sonathu Ella ketuchu rithi.. antha payan peru enna?

Charu: Siva ma..

Prema: hm.. ama unaku feeling iruku ok ana avanuku?

Charu: iruku nu tha ninaikaran?

Prema: etha vechu solara ?

Charu: right from the moment he looked at me.. i found something in his eyes… it was not lust but something else..

Prema: Are you sure?

Charu: Sure.. 

Prema: nee sure iruntha just do what you wish.. ana epa unaku ethum seriya varala nu feel agutho.. apa.. return back to us..

Charu: unga kita varama vera enga poga poran.. ana ipa nan poga enaku ella ready pani kudunga..

Prema: enga porathuku?

Charu: meghamalai.

Prema: ipa thena decide pana.. athukula enna avasarom..

Charu: illa ma.. ipa pona tha correct ah irukum thonuthu.. Avan anga varuvana.. nan papana Ela enaku therila.. ana avana Theda arambikarku munadi anga poganum thonuthu poitu vantharan ah?

Prema: seri poitu pa..

Charu smiled at her before she excused herself to get ready and left the house the same evening. 

****

Hi dearssss chapter epadi irukunu solunga..

They both had realised their feelings.. what will happen after they meet?

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