"Rithu ma! Why are you zoning out like this? You okay? ", he asked.

" I.. I just need to make a call bava, I will be back", she said planned to rush from there.

"To Nikki, Khushi and Divi only na? ", he asked and she stood rooted to the place.

" Ahem.. Hmm.. Yes", she said and ran to the washroom.

She quickly added three of them to the call, though she knew they are going to be in deep sleep, she wanted to tell them this like right now. Papam, little did she she know that all the three potatoes know about it already.

"Hello"

"Hello"

"Hello"

Three of them said at the same time.

"People! Potatoes! I have something to tell you and it's hell important. Wake up and sit properly you are about to get a shock", Rithu said feeling too anxious.

"What happened? Rithu you are scaring me. Be quick", Nikki said not knowing the matter.

" People! Aravind bava, he.. He just broke up with cockroach in front of my eyes and guess what he told, he had feelings for me. I am still thinking this is one of my dreams. I just don't know how to react", she said.

There was a minute silence.

"People! You here? ", she asked.

" Yayyyyy! I told you. Didn't I? My ship would sail and here it goes. Yuhuuuu", Divya shouted like a mad woman.

"And I hereby declare Potatoes are going to have a great partyy on this occasion", Nikki said.

They heard sniffs from Khushi.

" She will love us more than him right? ",Khushi said amidst her sniffles.

" Stop! People I just what should I do now?", she screamed.

"Wait Rithu, we are busy planning here and you ask us what to do", Divya said.

" Guys! I am serious", Rithu said.

"Yes, serious now",Nikki said and all of them burst into fits of laughter.

Rithu joined them and laughed.

" Feeling better now? ", Khushi asked.

" Loads! Did I ever say you three how much I love you? ", she asked.

" Ahem! Yes but there is one person other than us who is yet to know ", Nikki said and chuckled.

" Akka, don't tease me, I am tensed first of all", she said.

"Call us back after you reach home. We don't want to spoil your first date. Have fun", Nikki said and all three of them hung up the phone.

Rithu looked at the phone and a chuckle escaped from her, she just took a deep breath and went inside to Aravind.

She came and sat opposite to him. The food was already there and she was eating it silently without even raising her head up.

"Athai! Come come what a pleasant surprise", he said and looked at her side. Rithu stood from her place and looked to find her mom but didn't find anyone. She turned back and glared at him.

He chuckled out, while he was doing that Rithu observed his features clearly, she found him too cute and adorable.

She averted her gaze when she understood what she was doing.

"Why did you prank me? ", she asked.

" Just like that. I know after whatever I have confessed there its quite difficult for us to face each other, I just want to know one thing. I will never disturb you if you don't have feelings for me, I know it's not mandatory as well, but if you do then just come to my home when I leave. I will be leaving at 5pm", he said.

She looked at him with no emotions on her face.

"Eat fast bava, I need to go home", she said and ate her lunch.

They both went home and Rithu went back to her home after collecting her things.

It wasn't easy for her to think of her feelings, she had to deal with a lot more stuff.

Rithu's inner voice : What should I feel? Happy that I am going to confess my feelings to my crush? Happy that he is having mutual feeling as me? Confused that what step should I take? Confused that how will this affect my future? I just don't understand anything. I don't know if this forever will last long or not, but I feel I shouldn't make it too late. Too late so that I will miss my soul mate maybe? But then this feeling is also there in my heart, will our elders be okay with this? God why is loving someone so difficult? Is this just the starting phase? Maybe I will get answers to all the question as I proceed. All I need is to take a step.

There was still an hour left for the time he had to leave. An hour had to do it all. She took a deep breath and went to freshen up.

She wore the above outfit and was waiting for the clock to tick 5. Every minute felt like one century. Typical nervous feelings were all over her nervous system.

There was like half an hour left and it started drizzling. She informed her mom and went downstairs to meet him at the parking of course she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of her aunt.

She was just staring at the rain and playing with her hands slowly. She was checking the lift and stair case every 5 mins.

He came down through stair case and saw her playing in rain with her hands. He was about to smile and run to hug her. But then he controlled himself and she turned around to see if he has come.

Their eyes locked for a minute, Rithu was the first one to avert her gaze towards the other side. He slowly took steps towards her and they were in a safe distance only.

Nobody else was there in the parking lot, it was raining like cats and dogs.

"Why did you come? ", he asked.