The way she almost estranged him left him with an ache that was completely unknown to him.

"Kovama irukalo?", he brooded over that thought as he watched her disapper.

"Enna da kandukaama poita?", Ritesh could not restrain from being curious as to what had happened between the two.

"Kovama iruka nu nenaikren", he rubbed his forehead unaware of why she was angry.

"Morning thangachi nalla dhaaney irundha... nee enna panna ?!", and his accusatory tone was definitely making him uneasy.

"Therila da... nanga pesitu irundom and then I noticed messages from our jam group so had to rush back to make it in time. Vera onum nadakalaye", he tried to make sense as he narrated what transpired.

Before they could get into it he saw his band mates enter the canteen.

"Machan let's go before they see us. Enna ivanga kooda paatha....", he rushed to leave before anyone noticed knowing that his small wish of staying just a normal student to her will be completely butchered.

———————————————————————

Tara rubbed her forehead that had fit against Aakash's chest a few moments ago following which she had frantically rushed into the restroom after blurting out a weird "No problem".

She debated with herself for feeling so disappointed with someone she knew for less than a day. It wasn't on him that she trusted him right away. It was on her.

To expect the same from him was irrational and she completely saw that. Yet, she wasn't able to move on from feeling vanquished.

Splashing some cold water on to her tired face, Tara tried to take some deep breaths unsure if he would still be outside.

She just wanted this day to be over. She wanted to go back home and lay on her amma's lap, the safest place on earth.

Taking one final look at her face after drying with a couple of tissues, she put up that warm smile of hers before walking out of the restroom.

Her eyes scanned across the canteen and her eyes fell on Karthik who was seated in the same seat as before but had now gotten his jacket off which revealed his crisp white shirt which fit him perfect.

As she walked in that direction she saw him loosen his tie to take it off and when she was just a few steps away he loosened his shirt's top button that left a visible gasp on her face, albeit involutary.

The whole sequence evoked reactions in her that she never knew existed.

She swallowed feeling powerless and clumsy. The only saving grace was that he still hadn't noticed that she stood only a few steps away, paralyzed by his effect on her.

She shook away her thoughts and tried to bring evasive mind back under control before reaching their table and fortunately her mind behaved.

Sensing her footsteps close in, his eyes instantly rushed to meet hers.

"En Ipdi paathute irukaaru... already irukra prechana podhaadhu nu indha kannu vera", she whined at how helpless she was.

"Unaku dan ma waiting. Dhruv parking lot la dan irukan. Va", he informed as he picked up his jacket that was on the chair and peeked a quick glance at her refreshed face which was missing kajal from this morning and her kutty pottu was a tiny bit out of place. 

Coughing out of his trance state, he started to walk out of the canteen, towards the parking lot. 

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"Dei... podhum parking lot ke vantom. Konjam slow down pannu", Ritesh suggested unable to breathe.

"Dei ennavo marathon odna madri scene podra. 10 minutes kooda illa adhuke ipdiya", Aakash scowled at him. 

"Aama nee dan iniku bike na varlaye", Ritesh questioned. 

"Driver anna car ah kuduthutu poren nu sonaaru. Inga dan irukum. I have the spare key with me", he explained and opened his mobile to look at the location. 

"20 ft la dan iruku. Adhukaachu nadapiya illa edachu ambulance koopadnuma?", he teased. 

"En neram... nee andha ponna paathadhum podhum enna torture panradhum podhum. Aama nee oru singer nu sonna ippo enna aidum? Neeyum manushan dhaaney?", Ritesh hissed and it certainly was valid. 

Why did he think she would not see him the same way if he did tell that he was a musician?  Why did he assume that she was going to just swoon all over him? Did he really think that she was just like most other girls?  

"Therla machan. I just wanted some normalcy. Avala paatha odane refreshing ah irundhuchu. After a really long time I did not feel suffocated or out of place with a new person. Enaku andha feeling ah miss panniduveno nu bayam", he expressed as he clung on to his forlorn hopes. 

Although Ritesh appreciated his friend opening up to him, he did not think this whole hide and seek was a good idea given how popular Aakash and his band were in not just their college but within the whole college cultural eco system.

"Ennamo pannu", he sighed with a disapproving look and followed his friend to find his car. 

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"Inum evlo dhooram nadakanum. En indha campus ivlo perusa iruku?", she complained as they walked across the long pathway to the parking lot. 

"Ulla bus iruku to go from one place to another. Campus tour la sonanga. But timing therla. Next time adhu paathutu varlam", he suggested sincerely making her giggle. 

"Enna ma sirikra", he asked adorably. 

"Neenga ivlo valandhurkeenga aana ...", she paused making him stop in his tracks. 

"Aana..?", he questioned and looked at her awaiting to see what she actually wanted to say but just looking at his eyes made her lose track of her thoughts entirely. 

"Aana? What?", he iterated and snapped his thumb to bring her back.

"Aana ...Onum illaye", she managed to get a few words out. 

"Oii ozhunga sollu... ", and his masculine tone was messing with her head.

"Marandhurchu", she accepted defeat and he let out a smirk. 

"Seri yosichu sollu. Inum 2 minutes dan nadakanum dont worry", he smiled and started to walk, but this time he held her hands in his. 

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Dhruv was busy finishing up answering his work emails and pings while waiting for Karthik and Tara to show up. 

"Anna anga irukan", Tara pointed to Karthik increasing her pace to reach there faster. 

"Ma... un annan dan. Engayum odida maatan. Konjam porumaya nada. Ippo dan edo konjam better airku..", he suggested squeezing her little fingers gently and she obliged.

He did not want this walk with her to end. He did not know if he would ever have the opportunity to hold her like this ever again. This day has been one of those dreamy days which will stay in his memory book but he was too realist of a person to be sucked into thinking this was going to be real life.

Dhruv could not believe his own eyes. 

Karthik holding Tara's hands. Them walking together. 

He would be lying if he said that he had never imagined what it would be like if Tara and Karthik got married. It is every brother's wish to see his sister married to the best kind of guy and in his life Karthik was that guy. 

He had tried multiple times over these years to get them to talk but they were both not interested in knowing about the other let alone having a conversation. 

This imagine right now was rekindling all those wishes in him but he refused to give his heart any kind of false hope at this point because it would hurt too much if things dont pan out.

Mentally capturing the details of the moment, he decided to not dwell too much. 

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Author's Note:

So much more to come for these 3 :-D