" What's the need of staying alone with him...? That too ,until night ...!! I don't like that Shravan... His face and his spectacles.. !"

" On that day I saw them drenching in the rain together.. what's all this?"

Anna spat out words in heat ... I stood there behind Amma unaware of what's going on...

Appa sat quiet in the recliner..he was listening to him intently...

" Amma... What happened? Why Anna is scolding me?"

I asked , blinking my eyes with real concern...

" Remember that you're a girl... Why don't you have some responsibility...? Stay away from him... Now onwards I shouldn't see you with him "

He threatened me , clenching his teeth terribly...

I saw amma bewildered...

She patted me to reassure...

" Anish... You're over reacting... she is just eleven years old... Don't spoil her innocence by your unwanted lectures... I will take care of her..."

He threw a disgusting look at me... Appa patronized amma in this case where Anna left in anger...

" I told you what I felt... Don't regret later..." He bellowed before leaving...

I pulled my amma's saree to bend to me...

" Amma... I wasn't alone there...I was with Shravan.. we were watching the sky.. " I spoke to her eyes...

She tugged my hair behind my ears...

" Beta... Don't worry...I understand...go to sleep now"

She assured me with a pleasant smile...

When I was in bed I heard appa shouting at Amma...

" What's this ridiculous...! I don't want Suman to learn all these unwanted things... May be , Anish is right.. take care of her ...."

Amma was on my side ... She didn't argued rather ,she assured that everything would be at her vision...

I slept unknown to the chaos that centered me and shravan...

It happened when I was at sixth standard . Anish anna was at tenth standard...

Even now I think about that incident.. Why he had assumed something between me and shravan was still a query... But ,that moment made everyone around us to keep an eye on us.. And , that vigilant eyes created insecurity within us ...

Meanwhile , Divya akka's wedding arrangements were on the air...

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" Not bad..."

He exclaims , throwing his eyes around the apartment ..

" Come in Shravan..." I open the curtain which enables the night view of the city...

Mine is a compact apartment at the eleventh floor with a small kitchen..

He goes near the French window and peeps down...

" It's nice.. "

I smile while switching on the power to charge my phone...

" Shravan... If you don't mind ,can I have two minutes...?"

I show my face which needs deep cleansing because of the leftover make-up..

" Sure... " He opens the refrigerator to get the water bottle...

I excuse myself to freshen up..

It takes more than two minutes to wipeout the cosmetics which I have used for the program..

When I am out to kitchen to make coffee , the strong aroma of the coffee beans hit my nose...

I sniff deep , closing my eyes...

Perfect blend!!!

I can't deny that the aroma of fresh roasted coffee beans reminded me of my mom...

" Coffee..." He whispers, holding the coffee mug..I open my eyes to get the coffee...

" Shravan.. you're my guest... I would have done it... I have troubled you I think..."

I say , tracing the brim of the cup...

" Never mind...I know to make authentic South Indian coffee... the filter coffee?"

He winks....

The first sip glides down my tongue blended with equal sweet and bitterness...

" Awesome shravan..." Words roll out immediately from me...

" That's so sweet of you..." He bows like a gentleman..

I pull the chair for him to sit...

He rolls the cup between his palms before each sip...

" Where are you staying Shravan...?" I try to begin the casual talk..

" Company's guest house... I have one year project here... After that I will retreat to India... If I am opted to continue here I have to look for an apartment..."

He brings his coffee mug to the sink and washes to replace it in the stand..

I laugh to mock him..." Shravan... Are you trying to impress me?"

He shakes his shoulders " what ? This has been a practice from my young age..."

He casually walks to my dressing table and takes my hairbrush...

Before I can understand what he's up to , he brushes his hair using my hairbrush..

" Shravan... That's mine" I almost jumps out of the chair..

" What's wrong?" He squints his eyes.

I don't like someone using my personal things....

Though I wish to tell this to him I didn't tell...

I control myself by huffing out louder..

" Sam... I have duty tomorrow.. what's your routine?"

He corrects his shirt collar , looking at the mirror...

" I have class till 2 o clock... By evening I have to go to the training institute for tuition.. it's almost my regular routine..."

" Okay... See you then... Thanks for the coffee and hairbrush... Sorry I used it without your consent..."

Atleast he has a thought to understand...

I cluck..." It's okay..."

He checks his phone and car keys to leave...

" Shravan... "

" Hann"

I am silent that makes him to look at me..

" Sam..."

He call me as I am looking at the ground...

" Shravan... Can I ask you something ?"

His lips curls up " why not ?"

We step out and walk towards the elevator...

" You said that if you wanted only physical relationship you will opt a foreign girl... Why is it so?"

He throws a comical look at me, while I am looking for his reply..

" Hey...did you take it so seriously?"

Enveloping his hands to his jacket , he speaks...

" I just said it in a flow.... " ..

" Sam.. in my view , getting into the relationship is more complicated yet simple... One should be sure enough to go on with the relationship... If once decided, it is decided... There is no retreat once you step in... "

" And , I am sure I am a type of person who needs a strong emotional support from the partner...I need a partner to handle me in every situation... it's not just the physical relationship... Let's see.. "

He smiles at me...

I am surprised to listen his matured talk...

" You're right" I restates as he presses the down arrow button in the elevator.....

I notice the elevator coming down from the twentieth floor...

" Shravan... One more thing!!"

He checks his watch and eyes me inquisitive...

" You said that I am not beautiful... Did you mean it?"

I tried to hold me from asking this question to him..

still ...

Woman are woman...

I am out of my control... oops!!

He narrows his eyes and clears his throat . Perhaps, to gain the time...

Cling...

The elevator opens infront of us... He gets in and gestures - bye

" Good night Sam"

The elevator closes and the arrow begins to descend...

I hit my head in despair...

Idiot... Don't you feel ashamed ? What will he think of you... You...! Shameless creature.. !!

I scold myself for putting me in embarrass...

I turn to my apartment and hear the text notification in my mobile...

Ting... Ting....

It's from shravan...

I swipe down and open the text...

I smile... From ear to ear literally... He knows to handle me...

I pull the blanket to switch off the lights...

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