10 | Short Date

I am writing around 2000 words in each chapter. If readers could comment on the story I would be happy. It will let me know how the story is.

I know that is too much to ask for. At least all the 140 readers who read the story, kindly vote. I see only 30 out of 140 readers voting.

~~~~~~~~~~Mahadevan~~~~~~~~~

The next day me and Vicky were supposed to go for a bike ride along the streets of ECR. But Vicky turned the plan down at the last minute stating he has to go for shopping for his engagement.

Its understandable. So I did not get upset with that. Actually after hearing what Vicky's mom said yesterday, I realized my mistake.

Sandhya has been talking some random things with me over the phone. Sandhya really tries her level best to keep the conversation going. Thinking of what Vicky's mom told, chances are there that Sandhya might have expected me to spend more time talking with her.

Not even an outing has happened with her. I quickly took my mobile from pocket and messaged her asking where she is now.

Sandhya : I am at my Aunt's house.

Me: Where is it?

Sandhya: At Perambur . In a function, can I talk later or tomorrow? came her reply.

Me: Ok. Enjoy.

I looked at my mobile longingly. I now understood this is how she might have also felt , when I don't give her time.

Days went fast. Its been almost 1 and half months. Me and Sandhya did not get time to meet each other. I come late from office and her house is too far from my house and office. Hence it was difficult for us to meet each other.

Weekends she was busy with her purchase and other activities related to Marriage. I decided to meet her today no matter what.

Pushing some work to Vicky, I left from office early to have a meet with Sandhya. I checked with her via text and confirmed that she is yet to leave home from her office.

It took almost one hour for me to reach her office. I was waiting at the entrance of her office and dialed her.

"Where are you?" I asked.

"I am at the bus stop. why?"

"the one near your office?"

"Ya.. but why do you ask that?"

"wait there . don't get in to bus "

I quickly drove my bike fast to the bus stop and stopped near her. She did not recognize first as I was wearing helmet. The moment, I removed it , I saw the surprise and happiness her eyes carried , seeing me. We moved little away from the bus stop as the buses were halting at the stop.

"What are you doing here Deva? Why did you come?" she asked with excitement and anticipation of what my answer would be.

"Should I not come to see you? " I quirked my eyebrows playfully. " Hmm. Shall we go out somewhere?" I asked her eagerly.

She blushed. Looked surprised, felt happy everything at the same time.

"Where?"

"hmm.. we don't have much time to go to a mall or park. May be to that temple over there? Is that ok ?"

She hesitated a bit. Looking at her face I understood.

"sorry.. I did not realize that you are on your periods. Will go to that small hotel if you don't mind?" I asked.

Hearing me talk about periods, she quickly looked back at her kurti to check if there are any stains.

"You don't have any stains. I know that you are on periods"

"How?"

"you usually have a screech of kumkum on your forehead which is not there. Moreover you were hesitating. So I guessed it" I replied shrugging my shoulders.

She stood there thinking and I know the reason. "Pcch.. get on the bike. I will go take bath after I go home" I pulled her by hand. She sat on the bike and I kick started it , driving to the nearby small restaurant.

Upon reaching the restaurant, Sandhya excused herself to go to the washroom, while I secured a table for both of us. Once she was back we ordered two plates of Dosa for us.

She talks a lot over the phone with me. But in person, she was feeling shy. Feeling shy to even look at me. Hence I went and sat beside her to make it easy for her.

She looked at me with shocked face.

"What?? I felt like sitting beside you" I uttered understanding her reaction.

"Don't you want me to sit beside you?" I asked in a low voice leaning to her left ear. Her body shuddered for a split second and her eyes closed, which I am noticing for the second time. Earlier at her house I noticed it.  Its her sensitive spot I believe.

She bobbed her head as in ok not looking at me. Me sitting beside her only worsened her shyness and nervousness. I could only laugh at her act for trying to calm herself down. It was cute. She is definitely not a shy person or an introvert. I have seen her talk and fight a lot with Krishna.

When it comes to me , I don't know where her words go. I decided to make it even more worse by entwining her left hand fingers with my right one.

You should have seen the reaction of Sandhya. What a sight to behold. With her reaction, I can easily figure out that her heart was beating at a high speed rate. I decided to tease her even more.

"are you ok with me kissing on your cheek right now?" I asked leaning to her left ear.

Thats it.. Sandhya gave me a wide shocking expression. I wonder how her pupils did not come out with the reaction she gave. Within a second, she released her hand from my hold and sat little away from me. Obviously covering her left cheek with palm fearing that I might kiss her.

Oh God...Did she really think I would kiss her in the public?

I remained silent to not make it more uncomfortable for her. The Dosa's arrived and we had our dinner talking about random things , about our marriage , office  and so on.

We ordered two more dishes and continued our talk. Sandhya  slowly became normal and came out of her shyness around me.

"hmm.. I was about to ask you long time back, but not sure how you would take it. shall I ask?" Sandhya queried me hesitatingly.

"Are you going to ask my bank balance or assets?"

"cha... cha .. not that. Its.. um.. after meeting me at my house, why  did you not get my number and call me or message me? I was the first one to get your number and start the conversation."

"I can ask the same question to you as well. Why did you not call me for a week?"

"uff.. All because of Krishnan. He denied giving me your number and made me do all the work for him" she said with a sad face.

"Same here" I replied smilingly.

"What?? What did he do to you?" her eyes widened hearing my statement.

"He strongly instructed all the elders to not share our numbers with each other. I tried to sort help from Anjana, but he blackmailed her with something. So she too did not share" I said while dipping the onion rava dosa in the chutney.

"Krishnan ah?? Then how did you manage to get my number?"

"Your best friend made me book tickets for him and Anjana for movie, restaurant bill, resort bill everything he made me pay. I can tolerate all that. But finally he recorded a video of me praising him. And the dialogues were all shared by him. That part was too much to tolerate"

"paavi.. he did the same to me as well. I am not going to spare him. I will teach him a proper lesson one day"

We laughed, talked a lot. Along with the talks, we finished our dinner and ordered juice.

"No Lime soda. drink pomo juice." I said to Sandhya. Turning to the waiter, I ordered a pomegranate juice and grape juice.

She had a sad face , as I changed the order.

"if it had been other day ok, now that you are on your periods, it is better to drink beetroot or pomo juice to increase your blood." I tried to make her understand.

"sshhh.. Deva.. why do you talk about periods? isn't it uncomfortable for you to talk? How do you know about all this?"

"What is there to feel uncomfortable? I have a sister. So I know about all these periods. I even buy pad for her. Don't be old school Sandhya. There is nothing wrong in talking about it. "

Settling the bill, we went near the parking area.

"Deva.. drop me at the bus stop. I will go by bus."

"I thought of dropping you at your house"

"pcch.. Deva.. from this place, my house is far. And from my house your house is far. You will reach at late night. Understand"

"but Sandhya.. its.."

"no.. just drop me in the bus stop. It will get late for you. listen to me" she ordered me.

I looked at her. She too looked at me straight on my eyes.

How cute she is. My angry bird.

"ok miss angry bird" I pulled her small nose. She swatted my hand and hopped on to the bike.

5 minutes later, we were nearing the bus stop.

"stop Deva.. Stop  here"

Why would I listen to her? I drove straight.

"Deva.. Deva.. what are you doing? drop me at the bus stop"

I did not listen.

"Deva.. It will get late  for you Deva. my house is far. Your house is also in the other direction."

I did not listen to her. Fed up with pleading me, she travelled silently with me.

"why do you drive so slowly? Even a cycle can overtake us" Sandhya questioned me to which obviously I did not reply.

She bet me on my back. "Can't you drive little faster?"

She bet me again. I moved a little back eliminating the space we both had. I caught hold of her left hand with my left and banded it around my waist. She tried to remove, but I held her hand and drove the bike single handedly.

That's it. Sandhya became silent, as she went in to shy mode. Problem solved.

I rode my bike very slowly taking more time. I too like to ride bike with high speed, just like Vicky. But I don't want to do that now. I want to spend more travelling time with Sandhya.

I dropped her at the outside of her house.

"Deva its almost 9.30pm. It will take solid 1 hour for you to reach your house. Did you ever listen to me?"

I pulled her near me holding her hands. "We don't have time Sandhya. Next week we will be busy with wedding preparations and then we are married. We have not gone for any outing alone yet. That's why I wanted to utilize the small amount of time that we get. After marriage I will take you for a proper outing or we can go to a nice place as a date. ok?"

"I really enjoyed the date that we had today. Its .. Its nice. I liked it." she smiled with a blush.

I was about to open my mouth. But our sweet moment was interrupted by the continuous horn. Turning around I saw Krishnan in his bike. He came near us.

"enna pa romance ah?" (are you both romancing?)

enga da romance panna vidra ( You are not leaving room for us to romance) I thought but did not say it out loud.

"I caught your mind voice bro. Bye. I will wait for you in my house. Bye di.. " Krishnan left.

"what is he saying?" Sandhya queried me.

"uhh.. I know it will get late for me to reach my house. So I already spoke with Krishna and decided to stay in his house tonight"

Krishna's house is just two streets away from Sandhya's house. So I made this plan already and bought my dress and other stuffs for the next day.

After talking for 2 more minutes, "ok. see you later.. " I kick started my bike and was about to go.

"One minute" Sandhya 's voice halted me. I looked at her.

"Thanks.. I wanted us to go out somewhere alone before marriage. But was afraid to ask you out. Whereas it happened today. I am so happy"

I smiled at her. "Bye di.. pondatti"  ,saying it I drove to Krishnan's house looking at Sandhya through the mirror, who was waving hands at me with smiling face.

After reaching Krishna's house, I decided to message Sandhya.

But the cruel guy named Krishnan did not allow me or Sandhya to talk. He kept on talking with Sandhya over the phone or to me. He did that purposefully which we both knew.

Finally I got rid of that disturbance. You want to know how? This is what I said.

"Anjana.. I heard that Krishnan has not watched "siragadika aasai" serial . How come he is not aware of it yet?"

That's it. This is the only thing that is needed to occupy Krishnan. Anjana took the activity of narrating the story to him. Krishnan threw me dagger look for triggering Anjana.  Not only that. I made Krishnan and Anjana look after Pranav and gave some alone time for his brother and SIL.

Only he can enjoy or what? Let him do all the work now. Its time for others to enjoy.

What next?? I started my late night conversation with my angry bird.