12 | Help or Date?

~~~~~~~~~~Vignesh~~~~~~~~~

Its the 3rd day of Mahadevan's marriage. We usually have 2 and half day celebration of marriage in the marriage hall.

His marriage happened on weekend and now its Monday. You might wonder what I am doing in the marriage hall rather than going to office.

Its all because of  her and my mom. When I mean her, you know who she is. It is that Neeraja Balli  (lizard).  My mom made me take off from office today just to spend some time with her and take her out.

As Deva is on leave for his marriage , my work is doubled. Adding to all that now I am taking off unexpectedly, for which my Manager is going to blast me tomorrow for sure.

And my mom being mom, forcibly made me take leave despite of me trying to explain her the situation.

If not for Neeraja, atleast for my best friend Deva, I would stay and help his family with any work. You could call it as me saying as an excuse as well.

For the past 2 days, I saw her in the wedding. But we did not converse much just a formal smile and we carried on  with other work.

To the present, most of Deva's  relatives who are from distant places left and it is only the close relatives who stay in Chennai were present in the hall.

I along with Krishnan helped in packing the luggages and other seer(pleasantaries) from Sandhya's parents  to leave to Deva's house. While the elder ladies were preparing the stage for paaligai karaithal ( a ceremony) for the newly weds.

After loading the important luggage containing the gold and silver items in to Krishnan's car, we came to the marriage hall in 1st floor talking.

We were talking about Anjana , the chatterbox. And I must really admit Krishnan has got a big heart to marry that over talkative person and still living alive.

When we stepped outside the lift and entered the marriage hall, Deva and Sandhya came out of the room together. Sandhya had her eyes fixated on the ground while yawning and walked towards the bride room to freshen up.

Krishnan who was with me did not spare her and sang a song in seductive tone to tease her.

nethu rathiri yamma .. thookam pochudi yamma

(Last night was  a sleepless night)

For  a moment I thought he would tease Deva. Rather he teased Sandhya, who took a diversion from going straight to the room and came near Krishna.

She came with full force to beat Krishna but stopped on track seeing the warning look from Deva. He he did not want anyone to scold her for beating Krishna - his brother in law in front of everyone which is understandable.

Krishna surely has to tie his tongue.  He teased her again when she was about to leave.

rathiri nerathu poojaiyill, ragasiya dharisana alayil

(the midnight pooja and the secret workship)

Deva guessed it right that Sandhya would beat Krishna for sure and kept his hands as in guarding Krishna.

But Sandhya being Sandhya,  showed a puppy face and turned to leave. Deva withdrew his hands and turned to face us. Unannounced  Sandhya came back and hit Krishna hard on his head and left.

"Sandhya" came strong voice of Deva but she did not heed to it and left.

The hit was hard I guess,  as Krishnan strongly massaged the place where she hit. Deva asked apologies to Krishnan and we three laughed out.

"Sorry Krishnan." Deva apologized on her behalf.

"oh sir.. she is my friend before becoming your wife. This is all common between us"

Deva gave a small smile.

"Ok I will go freshen up and come" said Deva and turned to leave.

Me and Krishnan looked at each other and had a playful smirk. I swiftly caught hold of Deva's back collar, making him halt his steps.

Krishnan left as his Father called , leaving me and Deva alone.  Throwing my hands over his shoulders, I looked at Deva.

"Why do you look at me like that?" he queried me.

"maapla romba tired oh? nethu night heavy work out polaye" (Is the new groom feeling too tired? Had a heavy work out session yesterday night?)

"pcch.. Dei.. don't start with teasing, not like what you think , let me go freshen up" he swatted my hands on his shoulders.

"is that so? but your hickeys does not say the same story"

His hands suddenly went to the right side of his neck and then to the left.

"not on the neck ,on your cheeks"

He searched again and asked where exactly.

"parra.. onumey illa nu sonna. ipdi ella pakkamum  thedriye"

( you said nothing, but you are searching for hickeys on both side of your neck) I teased him.

Deva came fast folding his veshti around his hip and I knew what he would do. So I traced my steps back, away from him. But he came fast and threw his right hand around my neck and tugged me closer to him, strengthening his hold on my throat.

"Dei.. Dei.. leave me.. its paining" I shouted.

"don't do too much ok.. your marriage is not far away and you would regret for teasing me"

"po da dei.." ( just go man)

"Deva" we heard his mom call and Deva left me throwing a look as in telling he will continue this later on.

An hour or so passed. Deva's mom came with Sandhya's mom and handed me the artificial jewels that she has rented out for Reception. It has to be returned to the shop today as they all are leaving to Deva's house now.

I don't know why they gave me this task rather than asking any one else from Sandhya's relative. Still I did not say anything and accepted it.  Sandhya's mom thanked me for the help and I left with a small smile.

I took my bike keys and bid bye to the newly weds and was about to leave.

"Vignesh" heard the voice of Deva's mom. I turned around to see Deva's mom and Neeraja's mom too standing there .

I curtly nodded my head looking at Neeraja's mom and smiled.

"Vignesh.. can you take Neeraja as well along with you?" Deva's mom questioned.

I was stuck in a position not to say no as her Mom was also standing nearby. I was hesitating.

"Your mom spoke with me, she said you are on leave today it seems. Why can't you take her out somewhere" said Deva's mom.

"uhh.. Aunty.. that .. it . it is.. hmm.. hann.. you know Neeraja's family is so orthodoxed, I don't think they would agree to send her out before marriage with me. So I will go alone".

"Nothing like that maapilai (Groom).. you can take her with you.. " said Neeraja's mom.

Finding no other option , I said ok and was waiting for Neeraja.

~~~~~~~~~~Neeraja~~~~~~~~~~

I adorned myself in a comfortable chudidhar removing the half saree which I was wearing earlier. Padmini aunty (Deva's mom) told that I would accompany Vicky to return Sandhya manni's rented jewels.

Adding to that, Vicky's mom too spoke with me regarding this in phone. Me and Vicky are going to get engaged soon and still we have not spoken with each other over phone.

I did not care to make any call or message him earlier. Just that I did not feel like doing it. For that matter, even he has not dialed me once.

I don't know who and how they found out, but the elders planned this outing for us to make us talk.

The past 2 days, even though we both were in the same hall, we did not talk with each other privately. In front of our parents when we met, we behaved obediently with a smiling face. Later on we never spoke with each other. May be it has got the attention of elders.

And I must admit that, seeing Vicky in Veshti and shirt on the day of Deva anna's wedding, he looked a bit handsome. With his slight stubble that was starting to get growing , his face looked different and nice.. Ya really nice..

With a clean shave look for the engagement shopping, he was looking more handsome. But I am not going to say that to him.

May be with the beard and his high tone voice, he sounds more intimidating. But he is actually not. I got to see the other side of him in this wedding. He did lot of work , even though it is his friends' marriage. His respectful behavior to elders and playful , mischievous behavior to Deva anna and his other friends caught my attention. It surely made me think of creating a good place for him in my heart.

During the engagement shopping, he selected a saree which I don't like at all. It had a color that I hate the most. And as he, the great groom Vignesh selected it , my parents too agreed to go purchase it. The whole day he was teasing, pulling prank on me whenever he got chance.

This is the reason, I don't want to call him a good guy.

Post the purchase, we went to have dinner. There too he ordered a food that was not of my liking. Finally he ordered another one that I love and I ate it.

I came out of my thoughts hearing a knock on the door. I opened the door to see my mom and Padmini aunty standing.

"how long will you take to change? he is waiting for a longer time. Hmm leave soon" My mom nudged me.

Bidding bye I left the marriage hall. My luggage is already packed which my mom said she would take care of.

When I came out , I saw him leaning on his bike. His one leg was on the floor balancing, other leg on the bike, left hand on the seat and right hand occupied with mobile scrolling it.

I stood little behind his bike. Seeing the shadow of my countenance, he looked back in the same position.

why does he suddenly look so handsome?

The way he looked at me erupted butterflies to fly suddenly in my stomach. His gaze lingered for more than a second scanning me from top to bottom.

Achoo.. why does he gawk at me openly? I am feeling shy.

I had a small shy smile and was trying to hide it and act normal. I was about to open my mouth and ask. But the smile my face carried vanished upon hearing his statement.