14 | Just friends

Vignesh: all the readers are in support of Neeraja than supporting this innocent and obedient  guy la.

It's OK. Still I love all my readers.

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

After our shopping, Vignesh dropped me outside of our house. Mouthing thanks, I asked him to come inside but he denied. I bid him bye and started walking towards the gate.

"Neeraja.. wait"

I halted my steps and came little near to him. He gave me another shopping bag.

"this is for you. A lavendar color chudidhar" The instant happiness I had hearing he bought me something vanished the next moment.  I  received it from him trying to hide the frown hearing the color he chosen. I don't  like lavendar color.

"open it and see"

I opened it hesitatingly.

"Hey this is green Salwar. You said Lavendar" I queried perplexingy still with happiness on my face for choosing my favorite color.

"learn to say 'no' Neeraja. Its not that difficult. I know you don't like Lavendar. And your favorite is green."

"how do you know my favorite is green?" I asked amusingly.

"not a rocket science. From our first meet to till now, I have seen you wear dress in different shades of green. So that gives the answer. And I chose Lavendar saree for engagement because it would look good for your skin color" he answered.

"Thanks" I  replied shyly. He even noticed which color of dress I was wearing.

"Neeraja. I know you don't like to marry me and everyone forced you. My case was also the same when we met first. And then I was the one out of playfulness agreed to marry you. But I don't think you are ok with proceeding. If you are hesitating and have second thoughts , just say 'no' for this marriage. We are not yet engaged. Though we are little late for announcing this decision, its fine."

I stood there with shock hearing what he said.

Why ? does he not like me?  My tears were ready to come at anytime.

He continued.

"Take your time and let me know. Or if you are comfortable with saying it to your parents, I am fine. I can manage my parents.  We can share a good bond as friends just like how we were till now."

I stood there not knowing what to say. He bid bye and left.

Why is he suddenly breaking my heart like this?  I agree that I hate him when he teases me. But these 3 days unknowingly I started to fall for him. Strangely, I got a liking towards his teasing in one corner of my heart. He is always playful with me which I like, though it irritates.

I cried that night. I did not say anything about this to my parents yet. Does he not like me? Why does he talk like this?

I took my mobile and searched for his number. After much heavy thought, I dialed him.

"hello" Came his voice.

I tried my level best to not cry.

"hello.. Neeraja .. Are you still on the line?" he asked me.

"hello.. Hello" he was continously calling me, while I am here trying to control my tears. Finally I composed myself and replied him.

"hello" came my meeky voice.

"Tell me .. why did you call?" he asked chirply.

Does he not feel bothered ? Is he really not ok with marrying ? Why does he sound so cool? May be he is expecting me to say no. Is that the reason he was so joyful? Or does he have plans of saying no.

The very thought of him going to say no and stop the engagement brought tears in me.

"hey.. are you crying?" he asked. May be he heard me sniff.

"Vig.. Vignesh.."

"pcch.. don't cry.. I know you are still afraid to say 'no' for the marriage. Its ok. no issues. I will say that . I will talk to both of our parents and settle the matters. No one will scold you. Okay? I should have done this the immediate next day when you came to meet me in my office"

He went on and on talking about stopping the marriage and cut the call.

The next day, my mom was working with a worried face. I asked her what has happened.

"Mapilai is coming to our house today with his parents to discuss on something important. I don't know what it is. Hope there is no problem. Let me go pray to lord Vinayak and come"

I stood there with shock heeding to my mom's words. So really Vignesh is coming today to talk about stopping the marriage? I went near my Father to ask if he knows anything about this.

"I too tried asking them in a polished way what the matter is, but they did not say anything and said it is better to talk in person" he replied with worry evident in his face.

My worry started increasing. So he really is going to stop this marriage. From the beginning , he too was not interested in marriage which I know. Even I was, but not now. What am I even going to do now?

I got ready to witness the heart breaking moment that is going to happen. Every second that passed waiting for him and his family arrival was a literal torture.

Finally I heard the sound of gates opening and saw him enter our house with his parents and brother.

My parents welcomed them. They all sat on the sofa while Vicky gave me a cool smile. He signaled as in he would take care of everything.

What he would take care of ? For once I wanted Vignesh to behave like how he was during our marriage meet. I don't want him to say anything and just remain silent.

Our parents had a general talk. There was a thick tension in the air, at least for me and my parents. My Dad slowly initiated asking the reason for their sudden arrival.

My heart thudded faster. I was going weak and might fall anytime soon. Suddenly I felt the world to stop spinning. Only Vicky and his parents were the one visible for me.

if you don't like something, learn to say 'no'  no matter what happens or whoever says it.

Vignesh's earlier words ringed in my head.

"We came to talk about our marriage" Vicky started.

Now or never. I need to stop him.

"NO. A big no" I shouted.

Everyone looked at me perplexingly.

"its ok Neerja.. I will talk , you don't worry" Vicky said.

"paa. I will marry only Vicky pa. Aunty, I like your son and I will marry him only. Please don't listen to his words" I almost cried.

My mom came and consoled me. My dad too got worried at my state. While his parents sat with confusion written all over the place. May be he did not tell them yet as well about his decision.

"Please uncle, I will marry him. don't stop our marriage" I cried.

"who is going to stop your marriage?" Vicky's mom queried, making me stop crying abruptly.

I looked at Vicky, who was trying really hard to suppress his smile and looked elsewhere.

"you came to talk about that.. that . to stop our marriage right"  I replied her.

"no.. why would we stop? we came to talk about marriage but not about stopping it. Vicky has got offer to travel to UK for an year. So we came to discuss about having the wedding directly than engagement" aunty replied.

"so what we were thinking was, we could use the same day that we chose for engagement to have a wedding. In the next 3 months , he would be travelling. Hence we decided to have straight wedding than engagement. Its waste of money to have two celebrations back to back in few days. what is your opinion?" asked his Father.

My parents felt relieved hearing it. " ohh.. ok ok..ya fine.. what you said is correct. We can look for a bigger marriage hall and also change the invitations. Good that we have not yet printed the engagement invitation yet" replied my Father happily.

The talks went casual discussing regarding the next steps. While I stood there fuming in anger at Vicky who was giving me a teasing smile.

I distributed the coffee to everyone. When I came near him,

"paa. I will marry only Vicky pa. Aunty, I like your son and I will marry him only. Please don't listen to his words"  Vicky mimicked my words earlier in the same tone.

Everyone laughed at his words. I told his parents about the reason I was told for his visit today.

"ivan sonnanu nee aludhi yakum.. yema nee vera. enkita oru vartha keturndha nan solirka poren" replied his mom.

(did you cry because of what he said?  If you had asked me I would have clarified you).

I did not talk with him. But he sat there drinking his coffee so happily to see me crying.

Seeing me he again imitated." Uncle please uncle"

His dad beat him slightly for teasing me.

My cry got heavier at his teasing.

His parents then consoled me and gave assurance that our marriage will happen.

All this time, he gave me a teasing look and smile which only irritated me.

I stormed to the kitchen and drank a hot cup of coffee to subside my anger on him. Vikram, his brother came inside the kitchen.

"Manni.. if you are so naive like this, he would tease you even more"

"what am I supposed to do? he always teases me. And I don't know how to talk back or irritate him"

"Manni.. why do you even need to worry when 'The great  Vikram'  is here? I know his trigger points and weak points. Don't worry ok"

"really.. you could help me in irritating him?"

"For sure. Lets team up and kick start "Operation Vicky" right now. okay?"

"now? but how? what are we going to do?"

"His first and most important weak point is , his bike. It is his first wife. If you dare to mess with it, he would get angry. Now do what I say before we leave ok?" he gave me instructions on what to do.

"he will not scold me la" I asked with little worry.

"ada.. be bold and strong manni. kadugalavu kooda bayam namba kannula theriyakoodadhu. Bayapadreenganu therinjudhu, avan romba aaduvan"

(don't show your fear even an ounce on your face. If he knows that you are afraid of him, he will go overboard)

The rest of them all were talking, while Vicky bid bye to leave to his office as he had come on permission.

I looked at my parents and they nodded with a smile . He hopped on to his bike and I went near him to send him off.

"Vicky.. ask 'sorry'. You made me cry since yesterday"

"No a big No" he mimicked me again as I did earlier.

"Vicky.. my anger is shooting up. Ask sorry"

"no.. why would I ?" he replied casually and adorned the helmet and buckled the belt looking at me.

"so you won't say la" I said and brought the little stone I took earlier from the road and brought it near the mirror of his bike.

"if you are not saying sorry, I will break it " I warned him.

"hey.. hey.. Neeraja.. no. no.. don't touch the mirror" He tried to swat my hands away. I did not. Finally he threw the stone snatching it away from me. I still did not leave him and tried to turn the mirror this way and that way harshly.

"neeraja.. my bp is shooting up. Don't do anything" He shouted with gritted teeth so that our parents would not hear.

"say sorry, I will leave it " I stood stubborn.

"hmm ya whatever you said.. same to you.. now leave it "

"what same to you. Learn to say 'sorry' vicky. its not that difficult" I mimicked him the same way as he told me.

"Neeraja.. you are doing too much. Take your hands" He tried to take it forcibly from me.

I bite him on his hands un announced.

"sss.. aah.. monkey" he shouted.

"do I look like a monkey? Haan.." I tried to take his bike key but then I thought to do something else. I took a pin and tried to poke the seat of his royal Enfield.

"hey.. no no.. Neeraja no .I will say sorry.. ok. sorry .. sorry.. please don't do anything" he panicked seeing my actions and caught hold of my hand.

Its nice to see him panic. If Vikram has not told me this, he would have teased me on and on . I need to find more points about him from Vikram.

"say that you won't tease me hereafter" I demanded.

He stood stubborn. I tried to poke his seat again. But he caught hold of the pin suddenly which pierced his fingers harshly.

"sss.. aaahhhh..." he winced in pain as the blood was oozing out heavily.

This time I panicked and felt sorry for my behavior. "hey sorry.. sorry.. I did not mean to hurt you" I said and tried to catch his fingers, but he pulled it away and inserted inside his mouth.

"vicky.. sorry.. wait. I will bring some ointment"

"its ok.. no need. I won't tease you hereafter, sorry" with that said he left in his bike. I stood there with tears.

What has happened to me? Am  I a bipolar? I don't like him teasing me. At the same time, if he stops doing that it makes me yearn for that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Any one on team Vicky side??? Or Neeraja??