05 | Bike ride

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

Today my parents have arranged a marriage meet for me with a guy named 'Vignesh'. Seeing him in the photo makes me shiver.

His face looked more dominating in the photo which made me get more afraid of him. I don't think I will like him. He does not seem to be the correct person for me.

Today when they came to meet me in our house. The way he was behaving, the way he replied everything seemed so fearful for me.

May be from the beginning, I have  a bad opinion on him. That might be the reason, I think that way.

My dad insisted us to talk. what is the use? they have exchanged opputhamboolam already. I did not have the guts to say no in front of my parents. So I said yes. But I regret saying it.

I atleast thought I could gather my courage and say no to him , when we were asked to talk alone.

Will he shout at me if  I say I don't want to marry him?? Will he scold me?? Or will he beat me?? Am I thinking too much??

Everyone says he is a good guy. But I feel very afraid to look at him. May be appearances  can be deceptive.

He was standing in the balcony looking at the view of the city.

I stood there for more than 2 minutes not knowing how to initiate the conversation. He too did not seem to acknowledge my presence.

Finally I spoke.

"hello" my voice came out very low. Usually it is low and this time it was very low.

He turned towards me. He is a tall guy around 5'10, wheatish complexion, exhibiting a powerful dominating aura in the way he looks, his posture and talks. Not so handsome or less average but a normal guy who could attract any girl with his looks.

He can attract other girls but not me. The way he quirked his eyebrows at me for calling him, made me shiver. I forgot what to say.

Its been 10 minutes since we were in the balcony to talk. Neither him nor I conversed. Finally the time came for them to leave and he too left, not sparing me a look.

Once he left the balcony, I felt the breath that I was holding till now was released.

Oh God.. I feel so much scary and afraid just by standing in the same room along with him. How am I going to survive him life long. No dii.. Neeru.. you can manage him. you can..

I can right? I hope so..

No .. no.. I don't want him. I want this marriage to be cancelled somehow.

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

I completed narrating what happened to Deva.

"who is the one calling you?"

"Its her. Neeraja."

"So you saved her number as well?"

"truecaller machi"

He hummed.

"hey.. wait.. you said you already know about all this. How come you know?"

"because  Neeraja is my distant relative. They enquired about you to me"

"ada paavi.. so you know well in advance about me going to meet her at her house?"

"yep"

"Then why you did not tell me earlier?"

"For how long you will be a single? Already people are thinking us as we belong to pride group for roaming together"

"who is that calling us both a gay? Tell me I will break their teeth. If two girls always stick together saying best friends, will they call them as lesbian? then why they call guys like that?" I fumed in anger hearing that statement.

"Sssss.. dei.. don't get angry like this.. Neerja is very fragile and delicate person at heart. She is sensitive girl as well.  It would be difficult if you behave like this with her"

"that's is what I am saying.. I am not the right one for her. better you marry her"

"Dei.. she is my sister in terms of relationship" Deva bet me on my arms.

"ohh.. ok ok. Anyways, I am not going to marry her. I don't have any intention of marrying any one" I replied caressing my arms.

While we were talking, Deva attended the call and was giving instructions to some one about the route.

3 minutes later, I found Neeraja walking towards us. I immediately swirled my head to Deva. This culprit was the one who gave her directions.

"Dei.. I am leaving." I went and kick started my bike. But Devan caught hold of my collar.

"Talk with her...she has come to meet you."

While we were conversing, she came beside us. Not me.. Beside Deva. He was about to kick start his bike , when she forbid him.

"anna.. I don't like him na.. Can you please talk with my Dad and stop all this?" she pleaded as in she would cry.

"pcch.. Neeru.. don't think too much. Vicky is a nice guy. He is the right one for you. " Deva supported me.

"avanum avan dhadiyum.. ennaku pidikala na"

( he and his beard, I don't like him bro)

"ei.. enna romba overah pesara.. palla thatti kayla kuduthuduvan?" (what is that you are talking too much I will break you teeth) I shouted at her.

"see how much he is shouting. He look like a rugged guy. I feel very intimidating to look at him. I came to talk about this to him and stop this somehow. But I am too afraid to say this to dad or him. Please na help me"

"aman nan lan iyer laye rowdy iyer aakum" I replied.

"Dei.. Stop it.. Don't think too much Neeru. He is not like what you think. He is  a good guy too. Just that he gets angry often. But a good hearted guy. Trust me he is the right one for you. Your parents decided him as your groom after thorough investigation" Deva looked at me. He kept on advising and coaxing her to marry me.

I was fuming in anger hearing her words. I too don't want to marry this timid girl.  But she seemed to be convinced little by Deva's words.. Huh.. she can be easily manipulated.

bayandhangoli.. balli. azhu munji..  ( timid girl, lizard, cry baby)

" Vicky.. both of you talk with each other and sort out the issues. And drop her at her house" he said and drove off.

I scoffed. why would I  drop her?  And why should I talk with her? good that she does not like me. Problem can be easily solved.

She stood there clutching her hand bag tight. With quivering lips she looked at me.

"hey .. why do you want to cry now and create a scene here? People are looking at us"

She did not stop.

"hey.." I raised my voice little because of which she gasped in fear.

"am I a ghost? why do you want to be afraid like this? And first stop this crying. People are looking at us and they are mistaking me not you"

She was still crying, though not heavily  it was continuing.

"ayayaya.. seriyana bejara pochu pa indha ponnoda" I caressed my forehead while sitting on the bike.

( sss.. she is troublesome)

I continued as I still heard her small sniffing sounds.

"you stand and cry as long as you want. I am leaving"

When I was about to leave, I received Deva's call.

Deva: " dei.. drop her in the house or at least book a cab for her"

I quickly looked around to see if he is anywhere nearby. But he was not in my vicinity.

Me: " if she can come alone to this place, then she could also go the same way back. Why should I drop her?" I replied looking at her.

I cut the call without waiting for his reply and drove in my bike.

Fifteen minutes passed. She was still standing there in the same place.  Sighing, I went near her with my bike and asked her to hop on.

She stood still not heeding to me.

"po di.. thaniya nikariyenu.. pavam pathu vandha romba dhan...marubadiyum nan lan keka maten"

(you are doing too much. I felt pity as you were standing alone. But I am not going to come again offering help)

I drove my bike fast and took a u-turn. I drove straight and my stupid hand and heart betrayed me. I took another u-turn and parked my bike again in front of her.

I stood there for few minutes and she too stood not moving an inch. Frustrated at her act, I looked at her and gave a glare.

"get on the bike"

She did not move. I repeated it again in a stubborn manner. And she stood still not moving an inch.

"last time I am asking you.. are you coming or not?" I asked her with strict tone.

"ask politely.. don't shout . I will not come if you shout at me" came her feeble voice.

"parrra.dayratha.." ( ohh)  The audacity this girl has.

ivala bayandangoli? ( is she a timid and scared heart person)

I controlled my irritation with closed eyes and opened it .

"hop on .. its getting late" I spoke in a soft voice after heaving a sigh. To my surprise, she got in to my bike. KD.

I drove my bike fast. She did not expect that I would start immediately with such a force. Her chin hit my back.

"slow.. slow.. I feel like the world is spinning.. go slow" she shouted at me clutching my shirt at the back.

I did not pay heed to her. Why would I listen to her?

"Can you please go slow? I am very much afraid" she shouted in anger at a high pitch. She almost cried and even bet me harshly on my back.

Though irritated at her act, I reduced the speed of my bike. I like to ride bike, mainly at a high speed. And here she is afraid of getting in to bike. She does not like speed. Definitely she is not a match for me.

Finally I dropped her in nearby metro station. Out of curiosity , I wanted to know why she does not like to marry me and asked her the same.

"I don't want to marry a guy like you. Please stop this marriage" she replied with heads down.

That sentence triggered me. what does she mean by a guy like me? I threw  a menacing look at her.

"why? what do you mean by a guy like me?"

"I don't like guys who have rugged look"

"ahaan.. next"

"I don't like guys who have thick beard"

"ahaan.. what else" I teased her.

Strangely her reasons brought a smile on my face. I was listening to her reasons with folded hands.

"I don't like guys who tease me like you do. who make me get afraid like you do"

"Am I a ghost for you to get afraid? haan.. tell me" I ordered

"see .. you are shouting at me. I don't like guys who shout at me like this. Your tone is very high. You even rode the bike fast. You seemed to be more dominating in everything. "

"ok if you don't like me, why did you get in to my bike?" I queried her with enthusiasm. You should see her face reaction when she was talking. I like to tease her a lot.

"I was not interested. You are the one who forced me to get in. I did not like to come with you."

Looking at her with a smirk, I did a u-turn with my bike without replying her. I came near her and turned the throttle to make her look at me, as her eyes were rooted on the ground.

" Then I will marry you . only you. You can't escape from me"  With that I drove off past her. I don't know how suddenly my mind and heart changed. Why those words came out of my mouth? May be her words triggered my ego? Or I like her? I don't know.

But I have this habit. When someone forbids me from doing something or deny me something, I would some or the other way do that or get that.

That is what has happened now. Her rejecting me triggered my ego and I wanted to marry her.

I left the place leaving her surprised with my answer. Upon reaching home, I received call from Deva.

"sollu machi" ( yes dude) I spoke picking the call.

"indha kallu kulayum eeram iruku polaye" ( I witnessed your tender heart today) Deva teased me.

"what non-sense are you talking?" I asked him irritated.

"dei.. I saw you. You first left her alone. Then came back and pleaded her. Again you came back and made her get on to your bike. I never knew you could talk softly. More than that the sight of you pleading a girl.. sss.. paa.. yenna kann kolla katchi ( what a sight to behold you pleading a girl)"

"you said she is your relative, so I don't want to leave her alone and gave her a lift till metro." I reasoned.

"ooh.. apdi.ok.. ok.. then why did I witness your bike riding in such a slow speed?  I have never  seen you drive in 20km speed. what a change over mama"

"sss. yapa dei.. she is afraid of high speed, so I reduced. Don't think too much"

He did not get convinced with my answer and teased me for more than 10 minutes. He cut the call after sometime. One thing is for sure. My behavior today with her, felt different. I have never compromised or listened to others. But she made me do everything according to her.

Ratchasi..  (devil)

Looks like she will change me completely. No da Vicky.. if needed change her , you don't change.

~~~~~~~~~

Which couple do you like? Deva and Sandhya or Vignesh and Neeraja? Drop in your comments.