THENDRALAE.....

“Hi.” “Hello.”
I turned and look at the guy standing beside me.
“Hi.” He says.
I stared blank at him, and slightly shook my head.
“I have seeing you everyday coming to this temple.” He says
“So?” I asked him doubtly.
“Actually I would like to be friend with you.” He says.
“Sorry, I barely know you. So I can’t accept your request.” I answer and leave the place. I have been going to the temple for almost a month after got my transfer as Immigration Officer.

I saw him the next day.

“Hello, Ms Pooja.” He called me.

I looked at him.

“Hi, how are you?” he started.

“I’m fine, thank you.” I replied, I did not want to reply but as a matter of courtesy I had too.

“I don’t understand why you are coming after me. Are you in love with me? Since you say you have been noticing me for the past 1 month, and I don’t remember seeing you.” I enquire him.

“I like you and your quality that is coming to temple everyday. Which I’m sure nowadays very less girls at your age does it. Yes, I think I love you. But I’m not forcing you, it’s up to you whether want to accept me or not.” He explained to me.

“Listen, I’m not here to love anyone, and I’m not interested in love. I hope you can understand. I don’t even know whether you are good or bad as a person. So please understand.” I answered.

“Alright.” He says and leaves me.

Days passed, Siva did not meet or talk to me. I was in peace, but it did not last long. One night I received a call from an unknown number, without hesitation I answered and it was unexpectedly Siva.

“Please don’t hang the call. Let me speak with you a moment.” He requested. I agreed. “How are you? I didn’t see you for quite some day, I wasn’t here.” He says.

“So?”I asked.

“I love you.” He uttered.

“Oh no, please stop it. I don’t even know your name. Are you sure that I don’t have a boyfriend? You don’t know anything about me. Please stop all this crap.” I scolded him.

“Hello, I already knew about you and you don’t have boyfriend, that’s why I dare confess to you.” He says.

I just end the call.

That night I saw him at temple. I tried to avoid him but he caught me. While he was explaining things to me. I saw a lady approached us, and stand beside him. I looked at her.

“My mother.” He introduced.

I was a bit shocked yet did not show it. “Hi aunty.” I smile.

She smiled back to me. He whispered something to his mother.

With a smile, she says “You are the girl is it? He has been talking about you everyday, even just now at home. He says he loves you. Do you?” she uttered.

“No, aunty. I don’t know your son. He did confess to me but I didn’t know his intention and I’m not interested falling in love.” While i was talking, I saw and elderly man approaching us.

“My dad.” He introduced.

“Hi uncle.” He wished him. “You bring your whole family is it?” I asked.

“Yes. I didn’t know how to earn your trust. Now, my name is Siva, a software engineer working in a private company.” He says.

I thought he was kidding, but he is not. I saw his brother and sister with some other family members surrounded us.

“Uncle, Aunty, I do aware that your son love me but I can’t make any decision. In my marriage I want my parents to make the decision as this is very important I don’t want any trouble by falling in love. I hope you can understand myself, but

please don’t mistake me.” I said. “If you serious about getting me, please see my parents. If they agreed, then I’ll agree. If not then I rebellious daughter. Ok aunty, I shall make a move.” I leave the place.

Weeks passed. If they were really serious sure they have contacted me, but they did not. I told my mum about this, she was so excited.

What I’ve been thinking was wrong, while I was at my hometown, Siva’s mother called me.

“Hello, Pooja ma, I’m Siva’s mother here. After having a talk with my family we all agreed to meet your family.” She says.

I was so shocked. I told my mum of what she has spoken to me, and pass the mobile to her. I don’t know what they both talked, as I just heard my mum telling that she will called them back after talking to my dad.

I did not aware that actually my mum has spoken to my dad regarding Siva, until my mum ask me to get ready few days later Siva’s mum called. She told me that Siva’s family are coming.

Everything took placed in a fast pace, that before I could digest that they are coming to meet my parents, my marriage is already fixed with Siva. After six months of time, I will be getting married with Siva. This six months time is for us to understand each other better.

We spent time together, having meal, watching movies, calls, smses and etc, etc. Well, he was the one who have been calling and sms a lot. Even at that time I did not fall in love with him.

My marriage was the grandest function held in my family. It was filled with both our family members, relatives and friends. It ended well without any unwanted incidents.

That night, our first night. I hand him over the milk in a glass, he left me half of it. I drink and was standing at the corner of the bed. When I was about to prostrate, he stopped me by holding my shoulder, and bring me to sit on the bed.

He hold my hand and say “I wasn’t fooling around when I proposed you. I promise you that I will take good care of you, if there is a teardrop in your eyes, it will be only a sign of happiness.”

In return, I hold his hand and said, “Before this I never placed any guy in my heart, after this there won’t be anyone else than you. I LOVE YOU. ” I leaned on him as I say.



~~~~~~ THE END ~~~~~

SOLLA MARANTHA KADHAL

Hi, I’m Madhu and this is my story. I’m working as an assistant accountant in a small accounting firm. During my lunch, I always go to a Chinese restaurant nearby. Since I’m not quite a friendly person, I didn’t have any friends at my working place. All what I talk is mostly, 99%, about work, so I’ll be alone during lunch, well I’m used to it. After that day I wasn’t alone anymore.

As usual I went for lunch at the restaurant, but that day there were lots of people and no empty table except if someone willing to share table with me. But how to ask them, I’m very shy, since my stomach is very hungry I had no choice.

“May I sit here?”I asked an Indian guy, who was eating alone.

“Sure.” He answered with a smile. “Hi I’m Shravanth, you are?” he introduced himself and hoping that I would do the same.

“Hi, I’m Madhu.” I make it short.

“I notice that you always eat here alone, why not with your friends?”

Always? I thought for a while. I didn’t notice him till that day. “I’m not a friendly person and my job doesn’t require me to talk a lot.” I answer briefly, hoping that he would understand that I don’t like people talk to me when I’m eating.

He didn’t understand.

“Oh, I see. So you are working as?” he asked.

“Assistant accountant at nearby firm.” I answered.

“I’m working as assistant engineer, nearby.” He added.

I look at him and nod my head. Quickly I finish my meal and leave the place, back to work.

Shravanth, taller than me, little bit fairer than me, wearing spectacles, his hair and his structure, just as how I had imagine my life partner should be.

“Hi, how are you?” a voice jerked me when I was having my lunch at the same restaurant. I looked up, it was Shravanth.

“Oppss, sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” He smiled.

“But you did.” I told him.

He pulled the chair and sits the same table with me. I continue to eat and he just started.

“How old are you?” I know it’s wrong to ask a girls’ age but only if you don’t mind you can answer.

Again he jerked me, but I did answer. He is a year older than me. He started to enquire about my details. I had to do the same, even though I’m not really in to it.

As days pass, we shared lots of things, meet almost everyday (meaning all working days, except Saturday and Sunday). Initially we become friends. He always offers to pay for my meal, but I decline it all the time.

We were getting more close till exchange our number and often sms. Instead of getting more understanding, we had more arguments. All our chat via sms will somehow ended as arguments. But that argument didn’t last for long.

He told his past to me, he was in relationship with a girl, Anu. He and Anu were tuition mate and also living in same area. That girl confesses to him and he just accepted after his mum agreed. During their relationship, he had to spend a lot. During that time, his parents and his parent’s friend have a talk to match make him with their daughter, Anita, 22.

When he was telling this to me I assumed that he and Anita are lovers. He told me that between both of them there were no secret and also they are not lovers just close friends. He showed me her picture, pretty. I have talked to her before, she asked lots of question and one common question whether do I love Shravanth. I decline, she says good because he already attached with someone. As a girl I can feel that Anita loves him, but not sure about Shravanth.

Hmm…

I tried to avoid him after he told his past. I give him lots of excuses, well he always has an answer for that. He asked me whether people in love can’t be friend with other girls? I can’t answer that.

“Do you love me?” asked Shravanth, when we were having lunch. That jerked me out, and I said no. I never thought of falling in love with him. I’m not a fool to love a person that already love by another girl, so that I can be called as snatcher or to accept my friends’ lover who haven’t become her ex. He says he can feel that I’m in love with him.

We had a big argument, few months later. He say I’m not understanding and also scolded me. I was so angry and asked him not to contact me anymore and I also didn’t go to the restaurant we used to go.

A week later he called me, “I didn’t see you at the restaurant, you aren’t going there anymore?”

“Yes.” I answered.

“Can you please come over there tomorrow for lunch?” he asked.

I asked him, “Why, we have nothing to talk.”

“Please.” He pledged.

I went there the next day. He apologised to me, and I did.

Now everything changed. We quarrel less, understanding between us developed. We went to cinema, temple, and for dinner.

Time passes real quickly. In this one year time, we understand each other and my feeling towards him have changed. I decided to confess to him.

The day arrived. I ring him up and say that I have important thing to tell and need to meet him. He also says the same.

We meet and he handed me a wedding invitation. Tears started to roll on my cheek. I expected it, because neither do I nor he express our love. He looked at me with surprise and asks what happened.

I looked straight into his eyes and said, “When you asked me if I love you on that day, I declined. Yes, I didn’t love you that time, but now I am, and when I wanted to express it you are handing me your wedding invitation. Perhaps, I forget to tell that I love you previously. Well, I expected it. Anyway, happy married life and congrats.

He looked stunt, but with a smile. He walked towards me, hugged and kissed my lips. I pushed him away, “Hei! What’s wrong with you? You’re going to wed soon and now what are you doing?” I shouted.

He smiled, and ask me to look the invitation card. I look at it with curiosity. It’s written there, Bridegroom: Prasad & Bride: Priya.

“Priya is my elder sister and this is her wedding invitation. I planned to invite you and your family and introduce to my family and propose you.” He explained.

I blushed. I immediately talked to my parents, so does he. Our family meet during his sisters’ wedding. With all the elders blessings the next wedding will be ours.

Thank God, I almost miss my first love, fortunately I didn’t.