Prologue

As the spring season sets in, the earth looks lovely and charming. The trees put forth new leaves. Nature looks charming. The lovely roses win hearts. As a matter of fact, spring is the season of beautiful flowers. Bees are very busy during this season. They move from one flower to another in search of honey. The most beautiful spring season is known as the queen of all seasons.

Some children were playing out with joy. The elated sounds made Neethu wake up from sleep. She got up from the bed and peeped through a nearby window. "Wow! What a beautiful day!"

After seeing Neethu, the children started yelling, "Hey Neethu, good morning."

Neethu smiled and said, "Morning to you all."

Neethu was a twenty-one-year-old girl. She was a BBA graduate. Her dad, Mr. Vijayan was a government employee working as a teacher in the school, near to the town, Nagercoil. Her mom, Mrs. Rekha was a housewife. Her loving, younger sister, Geethu was a school student.

Neethu was a bubbly, innocent girl. She called everyone (from kids to adults) as her friends. She tried her best to make everyone around her happy and she cared for the poor. She was regarded as the most beautiful woman in her town.

Her mom called her and Geethu for breakfast.

Neethu whispered in the sister's ear, "Wake up, my sweety."

After breakfast, Neethu's dad asked, "Hey, child. When are you going to purchase the items?"

Neethu said, "Purchase? Oh yeah, I completely forgot. I am going to Bengaluru tomorrow." Her eyes moistened and she held her mom's hands.

''Come on, my dear child! I know this is your dream. You have been selected in merit for pursuing your PG course (MBA) by a top-grade college in Bangaluru," her dad said. "I couldn't have been more proud."

Neethu sniffled. "I know, dad, but how can I stay there leaving you all?"

"Only two students have got selected from our state, out of them, one was my daughter." Her mother's voice held pride.

Neethu nodded. She decided to enjoy the day to the fullest with her family and her friends .

Neethu and her sister, Geethu went for shopping to a nearby mall. They completed purchasing within an hour and had lunch later.

Neethu handed over the items to Geethu and asked her to take them home. She had to meet her friends.

Geethu said, "Sure, akka (sister). Come soon. Take care."

Neethu smiled. "Bye. Take care."

After seeing Neethu, the children playing in the ground started yelling, "Hey, Neethu!"

Neethu chirped, "Hey, friends."

A little girl said, "Come on, Neethu akka! Let's play together."

Neethu played with the children for more than an hour.

This was an emotional moment, her friends in the village enclosed her and she felt blissful to see them all. With wet eyes, she told that she was departing tomorrow for pursuing her higher studies in Bengaluru.

Her friends displayed lots of love with their words and misty eyes. Finally, she met her close friends, Reshma and Devi.

A little girl asked, "Neethu akka, when will you return back from Bangaluru? We will miss you a lot."

Neethu, with tears flowing down her cheeks, lifted the little girl up. "I will be back soon."

This was the first time in her hometown that people were noticing tears in her eyes. They didn't want to see tears in her eyes, so they wished her luck in pursuing her dream.

Neethu hid her tears behind her smile and said goodbye to everyone. By 5:30 PM, she reached home. She ran away into her home with tears and hugged her mother saying, "I am going to miss you all."

"Hey, akka, you are looking terrible with tears in your eyes," her sister teased.

Neethu said with a smile, "You, naughty girl! I know."

Geethu exclaimed, "That's my akka! Neethu means a big, big smile."

Neethu said, "Ah! I forgot about our garden."

Geethu said, "Yes, come on, akka! Let's go."

Both of them engaged in watering the plants in the garden and admired the beauty of sleeping leaves, flowers, and buds. The sky started to get dark. The stars and moon came out of the clouds.

At 8 PM, they all had dinner together. After eating, Neethu's dad asked them to go to sleep.

Neethu whispered, "Good night, mom and dad."

Neethu and Geethu entered the room and spread the bedsheet over the bed.

Neethu glanced at her sister. She knew that Geethu was hiding her tears. She gently held her sister's hand. "I forgot something."

Geethu, without looking at her, asked, "What?"

Neethu said with a thick voice, "I know my little sister can't stay without me." She asked her to close her eyes as she took out the hidden teddy bear for her sister.

"Keep this teddy with you always. If you feel lonely just see it and have it in our bed." Neethu gave it to her sister.

Geethu was surprised and started sobbing. Neethu made her smile.

Geethu, "I have a gift for you, akka".

Neethu said, "My buddy! When did you grow up to buy a gift for me?" She was eager to see the gift.

Geethu took a teddy from her shelf and gave it to her sister.

Neethu was amazed by her gift. They both hugged each other, with tears and smiles on their faces.

Neethu smiled softly. "Love you, my dear sister."

Her sister replied, "Love you too."

************************************

The other student, who got selected by the college in Bengaluru, was Rithick.

Rithick was twenty-five-years old, was handsome, admired for his brave deeds, and noble qualities.

He was the only one son of Mr. Sanjay, one of the top businessmen in the country and Mrs. Kalpana, who was the M.D of the company.

Rithick didn't have any girls in his life because they loved his money more than him.

Rithick's dad believed that the situation of his son might change if he did his higher education in a co-ed college. So, he paid a huge amount as donations to buy a seat for his loving son in Bangaluru.

Rithick was unable to reject the words of his dad, so he accepted it half-heartedly.

Sanjay said, "I am happy. Love you, my dear son."

Rithick replied, "Love you too, dad."

Sanjay handed over a set of keys to him. "Use our guest house in Bangaluru."

Rithick asked, "Ok dad. Where's mom?"

Sanjay replied, "She is arranging your favourite supper."

Kalpana, Rithick's mom smiled but her eyes filled up with tears. This was the first time her son was going to stay away. She was unable to leave his son alone.

Sanjay said, "Kalpana! Come on. Don't worry about him. We will be visiting Bangaluru for our business matters. If we wish to see him, we can stay with him there."

Rithick added, "Yes, mom, Don't worry, please."

Kalpana said, "You should sleep, son. Good night."

Rithick said, 'Good night."

He moved to his room and started packing his clothes. He placed an alarm for 7 AM and laid on the bed.

The next day Morning

Rithick got ready with all his arrangements before an hour to depart. The flight from Trivandrum to Bengaluru was at 10 AM. He wore a blue shirt with a navy-blue overcoat and black pants.

After ten minutes, Neethu reached the airport with her family and a few of her friends. She was in her favourite pink coloured Anarkali Salwar.

Before 30 minutes of the departure there was an announcement regarding the take off of the flight.

Rithick stepped into the flight before Neethu stepped in.

"Welcome to the airways, sir! Your seat number is 25, please move straight right."

Rithick didn't react.

"Welcome to the airways. Your seat number is 26. Please move straight right."

Neethu smiled before moving towards Rithick, who took the window seat, 25.