10. Blossoming Spring Days
The strange man was still following him. Rithick had a doubt and slowed down the speed to view the strange man. He started driving in an alternative path to catch the stranger.
Rithick stopped his bike. The stranger was caught by him red-handed. The stranger tried to turn his bike but he couldn't escape from Rithick. Rithick moved towards the stranger. He pulled the collar of the stranger and removed his helmet. He was in a shock to see it was his cousin, Rahul.
Rithick hugged Rahul and patted his shoulder.
"You damn fellow! Why you are following me? Are you mad?" Rithick questioned. They didn't loosen their hug. Instead, they hugged each other tightly.
"How can I leave you alone, Rithick? If you want me to go away, I will be your shadow at least," Rahul said.
"I don't want you to get drenched in rain. You should be safe, man. That's why I had asked you to go home... but you followed me. I had a doubt when Riya called me." Rithick huffed.
Rahul laughed. "Rithick, I was bothered about the same thing but you were drenched thoroughly,."
Everyone at home was waiting for the arrival of Rithick and Rahul. By seeing them get off the bike, they were in shock. Both the mothers hugged their sons.
"Why are you late, son? I was so scared," Rithick's mom voiced her concern.
"Mom, I am okay. Be calm please." Rithick said gently.
"Both of you refresh yourself and have a coffee," his mom said.
Riya questioned, "Where were you both? Why are you late?"
Rithick smiled at Riya. He didn't reply and walked upstairs.
"Rahul anna, why have you both used a bike?" Riya, asked with a frown.
Rahul followed Rithick without answering.
"Hello mister. I am talking to you both. Why are you not replying me?" Riya huffed.
Again, they didn't respond.
"I can gather from your faces that nothing serious has happened. You both have started hiding things from me. Ok good. Keep it up,"
Riya said. "Rithick anna, did you stand in the rain? You seem drenched."
Rithick nodded. "Yeah, Riya. I am drenched. Could you please bring coffee for us?"
"Okay anna. I will bring it. You both get refresh yourself," Riya answered before moving downstairs.
After a few minutes, Riya came up with two coffee mugs.
Rahul and Rithick had the coffee together.
"Okay... tell me. What happened, anna? I am excited to hear from you," Riya said.
Rithick raised his eyebrows as he smiled at Riya.
"Rithick anna. There is a slight change in your attitude. Why, anything happened?" she teased.
"What? Nothing happened, why do you think so?" Rithick tried to hide behind an innocent smile.
Riya laughed. "Your reaction tells me something has happened. Am I right? I mean, did you talk to Neethu? Did you invite her to aunt's birthday party?"
"Nope... I will invite her tomorrow, " Rithick replied.
"Anna, I have lots of doubts. You both should reply to my questions. Why have you both come home on a bike?"
"You are a small girl, behave as such." Rahul tried to divert the topic.
"Oh, there is a difference of only four years between us. I am a grownup. Hereafter, I won't talk to you, Rahul anna." Riya moved towards Rithick like a kid.
She held the Rithick hands. "Rahul anna is scolding me. You are only watching all this. No one is here to support me," she complained.
"Rahul! How dare you shout at my naughty sister?" Rithick chuckled.
"Am I naughty?" She sighed. She started beating both her brothers with a pillow on the nearby couch. Her brothers held her hands and made her sit in between them.
"Riya, you will be more than happy if I share what happened," Rithick said with a grin.
"What?" she asked excitedly.
"Today was the most beautiful day in my life. I have spent my whole time with my dream girl. Rain brought us together." Rithick hummed after closing his eyes.
"So sweet." Riya smiled. She pinched Rithick's cheeks.
"Rithick anna, what happened?" She placed her palm on his forehead.
"It's too hot," replied her.
"Keep quiet, Riya! I know I am not well. It's like I am having a cold and slight fever. I will take medicine. Please don't tell mom," Rithick requested.
Rahul frowned as he touched his forehead "Rithickk..."
"Wait a second. I will bring you a tablet." Rahul ran downstairs.
"Take rest for some time. You will be ok. Don't worry, Rithick anna," Riya suggested.
Rahul gave a painkiller to Rithick. He didn't have the habit of taking tablets but he wanted to meet Neethu the next day, so he decided to have it. With a sigh, he laid down on the bed.
Rahul and Riya sat beside him. Rithick held their hands. His eyes fluttered to a close but he couldn't sleep. Rahul touched his forehead, it was burning. Both of them were in distress. They could feel Rithick's pain.
After a long time, they fell asleep beside him.
It was about 4 AM in the morning. Rithick's body was shivering. He had a high fever and cold..
Riya could sense Rithick's hand was shivering. "Anna, what happened to you?" she yelled.
Rahul got up and looked worried. They draped a blanket over Rithick.
"Riya! Inform dad..." Rahul sighed.
"Okay!" She moved towards her dad's room. She knocked the door. "Dad! Dad!"
"Riya, why are you so tensed?" Ruthra inquired.
"Dad, Rithick anna is not well. His body is shivering." Immediately, Ruthra called the family doctor. After half an hour, the family doctor came. He checked Rithick's temperature. It was 103° F. He gave him medicines and an injection.
"You will get recover soon but today, you need to take complete rest," the doctor said.
Rithick shook his head hesitantly.
Then a few minutes later, he slept peacefully. The injection had started doing its work.
It was about 8 AM. Rithick tried to open his eyes. Rahul was sitting beside him with closed eyes. Rithick got up from bed, but his body still ached. He definitely felt better than before though.
Rahul opened his eyes. "Are you alright? How are you feeling now?"
"Feeling better, Rahul. You didn't sleep yesterday. Take rest," Rithick said.
"I am fine, Rithick"
"It's time for college," Rithick reminded him.
"Yeah, but today we won't go to college. Take complete rest, Rithick"
"No... Neethu will be alone there. She may get scared if we are absent because we didn't inform her," Rithick said.
"Take care of your health, Rithick. Don't make me angry,"
"Cool Rahul," Rithick winged his eyes.
Rithick's mom, Riya, his aunt and uncle Ruthra came to see Rithick.
"Son, how are you, now?" his mom asked as she kissed his forehead.
"I am okay, mom."
"Ok, that's good. Rest well, Rithick," his uncle Ruthra said.
"Oh... no way, uncle. I want to go to college today," Rithick said innocently.
Everyone laughed because earlier Rithick used to be absent simply.
Rithick opened and closed his eyes. He noticed Rahul and Riya too laughed at him. He stared at them, asking them to stop laughing.
"Rithick has changed a lot. I feel happy about it but today you take a leave," his uncle said.
"There are lots of assignments for me to submit," Rithick said with a shaky voice.
Rahul tried to control his laughter.
"Ok, Rithick. Give your assignments to Rahul. He will submit them," his uncle said. He patted his shoulder before leaving.
Rithick couldn't say no to his uncle He paused for a second and said to Rahul, "You go to college today. If Neethu asks about me, tell her something so that she will not worry."
Rahul could understand his situation. He nodded and said, "Okay, Rithick. You don't worry."
After a few minutes, he was ready for college.
******
At the college
Neethu was very excited to see Rithick since they had great moments together the previous day. Her eyes were looking outside the window. She was waiting for Rithick's arrival.
Neethu looked outside without taking her eyes off the scene. Many students were roaming here and there but she was sure that Rithick had not yet arrived. Even in the crowd if we liked someone, our eyes have the tendency to capture that particular person's image first. Neethu was waiting for Rithick for more than half an hour.
It was about 9 AM. Almost all the students were in the classroom.
Neethu's heart was filled with Rithick's thoughts. She was scared by the absence of both Rithick and Rahul.
"Why are you looking tensed?" Mithila asked.
Neethu was in thinking deeply, she didn't quite hear Mithila.
Mithila shook her. "Hey, Neethu. What happened?"
"Rithick and Rahul have not arrived yet. That has made me scared," Neethu said worriedly.
"Don't worry, Neethu. Maybe they are late due to traffic or some other reasons," Mithila said, trying to calm her friend down.
"My heart is beating faster. Something has happened to Rithick, I can feel it," Neethu explained, her face frowned.
"Don't think like that, Neethu. He must be coming now."
"God! It's getting late. I don't have their mobile numbers. I can't even contact them." Neethu was getting hyper.
She started blabbering like a kid. She repeated his name again and again.
"If I ask a question, will you tell me the truth, truth?"
"No, Mithila, ask me later. I am not in the situation to answer. I want to see them immediately. Let me go out and search for them."
"Neethu..." Mithila sighed. "Calm down and wait for a few minutes."
The seconds changed to minutes and the minutes changed to an hour but the time remained frozen for Neethu.
It was about 10 AM. Neethu saw the image of Rahul coming alone. Her heart was flooded with relief. She was searching for Rithick.
Rahul entered the classroom. He noticed Neethu was smiling at him. He smiled back.
"Why were you late? Where is Rithick?" Neethu asked immediately.
"I got late due to traffic. Rithick is about to purchase some things for his mom's birthday, so he took leave today," Rahul explained.
"He is alright, na?" Neethu questioned.
"Yes, Neethu."
"Well, when is his mom's birthday?"
"This Saturday," Rahul replied.
"Wow, that's nice." She smiled.
**************
At Rithick's guest house
Rithick was moving around upstairs and downstairs. He couldn't sit idle. He was thinking about Neethu.
"Are you feeling bored, anna?" Riya asked.
"What?" Rithick asked.
Riya took her phone and called Rahul. Rithick stood blinking.
"Rahul anna, have you reached college?" asked Riya.
"Yes, how is Rithick feeling?" Rahul asked.
"Well, he is fine, anna. Where is Neethu? Rithick anna wishes to hear her voice. If possible, give her the phone." Riya chuckled.
"No, Riya! She may get doubtful." said Rahul.
"Anna, tell her it's Rithick."
Rithick winked at Riya. She winked back and chuckled.
"It's Rithick," Rahul told Neethu.
Neethu took the phone from Rahul. "Rithick, how are you?"
Riya set the phone on loudspeaker and gave it to Rithick. Rithick was speechless after hearing her voice. Riya nudged him, gesturing him to reply.
"I am good, Neethu. How are you?" Rithick asked after some seconds.
"I'm good. How is the purchase going on?" she asked.
"What purchase?" He blinked.
Riya whispered in Rithick's ear, "Rahul anna might given this reason to Neethu since. Tell her that we will complete the purchase by afternoon."
"There's a network problem here, Neethu. I couldn't get you. You mean purchase?" Rithick asked with a smile.
"Yes," she said.
"We will complete the purchase soon," Rithick informed.
"Okay, Rithick, Ma'am came. Bye," she said and hung up.
"Oho. Oho. Thank you so much, Riya." Rithick shook Riya's hands and jumped in happiness.
They both had some conversation. In the corner of Rithick's heart, Neethu's thoughts were moving like gentle waves. He missed her a lot.
***********
At college
The classes were going on according to the schedule. Rahul was bored due to the absence of his cousin. He took his mobile and sent a message to Rithick.
Rahul: How are you, now?
Rithick: I'm alright. What's going on there?
Rahul: You escaped the boringclasses.
Rithick: Really? Enjoy the class. Bye. I won't disturb you.
Rahul: Don't tease me, man. Because of you, I am here. I will come home by afternoon.
Rithick: Okay. What's Neethu doing?
Rahul: I don't know how Neethu can take down the notes without getting bored.
Rithick: Don't disturb her.
Rahul.: I won't disturb your girl.It's so boring. Boring. Boring.
Rithick: Now, it's 12.20 PM. Wait for 10 more minutes, after that you can escape from there.
Rahul: Ok, bye.
Rithick: Bye. Take care.
Meanwhile one of the staff entered the class and inquired, "Who is Neethu?"
Neethu raised her hand, saying, "Ma'am! It's me."
"Your guardian has come. Go and visit visit," the lady said.
"Okay, ma'am." Neethu rushed out.
She looked around her, but couldn't find anyone. She could sense that someone was standing behind her. She turned around to take a look, but no one was there. She grew scared.
