13. Blossoming Spring Days

After an hour or so, they had dinner.

"It's time. Let us start arranging stuff for the birthday party," Neethu reminded them.

"Rithick showed the way to his mom's room. Neethu noticed a fish tank on the way. Many varieties of fishes were there. She found a fish which was struggling to swim.

"Rithick... see this fish is struggling." Neethu pointed it out.

"I will bring another fish tank. Let's drop the fish there," Rithick said. He placed the new fish tank near to it. Then he placed the struggling fish in the new tank.

"Put some salt in the water, Rithick, so that the fish will be okay," Neethu said.

"Really?" he questioned.

Neethu was happy to watch the fish swimming peacefully without any struggle.

A few minutes later, they started decorating the room. Rithick often glanced at Neethu. She and Riya were busy in chatting.

"Rahul, I wonder how these girls can talk without stopping? They won't stop unless we do something," Rithick said, shaking his head at them.

"Oh yes. Two chatterboxes together. We can't do anything. Just wait patiently till they stop."

"Yup, Rahul! We were in tension about how to manage the situation, but Riya was very cool."

"Don't worry, Rithick, let's face this together," said Rahul.

Neethu and Riya completed decorating the room. They hung lights, lit candles, made balloon bouquets, and flower bouquets. The room seemed like a twinkling palace.

Neethu grinned. "Rithick, how is it?"

"This is awesome, Neethu. The room seems pretty good because of your presence..."

"Neethu, I wish to tell you something," Rithick sighed. He was unable to hide his feelings for her.

"What is it? Tell me, Rithick."

"I-I...I..." He sighed.

Neethu glanced at Rithick with fixed eyes.

"Tell me..." she said. Rithick was speechless, so she went out. She was busy in writing the name on the cake.



(((("I want this minute to be frozen. Will you please look into my eyes and read my heart?" Rithick asked, his eyes shining.

"I love you, Neethu! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you!")))))

Rahul waved his hands at Rithick. "Hey? Are you okay? Calm down, Rithick... Neethu is not here. Riya and Neethu went out 15 minutes back. What are you doing here?"

"Neethu has driven me crazy. Her eyes are nearly killing me, Rahul. She looks beautiful than ever. No words in my dictionary can explain her attitude, her behaviour, her..." He sighed deeply.

"Everything happens at the right time. Be patient, Rithick," Rahul said gently.

The time was ticking very fast. It was about 11:55 PM. Rithick called his mom's number, she didn't attend his call. They were waiting for her arrival.

"When we hear the car's sound, we will hide ourselves in her room and before that close her door slightly," Riya suggested excitedly.

"Superb, Riya," Neethu agreed.

"Neethu should hide yourself till we call you back," Rithick said, hoping Neethu would understand the situation.

"What? Why, Rithick? I have to hide? No way, I will celebrate with you all," Neethu said with an innocent tone.

Rithick was searching for words. "Neethu, listen to me. You are a surprise to my mom. So, you have to stand in front of her surprisingly," Rithick explained.

"Sure, Rithick." Neethu smiled.

A few minutes later, Rithick's phone showed a message alert from his mom. I will be there within half an hour. Please don't wait for me, my dear son. Have a sound sleep. Good night. Take care.

Rithick informed that his mom will come within five minutes. He walked in a to-and-fro manner, his face in a deep frown.

Neethu could see a sudden change in his face. "Rithick, Are you okay?"

"I'm alright, Neethu." Rithick sighed..

They were waiting for her arrival. A few minutes later, they could hear the car's sound. They turned off all the lights and then hid themselves.

Rithick's mom unlocked the door and entered inside. She didn't want to disturb Rithick, Rahul and Riya. They must be sleeping soundly. She turned on the lights and walked towards her room. She noticed the door was unlocked. She slightly pushed the door open.

She was shocked and surprised on seeing her son standing in the center of the room with lots of flower bouquets. Her eyes could see only her son. She then rolled her eyes at Rahul and Riya with a smile. There were balloon showers, flower showers, bubbles, and confetti in the air. The candle lights twinkled like the beauty of her happiness.

She hugged her son, tears rolled down her chubby cheems. She then hugged Rahul and Riya. She loved Rahul and Riya same like Rithick.

"Here is a cake, specially made for you," Rithick said. He gave a knife to his mom.

"I never expected this from you all. Your love for me is more than enough." She sniffled.

"It's okay, mom. It's time for fun." Rithick smiled.

Rithick glanced at Neethu, who was hiding behind the door.

"Rithick," she mouthed.

"Wait," he mouth and gestured her to stay there.

They were singing the birthday song. Kalpana cut the cake and held it towards Rithick, Rahul, and Riya. Rithick had a little piece of cake. He pinched a bit of it and gave it to his mom. Then, they wished her.

Rithick, Rahul and Riya together presented a diamond necklace. She was filled with overwhelming happiness to see their unity in presenting the gift too.

"Mom... a great surprise is there for you," Rithick said as he glanced at Neethu.

"What? Another surprise? You have already given me a great surprise, my dear son," she said

Rithick glanced at Rahul and Riya. He was unable to hide Neethu from his mom. He felt like he was standing on thorns. He decided to open the matter about Neethu.

"The credits don't go to me alone or Rahul, or Riya. They belong to Neethu as well," he said softly.

"Neethu? Who is that?" she asked.

"Aunt, let me introduce Neethu," said Riya. "Neethu, please come here."

Neethu came out and she took one step forward to move towards Rithick's mom.

Kalpana stood there with a confused expression.

Neethu gave her an innocent smile and wished her.

"I have never seen her before. I am too confused! I mean, who is she?" his mom asked.

"She is my friend," Riya said, pointing at Neethu.

"Neethu is my friend," Rithick said, looking into her eyes.

"She is my friend," Rahul added as well.

Kalpana could hear the same word "My friend" at the same time from them. She never expected this from them. Her level of confusion increased a lot. She was shocked to see her son saying it because she was much more aware about his past.

Neethu was not aware about what happening around her because she thought that they had invited her after informing their family members. She didn't mind and held a wrapped object. She came closer to Rithick's mom.

"I have a gift for you." Neethu smiled softly.

Kalpana glanced at Rithick for a second and took it from her.

"Tell me the truth. Who is she?" his mom asked.

They didn't reply because they knew it was not so easy to convince her, though Rithick had tried to convince her.

"Rithick, let me answer her," Neethu suggested. "Aunt, what they said is true. I am a friend to all three of them. Rithick and Rahul are studying with me. They are my best friends. Rithick invited me to your birthday party. We had decided to make this birthday an unforgettable one for you. Don't doubt them, Aunt, please..."

"I am not convinced yet. I can't believe this. My both sons didn't inform me about this. Riya... I trusted you a lot, couldn't you inform me?" Kalpana sighed.

"Mom... please. We thought of saying this to you but you were busy. Your words may hurt Neethu. I will tell everything later, please adjust it for me, mom," Rithick almost pleaded.

"Rithick, I can't believed it yet and even I can't believe my own eyes. I know well about you, Rithick, Rahul, and Riya. You won't choose the wrong person. Okay. It's your wish but I have one condition," she said and glimpsed at Neethu.

"What condition, Mom?"

"This is the first and last time you bring a girl here to stay at midnight. Your first duty is to leave her safely to her place by early morning," she said. "Riya, today, you sleep near Neethu. Take the room next to mine, take care of her and make her feel comfortable."

Rithick was relaxed now and showed thumbs up, with his cute smile. Neethu smiled at him back.

"Come on, Neethu, let's go." Riya and Neethu went out.

"Mom, I feel bad for not informing about Neethu before" Rithick said.

"Are you my Rithick? What's happening here? More than that I trusted you, son. Don't worry, it's okay," his mom said.

"I love you, mom."

"Love you too, son. I hope Neethu is as lovable as our Nethra. I know well about you, Rithick. I know how you have treated the girls in the past. I am sure she will be a nice girl. No need for any further explanation."

"Thanks, Mom."

Rithick hugged Rahul. The name "Nethra" echoed in their ears and makes them frowning...After a few minutes of conversation, they moved upstairs.

*****

Kalpana couldn't convinced herself. She loved her son more than her life. She had seen a strange Rithick today. He was tensed a lot for that girl. He had never behaved like that before. She knew Neethu was very special to him. She could see love in his eyes.

Of course, he loved Neethu. Her son's selection would be the best. She had no doubt in that, but why had he hidden it from her?

She was curious to see the gift presented by Neethu. Her hands fumbled with the wrapper. She opened the gift slowly and was surprised to see it. She could guess that it was a photo frame.

She and Sanjay were together. The photos were very special to her because they was taken at the time of their love. Tears rolled down from her eyes the moment she saw her husband. I love you, Sanjay. I miss you. Thank you so much, Neethu. (((Rithick handed this photo frame to Neethu before an hour to present it to his mom)

*****

Riya and Neethu entered a room. Riya made all the arrangements for her. A few minutes later, Neethu freshened up. She was not in the mood to sleep.

The incidents happening around Neethu left her puzzled. She was sure that there were some relationship between Rithick and Rahul. Rithick's mom had made it very clear.

Why were Rithick and Rahul hiding it from her? Was she confused? Was she doubting them? She decided to clear her doubts.

"Are you comfortable?" Riya asked.

"Yup," she smiled. "Will you please tell me the truth? I-I am too confused," she hesitated.

Riya's face lost its smile. "What truth?"

"About Rithick and Rahul," Neethu continued.

Riya paused. Neethu could understand the answer behind her silence. At the same time, she couldn't't forgive Rithick and Rahul if they had lied.

"Rithick anna and Rahul anna are from the same family. They are cousins. My dad and Rithick anna's dad are siblings. They are together since childhood. They did their schooling and college together. They are like twin brothers and more than that, they are best friends. If there is any problem in Rahul anna's life, the first person to stand for him is my Rithick anna. I love them both." Riya smiled and exhaled a breath.