18. Blossoming Spring Days

Rahul gazed at Neethu for a while. He sensed a warmth in her eyes, it was as though her eyes were pleading, begging him to tell the truth. He believed firmly that he could trust her. Slowly he began to unravel the pages in his life that he had kept buried for so long.

Flashback

Rahul's POV

My dad (Rudra) and Rithick's dad (Sanjay) were both from a normal middle class family. They were the best friends right from when they were toddlers. They lived a very happy and carefree life. But their happiness was short lived.

Their happy childhood memories were

vanished by an incident.  When my dad was twelve and Sanjay uncle was

eight, they lost their parents in a terrible accident. After that incident, they were affected both mentally and physically.

Their only consolation was their uncle Vinay.

Vinay, was a police constable who lived a very honest and respectable life. Vinay lost his wife during the delivery of his daughter Kalpana (Rithick's mom). Vinay

raised Kalpana with all the love and care he could give to her in this world. After the death of his sister and brother in law, he took in both my dad and Sanjay uncle and

raised them as his own sons. He supported both of them financially for theireducation. He tried his best since both the boys were excellent in studies.

Years passed by,

As per the wish of their uncle Vinay, my dad pursued his higher education. During his college days, he had a best friend named Manoj. He was from an upper middle class family and had two brothers.

As days passed by, Manoj became part of the family. He was very much affectionate

towards Sanjay uncle and vice versa. My dad completed his degree in criminal

justice. He became a detective officer, a year after that. He was very successful in his career and in the upcoming years he got a promotion and transfer to New Delhi at the age of 26.

At that time Sanjay uncle completed his

bachelor's degree in business management. After the transfer of my dad,  Manoj became

closer to  Sanjay uncle. Shortly after that Manoj and Sanjay uncle decided to start a business together.

Manoj already had enough money to start the business but Sanjay uncle was helpless at that time. Sanjay uncle decided that he should not ask money from his uncle Vinay because he had to save for his daughter's marriage.

My dad helped him with all that he could give though it was not enough. About of ten percent, the required money was in question mark. Manoj was ready to give the remaining ten percent to Sanjay  uncle but he was not ready to accept it. Sanjay uncle

wished to be in perfect partnership with  Manoj So Sanjay uncle decided to earn the

remaining ten percent money. He started with  petty jobs like distributing newspaper in the morning and evening and moving on to other part time jobs. After six months,  he earned about only, five percent of the required

money. Even, he decided to quit the idea of start of business.

During this time, Kalpana aunt had developed

feelings for Sanjay uncle. She rejected all the marriage proposals arranged by her dad, Vinay. One fine day, Kalpana aunt proposed to

Sanjay uncle but he refused to accept her love even though he was in love with her too. This was because he felt like a betrayal to his uncle Vinay's kindness towards him and his brother. Also Sanjay uncle thought that

Vinay wanted to get his daughter married off in a big and affluent family. Kalpana aunt

compelled Sanjay uncle to use her jewels for the start of his business but he refused that too. Kalpana decided that she had no other option other than to tell her dad. She told him that she loved Sanjay and that she wished to spend the rest of her life with him. Her dad also accepted her love for Sanjay without any hesitations because he knew Sanjay would look after her daughter as a queen.Vinay decided to talk about the marriage with my dad and Sanjay uncle.

Only after Vinay started the marriage talk, everyone come to know about the love of Sanjay uncle for Kalpana aunt. They loved each other more than anything else in the world. Sanjay uncle wanted to take care of his wife like a princess. So he renewed the plan regarding the business to become successful. There is a popular

saying,  A woman is behind every successful

man. It becomes true for Sanjay uncle'a

life also. Soon after that with the money he earned he started the business together with his friend Manoj. They faced a lot of ups

and downs during the start of business.

Kalpana aunt gave enough confidence to

Sanjay uncle.

One year after that, my dad got married.

Two Years passed by, Now Sanjay uncle was in a position to look after his Kalpana to the safest level. So he decided to marry her with the blessings of his uncle Vinay, my dad and Manoj.

One fine day Sanjay uncle married Kalpana

aunt. They were the happiest couple in the world. Few months later,  Manoj got married.

Everyone's life was going on smoothly. This was the happiest period of My dad, Sanjay

uncle and Manoj because they were

successful in their life and in careers.

In the next five years our families started

expanding, Rithick was born, he is two years younger to me. Riya, our loving sister is four years younger to me. Manoj also had a

daughter and she was as same age of Riya. She is Nethra. My family became settled in New Delhi. We often came to TamilNadu and I still I remember the fun we used to have in our childhood there.

When I was ten years old, my dad was

transferred to Mumbai. I was very much

happier at that time because I thought

that Mumbai and TamilNadu were nearer.

During that time Sanjay uncle's and Manoj

partnership business showed incredible

growth. They became popular in the southern

states of India. They usually had business

meetings in Mumbai. So they often came with

their families and stayed with us for about a week. It was the unforgettable golden

period of my life.

Rithick, Nethra,  Riya and myself had great

moments together. Rithick was very much affectionate towards me. Nethra and

Riya were close friends. Even though we met

occasionally it was a heavenly experience . We enjoyed the most.

Five years passed by,

I completed my 10th exams with Good marks. That was the turning point in my life. I got an opportunity to study along with Rithick for higher secondary education in Tamil Nadu.

I came to Tamil Nadu and stayed in Rithick's home. My uncle and aunt looked after me as their own son. As Rithick was the only son, he seemed to be a reserved type. He had

boundless happiness when he came to know that I was going to stay together with him. Rithick was 9th standard and I was 11th standard. As the place was new to me, I felt a little difficult to adjust. The main problem was the language. Whenever Rithick had free time, he would come to my class. We also met

during our break time. After one month,

I felt that I could manage with everything and I got few friends in my class. Months passed

by  smoothly and I got good marks in my subjects too.

There was a girl named Swetha, who was my classmate. She was one of the most beautiful girl and every boy in my class had a secret crush on her. One day, she came to me with a bit of paper and handed it to me gracefully. Her eyes were so full of emotion which I couldn't understand at that time. She smiled at me and went away from the place. I was shocked to see the written

words on the paper.

I didn't open the paper at that time because my friends were near to me. I was not so much interested to read what Swetha had written but somehow knew that it was something personal. Just at that time, Rithick came to the class and I quickly hide the paper in one of the books on my table.

After that I completely forgot about that letter. It was the last working day before the Pooja holidays. We went back to school after a week. Just as I was entering my class I saw her and remembered about her letter. Suddenly I felt uncomfortable. She came near me. She seemed to be tensed and was not her usual self. I simply didn't know how to react at that time! Something new was stirring inside me. It was as if I was looking at her the first time. Her eyes seemed to be searching me. She had big beautiful eyes which never ceased to fascinate me. I was feeling knots in my stomach. It was as if someone had released a hundred butterflies into my stomach. I couldn't quite place the feeling. The only thing I realized was that she was the only one I wanted to look at.

A few minutes after the tense pause, I decided to tell her that I didn't read her letter. She seemed immediately crestfallen. I couldn't bear the pain in her eyes. Soon enough I hear myself apologizing to her and explaining to her that I had misplaced her letter. She had expected a reply from me. Just before I replied back to her, Rithick suddenly pulled my hand and dragged me from that place. I was so annoyed by his behavior that I shouted at him. Even then he did not leave my hand. Just like that he released me surprising me at that time.

A few feet away, I could see my parents and my sister Riya. My happiness knew no bounds at that time. I ran towards them and hugged them. My cute and loving sister, Riya hugged me and Rithick. She had her own way of showing her love for us. Riya loved Rithick and vice-versa from their childhood. She was a sister to Rithick. Rithick often told me that Riya was a sister he never had and that he wouldn't share her with me. I often felt that he took care of her better than I did and I was ever so grateful for that.

We bunked the classes that day and went back home happily. Just as we reached home there was another surprise waiting for me. My dad had some cases to deal with in Delhi. Since the cases he was dealing with were both high profile and sensitive, he felt that the safety of my mother and sister were at stake. Even though being a detective was the most important thing in his life, it only came next to us, his family. I often wonder how he was the best in both the phases of his life. He decided that my mother and sister should not be alone. So, my mom and Riya stayed together with us in Sanjay uncle's house. It was the happiest moment of my life.

I suddenly remembered Swetha and that brought a smile to my face. I quickly hide my feelings and joined the others in the 'coming together' celebrations.

Now, Nethra came to Rithick's home often because of Riya. After few weeks later, Riya joined the same school where

Nethra studied. Riya and Nethra became very close friends. Any time of that day other than school, Nethra will be in Rithick's home together with Riya. Rithick and I didn't like Nethra much at that time because she was an adamant girl with a lot of attitude issues. This was accentuated by the fact that she was the only child to her parents.

Rithick and I went to school after a few days gap. We wanted Riya to be first settled in her new school. I was in my class and had temporarily forgotten about Swetha's letter. Not until the moment I saw her and all the feelings came gushing back to me. I tried to catch her eye, but she didn't so much as glance at me. I was frustrated. One time I thought she was looking at me, when I turned she gave me a smirk. I couldn't get the reason for her look and it pained me even more. I couldn't take it anymore. I dropped everything I was doing and started looking for her letter in my books. I checked all my books one by one but I couldn't find it. I thought I missed her letter. I couldn't decide which was more painful, the thought that I lost her letter or that she refused to look at me. I went back home with a heavy heart.

Months passed by. We were nearing our annual exams. Tension was in the air. We were burdened with special classes and combined study for few subjects. Sometimes the classes were extended up to 6 p.m. One day when I was ready to go to home, I noticed Swetha standing alone inside the school campus and few boys were lurking around her. An immediate urge to protect her overpowered me and I went close to her. She immediately went away from that place. I couldn't understand why she was behaving like this. She seemed even more beautiful than ever. Unconsciously, I had been admiring her and watching her activities. I was attracted by her character and beauty even more now.

A week before my exams, we had our study holidays. I couldn't concentrate in my studies. I was almost always thinking about Swetha

and I missed her badly. It was during that time that I finally realized I had feelings for her and that I was slowly falling in love with her.

The day before the exam, I read a few important questions just to get pass marks. I was impatiently waiting for the next day just so I could see Swetha. On the day of my

exam, I couldn't see Swetha in the morning. I was so disappointed and tensed. It was only in the afternoon, after the exam, could I see her. She was standing near the corridor. With a hundred violin's playing in my head, I ran towards her but she avoided me went from there. Blindly I started following her. Suddenly out of nowhere Rithick called me from behind and came towards me. He gave his books to me and said that he would come to home later because he had been selected for the inter school singing competition.

I hastily grabbed the books from him and searched for Swetha. She was nowhere to be found. I searched for her everywhere. I waited there for few hours and then returned home tired and disappointed. My heart was heavy and a permanent pain resided in me.

I kept Rithick's book in my studying table and I went out to clear my head. He came back home late at night. He had got the first prize in singing. Everyone at home, were proud of Rithick and he was busy attending congratulatory phone calls. I went back to my room not wanting to involve with the festivities. For the first time in my life I didn't want to be around anyone else.

The next morning Rithick took his book from my room. A piece of paper rolled down from that book. Rithick was about to take the paper when I remembered that it was the letter given by Swetha. I got a new found energy in me and pushed Rithick back and snatched the letter from him. Rithick blinked at me and asked me about it. I didn't reply him; instead I made him get out of the room. I heard Rithick commenting that I was crazy as I shut the door behind him and hastily opened the letter. My heart was beating a thousand times and it was like it would pop out any minute now. The letter was a great surprise to me.

In it was the most beautiful words ever written, "Rahul, I am in love with you. Please accept my love. Waiting for your reply,"

I was speechless. I was elated. I was a hundred feet above ground. I couldn't breathe. There was a faint ringing sound in my ears. I read those words again and again. Each time I could feel my emotions gushing out. My head was filled but with nothingness. It was nothing I had ever experienced before. At that moment I felt what it was to be truly in love.

I have absolutely no idea what I did after that. Whether I ate or slept. I vaguely remember Rithick asking me why I was behaving like a zombie but I didn't answer. All that mattered right now was that I had to meet Swetha and declare my love for her.

Flashback continues.....