29. Blossoming Spring Days

Rithick's POV

We walked together to reach the bike parking area. It was a slope-like area. I asked her to walk slowly. She also walked slowly than usual. Unfortunately, her foot slipped and she held my right hand tightly. We both tumbled and fell down. As it was a slope, I was unable to keep my balance. We were rotating, she was lying above me and I was down, and vice-versa. We screamed. We both hugged tightly. A tree was there in between and it saved us. I was lying down on the ground and she was above me. She hid her face in my chest. She held my collars tightly. I held her waist.

"Neethu! Are you ok?" I asked. She was hugging me tightly.

"Neethu!" I called out. I was scared that she might be injured. My leg was burning.

"Rithick, I'm sorry... Are you ok?" She loosened the hug and tried to get up, but she couldn't.

"Rithick..." She pouted.

"What is it?" I sighed

"My chain is entangled with your shirt's button." She blushed.

What was this girl doing to me? I couldn't control myself by seeing her blushing.

"Wait a second, Neethu. I will help you." I took her chain out from my shirt's button. Finally, she got away from me and I got up. Our eyes met each other's and finally she broke the eye contact. We decided to go to Mercy Home.I walked slowly as my leg burned with each moment.

"Rithick? What happened to your leg?"

"Nothing, Neethu. I am okay. Let us go now," I said.

"Wait, Rithick. I will come now," she said and ran back to the hostel.

Neethu's POV

I couldn't control my blushing. My lips were still in a smiling mode.

Unfortunately, Rithick was injuried. It brought tears in my eyes but I wiped them without his notice. Soon after that, I went to the hostel and came back with a first-aid kit.

"Rithick... show me your leg."

"It's nothing, Neethu. I am okay. Let's go," he insisted.

"Please, Rithick. Shut your mouth for some time," I ordered.

.

"What are you doing, Neethu? Leave me, please." He pouted.

"Please, Rithick. It is injured," I said seriously.

I cleaned the wound. "Ah!" he screamed. Tears rolled down from my eyes.

"Just one minute, Rithick" I said, then applied some antiseptic cream.

"Why did your eyes become wet?" he asked.

I couldn't reveal it unless I came to know that he was in love with me. I didn't answer him.

"Are you ok? Shall we go on some other day?" I asked.

"I am alright the moment your hand touched mine." He pouted. He was so sweet when he was blushing. Did boys blush?

I lowered my head. He cupped my face at once and made me look into his eyes. I guessed he had a lot to tell but he didn't say anything. Silence occupied the space between us.

We decided to go to Mercy Home. He held my hand tightly while walking. Later, he asked me to sit on his Bullet Royal Enfield bike. He wore a black sunglass and was looking so handsome. He drove smoothly. Girls, who were standing near the roadside and bus-stand looked at him. I felt jealous for the first time but he didn't even give them a glance. It made me content. Unknowingly, I hugged him from behind.

Rithick's POV

It was the most amazing day of my life. I had never expected this much of love and care from Neethu. When she saw the scratches on my leg, her eyes welled up. She really cared for me, she didn't love my money unlike other girls. I was so lucky to have her. She did care for my family too, she had taken the risk for Rahul.

Who would care for others without their benefit? I had come across people who felt happy when other's were in pain but Neethu was entirely different. She was my beautiful, worldly angel, my priceless queen, and my life savior.

I didn't expect that she would feel comfortable to sit with me on the bike. I noticed her possessiveness when we came across the girls who were standing on the roadside. She hugged me due to her possessiveness and I could feel her insecurity. I will wipe out this insecurity from our life, Neethu. Wait for a few more days, I will propose you at the moment we sort out Rahul's problem.

We reached Mercy Home. As the proprietor of the orphanage knew me, he was ready to help us. I introduced Neethu to him and went out.

Neethu's POV

I came to understand that the orphanage was owned by Rithick's dad. It was highly appreciable and respectable. I came across rich people who were fond of adding money to enrich their own resources, but Rithick's family was entirely different. They were good and caring towards poor and needy people. Even Rithick was a man of dignity and nobleness. He never showed off; he never told that he was the son of Sanjay uncle. I liked the character of Rithick very much.

I had a fear now because of his royal life. In case if Rithick belonged to a poor family, I would have accepted him much more happily. I wouldn't be able to tolerate it if anyone thought that I loved him for his money. So, I hardened myself that I shouldn't propose my love to him unless he proposed me first. If he didn't, I would be a friend to him. I would wait for the day of his proposal. Would it go as expected? Would it be a dream or reality? Only destiny would decide. Whatever it may be, I was ready to accept it.

Meanwhile, the proprietor took me to Nethra's room. As the room was locked from  inside, he knocked it. A young lady opened the door.

She seemed to be exhausted and her eyes were lifeless. But overall, she was beautiful and a perfect match for Rahul. I saw her baby sleeping on the bed. What made her take such a decision of leaving her home and family? Why was she staying here as an orphan? What had happened?  I felt pity for her?

Nethra gave me a surprised look. I smiled at her and she tried to smile back.

The proprietor introduced me to her. "She is Neethu, who often visits our orphanage. She is a caring shoulder to those who need someone to talk to. She brings a smile on everyone's face within a fraction of second. She makes everyone around her happy." I knew Rithick might have used these words about me.

Nethra gave a withered smile and didn't respond. She turned, entered her room, and locked the door.

I wished to collect some information about Nethra. The maid said that she didn't talk to anyone. Food was supplied to her at the correct time as per the request of Sanjay sir. They were not aware whether she was having the food or not?

Almost everyone said the same thing about Nethra. So, she was completely alone here and never mingled with anyone.

I understood that she was not ready to share her pain with anyone. She was habituated of avoiding everyone. Her only world was her baby. I had waited for her there about two hours but she didn't come out. Some of them get mingled with me They shared their personal with me.Within a few hours, they accepted me as their family. I was so happy about it.

In between, Nethra came out with her crying baby. Immediately, I went near her and picked up the crying baby. She didn't expect this from me as I could understand from her looks. I played with the child and within a few seconds she stopped crying and giggled.

Nethra looked at me and tried to get the child from me, but the baby refused to go with her.

"Let the child be with me," I said gently.

"Okay, Neethu. By the way, what are you doing? Studying or working?"

"Studying," I replied.

"In this evil world, it is a great wonder to find people like you. Keep it up. I appreciate it," she said.

"Why are you saying as an evil world? Maybe the world has only shown you its bad side. Our intellect is responsible for everything. Open your eyes and search for good people. Definitely you will find them."

"Hope so. You are a good speaker and your speech has the capability of capturing hearts."

I was really happy that she was talking to me willingly.

"Aww! Did I capture your heart?" I asked, looking into her eyes.

She just smiled at me.

"Your smile is awesome. It is capable of capturing beautiful hearts. What is the reason behind this smile, sister?" I stressed the word 'sister'.

"After a long, I felt like I am talking to one of my family members," she said, makes me smile. It meant she had accepted me.

"Did you have a family?" I asked.

"Yeah..." she paused.

"Then, Why are you staying here?" I asked softly.

"I am sorry, Neethu. I am not ready to talk about them. Please don't ask me about my personal life." Her voice was coarse.

"Okay, sister. I will never ask you about your family unless you wish to share it with me. But one thing... I will make you happy, Don't worry," I said.

"It is impossible. Everything is gone and I don't want anyone, except my child," she said, her eyes burning with an unknown emotion.

"I will be with you, sister" I said and gave her child to her.

Rithick's name flashed on my mobile's screen. I said bye to Nethra and everyone present there. Then, picked up the call.. I shared everything with him

"What shall we do next?" he asked confusingly.

Neethu sighed. "Nethra had faced miserable incidents in her life, which entirely changed her mindset. So, she started hating everyone. She became habituated of doubting everyone, so she was not ready to share about her personal life. Hopefully, everything will change one day."

Rithick nodded.

"Will you do me a favor, Rithick?" she asked.

"Sure, Neethu."

"Will you take me to Mercy Home every weekend?"

"Ok, Neethu. First of all, sorry for not telling THANKS to you. This is not enough. I am so happy to get you in my life," Rithick searched for words to thank her.

"I am blessed to get you and Rahul in my life. I want you both back as normal. I will do anything for that," she said.

They exchanged a smile filled with love.

Weeks passed by. As usual they went to college and every weekend Rithick took Neethu to Mercy Home. Week by week, Neethu became close to Nethra but unfortunately she couldn't get any information about her personal life. At one point, Nethra accepted Neethu as her friend, but she was still not ready to talk about herself. Whenever, Neethu took the topic about her life, Nethra got disturbed and behaved rudely. Neethu didn't want Nethra to get hurt regarding her past, so she remained silent. She waited for the day to come. Every weekend Neethu would tell about Nethra's status to Rahul and Rithick. Rahul was happy with that and he gained confidence that made him bit relaxed.