30. Blossoming Spring days

As days passed, the first-year class was about to end with exams. The exam date was announced. The students got ten days of holidays to study for exams. For about eight days, Rithick and Rahul didn't mind about exams. They didn't have any notes and it didn't bother them.

Neethu phoned Rithick before the day of the exam.

"Rithick, how are you and Rahul?" she asked concernedly.

"We are fine, Neethu. How about you?" Rithick asked.

"Stop it, Rithick! You don't want to talk to me," she said.

"Hey Angry Bird! What happened to you?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Nothing..." she said.

"Tell me Neethu, please," he begged.

"You idiot! Didn't call me? It's almost 8 days!"

"Idiot? Wow superb, Neethu. Please tell it once again," he said.

"Are you mad?" she shouted.

"Yes, Neethu." He pouted.

"Rithick..."

"What?"

"Tell me, why didn't you call me?" she asked the same question again.

"Neethu, I didn't want to disturb you during your study time. So, I controlled myself from calling you," he said.

"You idiot," she yelled.

"I think you are busy with your studies. I waited for your call but even you didn't call me, right?" he asked.

"In between, I went to my home and returned back here by today morning. I have tried calling you so many times from there but the call didn't reach you. I was scared that something had happened to you and then I guessed that you didn't want to contact me. Of course. I guessed rightly," she said.

"Sorry, Neethu. Nothing will happen until you are with me. Don't worry."

"Don't say like that, Rithick. Even if I am not there, nothing will happen to you," she said.

"Ok, Neethu. Why didn't you inform me about going home?" he asked

"I didn't even expect it, Rithick. My parents asked me to come home immediately. I thought of informing you from home but the phone call didn't reach."

"Any problem there at home?" Rithick asked worriedly.

"No, Rithick. Only good news," she said

"What good news?"

"My marriage is fixed," she said.

"Whaaaat?" He felt like thousands of arrows had struck him in a second.

"Rithick! What happened?" she asked.

He hung up the phone. He couldn't control himself. He couldn't accept Neethu's marriage. Why didn't he propose her? What shall he do next? How could he live without her? Did she have no feelings for him? He had seen love and care in her eyes but how could it be fake? She thought of him as just a friend but he was a fool and an idiot as she said. He never used to cry for girls, but he cried for her. She made him cry. His pillow became wet by his sadness. He was a strong person but this girl had shaken him in a second and made him weak.

She called him again and again but he didn't attend her call. She was fake like the others. She was not his angel. He cursed himself for scolding her like that. He believed her eyes, it had a love for him. They would never cheat him hopefully.

She called him again but he didn't attend it. After an hour, Rithick attended the call.

"I am sorry, Rithick," she cried

"Why? Don't cry, Neethu. Anyway, my best wishes to you," he whispered.

"I said it simply to fool you. Today is April 1. Didn't you know that?" she said slowly.

"Oh!" A huge weight had been lifted from Rithick's heavy heart. "You naughty girl. How cruel and rude you are! I will kill you, girl. You made me cry. I realised how much I love you. I will never ever give you to anyone. Even if you are ready to marry another man, I will kidnap you. Be careful, Neethu" his mind voice.

"Are you happy now?" she asked softly.

"For what?" he teased, but in reality, he literally jumped.

"Nothing, Rithick." She sighed. "Have you studied for tomorrow's exam?"

"Not yet," he replied simply.

"Oh my God! I will help you, ask me if you have any doubts," she said.

He laughed.

"Why, Rithick? I was tensed because of you but you are laughing," she said worriedly.

"Rahul and I don't have a single paper of notes," he said gently.

"Okay. Come here, I will give you my written notes," she said. After a few minutes, they hung up the call.

Neethu helped them by giving her notes. Rithick and Rahul studied together. Rithick studied well as it was Neethu's notes.

The exam day came, as the questions were expected, students were happy about it. Rithick and Rahul had a hope that they would clear the exams. Similarly, they wrote all the exams a bit well because of Neethu.

##############

After a month, the expected results came. Everyone passed the examination with good grades. Neethu ranked first in the class. Followed by her, Shantra ranked next. Everyone started praising Neethu. Rithick and Rahul felt very happy for her. Neethu jumped in happiness, not for her but for Rithick and Rahul who had passed in  the examinations.

Shantra's POV

She couldn't tolerate her failure. Already she was damn angry at Neethu. That girl was crossing a line; it's all because of Rithick. He was also praising Neethu in front of her. She was ready to kill him if he continued the same. She would show them hell. Wait, Neethu and Rithick. Her entry didn't have a great impact these days, but now the real game was about to begin. She laughed devilishly.

💕💕💕💕

The next year in the college started with the inauguration function. Rithick, Neethu, Rahul, and Mithila met after a week and talked about random stuff.

"Rithick, you are looking so adorable," someone said from the back.

"Yeah, Rithick. You are looking too handsome," Neethu added, made him blush.

"You too, my angel," Rithick stressed the word 'angel'.

"What, Angel?" Neethu pouted.

Meanwhile, the program was started and the schedule was arranged grandly. Again, the chief guest was the great business tycoon, Mr Sanjay. Everyone present there was excited to welcome the honourable chief guest. Rithick was not aware of it until he saw his dad on the stage. He gave his motivational speech and following that he presented the awards to the toppers. Neethu was awarded a gold medal for securing first marks in the examination. She was recognised by everyone present there. Next to Neethu, Shantra was appreciated but Neethu was as unique as a queen. Shantra was very angry with her. She waited for a chance to make Neethu's life like hell.

Neethu had never expected she would get an award from Rithick's dad. She was very happy and it was the most unforgettable day of her life. Rithick's dad resembled Rithick. He was a man of excellence and his hard work gave him this place. She was proud to get an award from him.

Rithick's happiness had no bounds. Neethu was the topper and had got a medal from his dad. He took a photograph to make it memorable. What was God's plan now? Would He give Neethu to him? Of course! Neethu was his life.

But, why hadn't his dad informed about his arrival? Why was he behaving weirdly? He didn't even meet Rithick. Rithick never questioned him because he was his super hero. He wished his life to be like his father's.  he couldn't forgive his dad. He was angry with his dad because he didn't even meet him.

"Rithick, what happened?" Rahul asked.

"Nothing, Rahul. I am alright."

"Are you sure?" Rahul asked. "Don't worry just because uncle didn't meet you."

Rithick was surprised but gave him a small smile. "Ok, Rahul."

In between Neethu came and together they went to their new class. One more year was left to complete this course. It wasn't a big matter to Rithick. Within a few days, he thought to propose his love to her and make this year worthy.

They entered the class. The class in-charge was present in the class. She congratulated Neethu the moment she saw her. They had their respective seats. Neethu was sitting on Rithick' right and Rahul was on his left.

"I congratulate all the students who passed in the last examination. This is the first batch with students who have cleared all the papers. I am proud of you. Keep it up in this semester too," the class in-charge said.

"Thank you, Madam. We will achieve it," the students chorused.

"That's the spirit. Keep it up, students. Well, I would like to select two representatives from our class. One from the girl's side and another from boy's. Any volunteers? Please raise your hands" the in-charge said.

Rithick glanced at Neethu, who looked at him. As they had no interest, they were quiet.

"Ma'am! Let me be the representative for girls," Shantra said.

"Ok, Shantra. Good. From boys, any volunteers?" the class in-charge asked as she glanced at the boys. Rithick and Rahul didn't move a muscle.

"No one is interested. It's okay, Shantra. You select anyone whom you think will be the best companion to you," the in-charge said.

She looked at everyone. Rithick didn't look at her because he didn't like her since the beginning.

"Tell me, Shantra, or else I will pick one," the in-charge prodded.

"Ma'am, I would like to select Rithick, he will be my best companion forever," she said without knowing his interests. How rude was she? He couldn't control himself.

Everyone started yelling his name. He looked at Rahul and Neethu. They didn't show any reaction because they didn't expect this.

Rahul could understand that he was tensed and said, "Be calm, Rithick. Let's see."

"Rithick, get up," the in-charge ordered.

He didn't get up. He was irritated. How could they select him without asking him?

"Rithick! Don't you have manners? Get up first," the in-charge said angrily.

Neethu and Rahul asked him to accept the position but he refused it. Neethu said,

"Rithick, first obey our ma'am. We can see what happens later. Please."

Rahul said, "I am with you, Rithick. Nothing wrong will happen. Don't behave like this. Get up, please."

"No!" he replied.

"Rithick! Will you accept it or not?" the in-charge asked.

Immediately, he came out of the class without responding. Rahul came out next.

"Rithick, please listen to me. If you are not interested, inform it to our ma'am. Don't behave like this. Everyone will think bad about you," Rahul said gently.

"Who the hell is she to tell my name? Did I give any rights to her? She is always doing something to me even when I don't cross her way. What is that idiot thinking in her mind? Why does she always point at me? I know she is always hurting Neethu. I will never leave her. I will show her who I am."

Neethu came out. She looked at Rithick. Her glance took him somewhere else. He forgot the current situation.

Unexpectedly, her eyes became wet and she started crying. It brought him back to normal.

"Neethu, what happened? Why are you crying?" He went near her and tried to wipe her tears but she jerked his hand away. She didn't reply, instead cried more.

"Neethu... please tell us?" Rahul asked.

"Ma'am is scolding Rithick and students were telling something bad about him. I couldn't hear such blame about him, so I came out" she said innocently.

"Oh, my poor girl. Don't cry for this. People will be like this only. This is not at all a big matter," Rithick said, glancing at her softly.

"I can't bear if someone scolds you," she said and immediately she hugged him.

He placed his palm on her face and lifted it up. "Don't worry, Neethu. What do you want me to do now? Tell me, I will do anything for you."

Rahul flashed him a mischievous smile. "Rithick. Ahem. Ok, ok, ok." I grinned at him.

"Rahul and I will be always with you. Please accept the representative post. If you behave like this, people will start thinking of you as a rude person. I don't want anyone to think of my Rithick as a rude guy," she said.

Rude? Maybe? But I never bothered about it. I don't want to see you in tears. So, I am accepting it. "Ok Neethu, I will accept it," he promised and they entered the class.

"Pardon me for my behaviour, madam," Rithick said to the class in-charge. This was the first time he was flexible and slipped away from his own decision. He did it only to see a smile on Neethu's face.

"Ok, Rithick. No problem," the in-charge said. "Shantra be the representative for girls and Rithick will be the representative for boys. Both of you, please come to the stage and take the pledge."

Hesitantly, he went to the stage and took the pledge. He didn't even look at Shantra. He looked at his sweet Neethu. She glanced back with a smile.

"Good. Shake your hands," the in-charge said.

He frowned at the in-charge. What was she thinking in her mind? Shantra stretched her hand towards Rithick. He glanced at her annoyedly.

Shantra's role in action? Will she separate Rithick and Neethu?