32. Blossoming Spring Days

Neethu's POV

I saw Rithick and Rahul in the classroom. My dull spirits brightened at once. I walked towards them with a smile. Rahul smiled at me back but Rithick didn't. I sat beside Rithick. I tried to talk to him but he avoided me. He averted his eyes and was talking to Rahul.

Shantra entered the class. I didn't glance at her. Mithila gestured towards Rithick, wanting me to tell him about Shantra's torture. I didn't want to talk about her to Rithick. I just wanted to talk about the usual stuff, but he didn't even look at me. I tried many times, but everything went in vain. What shall I do now?

The class in-charge came. She informed both Rithick and Shantra to meet the Chairman of the college.

Hesitantly, Rithick stood up and didn't look at me. He went first and Shantra followed him.

I turned towards Rahul. "Why doesn't Rithick talk to me? It is hurting me badly. I can't tolerate it. Please, Rahul, ask him to talk to me" I said.

"Don't worry, Neethu. He will talk to you. Why didn't you attend his call yesterday?" he asked.

I blinked and tried to manage the situation. "I was not well yesterday, so I slept early, Rahul"

"What happened to you? Are you ok now?" he asked.

"I am alright, Rahul," I said. I was waiting for Rithick's arrival.

From a distance, I could see his shirt. As he came closer, I was shocked. He was accompanying Shantra. They were walking together and their hands touched. Rithick was smiling at her. They entered the class. The students looked at them confusedly because everyone was aware that Rithick didn't talk to any girl, except me.

One of the girls yelled, "Shantra, you are too lucky. As you said, Rithick and you make the best pair."

I was shocked, but one more shock was waiting for me. Rithick was smiling for that. I saw Rahul and he glanced at me with raised eyebrows. I was speechless. Even Rahul was blinking.

Rithick came near to our bench. He asked Rahul to vacate my place and shift to the next one. It was unbelievable. I didn't move. I was looking into his eyes but he averted them.

"I asked you to shift your place," Rithick said angrily as I didn't obey his words.

I was scared and just shifted.

"Rahul sit next to Neethu," he ordered. Rahul came and sat next to me.

Next to Rahul, Rithick and Shantra sat together. I never expected this. What effect had the half an hour done on him? Why was he behaving this way?  I was drunk yesterday and unconscious, so I didn't know about his call. Was it my mistake? For that, was he behaving like this to punish me?

Had Shantra told something bad about me? Questions were spinning my head.

Unknowingly, tears formed in my eyes.

I heard Rithick's laugh. I turned my head right to look at him. While talking, Shantra was trying to touch his fingers. She touched them several times, Rithick didn't bother about it. Tears rolled down from my eyes. Rahul and Mithila were looking at me worriedly. I wiped my cheeks.

"Rithick! Why are you behaving like this? Are you mad?" Rahul shouted at him.

"What did I do? Why are you shouting at me ?" Rithick questioned.

"You are doing the wrong thing, Rithick. Why did you ask Neethu to shift her place?"

Shantra glanced at me.

"She is my new friend, Rahul. She is good at heart but we didn't know it. Often I insulted her, but she never bothered. Be friendly with her" Rithick said to Rahul. Rahul stared at him blankly.

It broke my heart into several pieces. Was Rithick was not good at heart? Did he have many girls in his life? My stupid mind was thinking something different.

"I am confused with your behaviour, Rithick. I don't want to discuss anything now... but don't hurt Neethu. She wants to talk to you," Rahul said. The big frown on his face made him look totally different.

*********

Rithick gazed at Neethu for a while but didn't say anything. Neethu's eyes became red. Tears flowed down like waterfalls from her eyes. Rithick was about to turn towards Shantra as she was diverting him purposely.

"Rithick, what happened to you? Please talk to me and pardon me if I did anything wrong," she said, crying.

"What is your problem? Why are you crying now?" he asked. Shantra glanced at Neethu again.

"Why aren't you talking to me? Please don't ignore me, Rithick" Neethu almost whispered.

"You don't bother about that silly girl, Rithick. Let's go out," Shantra said in a mocking tone.

Rithick was about to get up. Rahul held his hand. "Rithick, Are you mad? Neethu is crying, please talk to her properly."

"Rahul... I am little busy with the programs. Please let me go with Shantra. We have to arrange for the social welfare programs outside our college," Rithick explained.

"What? social welfare program?" Rahul asked.

"It's urgent, please understand my situation, Rahul," Rithick said quickly.

"No need to go anywhere. Convince Neethu first, then go wherever you wish to." Rahul crossed his arms across his chest.

"Let him go, Rahul. I am alright." Neethu sighed.

"Ok bye," Rithick said.

Rahul stood up from his place to go along with Rithick.

"I will go with Shantra. After the class, you go home, Rahul. Inform mom that I will be late today. It depends on the program," Rithick said.

"Are you my Rithick? What happened to you?" Rahul asked with a confused look.

"As a representative, I have to do some work all alone. Please leave me, Rahul," Rithick said. Shantra looked at Rithick and gestured him to come out.

"Rithick... Are you hiding something? Why are you behaving this way?" Rahul asked again.

"Why do I need to hide? It's my duty. Now, I have no time to tell anything in detail. It's important to do this immediately." Rithick sighed.

"Rithick, come on," Shantra said, glancing at Rithick.

"Wait a minute, Shantra," Rithick said with a smile.

"You don't need to go with Shantra. I can't allow you to go with this girl instead I will accompany you." Rahul let out a frustrated sigh.

"Calm down, Rahul."

"No!"

"Bye, Rahul."

"Rithick!" Rahul grabbed his arm. "Don't make me mad."

"Leave him, Rahul. some important work will be there for him. He is our Rithick. He will do good and he will never do anything against good. Trust him, Rahul. Please, I beg you," Neethu almost pleaded.

Rithick glanced at Neethu, "Thanks for your trust in me, Neethu. Before going, I wish to tell you all one thing." He smiled.

"What?" Rahul asked.

"It's time to propose my love to my girl but due to my busy schedule, I am going now. After that awareness program, I will propose to my girl and comfort her with a hug."

Rithick glanced at Neethu. It was a great shock to Rahul, Neethu, Mithila, and Shantra.

Rithick glanced at Neethu again. She was blushing right now. Rithick smiled at her. Shantra was confused with his unexpected behaviour.

"Are you happy now, Rahul? Will you allow me to go now?"

"Of course, I am happy with your decision. Okay. Go now. I am accepting it only because of Neethu. Come home soon." Rahul grinned.

Rithick and Shantra went out to make arrangements for the program. After the class, Neethu and Mithila went to the hostel. Rahul went home.

Neethu's POV

I couldn't express my feelings in words. Rithick gazed at me at the moment he told about his proposal. I couldn't look back at him because I felt shy for the first time. I never expected the day would arrive this soon.

I was excited and waiting for tomorrow. He was a cool and handsome hero. How could he act like he was angry at me at first? With his silence, he made me cry. Now, I got it. To give me a surprise proposal, he had planned like he was angry at me but I tore his mask away. I knew him well. Even Mithila and Rahul were angry with him by his behaviour but I didn't because I knew about my Rithick, there would be a reason behind his actions.

I could hear Mithila calling me.

"What?" I asked her.

"Neethu, how many times have I called you? Sorry for disturbing you from your dream," she teased.

I smiled at her innocently.

"Neethu, I misunderstood Rithick at first but now I understood his love logic," she said, shocking me. She was voicing my thoughts.

"Love logic," I stressed these words.

"Do you have any surprise for him?" she asked me.

"Of course, Mithila. Why not?"

"Superb, Neethu. I am happy for you. What is your surprise plan?"

"Mithila, I am so happy but I feel a little possessive. How could Rithick accompany Shantra? I will be ok if he is such a kind of person but he is not like that. From my whole heart, I am trusting him still I am possessive."

"The close neighbour of love is possessiveness. It will make your relationship stronger. Don't worry," she said.

"I am waiting for tomorrow. I have a plan. When Rithick proposes to me, I will not accept his love for some minutes. I wish to play with my lovable Rithick. I wish to see his reaction and possessiveness for me. How could he make me feel bad by his silence today? Let him feel so for about two minutes. Later, I will accept his love wholeheartedly. I want to hug him right now." I sighed.

"Innocence is your beauty, Neethu. Ok, play with Rithick as much you want but I am sure your act will not extend even for one minute." Mithila giggled.

"Yes, you are right, Mithila. I can't see him worried because of me even for a second. There is a change in my plan."

"What?" she asked excitedly.

"I will accept his love once he proposes me," I said, covering my face with my hands. Mithila laughed at me.

Dark clouds spread across the sky. The light of the full moon and twinkling stars added beauty to the sky. I was looking outside through the window. The gentle breeze caressed my skin. I was smiling stupidly. I wished to say goodbye to the silvery moon and was waiting to welcome the bright sun.

My friends were asleep. I was trying to sleep but I couldn't. Rithick's beautiful eyes crept in my imagination. I could find the doorway of love in them. I started recollecting our memories from the beginning at Trivandrum airport until today's incident. Four hours passed by. I couldn't sleep. It was around 2 AM.

I looked at my mobile and opened Whatsapp. I didn't get any message from Rithick. I checked his last seen, it showed 1:37 AM. He may have waited to chat with me till now. Then I viewed his new display picture. He was looking handsome. I needed 1000 eyes to admire him. I smiled and kissed his photo.

What happened to you, Neethu? I asked myself. He made me go crazy. Random thoughts about him arose in my mind. My dreams took me to the future life with him, they brought a smile on my lips. I didn't know when I slept. Within a few hours, I woke up again, it was 5: 30 AM. I looked at Rithick's photo for a while.

I selected my favourite Kurti-salwar and accessories. Later, I took a bath and dressed neatly. I took a few minutes to comb my hair and did a simple makeup. My friends didn't get up yet. So, I came down. The flowers in the garden  looked attractive I admired the beautiful newborn flowers. I forgot myself and whispered his name slowly.

Would Rithick like me in this dress? I asked myself.

Mithila came down and started teasing me as usual. After an hour, she and I went to college. Rithick hadn't come. From college, our classmates went to the social awareness program. I met Rithick there. As he was busy there, I couldn't talk much. I admired his service and he was a good social worker. Rithick and Rahul donated blood. The program came to an end by afternoon.

Later, Rithick, Rahul, Mithila, Shantra, and I reached the nearby restaurant as per Rithick's request. I was so excited and happy. As time ticked by, my heart started pounding faster. My body shuddered with happiness.

We reached the Restaurant. He arranged a special room that was decorated with balloons, coloured lights and flowers. Suddenly, I felt some type of softness under my feet and I glanced down. There was a pathway of rose petals on the way. I was excited and at the same time, I felt nervous. Shantra glanced at me each and every time I looked at her.

Rithick asked everyone to come inside. "Today is the most important day of my life. I respect your presence here. I wish to propose to my girl in privacy but I want to make it sure to everyone. So, I took this decision. I am going to propose to my queen," he said and switched off the lights. Only the candlelight enriched the beauty of the room.