33. Blossoming spring days

A quick update because I knew how much you would be expecting!!!

Neethu's POV

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.

He projected the lights towards the pillar and it displayed some words: "Welcome, my dearest Angel. I never thought of proposing you in such a place. Sorry for making you uncomfortable."

I read them and a smile arose on my lips. Next, he projected the lights opposite to me.

"Do you know that I fell for you at the first sight? Will you accept my love, my earthly angel?" These words are so touching. Rithick, did you fall in love with me in the very beginning? You are crazy.

Next, he projected the lights beside me. A few beautiful lines came into sight. " When you entered my life, it changed everything and you changed me into a good person. I never ever talked to any girls before, but within a fraction of second, you entered the doorway of my heart. You are the most beautiful girl at heart whom I have never seen before. Your pretty eyes and cheerful smile are killing me each and every minute. My girl, I don't know how to write poems and lovely songs. This is what your Rithick can do to impress you. Please bear with me, my darling, and accept this."

"Oh, my Rithick. You are awesome," I said to Mithila, who was standing next to me.

Within a fraction of second, another sentence flashed, "My innocent girl, my future wife, my queen, and my life is with you forever. She is none other than my sweetheart..."

I closed my eyes as he switched on the lights and he called my name, "Neethu..."

I covered my mouth.

"Please move aside," he said.

"My girl and my love are Shantra," he proposed to her by giving her a bundle of roses. She held his hands and they looked at each other.

Tears streamed down my face. It was a great blow. My heart was crushed. Each and every word seemed to be describing me, but within a second everything went in vain. I wished to run out and cry loudly like a child.

Mithila patted my shoulder. "Control yourself. Please, Neethu."

"I am an idiot, Mithila. He is thinking of as a friend but I created unwanted feelings. What if he came to know that I loved him? He will be hurt so I never show it," I said. My heart is pained.

I stood like a body without a life, but I didn't show my pain out because it would hurt Rithick a lot. An unexpected incident happened after a few seconds of his proposal.

Rahul's POV

I was so happy with Rithick's decision but I hated Shantra's presence here. She was staring at Neethu often but I couldn't do anything right now. Rithick would take revenge by proposing to Neethu.

Unexpectedly, Rithick proposed Shantra. What happened to him? Did he become mad? No, I would never allow it. I felt so sorry for Neethu, her situation became worse. Her cheerful face turned pale when Rithick asked her to move aside. My head was spinning and I couldn't accept this. I was furious at Rithick and glanced at him. Shantra held his hands and they gazed at each other, with identical smiles on their faces. My anger reached its limits.

I walked towards Rithick. I yelled out his name but he didn't show any reaction. Immediately, I pulled the collar of his shirt and slapped his right cheek. His eyes burned with rage.

"How dare you, Rithick? How could you change like this? I know about you well. Your heart belongs to only one person and she is not your girl," I said harshly.

"Are you mad? How can you slap my Rithick in front of me? If you raise your voice again, I won't be quiet," Shantra said, balling her fists.

"Rahul, don't get angry with Rithick. He is your best friend. I am always proud of your relationship. Please don't break your relationship. Accept his wish, Rahul," Neethu said with tears in her dark eyes.

"No one can replace you, Neethu. You are really great. I can't see everything happening around me patiently like you." I let out a frustrated sigh.

Rithick didn't say anything. I couldn't control myself. I felt like punching him, but all I did was glare at him.

"Let's go out, Rahul. We should respect Rithick's feelings. Let us give him space," Neethu said and went out with Mithila without looking at Rithick. Then, I came out.

Neethu was crying. I walked towards her. She wiped her tears once she saw me.

"Neethu, I don't know the reason behind your tears. Please don't cry." I felt pity for her.

"Ok, Rahul. Please don't scold Rithick," she said.

"Neethu, did you love Rithick?" I asked. I didn't expect to ask her in this situation but I felt she was in love with him.

"My love is gone... fifteen minutes before. Yes, I love Rithick." The tears in her eyes spoke about love in her heart.

"Neethu... are you sure?" I asked. My voice shook, this all felt like a bad dream.

"Yes, Rahul, I am madly in love with him. Now I realized, I am a fool. He thinks of me as a friend but without knowing his side, I developed a love for him. Can you promise me something, Rahul?" she asked. Long gone was the cheerful face I was used to seeing. It was replaced by a broken one.

"What, Neethu?"

"Please don't tell anything about my love for Rithick in any situation. He will leave me if he came to know that I love him. Please, Rahul," she almost begged.

My eyes turned misty for the first time. Neethu was in love with Rithick but Rithick too was in love with her. I knew how much he loved her. He was waiting for this moment. He had told me that after knowing Neethu's feelings, he would propose her,  but now he has fallen for Shantra. How could I tell this to her?

What happened to him? Was he a brainless idiot? I wanted to slap him again. Had he lost his mind? My heart was aching after hearing Neethu's love for him. What would I do now?

"Please promise me, Rahul. You won't say anything to him," she said again.

"Don't worry, Neethu. Don't ask me anything more. I am not in a position to give a promise, but I assure you that I won't reveal it to Rithick unless the situation comes," I said. She was quiet.

Later, I dropped Neethu and Mithila to their hostel and I went home. I didn't talk to anyone at home. I came directly to my room.

"Rahul anna, where is Rithick anna?" Riya asked me usually.

"Please leave me alone, Riya. Don't say his name again."

"Why? Where is Rithick anna? Why are you talking like this?" she asked.

"Nothing. Go out from here," I yelled.

"Ok, I will contact him." She took her phone and dialled his number. I got up and threw her mobile phone.

"Are you mad?" Tears shone in her eyes. "You never behave like this. What happened to you? Did you fight with him?"

"Your Rithick anna is a selfish giant. Today, he proposed to Shantra, who is an evil spirit. Do you know that, Riya? Neethu is in love with him. I don't know what happened to Rithick."

"No! I don't believe this. I know how much Rithick anna loves Neethu. He would never do anything like that. Wait, I will ask Rithick anna the moment he reaches home. Now, where is he?" she asked.

"Who knows? He must be with that bitch," I replied. Anger burned in my heart.

"Anna, this is too much. How could you leave him alone? Do you know how much he cares for you whenever you had face bad times? Give me your mobile phone," she said worriedly.

She took my mobile and dialled his number. He attended it.

"Anna, come soon," she said.

"Riya? Where is Rahul? He won't talk to me, right? Ok, no problem. I am at a party with Shantra. It will take time to reach home, so inform mom," he said and hung up the call. Riya was shocked. I felt really very bad and never expected this from him.

#INTERMISSION#

A lone tear reached the corner of my eyes. I was angry with Rithick but I cared for him too. I couldn't control my emotions and love for him. What had happened to my brother in these two days? Why did Rithick hate Neethu? Neethu didn't attend his call on that night. Rithick tried to contact her many times. Finally, he became upset. Did this make him hate Neethu? It was a very silly reason.

I thought that he was angry with Neethu but I had never expected Shantra, the cruel girl in his life. How was it possible? He hated Shantra since the very beginning but now he proposed to her. Did he propose to Shantra to make Neethu feel possessive? No. Rithick was not a fool to do a cheap act like this.

Did he really love Shantra, but how? On that day, the teacher asked Rithick and Shantra to meet the Chairman. Rithick hesitated to go with Shantra but while returning they both came together. They became friends within a few minutes. No match was found. Some link was missing here. Something happened there and what was that? What made him propose immediately? Question after question struck my mind.

I felt pity for his actions because I knew about him and his life from the very first. Anyone could blame him but I never had any doubts about him. I slapped him in front of everyone, it was not for proposing Shantra

but for lying to himself and Neethu. He loved Neethu and I was sure from his proposal words. Often he used these same words to me to describe Neethu. He never hides anything from me. He told about his love for Neethu from their very first meeting at the airport. He was not such type of a guy, who changed his girlfriend often. To be frank, he never looked at any girl, except Neethu. Neethu occupied her own place in Rithick's heart.

Riya and I were waiting for him for a long time. I compelled Riya to go to bed because I was sure that something bad was about to happen. Rithick reached home late. He was drunk for the first time and couldn't stand on his own. His body was shivering.

After seeing him, I hugged him and took him to our room. He made me cry. He was a perfect gentleman, my inspiration, my motivation, but now what happened to his life? Why did he fall in a deep pit knowingly?

"Rithick, sorry for slapping you, my dearest brother," I said and placed a pillow under his head.

He didn't reply

"Where did you go? Why did you drink? You requested me not to drink at any time for anything but you did it. What is wrong with you Rithick?" My eyes became wet.

" I... I... went... to a party with... Shan-Shantra... I drank..." he blabbered something else too. The name Shantra made me angry, but I controlled myself.

"Rithick, why did you propose her? You love Neethu, right?"

"I... am... a wasted... fellow, Rahullll..." he blabbered something that I couldn't understand. I made him sleep. You are not a wasted fellow, my Rithick. Don't repeat it again. I have some secrets that I have not yet shared with you, but you never ever hid anything from me. You fought with me if I created a distance from you but now, you left me. I will trust you even the world remains against you. Who knows about you well better than me? Even you don't know well about yourself, so only you cheated yourself and your love.

I can't forget how much he cared for me in my tough times but I got angry and slapped him. My anger was not from my heart, my dear Rithick. It was like motherly love, the mother scolds her son/daughter in front of everyone just to save him from the rough words of others. I can't tolerate if someone scolds you in front of me. Why did you behave so cowardly, Rithick? None of your enemies has the guts to stand in front of you. You are known for your brave deeds. Whatever may be your reason, I trust you wholeheartedly, you are my Rithick. I will definitely bring out the facts and comfort you my dear brother.

Neethu's POV

In hostel

My friends tried a lot to console me but I longed to be alone for the first time. I requested my friends to leave me. Being understandable, they left me for some time.

Rithick: the particular name meant a lot to me. My dream, my life, my happiness... everything went in vain in a second. Was it a dream? Please, someone, wake me up from the dream. No! It was not a dream. I cried more and more as I couldn't control it. My heart was broken into pieces. I never cried for anyone like this. How could I fall for him without knowing what was in his heart? I was a fool. He was thinking of me as a friend but I imagined my future life with him. Was I mad?

Each and every word felt like he described me but it was not for me. I sobbed like a child who had lost her parents in the crowd. I couldn't control myself. How would I forget him and his memories?

I should forget him as soon as possible. It would be good for me and Rithick. I shouldn't be a burden to him.

At least I should act like hating him to make him happy with Shantra. I shouldn't see him first. If I see his eyes, I will be hurt again. Would I able to control myself? He was not my Rithick, then why was I still love him? I cursed myself. I felt like my eyes had no more tears and my throat was sore. I sat quietly for hours, thinking about him and took a deep breath. I came up with a conclusion.

I shouldn't love you as my future life. If I do, it will be a betrayal to you.  At least, I need you as my friend. I shouldn't confess my love to you. I will bury it deep in my heart. I will create a distance between us. Though it will be difficult for me, I will do it for you. I will stay away from you. Lastly, I never want to look into your eyes anymore. Your eyes will break me again and hurt me more.

It was late and I felt sleepless. I stood in the corridor with tears in my eyes. I noticed someone was coming close to me. I couldn't see the face. It was Shantra. I could sense that she was drunk.

"Did you want any help to get into your room?" I asked her.

"You proved that you are my maid. You are doing your job rightly" Shantra said and laughed at me. She opened her mouth and blew the air on my face. The smell created an irritating sensation. I rubbed my face with my palm. I got angry with her for the very first time but I controlled myself for Rithick.

"I am feeling sleepy, I am not ready to converse with you, my bloody maid," she said and went to her room.

Shantra was crossing her limits. I adjusted everything before only for Rithick and now too, I should adjust for him. I couldn't do anything as she was Rithick's love. Why did my destiny leave me in such a situation? I will not come into your life, Rithick, I will definitely avoid you because I have no guts to see you with another person.