'Preetha'

Uffffff......

At last......

It's over!

The reason for which I missed the most happy moments of our lives, for which I worked hard, for which I dreamt for the past 4 years got successfully finished by me.I completed my interview and came out with flying colors.I am so relieved at the same time exhausted as the last two days had been intense for me.I knew the remaining day will also be tiring but at this moment I am feeling good and relaxed.There are no tests ....no studies.....no college.....just fun.....fun....and fun.Yayyyyy!

I am so excited for today's sangeeth as I am going to defeat that idiot.I wanted to see his face then......he teased me a lot from the last two days I am gonna take revenge. Yes..... I will.By the way where is he? I am looking around but I didn't get to see him so i msged him and said that i will be waiting at the hostel.

I changed into the same red dress......aww how beautiful it is.It's really a lucky dress for me whenever I am nervous about any result or exam I just wear it and true to the words I say the result would always be favourable to me.I like this dress a lot.........but that idiot just compared me with witch.Really?Does he even have eyes..... I mean just look at me.This dress compliments me too well that everyone turns their heads twice to see me but that boy....... that idiot.......Ughh.Come on preetha dont waste your energy.You are already tired just save it atleast till the car if you get fainted he will leave you there itself.    

I am ready and keeping my dress and file in Diya's room I started walking to the reception.There's no sign of his car at the entrance I got irritated as I already told him that I would send directions but he didnt listen he just boasted and now he kept me awaiting.Ahhh.....I am really angry so I just walked outside the building within the compound scholding him when I  saw his car.

He is already here!

Not bad.........does he really have a good memory? Nah......might have used google maps as it knows every name of the block in this college.Thinking, I stepped out of the compound onto the road to see him facing the opposite side.

What is he doing that side? I am strolling towards him but got struck as I saw a girl hugging him and kissing his cheek. She stood there for few seconds and went away with a wide smile.He turned and saw me but again turned to the opposite direction where that girl went.

I walked towards him. He is still looking that side so I turned him holding his shoulder.

Giving a straight smile I said  'I am here' 

He glanced me for a second and brushed my hand off and replied carelessly, 'tho?'

I frowned, 'tho matlab?' 

' So?......so what?' he said slightly annoyed.

'Aghh......i meant what are you doing that side?Hostel tho iss taraf heina!' I asked him slightly irritated.

His eyes widened slightly but composed himself in a sec, 'haa tho kya mein uss taraf hi dekhte rahu aur sochthe rahu ki Preetha madam kab aayegi?' 

'Kya? Meine aise nai pucha tha!' I tried clarifying what I asked.

'Par meine sahi jawab hi diya' he answered making me confused. He is irritated and annoyed I can see that but why? I mean we messaged just a while ago and now he is being angry.What happened in such a short time? I am thinking about this when he murmured, ' thodi der shanti se nai rehnedegi jab dekho dimaag kharab karthi rehthi hein huhhh' he kicked a stone on the pavement annoyed making me angry because I didnt do anything and he is showing his anger on me. 

'Oh hello meine kuch nai kaha. meine aise hi pucha.....agar thumhe choti choti cheez pe bhi gussa athi tho mein kya karu?' I huffed.

'Ofcourse thumhari jaise choti soch ladki keliye sab chote hi hothe hein.Grow up' he taunted making me angrier.

'Kam se kam mera soch bekaar tho nai thumhari tarah' he got angry for my reply.

'Thumne mera soch ko bekaar kaha?' he is glaring taking a step to me and showing me his finger.

'Haa.....thumhara soch hi nai,thumhara jubaan,dimaag, chehra totally thum.....bahot...bada....duffer....ho' I said pointing each thing with my finger.  

'Youuuuu......' I squealed as he is about to catch me and i escaped.

I am running around the car he is behind me after a few rounds he stopped panting I stopped too making sure i am opposite to him,

'Mein...thumhe chod...chodunga nai' he said taking breathes.

'Pehle saas math chodo ' I replied taking deep breathes myself and trying to control my laugh.

I widened my eyes when he sprinted from his place and due to shock I couldn't run fastly within a blink of an eye he caught me from backside lifting me off the road.I shrieked,

'Catch ya' he said so happily as if he won a world cup.

Putting me down he folded my hand back pinning me to the car in a second,

'Now tell me who is the duffer' he said coming close to me.I know he is smirking.Idiot.

'Aur kaun thum? Ek ladki ko aise handle kar rahe ho You are No 1 duffer' he chuckled for my reply while I am trying to release my hand from his hold.

'Ladki? Kaun? Yaha mujhe koi ladki nai dikha rahi hein' he whispered in my ear.

'thumhe dimaag hi nai aankh bhi nai hein' I smirked at him for my comment which resulted in tightening his hold.  

'Ahhhh.......' I winced as its beginning to pain.

'haa.....agar jubaan nai sambalthi tho aise hi dard hothi hein' I gritted my teeth for his words and turned my face to look at him with my fierce eyes.

'You know your dress and eyes are matching matching now.I like it' he said mischeviously trying to rile me more.

'Your blood is red too just leave me once.I like to see it'  I snapped faking a straight smile looking into his eyes.

'My Love is also red .Do you like to see it?' he asked and my eyes got widened for a second.What he just said?

I am looking at him,he too and suddenly he left me.My wrist is somewhat red and little bit numb so I am twisting it to regulate the blood flow.

He turned other side holding his head with one hand and other on his waist maybe thinking about what he just said.

'We.......need to go' he said turning around without looking at me and unlocking the car with the fob.

'Not before this.....' I said and he shrieked when I started beating on his back, kicking on his legs, pinching on his arms what not I did everything possible to my access.

'Ouch....Aw.....Stop.....Preetha ....wait.....Aaaa......no....' he winced differently for my every attack and I am enjoying a lot than any comedy show.

I am attacking him with so much enthusiasm and excitement that every passing minute my attacks are increasing so does my happiness.After many more I got tired as I didn't had anything after breakfast.

I stopped taking deep breaths to control myself,he is looking at me narrowing his eyes soothing all his body.Though I am panting but looking at him like that I couldn't stifle my laugh so ended up doing laughing and panting both.

'Zyada haso math saas ruk jayegi' He mocked but I continued my laughing session.

'Yahi rehke pagal ke tarah hasna hein tho  raho.I need to leave I have a flight within 2 hrs' he indirectly reminded buckling his seatbelt.It made me remember that I am tired and want to have something before boarding.I quickly got into the car. I really dont know how I forgot that I am hungry even my stomach didn't disturb me while I am talking ..........no no fighting with him.I always do this I just forgot when and where I am fighting sometimes I even forget why we are fighting as the bone of contention would be long gone. Buckling my belt, I hurried 'Jaldi chalo I am tired.'

He chuckled sarcastically starting the car ' aise tho nai laga.' 

I huffed is that all my mistake? No.......right! Whatever we do we both have equal share in it.

Huffing I said, 'Stop your nonsense and start driving I am so hungry' 

He didn't say anything and I saw we are moving out of the campus.Few minutes out of the college and we were struck in the traffic.Great!

Sighing,I looked aside when I saw a coffee stall which reminded me our coffee.Ahhaaaa....... just the thought itself is mouth watering.The brown color,its aroma and the blue cup everything is making me crave for it but...... I can't get it now.

'Hey bhagwan.......Please send me a cup of coffee I promise I will be at time for your puja everyday' I bargained with God though I  know it wont happen in anyway but I tried.Kya patha bhagwan mera wish suna tho? tho.....I will get a coffee aur nai suna tho mein as usual so jaungi.Deal cancel!

I am giggling myself when i heard him,

'Thumhara Bhagwan thumhara saamne hein bandar..........maanglo.Jo chahiye wo cheez thumhare saamne hogi'

And this made me laugh loud,does he even know what he said? I couldn't stop laughing,

'Bhagwan......thum'? 

I am laughing again and he looks at me frowning,

'Thum bhagwan nai......rakshas ho.Brahma rakshas...........wo insaan ko khaathe hein jaise thum mujhe khathe ho' I taunted  wiping the tears from the corner of my eyes which were due to my laughing.

'Agar mein Rakshas ho tho thum Chudail ho.Bhul gayi witch!' he countered.

'Agar mein thumhe wo dedu jo thum chahthe ho,thum mujhe apna bhagwan maanoge?' he questioned making me frown a bit. 

'Thum aise baath kyun bolthe ho jo thumhe aur joker banathe hein?' I replied smirking.He looked at me,

'Mujhe joker nai bhagwan banathe hein .......thum maanoge aur kahoge ki Karan thum kuch bhi kar saktha hein. thum mere bhagwan ho,thum ek maha purush ho' he blabbered.

'Cut the crap and drive fast........coffee nai hein kamsekam lunch tho karungi' I said bored of his boasting. 

'Ok......your choice.I though you would enjoy it as you are tired and also its a jam here but if you dont want that's ok.Wait until we reach the restuarent' he said looking at the cars before us.I thought about it why don't I give a try? What if he is pranking me? But he seems sure.

'Acha theekey.Mujhe coffee chahiye wo bhi hamari canteen wali!' I said.

'Done.' he said smirking.

'Kya karna hein?' I asked.

'Thum mere bhagwan ho aise bolne ke bajay kuch nai' he replied with such an expression that I have to do when he got me what I wished.

'Ok!'

'That's like my witch!' He pinched my cheek which earned my glare.

'Ankhe band karo aur palms stretch karo.....mein mantr padunga' he said with much confidence I wondered whether he is really someone else who is hiding his identity. Neverthless, I did what he asked me to do and he murmured something and finally he said 'Finishio' and then i felt something in my palms.

I quickly opened my eyes to see a blue cup,brown coffee and the aroma!

I am shocked,surprised,speechless.

He raised his collars with attitude and said 'Mera naam sirf karan nai.......jaadugar karan hein'  

Though I wanna shake my head due to his talks but looking at the coffee in my hands the weary me felt him like a pond in the burning dessert. Unable to control my excitement I unbuckled my seat belt and side hugged him with one hand wrapping around his neck.He is not holding me as his seat belt is still on but he smiled widely though its with attitude but it reached his eyes and moved his head to touch mine like giving my hug back.

'Its your turn now' he is reminding me what I have to say!

Smiling widely I kissed him on the cheek still holding him through one hand and said 'You really are the best duffer!' 

'Haaa?' clearly he didn't like what I said.

Ignoring his annoyed voice,I touched my head to his for a second, I came back to my seat and started sipping it.He huffed saying something but a sip is enough to forget the world around me.......mmmm.I am in my own world enjoying every sip of it and by the time i completed the last drop we have reached the restuarant. I closed my eyes once again feeling its taste and swirling my toungue around the lips.Its a habit of mine whenever I have something of my favourites.

I turned to see karan who is speaking in mobile, I saw that he has some some mark on his cheek and keenly observing its turned out to be a lipstick mark.I frowned as how did he got it then I remembered the girl who kissed him at the hostel compound.I widened my eyes at the realization and i again started to look at the mark. I never saw him like this so it just....... wierd.And I didn't like it.

Immediately I took a tissue from the car and cleaner from my bag and started cleaning it.He looked at me for once when I signed him that there's a mark he just nodded and continued talking while I continued wiping.First of all.........Who is that girl and why did she kissed him and why he let her do that?

As i have no answer for these questions I showed my frustration by wiping on his face harshly.I didn't know it until he yelled ' kya kar rahi ho thum?'

I then looked at his cheek which became red,I realized what I did and that made me say 'oops'. 

'What is this?'  he asked looking in the mirror with wide eyes seeing his red cheek.

'Mmm....wo..... I am just wiping the mark and your cheek became red.I think it's the cleaner reaction' I lied smoothly as I knew it's not because of the cleaner reaction but because of my action.

He looked at me narrowing his eyes, ' Cleaner reaction or because of your action?'

Eh oh.........guess he guessed it but I am not gonna accept.If so he would eat me alive.I am thinking of ways to escape when he again asked, 'Waise thumhe itni fikar kyun the ha? Mere gaal mein aise bhi kya hein ki thumne khud wipe kar rahi thi?'

' Kiss mark!' I shrugged.  

'What?' He asked again though he heard it.

'haa uss ladki ki' I added.

'Uss ladki?' he looked away thinking about the girl and i too looked away when he started laughing .I frowned as why is he laughing........maybe because he remembered their moment.I don't know but I didn't looked at him till I heard my name in his laughter.

'Oh god yeh ladki........' and again he is laughing making me curious.

'Kya hein kyun has rahe ho? I asked slightly annoyed.

'Pagal mujhe kehthe ho aur pagal ki harikathe thum karthe ho' he said still laughing.

'What?' I asked he is still laughing and I didnt like it. 'If you don't tell me why are you laughing i will pinch your cheek very hardly that it will start oozing blood' and this worked as he stopped laughing and immediately put his hand on his cheek protecting it.I wanted to laugh but I didnt so I said seriously 'Now come on tell me' 

He narrowed his eyes at me, 'Wo kiss mark uss ladki ki nai thumhari hein.bhul gayi thodi der pehle thumne mujhe kiss kiya'

Then i remembered that i kissed him and i shut my eyes mentally as  how could i forget it but..... No.I wont accept this.

'Shut up......that's not mine. It was her's for sure' I defended.Why would I will be a fool infront of him.

'No that was your's.....and your's only' he said very confidently and my determination to prove him wrong increased.

'How can you say that its not hers.She kissed you too' I raised my point and my anger raised too.

'Its not her's because she didnt kissed me' he revealed shocking me but I wont believe as I saw them.

'No......you are lying.She kissed you i saw that'  How was that possible?

'Even i thought that she kissed me but she didn't. She came close to me like she was about to kiss me and made a sound.I realized it afterwards' he explained and I felt........relieved? A tiny bit but the remaining part is thinking something else.

'But why did she lie? She could have actually done it' I questioned thinking to myself.

'Are you sad that she didnt kissed me?'

'No........' i am about to complete but

'Oh so you are happy that she didn't kissed me?' he said making me widen my eyes.

'What? No.......... ' i quickly answered and he chuckles. 

'Then why are you thinking about that?' he asked looking into my eyes.

That's when i realized infact i was thinking about it from the moment i saw that scene and now a question raised in me ' WHY?'

I am in my thoughts staring the wind shield when he snaps loudly before my face,

'Uss dimaag mein kuch nai hein sochne ka.Let's go' he chuckled before going out.

Oops.....I forgot my hunger again.How can I? All because of him.......This duffer will make me duffer too. Shaking my head,I followed him and we settled in a roof top restuarant.

We ordered the food and Karan got a call,he put it on the loudspeaker and hearing the voice i found out it's from di.She asked about my performance and i said i rocked it.She is so happy and told us to return safely.Before ending the call she thanked Karan for helping me to which he said 'Anything for you babhi!'. I rolled my eyes and she ended the call.

'Atleast someone thanked me if not the actual person' he commented without looking at me and i knew what he is directing at.

I am silent but i really couldnt ignore his acts.We won't get along for a second but he accompanied me,boosted my confidence,brought my favourite coffee though he said lame things about it but still he gave it to me.I felt little bit guilty for not appreciating him and i can't be like this.

I called him who is looking in his phone,

'See I know you don't like being with me or talking with me and you are here only because of di.And..... I am grateful that you are with me today.You know our family wouldn't allow me to work for other companies but I wanna do something on my own and then listen them.Honestly,I was so nervous there but you gave me my confidence back and that's the reason I nailed it today.So .............thank you for forcing yourself to come with me, thank you for giving my confidence back.And...... consider this lunch as my token of gratitude.'

I said whatever I want to say and he is looking at me surprised.I think he didnt expect this.Why would he? Whenever he helps me I help him back with something else but this time I think he deserves it.

But looking at him I felt awkward so excusing myself I skipped to washroom.Coming back after a while,I saw dishes neatly placed on the table and I fulled my stomach with my favourites.

We boarded the flight to Coimbatore after giving our car to the driver and I slept for two hours as I need to take rest before sangeeth.Landing at the airport,we got into the car which we left in the morning and one thing i realized that Karan has been quiet since my little speech.I thought he was busy in office calls but no....he is not even looking at me and we are driving in silence.

I am not liking it.Him being silent,without commenting ,teasing,fighting I felt bored.And this raised a question 'Do I like when he fights with me?' I get angry but liking it? I dont know but I wont definietly feel like this.

Anyway,I want to fight with him now.That's it.

Then i saw something and I yelled 'Stop'.

'Kya hua?' he is frightened I can see that.

'Wo dekho.....' I showed him through the glass.

On the other side of the road within a few metres into the field a woman is selling corn under a tree shade,

'I am gonna buy it' I stated before opening the door.

'Hey no..... Wait!' he said stopping me from going out.

'Are you crazy? You shouted to stop in the middle of the road to buy that?' he said as if I didn't remember what I did.

'Yes.' I said obviously and about to open the door he again stopped me.

'No.You are not going anywhere.I am not allowing you and we will only stop at Ooty.' he stated sternly.I thought for some seconds.

'Ok.......' he exhaled as I said.

'You may continue your journey but I want it.So.......Bye.' saying I scurried out from the car without giving him a chance to stop me.

Crossing the road,I went into the field and stood infront of that old woman excitedly.All my happiness declined to zero when i realized i dont know how to ask her to give me one corn.

I stood there looking at her and the fried corn when she smiled at me.I think she got what i want so i signed the corn and showed my index saying her I want one fried corn'.Nodding,she peeled a fresh corn and put it on the coal.

We are outside the city so the surrounding area is full of fields and trees.As its evening time,the weather is cool and soothing.Rubbing both my palms i sighed happily waiting for my hot corn when i felt a tap....no a push on my head.

'Idiot!' he huffed.

'Why did you do that?' I asked massaging my head.

'Why did you do that?' he asked confusing me.

'That's my question' I said.

'First you give me the answer' he replied confusing me.What answer?

'How can you come here like that? I was yelling but you just ran away without even listening me' he is scholding me and i just shrugged.

'I want it.You are stopping me so i did what i thought' i defended myself without looking at him.

'You...' before he says the old woman called me to take the corn.Smiling i went to take it when suddenly he took it from her.I didn't understand.

'Wo mera hein' I reminded him.

'Ab mera hein' he shrugged taking its first bite.

'Why are you doing this?' I pouted seeing him enjoying it.

'You didn't listen me and I didn't listen you.We are equal now.' he stated showing Super with his fingers to that woman.

'Huhhhh.......' angrily i went near her maybe she understood this time too as she smiled at me and again peeled a fresh corn.

As we finished our corn it started drizzling.We can feel the rain drops on us because of the wind and I dont know what came over me I went out of the shade into the soil and felt the drizzle fully on my skin.

Stretching my hands and closing my eyes, I whirled around slowly feeling every tiny drop on my face.I took off my duppatta from my neck,holding its length in my two hands i began jumping and twirling.I am hooting,shouting as if i am the only girl in this world.Being youself without caring about anything feels so good and happy.Haaa......its like the drizzle took away all my stress filling me with its fragrance and freshness.

I opened my eyes having a slight smile thanking the sky with my eyes and turned around to see Karan brushing his hand in his wet hair yelling at me to come back.

I forgot about him!

He looks annoyed so running to him I took his hand while my other hand has my duppatta flying in the air and brought him to a cistern situated in the field.

'Thum kya kar rahi ho? Pagal hogayi ho kya?' he is about to go but i stopped him

'Lets play' I demanded ignoring his yells.

'mein nai.....' he couldnt complete his sentence as his face is splashed with cool water. 

'Bahot hogayi.Ab dekho!' Huffing,he splashed water on me fiercely that half of my dress got drenched.

And just like that our play started with splashing,running,catching in the middle of a field with drizzle as our company.

'Ab tho chalo bahot late hogayi' he reminded and I nodded.

I am following him feeling happy that he is back to himself when i heard a shriek,

'Where's our car?'

Its Karan's voice, I looked on the spot where he is looking only to fing nothing. 

'I parked it here but its not there.'  he said in slow voice mainly to himself.

' It will be here maybe you parked it somewhere else' i said to cool him.

'You have it's fob.Use it.We can know where the car is with its sound' i suggested.

He immediately chechked his pocked and suddenly he stopped as he realized something,

'I forgot the keys in the car' 

'Ha?' i asked really not believing it but he didn't say anything.

'You have your phone.We can know where it is' I said remembering its feature.

'Our phones,my wallet,your bag everything is in the car' he said slowly looking at the place where he parked it. 

I didn't really realize what happened until I listened,  

'Somebody has stolen our car' he whispered but it made a great sound within me.

And that's how we ended up losing our vehicle,without a penny in hand,having nothing to contact at an unknown road in a different state.

Another new year with you all.

Happy 2021!