The next day was sunday and the college campus was jest seen around with one or two fitness freaks in the morning doing laps after laps of jogging and few were engrossed in playing basket ball. Sitara woke up earlier and made herself presentable in a pale pink colour slit kurti top with loose chudi pant and a shawl around her neck. She kept her look minimal and took the painting roll in her hand with a sigh. Charu was looking at her with mixed emotions and held her shoulder saying " theva illaadha vela d . Avan romba harshaa irupaan innaiku disturb pannadha vara nalladhu "

Sitara smiled and held her hand saying " i dont want him to suffer alone..... neenga epdinu therla but alavukadhigamaave he have searched for comfort in silence .... let me try my luck today"

With that she left the hostel towards the address charu gave which was located in border of ooty and gudalur.
That was a guest house owned by Aryan's parents and they met with an accident only after coming here. The family was there to ooty to enjoy the vacation after exams of Aryan. The last thing Aryan remember was the smiling face of his father and mother leaving him in home and saying" inga pakkathula oru estate velaiku varudhaamda paathutu vandhururom aprom kelambalaam"

They did return but only as lifeless bodies. From that moment the hardships both the brothers faced was not any less. They lost their buisness and 75 percent of the properties to the buisness partners of his father. Aryan was into deep depression and was reluctant to leave the place.finallu Arjun had to ensure that he was around Aryan at the sane time he was looking after the construction firm of their father which was the only left over from all the buisness they had as it was started by his father only after arjun completed his studies and was in smaller scale by that time.

Sitara was thinking about all these informations which she got to know from charu and thinking over it again and again while travelling in auto. She got out of trance only after the auto driver said that they have arrived at the destination.

She got down the auto and paid it only to see a beautiful view right in front of her. The entrance steel gates were adorned with a flower arch with wines exhilirating a beautiful aroma. She opened the small gate and she was welcomed by a small pitched roof stone house with more glass openings. The gravel path lead towards the porch of the house and the either side of the gravel pathway was adorned with beautiful grassland with fruit trees located here and there.

Sitara walked through the pathway internally admiring the residense and her breath hitched the moment she stood in fronr of the main door. She raised her hands to knock and the door opened the moment she placed her hand in it. She went in and the interiors of the residence was done all classy with clear wood finish. She went in and checked for Ashwin .

She went inside a room and found him lying down on a bed looking at the lifesize potrait of his father and mother placed in front and he covered himself with a saree of his mom while tears were forming its way through his cheeks. Sitara looked at his miserably low emotional state and went near him with nervousness striking at its higher state. She was nervous and scared yet she wanted to somehow take him out of this loneliness and make him comfortable in venting out his emotions atleast in her presense .

Sitara placed the drawing role in the side table and sat near him which made him get up in a swift which actually scared her a bit.
Aryan looked at her with bloodshot eyes and closed his eyes again . She came near him while Aryan held her hand and said in a stern tone " kelambu sitara"

His voice was sending chills down her spine yet she wasnt ready to leave him in this state. Sitara came even closer and lifted her hand to ruffle his hair which he held again a bit stronger. Aryan" sonna kelu sitara veliya po "

Sitara mustered up her courage and said " po mudiyaadhu " to which aryan opened his eyes and the anger he had was evidently visible by the
way his jaws were shaking and the next moment he stood up and went near the window and atarted shouting " don't make me get used to your presense sitara . Nothing is going to be permanent and obviously even you might leave me in a point . Please leave me alone i know to handle myself please "

Sitara was truly hurted by his words stating that she would leave him in a point but the void his parents demise created in him was clearly visible and she could also sense the burried insecurities in him . She took a step closer and the next moment what she saw made her freeze in the spot . Aryan sensed her moving towards him and broke a night lamp shouting " po nu sonnen"

Sitara wiped the tears which made its way through her cheeks and said " poren aana kitta dhaan irupen . Neengale sonnaalum naa po maaten take your time "

Aryan felt guilty for shouting at her but he really didnt mean to hurt her but he wasnt used to anyone around him when he is in deep distress. He is only used to self heal and the way he behaves never let anyone near him. The way she stood his rash behavior and still wanting to be by his side actually created a huge impact and he could sense him visibky relaxing just by the feel that he has a soul to whom he could confide in during his yhicks and thins. He was engrossed in his thoughts for so long that only after a woodpecker pecking the window he got back to senses and looked around to find an empty space without trace of Sitara.

His heartbeat started increasing rapidly and though he knew she is gonna be around the mere empty space without her presense was suffocating him unlike the comfort it gave him all these years. He went out calling out her name.

Aryan " tara ..... tara... "
She was no where to be found and he went out to see her sitting in a bench calm and composed unusual to her nature and went near her and sat near her . Sitara looked at him and sat near him while Aryan took her hands in his and said " I .... I am sorry.... "
While sitara smiled and cupped his face and said " look into my eyes "

Aryan looked at her with teary eyes and she looked into his eyes mirroring his tears in hers saying " i will always be with you .... nee kovappattaalum thitnaalum en enna po nu sonnaalum naa po maaten ok va ..... ullaye vachu ennada panna pora ? Ithana naal epdiyo therla ini naa iruke . Do you think you lose youe pride while crying before me ?"

Aryan nodded his head as no and she asked"aprom ennada ?"
Aryan held her hand in his and said " bayama iruku..... enga unnoda presense , careku used to aaytu aprom oru situationla adhu illenu aachuna i can't bare it thara .... lifeless aayruve "

Sitara held his face and bumped their foreheads together saying " po maaten " while Aryan pulled her into a bone crushing hug and started crying out loud whike sitara pulled him even closer if at all it was possible and started carressing his back while placing kisses over his side head occasionally assuring her presense.

Aryan pulled her to his lap and snuggled to her chwst while she caressed his hair. He was ranting continuously about the memories he had with his parents and she was listening to everything he was uttering with atmost patience. Aryan looked at her after 30 minutes and he seemed more clear and composed than ever. He looked at her wordlessly and a smiled crept over his lips .

He pulled her closer and caressed her cheeks with his long slender fingers making her shut her eyes while she was caressing her hair and asked " kaalaila saaptiya "

Aryan nodded no to which she made him get up and dragged him inside the kitchen. Aryan looked at her petite figure working in a swift and she took out readymade flour and few groceries she bought in ooty and spread it in the kitchen slab while he sat on it with a hop admiring her . She wore an apron and looked at the kitchen which was equipped with necessary ladles,vessles, stove and spices.

Sitara asked " adikadi varuveengala inga? spices gas stovelaam iruku ?"

Aryan tucked the hair which was disturbing her to the back of her ears and said " mm arjun weekendslaam inga dhaa irupaan . Naa thonumbodhulaam vandhuruven. So veeta maintain panravanga indha spices gas laam epovum restock pannirvaanga "

Sitara looked at him with an awe and started cutting tomatoes for chutney while he got garlics and shallots from her and started peeling it to help her . Sitara asked " maintain panna aalunga irukaangala naa yaarayum paakala "

Aryan was talking to her while peeling the garlics and asked for a piece of raw tomato which she fed him and replied while munching the tomato " avanga kaalaila vandhu clean pantu poiruvaanga pakkathula dhaa veediruku "

Sitara smiled at him and they just realised they were synching into a domestical setup with an ease and a blush smile adorned their lips by realising it. Aryan looked at her who was in a beautiful salwar and her hair was in a messy bun . Her kajal was smudged and lipstick was long faded still she looked most gorgeous in his eyes and something about them changed today. And he could never imagine a life without her right from this moment.

Aryan held her hand which was expertly working on the ladle in preparing the chutney while she looked at him with a question in her eyes .

Aryan asked her " thirumba thirumba solrennu nenaikaadha .... dont leave my side "

Sitara looked at him with a smile and said "apdi endha ideavum enakkilla apdiye nadandhaalum enna poga vitruveengala enna ?"

Aryan looked at her intently and said with a smile he intertwined their little fingers together and said " you are hitched ms.sitara there is no way back even if you wish to get out"

Sitara tightened the hold and said " an i dont need a way to get away " and turned towards the vessel and found that the mix was done. She set it to cool and Aryan started making dosas while she was grinding the chutney. She appreciated the way he made crispy dosas and they had their breakfast together by 11 am.

Aryan smiled his heartout after a veey long time and both spent time without hesitating to hold each other and cuddle to each other unlike the time they spend in college which has more conciousness and hesitation than the feel of being with each other.

Aryan was sitting in a couch with Sitara sitting beside him watching football match which was not pleasing to Sitara and Aryan senses her disinterest and switched off the tv and turned towards her .

Sitara " en off panneenga"

Aryan " bore aduchuchu. Vera edhaachu panlaama ?"

Sitara looked at him with horror and asked " en enna.... pa... panlaam.."

Aryan smiled at her nervousness and hit her forehead playfully saying "loosu i dont have any intentions as such atleast for now . Enna panlaamnu sollu"

Sitara let out a breath of releif and said" aama aryaneyy neengale oru palaya aalu ungala paathu bayapdradhu waste dhaa "

Aryan was truly intruiged by her words and said " pesu d pesu enakum time varum appo vachukuren . Seri en childhood albums iruku paakalaama "

Sitara clapped her hands and said ok as she found an oppurtunity to give away the painting she has done and followed him into the bedroom .

He took out a bundle of albums which had 2 big albums and few smaller albums. Aryan started explaining his childhood memories with his parents with much excitement and Sitara was making fun of few pictures in which he was dressed up as girl by his mom.

Aryan"ammaku ponnu porakanumnu romba aasa aana naa paiyabdradhaala appapo ipdi dressup panni paapanga chinna vayasula "

Sitara looked at cute bubbly baby face of his in ailk shirt and skirt with flower and said " romba cuteaa iruku Aryaneyy . Namma ponnu ipdi dhaan irupaala"

Aryan looked at her with unknown feel building in him and said "thara lets not talk about future now."

Sitara looked at him questioningly while Aryan said" odane nambikka illayaanu kekaadha . Better futureah discuss panna venaa. Neeyum padikura naanum padikuren we have long way ahead . Presentla we love each other so lets live in present. Purunjuko "

Sitara felt a little sense of insecurity building in her by his words. The existing talk of him higher than her standards was actually kindling her inbuilt inaecurities which she masks up well from others. And the way he isnt ready to admit their relationship and not even ready to discuss about their future was building up her insecurities without she realising it and she masked it up without discussing it with him. She wishes for a transparent relationship while he wishes a peaceful and strong relationship.

She sniled and distracted herself and looked into the album while Aryan said " engamma appavoda irundha times golden dhaan thara aana naama neraya per realise panradhilla we make memories but fail to record them. En appa ammavoda i have had so many memories aana avanga erandhappo dhaa we realised we never had a family pic after i was 13 ....my parents beleived in recording only precious moments . naa 12th boardsla school first vaanguna andha award ceremonyla oru family pic edukanumnu nenachaanga ..... they were never alive when my results were released or when i got my award as top ranker "

His eyes glistened and Sitara hugged him to her chest and whispered slowly " unaku apdi oru picture kedacha will you be happy Aryan?"

Aryan smiled bitterly and said" naanum arjunum neraya artiststa kuduthu try pantom edhulayume andha life illa. We both arent great potrait artists we are just good at designing. "

Sitara took the canvas painting roll from side table and lifted him from her neck crook and gave it in his hand with hesitation. Sitara looked at him and said" charu nee idhuku feel panranu sonna . Avata irundhu photos vaangi try panne .... nalla illena thittaadha plsss"

Aryan got it from her in a swift and opened it to find more realistic acrylic painting of his family which was merged by her in his graduation day pic and she have made him smile wider unlike to the original picture where his lips would be pressed together to control his tears. Aryan looked at her with overwhelming emotions and said " i love you "

Sitara looked at him with smile whilw he cupped her face and placed uncountable kisses all over her face muttering i love you between each kiss and both panted hard after pulling back out of overwhelming emotions and he said " this is just perfect and i dont wanna thank you. Just.... just.... remember this is the best gift you could ever give me. Love you "

Sitara tightened the hold and smiled whispering " love you too.... saapdalaama pasikudhu"

Aryan pulled back with a chuckle and said " edhunaalum unaku soru dhaa first la "

Sitara shrugged her shoulders playfully and said " ofcourse soru dhaa ellaame "

Aryan hit her forehead playfully and said " order panniten apove ipo dhaa message vandhuchu doorstepla deliver pantaanganu vaa saapdalaam"

Sitara went to dining table with a hop while Aryan followed her with heart filled with happiness and content. Now he never feels the void as he realised she was the missing piece of his life puzzle.

Hi everyone . As usual was caughtup with my academics and do give away your thoughts about the evolving complications .