Intimacy - Part 16

Rakesh awaited texts from Aarthi, the next day. But, not even a ‘hi’ from her, was received. Every time his mobile beeped, he would gladly rush to look at it. But, it would be either forwards or messages from his friends. He used to laugh heartily, even for the stupidest jokes, that he receive. But now, everything annoys him.

Few more days passed by and Rakesh continued to await. He had no clue about, how to start a chat with her. He thought of forwarding some good jokes or heart touching messages or pictures. But, he couldn't understand, whether Aarthi is still upset with him or left the past behind. She might have messaged, purely for apologising for this incident or may be she is trying to be a good friend. Whatever, he simply did not wanted to annoy her.

It was the last day of a week’s suspension and Rakesh was listening to his mom’s advices. She was talking to her kindergarten son, forgetting that he is going to be an Engineer soon. Rakesh kept listening to all her lectures. But, at the back of his mind, he was thinking about Aarthi. He was a little excited, to meet her next day. Anyways, he can't expect her to talk. She never bothered to message him. Will she think about talking to him in person? Rakesh couldn't believe so. He would have checked his mobile a million times, in the past few days. Nothing fruitful!

Later in the evening, he received a message from her, finally!

‘Hi Rakesh. If you need any notes, I shall give them to you tomorrow :)’, messaged Aarthi.

Rakesh was very happy, to see her message. He never understood the reason, behind his excitement. But, he loved to be excited.

‘Notes for me? I don't bother about it until study holidays’, he replied back.

‘Hold on! What have I done? I should have said ‘yes’ and dragged on the conversation. Now she will reply ‘Good night’ and that's it. My God! Why am I this stupid?’, thought Rakesh. Of course, he is angry on himself.

‘Yes, you are a topper. You don't need any notes. Silly me to ask you so’ replied Aarthi.

Now, Rakesh was happy and determined to extend the chat a bit more, with her.

‘Me? Topper? You are the one, proving it, all these semesters. Even now, you must be studying and I am disturbing right?’, messaged Rakesh.

‘Ha ha… No I am not. I am simply browsing. Don't feel like looking at the books’

‘Reading about??’

‘Just checking mails’

‘Do you mind sharing your email id? I am online too’, replied Rakesh and switched on his laptop in a hurry.

‘aarthiscotch@gmail.com’

‘Scotch??’

‘Butterscotch, my favourite ice cream’

‘Thought something else… he he’

‘I have not tried THAT yet :p’

‘Do you want to try?’

‘Seriously noooo. I was just kidding’

And they continued chatting online. From then, they started chatting frequently. At college, initially they simply exchanged smiles and later started talking in person too.

Every day turned out to be much prettier for them both. The long conversations, teasing, gossiping about staffs and friends, all seemed lovely. Rakesh had never spoken to any girl like that. But, he felt more than comfortable with Aarthi and every minute, he spent with her, were very joyous. Sometimes, they forget to check on the time and talk for longer hours, at night.

sangeetha swarangal yaezhae kanakka? innum irukka?
ennavoa mayakkam
en veettil iravu, angae irava? illai pagala?
enakkum mayakkam
nenjil ennavoa nenaichaen
naanum dhaan nenaichaen
njaabagam varalai
yoasichaa theriyum
yoasanai varalai
thoonginaal vilangum
thookkam dhaan varalai
paaduraen medhuva urangu

சங்கீத ஸ்வரங்கள் ஏழே கணக்கா? இன்னும் இருக்கா? என்னவோ மயக்கம்
என் வீட்டில் இரவு அங்கே இரவா? இல்ல பகலா?

எனக்கும் மயக்கம்
நெஞ்சில் என்னவோ நெனச்சேன்
நானும்தான் நெனச்சேன்
ஞாபகம் வரல
யோசிச்சா தெரியும்
யோசனை வரல
தூங்கினா விளங்கும்
தூக்கந்தான் வரல
பாடுறேன் மெதுவா உறங்கு

Aarthi started feeling wonderful about Rakesh. Her rock solid hatred, slowly disappeared as a dew in summer, as she came to know about him better. She now accepted that, he is a very good person by heart and could hardly find anything upsetting about him. Initially, she wanted to talk about the misunderstandings during the school days. But later, she felt it was unnecessary and sense less, to talk about it. She would never ignore his messages and don't miss his calls. She started spending lesser time with her friends as well. She finds all the fun and happiness, in talking to him.

A thin line! On this side of the line, they were bestest friends. On the other side of the line, they would be intimate lovers. Their relationship was very fragile. Aarthi never wanted to talk about the past and Rakesh never wanted to talk about the future. They just stuck to their present and lived the moment. Now and then, little butterflies tried to open up their wings. But, they both, did not let them fly and flutter.