Intimacy - Part 22

Every day, every morning and every evening, felt beautiful for Aarthi. Rakesh’s, ‘good morning’ messages were the most awaited ones, more than her mom’s. She loved dressing up and started taking extra care, in every detail. The five minute drive from home to work, was the loveliest happening in her everyday life. Sitting next to him, smelling his scent, silently admiring him at the corner of her eyes, smiling and blushing without him noticing, were so divinely for her.

Putham pudhu kaalai pon nira velai
En vazhvile thinanthorum thondrum
Suga raagam ketkum ennalum aanandham

Poovil thondrum vaasam adhuthan raagamo
Ilam poovai nenjil thondrum adhuthaan thaalamo
Manathin aasaigal malarin kolangal
Kuyil osaiyin paribhaashaigal
Adhikaalaiyin varaverpugal

Vaanil thondrum kolam adhai yaar pottadho
Pani vaadai veesum kaatril sugam yaar serthadho
Vayadhil thondridum ninaivil anandham
Valarndhu aaduthu isai paaduthu
Vazhinthoduthu  suvai kooduthu

புத்தம் புது காலை பொன் நிற வேளை
என் வாழ்விலே தினந்தோறும் தோன்றும்
சுக ராகம் கேட்கும் எந்நாளும் ஆனந்தம்

பூவில் தோன்றும் வாசம் அதுதான் ராகமோ
இளம் பூவை நெஞ்சில் தோன்றும் அது தான் தாளமோ
மனதின் ஆசைகள் மலரின் கோலங்கள்
குயில் ஓசையின் பரிபாஷைகள் அதிகாலையின் வரவேற்புகள்

வானில் தோன்றும் கோலம் அதை யார் போட்டதோ
பனி வாடை வீசும் காற்றில் சுகம் யார் சேர்த்தோ
வயதில் தோன்றிடும் நினைவில் ஆனந்தம்
வளர்ந்தாடுது இசை பாடுது
வழிந்தோடுது சுவை கூடுது

Aarthi was waiting for Rakesh, at the eaterie. She couldn't wait to see him, even though he visited her an hour back, at her cabin.

“Hi Aarthi! Waiting for a long time??”, asked Rakesh, as he sat opposite to her. Aarthi saw a pretty young girl, accompanying Rakesh and she took the seat in between them, in the four seater, square table.

“Meet Sandhya. She joined my team today. She had done Masters at Brooklyn’s”, said Rakesh. He looked mysteriously happy.

“Hi Aarthi. How are you doing?”, asked Sandhya.

“I am good. Thank you”, replied Aarthi, with a gentle smile.

Rakesh and Sandhya were talking non stop, with each other, about work and the city. But, Aarthi could neither get involved nor listen to their talk. Her ears blocked and throat choked. She couldn't shovel the salad, down her throat. The sight of Sandhya and Rakesh laughing together, literally got her on nerves. But, she maintained her calm.

Following days, turned out to be hellish for Aarthi. Sandhya almost took a place in every happening, right from the morning ride in Rakesh’s car to late evening talks at his place. She rented out a studio in his apartment building and had more chance of spending more time, with him. She even started occupying, the front passenger seat in his car.

Nillentru sonnaal manam nintraal podhum
Neengaatha nenjil alai ointhaal podhum
Mounathin raagam kelaatho
Mounathin thaalam podaatho
Vaazhum... kaalam....
Yaavum enge nenjam thaedum.....

Kaatril enthan geetham
Kaanaatha ondraith theduthey

நில்லென்று சொன்னால் மனம் நின்றாள் போதும்
நீங்காத நெஞ்சில் அலை ஓய்ந்தால் போதும்
மௌனத்தின் ராகம் கேளாதோ
மௌனத்தின் தாளம் போடாதோ
வாழும் ...  காலம் .....
யாவும் எங்கே நெஞ்சம் தேடும் .....  

காற்றில் எந்தன் கீதம்....
காணாத ஒன்றை தேடுதே..  

Almost a couple of months rolled by and Aarthi started losing her comfort with Rakesh. Still, Sandhya seemed to be a lovely girl to Aarthi. She couldn't deny that fact, though. Sandhya tried to be a good friend of her and invited her frequently to her place, for a delightful feast. She even grabs her to cafeteria, at work, leaving behind Rakesh, for coffee and chat. Aarthi realised that, she has been a nice girl and good friend to her, the same way she is with Rakesh. But, Aarthi distanced herself from them both.