~..Forever You And Me-FF..~ Part 17-pg 20 - Page 12

Raji was surprised as to who was calling out her like that. She turned around right away. Opposite of her stood Ashok who looked surprised and worried.

"Raji!" he called out again.

Raji was confused as to why Ashok was acting like this. She wondered if she had made any mistake with her work. Karthik was looking at Ashok rather annoyed.

What's up this guy? He wondered.

Ashok ran up to Raji and hugged her tightly in his arms. Raji was surprised and looked completely lost. Karthik started to tense up and was getting angry now.

"Ashok...please leave me...what's wrong???"

"Raji, are you okay?" He asked.

Raji was still confused and didn't understand what Ashok was talking about.

"Ashok, I'm fine...please..."

She managed to grasp free from his arms and took a few steps back towards Karthik.

"Sorry...sorry Raji. I heard you were sick yesterday and Vishwanathan told you to leave and then in the evening you had a high fever too. Are you okay? How are you feeling now?"

Karthik couldn't believe this, was Ashok really doing all this out of care? Didn't he find this a little over for himself too?

Raji let out a sigh of relief and managed to put a smile on her face.

"I'm fine Ashok, it was just a fever...I'm better now. Thanks for asking anyways."

"Ohh...alright, good to know you are feeling fine now. Ok, come with me, I need to show you something."

Before Raji could open her mouth, Ashok took her hand and pulled her with him. Raji walked forward but turned back to see Karthik who was left alone by the lockers.

During lunch, Karthik, Vishnu and Lakshmi were gathered around a table eating. Vishnu noticed that Karthik was barely touching his food.

"Dei, ennada...aren't you hungry?" He asked.

"Illai da, I'm not feeling hungry."

"Yein?"

"I don't know, just leave it..."

Karthik took out his phone and was using it when he heard Raji approach their table.

"Can I sit here?" She asked.

"hey Raji, what is this? You don't need to ask, come and sit." Lakshmi replied.

Raji pulled out the chair and sat down beside Karthik. Karthik gave her a smile then was back to staring at the screen on his phone.

"What took you so long Raji?" Lakshmi asked.

"Sorry...it was Ashok, I was talking with him."

"Is anything wrong?"

"No...he just wanted to let me know about the new project. Apparently I need to work with him; Susan assigned us as partners for the next project."

Lakshmi, Karthik and Vishnu looked at Raji in surprise. Raji wasn't sure why everyone was staring at her.

"What, what's wrong?" She asked them.

"How do you know about the next project, Susan never told us." Vishnu replied.

Raji was surprised.

"Uumm, it was Ashok who told me this morning. The next project is pretty big so Susan split us into partners to work together and I need to work with Ashok on this..."

Karthik was a little disappointed hearing this.

"Susan must have informed the seniors on our team about this and Ashok would have told you, but she never made an official announcement yet." Vishnu said.

Raji looked at Vishnu and understood what was happening.

"Ohhh, okay I understand, he just wanted to let me know in advance I guess. So you guys don't know your partners yet?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Ooohh, ok...sorry...I shouldn't have said anything then."

"Illai, Raji, it's not your fault, you didn't know." Karthik said.

Raji smiled at Karthik who smiled back at her. She took a few lunch containers out from her lunch bag.

"I brought biryani for everyone."

She opened the big container then went to grab plates and spoons. She took each plate one by one and started putting biryani for everyone. She first handed the plate to Karthik.

"Here Karthik, this is for you."

Karthik smiled and took the plate, "Thank you."

Raji smiled back at him and gave Vishnu and Lakshmi their plates.

"Try it and let me know how it tastes like."

Karthik ate the biryani and looked at Raji.

"It's really good. Did you make it yourself?"

Raji let out a laugh.

"Nope, I wish I did though...my dad made it this morning. Unfortunately my cooking skills are not that good."

"It's really good Raji, tell your dad a big thank you from all of us." Lakshmi said.

"Will do." Raji said.

All four friends were eating together and chatting away happily. In the corner of the canteen stood Ashok who was staring at Raji and noticed how she was laughing at Karthik's joke and kept looking at him and smiling.

Dei Karthik, Raji is mine and only mines. He thought.