Meant to Be note on page 162 - Page 11

Meant to be

Part 8

Karthik was getting ready for the office..after finishing the shower he stood in front of the mirror to get his hair done... while combing his hair he noticed a slight pinkish mark on his shoulders...he watched it keenly and found that it was Raji's finger prints..a sweet smile appeared on his lips.. he had still felt her hands lingering on his shoulder..her reluctant soft touch..her strong grip when she was scared..her closeness, intoxicating perfume..everything made him go crazy..he shook his head for his stupid thoughts and looked at the mirror..

He was astonished...instead of his face he had seen Raji there...

He blinked few times to come out of that illusion..

He scolded himself.."Karthik get a grip man..don't give up that easily.."

"Ultra modern girls laam propose pannaanga,appalaam assault ah handle panninen,ippo indha angry bird ah deal panradhu romba kashtamaa irukke" he was more confused ..but he likes that confusion that's what scared him even more...

Here Raji was standing before the dressing table mirror and applying kajal ...

Kavya came there .."Hey Raji yenna idhu adhisaiyamaa..make up laam pottutu iruka..?she asked teasingly..

"Yen naan poda koodaadhaa?"she got irritated as she was caught by her friend..

"Appadilaam onnum illaiye...aanaa indha make up konjam over aa theriyudhe adhaan keten.."Kavya asked doubtfully ..

Raji twisted her lips...and continued her job...

"Sari adhu pogattum,nee yen karthik unnoda office la dhaan velai seiyaraannu yen kitta sollala? "she enquired..

"Adhu vandhu... naan marandhuten.."she stuttered

"Adhu yeppadi marakkum? poi sollaadha..unakku avan mela something something correct aa? Kavya asked playfully..

"Don't talk rubbish Kavya...there is nothing between us.."she quickly denied..

"Appo yedhukku nee avana pathi yen kitta sollala..?" she was not ready to give up this topic..

"Adhu unkitta solra alavukku mukkiyamaana vishayamaa yenakku thonalai.."Raji replied carelessly..

"So avan unakku mukkiyam illai... appuram yedhukku naanga pesum podhu nee ottu ketta Raji...?"

Raji's face became pale in shock...How does she know...?

"Illai nu poi sollaadha indha kavya vukku udambellaam kannu..therinjiko..." She declared with pride.

Raji's mind went blank she couldn't think of any excuse..she bent down her head in embarrassment

Kavya lifted her face with her one hand...

"Raji you are my best friend..nee yen kitta yellaa vishayathaiyum share pannikuva,appadi patta nee oru vishayatha share pannaama maraikarannaa.adhu yaen nu naan yosikka maatenaa?"

She asked in genuinely concerned voice

"Raji karthik romba nallah paiyanaa theriyudhu..if you have selected him as ur pair.then I will be very happy for u ..as far as I know he is a genuine guy..

Avanukkum un mela ishtamnu dhaan thonudhu.."kavya went on and on..

"Podhum kavya,adhukkulla nee yenga poita?nee nenaikara maathiri laam onnum illai..avana paarthadhum yenakku nalla opinion varalai.. adhaan unkitta sollalai..because I don't want to talk about him..avlo dhaan.. nee romba karpanai pannaadha.." she wants to end this topic..

"Raji naan solradha kelu..kandadhaiyum nenaichikittu nee un vaazhkaiya veenaakkadha..try to move on Raji.."

Unnai ippadi paarka yenakku romba kashtamaa irukkudi.."

She got emotional now..Raji's eyes also got wet seeing kavya's concern for her..

Raji consoled her... "kavya..I know ,nee yennoda nalladhukku dhaan yeppavum pesuvennu..but don't worry,I am perfectly alright..

Naan pazhasu yedhaiyum nenaikaradhe illai.indha pudhu life la naan romba happy aa iruken..so nee yennai pathi feel pannaama,unnoda boy friend ah pathi mattum kavalai padu ok aa? Raji tried to lighten her mood...

Kavya gave her a warm hug and bid her good bye before she left to office.

Raji was upset now..she looked her face in the mirror..all the excitement she had before had gone now.

Unwanted memories of the past rushed to her mind..She exhaled deeply to calm down herself..

She lost interest in doing makeup further..so she quitted it ..

Both KR came out of their flats at the same time.

Karthik was stunned to see Raji in a different makeover..

Always she looks pretty but this new attire and make over suited her perfectly and she looked like an angel to him..

It was obvious that she had taken more efforts to present herself well.

Raji was slightly blushing on seeing him so openly drooling her...

At first he was amazed... then when he thought about Raji's intension behind this change of makeover elevates his mind..."she did it for me.."the thought itself brings smile to him..he turned other side to muffle his foolish grin..

Raji's mind voice,

"Yenna yedhuvume sollaama andha pakkamaa thirumbikitaan...Avlo mosamaavaa irukom?"she was more tensed now..

"Iva chummaave azhagu..idhula ippadi dhevadhai maathiri make up pannitu vandhaa..?paarkuravan sethaan..."

Ippadiye yen edhirla vandhu ukkaara poraalaa?kizhinjadhu..inniku velai senja maathiri dhaan..."

He was thinking all this with a admiring look on her..

Raji's mind voice..

"Pattikaataan mittaai kadaiya paarkara maathiri muzhikaradha paaru..?Azhagaa irukkunnu vaaya thorandhu sonnaa korainjaa poiduvaan.."she was complaining in her mind..

"Raji...yenna inniku make up laam adhiga ..i mean azhagaa irukku..any special occation?"

Raji understood what he was supposed to say and how he had corrected the sentence..

"Naan adhigamaa make up pottirukenaa?" she was fuming inside...

"Aamaa yennai inniku ponnu paakka varaanga adhaan ippadi make up panni iruken..podhumaa..?she said in irritation and walked off with a grumpy face...

In office canteen

KV entered the canteen...and suddenly Vishnu said..

"Dai machaan anga paarudaaa Raji..." with a shocked voice.

Karthik instantly looked at the direction where Vishnu pointed out..

He too was shell shocked ...

Raji was sitting there with a guy and having coffee...it seemed they were talking very seriously..

"Appo kaalaila sonnadhu unmai dhaanaa..?Nijamaave ponnu paakka dhaan vandhirukaanaa?"

His breath stopped for a moment.."Cha..Cha appadilaam irukaadhu.".he assured himself..

"Dai machaan yaardaa adhu..?Raji oda boyfriend aa irukkumo...?"vishnu asked casually..

But he didn't expect the outburst of karthik..

"Vaaya kazhuvudaa...rendu per pesinaa udane lovers aa?Yaen brother and sister aa irukka koodaadhaa?"

Karthik asked in annoyance...

"Dai avanga body language ah paarthaa appadi theriyala daa..."Vishnu teased him..

Karthik glared at him..

"Sari moraikaadha daa..poi yaarunnu kelu.."Vishnu insisted him.

"Naan yeppadidaa poi kekuradhu.." he was hesitating..

"Nee kekkaama vera yaaru kekkaradhu?Machi... love panravan dhaandaa kekanum.."

"Love laam onnum illai...Karthik denied weakly..

"Nambiten machi...,Adhaan un moonji ya paarthaale theriyudhae...",Vishnu laughed at him..karthik starred at him ..

"Machi,indha moraipai yellaam unakku pottiyaa vandhirukaane avan kitta kaattu,yen kitta kaatti energy ah waste pannaadha..."Vishnu mocked at him..

"Dai Vishnu nee poi keludaa..."karthik requested him..

" Aamaandaa unakku maamaa velai paarkaradhukku than naan BE,IT,padichen...

"Dai maamaa poi keludaa..." Karthik asked him.

"Ohhh ..adhai nee confirm vera panriyaa..?"Vishnu asked in shock..

"Idhu nallaa irukke...pakkodaa saapiduravan oruthan..pallu kuthuravan oruthanaa..podaa... unakku venumnaa nee poi keludaa.."Vishnu was adamant...

"Dai nee dhaan da Raji oda friendu..."Karthik gave his excuse..

"Ippadi usupethi vittu yennaiya Rajikitta adi vannga vaikanum adhaane unnoda plan..?"Vishnu asked

"Ippo ponaa unakku nalladhu.." Karthik said in a stern voice..

" Idhula Yenakku yennadaa nalladhu...?" Vishnu asked in confusion..

" Ippa nee ponaa unnoda face la plaster podaama thapikalaam.. adhu unakku nalladhu illaiyaa?" he threatened him in a casual voice..

"Sari daa naane poren..illainaa dhaan nee vida maatiye..."Vishnu went unwillingly...

"Hi Raji .." . Vishnu said in an excited voice , he dragged a chair and sat near Raji..

Then he turned to the other side ,and acted as if he was noticing him then only...

"Oh sorry.. naan yedhum disturb pannitenaa?"he asked apologetically and tried to move away..

Raji hurriedly denied.."No problem Vishnu.. u can stay here..he is my cousin only,his name is Soundhar..

"Soundhar ,he is my colleague Vishnu."she introduced them to each other.

They said formal "hello" to each other..

Then vishnu said,"Neenga yedho personal aa pesitu irukeenga naan appurama varen,"

"Its ok vishnu,Soundhar ippo kelambittu dhaan irundhadhru.." it seemed Raji also wanted Vishnu to stay there..

"So Raji... naama indha weekend meet pannalaamaa?"Soundhar asked her..

"Naan appurama call panren soundhar.." She doesn't pay any heed to his proposal..

He bid good bye to her and left..

In Karthik's cabin..

Vishnu to karthik ,"Dai... avan Raji oda Cousin aamaandaa.."

On hearing this,Karthik released a sigh of relief...a big burden left him now..

"Cousin naa yaarudaa.."Vishnu asked in doubt..

"Madaiyaa idhu kooda theriyaadhaa daa..periyappaa paiyan,chithapaa paiyan ..ivangala dhaandaa cousin nu solluvaanga..."He was laughing at him.

"Aamaandaa naan madaiyan dhaan...sari ulaga arivaaliye neenga sollunga...maama paiyan,athai paiyan ivangala English la yennanu solluvanga..?" Vishnu asked sarcastically..

Karthik was frowning now...

"Dai chumma irudaa... vandhutaan moolaiya thooki kaila vachikittu...kekuraan paaru detailuu..."

Karthik left In annoyance..

Vishnu's mind voice..

"Love kooda pannidalaam..aanaa indha love panravangalukku friend aa mattum irukka koodaadhu...

Oru vingnaaniyai ivan paduthum paadu irukke...iyoooyuuuooo..."

The whole day karthik noticed that Raji looked very disturbed..

"Why she is upset..?Is it anything related to that Soundhar..? "he was getting annoyed now.

karthik felt angry on that unknown person who might be the reason for her dismay.

" Raji was disturbed by someone else...,"that thought itself burnt him alive..it was called jealousy...

Yes he was feeling jealous of someone for the first time in his life he had ever known..

to be continued...