Meant to Be note on page 162 - Page 87

Meant to be

part 37

"Rajiii..."sumi completed his sentence and hugged Raji as if choking her breath...

"Hey,Raji...yevlo naal aachi unnai paarthu.."

Raji also reciprocated the hug with a smile..

All the three watching the drama with gapping mouth..Surprised by the turn of events..

"Hello ...yenna yellaarum appadi paarkureenga...Raji um naanum college mates paa...Coimbatore PSG la BE padikkum bodhu rendu perum batch mates..naan hostel .. ava day scalar.."Sumi unveiled the suspense..Then she turned to Raji...who was watching her rattling ,with a smile..

"Raji two years irukkumaa naama paarthu..?aanaalum anniku paartha maadhiriye dhaan innamum iruka.."Sumi held her hand lovingly..

"Neeyum appadiye dhaan irukka same loda..loda..ottai vaayi..." Raji said mockingly and then both burst into laughter as if they went to their old college days...

"Iyoo un kitta neraiya pesanume..but I have to hurry up now..today there are so many meetings lined up for me...naan evening vandhudaren..appo pesalaam... bye.."she waved her hand to all and gone within a snap of an eye...

"oopss..puyal adichi oinja maadhiri irukku.."Vishnu sighed..

"yendaa.. mokkai poduradhula unakku potti vandhuduchennu stomach burning aa?"Lakshmi pulled his leg...

"lachu..ava konjam adhigamaa pesuvaa..but romba nalla ponnu.."

Raji gave conduct certificate to Sumi..

"Ok guys konjam rest yedunga we will meet for breakfast..Raji and Lakshmi ungalukku room first floor la..."Karthik said and pointed towards their room...

"Appo yenakku machaan.." Vishnu asked eagerly..

"Unakellam thani room thara mudiyaadhu, yennoda room laiye oru oramaa paduthukko.."Karthik made fun of him. where other two giggled seeing Vishnu's fuming face..

"Sari daa kochikaadha machaan..unnai vittutu naan yeppadi daa irupen...adhaan yennodave irukka solren..."Karthik side hugged him showing his affection to him..Though both Karthik and RL's rooms were on first floor they located at two corners..

RL In their room

"Mm ...room romba azhagaa irukkula.."Lakshmi admired the sophistication of the room..

Luxurious bed.. 42 inch led tv..music system.. AC...French window with suitable curtain, fully furnished room..Artistic paintings and wall hangings..antique flower vase..dressing table, small couch ..tea poi..everything was plush and rich..

"Appaa ..guest room ae ippadi naa..host room laam yeppadi irukkum?"

Lakshmi exclaimed..in awe..

Raji looked through the window and stunned by the beauty of the vast back yard..that covered with so many tress standing like pillars..small shrubs with colorful flowers spreading fragrance everywhere..which were arranged with aesthetic sense gives feast to eyes as well...lawn covered by rich green grass trimmed evenly..artificial pond with fountain was the center of attraction..and park bench was placed facing the fountain.. long alley from house to garden was enriched with colorful marble stones..that ends with a small gazebo roof adorned with flower climbers..she stood speechless eyeing all the grandeur and magnificent scenery.. an unknown fear clutched her heart..

Not getting any response from Raji for so long.. Lakshmi came near and touched her shoulder..

"Hey Raji yenna yosanai..?"Puzzled by her strange silence..

Raji's face reflected her inner turmoil..

"Raji..yenna oru maadhiri iruka?is everything ok?"Lakshmi asked in concern..

"Lakshmi ...Karthik ivlo periya panakaaranaa irupaannu naan ninaikave illai.."Raji said with worried look..

"Adhukku ippo yenna?" Lakshmi asked casually...not understanding Raji's fear..

"illai.. avanukkum yenakkum othu varumaanu konjam doubt aa irukku..yenga appavum oorla periya aalu dhaan..but indha vasadhi laam chance ae illai.."she squeezed her lower lip out by nodding negatively...

"loosu maadhiri pesaadha Raji..indha kaalathula idhellam yaaru paarkuraa..adhoda Karthik ippadilaam yosikaravanae kedaiyaadhu...adhu unakke theriyum...appuram unakku mattum yenaa?"Lakshmi tried to convince her...

But still Raji's mind was not cleared ..seeing her still reluctant face Lakshmi changed the topic

"Sari adhai vidu..yenna gift vaangi iruka sollu..?"

"Yenna gift ?"Raji scrunched her brows..

"Nadikaadha di.. I am not a kid to believe ur drama... karthik birthday ku yenna gift vaangi irukennu solla pidikalainaa solladhe..adhukaaga ippadi onnume theriyaadha maadhiri scene podaadha..."Lakshmi turned her face in fake anger.

"Oh adhuvaa..? sorry di..Actual aa naan yendha gift um vaangalai.."Raji replied

"Appo inimel dhaan vaanga poriyaa?good good..nanum varen un kooda.."Lakshmi said excitedly..

"No Lakshmi I don't have any such plans.."

Lakshmi looked at her as if she was talking in alien language...and shook her head in disbelief

Raji chuckled seeing lakshmi's reaction.."Nijama dhaan Lakshmi..naan yendha gift um vaanga poradhillai..avanukku naan tharra gift vilai madhikka mudiyaadha dhaa irukanum nu naan aasai paduren.."

"Adhu yenna appadi oru priceless giftu.. ... sollu naanum therinjikaren.."

Lakshmi asked curiously ...

"Naan Karthik ku birthday gift aa yennoda love ah thara poren..adhai vida best gift vera yedhuvum irukka mudiyaadhunu thonudhu..."Raji said with dreamy look on her face..but was shocked to see Lakshmi giggling...

"Yennna sirikara Lakshmi.." Raji asked grumbling..

"Raji pls don't tell me..u people haven't confessed yet .."lakshmi's eyes widened in shock learning the truth from Raji's silence..

"Ohh appo nijamaave neenga innum confess pannikaliya?omg joke of the decade ..neenga love panradhu oor ulagathukku yellam theriyum but ungalukku theriyaadhaa?what a medical miracle.."

"Kindal pannadha Lakshmi..yengalukkum theriyum but veliya sollikalai avlo dhaan.."

"Adhaan yen..innum sollalai.."

"We don't feel like saying it..andha moonu word onnum avlo mukkiyamaa yenakku padalai..but ippo adhai sonnaa nalla irukkum nu thonudhu. Once he tried to propose , but I denied him...So he won't say it again..now it's my turn to say it to him..every time when I started talking in serious tone he would look at me with yarning eyes but when I said something else his face would fall down in disappointment..i noticed it many times ..poor guy..he had waited for so long ...so I decided to open my heart to him without any inhibition..if that happens on his birthday means it would be more special and memorable than ever..i felt.." Raji said with a shy smile..

"Paarraa..neeyum oru feelings Parimala dhaan... sari..yennamo pannunga..nalla vela kalyaanam panni peran pethi paarkaradhukku munnadiyaavadhu sollanum nu unakku thoniche..adhu ve perusu.."

Lakshmi said sarcastically...

Raji throw the pillow at her in fake anger...

" Raji kekka marandhuten.. sollu andha Sumi yaaru..?" Lakshmi asked as if it strikes her suddenly..

"Adhaan sonnalae..ava yennoda college mate Lakshmi..romba palakkam illai..but paarthaa siruchi pesura alavukku friends avlo dhaan"

"Oh.. paarthu di..ava Karthik mela paanjadha paarthaa yenakku onnum sariyaa padalai...unakku pottiyaa vandhuda poraa.." Lakshmi warned her friend..

"Cha cha..ava appadi patta ponnu illai..she is very innocent.."Raji denied hurriedly..

"Ava nallavalaave irukattum..Yedhukkum Karthik mela oru kannu vachiko.."

"Yenna pesura Lakshmi... Karthik onnum cheap aanavan kedaiyaadhu." Raji defended Karthik firmly ..

"Indha maadhiri vishayathula yendha aambalaiyayum nammaba mudiaadhu..Vishnu kellam naan ok sollaama deal la vachi irukaradhu yen nu nenaikira..avan mela innum yeannku irukkara doubt naala dhaan..."Lakshmi tried to justify her point..

"Unnoda Vishnu va nee yenna venaa sollu ko.. but yennoda Karthik Sri Raman.."

Raji said with pride stressing the last word...

"Dhodaa avlo nambikaiyaa un aalu mela..nee ninaikara maadhiriye nadandha sandhosham dhaan.."

Lakshmi was happy that her plan of elevating Raji's bad mood had worked out well..so that Raji has forgotten her worries and stood firm and confidence in her love..

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

During breakfast

KRVL having breakfast along with K s parents..they talked about some general stuffs..about their health, work etc..

KR seated opposite to K's parents..whereas Lakshmi sat besides Raji..and Vishnu besides Karthik..

K's appa ,Muthukumar complaints about karthik to his friends..like a typical parent..

"Neengale sollunga paa...inga ivlo periya business irukku..namakku keezha velai seiya 100 peru irukaanga..adhai vitutu yengaiyo poi ivan yen adimai maadhiri yaaruko velai seiyanum.."he said with complaining voice..

Karthik stared at him..

"Appaa..naan dhaan solliten la I am not interested in ur business .."Karthik replied in annoyed voice..

"Yenakku irukaradhu ore paiyan..yenakku appuram business ah ivana vittaa vera yaaru paarthukaradhu..?idhellam konjam koda yosikka maatenguraan..."Kumar sir said with sad voice..trying to seek some sympathy from K's friends..

"Aamaandaa Karthi..inga Raja maadhiri vaazharadha vittutu yendaa anga vizhundhu vizhundhu velai seiyanum..?"Vishnu defended kumar sir's side.

"Appadi sollu Vishnu.." Appa praised Vishnu..

"Appaa...podhum unga drama..ovoru murai oorukku varum bodhum kettu kettu pulichi pona dialogues...ungalukku appauram nu peche ippodhaikku kedaiyaadhu..i know u r young enough to run a business atleast for 25 odd years..adhukkapuram unga peran takeover pannipaan don't worry..Dai Vishnu ..yenna sonnah ..?Raja maadhiri vaazhkaiyaa... yenga appa naaan china paiyanaa irukkum bodhu.. naai maadhiri ulaipaaru..pei maadhiri night 12 manikku mela varuvaaru...sila naal veetuku varama kooda irupaaru..idhai yellaam paarthuttu dhaan business mattum panna koodaadhunnu naan china vayasulaiye decide panniten."Karthik gave back nicely to his father..

"Unnoda pesi jeyikka mudiyumaa..sandhadi saakula naai..pei nu thittu vera..inimelum yedhaavadhu sonaa..innum mosamaa thittuvaan...yedhukku vambu..?"Appa backed off successfully..

Raji and Lakshmi were mere spectators for this father son debate..They watched the events with a smile...

Mean time..while conversing with his father Karthik slowly grabbed Raji's left hand under the table..Raji was shocked and looked at him in awe..

He winked naughtily at her... she glared at him and tried to free her hand without grabbing others attention..

But his grip was so tight she couldn't get off it..she signaled him to leave her hand..but he ignored her plea and smirked ..and started eating his Tiffin as if he doesn't know anything..

"Raji yennamaa... vacha idli apapdiye irukku saapidumaa..."K's Ammaa Sharada said with concerned voice...

Raji tried very hard to look casual..

"Saapiduren aunty .." she said politely ..but glaring at him at the corner of her eye..

To add fuel to her burning anger he asked .. "Raji pls pass that chutney" ever so innocently..

She gritted her teeth in anger and tried very hard to jerk his hand but his iron grip didn't even bulge..she tried to pinch him with her fingers..but he smartly engulfed them into his big palm..

"Raji chutney keten innum pass pannave illaiye.."he asked aloud as if attracting others attention..

Raji was so embarrassed with others questioning look...she bit her lips in nervousness..but the prankster next to her enjoying her plight with mischievous eyes.

Suddenly she got an idea to free her hand..she coughed loudly as if the food was choked in throat ..

As a reflex Karthik left her hand and tapped her head and held a glass of water near her mouth ...

Raji pulled back her hand as soon as he left it and kept her both hands on the table..

Looked at him with challenging look and winning smirk..

Then only he realized that she had tricked him..though his inside was fuming .. he didn't ready to give up that easily...he changed his route..he started to caress her leg with his under the table.

And gazed at her with a naughty glint..but she stayed calm as if she was not affected by his touch.

He caressed it again that time little longer...but in vein Raji remained very casual ..

Meantime Amma started the convo..

"Otha pullai..pethavanga koodave irukaama..ippadi yengaiyo kann kaanaadha idathula velai paarkaratha nenaichaa indha petha manasu thaangalai..chummaa vaa sonnanga petha manam pithu pillai manam kallunu.." she acted dramatically..

But Karthik raised his brows in amusement..

"Amma ungalukku yen kooda irukanumna..chennai ku vandhu yen kooda thangunga ..yeppavum yen koodave irukalaam..adhai vittutu yedhugai..monaiyaa vasanam pesittu irukeenga..yenna solreenga inniku night ae ticket book pannavaa?"he returned the plate so cleverly.

"Dei,unakku vaai romba over aagiduchidaa..unnai laam thiruthave mudiyaadhu." She said in fed up voice accepting her defeat indirectly..

"Ammaa..avlo dhaanaa..naan innum neraiya yedhir paarthen ippadi adhukkulla jagaa vaaangiteengale..so sad.."he said with sulky face..others smiled at his antics..

Raji admired the bonding between the trio..in her family also they shared a very close bonding..but talking this casually like friends, pulling each other's legs at times..talking with privilege was something she can never imagine with her parents..its only she and sister would share these kind of close relationship..she looked at them all amused.

While talking to her mother also he has not left his under the table dealing. he rubbed her leg again...

Mean time his phone buzzed indicating the message ..Karthik rummaged in his packet to pull out it and gazed at the glittering mobile screen..it was from Vishnu..

"Dai nee Raji kaalunnu nenaichi arai mani neramaa yen kaala thechittu iruka..innoru murai theicha..appuram naan porumaiyaa irukka maaten..azhudhuduven..mudiyala .."

Karthik was horrified because of the message..noticing his strange reaction.. Raji slightly peeped in and read the message..after reading it.. she tried very hard to muffle her laughter..but her gleaming eyes showed it all.

For a moment Karthik was so embarrassed to see the naughty look of Raji...but later he also joined with her smile for their secret joke..

Though Karthik's parents looked nonchalant but they too observed the chemistry running between KR..and they exchanged a meaningful look to each other..

After breakfast Karthik took his friends to the tour of his house..

After visited inside of the house they came to backyard a huge green garden welcomed them..Lakshmi sat on the park bench to enjoy the view..Vishnu accompanied her..

Karthik tapped on Raji's shoulder..

She looked at him puzzled..

"Raji anga oru room irukkula adhu yenakku romba special..i wish u to visit it..can u come with me..?"he asked softly..

She cued towards VL...he nodded..no...

"Nee mattum vaayen.." he pleaded with his eyes..

She nodded and they walked towards the room Karthik had pointed out..

It seemed like an outhouse, aloof from the main building she wondered what could be so special inside this very ordinary room... Karthik opened the door and asked her to get in..

Raji walked in and she couldn't see anything properly as it was dark inside..she walked very slowly trying to adjust her eye sight to the dim light by blinking it twice ... suddenly she felt something was moving on her waist..she snapped the object at once and shrieked ...

"aaahhh.."

But the next moment she was in the cage of his arms with his one hand securely hugging her back whereas another one covering her mouth.

"shhh..it's me..don't shout.."he hushed her whispering near her ear..

Instead of calming down..his husky voice increased her nervousness many folds and her heart beats frantically by his closeness..

He slowly removed his hand from her mouth ensuring that she won't shout..

"Karthik leave me.. yaaraavadhu vandhuda poraanga.."she shrugged off his hands..But had hit him back hardly with his strong tug..

"aaavvv..Karthik."she yelped...

He smiled in return... "Inga yaarum vara maataanga.."he said gazing her passionately...

She ran her eyes all around..it was like a store room.all things seemed very old and dusty nothing seemed interesting or special..

She pouted her lips in disappointment..

"Nothing special here..appurum Yennai inga yedhukku koottitu vandha..."

"Idhukku dhaan .."he hugged her tightly for a moment before relaxing his hold ..

"Vara vara nee romba over speed aa pora..konjam speed ah koraichaa nalladhu.."

"Yaarukku.."

"Yellarukkume.."

"Yenna panradhu... unnai paarthaa control aa irukka mudiyala..u r attracting me like a magnet."

He said flirtatiously...

"Karthik VL namma thedaradhukkulla naama polaam vaa..." she tried her best to get distance from him..as she couldn't trust her senses any more when he was around..so she decided to struck to the proverb.. "prevention is better than cure.."

"Not so soon dear..i want my toll"

"Toll aa?"

"ooru vittu ooru vandhaa kudupaangale toll andha maadhiri..."He mouthed a kiss to her...she denied out rightly nodding her head negatively...

"No way.."

"Then I won't leave u..ippadi yen kaikullave irukka dhaan unakku virupam naa appadiye iru..yenakku no problem.." he said with finality .

Mean while she heard Lakshmi's voice at the distance..

"Lakshmi varaanu nenaikaren..vidu Karthik vilaiyaada idhuvaa neram.?"she insists him..

But he was adamantand tightens his hold..she had realized that arguing with him was waste of time..inhaling sharply..

"Ok ...kanna moodu tharen..."she said in exasperated voice...

He closed his eyes with a victorious smirk...she wetted her lips for a second and pecked his cheek..softly .. shoved his hands off with a jerk..and ran away before he would react..

He had not chased her but smiled inwardly...

" Acting very smart aa..?un kitta toll vaangaama vidamaaten paaru.."

Raji came out running with a thudding heart..and a shy smile...looking back frequently to confirm he was not following her..

The entire day she tried to avoid being caught by Karthik..while Karthik tried hard to corner her alone..but she cleverly tackled him every time..Actually they both liked this hide and seek game..one was trapping and the other was tricking ...

Raji was happy and her face gleaming with her blossoming love.. smile plastered to her lips constantly.. She looked like an angel descended from the skies..but her smile was wiped out completely with a sudden storm hits her hard unexpectedly...

To be continued..

friends,

i am fine now...😊

thanks for all ur concern😃