Meant to Be note on page 162 - Page 96

Meant to be

part 40

Raji and Lakshmi returned to their room after their long day of shopping.. Lakshmi thumped herself on the sofa all exhausted..

Raji went near the mirror and looked at her pale dull face..suddenly her eyes fell on a gift box kept on the dressing table..she took that box in hand and read the card plastered on it..

"Yen idhaiyam kavarndha iniyavalukku.."

Her lips curved to a sweet smile knowing that its Karthik's handwriting..

Meantime Lakshmi also noticed the gift parcel and came near curiously..

"hey..Raji yenna gift idhu?"she peeped in and read the message...and smiled naughtily..

"Paaraa ...kavidhailaam pinnudhu.. yaaru Raji adhu."Lakshmi teased Raji..

"Kindal pannadha Lakshmi.."Raji tried to hide her blush..

"Sari sari open pannu... yenna irukkunnu paarkalaam.."Lakshmi cued her..

"Hey..yenna nee konjam kooda manners illama paarkalam nu solra...?this is something personal.. nee veliya po naan pirichipaarkanum.."

"Indha dakalati velai yellam yen kitta vendaam..yedhuvaa irundhaalum yen kann munaadiye open pannu.." she crossed her hands showing her stubbornness...

Finding no other go..Raji opened the gift reluctantly..Praying her favorite god inwardly to not embarrass her in front of Lakshmi..

It was a nice designer saree..mixure of both light and dark shades of blue with golden border..with flower embroidery all over the saree...it was simple but elegant...

"My eyes would be blessed .if u wear this saree for the party.." one more note kept inside the box..

"Hey nice saree di.."lakshmi touched the saree..."un aalu nalla rasanaiyanavan dhaan.."Lakshmi praised Karthik's selection...

Raji caressed the saree lovingly..and she switched into deep thinking mode..

"Raji unkitta onnu kekalaama?" lakshmi asked

"Idhu yenna kelvi... nee yenna venaa yen kitta kekalaam.."Raji replied breaking her trance...

"R u ok?" Lakshmi asked seriously..

"Yenna ippadi kekura Lakshmi...?" Raji avoided directly answering to her question..

"Nethula irundhu nee sariyaave illai..yenna problem Raji ..?yen kitta share pannikalam illaiyaa?Lakshmi asked in concerned voice..

"Appadilaam onnum illai lakshmi..unakku yen aappadi thonudhu.."

"Yenakku thonalai..Karthik ku thoni irukku...avan dhaan kekka sonnaan...nethula irundhu un mugame sari illainu sonnaan..."

Raji's eyes pooled thinking of the concern of him... "How much he cares for me...!"

"Karthik unnai nenaichi romba feel panraan Raji..yen kita sollalainaa kooda paravaaliali avan kitta sollu.."Lakshmi advised Raji to share her mind with Karthik..

Raji was standing in front of the mirror..Applying gajal for her eyes..Lustrously clad in the blue saree gifted by Karthik..

Lakshmi was sitting on the sofa ...leisurely glanced some magazine...she was clad in lemon yellow color saree with green border along with matching accessories looking gorgeous...

Suddenly the door was knocked.. "come in .."Lakshmi answered..after passing a quick glance at Raji..

The door was clicked open and Karthik appeared at the door step... clad in his party wear suit ,white shirt and matching tie, shiny blue colored coat and same colored pant...completely ready for the party looking dashing every inch from head to toe..

Raji's eyes caught his eyes through the mirror..he held her gaze captivated and walked towards her..

Raji gapped at him with open mouth hands stilled in the air ..even forgetting to breath...

"Mai podaamale mayangi poi dhaan irukom..idhula mai vera pottaa..yenga nilamai yenna aagaradhu..?"he said flirtingly

"oof..oof..."Lakshmi coughed to grab their attention..

"Hello inga naan oruthi kuthu kallu maadhiri iruken marandhudadeenga.."

"Appadiyaa..naanga onnum irukka sollaaliye..yen Raji nee sonna?"karthik mocked at Lakshmi..

"Appaa ...idhu ulaga nadippudaa saami..idhukku mela inga irundhaa yenakku mariyaadhai illai..naan kelambaren.."

Lakshmi walked out with a smile..

Karthik walked slowly towards Raji...keeping his eyes transfixed to hers..

Raji's hands shivered seeing him very close ..and her cheeks felt the heat with his intense gaze..she down casted her eyes not able to face him out of her shyness..

He stood just behind her as if his body touching her back... He slowly bent forward and kept his face near her..and watched their reflection in the mirror..

"azhagaai irukiraai payamaai irukkiradhu.."he said huskily..

She raised her eyes up to the mirror and stilled to see both their figures close to each other...he looked like a handsome hunk where she stood as the epitome of beauty..his manliness complimented her femininity .. the blue color tuxedo he was wearing matches with her saree color..actually he chooses them in the matching color..

Both looked perfect together..

"Raji .."he called her sensually that sounds so unique as always..which makes her heart beats rapidly..

"Naan yeppadi iruken..konjamaavadhu theruvenaa..?"

She looked at him once again and spell bounded by his striking looks.. every inch of him from top to toe screamed manliness and perfection.. her heart overwhelmed with pride of owning this Greek god like man only for herself...her throat went dry she gulped hard..and wetted her lips..

seeing her openly drooling him with gapping eyes..he smirked proudly.. His one hand slowly circled around her waist and tucked her closer to him pressing his palm on her flat tummy..

The material was so delicate that he could feel the head created between them..he fingers stocked there slowly as if making a pattern.. his other hand knuckled her arm upwards ..travelled through shoulder and finally reached her flushed cheek it felt so soft he could feel the goose bumps of her skin over his touch.. ..he was slowly setting fire inside her ..she bit her lips to control the mourn..his gaze darkened with desire on seeing her luscious lips ...

"Don't tempt me ..."He said huskily..

Her tummy fluttered with his words..

His naughty hand sneaked into her thin saree material and stealthily touches the delicate skin under it...

She inhaled sharply with the sensation created by his passionate touch..before he could proceed further..she immediately turned around and hugged him tightly to block his mission..as if a prey itself seeking shelter from its predator...

Her low cut blouse hardly covered her back that driven him go even more crazy..his hot hands touched her bare back running jitter down her spine..

She inhaled deeply...as she felt her lungs running out of breath..

"Karthik" her airy voice stimulates his sensation more..

"You have no idea.. what u r doing to me.." He said controlling his unleashed desires and his dangerous voice churned her tummy upside down...

"Nee ippa inga yedhukku vandha?"she asked in complaining voice..

"I came here to remind u something"

"Remind me of What..?"

"U have not yet given my present.."

"What present..?"

"Adi paavi ..yennoda birthday present"

"Oh adhuvaa.."

"Yenna ipapdi cool aa solra?"

"Adhai solla dhaan vandhiyaa?"

"aamaa"

"Sollitala kelambu.."

"Yenga kelambaradhu...nee vitaadhaane kelamba mudiyum..?"he said naughtily indicating that she was still hugging him so tightly..

But she hugged him even tighter and said "mudiyaadhu po.."

"Indha vilaiyaatu kooda nalla dhaan irukku..."he smiled ...

"Karthik.." she called him looking into his eyes leaning on him comfortably..

"Sollu..."

"naan un kita onnu sollanum..."

"I am waiting .."

"Idhu konjam serious..."

"Yedhuvaa irundhaalum sollu.."

"Adhu vandhu.."her fingers fiddling with his tie..

"Mmm"

"Indha tie unnoda shirt ku match aagave illai.." she blurted out something unrelated..

"Idhai dhaan serious matter nu sonniyaa..vidu.. naan kobama kelambaren..."he tried to shove her hands off..

"Hey pogaadha Karthik..iru...Naan solren.."she stopped him by grabbing his color..then started reluctantly..

"Karthik nethula irundhu un kitaa oru vishayatha solla mudiyaama thavikaren.."

"Yenakku theiryum ..neeyaa solluvennu naan wait pannitu iruken.."

"Adhu vandhu .."

" Yeppavo vandhachu mela sollu..."he cued her with an impatient gasp..

Suddenly they heard some footsteps at the door step ...followed by the door opening sound outside..both reacted quickly and parted away in a jiffy..

Sumi entered the room and was shocked to see KR standing alone...that too more closer position..than expected from a mere friends..

she passed a scrutinizing look on them ..they felt the air was dense in the room...Contradictory emotions were running in their minds..Sumi could feel the uneasiness between the two of them..she could have easily guessed from their body language that they were having some private moment just before her arrival..

Fully flushed Raji's face and slightly embarrassed Karthik's face added weightage to her presumption..

"Sorry I should have knocked the door before I enter.."she asked sorry but her tone didn't reflected that feel even a bit..

Karthik was the first one to come out of the shock ..and smiled friendly at sumi as if breaking the awkwardness in the air..

"Hey sumi..nee yenna inga..?"

"Adhai naan kekanum..nee inga yenna panra?"

"Raji ready aagitaalannu parka vandhen.."

"Adhellam naan paarthukaren..keezha uncle unnai thedittu irukaaru nee po..appuram chumma chummaa ladies thaniyaa irukara room ku vandhu nikkaadha.. avangalukku embarrassing aa irukkum puriyudhaa?"sumi said in a commanding tone...

Karthik took it casually and he grinned absurdly before he walked off ..

Sumi encountered Raji with an accusing glare..

Raji bowed her head down as if she had committed some sin..

"varakoodaadha nerathula vandhutano? sumi asked

The tone of her voice sounded alleged that made Raji to look into her eyes in shock...

"Was she blaming ..?"

For a second sumi's eyes spitted venom but next second she changed that expression as if it never happened ..her face retained its composure...

"Illai...neenga yedhaavadhu mukkiyamaa pesittu irundhirupeenga naan vandhu disturb panniteno nu keten.."

"Appadilaam onnum illai Sumi...naanga chumma dhaan pesittu irundhom.."Raji tried to explain as if clearing her doubt..

But sumi stopped her by raising her hand..

"Podhum Raji...I don't want to hear anything about u and Karthik..today it will be only me and Karthik..yes.. it's our day ..today we r going to get engaged officially in front of the world..i am so excited u know..no matter what I won't miss this day and Karthik.."she said it with a stubborn voice as if making Raji to understand the underlying meaning of it..

Raji grasped the crux of her subtle statement that she would never give up on Karthik..

Raji was shocked to see the total contradicting demeanor of sumi..

After that sumi didn't wait for a second there..she treaded out with determined steps... Raji stood rooted to her place in bewilderment..hearing the diminishing sound of sumi's pointed heals...

Raji thought that sumi was also in the same position as of Raji who faced the heart wrenching pain during her broken engagement with Deepak..so only she hesitated to tell the truth as she doesn't want sumi to experience the same pain.. but Sumi was a different kind of personality which Raji had totally unaware of... Sumi was not Raji who could sacrifice her life for other's happiness...Sumi's nature was dominating and more self centered .. however worst the situation might be, she would find her ways to get things done in her favor..even though she had known that Karthik and Raji having feelings for each other..she has not ready to give up the desire of making Karthik as her man..

She wanted to shackle him with the bond irrespective of his wish..

She easily convinced her rationality by saying..later she could make him to fall in love with her by showering her immense love on him...

So she wanted no stones unturned in this party..she determined to get engaged to him by all means..

She even ready to play dirty games if the situation demands for it..

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The birthday party

Raji has arrived at the party venue...it was held at the garden itself..the garden was decorated nicely with lights and flowers .. the central stage was illuminating like a moon in the star..it was not very high just a feet above on the ground... Dice had been located in such a way that it could be visible even from the distance.. and the tables were placed around it till half round..laser streaks coming from the stage reached the skies..

To the right side of the stage delicious foods were waiting to be served..and on the other side bar had been arranged for social drinkers..

Raji looked at the crowd with flustering eyes..the atmosphere was so vibrating and cheerful.. the chortle and cheers erupted from nowhere had even jolted her at times..she could see ladies in the party were clad in grand attires, expensive diamonds ,rubies smiled proudly on them...and the youngsters having fun dancing and chatting bulling others, laughing aloud cracking some jokes...middle aged people most of them settled in bar and engaged in some serious talks may be business and social matters..

She had seen these types of high -fi parties only in movies, when she had happened to see that in real she has no amusement or excitement instead she felt discomfort being here in this enigmatic crowd..

She found Lakhsmi was talking to Vishnu sitting in the corner table..seemed like they have forgotten the whole world and immersed in their own world..

She doesn't want to disturb their private talk..she thought let them have some personal time..as its time for them to take their relation to the next level..

She settled herself on the deserted place distanced herself from the entropy around her.. ..she felt like a shag on a rock...a complete loner to the place..

She Looked towards the stage where the hero of the party made his grand entry accompanied by sumi by his side..along with both their parents..

Arousing the loud cheers from the crowd..their entry itself symbolizes that it wasn't a regular birthday party..it was going to be something big ...

Sumi was clinging to him like a parasite..not even letting his side for a moment..

Sumi glittered in her parlor made makeup..and the diamond jewels she wore had complimented her natural beauty..

She looked more like an Angle descended straight from the fairy land..She smiled with all her glory having her man next to her..

Raji never thought this party would this grand ...now only the seriousness of the situation actually sinks in her..

"omg..How could Karthik deny his father in front of this huge gathering where all are intertwined with family and also with business.." she was startled and her restlessness increased many folds...

How embarrassing it would be for Karthik's family if some chaos occurred here..it could have turned out be an interesting headliner for next day's local newspaper..seeing some reporters around she ascertained that her assumption was not far from the reality..

"God..what a mess I have created for karthik..."she fully regretted her hesitance for not letting him know the truth..

When she thought of telling, it seemed everything had slipped away from her hand..

She looked at the stage anxiously where her fate has been about to rewritten..

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Karthik scanned the whole crowd to get a glimpse of the person whom his heart was longing to see from the time he had entered..

Finally he spotted his heart's solace..but was puzzled to see her sitting in an isolated place with disturbed look..

His heart wanted to fly to her at once but as of now he can't run away like that..Because all the eyes were watching each and every movement of him.. He has to be cautious on his facial expressions and even gestures too..he plastered the smile permanently to his lips and accepting the wishes from the guests and friends..he was doing all these like a robot but his heart revolves around some aloof corner of the garden..where the love of his life resides in pain..

He wanted to finish all the formalities as soon as possible and get back to Raji..but the party never seemed to be ending..

He was asked to cut the cake ..he did that eithout any interest..

He was fed the cake half mindedly to sumi..who was standing next to him..and then to his parents..

After the cake cutting ceremony..

Karthik's father came to the centre stage grabbing the mike he started to address the gathering...

"Dear family ,relatives and friends..thank u so much for ur gracious presence to add glory to this wonderful occasion..Today I and my better half ..he showed his wife...are very happy ..actually it was an emotional moment for both of us..Today our dear son Karthik has completed his 25^th birthday..."

"Ippo nenaichalum aachariyama irukku..ippo dhaan avana modhal modhalla kaila vaangina maadhiri irukku..but 25 years kadandhu pochi.."

Karthik was surprised to see his father getting very emotional..and he also listened to his speech with so many emotions lingering in his mind..for the time being he even forget about Raji ..

And concentrated on his dad's words more keenly..he doesn't know what he was trying to convey..

"Till now.. we as a parents.. have given our best to our son..and we let him to lead his life according to his wish though it was against our wish..

Now we thought..it's time for us step back and let another person to join in this beautiful journey to make his life more interesting..so from now on..he will be walking along with that special person for the rest of his life..

It doesn't mean that we quit...but we r adding one more person to our little family...family growing big is always a good sign u all know..he smiled..

So here I would proudly call upon my prospective daughter in law..Sumithra..daughter of my best friend and partner Dhivakar..we have chosen her as fianc for my one and only son Karthikeyan muthukumar..

He opened the Champaign bottle and letting overflow the liquid as the sign of good fortune..and the crowd hooted and cheered..

There were no shock or surprise among the guests..as already many of them had guessed that these sort of announcement might have been made.. while they witnessed sumi and Karthik were glued together throughout the party..actually everybody had started gossiping about their relationship ..the announcement gave answers to all of their queries..

Precisely speaking ..Karthik was the only person who got the real shock by this so called surprise announcement..

"Now they r going to be engaged on this beautiful occasion.."Karthik's father announced cheerfully..

He opened a box and took out the ring from it..and gave it Karthik and cued him to put it on sumi's finger..

Karthik looked at the ring..it was the same ring he had selected for sumi ..

"So it was a well planned trap for me...how foolish I am to fall into my father's trick.."he cursed his own stupidity for being ignorant to such a big issue..

Sumi extended her hand with a shy smile..but he looked at her blankly.. Karthik couldn't even react to this unexpected shock..shock was an understatement for his plight...he was stunned and didn't know how to react to this situation..

Seeing him standing like a statue..Karthik's father thought he was too much surprised to react..so to give him some time he took the mike and announced

"I think I couldn't make his birthday more special than this...so no wonder he is on cloud nine..might be too much excited and he forget even to react..poor boy..our surprise surprised him in the real sense...so let him have some time to come out of this.. they will get engaged in a while ..till then u guys keep partying and have fun.."

Karthik got the much needed break to think clearly...after getting back his senses ..his first reaction was searching for Raji in the crowd..

She was standing at the distance Vishnu and Lakshmi standing beside her as a pillar of support..Lakshmi was holding Raji shoulder comfortingly..

Karthik's eyes didn't see any of these other than her big dark eyes filled with extreme pain..his body quivered and an unknown fear clutched his heart..

since the time Karthik's dad held the mike in his hand..Raji s heart started beating frantically ...

With his every word she shuddered and waited for the most dreaded announcement ...finally when he made it ..she realized that was the moment of her destruction..

She felt the sudden hollowness inside her as if her heart stopped beating and the place became vacuum...She felt her head was reeling and the whole world spinning around her..she can't stand upright...

She didn't even realized Lakshmi was holding her tightly..she was in too much of shock to feel all those external stimulus...

Ever since she heard about that engagement matter, she had undergone so much of emotional turmoil and her nervous state was unstable almost all the time..she didn't even take a proper meal since yesterday..all together took a toll on her and she fainted on the ground like a rootless plant...

To be continued ...