FF by netra

My love is like the sweetest scent of memory lightly heard,

Everyone is laughing and talking happily. Presha looks lost at this big crowd. "Yengge appa amma" Presha looks around. Both her parents are talking to her in laws and completely forgot about her. "Congrats Presha sweto...." her friend Swarna ... no wait, her best friend. "Yenna kannu, ore mariya irekerai?? Night nyabagam maa".. Swarna laughs. Presha gives one look and Swarna "okay baba.. sorry naa. Summa. Come, lets go to your room and get you out of this alangaram..". Presha turns to Ashok to ask for their room. Ashok call Nirvani, his younger sister to take them to the room.

Flashback : Presha is happily reading her novel Gone with The Wind ' Margaret Mitchell. Her mother pats her head lovingly. "Yenna maa?" ask Presha. "Presha, do you still remember appa's close friend Anand? His son working in Melbourne and will be back next month to start his business here in Malaysia. Anand like you so much Presha and he wants to have you as his DIL" says appa. Presha is shock. All this so sudden. Both amma and appa looks at her, waiting for her reply. Presha smiles and tells them "Maa, paa, yeneke yedhu nalludhe nengal parthe parthe seivingal. So do you really need my concern in this too? Im sure your selection will never be wrong paa..." Both father and mother breath out. "Thanks sweto. You will be happy with Ashok" says appa.

"Anni" in comes Nirvani. Presha is back to her present. She turns to see Nirvani.

The real test of true love is having all the things go wrong but there is always special way to love in spite of all the wrong things that may happen ' Beth Estipular

Its already 1 am. Everyone is fast asleep. Yet Presha is still side awake. She looks at Nirvani sleeping beside her. "Nalla neram innum renda naal ireke. Until then Nirvani will sleep with you Presha." said her MIL. Presha was glad at this. She is not ready to face Ashok. He is total stranger to her. Presha gets up and walks around the room. There is another room connected to her room. She opens the door and switch on the light. "Ohhhh" Presha is once again shock. The room is filled with lots of novels. All her favorite author. At the corner of the room, a stack of CD's. Her favourite albums and singers. She gets back to her bed, all confused.

"Good morning Presha." says Ashok as he sits beside her for breakfast. "You had a good sleep?" Presha looks at him. Ashok looks good in blue shirt and jeans. Presha just nods her head and carries on eating. "Ashok kanna, take Presha out aiya. She must be feeling uncomfortable with all of us here. At least you both will have some time to spend together" says Mr.Aditiyan, Presha FIL. "You always say the right thing at the right time appa," grins Ashok and he winks at Presha. Presha just keeps quite.

Both Presha and Ashok are in the car. Ashok on his radio and this song plays.... Ragasiya Kanavugal Jill Jill yenn imaigalil kalevudha soll soll Illamayil illamayil Jil Jil Yeen Iredayam naluvedhe sil sil from Bheema. Ashok turns and looks at Presha. She notices this and feels shy but keeps her head straight ignoring Ashok's glances. The rest of the day went on well. Presha has got over her shyness around Ashok. She has to admit Ashok is an interesting guy. He has wide knowledge and knows what to talk and when to talk. He has been treating Presha more like his friend. Presha enjoys this kind of treatment. She has always wanted a husband who will be her friend too. Ashok is happy with Presha's friendliness now. He looks at Presha and admirers her quitely.

At home, Presha takes her bath and goes down to help MIL for dinner. Once all done, she goes to her room to call Ashok for dinner. Ashok follows her but Presha stops at the beep sound of her mobile. Message!! Presha ask Ashok to go down first. She opens the message and reads it

You are the sun in my day, the wind in my sky, the waves in my ocean, and the beat in my heart. I miss you. .... Ravin❤️

"Ravin..." Presha is shock.

TBC

He is staring at the wall. He turns and looks at Nirwana. Stares at her a while and then turns back and continues to stare the wall. Nirwani is still looking at him. How much she loves this guy, only lord knows. Yet, one question keeps popping in her mind. Is this love really important to her than her brother ..... Nirwani looks so confused. She kisses his forehead and leaves him alone.

Reshma is angry. How dare Ashok cuts off her line ? "I will make you answer my call daa. You will answer my call..." Reshma bits her lip.

Swarna is looking at her friends. Anu, Vishal, Rekha and Sam. All four looks confused. Swarna shows Presha mobile to everyone and they read Ravin's messages. Vishal shakes his head. "Yeppadi? It is impossible. Someone is actually playing prank on Presha," says Vishal. "No daa, this number belongs to Ravin..." says Rekha. Anu looks at them "But ... how.. what.. aiyo, how is it possible, its been 3 years since Ravin died!!!!...."

TBC

The boat made its first stop at Vembanad Lake. Its 8 am and Presha is standing at the deck. Ashok joins in with her with 2 cup of coffee. "Breakfast ready Presha...". They both sit and enjoys the scenery around. Not far away the surf crashes on the shore, creating a relaxing lullaby. "Nalla tukam moo?" ask Ashok. Presha smiles. She still remembers how uncomfortable it was for her to share the bed with Ashok. The bed was too small and her body kept touching his. Presha did not get a good sleep at all while Ashok slept soundly. 😡

The day ran fast. Its was so sweet. They manage to do some shopping at Vembanad Lake, had a good lunch and tea there too. The boat began its sail about 7.30 pm as soon dinner was taken into the boat. Presha took her bath and comes out. Ashok is stunned looking at her. She looks amazing in her saree. He lits the candle and ask her to join with him for dinner. Presha starts eating but she could not help or stop herself from stealing a look at Ashok. Presha had not realize that she has started to love Ashok. After dinner, they sat and talk about their life is college. Ashok seems to be more interested in knowing about Presha's friends. He ask her lots of questions. "Have you been in love before Presha.., please be frank with me". Presha keeps quite for a while. Her mind is debating. "No..." she answers. Ashok does not seem to be convienced or satisfied. "Have you receive proposals or any guys went crazy on you..". "No. And im feeling really sleepy and tired. Do you mind?" Presha gets up. Ashok ask her to go ahead first and he will join in later. As soon she leaves, Ashok bangs his hand hard agains the wall.

Presha tries to sleep. But she could not. Her mind waved back to college days........

Flashback : Its first day in college. Presha and Swarna happily entered hoping to achieve all their dreams and to have lots of fun. Presha is happily talking to Swarna, walking towards their class. Suddenly someone else appeared from the other corner and bumps into Presha. "Oh dear, sorry angel" the guy said and his buddy pulls him "Dei Ravin, vaada macha, late aah acci.."

TBC

Its been 4 days being in Kerala. Presha had enjoyed every minute being with Ashok. Last night she had a dream. The entire dream was a single, powerful scene. And they both were smiling at each other and Presha had felt blissfully happy. When she woke up, she knew she is in love with Ashok. Her very first love.

Ashok comes to the deck and notices Presha looking at the shore. He goes behind her. Presha could feel his present behind him but remains quite. He slids his both hands on her hip, hugging her from the back. Presha leans her head on on his chest a sign to him. No words exchanged. They stood there for a long time and could feel their hearts talking. Ashok slowly turns her, slid his hands down and lifts her up gracefully. He takes her to their room ..... to begin their life together.................❤️

The next day Presha wakes up, happy, shy, nervous.. all kinds of mixed feelings. She feels different. She sees Ashok sleeping. She gets up slowly and goes to take a bath.

Ashok mobile rings. He gets up half asleep and answers the call. "Ashok.." His now wide awake. "Resh, yenna early mrg call.. "..Ashok ask. "Ashok, is it done?" Reshma ask. "Yes Resh, done. We will be back to Malaysia in 4 days. I will meet you then and we can decide what to do next." answers Ashok and switch of his mobile.

TBC