SHE'S ONE OF US - CHAPTER 07

                     
             

Sai's Parcel


The Next Day Akhila came home smiling. Shree asked "I can see something on your face which looks different from normal". Akhila asked "What do you see?". Shree smiled and said "A Smile" and added "You look so beautiful when you smile ,But you smile rare. So .. now tell what's the matter?". Akhila continued smiling and said  "This smile is for you, We have a good news and it is related to you". Shree exclaimed "Good news for me? Oh ! What is that? ". Akhila went to wash her hands and face. Shree ran behind her shouting "How can you do this? Tell me what it is?". Akhila said "Wait Please". Shree shrunk her eyebrows and with the serious face said " No I can't wait. You can tell that and carry on with your work " . Akhila said "I will  tell you after dinner". Shree got annoyed and went outside and sat near the door and in a loud voice " I don't want food till you tell ". Akhila came out  smiling and said " You can't control your hunger. Come in" . Shree said "No. I can ,  First you  tell me what it is?" , Akhila started in a polite tone "The School principal sent a news that you got a sponsor for your education". Shree was astounded. That was a real good  and a happy news for Shree. Shree kissed Akhila and ran inside shouting "Amma ..I am Hungry and Akhila said that she don't want food  and asked me to eat hers too ".  Akhila eyes glowed in happiness seeing Shree. Shree rushed and stood in front of Raghavendra swamy and said "You are doing your duty perfectly. Keep it up!" and took the picture in her hands from the wall and hugged tightly close to her heart.

That evening she was very busy in tuition upstairs. Sai visited her. He waited till the tuition was done. Shree looked at him and smiled and glanced a parcel in his hand. Sai said that he will wait downstairs till she come. Shree  nodded and said "Yes". After the tuition was over , Shree came down and saw Sai waiting . She totally forgot him as she was busy. Shree said "Sorry , I forgot that you were waiting. But it is already late ,You didn't leave?" Sai said "It's okay ! I don't want to leave without meeting you" and gave the parcel to her. Shree puzzled and asked " What is there in the parcel? Is it for me ?". Sai smiled and said "Yes ,the parcel is for you and guess what is inside". She had mixed feelings. She was surprised and baffled.  She felt it was a great suspense and something special waiting in that parcel. When Shree was about to open it,  Sai Said "Wait, Guess What it is!". She couldn't make out a guess. Sai don't want Shree to wait .The suspense didn't last long. He asked her to open the parcel. She opened. There came a beautiful black back bag.
The moment she saw the bag , in micro seconds she saw Sai's eyes. His eyes were waiting to see her happiness. She had a question to ask him and it was "Why?". Sai said "There were some stalls in his college for just two days and I saw this bag there. The moment I saw the bag , you came into my mind and bought this" . Shree's eyes filled with tears and Sai went inside her heart through the tears. Shree controlled her tears and her eyes were fixed on Sai.
He added "I couldn't watch a girl who is very good at studies and attitude , having a bag which doesn't suit her for the college and You deserve more than this , but all I could buy only this bag". Shree first hesitated and then accepted the gift. Mom said "Sai, Why did you buy and spend your money on this and How much is this? ,It looks expensive". Sai said "Amma, No problem ,It is just a Bag. I won't tell the cost and it is affordable. No worries" .
Sai came near Amma and fell under the feet of Mom  and said "Amma , Bless me. I got My first month Salary" . Mom gave a warm pat on his shoulders and said "Long Live. God bless you" and smiled. When Sai was talking to mom , Shree didn't take her eyes off from Sai. Sai noticed that and raised his eyebrows and asked Shree "What?". She shook her head and said "Nothing and said Thanks". While saying she was expressionless. Sai said "Go arrange your things happily in the new bag" and bade  bye to everyone and left.
Akhila  arrived and she saw the bag and asked about it. Mom said "Sai bought this bag for Shree". Akhila said "Oh ok , But why he is spending his money on this?" . Mom said "Me too asked the same question to him". Shree asked Akhila "How is the bag?". Akhila said "Hmm ..Nice ". Shree arranged all her books and things in her new bag. Akhila gave a cover with money and said Mom " Amma, Here is my first month Salary.". Shree sparkled and asked Mom "Remember my pocket money??". Mom smiled and gave her extra 10 Rupees. She got it  and put it in her bag. Next Day Shree took the bag to the college. Everyone looked her differently. But there was a difference. She proudly walked in happiness with the bag.The reason for her happiness and the pride was not the bag. It is because she thought, Other than her family,  there was one soul in the whole world who was trying to understand her feelings and make her happy. She felt that she got a great friend who was extremely caring. She decided to do something to reciprocate her affection for him. 

In the college , Mona said "Cool Bag. Good choice". Shree said "Thanks Mona,  It's Sai who bought this bag for me". Mona asked " Oh! Is it ? Fantastic. How is he ? ". Shree said "He is fine" . Mona said "Since from our eleventh standard ,You know him right?". Shree said "Yes. He came as Akhila' friend and now he became a good family friend too" . Mona said "One day I'll come home to meet him . It's  long time we met". Shree said "You are always welcome" and smiled. A voice came from behind "Hey beauty! Beautiful bag". Shree turned and It was Priya.  Priya said "The bag suits you and you look gorgeous" . Shree hugged from her side and said "Thanks , Dear". Priya asked Shiba who was standing by her side "Shiba ! Bag is too good na ?". Shiba with no interest said "Ya Good". Priya asked "I heard a name Sai. Shree Who is that?" . Shree said "He is a friend of mine . He bought this bag for me". Priya chuckled and twinkled and asked  "Is he only a friend or ...... " . Shree gave a pat on her head and said "It is a different story and He is only a friend and not anything else as you doubt and I'll tell you later about him". Priya said "Is it ?... I believed". Shree said "Oh come on! You have to". She got lot of compliments for the bag from other friends too. Shree was too happy.  Every day in the College, a  pair of eyes were closely watching Shree. Shree knows that the eyes were watching her but she ignored as if she didn't notice. After the college , On the way home , Sai's thoughts came into her mind. She remembered that Sai was about to tell her something , but was hesitating . She decided to ask about that, when he come home today.

That evening ,Though she was busy with her tuition, Her eyes anxiously waited for Sai's arrival. She came downstairs number of times to check whether Sai arrived. Shree finished her part in the tuition and asked the students to have a look at their book and also announced a test tomorrow. Students started studying. She came running downstairs. As her heart and mind filled with Sai's thoughts , Her eyes refused to send signals to her brain that Sai was standing in front. She was about to hit him. But when she heard his voice, She realised it was Sai and stopped right at the place. Sai said "Why so fast ? Careful that you don't slip down". Shree smiled and said "I was waiting for you". Sai said "Oh Really! ...Right! What about the Bag?  You like it?. Is it convenient?". Shree said "It is awesome" and thanked him again. Sai asked "what is the reason for waiting ?". Shree said Sai to come in  and said "You about to tell me something yesterday but you stopped when Amma came".  Mom said "Sai, Have this tea" and added "I got to go to the house next door and I will come in next ten minutes" and left . Sai nodded and said "Okay". Shree looked at Sai and said hurrying "This is the right time . Say it". Sai swallowed and took a break and started "Shree, Don't mistake me". Shree said "Hey No not at all, Break the suspense. You are building up so much". Sai said "I fall in love". Shree was astounded "Love , You ?...Interesting." and winked and said "Who is
the girl , I pity her". Sai said "I know you'll make fun of me . That's why I am hesitating to tell". Shree "OH ! Right. I won't" . Who is the girl ?" . Sai said "Shree ! You don't know her". Shree was more curious "Okay. Tell about your Angel! What she is doing?. Where is she ? Is she beautiful? What's her name ?". Sai said "I used to go temple every Tuesday and Friday. There I saw her. The moment I saw her , I like her so much. The girl too will look at me in a way she likes me. So I went behind her and found where she was living. A lady will accompany her.  She knew very well that I was following her and she turned and smiled at me when she reached home". Shree tittered and said "OH no , Finally you became a Road Romio. Not bad, Then??...". Sai said "So what you think about me". Shree said "You are travelling in a correct path and It seems the girl also have a crush on you". Sai was curious and said "Do you think so?" Shree said "Yes." and added  "You didn't answer my question, What is her name, How she looks? What she is doing?". Sai said "I don't know what's her name and what she is doing , But I will tell u how she looks". Shree in a playful way and tee-heed and said "Hmm Ok Tell". Sai said "She is wheatish  and had a matured face, She is not that beautiful but some thing attracted me" . Shree added "You are right. We can only admire beauty, But to get attracted and fall in love we require something other than beauty". Sai smiled and Shree added "You should investigate further about her. These information are not enough. If possible , try  to have a talk when she come to temple".
Sai said "I am nervous to talk". Shree blinked and said "No way. You have to face it.All the best". Mom came in . Sai nodded his head and left. Shree proceeded with her tuition.



The Great Ride !

That was a special day. Shree was in her tuition and she heard a bike roaring for a long time. She was irritated as it disturbed her tuition. She angrily came down with the serious face. The moment she saw the person in the bike , Her face changed. She smiled and surprised. Sai who came in cycle these days got a brand new Bike. He brought the bike to Shree's home after delivered from the showroom. As a friend , Shree was excited to see the Bike and was so happy for him. She felt as if she herself owned a new Bike. Sai parked the bike and came inside. Sai called Mom in the kitchen and said "Amma , I got new bike". Mom came out and saw the Bike and said "Congratulation Sai. The Bike is awesome". Sai asked "Akhila not yet come?. I thought , I would show her too" . Mom said "Akhila will come late today".

Shree asked him to take her a ride. Sai sat idle as if he didn't hear her. She kept on pestering him. At one point she realized he was ignoring her. She asked sadly  "Don't you take me a ride?". Sai politely refused her. There was a silence for few minutes. She complained to her mom that Sai was refusing
to take her the ride. Mom smiled. Then she turned to Sai and asked for the reason. Sai said "I have a wish that the person coming first ride with me should be my mom or my future wife. Please don't mistake me and try to understand". He convinced her but she was not convinced.
She was little annoyed and she even mocked at him for his sentiments. Whatever Sai told her, didn't reach Shree's brain and couldn't accept the reason. She thought it was an insult for her friendship. She was not ready to leave this matter as such. She stood firm on her wish and desire. Finally she made Sai  think that he hurt her feelings. She didn't do it on  purpose. It just happened. Sai said "Okay come on..  Don't get upset.I will take you" . The moment she heard those words She jumped, clapped ,laughed and ran and stood near the bike. There is no boundary for her happiness. Sai started the bike. He looked at Shree standing by side and gave a signal to sit. Shree nodded and sat behind him. There was a huge gap between Shree and Sai. Shree said " Wait for me to hold" . She held a small handle bar behind her and said "Now you can go". The bike pierced the air. Thousand butterflies flew in her heart . Sai asked "Hold my shoulders tight and not the handle bar". Shree said "That's ok. I won't fall" . The ride was over. That was an excellent ride. Shree said "Once more". Sai shook her head and said "I have work and I am leaving now". Shree got down and waived her hand. Sai left the place. Sai took her the ride because he don't want to hurt Shree for his sentiments. Shree was so happy that she got a great ride and was proud that she was the first person to sit behind him.

On that day both of them didn't realize and recognize that Sai's wish been fulfilled too!


And Now....  I can hear you saying "Thank God No Suspense this time". But there are lot and lot of suspense in upcoming episodes . Here is a gist ....There been dual emotions waiting for Shree! 
Keep Reading :)