SHE'S ONE OF US - CHAPTER 14

"I AM SURPRISED OF SAI  , AND NOT OF BHARATHI "


That was a Saturday morning. Shree was in her tuition. Sai arrived as usual and asked "Shree! Where is Amma and Akhila". Shree said "No one in home . Everyone went to near by town to visit my aunt. They will return late evening". Sai "Oh , you didn't go ? Akhila didn't say about this to me ?". Shree said "It is not planned, Just today morning they decided to go and I had to stay for tuition". Sai read a book till Shree was done with her tuition. Sai  was deep involved in reading. He heard Shree's voice "I am going to prepare tea , You want one too ?". Sai looked at her and pretended to be shocked and said "Do you know to prepare tea ?" and chuckled. Shree moved her eyebrows down and closer together out of annoyance. She said "Today , You going to have my tea. Got it ?". Sai said playfully "No No..Don't put my life at stake ..Please" and winked. Shree didn't hear him and went to the kitchen . Sai said "Hey I was just kidding, But , I just had a tea before I come here , So , No tea now , Some other day I 'll have your tea". Shree said "I have a slight headache. It is very much mandatory for me to  have a cup of tea now . Anyway I am going to prepare. Later if you ask , I won't give mine" . Sai smiled and said "You sit , I will prepare for you". Shree exclaimed "Do you know how to prepare tea ?". Sai said "Why not ? I even cook". Shree glanced Sai with gape and without a blink. Mean while she could smell the aroma of Tea. Tea was offered. She sipped her first sip looking at Sai. Shree exclaimed "Oh my God , It is really great". Sai smiled and asked "Really? Do you like it". Shree said "Yes, I do , It is awesome. The girl marrying you will be really lucky".  Sai smiled. They started talking many things. Shree talked about her youth festival experiences to him. Time paced at high speed. Sai said Shree "Can you sing the song for which you won the prize?". Shree said  "No,you will make fun". Sai said "No not at all" and smiled. Shree said "Okay" and sang the song which was written by Bharathi. Sai didn't  move his eyes from Shree till she finished her song. After she was done ,  he was kept looking  at her without a wink. Shree saw him and waived her hands in front of his face. Sai got a jerk and said "Oh sorry I mingled with the song. The words, your voice , your attitude are awesome , you deserve that prize". Shree was happy and said "Do you like the  words ? It is from Bharathi's poem". Sai smiled  and said " I have read lot of  his poems. Bharathi's style is always fascinating. he covered almost everything in his poems like patriotism , social issues, God. They are really well done. Out of everything , his love poems on Kannama is really mind blowing". Shree was more curious and said "Can you say a poem?". With no thought,  Sai started to say the words , He only saw Shree's eyes when he said the poem. Shree too fixed her eyes on him.


"Your gaze has the brightness of the sun and moon!
Your eyes reflect the darkness of the skies!
The diamond on your dark silk saree shows me the stars in broad day light!
Your smile is the bloom of the  garden!
Your heart , waves of the sea!
Your voice sweet like kuil!
My love songs for union, Kannama ..... !
You talk for rules Kannama ....!
What rules did people follow ....?
Elders Marriage and Rituals can wait !
Can I ? Come now ..
Let me kiss you ..".

Sai smiled. Shree was dumbstruck. Sai said "What ? Why are you so surprised? Don't you know Bharathi is also a romantic poet? ". Shree exclaimed slapping her palm over her mouth "Oh my heaven ?, How.... ?  I am awestruck . I am surprised of Sai , and not of Bharathi. You didn't tell me that you like Bharathi  these days". Sai smiled and said "Now I said to you". Shree took another ten minutes to get back to normal.


                                   

                     

I AM NOT GREEDY, I DON'T WANT THE WHOLE WORLD TO LOVE ME , IT'S JUST YOU.

Suddenly the topic changed. Sai said "We are very close and friendly sitting , talking and laughing together . After some years , you will finish your studies. You go for a job and get married. You will be so busy and you hardly remember me. We won't get time to see ,talk and laugh like this ". Shree thought a while and said "Yes". Sai said "So , you say , after you get married , you will forget me  right ?". Shree said "So , Do you ?" and added "Actually , I have never thought these , You are right , Priorities in life keep changing, We may hardly see each other and talk and that's life. But how can I forget you". Sai nodded. Shree chuckled and said "After Latha , You didn't find any girl?". Sai thought for a while and said "I love ........................................" Shree asked "You love .........?".
The words "I love you" might be the toughest three words to say. Sai said "I love a girl who is my friend , very deeply, But I am afraid to propose". Shree said "Afraid ? Of what ?". Sai said "Because , if she deny my love . I will broke into  pieces". Shree never saw Sai  talking so serious. Shree said "It seems you love her very deeply . I can see in your eyes. But if you keep on hesitating to propose , what if someone propose before you. Then you need to regret in your whole life". Sai said "Do you think so?". Shree said "I don't know , but may happen". Shree playfully asked "What if the girl is in her eighth or  ninth standard? " and chuckled. Sai confidently said "That mistake won't happen this time, as I know everything about her". Shree's eyes were wide open and said  "That's really good, but you didn't tell me ? Who is the girl? Do I know her ?". The answer from Sai was "Yes" which made her more curious.  Shree was shocked and said "Hey Tell me her name , I will help you , if you want". Sai with the  smile "Will you ?". Shree said "Of course. But tell her name". Sai said "I won't, You ask me questions , I will answer it , You find her. It's like a quiz" . Shree shouted "OH no , I am not that intelligent. Tell her name please . No playing games". Sai was stubborn and Shree had no option rather to go with it.  Shree said "If I know her , She 's from my college right ?". Sai with a same smile said "Yes". Shree said "Not bad , I am little wise ". The next question was "Is she from Chemistry , Maths , Pure science ...". Sai said "Physics". Shree exclaimed and shrunk her eyebrows "My department ?". Sai nodded. Shree exhaled deeply and asked "Second year or Third year?" Sai said "First Year". Shree became more curious and exclaimed "I couldn't believe , Am I studying with your girl friend ? Isn't that Exciting?." and added "Please tell her name or at least the first letter of her name ? ". Sai said "No , Still more to go. I expect still more questions". Shree inhaled and exhaled deeply and asked "By any chance do you know where she sits in the class ? First row, second ...". Sai said "First". Shree was clueless . She rejected some of the girls as she herself thought there been no chance of Sai meeting them as they were from different town and some of them lived in hostel. The list was shortened to Mina , Shiba , Shree , Mona and Priya. Shree asked "Is it Mina?". Sai smiled and said "No". Shree asked "Is it Shiba ?". Sai said "No". Shree asked "Is it Mona?". Sai said "No". Shree said "I got it , It is Priya , But where did you meet her ?". Sai said "No". Shree said "What ? Oh no..... I am losing my patience. Just think and tell , Do you know which year she is studying?". Sai smiled and looked deep into her eyes and said "What about the girl who sits in between those girls" Shree thought a while and said lethargically "I sit in between them" and said "Wait........" .
At last Shree realized that she was the girl. Silence at both ends. Shree in a harsh tone "So, What you are trying to tell?". Sai said "The girl who sits in between them is my love" and there was a silence again . Shree looked down , to her left ,  to her right  , but couldn't look straight. Sai cleared his throat and asked "What do you say now ?". Shree closed her eyes and put her palms on her forehead and sat silent. Sai was sitting in a chair. He said "Look at me". Shree shook her head.

After sometime , Shree cleared her throat and looked somewhere and said "I have some questions to ask you". Sai nodded. Shree said "When did you get this thought?". He said "When you accepted the marriage proposal of the widower". Shree controlled her tears and said "Which made you fall in love with me ?". Sai said "We have been together quite a while , I love you for so many things. I have learnt so much from you, About loving , sharing , sacrifices , confidence and much more ...I know if I hadn't met you , I wouldn't be  really living" and added "I feel something melting within me when I see your eyes , your smile. No matter what , I'll just keep loving you. To me you are perfect. My heart is perfect because of you. If I had to choose between loving you and breathing , I would use my last breath to say "I love you"" Sai's feet were not in the ground and he felt like flying. He added "I like you smiling , But I love it when I am the  reason for it. I want to be the reason for your smile in my whole life time. I suppose , I am not that greedy , I don't want the whole world to love me , It's just you". Shree was stunned and couldn't believe Sai talking these words to her. Shree with her eyes full of tears said "My family believes you so much and So do I. I didn't expect this from you ".


"YES , I SAID YOU "NO""

Sai felt like jumping into a slowly heating cooking pan. Sai said " Do you think this is wrong?". Shree looked at him with tears and said "Yes , Of course. You should not do this . Please understand and erase it from your heart. I will also forget what you said ". Sai said "No, I can't". Shree shouted in a trembled tone "Are you nuts ?  We are from different community. This is not going to work out. Please don't push me into a deep pit. Can't you realize you are putting me into a tough situation ? Please I beg you , Change your mind". Sai said in a polite tone "Till now , you didn't deny my love but saying about the difficulties of love , How do I take this ?". Shree thought for a while. Shree realized that she didn't deny his love and she was confused. She turned to Sai and said "I say these things to deny it , Got it ? and Don't mistake me . Can you leave now ,Please ". Sai stood up from his chair and said "I will take that you rejected me". Shree closed her eyes and tears rolled down and said "Yes , I said "NO" ". Sai said "I didn't plan to propose my love today, In fact , I myself want to bury my love in my heart, I told you because, I should not regret after thinking of missing the opportunity. It  will kill rest of my life." Shree had no words. Shree said in tears  "Can you leave now . Please, I am afraid". Sai said "Afraid of  what ?". Shree swallowed and said "Afraid of me , My family". Love made Sai disregard so many things. It made Sai only see what he want to. After all, Love is blind. It is addictive. It takes courage to fall in love ,to take risks ,to accept the pain and dissapointments. Falling in love deeply  with Shree made Sai courageous. He was ready to do anything for her. Love made him blind. Sai said "Just smile if you love me , I swear I will grab you on my side , Whatever comes tomorrow , we are facing life together". She turned to the window and starred. Sai said "Okay , I am leaving now". She didn't turn his side. He came near to touch her and said "Do not cry , I can't see you crying". Shree could feel Sai coming near her as she could feel  his warmth. He thought to touch her hands. Shree closed her eyes and tears dropped down. He was about to touch her. Sai's heart said "How dare you touch her ?". He took his hands off and disappeared from the place. Shree turned and saw Sai starting his bike with the heavy heart through the window and she was shocked to see Sai . He was crying too.

"YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING AND  WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO"

Shree ran to her Raghavendra swamy and said "Did I do anything wrong, Why..... ? You are the only one responsible for everything that is happening. How can you do this ? What am I supposed to do". Everyone in the family arrived. She pretended as if she was normal. That night Shree couldn't sleep. She closed her eyes. Sai came in front of her. She heard his voice saying the words of Bharathi. She closed her ears tight. Sai laughed out loud and went inside her heart and giggled and said  "What will you do now ?" . She got up from the bed , washed her face and came back to bed. She was starring the roof and She don't know when she slept.
Next morning , Shree 's mind was totally disturbed . She went to the college like a robot. On the way , Guru smiled , she didn't smile back . Guru was surprised and looked back , but Shree didn't turn back. She didn't mingle with her friends. Every friend of her's,  felt strange about her and asked for reason. But Shree said "It's nothing . I have slight headache which is bothering". Shree was happily flying like a butterfly, It was Sai who made her dumb and sad . She couldn't stop thinking of Sai.

Next day Sai arrived, Shree didn't turn to his side. Sai said "Hai , Shree". Shree went as if she didn't hear him. Sai was totally down. Sai in a low tone said "You can talk to me as usual. Please don't do this to me". Shree was dumb and went to her tuition upstairs.

And now , I can hear you "Chella! The proposal was quite interesting. When will Shree propose her love to poor Sai and How ? ". I say "Wait for the next chapter , You'll definitely get answers for your questions". Patience till next Friday ....:)