Author's PoV
Anika and her friend Nithya got down from the college bus and started walking into the college. Their college is located under the foothills with greenery all around. Since it is November, Anika shivered when the cold breeze brushed her skin.
"uhhhh! Despite being born and brought up here, I am still not immune to this cold." Anika told Nithya, shivering in the cold.
"Haha, Then you should have worn a full sleeve cloth. Come let's get in faster." They started walking at a faster pace.
"Nithu, I told mom and dad that Arun is helping us with the project. Mom is not happy about him being our help. She asked why not a girl help us instead of him. I am scared to open up the matter to them. We are in our final year and we just have little months left to complete our degree." Anika started her whines.
"Look Anu, you are in no position to tell your love to your parents yet. What will you tell them? That you are in love with a guy who doesn't even have a job? Wait until he lands himself a job." Nithya told her.
"I thought so too. But luckily I have told them that I will definitely go to work. So hopefully they won't start the marriage topic anytime soon. But dad is all ready with money for my wedding. Even today he talked about that."
"Whatever, first let's concentrate on the project. We will get a job only if our project excels others. If you get a job when you finish the degree, you can at least buy time by telling your parents that you like to go to work at least for a year before getting married." Nithya gave her confidence and advice.
"You are right." They both entered the class and got on with the day.
Anika and Arun have been in love with each other for almost a year now. When Anika entered her second year in college, there was a function in her department and she was in the reception committee. That night when she was checking her mail on her phone, she received an email from an anonymous ID. It said 'To the beautiful peacock!'. When she opened it, she knew it was someone from the college. Maybe a senior or someone from her class. It said,
'Hello Beautiful,
You looked wonderful in the peacock color saree today. You have something that most girls don't have. That is, you don't realize how beautiful you are and that adds to your beauty. The way you carried yourself today literally made you very outstanding in the crowd and I liked you so much for it. There is some magic in you that lifts all my worries off of my heart just by looking at your smile. Thank you for that. All the best for your studies. Study well and may you reach the heights you aim for!
Regards,
Your Secret Admirer.'
Anu had a little smile spread across her lips reading the mail. It gave her a little confident boost. She enjoyed the positivity in the mail and ignored it. She was thrilled to have a secret admirer for her in her college. After some days, she got another mail from the 'secret admirer'.
'Hello Beautiful,
Hope you are doing good. Just thought of talking to you. How are your studies going? I was feeling a bit low today, I just need a pinch of positivity and vent and I am not a very talkative person. So when you came in my mind, I thought I could vent it out to you. Sorry if I have disturbed you in any way. Take care.
Regards!'
When she read that, she felt a bit low for that faceless admirer. She decided to reply to that mail because she thought if she could give a little peace to someone, she is not going to deny it for him.
"Hello Mr. Stalker,
I am good. Thank you. My studies are so good so far. Don't worry sir, you will feel fine and better tomorrow. Everything will work out just the way you wanted it to be. You will have a great time ahead.
Take care."
When she sent that mail, she felt content. The stalker never said anything that would make her uncomfortable. She didn't feel any threat from him so far. Again there was a pause, she didn't get any mail from him. She forgot about the stalker and went on with her days. It was almost at the end of her second year, she got mail from him again.
'Hello Beautiful,
Thank you for your kind words. I truly felt a lot better after your mail. This mail is to tell you that I passed a crucial level in my career. I am truly happy today and I am glad that I can share it with you. Study well and may you be happy all your life.
Regards,
Your secret Admirer.'
The mail lit her face up with a happy smile. She felt happy for him and she got the curiosity to know who he is and what he passed. Nithya reminded her that they had to go to the auditorium.
"Hey Nithu, I got an email from him today, de" she told Nithya.
"What did it say?" she asked her.
"It said he has achieved something in his career. I am so happy for him, de."
"Whoa, relax. You don't know anything about him. Don't get too excited for his happiness. This is not good, Anu." Nithya warned her.
"I don't know Nithu. I am too curious to know who he is. I feel like replying to him with congratulations."
"No, Anu. This is not right.'' They entered the auditorium along with their classmates. The auditorium was full and it was a function to recognize the winners of a paper presentation. It was for the MSc students and it was when she first met Arun. He was one of the winners. He was a handsome young man and many girls drooled over him when he got the prize. Anu drooled over him too, looking at his dimpled cheek and his lovely smile.
"Awe, he is so handsome, Nithu." She said to her friend.
"Yes, He is so smart." Nithya said.
"Hey, the mail said that he achieved something. Why not be this award? I know for sure that he is studying in our college. Might that be him? His name is Arun, right? The mail id also starts with A and some numbers." Anika jumped in joy.
"Whoa, look at that one. His name is Aravind. It might be him too." Nithya showed her another boy who got the next prize. "I have many names that start in A. Anand, Akash, Arjun, Abhilash, Ashok, Ashwin..." Nithya was cut off by Anika.
"You, Stop it, Nithu. You are very bad." Anika slapped on her shoulder playfully. They both laughed their way back to class.
Days later in their fourth semester holidays, Anika got mail again from the stalker.
'Hello Beautiful,
Hope you are doing fine. How are you enjoying your vacation? I came across an old friend of mine and he spoke about his old project that was very advanced when he finished his engineering. He could not complete it on time and he bought a project for his finals. I looked at its draft and thought of you immediately. It will be a great help to your final project. I am sending you the project details and the base paper for it. Hope it helps. All the best.
Regards,
Your Secret Admirer.'
Anika checked the attachment and her joy knew no bounds. She truly wishes to see this man. The paper was awesome and she immediately thought to put that to use in their final project. He is a gentleman and she immediately replied to his mail.
'Hello Stalker,
I am too good. Hoping the same from you. My vacation is so boring. The abstract and the paper are so good and I will surely look into it. Thank you. Is there a possibility that I can see you, Mr. Stalker?
Take care.'
She got a reply almost immediately.
'Hello Beautiful,
You have seen me in your college. Complete your studies and I will come and greet you in person. I will come to you with a bouquet of yellow flowers and chocolates to congratulate you on your special day for sure. study well!
Regards,
Your Secret Admirer.'
Anika waited for that special day and went on with her work.
Anika's PoVMy fourth semester holidays went boring as usual. I was eagerly waiting for the college to reopen to go to college as a final year student. My devil of a brother always fights with me when I am home even when he is in his final year. Dad was the one that always stood by my side. Mom got many garland and bouquet orders during my vacation. Mom is an expert in making petal garland for weddings. She gave me the bouquet orders and I earned some pocket money through that in the holidays. That was the only good thing that happened in the college break."Ma, I will come late today. Me and Nithya are going to the library after college." I told mommy as I was getting ready for college. It's college reopen day today and I am more than excited to go back to college.I have been talking to Nithu about the
Arjun's PoVI am now driving to Preethi's house. Preethi's married life is at strain now. She recently found that her husband has an illegitimate relationship. Preethi's wedding was an arranged marriage. She has been married for almost 6years now. Her life was going smoothly until 3months ago when she found some dirty texts on his phone.Praveen and Preethi's family is an upper middle class family. I am an avid reader and I go to the library very regularly even at my very young age. I got their friendship when I was in second grade as their house was near the library that I went to and they were often seen outside the library playing. I started to make acquaintances with them in the time I waited outside for the car to come and pick me up. Preethi was the one that came and talked to me first. Our friendship grew stronger as the da
Anika's PoV"Ma, please ma. I cannot come to this festival now. My exams are very close and my project review is next week. I am still working on the output to get it more accurate. You all go. Just 2 days right. I will ask Nithu to come and stay with me." I was trying to make my mom understand that I cannot go to Tirupur with them for a temple festival."You are a grown up girl. How will I be at peace when you are here all alone in the house for two days?" Mom said."Pa... Make her understand, pa. I am not a child. I know how to cook. I can take care of myself and the house. I can manage two days without you guys. I will make Nithu come and stay here." I pleaded to my dad and he finally agreed and compromised mom for the arrangement.They will leave
Arjun's PoVI got ready and entered the elevator to go down. I called my PA to cancel all my morning meetings and work. I assigned my work to my subordinates to make sure nothing stops in my absence. When I got to the dining room, it was already 8 o'clock. Mom was busy bringing all the dishes to the dining table along with the cook. We have a cook and two servant maids to clean the house and do laundry. We have a driver and a gardener who will be in our home from morning 6 to evening 6."Amma, I have to leave a little early today. Praveen will bring Avni here. Take good care of her." I told mom."No worries, Ajju. I will take good care of her. How is Preethi?" Mom asked me."I am taking her to counseling today. She will be fine ma!" I told her.
Anika's PoVDad came into the home and yelled at my mom. I am more than scared now. I am dumbstruck. What should I do now? Should I agree that I am in love with Arun or should I hide that fact and act like nothing? What if I tell them now? Arun has no job. I have no job yet. The chances of rejecting him will be high now. But what if I hide the truth now? Dad will fight with mom for hitting me without any reason. He will be my pillar of support. But then, it will be a great sin. I cannot deceive my parents. Later, when I tell them about Arun, dad will be devastated. He trusts me so much."Anandhi, how dare you lay your hand on my daughter?" Dad confronted mom."Your daughter? She is my daughter too." Mom said with a shiver."If you had thought li
Arjun's PoVI am relieved of the stress I had for Preethi. Though she said she felt better because she spoke to me, I have a strong doubt that her sudden change of mood is because she met Harish. It is human tendency to compare them with someone that has a similar problem only worse than theirs. I think she felt better when she saw him with that heartfelt smile. I knew very well that she doesn't have any love back in school or college but what if they both can find solace in one another's company? He is a widower and she is a soon to be single mom. He has a son and she has a daughter! They will together make a perfect family. This may not happen overnight but if they are moved in the right direction, this will happen soon. I decided to make their meeting more often to make them spend time together.I finished my work and closed the laptop. I looked at the time and it s
Anika's PoVIt's Friday today and I am too scared to open my eyes. I don't know when I fell asleep last night but even in my sleep, I dreamt of the worst things that would happen. Not even a flake of good flashed in my mind. I heard shuffling in the room that tells me everyone is wide awake. I am to explain myself and make them understand that LOVE is not a sin and I didn't do it deliberately to disrespect them in any means.I woke up and went straight to the restroom without facing anyone. To my surprise, Advay was awake and was having his morning tea. The home was inconveniently silent and everyone was so rigid and moody."Good morning, pa!" I went to my dad after doing all my morning work including yoga."This is not a good morning, Anu. You and I
Arjun's PoVI am now driving to Tirupur to my grandparents home. My mom hails from Tirupur and my dad from Coimbatore. We now live in Chennai because of our work. Mom hates to be in Chennai for she dislikes the traffic and heat. But the most important thing she hates about Chennai is the language they use to talk. She often would say that people here are killing Thamizh. Though I was born in Tirupur, I have been in Chennai for all my life and I love the regional Thamizh in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode. Their Thamizh is like music to our ears. The way they address you, you would feel compassion from even a stranger. I love being there to enjoy the love of my grandma and grandpa."Ma, When is the 'Kumbabishekam' exactly? Why is Priya not here?" I asked mom."Kumbabishekam is on Sunday. Priya is not