Shiva stepped downstairs. Alamelu’s heart swelled with joy just looking at his radiant face, even before he uttered a word.
When Anitha’s father, Palani, looked at him expectantly, Shiva smiled.
"I like her."
Palani’s face lit up. "Then we can take things further..." someone chimed in, and Shiva turned to look at them.
"One small thing," Shiva said.
"Go ahead."
"I hope no one takes this the wrong way."
"Tell us"
"It’s our custom to place the horoscopes of the bride and groom before our family deity to seek permission before moving forward," Shiva explained.
Paranthaman and Alamelu looked at each other, confused by Shiva's sudden mention of a "custom."
"What’s wrong with that? We can certainly do that," Palani agreed. Anitha gave Shiva a look of gratitude.
Taking leave of her with his eyes, Shiva looked at his parents. They rose, bid farewell to the bride’s family, and stepped out.
The moment they got into the car, Alamelu started scolding him. "What on earth was that story you made up back there?"
Paranthaman remained silent. Shiva looked at them both and smiled.
"Mom"
"Tell me."
"Don't you realize I wouldn't do something like that without a reason?"
"What 'great reason' could you possibly have? My heart was full just looking at that girl."
"I like her too, Ma."
"Then why did you spin a tale like that?"
"Please, Ma, don't ask me why right now."
"Shiva."
"Yes, Ma?"
"If anyone is to be your wife, it has to be her. No one else will suit you."
Shiva smiled at Alamelu. "How can you say that so surely?"
"That’s just what my heart tells me."
***
A morning show was playing at Babu Theatre.
Shiva’s phone rang. He stepped out to answer. It was an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Hello. Who is this? Whom do you want to speak to?"
"It’s you, Shiva."
"I don't understand. Who is speaking?"
"The one you came to see yesterday."
It clicked for Shiva. "Oh, Anitha?"
"Mm."
"Surprise. I didn't expect a call from you."
"Mm. What are you doing?"
"I was bored, so I came for a movie."
"Which theatre?"
"Babu."
"Can we meet?"
"Tell me, where should I come?"
"Your choice."
"I am always at your service," Shiva quipped.
"Are you trying to impress me?"
"Oh no, nothing like that."
"Then what is it like?"
"It was just a figure of speech."
"So you didn't mean it truthfully?"
"Okay, okay, I give up!"
Shiva could clearly hear Anitha laughing on the other end. He smiled.
"Shall we meet at Saravana Bhavan?" he asked.
"Not Saravana Bhavan."
"You suggest a place then."
"Hotel Annamalayar."
"Non-veg?"
"Yeah. Why? Don't you eat non-veg, Shiva?"
"I do. I just thought, since it's our first time meeting..."
"I don't have those sentiments, Shiva."
"Okay then, let’s meet there."
"When?"
"I’ll come right now."
"No need. You’re watching a movie; let it finish. Give me a ring afterward, and I’ll start."
"That’s alright, I can leave..."
"Shiva."
"Yes?"
"Don't sacrifice your interests."
"What I’m saying is..."
Anitha cut him off. "Call me after the movie."
She hung up.
Shiva stood still for a moment, then walked back into the theatre with a smile. On screen, a very old hero was sending stuntmen flying one by one. The fans were cheering.
Though the scene felt absurd to Shiva, he enjoyed it. Sometimes life is like that—you have to learn to enjoy the absurdities as you move along. Otherwise, the absurdities will take over your life.
However, he couldn't focus on the film. He walked out before it ended. Half an hour later, he called Anitha.
She picked up. "Hello? Shiva, is the movie over?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I’m leaving. I’ll be at Annamalayar in five minutes."
"Okay."
He waited. This was a new experience for him; he had never waited for a woman in his life. Many had confessed their love to him, but he never felt the spark he expected. But with Anitha, it happened instantly.
It’s our first meeting. Should I give her a gift? The thought crossed his mind, but it felt absurd. She’ll just ask if I'm trying to impress her again. Let’s just be natural. Whatever happens, happens, he decided.
Just then, he saw Anitha approaching. She looked like an angel in her red salwar kameez. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Hello," Anitha said. He smiled.
"Sorry."
"For what? For admiring me?"
"No..."
"So you weren't admiring me?" she asked with a mischievous grin.
Shiva raised his hands in a mock salute of surrender. "Shall we go?"
They went to the air-conditioned dining hall on the first floor.
"What will you have? Is Biryani okay?"
"No, Shiva."
"Oh, something light then?"
"Hello, light? I'm starving!"
"But you said no to Biryani."
"Have you had the 'meals' here, Shiva?"
"Yes."
"I love the meals here. Chicken gravy, mutton gravy, fish gravy, an omelet, and maybe an extra chicken fry to top it off—it’ll be amazing!"
As Anitha described it with animated gestures, Shiva stared at her in slight shock.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It’s just... you don't look like someone who eats like this."
Anitha laughed. "You have to work for it. You can eat anything as long as you burn it off. I do an hour of aerobics every day."
"Super."
"And you, Shiva?"
"I go jogging daily."
"Nice."
The waiter arrived, and they placed their order.
"Shiva."
"Yes?"
"Can we drop the formalities? No 'madam' or 'sir,' okay?"
Shiva smiled. "Sure."
"Nice, Shiva."
"Tell me," he said, shifting to a more casual tone. "Tell me ."
"Shiva, we are going to be together for one month. Just the two of us. In this one month, you must be yourself, and I must be myself. No 'you for me' or 'me for you' efforts. Be exactly how you normally are. I will be the same. When we both feel like it, things will happen between us. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Mm."
"After this month, if we like each other, we can unite in life. If not, we say goodbye and go our separate ways. Okay?"
"Mm. Do you have an idea?"
"About what?"
"Where we are going to stay?"
"No."
"I have an idea," Anitha said.
"Tell me, Anitha."
"No one should know we are together. Especially our parents."
"Okay."
"I have a friend in Thrissur."
"Kerala?"
"Yes. He’s in Mumbai now. We’ll stay in his apartment."
"Mm."
"I’ll tell my family I’m going to Cochin for a one-month course. What about you?"
"I'll tell them it's company work."
"Nice."
The food arrived, and they began to eat. Shiva smiled, watching Anitha relish every bite.
"Shiva."
"Mm?"
"When can we go?"
"Where?"
"To Kerala."
"You tell me."
"Shall I book the train for this Friday?"
Shiva looked at her. He nodded his head in agreement.
To be continued
When Anitha’s father, Palani, looked at him expectantly, Shiva smiled.
"I like her."
Palani’s face lit up. "Then we can take things further..." someone chimed in, and Shiva turned to look at them.
"One small thing," Shiva said.
"Go ahead."
"I hope no one takes this the wrong way."
"Tell us"
"It’s our custom to place the horoscopes of the bride and groom before our family deity to seek permission before moving forward," Shiva explained.
Paranthaman and Alamelu looked at each other, confused by Shiva's sudden mention of a "custom."
"What’s wrong with that? We can certainly do that," Palani agreed. Anitha gave Shiva a look of gratitude.
Taking leave of her with his eyes, Shiva looked at his parents. They rose, bid farewell to the bride’s family, and stepped out.
The moment they got into the car, Alamelu started scolding him. "What on earth was that story you made up back there?"
Paranthaman remained silent. Shiva looked at them both and smiled.
"Mom"
"Tell me."
"Don't you realize I wouldn't do something like that without a reason?"
"What 'great reason' could you possibly have? My heart was full just looking at that girl."
"I like her too, Ma."
"Then why did you spin a tale like that?"
"Please, Ma, don't ask me why right now."
"Shiva."
"Yes, Ma?"
"If anyone is to be your wife, it has to be her. No one else will suit you."
Shiva smiled at Alamelu. "How can you say that so surely?"
"That’s just what my heart tells me."
***
A morning show was playing at Babu Theatre.
Shiva’s phone rang. He stepped out to answer. It was an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Hello. Who is this? Whom do you want to speak to?"
"It’s you, Shiva."
"I don't understand. Who is speaking?"
"The one you came to see yesterday."
It clicked for Shiva. "Oh, Anitha?"
"Mm."
"Surprise. I didn't expect a call from you."
"Mm. What are you doing?"
"I was bored, so I came for a movie."
"Which theatre?"
"Babu."
"Can we meet?"
"Tell me, where should I come?"
"Your choice."
"I am always at your service," Shiva quipped.
"Are you trying to impress me?"
"Oh no, nothing like that."
"Then what is it like?"
"It was just a figure of speech."
"So you didn't mean it truthfully?"
"Okay, okay, I give up!"
Shiva could clearly hear Anitha laughing on the other end. He smiled.
"Shall we meet at Saravana Bhavan?" he asked.
"Not Saravana Bhavan."
"You suggest a place then."
"Hotel Annamalayar."
"Non-veg?"
"Yeah. Why? Don't you eat non-veg, Shiva?"
"I do. I just thought, since it's our first time meeting..."
"I don't have those sentiments, Shiva."
"Okay then, let’s meet there."
"When?"
"I’ll come right now."
"No need. You’re watching a movie; let it finish. Give me a ring afterward, and I’ll start."
"That’s alright, I can leave..."
"Shiva."
"Yes?"
"Don't sacrifice your interests."
"What I’m saying is..."
Anitha cut him off. "Call me after the movie."
She hung up.
Shiva stood still for a moment, then walked back into the theatre with a smile. On screen, a very old hero was sending stuntmen flying one by one. The fans were cheering.
Though the scene felt absurd to Shiva, he enjoyed it. Sometimes life is like that—you have to learn to enjoy the absurdities as you move along. Otherwise, the absurdities will take over your life.
However, he couldn't focus on the film. He walked out before it ended. Half an hour later, he called Anitha.
She picked up. "Hello? Shiva, is the movie over?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I’m leaving. I’ll be at Annamalayar in five minutes."
"Okay."
He waited. This was a new experience for him; he had never waited for a woman in his life. Many had confessed their love to him, but he never felt the spark he expected. But with Anitha, it happened instantly.
It’s our first meeting. Should I give her a gift? The thought crossed his mind, but it felt absurd. She’ll just ask if I'm trying to impress her again. Let’s just be natural. Whatever happens, happens, he decided.
Just then, he saw Anitha approaching. She looked like an angel in her red salwar kameez. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Hello," Anitha said. He smiled.
"Sorry."
"For what? For admiring me?"
"No..."
"So you weren't admiring me?" she asked with a mischievous grin.
Shiva raised his hands in a mock salute of surrender. "Shall we go?"
They went to the air-conditioned dining hall on the first floor.
"What will you have? Is Biryani okay?"
"No, Shiva."
"Oh, something light then?"
"Hello, light? I'm starving!"
"But you said no to Biryani."
"Have you had the 'meals' here, Shiva?"
"Yes."
"I love the meals here. Chicken gravy, mutton gravy, fish gravy, an omelet, and maybe an extra chicken fry to top it off—it’ll be amazing!"
As Anitha described it with animated gestures, Shiva stared at her in slight shock.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It’s just... you don't look like someone who eats like this."
Anitha laughed. "You have to work for it. You can eat anything as long as you burn it off. I do an hour of aerobics every day."
"Super."
"And you, Shiva?"
"I go jogging daily."
"Nice."
The waiter arrived, and they placed their order.
"Shiva."
"Yes?"
"Can we drop the formalities? No 'madam' or 'sir,' okay?"
Shiva smiled. "Sure."
"Nice, Shiva."
"Tell me," he said, shifting to a more casual tone. "Tell me ."
"Shiva, we are going to be together for one month. Just the two of us. In this one month, you must be yourself, and I must be myself. No 'you for me' or 'me for you' efforts. Be exactly how you normally are. I will be the same. When we both feel like it, things will happen between us. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Mm."
"After this month, if we like each other, we can unite in life. If not, we say goodbye and go our separate ways. Okay?"
"Mm. Do you have an idea?"
"About what?"
"Where we are going to stay?"
"No."
"I have an idea," Anitha said.
"Tell me, Anitha."
"No one should know we are together. Especially our parents."
"Okay."
"I have a friend in Thrissur."
"Kerala?"
"Yes. He’s in Mumbai now. We’ll stay in his apartment."
"Mm."
"I’ll tell my family I’m going to Cochin for a one-month course. What about you?"
"I'll tell them it's company work."
"Nice."
The food arrived, and they began to eat. Shiva smiled, watching Anitha relish every bite.
"Shiva."
"Mm?"
"When can we go?"
"Where?"
"To Kerala."
"You tell me."
"Shall I book the train for this Friday?"
Shiva looked at her. He nodded his head in agreement.
To be continued
Author: gavudham
Article Title: I'm born, just to love you 2
Source URL: Gk Tamil Novels-https://gktamilnovels.com
Quote & Share Rules: Short quotations can be made from the article provided that the source is included, but the entire article cannot be copied to another site or published elsewhere without permission of the author.
Article Title: I'm born, just to love you 2
Source URL: Gk Tamil Novels-https://gktamilnovels.com
Quote & Share Rules: Short quotations can be made from the article provided that the source is included, but the entire article cannot be copied to another site or published elsewhere without permission of the author.