INVISIBLE STRING

Delicate ( part 2)

Arjun swapped seats with her. Shalini opened the windows slightly letting the cold wind seep in. The wind made her hair strands dance to their own rhythm, as she tried to put them back in their place. The light was dim inside the bus but still, her face glowed. He kept staring at her unknowingly as she was peeking through the window enjoying the beautiful view of the city at night.

" Arjun paatu kekalama?", shalini asked still loooking outside

When she didnt hear any reply she turned to find Arjun staring at her, she frowned, " hey yen apadi pakara? Enna achu"

Arjun stammered, "ah..oh..onnu illa"

"Paatu kekalama nu ketten", she repeated

" ahh kekalam"

Shalini offered him one airpod while she fitted the other in her ear.She kept scrolling the playlist unable to choose a song,"Enna paatu podalam?"

"Unaku romba pudichathu podu", he said as he placed the airpod in his ear.

She played " Munbe vaa" and whispered cheerfully," my all time favourite"

Arjun gave a warm smile, " enakum favourite but ithavida i like another version more"

Her brows furrowed in curiosity and strightened the next moment when she guessed what he was talking about," the cover song version? Enakum romba pudikum Arjun."

Arjun shook his head no, with a smile on his face, " no not that". He took out his phone, reduced the volume a little and played a video of her singing the song during the audition.

Shalini widened her eyes in surprise," video eduthiya?". He nodded looking at her.

Shalini with a wide smile said, " play pannu", she then stopped him, " iru un phone la pods connect pannu"

After connecting the airpods to his phone he played the video, she watched the video attentively, while Arjun watched her with a smile. When the video finished playing, she looked at him suspiciously, " unaku naan padna pudikala nu aniku sanda laam potta. Aparam ethuku record panni vechirka?"

" Athaan anike car la sonna la etho kozhapathula soliten, you sing like a dream nu. Enaku nee padna romba pudikum shalini", he paused and looked into her eyes,"Ullukula ennavo pannum.Aniku naan audition ku vanthathe nee padratha keka thaan. Life fulla nee padite iruntha naan ketute irupen Shalini, avalo pudikum."

She smiled as her eyes glistened," yaarume naan padratha ivalo rasichathu illa Arjun."

" naanum yaraiyum ivalo rasichathilla. Nee padna pudikum aana atha vida unna romba pudikum", he said as they locked eyes.

They looked into each other, completely lost, for a minute. He looked at her as if she was the most precious thing he ever saw. She saw the adoration and love clearly in his eyes. There was no doubt no hesitation. He was head over heels in love with her and his eyes reflected exactly that. She didnt avert her gaze she kept looking into his eyes yearning to know more.

But the blaring horn made them stop. She turned quickly towards the window. Arjun knew if it wasnt for the horns she wouldnt have broken the gaze. He saw the yearning in her eyes to know what was going on in his mind. He was ready to tell her everything but it was still delicate.

His love for her, the way he feels about her, the way she makes his soul happy, all the emotions were still new and delicate. Rather than emphasizing and contemplating much about it, he just wanted to let their souls connect organically.

Shalini on the other hand was bombarded with emotions. She took a deep breath to calm down her mind. But it didnt help. What surprised her the most was not the way he looked at her to convey his love but the fact that she wanted it. She never knew she wanted him to feel about her this way until that moment. She never knew she yearned for it until she kept looking into his eyes wanting to see his love for her.