Peacock...

36

Mayil

The following day, I visit my parents and offered my father the medals I'd received. I spot them on his neck, and he was very delighted. Then Dad took me to the town on the bus and asked me to buy the things I wanted. I only brought the necessary and much-needed stationery items. I didn't want to expend money on things that render no significant purpose.

While we were returning from the store, Dad purchased me a lollipop. Licking it, I was happily walking behind my father when my eyes get stuck on a familiar figure who pauses his bike before a textile shop and enters.

"Appa!! Vetri sir went inside that shop!" Dad looks at me cautiously. "Shall I go and talk to him?" He thinks for a few seconds before nodding. "Come back soon, I will be in that kitchen utensils store," I bob my head obediently and waited for Dad to move to the said store. As he attains there, I dash my way towards the textile shop.

It's a two-story building with colorful clothes all around. On the outside, there are two dolls. One has on a beautiful blue silk saree and the other has a pink long gown, adorned with white twinkling stones.

Admiring the clothes to my heart's content, I strive to enter the shop when a man who resides at the reception who I assume is the owner stops me. "It's not a museum to just watch the clothes. Do you even have money to buy anything?" I blink at him, embarrassed as the seemingly wealthy people inside glance my way. Some were filled with pity but some were a pure look of disgust.

Gulping to prevent the tears, I rapidly turn around when Vetri sir's voice rings, loud and clear. "Mayil!" Feeling a burst of happiness inside my chest, I swirl my head back and stare into his soft yet cold eyes. "She is with me. Come here Mayil," he announces the former to the owner who appears a bit agitated. Complying to his latter wish, without hesitation, I saunter towards him.

He clutches my wrist protectively as soon as I reach near him. The people around resume to select their clothes and get back to their business and I sigh internally at their averted attention.

"You came here alone?" I gaze up at him, and shake my head negatively, momentarily frozen by his manly cologne and alluring looks. He is in a black t-shirt and light blue denim jeans that appreciates his physique brilliantly...

"Mayil," I flicker my eyelids, bringing myself out of the reverie. He has a hint of a knowing smile on his lips, nevertheless, he maintains his cool self.

"I came here with my father, sir. He is in the nearby shop," he nods understandingly. "Well, while you are here...I want you to select clothe for my aunt's daughter, my cross-cousin. She is your age and has the same body proportion as you," I narrow my eyes at him, suspiciously. Somehow, I don't like him mentioning another girl to me, especially his aunt's daughter whom he could marry!

"Why don't you bring her with you and buy the same?" I ask, irately. "She lives in the city and is busy with her college studies," pursing my lips, I glance at him, utterly annoyed.

"Fine," taking a deep breath, I position my lollipop inside my shirt's pocket and help him in choosing the clothes. The ones he picks are way too costly but as he is selecting them for his cousin, I didn't reprimand him. Besides, I don't think he would listen to my advice of going for the less costly ones.

"What about this green Churithar?" I pick the clothe decorated with beautiful designs over it and showcase it to him. He analyses the dress intently and then looks back and forth between me and the dress. "No," he shakes his head with a distasteful expression.

Sighing defeatedly, I pick another red churidar. It's a gorgeous clothe with red and white stones arranged over the outline of a rose blossom. Vetri sir acquires the dress in his hands and presses it over my body and a satisfactory reaction crosses over his face. "Do you like this?" He raises his eyebrows questioningly and I nod in approval.

"Do you like your cousin a lot?" I inquire skeptically as he asks the person behind the counter to pack the clothe. "Yes, she is like my little sister," a full-blown smile brushes my lips and I dance internally at the information.

Subsequently, as Sir walks to the reception to pay the bill, my eyes almost plummet to the floor upon heeding the amount he has spent.

1000 rupees!

The churidar is not only the clothe he had purchased, but there are also many other simple shirts, pants, and skirts of kid's size. My heart quivers at his kind-hearted attitude.

And just as we both drop out of the shop, my father approaches us with a kit in his hand that contains the things we have bought.

"Huh, how are you??" My father questions Vetri sir as he stops in front of us. "I'm doing good, and you??" Sir replies calmly. "I'm well and happy. Especially after Mayilu began taking her studies seriously. She had said that she did her recent exams adequately. She has never said that in the past four years. Thank you for helping her improve. I don't know what I could do in return. You don't even get fees from the students..." My father trails off.

"I do need something from you in return. I will get it at the right time. Hope you don't deny it," I comprehend the underlying meaning behind sir's words instantly but my father looks totally befuddled, yet smiles warmly.

"I don't think there's anything that I have in my possession to compensate you. Regardless, I won't refuse to whatever you ask for..." At my father's naive response, Vetri sir beams.

"Okay then, we will excuse ourselves, come on Mayil," Father ushers, and I quickly shift towards him. Once Father nods to Sir and twirls around to walk, I look towards Vetri Sir skeptically.

His smile becomes a smirk and suddenly, he forwards his hands to my chest and snatches the lollipop from my pocket. I shriek a bit and before I could scold him, he parts his lips and places the lollipop inside his mouth.

And as If nothing had happened, he strolls away, leaving me stunned. "Mayilu!" Shaking my head, I swivel and rush to my father, trying hard not to blush at the thought of Vetri sir eating the lollipop that I have already tasted.

He is killing me!

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