When starts align

Part 4

"I was just worried", he explained before looking at the two girls around her. 

"We are in the same class. Nanga tour mudichtu vara apo ivala paathom. So asked to tag along when we found our class rooms. She is better now", the other girl said. 

"Thank you, for taking her along", he put on a cordial smile before looking back at her. 

"We will meet you tomorrow Tara", the girls said and bid bye to the two who stood there unable to process what just happened. 

His concern was not just a surprise for her but for him too. He had never cared for her. All these years. This sudden change came as a shocker.

"Enna da panra? What is wrong with you? Ava oru sorry sonna odane ava mela paasam vandhurucha?", his mind voice was mocking him for this hasty behavior. 

"Ava kanna patha edho pannudhu la?", his heart consoled.

"Konjam moodu", his mind voice berated. 

"Polama?", her lovely voice helped him get back into the real world. 

"Hmm", he acknowledged and the two started to walk back to the main gate. 

Silence filled the air between them as their minds were suffused with thoughts and emotions which were too wary to comprehend. Neither of them wanted to make this more complicated that it already was. 

They both tried to steal glances of each other hoping that it would easy the awkwardness but it only exacerbated the situation. 

"Andha kanna paatha mind en ipdi freeze aagudhu?", he questioned in silence. 

"Konja neram nera paathu nada Tara. Avana paatha kandippa confusion dan increase aagum", she advised her poor heart that wanted to keep looking at him.

"Karthik... enaku pasikudhu", she said with a tired look as they walked by their canteen. 

"Ava lunch saptaala nu kooda nee kekala. Nee lam oru aala?", a sudden revelation hit him yet again.

"Ayoo.. so sorry. I just totally spaced. Va sapadlam", he took her hand and started to walk towards the canteen. 

Honestly he did not feel like he was doing something out of the ordinary until he felt her fingers close into his hands. A jolt of new emotions walloped him when he sensed the way her soft delicate fingers held on to him with ease. 

Without giving it too much attention that threatened to wander in the depths of uncharted territory, he walked into the canteen with her and reached the counter.

"Enna venum?", he asked without actually looking at her. 

"Gobi fried rice and maybe fresh orange juice?", she asked looking at his tall frame that was still scanning the variety of choices. 

"Enaku vegetable fried rice with Gobi manchurian and a sprite", he ordered and placed his card to pay. 

"I will pay for mine. Neenga en?", she tried to reason but all she got back was a disapproving look and she did not want to have a banter there. 

He was still holding her and it felt so natural to hold her like that. 

They walked to find a couple of seats near a window and he finally let her hand go before heading towards the pickup counter to pick up their food. 

She sat there looking at his long legs as he walked across the room. His pants stitched to perfection and a semi formal jacket which made sense with him enrolled into the MBA program, brown shoes and ofcourse his perfect hair.