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Maaran kept driving to the outskirts of the city, even after an hour. Maya kept questioning him about the destination and only stopped when she got some thean mittais too much on from a shop on the way.
Maaran stopped the bike in front of a building which looked like an resturant. Maya confirmed it was a restaurant when she noticed the board " Taste buds Restaurant ".
Maya: Maara Inga ethuku vanthu irukom ?
Maaran: restaurant ku ethuku varuvanga.. sapda tha..
Maya: Aii enna pathi therinju ipadi kekara ?
Maaran: Ellam theriyum.. ne mothala ulla va solaran..
Maya: ipadiya solu da..
She said grumpily as she walked along with him but all her grumpiness vanished the moment she saw the indoor game on the ground floor.
It was double storey building, the first floor was completely filled with indoor games, the second was indoor restaurant and finally the terrace was used for special booking.
Maya got excited seeing the indoor games.
Maya: Maara Va vilayadalam... She said enthusiastically and dragged him to the foosball table.
Maaran: Maya Maya vilayadalam.. Athu munadi oru two minutes ingaya wait panu..
Maya: nee enga pora ?
Maaran: Varen da nee vilayaditu iru..
Maya nodded and Maaran left the place to the reception which was located at the end of the lobby.
" Yes sir.. how may I help you "
Maaran: hey.. I am Maaran.. I have made a reservation for tonight.
" One minute sir... she checked something on her system.. Your reservation has been confirmed sir.."
Maaran: Thank you.. Are the arrangements ready ?
" Sorry sir actually your timing was 7.30 and there is half an hour more.. they are preparing for it "
Maaran: Sorry we are early and no problem we will wait.
" Sorry for the inconvenience sir.. and thank you.. once the arrangements are ready i will inform you.. "
Maaran nodded with a smile and left back to find Maya trying to throw the ball into the basketball net. He took a deep breath watching her, she had tied her dupatta to a side and tied her hair up in a tight messy bun just leaving some to flow down her face. She was tapping the ball on the ground a few times before she tried to goal it but failed.
Even though she was tall enough she could not find the angle to pocket the ball. Maaran stood there watching her try a few times and fail.
Maya caught hold of the ball that was about to hit her and turned to Maaran and pouted.
Maya: Maara..
Maaran chuckled before moving to her before getting the ball from her and moving back. He tapped the ball with his right hand and moved forward until he reached a little away from the net and effortlessly pocketed the ball.
Maya: Aii super.. nanum podanum.
Maaran: podu..
Maya: atha varalaya.. neeya soli kudu..
Maaran shook his head before he signaled her to come closer and took her away from the net. He gave her the ball and moved behind her to get hold of the ball.
Maya gulped when she felt him just behind her with not even an inch between them. His hands were over hers literally like he was hugging her from behind. His face parallel to hers and his two days old subtle was pricking her cheeks making it red. She was trying hard to control her blush while he was casually teaching her with no reaction. For him it just looked like how he taught her to use a plastic cricket bat when she was just two and half.
Maaran: Maya Maya... he called her but did not get any reply and sighed.. Paapa.. he shook her shoulders and she turned to him jerking.
Maaran: enna aachu.. Maya just shook her head.. Move..
Maya nodded and moved forward while tapping the ball with her palm. When they reached near the net, Maya felt herself being lifted and squealed. She looked down at him who asked her to pocket the ball. She blinked like a kid before putting the ball into the net before he dropped her down carefully.
Maaran: Ipa ok va ?
Maya: Ah.. ah..
Before she could reply she noticed a girl walking to them and Maaran looked back to find the receptionist.
" Sorry for the disturbance sir the arrangements are ready "
Maaran: Thank you we will be there soon..
The receptionist nodded with a smile and left the place.
Maya: Enna arrangements?
Maaran: Va kataran..
He stretched her hands for her which she took it gracefully before following the receptionist who showed them the way to the terrace. Before a few steps to reach the terrace Maaran stopped Maya and closed her eyes.
Maya: Maara enna panra ?
Maaran: Trust me.. he whispered.
Maya's tummy did a somersault when she heard him whisper into her ears with his hot breath hitting her nape. She just nodded and moved forward while he carefully took her to the terrace.
She felt him removing her bun that let her hair free flow and untying her dupatta.
Maaran: Kanna thira..
Maya slowly blinked and adjusted her eyes to the not so bright but beautiful lighting. Her mouth fell open in surprise when she noticed the set up in front of her.
A while mattress was spread with a few pillows and a bouquet in the middle. Three sides of the mattress were covered with a white cloth in tent form with a bouquet on the top and white serial lights. The black and golden balloons were stringed to one side of the tent. A table was set in front of the mattress with hot packs placed on it along with candles. The whole terrace was filled with scented candles and bouquets and small white serial lights.
( This is the main set up filled with bouquets and candles all around without the happy birthday lighting )
Maya: Maara..
Maaran: Pudichu iruka ?
Maya: semaya iruku..
Maaran: va..
He entwined his fingers with hers and took her to the mattress and both settled beside each other still holding hands. Maya looked around to check on the arrangements and a smile made way to her lips.
Maaran: pudichu iruka ?
Maya: romba.. ana enna thidirunu ithu Ella..
Maaran: Suma tha..
Maya: Aii..
Maaran: seri seri.. madam en kanavula vera yaro varanga nu ninacha anaiku.. she gave a thiruttu muli.. ena verupu ethanum nu nee fast food saptu kasta pata illa...
Maya: atha enaku onuma agalaya
Maaran: intha kathaiya vera yarachu kita solu.. unaku stomach pain irunthathu enaku theriyum.. athu oru Mari guilt va irunthuchu.. and inaiku un mood eppadi lift panrathunu therila so atha..
Maya nodded smiling: ana ithuvum restaurant thena?
Maaran: ama but konja.. illa romba different ana restaurant
Maya: purila..
Maaran: Ithu normal restaurant kedaiyathu.. it's a specially designed restaurant for people with allergies..
Maya: Oh..
Maaran: hmm.. nee aachu outside food matum allergic ana neraya peruku.. nama normal ah sapdra food kuda allergy ah iruku.. So intha restaurant there is a speciality.. Everything is home cooked food .. athuvum nama allergies ella soli pre book pana apram ah tha cook paniya kudupanga.. so nee bayam illama sapdalam..
Maya: wow sema illa..
Maaran: hmm.. Intha restaurants owner ku neraya allergies iruka naala tha ipadi onu create Pani irukanga nu kelvi patan..
Maya: super.. ama nee epadi itha kandu pudicha..
Maaran: konjam katam tha.. ana neraya search pana.. friends kita ella reference ketan finally.. namaku reachable ah ithu onu tha irunthuchu atha vara late aanalum paravala book pana..
Maya smiled at him before she silently laid on his shoulders. She was overwhelmed and dumbfounded with the effort he had taken to compensate for a foolish act she had done. She was initially mesmerized by the setup but now in front of the effort he had taken it was nothing.
Her left arm fingers were still entwined with his as she moved her right arm wound around his waist. He looked at her before removing his arm from their hold and wounding it around her shoulders. He pulled her a little further and she wound both her arms around him. He caressed her hair as they stayed in a peaceful silence while star gazing. At the moment nothing seemed wrong for them, the closeness did not feel new to them as if they were so used to it. The only thing that mattered was each other's presence.
Maya looked up from his shoulders and he stopped caressing her hair before raising his eyebrows. Her hands involuntarily moved up to his face and caressed the half inch scar on his left temple. She had seen the scar upteempth times but had never questioned the story behind it. Maaran caught hold of her wrist and entwined their fingers.
Maaran: Nee panathu tha..
Maya: Nan enna pana ?
Maaran: nejama nyabagam illa..
Maya: nejama illa.. solu
Maaran: unaku moonu vayasu iruku.. Oru naal appa namala ella thoppu kutitu ponaru.. nee manga ketanu avuru Kal eduthu adichatha pathu.. nanum adipan soli... nala periya size kala thooka mudiyama thooki manga mela veesara nu en mela veesita..
Maya: Ayoo apram enna aachu..
Maaran: Vera enna.. Appa pakathula iruntha hospital ku thookitu poi.. stitch potanga..
Maya: Achoo sorry..
Maaran chuckled: Athu ella nee apava ketuta..
Maya: apavana ?
Maaran: En nethila ratham pathathu... ne Thembi thembi ala arambichuta.. hospital la iruntha vantha apram nan un kita pesalanu... pavam ah en pinadiya.. chory.. chory nu suthuna.. rendu naal apram tha un kita pesuna..
Maya: apa rendu naal enna ala vechu iruka ?
Maaran: apa nanum China payan di.. nee adichutan kovam..
Maya nodded in understanding: Ama romba valichutha ?
Maaran: Atha yen kekara sema Vali..
Maya kept staring at the scar with an apologetic face before going on her knees while his arms moved down to her waist from her shoulders. She caressed the scar before blowing on it as if it was still troubling him. He closed his eyes feeling her breath on his face but unexpectedly received a peck on the scar. He felt his heart skip when she was in such a proximity and kept his eyes closed.
He slowly opened his eyes when he felt her moving away only to be locked with hers. Her eyes expressed more than the usual affection and he could identify it was affection but love.
Involuntarily he adjusted himself and went on his knees to be parallel to her. He cupped her face with his thumb cheeks and his fingers below her ears and her neck. He caressed her cheeks with her thumb making her close her eyes and relish his touch for the first time in a different way. She opened her eyes when she felt his kiss on her hairline. His eyes held a lot of love for her but one thing was more than love. She initially could not recognise what it was but later she knew it was confusion. But what was confusing him- they both knew what the other felt which had taken them to the place where they were in the present. Only the mutual feeling they had, now made them feel there was nothing wrong in them being in such a proximity.
Her train of thoughts broke when she noticed the change in his eyes. Suddenly all the confusion was gone and something else flashed.
His left arm moved down from her cheeks to her waist while his right thumb stopped caressing her cheeks. His eyes flashed that made her heart start beating faster and her breath hitch. She felt as if she had run a marathon as her heart thumped faster and a few drops of sweat adored her forehead.
Everything that she had read in her favorite novels was now happening to her. She had never imagined that she would react in the way the fictional female leads did. She was confident that she would be bold enough when it came to intimacy which was crashed down into pieces. Now she felt the exact same thing that the books explained. Both involuntarily moved closer until their lips were just a few centimeters away.
Maaran jerked off as if he had seen a ghost when they heard sudden music. Both moved away from each other, Maya breathed heavily to catch her breath while Maaran turned aside with guilt filled eyes.
Maaran looked at the mobile on the table that had rang disturbing their moment or which had saved him doing something that would make him regret later. He turned to look at Maya who was looking down at her palms on her lap while her cheeks were hot red. He fisted his own palms trying not to hit himself for acting on the moment without thinking about her.
The mobile once again rang, gaining his attention before he took the mobile and forwarded to her without looking at her. She looked at him once before taking the mobile and looking away.
Maya: He..hello.. he turned to her when she stammered and fisted his palm more... Yes I am Umayal..
Maya: Yeah I had applied for it.. Is my seat blocked?
He looked at her directly for the first time only to watch the disappointment in her face. He did not know what was said on the opposite side but he could not watch the disappointment in her face as she disconnected the call. He hesitated for a few seconds whether to ask her or not before he finally decided to question, unable to see her worried face.
Maaran: En..enna aachu ?
Maya: Ayesha mam pathi soli irukan illa..
Maaran: unnaku pudicha designer Nu soluviya?
Maya: aah avungala tha... avunga Inga Chennai la oru workshop panranga.. Athuku poganum romba aasai ah irunthuchu.. Apply pani iruntha ana seat ella close airucha.. atha kuptu inform panranga..
Maaran wondered how she could change so easily, she was just blushing a minute before and now she was worrying about a workshop like a kid.
Maya: evalo aasaiya iruntha theriyum ah ..
Maaran: Seri inoru time poikalam vidu..
Maya: Illa avunga Bangalore based designer.. avunga workshop podratha rare athuvum Chennai laya potu irunthanga.. romba ethir pathan ella pochu..
Maaran: Oh.. Seri vidu pathukalam..
Maya: Psch..
Maaran: Umayal.. feel panatha vidu pathukalam.. nee mothala Sapdu..
Maya: illa enaku Venda..
Maaran: Maya nee mathiyam uh seriya sapdala konjam sapdu..
Maya was not hungry but she did not want to waste his efforts. She nodded before he served her favorites that were on the hot pack. He gave excuses for not eating but she convinced him and fed him some. Later he convinced her to serve himself before they started having the dinner in silence. For Maya it was a peaceful one but for Maaran it was awkward. He did not have the courage to face her or speak to her after what he did which was inappropriate according to him.
They left the restaurant after a half an hour and then traveled back home in silent once again.
*****
Hi dearssss chapter epadi irukunu solunga..
Ivalo nadantha apram proposal ethir pathinga illa ? ana nan thara Matan athu neenga next update vara wait pananum
Yes the next one will have the much awaited proposal. Have some ideas for it and hopefully it comes out good.
Do vote and share if you like and comment your suggestions.