Saying that, Seetha went inside the house. Thulasi sat their quiet for few seconds. Her bored eyes started to roll around. Since she was sitting in the garden she was able to see lot of plants. There were lots of flowers too... But there was one specific rose that caught her attention... It was a lovely dark red rose... That's Thulasi's favorite color. She was so very tempted to go and pluck it. But she hesitated for a few seconds... But then she made up her mind because Seetha has already asked her to pluck any flower that she wants... And this rose, her favorite one was so very tempting... Thulasi got rid of all her hesitations, got up and went near the rose plant. But the flower was a bit too high for her. Thulasi herself is not very tall... She is just like any other average Indian woman. This rose plant was kept on top of a cement floor.. There were steps on both the directions to reach to the floor. But at the moment the gates safe guarding the steps were closed. She can wait for few minutes and ask Seetha to open the gates and then pluck it... But right now Thulasi had no patience... she wanted to pluck the flower soon...
So she lifted her feet and standing in her toes, tried to reach for the flower. One moment it looked as if it's very close but the next moment it moved little bit away from her in the breeze. That's when Dinakaran reached the place. He saw Thulasi and stood there for a while. Since he came from her behind, Thulasi didn't see him. Thulasi in her light red sari, in the dark green back ground in the evening sun looked stunning... For the first time a smile appeared in his face seeing Thulasi. He stood there watching her for few seconds... And then he started walking towards her. Thulasi heard the footsteps and turned back expecting Seetha. She was shocked to see Dinakaran there.
'Oh he usually finds fault in me... Now he has caught me trying to do something without his permission... He is surely going to blast me...' thought Thulasi.
But Dinakaran with a smile came closer to her,
"You need help in plucking the flower?"
Though he asked with a smile, Thulasi went back five, six steps as if she has stepped on a snake. Dinakaran kept looking at her...
"I am sorry..." said Thulasi little hesitantly.
"It's ok..." said Dinakaran and plucked the flower easily and gave it to her.
But Thulasi didn't receive it from him.
"No... It’s ok..." she said slightly stammering!
Seetha came there at the moment followed by a maid with some plates.
"Hey Dinu! You are also here? Come and have some snacks... "
Thulasi went and sat near Seetha as if she wanted to escape from Dinakaran. Dinakaran did notice that but he stood there without any expression. He slowly came and sat in the chair opposite to his mom. He kept the rose in the teapoy and said,
"Mom, this flower fell down in the breeze... I don't know what to do with it..."
Seetha looked at the rose plant. She was not that stupid to believe that the fresh rose fell down from the plant in this gentle breeze. She turned and looked curiously at Thulasi. Thulasi had her head bent and was busy searching for something in her plate. A quick smile appeared in Seetha's face. She took the flower and gave it to Thulasi.
"Thulasi, you like this color right... This will also suit your sari... Come on hold it..."
Seetha didn't even give a chance for Thulasi to say no. Thulasi took the flower hesitantly. A big smile appeared in Dinakaran's face. Thulasi noticed his smile. His eyes shined as if to tell her, see I made you accept the flower! A queer feeling waved over her.
To be continued...