“Hmm… Let’s see…”
“Yes, we can see that later, now don’t divert the topic, tell me the reason…”
“You remember what happened that day?”
“Yes, how can I forget even a second?”
“Hmmm… That day after you proposed to me and… and… When I looked at you, you teased me with your smile…”
“What, you got angry for that”
His voice sounded doubtful and his tone made her laugh.
“Yes Karan, sorry, I thought about it many times in these last few days but at that time…”
“Oh God! I have been wondering what can be the reason for your reaction… I never thought this could be the reason…”
“You are very weak in this subject Karan, don’t worry, I will teach you…”
“hmmm… Oh yes Thulasi madam, I am yearning to learn everything from you… But I think you missed something between your ands… I proposed to you and you looked at my teasing smile? I think you missed an important part there…”
“Pch, Dinu…”
“Dinu…” He imitated her tone, which made Thulasi to laugh.
“Ok, now what’s your second question?”
“How dare you say Ranjan is your fiancé?”
“Hehehe… Isn’t that true?”
“Hey!”
“You heard him say that when you were in the boutique didn’t you? Did you say anything at that time?”
“mmmm… I had other reasons for that… You had told my mom that you wanted me to stay away from you and that too immediately after I told you how much I love you…”
“Oh that’s because of sympathy…”
“I never thought you are so brilliant Thulasi! How did you come to this conclusion?”
“Don’t tease me like this!”
“Oh yes, I won’t Thulasi! I can’t afford another one month fight, I really can’t…”
His words, tone and gaze made her feel very shy…
“Thulasi, if you look at me like this, I will forget everything else… We have very short time left…“
“Dinu…. Ok, tell me why you are asking about Ranjan as if you were disturbed by that incident?”
“So you expected me to be disturbed?”
Thulasi gave him an angry stare.
“Ok, ok cool down Thulasi… I had some other plan for Ranjan but you made my life simple and that’s why I was excited…”
“What?”
“Yes Thulasi, I wanted to teach him a lesson… I didn’t like you letting him go freely. I had a plan and that’s why asked him to come to your boutique. I thought of breaking our news there but your announcement demolished all my plan…”
“Oh! But you looked happy!”
“Yes even now I am happy… I actually wanted you to punish him… Now when you tell him that you were just kidding that day, he will atleast partially realize what you went through few years back, right?”
“Really you think so? I am not sure about that… But Karan, do you know what he told me yesterday? He said I can’t run away from him so easily…”
“Hmm…. I will take care of it, don’t worry… I need to tell you many things in this subject. We will talk about that later… But always remember, here afterwards whatever be it just share it with me… By the way, I like you calling me as Karan…”
“Huhum… But what about you? You can’t shorten my name!”
“That’s true, but I can call you darling, sweet heart etc etc…”
“Hmmm…”
“Ok Thulasi, any more questions?”
“No Karan…”
“Thank god! I am really running late…”
“But you said you have blocked one hour for me… It’s only thirty past ten?”
“Not just one hour, I have blocked the full day for you…”
“What?”
“Did you ever wonder why I myself came and spoke to you suddenly yesterday?”
“May be for Seetha amma”
“Yes that’s a reason too… But the main reason is different… Come with me…”
He made her stand up and took her to the other side of the table. There was a big box… He opened it… It was a cake… Thulasi looked at it doubtfully and suddenly understood the reason…
“Oh, it’s your birthday? Happy birthday Karan!”
He hugged her softly and said
“Thank you Thulasi…”
“I was not aware that it’s your birthday… I don’t have any gift for you…”
“I know you don’t know that it’s my birthday. But you really don’t have any gift with you?”
His husky voice and wandering eyes revealed his mind. Thulasi’s face turned red in shyness. She bent her head to avoid his eyes and said,
“Dinakar…” in a whisper.