But she somehow managed to give him a smile and said,
“Hello Ranjan…”
“Sorry Thulasi I will not be able to attend your marriage so thought I will stop by to wish you…”
“Oh ok… Thanks…”
“I hope you are happy with this marriage plan?”
“Oh yes…”
“I don’t want to lie to you Thulasi, I am utterly disappointed… You used me didn’t you Thulasi?”
Thulasi was taken aback for a few seconds but she soon recovered and looked at him,
“See Ranjan, I didn’t do this to take revenge on you but I think you should sit and do a self analysis before complaining about me… If what I did was a mistake what you did to me was a blunder. I guess its better that we both move on…”
Ranjan smiled and said,
“Yes, whether I accept your words or not, I think that’s the best thing to do… Let’s move on… Congratulations Thulasi…”
He took his right hand forward and though Thulasi hesitated for a few seconds she accepted his gesture and shook hands with him.
At the same time Dinakaran entered the room. He was not very happy seeing Ranjan there. And seeing Thulasi smiling and shaking hands with Ranjan made him feel irritated. He didn’t try to hide his displeasure and looked at Thulasi and almost shouted,
“What are you doing here?
Thulasi gave a surprised look and smiled.
“I was chatting with Ranjan…”
“Oh yes mister Dinakaran, I will not be able to attend your marriage. So I came here to wish you both… Happy married life sir…”
Dinakaran gave him a sharp glance and said,
“Thanks…”
“Ok, let me go and talk to Saradha aunty before I leave…” said Ranjan and left the place.
Dinakaran looked at Thulasi angrily and said,
“Do you have any brain? Did you understand what you were doing?”
“Why are you angry with me? What can I do when he offers his hand for a hand shake? It will be very rude to say no…”
“Oh yes! How can you say no to him? He is such a special person for you right?”
“Come on Karan, are you a kid?”
Before Dinakaran could reply, they heard Seetha’s voice calling him from somewhere. He again looked at her angrily and left the place.
Thulasi sat there thinking about Dinakaran and a smile automatically appeared in her lips…
She was lost in her own thoughts and didn’t notice someone opening and softly closing the door…
“Thulasi…”
Again Thulasi was startled by Ranjan’s voice. She was surprised to see him standing so very close to her. She immediately got up and moved away from him.
“What’s this Ranjan?” she asked him angrily.
“Oh, sorry Thulasi! I didn’t mean to startle you. I knocked the door and also tried calling you after entering the room…”
“Oh sorry I was lost in my thoughts…”
“Yes I realized it… By the way, I will be travelling abroad in a month or so.. So we may not get a chance to meet each other in the near future… and ofcourse I am also planning to find a bride for me, get married and take my wife with me…”
“That’s a good idea Ranjan. All the best for your future…” said Thulasi with a smile.
“Thulasi, do you like this color…”
Seetha entered the room and was surprised to see another person there with Thulasi.
Ranjan had been waiting for this. He was listening to the conversation between Saradha and Krishna and realized that Seetha will be talking to Thulasi soon. He rushed to Thulasi’s room and thanked his luck when he found her alone there…
“Sorry Thulasi, I hope I didn’t disturb you…”
Even before Thulasi could move her lips, Ranjan replied to Seetha in a hurry.
“Oh yes madam… I was pleading Thulasi to change her mind. Actually she doesn’t even like this groom… She loves me… I don’t know who you are, but please ask her to change her mind…”
Ranjan mixed emotions to his voice to make it sound true.
Thulasi was shocked and said,
“No…”
But Seetha interrupted her and said,
“Wait Thulasi, let me hear what he has to say…”
“Thanks madam. We both were supposed to be married almost five years back but it got delayed because of her father’s unexpected death… Though I am still waiting for Thulasi, she has changed her mind and has decided to marry this Dinakaran. As you know he is a very rich person and I am someone from middle class… Please madam, ask her to change her mind…”
“Is this true Thulasi?”
“Seetha amma…”
“Mom, you can’t listen to this idiot’s words and question Thulasi…” said Dinakaran who stormed into the room… His face was burning in rage…
“Be patient Dinu… Thulasi you have any reply for him?”
Thulasi shook her head as if to say yes and went near Ranjan and slapped him hard.
Ranjan was shell shocked.
“That’s a good reply Thulasi!” said Seetha with a smile.
Even Dinakaran’s face had a smile now.
“Ranjan, don’t you have any sense? You escaped and flew away from Thulasi’s life when she really needed your support and now how can you say that she was engaged to you? And ofcourse I know that the engagement ceremony didn’t take place also… Can’t you learn from your mistakes? Why can’t you try to be good atleast once?”
Seetha’s voice was stern but had a smooth tone.
“Mom, you should not talk to him like this… There’s a different way to handle him…” said Dinakaran and went and held Ranjan’s shirt collar. His eyes were burning red and automatically Ranjan started to shiver.
“Dinu, leave him…”
Seetha tried to pacify her son.
“No mom, you don’t know the full story… This Ranjan knows that Kumar very well…”
“Kumar?”