Satyendra's POV:

We kept driving back home from the Neela hill. My Jeep kept talking to the winds even on the bumpy hilly roads...crossing by the green estates of Coonoor we were finally on our way back home. There was immense silence after the moment I shared with Shravani after years...

She was facing the green estates...her scarf was flying high at times touching my face and shoulders...her sweet fragrance was raising a storm inside my chest!!! I was trying to ignore all the emotions rising within...I didn't want more complications in this 'namesake' marriage which knew no way...no destination!!! It is like we both are walking together yet without being together on a road which has only darkness and nothing else...

But then this place, these farms, the apartment we stay, her being with me...was unknowingly trying to churn out old memories back...it's like I'm trying to skim out every lacing memory off my brain but like a layer of cream it begins to appear time and again like it is mocking me...

And looks like my fate and the almighty up there as well is enjoying this drama trying to reinstate the same situations...
The bee sting thing...
Fuck I ended up calling her 'Shravu' today...
I raked my fingers in my beard and hair recalling how I got carried away.... and last night I made the onion fritters and tea for her... bloody my nerves to do that!!! Why am I doing these...it's like I don't have control on my mind!!!
Fuck I'm annoyed!!!

I took a deep breath and again loose end of her scarf touches my face...but this time she quickly turns around and removes it off my face and mumbles a 'sorry' and my heart beats increase just at the feel of her scarf and her fingers being so close to my face...

She turned around again and kept looking at the lush tea plantations while I kept driving...my eyes slightly fell on her exposed shoulder that had a swollen mark due to the bee sting.

I tried to keep calm but I knew she had extremely sensitive skin...how could I forget how it happened and escalated last time...

Flashback begins...

'Dad what should I do coming there... Neelakurinjis are still budding...I have heard from Sekharan Anna...why do you want me to go to the hill' I asked and my dad smiled saying...

'Oh Come on Sattu...it's beautiful... and I want you to meet Mr Khanna as well...I am the major supplier of the seeds and most of their gardens... Just like how we have Pearl Valley estate...they also have the Shine Valley estate. Infact he is a much more reputed, richer man yet is extremely humble... tomorrow you will have to take over this business from me son...you may have to work with Mr Khanna closely...he is a good man...and come on how many more years you have 2 more??? And you will finish your graduation...I expect you to assist me sooner as possible...Your father is getting older Sattu...I don't know when will angels take me' dad said while I shot him a strong look.

'Why do you say that' I shouted at him and he chuckled and hugged me saying...
'Life and Death are not in our hands Sattu...I couldn't stop your mom...you can't stop me as well' he said and I pulled him in a stronger hug...

'Ohhhhh...my son is a beast...looks like all that Thalappakatti biryani is showing its true form now hannnn' dad said and I smiled saying 'I still prefer the Ambur biryani better' and dad chuckled. He sure knew to manipulate me...and I loved being manipulated by him. He was my only family other than my sisters...I don't want to loose him after loosing mom.

When I was in the parking area waiting for dad to get the car out I was standing there talking on my mobile as Kanishka had called me the 10th time in an hour asking me if I'm joining for the movie plans...Thalaiva's new movie 'Chandramukhi' had released and shows were running housefull... with a lot of difficulty they had managed getting tickets for the movie...I wanted to go but dad's sudden plans to Neela Hills and everything jumbled up...

'I can't say anything Kanishka...you go...I have some work with dad' I was saying while I was trying to convince her my eyes fell on a certain someone trying to run behind Shonali...

'Shona... give it to me...eyyy Goyyala (slang for idiot)...nayi (dog)...stop...urghhhh' she was running behind Shonali who was literally running with a piece of paper...and I had a smile lingering on my lips seeing her literally running like a deer...her jet black deer like eyes...her small neck...her flowing lush long hair...was she growing beautiful day after day...no wonder I had heard many guys talking about her already...it's just been 6 months of her joining the pre university college and I wanted to break a lot of jaws who dared to drool looking at her with a wrong intention!!!

Her anklets kept making the tingling sounds causing a strange wave in my chest...I saw Shonali come running from their apartment to my side where our friends were playing shuttle and basketball... Shonali shouted...

'Sattu save me from this monstrous girl' and hid behind my back...

She was about to crash into me if she didn't stop on her tracks...my eyes met hers for a brief moment and she looked down...
And I saw her trying to look behind me... probably to Shonali who was putting her tongue out and teasing her...but she looked beautiful to me right now in that yellow salwar kameez with a blue baandhni dupatta and those silver jhumkas...I swallowed dry seeing her cheeks which had some more blood rush in and at the same time because she was angry on Shonali her nose looked like a tomato...i kept gawking at her shamelessly...

I only came out of my trance while I heard our friends begin singing...

'Aayiye aapka intezaar tha...
Aayiye Aapka intezaar tha...'

Suddenly I heard a man called her... probably her father and she ran to him...in the meantime Shonali kept giggling and laughing while our friends continued teasing me with her...
Gosh this is embarassing...

Just then Danish looked curious about me not joining them for a game of basketball today and I told him I'm going to Neela Hills while they all got super excited listening to me going to see the Neelakurinji buds...

'I will join you... please take me along Sattu Anna' Nivedita said...

'Me too' Danish and Chetana said

'Heyyy have I done any crime...me tooo' Shonali said and I looked at Shonali saying...

'I will..but first young lady...stop teasing me with her' and she raised her eyebrows and chuckled saying...

'Whyyyy? You can't stop staring, can't stop blushing or you feel shyyyyy' and tried hard to not blush and maintain a serious face...

'Dont yaar Shonali...it's been a year and I have not even spoken once to her... it's impossible to face her...you know it's complicated and embarassing' I said and she laughed loudly ...

'Gosh you behave like you have a crush on her Sattu...come on...it's just fun... Nothing SERIOUS!!!!' she said emphasizing the word serious and I rolled my eyes.

I was however curious of the letter in her hand but she smartly hid it in her jeans pocket. I didn't bother to ask now.

They joined us along to the Neela Hill. It smelled great already and it hasn't yet begin to blossom... I smiled thinking how beautiful would they look when they blossom...

My friends kept admiring the beauty of the hills and the atmosphere was getting colder... although it was only 4 pm in evening...

My dad introduced me to Mr Khanna who looked a little familiar to me...I happened to see him closely trying to recall where have I seen him before...

Just then my dad smiled saying...
'Mr Khanna is our neighbor...he stays in Block A' and i nodded still trying to think where did I see him and suddenly I hear a sweet voice...

'Dadda look what I found... isn't he cute...can we adopt hi' and her words died in her mouth and I froze seeing the sight infront of me....

Shravani was standing there with a small puppy in her hand...her hands caressed it and she stood awestruck seeing me...

'Umm....Mr Mehra...this is my daughter Shravani...Shravu...this is Mr Mehra our neighbour and my business associate and this is their son Satyendra' and i was trying to bite insides of my mouth to control my laughter as her nervous face, comically growing button like eyes were making me laugh hysterically...but I controlled...

She said a hello to my dad and yet another time bluntly ignored me by only looking at my face and looking elsewhere...

Glad she saw atleast!!!

Soon our parents began walking discussing various aspects of farming and walked a little farther from us leaving us youngsters here...and our friends joined us and Shonali couldn't stop laughing the minute she realised our fathers were business associates...

I heard her whispering to Shravani
..'Wahhhh father and Father in law both have estates... lucky rich hag' and Shravani ran behind her to hit her and our friends were laughing...

Just then I heard a loud scream and I was pretty sure it was her...
I ran to see she was crying in pain...
Her palm had gone red and she was crying...

Shonali was panicking...while I saw I noticed it was a bee sting...

Everyone looked perplexed...I quickly looked around for a card or something...just then it striked me...my phone..I took my mobile out and removed it back side cover...it was a sharp edge...she was crying in pain and our friends were panicking...

I pushed them aside and pulled her hand along and made her sit on the stone below a tree and started scraping the sting out while she was crying in pain...I could see she was too sensitive to pain... Shonali hugged her while I continued scraping...it was hurting me to see tears in her eyes...just then Mr Khanna came and was scared seeing her hand...my dad appreciated me for my quick first aid...

'Khanna uncle if you have honey here...it would help...it's the best for bee sting' I said and I could see her wet eyelashes lift up and look at stealing a gaze and my heartbeats increased...

He nodded and got some honey and he applied it on her palm...I left her soft baby like hand half heartedly... she was soft like a cotton ball. She was still crying in pain while her father made her drink some honey and caressed her hair...she was a baby indeed...I smiled at that thought...but I could feel her stealing gaze even while she hugged her dad...

Those eyes...my heartbeat raised!!!

Flashback ends...

Just then a cow was crossing the roads and I applied breaks to stop...

The memory of our first touch brought goosebumps to me ... Just then I felt a drop of water on my face and I looked up to realise... weather changing...

'We must go home soon...it's probably gonna rain' I heard her and I turned around to look at the same deer like eyes and my heartbeat raised again!!!

I simply nodded and continued driving.