With the stinging pain in my heart which I felt more than the pain in my cheeks because of the slap, I stood there frozen when the tear drops roll down from my mom's eyes.  The hurt in her eyes could kill me. I know I'm the reason behind her tears. But I dont know what to do to stop her crying.

" It's a shame that I gave birth to you "

Did I hear it right? No way she could tell those words. No.

"Ma" before my whimper could reach her ears she told those words to tear my heart

"Dont call me that

I dont even wanna hear your voice

You're not my daughter anymore"

"Maa please... dont say like that. What I did to hear these words?"

"Can't you see what you have done.

You make us ashamed.

I never saw your dad this broken. You're the reason he is sitting like this"
She pointed at her father who sat on the chair head hanging low.

"Ma"

"Dont call me like that"

I startled by her loud angry voice. I cried. Standing there I have no option other than crying as like always. But now my tears are seen by others.

I can see my father's hand slowly reaching my mom's. He shakes his head as "Don't". And my mom stopped her yelling the next second. He slowly tilts his head to meet my eyes.

"You should've told me before. You know I won't do something you hate. Then why you didnt tell us that... that you like someone."

My dump brain just got the point. So Ragu might be told them about my love.

Wow... Great...

I believed him

Even if he slapped me on that day I could bear that. But seeing my parents like this...

It's a heart wrenching scene to my eyes

I couldn't see him in eyes. So I let my eyes fall on the floor.

"I felt betrayed. It's a pain"

"Sorry pa... But please let me explain "

"Nothing gonna change what happened today. Just let us alone today. We can have our conversation tomorrow "

He stood up from his chair, slowly walking towards the entrance as my mom followed him without a word.

When he reached the door he turned to me

"Whatever you did can't change the fact that you're our daughter. Even if you kill us with your own hands still you will be our daughter"

With that he left the place, leaving me to cry out loud on the floor.

_________________________________________

"Pooja! Pooja!"

Screaming my name, enters Iniya with unreadable expression in her face. Not want to get up from the bed I just raised my head to look at her.

"He came to meet you"

Who?

"Ragu"

When I heard that name, my mind went blank. I couldn't think anything other than my parent's tears. He is the reason for that. He hates me. Then why... Why he wants to meet me now? I thought to myself.

After my parent left me crying on the floor yesterday, I came to my aunt's house. Being with my cousins may helps to bring a smile on my face... they thought. But the picture of my parent's face looked at me with the sad eyes refused to leave my head.

Though I dont wanna see him, I decided to meet him. I've to ask him. Ask him why he did that to me? Why he betrayed me? So I walked to the living room.

_______________________________________

"Hi!"

He got up from sofa to greet me when our eyes meets after 2days. Without greeting back, I went to sit on the sofa near him.

"I know you must be angry on me but let me explain."

"What's there to explain now. You could told me instead my parents, you know? The cried. They cried becauseof me" eyes became blur because of tears. So I sat there with my eyes focused on my toes.

"Please Dont cry. First listen.."

He stopped whatever he comes to say as my aunt came there to give him Tea. He thanked her and resumed his words as she went from there.

"We can't talk here. Please come with me. I wanna talk to you in private. Please."

It's true. We cant talk here without any disturbance. I too wanna ask him lot of questions whichever torturing my mind. So I didn't thought much before I said yes.

________________________________________

We both sits in the car without sharing any words. Breaking the silence I asked the question first.

"Why?"

"Huh..?"

"Why you told my parents without saying anything to me. You could told me that you hate me on that day. Then why? Is it a revenge or something?"

"What...what revenge? Do you think I hate you? I saw you as my friend... still do. You know that."

"Friend...? That's why you do that to me and my family?"

"Yes"

"What the.."

"I want you to live with your loved one."

Though his word makes no sense it make my words stay in my throat. How can I live with my loved one without knowing anything about him.

"Convincing my parents is the toughest task for me. At first they didn't understand me. But I told them about your love and who you love."

It's so confusing why he told about my love to his parents and why they should understand.

"It's a good thing that I still not fallen for you. Or otherwise I won't give you to him."

To whom? What he is speaking? And who gave him right to give me to someone?

He stopped the car infront of the restaurant and turned to my side.

"You're such a nice girl. That's what I thought when I first met you. Simple girl with pure heart. I really like your character. Your honesty amazed me when you said you love someone else to me though you know I'm your fiance. I want everything to be good for you.

I know your parent will react so bad knowing you love someone. But I dont have any other option. You can't live with me when your heart belongs to someone else. It'll affect both of us and our family too.

When you said you love him, my first thought is "I should stop this marriage". Or things will go wrong. I never gonna get angry on you. It's on him.

Knowing the truth he have the guts to not tell me that he loves you. How dare he? That's what makes me so angry so that I suddenly left you on that day. And after that, in the process of convincing my parents and your parents and.... your lover I couldn't take your call.

I'm so so sorry

And

I still consider you as my friend"

He comes to halt when he atlast looks at my confused as hell face.

"What?"

"I dont understand what are you saying."

He laughs and points at the direction to restaurant and said

"Im saying, your lover... the one who you met while your train travel... the one who stupidly thought I'm in love with you... the one who waiting there for more than half an hour for you is... my friend.

The great Vinoth is my close friend from my childhood"