Deva

THE PEELING

As always Deva had finished squeezing the milk from the cow and walked in with the mug. Poured the milk in the vessel and boiled them before Ramanna bring the milk from the buffaloes beside the cow. Added some sugar to the hot milk and freshly powdered coffee beans into the cups. Lightly cooled them and walked out with two glasses, handed one to who is sitting in her chair in the hall and was about to walk out with his but his siter came in the middle.

Rama took away the bucket and the mop smiling seeing brither and sister.

" Where is mine? " she asked.

" Ask Kanakam " he said and walked out.

She gazed at Gowri, " When you gys stated this habit? "

" After you left " she said blowing some air to cool down the hot coffee. " I was as surprised as you when I first tasted it. heaven " she complimented smelling the coffee.

" So, you moved on the next day " she pouted.

" No, we wanted to divert our thoughts from you. So, he brewed a coffee on his own and drinking a good coffee would divert our mind " she said.

Maya gazed at her and grabbed the cup smelling it and smiling. " So, good " she mumbled and sipped it.

" Maya " came her husband, Arya stepping down the stairs.

" Gentle, son, We haven't used those stairs from so long. " Gowri warned.

They stopped using the rooms upstairs when the trio has become duo. And Deva too shifted down using upstairs for guests and to store the heavy sacks.

Arya paid more attention stepping down and Maya went for him.

" What happened? " she asked.

" Where is your brother? "

" Why? "

" He said that he will take me for a ride around the town " he said.

" Is it?.. I will also accompany you "Maya jumped in happiness. Arya smiled and nodded.

" He promised me the same " came Valli with drying her hair.

Gowri looked away sighing seeing the unwanted drama.

" I wish that this house regain it's demanding atmosphere onece again with a daughter-in-law and can put a full stop to these kind of useless drama " she mumbled and rose up keeping the heavy keys holder to her waist.

" I thought it was just both of us " Valli said and ran out to Deva who is cleaning his jeep.

" Deva Babu, stop doing it. You just have to order " one of his men said trying to pull the washer from him.

" Ahre Anna!.. I can do my work. If I want any help I will let you know " he said.

Veda is looking at him and trying to snatch the washer. " Veda Anna!, stay away from the tyres " Before they reach Veda's ears. Veda wet his dress.

" Deva Babu " he looked down at him. " You are still a kid " he sighed and went to change his dress and Valli walked briskly toward him before Veda leave. He saw her coming towards Deva.

" Bava " she called as loudly as the dead in heaven can hear. And our Valli-call-deaf-Deva slowly turned his head to her smiling.

" What happened, Valli? " he asked. " I didn't hear you. You were mumbling something "

" I called you, Bava? ' she said.

" Oh! is it... I am sorry, your voice was so low and I couldn't hear you " he said.

She groaned and " You promised me that you take me for a ride around the town "

" I did " he said continuing his washing. " That is why I am cleaning my baby "

She shook her head frustrated, " Then why are my brother and your sister are coming with us? "

" I promised your brother too but I don't know about Maya "

" Isn't it our personal ride. You. Me and a lovely time? " she frowned.

" It is. You. Me. Arya and a lovely time "

" Why would it be lovely with Arya Anna? " she squealed. " It's us. We have spend some time together. Understand each other and love each other " she said. " We are gonna be together right? "

Deva leaned back taking a deep breathe. Before he reply, Arya and Maya came. " Deva, shall we go? " he asked.

Deva gazed at Valli and nodded. " I will put a shirt on " he said walked inside passing Valli. Valli sighed in frustration and went inside to comb her hair before leaving.

⇽ ⏃ ⇾

" Sita " Uma called.

" Ha, Ma " she hurriedly joined the last line in her rangoli and ran inside holding the rangoli bowl. Badra walked in with a milk packet and newspaper carefully not stepping on the rangoli. He walked in smiling and Sita helped her mother with the food. Badra made some fresh coffee and handed each of them a cup.

" That could make your work easier " he said and walked into the Varanda with a news paper.

Sita and Uma made some roti and Uma stuffed few in Sita's lunch box. Sita hurried for work and Badra finished reading the newspaper before Sita come and ask him to drop her at work.

As they decided, Sita drive when going to work and Badra drive when she come from work.

" Ma, get me another box of roti. Please " Badra asked and Uma got another box of roti. Sita was waiting for him whilst Badra was taking the box from Uma.

" If she finds you still talking Deva. I don't know what she will do to you " Uma warned him.

" That's okay. She will understand him slowly " he said. " I will manage " he said.

Uma smiled. " Wait " she called him when he was rushing out. He ran back and noddded.

" Will he eat food from our house.. I mean he is from- " before she even finish the sentence, Badra replied.

" He never cares. And he is such a momma's boy. Look, he will not give a piece of this roti to anybody if he knows that it is from you "

Uma smiled wide. Badra smiled back and rushed out to his sister.

" Whose that for? " Sita asked.

" No one, shall we go? " he asked taking the bag from her even she said no.

She drove off in the route to Vallar and seeing around cautiosuly and maintaining a level to not get caught by her brother. And her eyes were disappointed not seeing him.

Why would he come to this route all the way from Manvitta. But she wanted him to come. She wanted him to park his jeep aside an wait for him but thia has been another day of expecting his appearance and returing void.

" I would have done an apprentice in Manvitta if I was into science but I am into biology. How can I? " she mumbled to herself. " Can't he understand? "

" What? " Badra asked her.

" Nothing, I was cursing my Guide. Idiot " she said.

" Oh! that Joseph? " he asked.

She nodded and " He is irritating with unnecessary work " she said and poor Badra believed it.

" Idiot. Rogue. Rascal " she cursed and Badra allowed to her take frustration out. He did't know that there no Guide with that name and she actually is cursing Deva publicly. " If I could see him "

-screech-

-sssssss-

And they were lying on the road. Sita was wishing his presence and her eyes landed on Deva who is having a coconut leaning to his jeep by the end of her words diverted her mind and her hands automatically lost control and now they were lying on the road.

Deva and Arya rushed to her to help but Badra hurried and lifted the bike from her. And helped Sita stand.

Her cheeks turned red in embarrasment and she dusted herself off pulling the bag.

" Are you okay? " Badra asked worried.

" I am okay, how about you? " she asked him worried.

" I am fine " he said.

" Wait, let me see. " She went for his hand and sighed seeing no injuries. " I am sorry " she apologized and Deva gave her a water bottle.

She took a deep breathe hid her blush when he saw how worried he was, restraining himself from getting near to her. She took the bottle from him.

" You should concentrate on road, dear " Arya said looking at the scooty.

" She was good " Badra and Deva said in unison. Arya gazed at Deva surprised. He scratched the back of his neck. " I mean, she was good with that but time is bad " he said.

Badra finished, " She was good for a minute before and suddenly it happened "

Sita looked down can't able to stand his close proximity and looked at her brother. Badra handed the box to Deva.

" My mother made them " he said. Deva smiled wide and took the box with a wide smile and she saw a genuine spark in his eyes when Badra said mother.

" Take her, it's already late " Deva said and Badra nodded. " I will meet you at the factory "

Badra nodded his head and asked Sita to hop on. As always she sat to one side and Badra drove away. All the while Sita's eyes are on Deva who was smiling at her. A smile like someone give to someone special. Like a lovely gesture.

A shy smile.

Sita hid her smile and turned away her eyes.

⇽ ⏃ ⇾

Sita noted down the vitals of the organs and walked out. Found Kala engrossed in deep thoughts.

" What are you thinking? " she asked sitting beside her.

Kala leaned back and took a deep breathe. " Mom is trying to fix my marriage in a month. "

" After our graduation? "

Kala nodded her head and wiped her eyes.

" Don't you like him? " Sita asked Kala.

Kala gazed at her and Sita observed the dark circles under her eyes and found the dried lips. She touched her neck and she is having a high temperature.

" What is going on, Kala " she asked.

Kala stared at her. For a whole long minute. And tears started flowing down from her eyes. Sita wiped her tears andd hugged her. Kala cried hard on Sita's shoulder.

" He is not a gentleman, Sita " Kala cried on her shoulder.

Sita gazed at her confused. " What actually happened, Kala? "

Kala dried her hiccups and leaned back gazing at her. " He is not a man, Sita "

Sita's eyes widened like saucers. " What are you saying? "

Kala nodded her head, " He is not a man and his parents are trying to tie him to me. "

" Didn't you informed this to your mother? "

" I tried to say but she is not believing. She thinks that I am trying to escape this marriage. And my dad declared that I am in love with someone else and he is not all listening to me "

" He seemed like a great guy " Sita asked her.

" He is not into girls, Sita. I saw him looking at boys in a different way. And I thought that he has an eye problem but when I found him zooming the pictures of gents that give ad to the trousers.. I suspected. And when I confronted him, he admitted it "

" But he is blackmailing me with our pictures " Kala groaned holding the pen in her hands tight.

" What pictures? " Sita asked.

" Our pictures.. one we took when we spent some time in beach and in the park " she hid her face in embarrasment.

" You were going to him taking half day leaves? "

She nodded gently, " I was really embarrased of myself for allowing him to do that but believe me he is handsome and rich.. I thought I had a great soulmate. But.. "

" Hey, there is no embarassment in that. You were close and you guys are about to get married. That's not wrong " Sita said and wiped her eyes.

" Please help me somehow, Sita... Please. I can't live with a blackmailing husband. Please "

She begged her crying.

" Don't cry, Kala... We will figure out something " Sita consoled her.

And this made her realise something greater in her life.

The first one that passed her thoughts for this solution was Deva and knowingly or unknowingly she felt that he bring the solution. But the idea of Badra strengthened her more.

And she thouught that they both can save Kala without briging any issue to her family.

This has strengthened her belief of spark that she is having on Deva. She learned that it's no attraction but he has been her backup without her knowing.

" I know someone for this problem "

⇽ ⏃ ⇾

Sita and Kala stood in the bus stop after calling Badra and informing that she is taking the bus with Kala.

A bus to Kabela has passed and Sita didn't moved to get the bus.

Kala was confused and afraid that maybe her fiance will come and take her.

Auto passed and still Sita stood there with her hands folded and checking the time for tenth time.

Kala was as confused as the drivers that are stopping. And she checked the time. The last bus is about to come and she was worried.

" What are you doing?.. why are we standing here? " she asked restless.

Sita was about to reply before the sound of an enfield hit their eyes.

The red royal enfield stopped before them and their gaze lifted to the driver of Sita's heart. As handsome as ever. He pulled away his glasses and got down quickly, stood on his legs and Sita turned to Kala.

" Solution " she mumbled and Kala turned her eyes to Deva.

" What are you still doing here? " he asked worried and checked the time. " Your last bus is about to come " he said looking at Sita.

" We have someone to stop the bus as long as we want " Sita said holding her bag.

And that captured Deva's iris and quickened his heart.

He turned a little to her and gave her a dried chuckle. " What if I was late? " but he asked this question to Kala.

" My brother would have told you already and I don't think that you will be late " Sita said.

Kala quickly pulled Sita by her shoulder listening to the conversation. " You don't have to accept him for me, Sita " she mumbled in her ear.

Sita leaned back and lowered her head with a shy smile.

" Oh my god! " Kala squealed and Deva leaned in confusion.

" What happened? "

Sita turned her head but someone grabbed her eye. She took a deep breathe. And lloked around found girls and women eyeing him and stealing secret glances.

" If we would get rid of these stares, we can talk " Sita said like she suggested.

Deva gave a look around. Gave them a small smile and scratched the back of his neck before lifting his head to Sita.

" You can save me from this if you want to " he said smirking.

Sita folded her hands, giving him a glare. He broke his smirk into a chuckle. " I can't help you with it by the way. It's not appropriate to take you on my bike andd that would leave Kala alone for bus. I don't want it either... So, I am sorry " he said with a short smile.

Sita took a deep breathe and pointed at someone behind Deva.