An Aesthete - A triangle love story

Chapter 43

Darshana

Should I ask him or just enjoy the evening with him.

I turned on the flashlight in my mobile camera and checked the grounds as I walked towards him. Since these are private beach areas they have always been clean but I still use a flashlight not to step on any veritable or non veritable beings. When I reached closer to Veda, he became alert and covered his head with his hoodie.

Veda slightly turned towards my way. "Darshana!!" He called my name with surprise. "Nee inaiku vara chance kami nu Girish sonnan."

"Aama, naan cab la eri ukarura varaikum kooda naan sure ah illa." I went to sit on the other side of the campfire but Veda stopped me. "Intha side ukaru anga romba heat adikum." I went and sat next to him on the mat that he had spread. "Inaiku naan varamaten nu neenga beach ku vanthutengala?"

"Appadi nu solla mudiyathu appadi illa num solla mudiyathu." He pulled his legs against him and rested his elbows on his knees. "Namma panitu irunthom la antha project la innum 2 paintings thaan pending iruku. Atha naan coming week la mudichiduven but finishing apo nee enkooda irukanum nu nenachen athan." I mirrored his posture but hugged my knees together. Hridhay's words came to my mind.

"Seikiram solidu. Avan romba sensitive."

I want to tell him but something is stopping me.

Even to finish the project, he wants my presence. What will he do when I tell him that I'll leave at the end of four months.

A touch on my knee brought me out of the trance. "Apuram trip eppadi pochu nu ketten."

"Nalla pochu." I replied, collecting myself. "Aana neenga nenaikura mari Kailash onnum nallavaru illa."

"Nee sonna appo kooda nee ethachem vaiyadi irupa athu naala appadi pannan nu nenachen aana Girish sonna apo enakkum shocking ah thaan irunthuchu." He sighed heavily and shook his head.

"Naan nethu afternoon ye return vanthudalam nu plan pani irunthen but avarala late agiduchu." If Kailash hadn't made me stay late, my dad wouldn't have questioned me. "Illana naan evening seikiram kelambi irupen. Appa vera naane drop panren nu kooda vanthutaru." I gathered some courage and gave him the hint for the future. "Veda..." He turned away from the sea and concentrated on me. "I guess appa ku en mela doubt vara started. Konja months apuram ennala vara mudiyathu nu nenaikuren."

"Ohh..." He took a sharp intake and looked into the sea.

I waited for him to say something but as he stayed quiet, I continued. "Coming Friday, Sneha oda engagement. Anga irunthu straight ah appa amma veetuku poiduven so Saturday vara mudiyathu. Sunday evening thaan vara mudiyum."

"Seri, naan anike project mudichukuren." His voice was hoarse. "At least ennum oru one month achum en life la irupiya, Shana?"

I turned to my left, controlling the tears. This conversation was hard with Hridhay and now it's harder with Veda. I wish my heart stayed in its limit and not wanted for more. "AEH kita ennoda contract ennum four months la mudiyuthu. Athu varaikum naan kandipa irupen."

"I hope your situation changes, Shana. Ipothaan en life la vantha eppavum irupa nu nenachen. En life la yaarum kadasi varaikum irukanum nu ezhuthala pola." He stood up and walked towards the sea. His words poked straight into my heart and I looked at his way. That's when I noticed something on the sand and stopped him. "Veda." He stopped before stamping on the artwork on the wet sand area.

I went towards him and took a closer look at the sand art. "Ithu neenga varanjatha?" It looked so beautiful and I took my mobile out from my pocket and snapped a picture of it.