Thoorigai

Banglore days

For the first half hour, everybody spoke in whispers being cautious that Ms. Sharmila was in the bus with them. Since it was early in the morning, some of them even dozed off. When they were in outskirts of the city, Bhanu could not take the silence anymore. She got up from her seat and turned around and spoke in a loud voice to no one in particular.

"Ipadi thungitu vara than trip vandhengana, veetlayey elarum irundhu irukalam. Sodhikadhenga da enaiya"

She walked up to the front and asked the helper to play new movie songs in high volume. When Ms. Sharmila gave no resistance, some students joined to sing. Soon, most of the bus joined in singing the lyrics louder than the song being played and even started clapping according to the rhythm. Mullai too joined in the wagon, and she noticed except Kathir, almost all of them were involved in some way or other.

"Ipadi ummunu irukaradhuku Bhanu sonna mathiri veetlaey irundhu irukalam", Mullai muttered under her breath.

"Bhanu oru trip kuda ponadhu illanu polambina. Adhan vandhean. Ilana vara idea enaku illa. Dhanda selavu "

Mullai felt flustered for a second.

Anaiku enamo enakaga trip vara mathiri pesinan. Chumma samadhana padutha solli irukan pola.

Not wanting to show him that she was upset, she decided to give it back to him.

"Trip ku spend panradhu dhandama? Travel is liberating. If you can't see it, can't help."

"It's a luxury. Meeting ends pathi yosikarapo, liberting manangati elam yosika mudiyadhu", he replied rather curtly.

She got offended and controlled her urge to snap back at him. She just turned away to watch others on the bus. Sensing her anger, he added in a lower voice.

"Not judging you. Unaku idhu puriyadhu, because nee oru oru ruppayum pathu selavu panra nelamaila irundhu kuda iruka matta. I just stated my side of view. That's all"

"Whatever", is all she said not wanting to have this conversation with him anymore and dedicated her entire attention to people who were singing on their top voice.

After few minutes, Harsha was the one who decided only singing was not enough and started showing his dancing skills. With the moving bus, his mediocre dancing skills turned into more of a haphazard dancing, but Bhanu was cheering him in full cheers that boosted him. He pulled Mullai for dancing and soon other students joined them and in no time, whole bus was dancing like a bunch of manias. Even Ms. Sharmila was enjoying and was tapping her foot on the ground in rhythm.

Bhanu suddenly lost balance and fell on to Harsha who was leaning onto one of the seats. Few noises of "Oooohh" erupted around them and her cheeks flushed red. She stepped away from him and decided to sit on her seat silently for some time.

Mullai also went back to her seat and noticed Kathir who was reading a book looked rather annoyed.

"Dance adaradhu life la thevai illadha vishayamnu next solla poriya?", Mullai asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"I don't appreciate the way class teases Bhanu with Harsha", he said in a serious tone.

"Seriously?", she chuckled earning a scowl look from him.

"Chumma teasing la aramikaradhu, enga poi mudiyumnu theriyadhu", he stated not appreciating her sarcastic tone and laugh.

"Enga poi mudinja enna? If they like each other, let them date. Idhula enna iruku?", she asked, and Kathir let out a heavy sigh trying to compose himself before talking back to her and insulting her status again.