Kadhal Kanmani

My Girl

It's July 7th, and the morning sun gently filtered through the curtains as I woke up, greeting myself with a cheerful "Good morning." I headed into the bathroom to take a refreshing shower, letting the warm water wash away the sleep from my eyes. After drying off, I carefully chose my birthday outfit—a vibrant yellow woolen t-shirt tucked into a classy black 3/4th skirt. I wanted to look stylish and comfortable at the same time. Standing in front of the mirror, I combed my hair and decided to let it flow naturally, enhancing its natural beauty. I applied a stroke of my iconic kajal on my lower lash line, accentuating my eyes, and added a touch of pink lipstick to my lips, giving them a rosy glow.

Eager to accessorize, I carefully selected a gold-plated pendant and matching earrings for a touch of elegance. I slipped my favorite watch onto my right hand—a constant companion on all days, including my special birthday. Taking one final twirl in front of the mirror, I couldn't help but smile at the reflection staring back at me. "Perfect," I whispered, feeling a surge of confidence and happiness. With my laptop in hand, I made my way towards the pavilion.

As I sat on the pavilion, analyzing the daily practice data of the players, my focus was interrupted by Adhi walking towards me and taking a seat beside me. He simply stared at me with a gentle smile. I asked, "Adhi, what's going on?" He took a deep breath and said, "Dhidhi, you look even more beautiful today." I chuckled softly and replied, "Well, it is my birthday, so I decided to doll myself up a little." His smile widened, and there was a warmth in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat. Then, out of nowhere, he dropped a bombshell. "Dhidhi, what have you decided?" I looked at him and questioned, "About what?" His eyes met mine, and he uttered the words. "About my proposal." I couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Adhi, you can't trick me with this. You're my younger brother; how can I fall in love with you? Of course, I love you, but not in the way you mean." I playfully patted his head, trying to ease the tension that had suddenly filled the air between us.

Adhi looked at me for a moment and returned to his practice, leaving me to contemplate the unexpected turn of events.

It was lunch time, and everyone of us headed to the food area. Zahiri invited me to sit with them, and so I joined. Zahiri and Rachin sat on one side, and I on the other. Adhi walked towards us carrying his plate, but asked Zahiri to give him his seat and sit beside me. Zahiri was surprised and replied, "Bro! It's not like you're sitting beside Dhidhi for the first time. Why are you disturbing me?" Adhi replied, "Of course, I can't sit beside Tara so randomly. I don't want to be her little younger brother anymore." Everyone exclaimed, "Ohhhhhh!"

For the next few days, Adhi's behavior began to change in ways that caught me off guard. He stopped calling me "dhidhi," and he no longer allowed me to pat his head.

It's September 8th, and as I stood on the ground giving daily feedback to the players, I saw one of the security personnel approach me with a message. "Madam," he said, "someone is waiting for you at the gate." I nodded my head and made my way towards the gate to see who it could be. As I got closer, I realized it was Karthik, my college friend whom I hadn't seen in ages. Excitedly, I began speaking to him, catching up on old times.

But just as we were engrossed in our conversation, I noticed Adhi running towards us. "Adhi, why are you here?" I asked, surprised to see him. Karthik greeted Adhi, but ignoring Karthik's presence, Adhi responded, "Tara, you have been missing out for a long time. I came to check on you." Karthik said, "Tara, it looks like you have gotten closer with the team," with a smile, and Adhi replied, "Of course, I need to take care of my girlfriend." Taken aback by his statement, I retorted, "Adhi, what nonsense are you spouting?" Karthik asked, "Isn't Tara older than you?" Adhi replied, "Is there any rule that I can't fall in love with an older girl?"

The tension in the air was palpable, and sensing the growing heat between Karthik and Adhi, I stepped in to diffuse the situation. Turning towards Karthik, I said, "Karthik, please leave now. I will call you once I get free." With a quick goodbye, Karthik bid us farewell and walked away.

I stormed towards Adhi, my anger burning in my veins. "Adhi, what's your problem?" I demanded. "Why do you do this to me? You want to embarrass me before others?"

 "Tara, listen," he began. "I really love you. Why don't you understand it? I fell in love with you the very first day you walked into Wankhede. The day you came here for an interview, I saw you, and it was like lightning struck me. I never expected you to become the analyst for the Indian team, but it gave me an opportunity to know more about you. And the more I learned, the more I fell in love with you. I fell in love with your eyes, with your smile, with your innocence, and with the care you show towards all of us. You have this pureness in you that is rare to find. It was the moment on the Ferris wheel. When you held my hand, I felt an undeniable connection. It was in that moment, amidst the laughter and joy, that I knew I had to make my feelings for you known."

"Adhi, whatever you say, nothing gets into my head," I replied stubbornly, my voice filled with a mixture of frustration and fear. "All I can see is that you are younger than me, and I can't love you. What will others think if I say I have a boyfriend younger than me?". "So, all you care about is society and not your inner feelings?" he asked.

I hesitated for a moment, glancing away from his gaze. Deep down, I knew he was right. My fear of judgment outweighed my own happiness. But I couldn't admit it, not when the expectations of others felt like an invisible weight on my shoulders. I finally mustered the courage to reply, my voice barely above a whisper as I uttered the words. "Yes, Adhi. Yes, society matters to me more than my own feelings," I said, my heart feeling heavy with the weight of the truth. Adhi looked at me for a moment, his eyes reflecting anger. Without saying another word, he turned away from me and stormed off towards the ground.