Unexpected Encounters

Falling into place ~ 8

"This is a fest that the juniors have been conducting every year. It's a tradition and we cannot change that. The college management already gave us permission.", Nithya argued to the seniors. There was a small group forming behind the senior, Mithun. While Nithya's friends and batchmates flanked her.

"This is our last year in college and we want to organize it. I don't care about the management. I want you guys to stop getting involved in this.", Mithun bites back angrily.

A few juniors including Vishnu and Kaushik shout back at the threat in Mithun's tone. Few of the seniors retaliate by speaking disrespectfully. This resulted in a slight scuffle between the senior and junior boys and Nithya and Shreya were caught in between. Nithya was trying her best to squeeze through the throng of bodies, but it became almost impossible. She came face to face with Mithun who shoved her hard. Nithya closed her eyes in fear hoping to break the landing, except that it never came. She opened her eyes to look into a familiar pair of brown eyes. Gautham had his arms around her, preventing her from falling over and faceplanting.

Nithya scolded herself as this was not the time to feel butterflies.

"Thanks da, na bayanthuten.", Nithya says heaving a sigh of relief and pulling away from him.

[Thanks, I was so scared.]

"Yaaru?", Gautham asked, his eyes had darkened to an unrecognisable dark brown as he searched for the person who pushed her.

[Who was it?]

"Dei, vidu. Don't make a big deal.", Nithya says holding his arm and pulling him back slightly. Gautham suddenly yelled stop, forcing the crowd to freeze into silence. The seniors looked at him, positively livid.

[Leave this issue. Don't make a big deal.]

"Who pushed her?", Gautham asks, as he tries and fails to reign in his temper.

"Me", Gautham heard Mithun scoff.

"Gautham please no. Leave it.", Nithya requests him. He pulls away from her before stalking to Mithun and giving him a resounding slap.

A collective gasp was heard from both seniors and juniors, as Mithun's head turned to the left from the weight of the blow.

Mithun snarled in anger as he raised his hands only to be pulled back by his friends. The dean had stepped into the scene and the seniors were forced to leave.

"Nee va", Nithya stated dragging Gautham, who had strangely fallen silent.

[You come with me.]

He was wondering how he had let his anger get the better of him. It almost never happens. He was a very difficult person to intimidated or faze or even show any kind of emotion. And yet, here he was. He had gotten angry and it was for Nithya no less.

Nithya made him sit on the bench before leaving to get some ice for his stinging hands. He didn't even mind the pain as he put his head in his hands, rubbing his forehead. He was feeling things he wasn't supposed to feel. Atleast not to this girl. This girl who had entered his life and taken it by storm. He couldn't remember ever feeling like this for Deepti or anyone else. He groaned at his inner turmoil.

"Are you finally regretting what you did?", came Nithya's amused voice.

Gautham's head snaps up as he replies, "No. He deserved it."

Nithya shook her head resignedly before grabbing his hand and placing the ice pack on it.

"Dei paruda, full ah red ayiduchu.", Nithya fusses over him, making him hide a smile. It almost seemed like she liked him, not to mention the chocolates and her study notes. This made him very happy for godforsaken reason.

[Look at your hand, it turned so red.]

"Baby? What happened?", both of them hear Deepti's voice as she rushes over to him.

Gautham winces slightly, darting a quick look to Nithya before responding, "I'm fine. Nothing serious happened, just a small scuffle."

Deepti nods before she notices Nithya and gives her a tight smile. Nithya realizes she shouldn't be there and mutters a hurried good bye before walking away. Gautham watches her go, his forehead wrinkling in a frown.

Deepti glares at him, scoffing, "Nee avaluku dhana sanda pota?"

[You fought with the seniors because of her right?]

Gautham looks at Deepti in shock before shaking his head, "Illa. Na yaaruku ah irundhalum sanda poturupen. Also Nithya is just a friend, nothing more."

[No, I would have fought for anyone in that situation. Also Nithya is just a friend, nothing more.]

"Po da dei.",Deepti's glare sharpens, seeing right through his lie as she gets up stalking off.

[Get lost.]

Gautham sighs in frustration as he gets up and walks back to the academic block.

"What did the dean say?", Gautham asks as he stops beside Vishnu.

"Juniors dhan nadathirom. Seniors ah kelamba soltanga.", Vishnu states, making Gautham nod.

[Juniors are the ones organizing the fest. He told the seniors to go away and stop creating an issue.]

"Ama, unakku yen avlo kovam? Nee kova patty naa parthathe illa.", Vishnu questions, doubtfully.

[Also, why did you become so angry? I have never seen you get angry for anything before.]

"Yennaku therila da. Avala push pannale, sudden ah kovam vandhiruchu.", Gautham responds truthfully.

[I myself have no idea. I got triggered when I noticed someone push her.]

Vishnu understand the visible confusion on his friend's face and says, "Machan nee nalla yosikanum. Nee yenna panren nu unakke theriyale. This is not good. Deepti vera irruka."

[All I can say is that you have a lot of thinking to do. You have no clue what you're doing. This is not good. You have to think about Deepti too.]

"I know.", Gautham sighs however he brightens when Nithya arrives.

Vishnu notices the visible change in his friend's mood, causing him to hide a smirk.

"Is it still hurting?", Nithya asks, her eye brows raised in question.

"Adhu lam onnum illa.", Gautham shakes his head, dismissing his pain, which had dulled to a minor throb.

[No no, Its fine now.]

Nithya sighs relieved before excusing herself and walking to her friends.

"Apron machan, yenna sudden ah sandhoshama irruke?", Vishnu teases his friend who glares at him.

[Dude, why are you so happy suddenly?]

"I have a girlfriend dude.", Gautham mutters.

"Ipo dhan nyabagam varudha da thambi.", Vishnu chuckles as he dodges a punch from Gautham.

[Oh so you finally remembered her existence?]

***