When starts align

Part 3

"Hi All! Welcome to the Indian Institute of Technology and Management Science. We are extremely happy to see all of you gathered in this Auditorium as we embark on yet another year of this prestigious institution. 

I have always said to every student that I have seen in the same place as you, Make the best of your years in this place because it definitely will be a core memory for the rest of your life. My closest friends, mentors and even my wife have been people that I met on this very campus. 

This year a tad bit more special because", he paused as his eyes traced every student until it fell upon one set of eyes that were praying for his dad to not spoil his only ask of staying under the radar, "its a Centennial, a 100 years of serving this country's best minds and creating a future that we dream of every day.", he finished and saw a relieved sigh exhaled by his only son. 

"Kadavule... thik thik nimidangal madri dan indha day poganuma?", he ranted to God. 

After a couple of other speakers, the introduction session came to an end.

Before he could slip away into the crowd he saw Tara who stood there frozen unable to move as the wave of students moved past her. The girl who never stood still for a second from the few times they had interacted was almost stand still and that did not sit well with him. 

"Enna aachu ivaluku?", he thought to himself as this was completely out of the ordinary. 

When he looked at her close, he could see the panic in her eyes. Her eyes were looking around to find comfort and finally their eyes met. 

He was not sure if he should walk towards her or just walk away given their track record of not being the best of influences on each other. He signaled from afar if she wanted him to come over and before she could respond they lost each other in the crowd. With no choice left, he walked towards where he had last seen her and to his utter dismay she was close to passed out. Thankfully a random guy had given her some water and stood beside her when he reached.

"I think she needs some rest. Panic attack madri iruku. Maybe best to see a doc?", the guy explained. 

"Panic attack ah... iva dhaaney mathavangaluku panic attack kudupaa... Ippo enna aachu?", he murmured before holding her steady. 

"Thank you. Enaku therinjavanga dan. I will take care", Karthik thanked and slowly took her outside. 

"An...na...", she stammered. 

"Dhruv illa Karthik", he corrected unsure if she was in a state to gather what had happened nor explain. 

Finally they found a table near the open area and he helped her settle down before handing over a bottle of water. 

She took a few minutes to calm her mind and heart that was racing. 

He looked at her closely for the first time ever. She was beautiful and he always knew that. But the way her perfect eyeliner elevated her eyes, perfect shade of nude lipstick that complemented her golden skin tone, small jhumkis that were dangling as the breeze swept across her face, a tiny black pottu, loose hair with a side partition that fell right below her shoulders and ofcourse the chain that Dhruv had gifted for her 18th birthday which had a small pearl pendant. 

He had never looked at a girl this closely. Period. It was never a conscious decision but just that there wasn't a girl that made him want to look. 

Why was he doing that now? That too with a girl who he was sure had no interest in him? More importantly his best friend's only sister?

"Ava un friend oda thangachi. Konjam mariyaadhaya behave pannu", he scolded his stupid mind for even noticing these things about her. 

As he was in his own world trying to talk some sense into his mind, he heard her for the first time ever that made his heart skip a beat.