My Guiding Star

Part Fourteen

Niranjana planned to spend the time with Ranjan as much as possible on the trip. She started with an eagerness to talk to him. She had the whole day with Ranjan for herself.

She felt a feather tickling her palm and tried to wave it off. But the feathers started biting her fingers and she woke up with a start. 

"We have reached Chennai Niranjana." Ranjan's voice slowly penetrated into her ears. And the feathers that were biting were actually Ranjan's fingers and she flushed realizing that. 

"We will reach your college in another 30 minutes. Wake up sleepy head" Niranjana for a minute imagined his voice to be unusually husky. The sleep is confusing her mind and tried to clear her thoughts. She was unaware the huskiness is real and how lovely she looked in half sleep.

"I am dropping you here Niranjana, I will be back at 12:30. We will have lunch and start back home. If you prefer to have lunch with your friends, let's take them too."

"No need, I want to meet them only to invite for Sanju's marriage. I will meet you at noon as planned." Niranjana bade him good bye and went inside her college. 

'Half a day wasted now. How stupid are you Niranjana? You never going to learn, are you?' she cursed herself for sleeping throughout the journey.

When she reached the outside gate at noon, she saw him leaning over his car. Her heart lurched looking at him standing at ease his arms crossed across his chest and one leg bend back. She let out an inaudible gasp when he smiled at her. Was he aware of what he does to her? Would he ever know that?

"Will you please find a table for us Niranjana? I will park the car and join you." On his word, she went inside first to find a table without much disturbance. After they placed their order, he asked if she had completed her work. 

"Yes, I got my provisional and invited all my friends for the marriage. Mission accomplished" and further she asked "How about you? Have you met your Supplier? Is the meeting successful?"

"I should say, my mission is half accomplished and I will complete the rest before going home" Niranjana flushed for the way he told his answer and confused on her reaction. What is the meaning of his words? She know that he meant more but could not able to find it.

They talked generally about all things including his business and Sanjana's marriage. She wanted to ask the question nagging in her mind for years. And hurried to ask him, before she chicken out "Did you met Swathi after that day?"

On seeing the surprise in his eyes she continued "I know what happened the day before you left to your uncle's place. I was outside my house when you were all discussing. I never came in to spare Uncle and Aunty getting embarrassed to see me. Also I..." She stopped suddenly.

"You also what Niranjana?" he asked in a deadly soft voice. 

How can she tell him about the evening? She is still not sure if he remember that. 

"Nothing. You still haven't answered me. Have you met Swathi after that?" she is not aware that her face is full of eagerness. She never realized that she is holding her breadth for him to answer and she felt it to be an eternity before he answered her.