" Suman..."

Shravan peeped from the door...

It was a Sunday usually when I preferred to sleep for long time...

I woke up to his voice...

Amma came out of the kitchen...

" Hey Shravan... Get inside..." She invited him , wiping her wet hands...

" Aunty... Good morning.."

" Good morning shravan... Suman is sleeping..."

" Oh... Then I will come later aunty"

He was about to go ,Amma stopped him..

" Shravan..I will wake her up...come inside"

Shravan looked inside hesitantly..." Is Anish bhaiya there? "

Amma would have understood why he's hesitating to get in...

Sudden guilt rose in her... She reached him in a wink and pulled him inside...

" Anish has gone to the play ground for his cricket practice... What if he's in home ? You are welcomed here at anytime.."

She made him to sit on the kitchen window ledge...

" Good morning shravan" I said gleefully...

He moved aside for me to sit...

I nodded. " shravan ... It's my usual place... I sit there daily to drink my coffee.. it's your turn today..sit and have amma's special coffee..."

Smiling , amma started to prepare coffee..

Shravan jumped down to observe her ...

" Aunty .. what's so special in this aroma ?"

He pointed the coffee beans...

Amma laughed...

" Shravan...these are the coffee beans...I usually roast them and ground it into powder weekly once... Morning I make this coffee decoction... So ... it's really special as it's home-made and blended with love.. "

Shravan listened enthusiastic...

" Aunty...may I help you?"

He requested , noticing the decoction maker...

" Sure..."

She happily taught him how to fill the upper chamber with coffee powder and hot water... He did as she told... Little while later , he leapt in joy to see the fresh coffee decoction at the lower chamber...

" Shravan... The milk should be hot and add one third of the sugar for a cup to balance the bitterness of the coffee..."

He prepared the coffee as amma gave him few tips...

Finally he extended one cup to me , sipping the other cup's coffee..

" Mmmmm...." I clenched my eyes to relish the taste...

Shravan jumped out of joy...

I went to take a bath , while amma was talking with him...

Later amma told me that he's one amongst the innocent kids who yearns for love...

She made Anish anna to understand Shravan's point of view as a child who's away from their parents...

From then , Anish anna didn't eye us suspicious..

But , things weren't same when time went on...

Exactly after six months , our annual examinations began... Divya akka's wedding was fixed after our examinations...

It was the usual night sky .. our annual examinations got over... The very next day was Divya akka's marriage...

His parents were coming to attend the marriage... Shravan would be happy whenever they visited him...

This time Shravan was strangely quiet... He sat away from me , thinking something deep...

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I stuff my bag with the text books, checking with the day's schedule....

It is the perfect timing to leave to the university...it will take ten minutes walk to reach on time...

I munch the slightly burnt bread toast in a hurry... Gulping the big bites , I search my mobile...

The next moment my lips curl into a smile...

His text...

I reply him and rush out of my apartment to catch the elevator..

It's going to be an another routine day... Maybe shravan will also be busy in his office...

I walk fast, thinking about him...

The morning session starts with lectures and continues with discussions...

When it is lunch time, I am exhausted terribly...

Why not take a leave?!?!

I think and the next moment I come out of my class...

" Uffff..." I feel relaxed to get the fresh air in...

After a weekend its really tiring to attend classes...

I plan to have lunch outside and go for sound sleep...

I always prefer sandwiches for my lunch... They are compact and complete to my hunger as well as to my purse... At times I go to the Indian restaurant with my batch mates to have Indian food..

Ordering a sandwich with extra cheese , I swipe down my phone...

Amma has sent me Sweetie ' s picture with her...

Sweetie is Anish Anna's daughter... My niece...

She's two years old now... Her cutie pie smile made me to chuckle...

I call amma immediately...

When she pick up the call , I hear the fight at the other hand...

" Suman beta... sweetie is not giving the phone to me... I have put the call in loudspeaker... "

While Amma speaks , I hear the goos and gaas of sweetie...

" Amma...I miss you all... I wish I could be there with you all..."

My tone went low ...

" Beta...only eight months you have... Then , you're going to be with us... Enjoy your time there..."

She is practical...

" Amma...is there anything special in town?"

Amma usually discuss the matters that happen around the relatives where I don't feel detached from the family...

Added , always it has been a pleasure to listen gossips...

" Beta... Divya akka has come from London... You won't believe that she's having a son. He is so handsome... For a moment I thought I am seeing shravan..."

She keeps on talking where my eyes screen with tear...

She must have understood my state...

" Suman...."

" Beta..."

She calls where I try to recollect myself...

" Haan...amma...tell me..."

She is silent...

" Sorry suman...I didn't mean to hurt you..."

I grab the sandwich package and start to walk...

" Amma... There's nothing to be sorry... I am okay..."

She sighs with my reply and continues ...

In-between sweetie mumbles something to mean her dialogues where I laugh out loud at her sweet nothings...

When she cut the call ,I feel both heavy hearted in thought of my Shravan and relaxed in thought of sweetie...

Amma has pulled the memories of shravan that is buried deep in my thoughts..That too , today is his birthday... I wish he is happy and healthy wherever he is...!

I don't know if he remembers me even.. But , his place in my heart is still not vacant..

I lounge on the bed to drift off slowly...

Evening I have Tamil tuition at the training institute...

I wear a white knee length kurti with a pink patiyala pants...Matching with tassel earrings I start to the training institute..

" Sam... You're pretty "

I smile to one of the students complement...

There are five students for Tamil tuition in one batch ..I roam around to teach them individually in turns...

When I am tired I come out to get some fresh air...

" Hey Sam..."

I turn to the voice to find Shravan there...

I wave my hands to him .. Showing my watch, I gesture him to wait for ten minutes...

He sit on his bike comfortable to say - He will wait...

After ten minutes I wind up the class ... saying bye to the students I walk down the street to Shravan...

" Hello Mr. Shravan..are you stalking me..?"

I raise my brows theatrically...

" Why should I stalk you..? "

He jerks...

" Because , I am beautiful...!"

I stand like a super model, resting my hands to my hips...

He bursts into gales of laughter...

I twitch my face in embarrass...

" Oh... You're serious about my text..!?"

Again ,he laughs...

I am upset ...

I start to walk avoiding him...

He runs behind me , holding my arm...

" Hey Sam... I was just kidding..."

I resist his pull and continue to walk...

" Sorry Sam..I was so tired since morning... I took an off to afternoon work.. I know you will be here...I came to meet you as I was really wanted to see you..."

He walks parallel to me now...

I don't utter a word that makes him worried...

He blocks my way to stop me...

" Sam...look at me... I need your smile to go on with the next day's tiring work..I am exhausted physically and mentally... Please...speak with me..I won't tease you ...sorry yaar..."

" You're rescued ...to alive" I pout...

Then , I turn to the opposite side to begin walking..

" Now what ?"

He asks ...

" Whether your bike will ride by itself..?"

He hits his forehead " I forgot it completely..."

We walk to the bike..I am comfortable with him in his bike...

When we reach an Indian restaurant , I pinch him that it's quite expensive to eat there...

He looks for better seat and whispers..

" It' s my birthday today..so it's a treat "

I stand in shock....

Today is Shravan's birthday...!!!

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