Chapter 8

• The program was ready to run. Rithick, Neethu,
• Rahul and Mithila were on stage.
• NEETHU'S VOICE
• "When love appears in my heart."
• "Why are my eyes filling with tears?"
• “I plan to hypnotize you with my looks.
• "Like eyeliner moistened with tears."
• “I've been dying to connect with you.
• “Madness in my heart when you look at me.
• “Our own world that we both live in together.
• RITHICK AND NEETHU TOGETHER
• “The look in your eyes expresses your love as a
• blazing fire."
• “My heart went crazy at the words you
• passed on in silence."
• RITHICK'S VOICE
• “You are the beautiful melody of love, I am the song
• of his life."
• "I will live forever in love, despite everything."
• will leave me.”
• “My heart will never forget.
• “To be in constant memory.
• "Your heart never melts, I shed tears every time."
• “Even now, forever in love.
• NEETHU'S VOICE
• “Madness in my heart when you look at me.
• “Our own world that we both live in
• together."
• Rithick melted into the song as if it was tuned for him
• and his Neetha. Neethu showed her stunningly
• performance. Rahul and Mithila played brilliantly
• instrumental tone. The stage was filled
• extreme pleasure and excitement due to
• rock performance by Rithick, Neethu and their
• team. Together they rocked the stage.
• The audience was mesmerized by them
• performance. They gave a standing ovation and a
• huge applause. Then there was a competition
• several other teams followed.
• It's time to announce the winner of the competition
• singing competition. Students shouted the names of Rithick and Neethu.
• "Rithick's team is the winner! Please come forward."
• get your honor,” one of the judges announced
• from the panel
• Neethu was full of excitement. Team
• moved to the podium.
• Rithick stood between Rahul (on his right)
• and Neetha (on his left). Mithila stood by
• to Neethu. Their faces belied their intense joy.
• Neethu excitedly held Rithick's hands and
• Mithila. Rithick's hand was held by his dream girl.
• The sparks looked like live electricity. Butterflies
• he started flying in his stomach. He turned his head to
• see his Neetha. Her dark eyes were shining, she was smiling
• lips added beauty to her face. Then he tried to hold on
• her hand. He intertwined his fingers with her soft one
• ones. He held her hand tightly. He felt Neetha
• that she was holding Rithick's hand. She looked
• down and found both their hands clasped together.
• She tried to remove her hand from Rithick's but
• could not. Then Rithick barely left after her
• several tests.
• Tributes were given to Rithick and his team
• but they did not release their hands. They moved
• down on the stage.
• Rithick smiled and walked towards Rahul. Was
• then he followed Neetha.
• Rahul gave Rithick a mischievous smile. Rithick showed his hand to Rahul. Rahul tried to catch him
• hand but Rithick pulled it away. He stretched
• his hand often and lost in thought.
• Rahul said, "Rithick, I am happy for you."
• “The five minutes I held her hand.
• these are unforgettable moments for me.
• Now let me enjoy the moment. Let `s go out,
• Rahul.”
• Neethu asked, "Where are you going?"
• “I go to Green Park to get some fresh air
• will he come?” Rahul asked.
• "The program will end now. I will come later," replied Neethu.
• “Okay Neetha. Rahul nodded at her.
• Rithick looked at Neetha with longing eyes. Neetha
• looked at him.
• Rithick and Rahul reached Green Park. They sat down
• down on the bench. Rahul felt that Rithick was
• actually more worries than being happy.
• Rithick sighed. “When I left her hand, it was like
• everything left me in a second. Neethu did not show up
• any sign. I wasn't able to read her mind."
• Rahul consoled, “Trust me Rithick, she is yours.
• Do not worry."
• Rithick smiled briefly. "Even now I can feel it
• butterflies in my stomach
• Rahul laughed. “This is my Rithick.
• They both talked for a while. In the meantime
• it was time for their lunch. He was looking for Rithick
• Neetha. His eyes could not meet her.
• “Maybe he's at Green Music Park
• there Rahul.” Rithick marched forward and was
• followed by his cousin.
• "It's time for Mithila, let's go to Green Park. Rithick."
• and Rahul are waiting there,” informed Neethu.
• “Okay Neetha. Mithila smiled.
• "Neethu! Neethu!" She heard the name
• someone called from behind. She turned her around
• see the head It was Shantra.
• "Hey mate. Looking for Rithick?"
• Shantra said.
• Neethu was silent.
• Shantra said, "First of all, congratulations, Neetha for this."
• performance. This is your first and last time
• to be with Rithick on stage. How many times I
• do you need to warn You have no sense, no brain
• hell. If I see you with him again. you and Rithick maybe know who I am?"
• Shakash noticed Neetha. He went to her
• he said "Hey Neetha! You rocked the stage."
• Neethu gave Shakash a little smile. Shantra gave a
• one last look at Neetha before she moves out.
• Shakash asked Neeth, "Did he have lunch?"
• Neethu replied, "No."
• At that time, Rithick and Rahul entered the Green
• Music Park. Rithick was looking for Neetha but he
• he couldn't find her. Neethu notices Rithick and Rahul.
• She felt very happy to see that Rithick was
• look for her. Shantra's voice came to her
• ears. She was afraid that Shantra might be in pain
• Rithick too, so she tried to hide from his sight. She
• she covered her face with dupatta.
• Rithick noticed that Shakash was talking to a girl but he
• he did not know that the girl was Neethu.
• Rithick frowned. "Where is Neethu? My heart is beating."
• rising."
• Neethu looked at Rithick. She didn't hear
• What did he say.
• Shakash waved his hands at Neethu. "I'm here,
• Neetha. What are you looking at?"
• Neethu did not answer him. Her eyes were longs for Rithick.
• Mithila said to Neethu, "Neethu. See Rithick, he is."
• PUSH."
• Neethu placed her finger on her lips and hoped that Mithila
• it would be quiet.
• Shakash did not understand why Neethu was standing
• stunned due to Rithick's entry.
• Rithick and Rahul then moved out of that place.
• Shakash turned to Neethu. "If you do not mind,
• let's go to lunch together
• Neethu paused for a minute and whispered
• Mithila: “Rithick should always be happy. If he looked at me, he would guess. Also,
• Shantra might hurt him too, so let me try to avoid that
• now him. Let's have lunch with Shakash.”
• “You're right Neetha. Your face looks real.
• boring."
• Neethu had no other option. She wasn't even sure
• if she could eat after leaving Rithick and Rahul
• for.
• Rithick was still looking for Neethu. He wandered in
• in every place he could think of to find her.
• Later he notices that he is having lunch with Neethu
• Shakash and Mithila. He felt happy to see her
• at the same time his heart was broken. Rithick and Rahul then moved to Green Park. They don't
• have a lunch.
• Rithick said to Rahul, "Have your lunch, Rahul."
• Rahul replied, “I should have lunch alone sometime
• is it time to leave you?” Rithick smiled at Rahul cousin cared deeply for him. Both hugged each other.
• Rahul knew that Rithick was saddened. “Neetha maybe
• they were looking for us. Maybe she couldn't find us
• so he has lunch with them. don't try
• Rithick.”
• Rithick nodded, not knowing what to say.
• After some time Rithick heard his name
• she called. "Rithick! Where are you?" He felt it was
• Neethu's voice.
• Neethu ran towards him. She stood close to him
• and exhaled deeply. Rithick turned his face away
• from her.
• "Please, Rithick. Look at me." She looked forlorn.
• Rithick did not look at her.
• "Rithick. Will you look at me or not? I want to tell you."
• you something.” Neethu's voice grew louder.
• Rithick turned to her and shouted, “How dare you?
• you? Do you know how scared I was? go away
• from my point of view. I don't want to see you anymore."
• Neethu stood her ground. Her eyelashes were wet with tears. She only saw
• the smiling face of Rithick. Now everything she saw
• was his burning rage. She was amazed by him
• words.
• Rahul frowned. "Stop it Rithick. What's going on?"
• you?"
• Rithick was still in rage mode. He couldn't
• return it to normal. Rithick stared
• Neetha.
• Neethu asked with an innocent face “Rithick… Why
• do you blame me I don't understand the reason
• behind your anger."
• Rithick yelled at Neethu, “What do you know
• about me?"
• “You are Rithick, my friend,” he said to Neethu afterwards
• think a little.
• "Great! You know a lot about me, don't you? Only you."
• know my name Neetha listen to me. Don't believe it
• any stranger, not even me. Don't think that everyone
• a good person like you.”
• Neethu stared at him in disbelief. "Are you
• Rithick? You speak to me fluently. i'm serious
• happy. Even your anger looks so cute Rithick.”
• Rithick sighed in exasperation. “Neetha, I say
• you're serious about this. Believe it and take three steps
• away from everyone. This is not your home town.
• It is the city of Bengaluru. They are people from different states
• here together Do not share your personal information
• with any stranger."
• Neethu smiled widely. “I really admire your words.
• You are such an amazing speaker. So why did he do it?
• pretending to be stupid on a flight? I was worried about you back then."
• "I'm not like you. I don't want to share that."
• personal details agreed,” came Rithick's voice
• turned an octave higher. "Who is Shakash?"
• “He's my friend…but.
• "What happened?" Rithick asked quickly.
• Neethu's eyes clouded with tears. “Mithila and I had
• lunch with Shakash. He said I should stop
• I'm talking to you. Then he tried to grab my hands. I
• he pushed him and started looking for you. Mithila
• he reminded me that you were in Green Park."
• "Where's the damn guy now?" Rithick shouted,
• Neethu shouted, “Leave it Rithick… please. I am here to continue my studies. I don't want any
• problem because of me Rithick. It will spoil it for me
• time here."
• Rithick blinked, "Okay Neetha. I'm leaving him."
• because of you. If it happens again, I won't
• so quietly."
• "Wait five minutes, Rithick. I'll be back," she said
• he added and left after giving Rahul a brief smile.
• Rithick calmed down. He was showing his anger
• Neetha. He couldn't believe himself. He would
• yelling at the girls if they talked to him, but now he was
• angry with Neethu for not talking to him. He smiled
• alone.
• Rahul grinned and said, "What's going on here,
• man? I don't understand how Neethu could have exposed you."
• Rithick smiled. "Yes, I have the same doubts,
• Rahul.”
• Neethu approached them, “Follow me Rithick.
• There is a beautiful place in Green Park. I want
• show it to you."
• Rithick had an innocent look on his face. "What?
• Follow? I'm not in the habit of following."
• Neethu looked at Rithick, “I know about you
• Rithick. Come with me, please.``
• Rithick and Rahul smiled at each other. They followed Neetha and Mithila.
• Neethu paused for a second and said, “Wait for
• second brother of Rithick and Rahul. I will call you,
• then you both come to that place.” She pointed
• place to him.
• Rithick and Rahul winked at each other. They
• nodded Neethu moved forward and after a few
• seconds she called Rithick and Rahul there.
• They hurried towards Neeth. They could see it
• she was sitting near a small tank full of
• leaves and flowers. They were so happy to see it
• beautiful arrangement of the word "SORRY"
• together.
• Rithick and Rahul admired Neethu's cute gesture.
• Rithick exclaimed, "Hey, what's this, Neetha? Why?"
• sorry and everything? Get up from there.”
• Neethu replied, “I know you both were looking for me after a
• long and I promise you both never
• leave you Could you forgive me, please?"
• Rithick and Rahul smiled at her.
• "You didn't do anything wrong. Please get up."
• Neethu smiled. "How should I arrange
• Rithick? I have these flowers from the garden. I
• he plucked them carefully so no one could see them
• me."
• Rithick replied, "Great! So you're a thief too, huh?"
• Wait, girl, I'll tell the gardener."
• Neethu looked at him and said “I know you won't
• tell anyone about me Rithick because I am yours
• close friend."
• "Oh. This is too much, Neetha. Did I say you are my close friend?" Rithick teased her.
• "I know, Rithick. I'm really happy about that today."
• they talked to you."
• Rahul was happy that Rithick was talking to him
• Neetha. In fact, he never acted like this
• with a girl before his school days.
• "Have you both had lunch?" he asked Neetha.
• "No. I saw you had lunch with the damn guy."
• he wasn't hungry then,” replied Rithick bitterly.
• “No, I just opened the food, but I didn't have it
• I'm hungry now."
• "Oh! We'll share a meal," Rithick suggested.
• "Let's eat here alone. This is very."
• beautiful surroundings,” commented Neethu.
• They were taking up space in the park itself. Rithick
• and Rahul shared food with Neethu and
• Mithila. Rithick shared almost all his food
• Neetha.
• They had lunch together. It was about 3:00 p.m. and
• there were only a few students in Green Park.
• "It's too late." Neethu got up. "We did not know
• about class time. Now let's go to our class."
• "Class? No, no, no. Neethu." Rithick almost pouted.
• "One more hour Neetha. Let's all come here," Rahul
• hit “I think this class might be a library class.
• You see, a few of our classmates just wander in here.
• So no worries Neetha.”
• “Okay, we'll enjoy it here.
• Rithick's face was full of joy. He was sitting
• opposite Neeth. They were close to each other.
• He couldn't face her. His eyes were glued to hers.
• Rithick said, “Neeth, if you don't mind, you could
• sit next to me? I can't face you."
• "Why did it happen?" he asked Neetha. "Are you
• i feel guilty that you showed me your anger
• Rithick?"
• Rithick couldn't control his laughter. He looked at
• Rahul who smiled at him.
• Neethu said, "You don't have to worry. I know you do."
• your concern for me."
• Rithick nodded and smiled softly.
• “Okay, come on, I don't know anything about you.
• both. Tell me about yourself.” he asked Neethu
• curiosity to know about Rithick and Rahul.
• They were silent. "I've been thinking a lot. You both look good."
• close from school days itself. I have never seen
• friends like you before. You are both caring
• to each other as brothers," she added.
• Rithick and Rahul gulped. They looked at Neethu
• with wide eyes. “Did she know about them?
• be cousins?"
• Will Rithick and Rahul reveal their identities?
• Will Neethu do the same if she finds out
• their identity?