Chapter 31

After one-and-a-half-week absence, Roshini returned back to the college, she is still sad and it is evident in her face, her mind was distraught after everything that happened in her life in this past week. And in that, her love was nowhere to be found.

Siddharth indeed did a great help and he was the best person she has ever found in her life. She is grateful and will never ever forget this help that he did to her. The feelings she had on him is turned out to be more than love, she admired his good nature and she had a mindset that 'she can do anything for Siddharth for his deeds'.

Since she doesn't think she will help someone this much but he did.

Whether he is loving me that much? Or did he pity my situation? Roshini questioned while traveling on the bus to her college.

Nidhi was sitting before her seat and looking out the passing vehicles, this situation is really tearing Roshini's heart into pieces. She thought everything was going in a perfect and peaceful way but now it is totally messed up. She is feeling some kind of pressure to continue her way to Siddharth.

Confused about everything Roshini ended up looking blankly in dismay without knowing what to do next?

It is their lunch break, Roshini called Siddharth to meet him, she is going to give the gift that she bought for Siddharth since it is his. She waited there gazing the big tree standing gigantically before her. She asked God why he created her as a human with these stupid feelings, better she lived in this world as a tree or an insect, being a human is nowadays a tiresome existence for her.

"Rosh?" Siddharth pronounced her name sweetly with a grin on his face.

Roshini just smiled back and Siddharth gazed the cover on her hand, he then looked her questioningly.

"This is for you, belated wishes," she handed that to him clearing his doubt.

"I thought of giving this to you on your birthday but... The situation has changed," she said in a low tone.

"Oh! Thank you," Siddharth seemed to be unbelievable at that moment and felt a great excitement to open and to know what is in it.

"I have to say thank you for everything you did for me, I don't think anyone can help as you did. If you are not there, then..." the saddest sound is when you hear the crack in a person's voice when they are about cry. Roshini telling that she started crying without holding back her tears.

Siddharth's eyes widened in shock and swiftly strides close to her. "Don't cry... please!" he exclaimed and gradually hugged her all of a sudden to give comfort.

That moment he wanted to do that, and never thought a single second whether it is right or wrong or what Roshini will take this as? Hugging someone was new to him but the love he has for her ultimately thought him how to care for someone giving all his warmth, he patted her shoulder and calmed her feelings that were so hurt.

Roshini never wanted to break down in front of him, but she couldn't control her feelings. She is strong, strong enough to face anything but she is a human too. The help he did and the state she is in was the reason behind her tears. In the hospital, she felt that no one was there for her, and she felt so helpless that time, but Siddharth was the only soul eradicated that thought.

After realizing she is in Siddharth's embrace Roshini wiggled her shoulders lightly so that Siddharth loosened his grip on her. "Everything will be fine Roshini, I will be there for you. You are like a family member to me so don't say this thanks," Siddharth said that in a concern. It is not just words, he meant each and everything by his heart.

"Hmm," she nodded sniffing her nose.

"Now go and have your food, don't lose your hope because that is the only thing that will encourage us to survive," Roshini nodded her head taking his valuable advice.

Siddharth entered the class smiling, carrying the gift. He wanted to know what's in it. His friends were discussing something, but all of them suddenly turned to see Siddharth. He stood frozen and his smile immediately faded away.

"What is that?" Ram asked him.

"Gift"

"I know, who gave that?" he scowled.

"My girlfriend."

"Aww," he sounded like a wolf. Siddharth glared and sat on his place. He doesn't want to open in front of everyone so he placed that inside his bag.

"Why she took leave for so long?" Gautham questioned.

"Her dad was sick," Siddharth replied and changed the subject of their talk.

Soon the classes ended and after finishing some work given by his professor Siddharth decided to leave.

While driving his car near the bus stop, he saw Nidhi and Roshini were talking with each other, he stopped and looked at them. Roshini was blushing while hearing Nidhi's talking and she bites her lower lip and her widened for something that Nidhi said and Nidhi laughed pointing her forefinger at her, Roshini beaten her shoulder and nodded and gritted her tusks in an embarrassment.

Siddharth felt happy to see her smile, he thought of what they were talking about that made Roshini blush. Is that regarding me, but what I did today? He questioned and eventually smiled.

He pressed the horn to get their attention, hearing the sound Roshini swiftly turned her gaze to Siddharth's car and smiled.

He waved his hand and Roshini in a surprise looked at Nidhi. She then turned her gaze back to Siddharth and waved her hand with that same blushing smile dancing across her face. Nidhi said something on her ear and Roshini's pupil again dilated to hear that, she tried to control her blush and looked Siddharth.

He is totally confused about what these two people were actually talking about? Whether about our hug? he again thought.  But he clearly understood they were conversing about him.

Then Siddharth gestured that he is leaving and drove the car, his heart was throbbing to see that smile on Roshini's face, the impact was too hard to handle even after coming to his room and he wanted to know what they were talking about him.

That time he remembered the gift and he abruptly opened his bad and tore the cover to find a shirt. Honestly, he didn't expect this gift from her and sat on his bed. No words in the world can describe how much he is happy now. Touching the shirt, he thought 'why I am feeling this pleased? Even my dad's costly gift didn't give me this much happiness. Ah...I am going crazy' he chuckled.

When he was in these thoughts someone knocked on the door. Lakshmi came inside with a coffee cup, she first looked at the shirt and inquired about that. Siddharth proudly said that Roshini gave this to him. She also smiled and went out, understanding her brother's contentment.

Siddharth took his phone to call Roshini. In his life, he never smiled without a reason but now he couldn't control that joy he is having inside him, just by reminding the name Roshini bringing happiness.

He had secretly smiled a lot looking at her but nowadays he couldn't hide this feeling that was dripping from his every cell, in his every word and his every action. This is his first love and the most torturing love.

"Hello?" Roshini faltered since she didn't expect that Siddharth will call her.

"Nice shirt," Siddharth said looking at it.

"You like it?"

"Yeah, it's my favorite color, ocean blue," Siddharth exclaimed.

"I am glad that you like it," Roshini felt happy.

"What you are doing?" He asked.

"Just simply sitting in the backyard," Roshini chuckled.

"Um... What you and your friend were talking at that time, looking at me?"

"Nothing big."

"But it seemed like you were talking something about me," Siddharth questioned again.

"No... No, we were just discussing our class," she tried to give a reason convincing him. 

Siddharth was not in the state to believe but he didn't know that it is very hard to get the truth from Roshini.

"Okay fine, leave it," he said grinning. After talking about some random stuff, he ended the call.

At night after completing his dinner, Siddharth headed to his room and started researching on his final year project. That time his parents came there and it is evident from their faces that they were going to talk about something to him.

Siddharth looked at them in a skepticism.

"Dad?"

"Siddharth we came here to talk with you about something important," Vikranth started.

"About what?"

"About that girl Roshini," his mom said and Siddharth felt uncomfortable.

"Yeah mom, I said this to dad. I am in love with her," Siddharth said to his mom.

"I know, and we came here to talk about that only."

"Have you confessed your love to her?" Vikranth questioned.

"No, will going to do that after submitting my project," Siddharth said very confidently and his words had a clarity that he already planned all these things.

"Oh... That's great," his dad said but his face doesn't reflect that happiness in his words.

Siddharth just stared them in a confusion. What happened to them?

"Is there anything you wanted to tell?" Siddharth asked his parents and they hesitantly opened up.

"Siddharth I don't think the idea of proposing to Roshini is not a good one now," his mom said.

"Mom?"

"Look Siddharth what mom and I have decided is, we are happy about your love and we will never against your decision."

"But we wanted to give advice on this." Vikranth sat beside Siddharth and Meera stood beside her husband.

"Love at this age will be very addictive, you will get curious to know about that girl and you will eventually think that you are in love with her."

"Sometimes after that curiosity ends and addictiveness started stressing you, then you will eventually regret your decision. You know about us right; we have gone through a lot of struggles that no can even imagine. If some other girl in your mom's situation, then she would have left me because from my side she got so much hurt."

"I don't know about Roshini but I know you, you are like me in everything. The only difference between you and me is, you got all the love and care from us but I didn't get that from my parents so the result I am not a virtuous person like you when I was in your age."

"Siddharth, you are my dream. I want you to be always happy. Your love is important but before that, your career is your life. Don't think that I am pressurizing you but you have to look after this business and you should be the inspiration for your siblings." Vikranth looked Meera and she continued further.

"So Siddharth Dad wants you to pursue an MBA in abroad and I also accepted. It's not at all a compulsion but if you did then he will be happy. So what our advice is for now keep your love inside you, after completing your MBA and if you still had that same love on Roshini then you can happily marry her with our blessings. This separation will make you understand whether you are really in love or is it just a mere attraction. But whatever we say, yours is the final decision and we will support you in that." "Still there is time, think and do what you want. I don't want you to get hurt and also Roshini because she will be the one who suffers more than you if this relationship doesn't work out," Meera said and Siddharth looked down.

Vikranth putting his hand on Siddharth's shoulder said, "What you say?"

Sighing, "I will think about this dad," he said in an assuring tone.

Vikranth nodded his head with a small smile, he hoped that his son will take a right decision. After they left, Siddharth became muddled. He can feel that this is not their advice it is their wish.

What I have to do now? he questioned and stared at the shirt....