Punya came home tired and leaned over the sofa in the hall. Singing was her favorite thing but singing standing next to Prakruth made her mind vulnerable. The song had too many romantic lines and she felt all those feelings flowing only towards him. His looks were killing her internally and her hatred burning her externally....
"Congratulations Punya.... This goes for a treat" exclaimed Thrishul handing over a bouquet.
Punya opened her eyes and said "Thanks" receiving the white flowered bouquet from him.
"You didn't even stay for the results, what made you rush home so fast?"
"I... I... I was too tired to st... stay. That's it" she shivered a little. She left early as Prakruth held her hand while bowing to the audience and said "This song is dedicated to you and you alone" in whispers. A live wire passed to her spine when their eyes met...she couldn't stand there anymore, she took her belongings and found her way back home.
"Attention everyone, Punya has won the trophy come have a look" Thrishul called her family members.
Grandpa was out of town and Rishi was upstairs busy with video games. Narmada and Grandma came and congratulated Punya and sat next to her. Punya was still mentally on the stage, she came to present when Narmada pressed her saree against her sweating face.
"Here is your trophy" said Thrishul handing over to her.
She received the trophy and smiled.
"These are the same flowers I saw in dreams, so the boy who walked next to me was Thrishul. Did the dream tell me that I'm neglecting Thrishul for Prakruth??? Or I'm imagining something like that? Let me ask him about this" Punya thought.
"Nice flowers, Thrishul. How did you know that I like white?" she asked curiously.
"Oh you like white flowers, I didn't know. These were given at college along with the trophy, Prakruth gave it to me when I was chatting with Jyoti" shrugged Thrishul.
"Prakruth, why did he give trophy? Did he collect it on behalf of Punya, what were you doing?" asked Grandma with an unhappy expression.
"That guy was Punya's partner, lead singer. They won award together, so he might have taken Granny" Thrishul explained. "oh" Granny just nodded her head.
Punya observed the bouquet again and found a letter hidden between the flowers. She froze in dismay. She silently stood up to leave.
"Punya, I want to tell you something" Thrishul voice stopped her.
"We'll talk tomorrow in college, I'll go rest" Punya climbed the stairs not even waiting for his answer.
"Have dinner Thrishul" said Narmada.
"No aunty, thanks. Will come for a feast on weekend to celebrate. I'll leave now" said Thrishul grinning.
"Ok bye... Take care" Narmada waved at him.
Upstairs - Punya opened the letter
"Dear Punya, you're very special to me, you filled the emptiness left in my heart. I'm very attached to you now but I don't know why you're avoiding me so much. As far as my knowledge goes, I haven't hurt you by any chance. If at all my behavior has troubled you, please forgive me and provide me a chance to rectify. Remember the moments we had together and give me an opportunity and trust me I never ever hurt you. I can't speak all this in front of you... So I write letters. Please read my previous letter and reply with mercy if possible."
- Prakruth.
He had scratched the words "yours" and a word further, before his name. Punya knew what those words could be.
Punya opened her bag to search for the previous letter, she was just curious.
Someone knocked at the door.....
She hid the letter in her hand and opened the door, her father stood with a huge brown teddy bear.
"Congratulations Darling" Varun sounded excited. "I'm so proud of you my dear".
"Thanks Appa, who told you?" she intrigued.
"I had come to the function" He winked.
"No I don't believe it" she made a doubting face.
"Ok, I was with Dr. Murthy, he told that his son and you won the singing competition. He gave a dinner party too, doctor celebrates every proud occasion of his son's life" Varun explained.
Punya crushed the letter in her hand. "How dare he lies that there's emptiness when his father celebrates his small achievement so grandly? Loser"
"Are you happy with this?" he asked.
"No I hate it" she muttered.
"Oh then I'll buy something else for you" Varun took the bear from her hands.
"Appa No, I like it, I love it too... I didn't like the way doctor celebrated this small thing"
"It's just expression of love, lucky boy"
"Yeah a very lucky one, loving parents, lots of money, car, handsomeness overloaded and such a beautiful girlfriend... On top of that he wants me, he uses sweet words to attract me... attached and special... Creepy creature!!!" Punya scolded him in her mind.
.......
College became routine after the fest.
Punya, Siri and Jyoti were writing their records in the classroom, it was lunch break.
Thrishul sat with his friends - Vedant and Tarak. Vedant was pleading Siri to draw the diagrams in his record.
"I'll give you a chocolate, please help Siri"
"Try something bigger, I'm not a kid" she shrugged.
"Give I will draw it for you" Punya volunteered and took the record.
"Oh it's so boring yaar...." said Siri.
"Isn't it, classes after classes, long lectures, strenuous labs and those never-ending assignments... Chuck it" said Jyoti slamming a book on the desk.
"I also feel same like you girls" Vedant interfered. Vedant was new close friend of Thrishul. "Why don't we do something exciting?" he asked.
Punya who had constant battle inside her head needed a break. "Yeah, I'm fed up with all this stuff constantly hitting my head, why don't we plan an outing?" said Punya and looked at Thrishul.
"As you wish ma'am, I'm always at your service" he bowed at her. She started laughing... "I can take you all around the world if you promise me that you will always laugh like this" he said.
"Awwww, that's so sweet Thrishul" said Jyoti. Jyoti had started a inclination towards him. His green eyes attracted her very much.
"Ok what are the plans now?" asked Siri.
"Saturday is a holiday and winter has just started. Clear skies, foggy mountains and beautiful sunrise will be soothing place for our stressed out minds... What do you think? asked Thrishul.
"You mean Agumbe?" asked Punya.
"Yes, I'll take my car, Tarak will join us. 3 girls and 3 boys, only 6 of us, it will be awesome...." he exclaimed. Tarak was Siri's new crush.
Jyoti teased her and Siri blushed.
Vedant explained the trip plan "Saturday we'll leave early in the morning by 6, cover near by places and reach Agumbe an hour before sunset, enjoy the sunset completely and start from there. We will reach home by dinner".
"That sounds great, we'll go... Ready?" Punya raised her hand for approval and everyone cheered.... Hurray...