Stupid Ajith and his stupid confusing personality Kavitha griped in her head.
Ajith had even liked all her posts about Chemistry, dance, and cheesy quotes on Instagram after he requested to follow her. She was shocked but decided to feel flattered. She felt annoying to her followers at times so it felt almost assuring that scrutinizing Ajith liked his pictures.
She decided to get over it! I mean, perhaps Ajith liked them for the sake of liking. Ajith couldn't possibly actually like her posts. Right?
Kavitha went back to her books to review further, her school was notorious for giving hard weekly quizzes for math. The quizzes were cumulative so Kavitha spends two hours reviewing all her notes from the last two units. Yep, cumulative meaning the quizzes could be about anything even units they have already completed. Kavitha didn't mind as much though she doesn't enjoy math as with chemistry. These quizzes make it easier to study for the exam.
"Kavi!" her mother's voice broke her momentum of review. "வரும்!" (varum) coming. Kavitha rushed downstairs, excited for dinner. Friday was dosa night! Her favourite dinner especially with red sambal. ( Such a good South Indian or Sri Lankan dish! Sambal is a sort of dip)
Kavitha grinned as she reached the kitchen. "Amma? Are you finished dinner?" Her mother turned from the stove to face her daughter. "Sorry kannu, not finished. I wanted to ask you a favor." (Kannu is a form of endearment.)
Kavitha's shoulders slumped slightly in disappointment but her face remained in good spirits. She smiled weakly. "What can I do for you, Amma?" She asked pleasantly.
Please, not the Manasa's house, Please not the Manasa's house, Please not the Manasa's house...
Sreeti smiled hesitatingly at her only daughter."I need you to go to Alya aunty's house."
Of course. Kavitha smiled firmly and refrained herself from complaining.
Sreeti combed her fingers into Kavitha's hair. "I knew you'd understand. என் தேவதை (en devathai) my angel. Kavitha nodded. "What do I need to do?"
Sreeti looked delighted. "Your brother needs to print something for school. Our printer is broken. Could go over and ask Alya aunty graciously for the use of their colour printer?"
Of course, her elder brother Kamal would be the one to get her into a dilemma, She deeply wished her bro would cut her some slack and be more responsible. But Pigs would fly when Kamal decided to be more responsible.
Kavitha didn't know what to do. What if Ajith was there? She couldn't bear another awkward encounter with " Sure." She managed. Her mother clapped her hands together. "Perfect, I'll call to say you are stopping by."
Kavitha's stomach churned with nerves. Guess she'd had to suck it up. She walked to the entrance of her house and pulled on her socks.She slipped on a thin windbreaker. She looked at herself in the mirror on the wall adjacent to the entrance. The mirror had pictures of her and her brother when they were younger. It was a wholesome addition to the entranced. It was Kavitha's favourite part of the entrance. Kavitha peered in the glass. God, she had some acne on her cheek. Perhaps she could run quickly upstairs to dab some concealer on?
Kavitha furrowed her brows at her reflection. Since when did she care so much? Despite that thought, her mind wandered aimlessly and anxiously. She took a deep breath. Just a trip down to Manasa's house where Ajith may or may not be.
She wasn't nervous.
Oh, who as she was kidding. She was terrified.
She didn't care. Right? She nodded confidently at herself in the decorative mirror. Acne or not she was still going regardless. Kavitha especially didn't care about the likes of Ajith. She laced up her boots. She was ready. She went to leave but after she applied some gloss to her lips. With that, she strolled out the door with beckons from her mother reminding her to put her hood up echoing in her ear.
Kavitha gazed tiredly at the darkened night. She was confused, she didn't care about her appearance to go to Ajith's house. She shook her head, her dark flying in her face. She didn't care about going to Alya aunty's house. She made the rash decision to not apply concealer to the spots that scattered her face. But here she was out outside, taking in the cool air in all her lip glossed glory. Kavitha even put her hoop earrings.
Kavitha arrived at the Manasa's house. She smoothed down her ink-black hair. Then she ringed the doorbell as her stomach tightened.
A few moments later, Alya answered the door. Alya smiled warmly at the timid girl with the starless hair. "Kavi! Come on in." Relief flooded in her veins. Look likes Ajith wasn't here after all. Not that she was worried about that though. However, she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. She wanted to thank Ajith who had hair as starless as hers for accepting her follow request
Kavitha entered the brightly lit home, the spicy scent of a familiar cologne plundered her nostrils.
Alya groaned. "I'm sorry, Kavi. It seems that Ajith wanted to grace us by spraying his cologne all over the place." Kavitha hid a smile. "It's alright, aunty." She didn't mind. She didn't mind at all.
Alya ushered her to the printer which was stacked on a table on the opening of the living room. Alya nodded encouragingly at Kavitha. "Take your time, I'll be in the kitchen." Alya left Kavitha and graciously walked to the kitchen, humming a Tamil song as she went.
Kavitha realized something abruptly. It came crashing down on her. she didn't have a computer to print. Oh no. Kavitha stood there for a solid ten minutes figuring out what to do, her mind racing. She was stuck. Should ask Alay aunty? She didn't want to cause them trouble than she already caused the Manasas.
Someone cleared their throat, breaking Kavitha out of her anxious daze. She turned feverishly to see Ajith leaning on the opening to the living room, his dark brown eyes penetrating her gaze. Kavitha stared at him, she stood awkwardly, her hand demurely brushing her arm.
He was wearing a dark blue sweatshirt and swats, His black hair draped wet on his forehead, and his eyes scrutinizing.
Ajith broke the silence. His voice was mocking. "You do know that you need a computer to print, right?"
Guess he was home after all.