The program was ready to start.Rithick, Neethu, Rahul and Mithila were on the stage.

NEETHU's VOICE

"When love emerges in my heart."
(Nenjorama oru kadhal thulirumpothu...)

"Why do my eyes fill with tears?"
(Kannorama siru kanneer thuligal yaenno?)

"I plan to mesmerise you with my looks."
(Kanalane..En kanaal unai kaidhakida nan nineichene...)

"Like the eyeliner moistened with tears."
(Kaneerula oru mai polavae..)

"I craved to merge with you."
(Unnoda sera Thudichaenae...)

"A craze in my heart when you look at me."
( Manasula poongathu...Ne paakum dhisaiyil veesumpothu...)

"A world of our own in which both of us live together."
(Namakunu oru dhesam adhil iruvarum sernthu onnavazhvom...)

RITHICK AND NEETHU TOGETHER

"The look in your eyes conveys your love like a blazing fire."
(Kannala kannala en mela en mela theeyayerunchiputa..)

"My heart has gone crazy over the words you conveyed in silence."
(Sollatha sollala ulnenjil yeno kalavaram purinjiputa...)

RITHICK's VOICE

"You are the beautiful melody of love I am the song of your life."
(Kadhal Raagam nee Dhanae un vazhvin geetham naanDhaanae...)

"I will live forever in love even when everything leaves me."
(Kadhalodu vazhvaene intha vazhvin ellai ponnalum..)

"My heart never forgets."
(Marandhathu illai en idhayam...)

"To be in constant rememberence."
(Unnai ninaika mupozhudhum...)

"Your heart never melts, I shed tears everytime."
(Karayavillai un Idhayam kalangugiraenaeyepozhuthum...)

"Even now forever in love."
(Kadhalinalae ipozhuthum...)

NEETHU's VOICE

"A craze in my heart when you look at me."
( Manasula poongathu...Ne paakum dhisaiyil veesumpothu...)

"A world of our own in which both of us live together."
(Namakunu oru dhesam adhil iruvarum sernthu onnavazhvom)

****************

Rithick melted in the song as if it was tuned for him and his Neethu. Neethu showed her stunning performance. Rahul and Mithila played a great instrumental tone. The stage was filled with extreme pleasure and enthusiasm due to the rocking performance of Rithick, Neethu, and their team. Together, they rocked the stage.

The audience was mesmerized by their performance. They gave a standing ovation and a huge round of applause. Then the competition was followed by a few other teams' performances.

This was the time to announce the winners of the singing competition. The students yelled out the names of Rithick and Neethu.

"The winner is Rithick's team! Please come forward to get your honour," annouced one of the judges from the panel

Neethu was filled with excitement. The team moved towards the stage.

Rithick was standing in between Rahul (on his right) and Neethu (on his left). Mithila was standing next to Neethu. Their faces dispayed their intense joy.

Neethu excitedly held the hands of Rithick and Mithila. Rithick's hand was held by his dream girl. The sparks seemed like live electricity. Butterflies started flying in his stomach. He turned his head to see his Neethu. Her dark eyes shone, her smiling lips added beauty to her face. He then tried to hold her hand. He intertwined his fingers with her soft ones. He held her hand tightly. Neethu could sense that she was holding Rithick's hand. She looked down, finding both their hands locked together. She tried to remove her hand from Rithick's, but she couldn't. Then, Rithick left hardly after her several trials.

The honour was provided to Rithick and his team but they didn't loosen their hands. They moved down the stage.

Rithick smiled and moved towards Rahul. He was then followed by Neethu.

Rahul smiled mischievously at Rithick. Rithick showed his hand to Rahul. Rahul tried to catch his hand but Rithick took his hand away. He stretched his hand often and was lost in thoughts.

Rahul said, "Rithick, I am happy for you."

"Those five minutes where I had held her hand... they are the most unforgettable moments for me. Let me enjoy the moment, now. Let's go out, Rahul."

Neethu asked, "Where are you going?"

"Going to Green Park to get some fresh air. Are you coming?" Rahul asked.

"The program will get over now. I will come later on," Neethu answered.

"Ok, Neethu." Rahul nodded at her.

Rithick looked at Neethu with longing eyes. Neethu glanced at him.

Rithick and Rahul reached Green Park. They sat down on the bench. Rahul felt that Rithick was actually worrying more than being happy.

Rithick sighed. "When I left her hand, it was like everything left me in a second. Neethu didn't show any sign. I wasn't able to read her mind."

Rahul consoled "Trust me, Rithick, she is yours. You don't get worried."

Rithick smiled briefly. "Even now I can feel butterflies in my stomach.."

Rahul laughed. "That's my Rithick."

They both talked for a little longer. Meanwhile, it was time for their lunch. Rithick searched for Neethu. His eyes couldn't get a glimpse of her.

"She might be in the Green Music Park. Let's go there, Rahul." Rithick marched ahead and was followed by his cousin.

****************

"It's time, Mithila, let's go to the Green Park. Rithick and Rahul are waiting there," Neethu informed.

"Okay, Neethu." Mithila grinned.

"Neethu! Neethu!" She could hear the name someone was calling from behind. She turned her head to see. It was Shantra.

"Hello, buddy. Are you searching for Rithick?" Shantra said.

Neethu kept quiet.

Shantra said, "First of all, congrats, Neethu for the performance. This is the first and last time for you to be with Rithick on the stage. How much times I need to warn you? Don't you have sense, brainless damit. If I see you again with him... you and Rithick might know who am I?"

Shakash noticed Neethu. He walked towards her, saying, "Hey, Neethu! You rocked the stage."

Neethu smiled a bit at Shakash. Shantra gave a final look at Neethu before moving away.

Shakash asked Neethu, "Had lunch?"

Neethu replied, "Nope."

At that time, Rithick and Rahul entered the Green Music Park. Rithick searched for Neethu but he couldn't find her. Neethu noticed Rithick and Rahul. She felt very happy as she saw Rithick was searching for her. Shantra's voice echoed in her ears. She was scared that Shantra might hurt Rithick too, so she tried to hide from his eyes. She covered her face with her duppatta.

Rithick noticed Shakash was talking to a girl but he was not aware that girl was his Neethu.

Rithick frowned. "Where is Neethu? My heartbeat is rising."

Neethu was glancing at Rithick. She couldn't hear what he was saying.

Shakash waved his hands at Neethu. "I am here, Neethu. What are you looking at?"

Neethu didn't give him a response. Her eyes were longing for Rithick.

Mithila said to Neethu, "Neethu. See Rithick, he is there."

Neethu placed her finger on her lips, hoping Mithila would be quiet.

Shakash couldn't understand why Neethu stood dumbstruck due to the entry of Rithick.

Rithick and Rahul then moved out from that place.

Shakash turned to face Neethu. "If you don't mind, let's have lunch together."

Neethu paused for a minute and whispered to Mithila, "Rithick should be always happy. If he had looked at me, he would have guessed. Also, Shantra might hurt him too, so let me try to avoid him now. Let's have lunch with Shakash."

"You are right, Neethu. Your face seems really dull."

Neethu had no other option. She wasn't even sure if she could eat after leaving Rithick and Rahul behind.

Rithick was still searching for Neethu. He roamed in every place he could think to find her.

Later on, he noticed Neethu having lunch with Shakash and Mithila. He felt happy to see her, at the same time his heart was broken. Rithick and Rahul then moved to the Green Park. They didn't have their lunch.

Rithick said to Rahul, "Have your lunch, Rahul."

Rahul replied, "Should I have my lunch alone at any time leaving you?" Rithick smiled at Rahul. His cousin cared deeply about him. Both of them hugged each other.

Rahul knew Rithick was saddened. "Neethu might have searched for us. Maybe she couldn't find us, so she is having lunch with them. Don't wotry, Rithick."

Rithick nodded, he didn't know what to say.

After some time, Rithick could hear his name being 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 didn't look at her.

"Rithick. Will you look at me or not? I want to tell you something." Neethu's voice thickened.

Rithick turned towards her and shouted, "How dare you? Do you know how scared I was? Get away from my sight. I don't want to see you any more."

Neethu stood rooted to her spot. Her eyelashes were moistened with her tears. She had only seen the smiling face of Rithick. Now, all she could see was his boiling rage. She was stunned by his words.

Rahul frowned. "Stop it, Rithick. What's wrong with you?"

Rithick was still in anger mode. He couldn't able to bring him back to normal. Rithick was staring at Neethu.

Neethu with innocent face asked, "Rithick... Why are you scolding me? I can't understand the reason behind your anger."

Rithick shouted at Neethu, "What do you know about me?"

"You are Rithick, my friend," Neethu said after thinking a bit.

"Great! You know a lot about me, right? You only know my name. Neethu, listen to me. Don't believe any stranger, not even me. Don't think everyone is a good person like you are."

Neethu stared at him incredulously. "Are you Rithick? You are talking to me fluently. I am really happy. Even your anger looks so cute, Rithick."

Rithick let out an irritated sigh. "Neethu, I am telling this to you seriously. Believe it and take three steps away from everyone. This is not your home town. It's Bengaluru city. People from different states are here together. Don't share your personal details with any stranger."

Neethu smiled widely. "I really admire your words. You are such an awesome speaker. Then why did you pretend to be dumb in the flight? I was worried about you at that time."

"I am not like you. I don't want to share my personal details to a arranged," Rithick's voice turned an octave higher. "Who is Shakash?"

"He is my friend... but..."

"What happened?" Rithick asked quickly.

Neethu eyes blurred with tears. "Mithila and I had lunch with Shakash. He told that I should stop talking to you. Then, he tried to hold my hands. I pushed him and started searching for you. Mithila reminded me that you were in Green Park."

"Where is the damn fellow now?" Rithick shouted.

Neethu cried, "Leave this matter, Rithick... please. I am here to continue my studies. I don't want any problem because of me, Rithick. It will spoil my time here."

Rithick blinked "Okay, Neethu. I am leaving him because of you. If this happens again, I won't be quiet like this."

"Wait for five minutes, Rithick. I will be back," she added and left after smiling briefly at Rahul.

Rithick calmed down. He had showed his anger to Neethu. He couldn't believe himself. He would shout at girls if they talked to him, but now he was mad at Neethu for not talking to him. He smiled to himself.

Rahul grinned and said, "What's going on here, man? I don't know how Neethu could bare you."

Rithick smiled back. "Yeah, I have the same doubt, Rahul."

Neethu stepped towards them, "Follow me, Rithick. There is a beautiful place in Green Park. I want to show it to you."

Rithick had an innocent look on his face. "What? Follow? I don't have the habit of following."

Neethu glanced at Rithick, "I know about you, Rithick. Come with me, please."

Rithick and Rahul smiled at each other. They followed Neethu and Mithila.

Neethu paused for a second and said, "Wait for a second Rithick and Rahul brother. I will call you, then you both come to that place." She showed the place to him.

Rithick and Rahul blinked at each other. They nodded. Neethu moved forward and after a few seconds she called both Rithick and Rahul there.

They rushed towards Neethu. They could see that she was sitting down near the small tank filled with leaves and flowers. They were so glad to see the beautiful arrangement of the word "SORRY" together.


 

Rithick and Rahul admired Neethu's cute gesture.

Rithick exclaimed, "Hey, what's this, Neethu? Why sorry and all? You get up from there."

Neethu replied, "I know you both searched me for a long time and I promise you both that I will 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 are my arrangements, Rithick? I got these flowers from the garden. I plucked them carefully, making sure no one saw me."

Rithick replied, "Great! So, you are a thief too, huh? Wait, girl, I will inform this to the gardener."

Neethu glanced at him and said, "I know you won't tell about me to anyone, Rithick, because I'm your close friend."

"Ah. This is too much, Neethu. Did I say that you are my close friend?" Rithick teased her.

"I know that, Rithick. I am really happy today to have conversed with you."

Rahul was glad seeing Rithick converse with Neethu. Actually he had never behaved like this with a girl before even in his school days.

"Did you both have lunch?" Neethu asked.

"Nope. I saw you had lunch with that damn fellow. I wasn't hungry after that," Rithick replied bitterly.

"No, I had just opened my food but didn't have it. I am feeling hungry now."

"Oh! Let's share our food," Rithick suggested.

"Let's have our food here itself. This is a very beautiful surrounding," Neethu commented.

They occupied a space in the park itself. Rithick and Rahul shared their food with Neethu and Mithila. Rithick shared almost all his food with Neethu.

They had lunch together. It was about 3 PM and only a few students were in the Green Park.

"It's too late." Neethu got up. "We were not aware about the class hour. Let's go to our class now."

"Class? No, no, no. Neethu." Rithick almost pouted.

"One more hour, Neethu. Let's all be here," Rahul intervened. "I think this hour may be library hour. See, a few our classmates are wandering here only. So, no worries, Neethu."

"Okay, let's enjoy here."

Rithick's face was filled with joy. He was sitting opposite to Neethu. They were close to each other. He couldn't face her. His eyes were glued to hers.

Rithick said, "Neethu, if you don't mind, could you sit next to me? I can't face you."

"Why? What happened?" Neethu asked. "Are you feeling guilty for showing your anger towards me Rithick?"

Rithick couldn't control his laughter. He glanced at Rahul, who smiled at him.

Neethu said, "You don't need to worry. I know it's your concern for me."

Rithick nodded and smiled softly.

"Okay, come on. I don't know anything about you both. Tell me about yourself." Asked Neethu in curiosity to known about Rithick and Rahul.

They were silent. "I thought a lot. You both seem close from school days itself. I have never seen friends like you before. You both are caring towards each other like brothers," she added.

Rithick and Rahul gulped. They looked at Neethu with widened eyes. "Did she know about them being cousins?"

Will Rithick and Rahul tell their identity?

Will Neethu behave the same if she came to know their identity?

Stay tuned !