Love B(l)ends by Kalaiselvi Arivalagan (most read books in the world of all time .txt) 📕

Kathir looked into the rear view mirror.  He did not miss Kayal with speedy steps and her eyes focused on getting into the slowly moving bus. Instead of applying a little force on the brake pedal to bring the bus to stop, his hand moved the gear forward and gained speed.  The slow moving traffic hindered the speed of the bus, but Kathir kept the bus moving on.  A cranky smile twisted his lips and he felt happy to see Kayal missed the bus and stood desperately on the side of the road.

 “You are a ……., and you deserve this.” Kathir murmured himself.

 Sarathy blew his whistle so hard that made Kathir jam the brake to stop the bus.

 Kathir turned around to see who boarded the bus. Panting for breath Kayal climbed in through the rear entrance along with some more passengers.

 “Idiot.  Little devil, you always have someone to help” Kathir moved the bus forward as the signal turned green.   Kathir could see Kayal sitting comfortably near the window seat in the middle.  He still could not control his heaving emotions and filthy one-words rolled his tongue. 

 “One day I will kill you throwing from the bus you are traveling. I swear.”  Kathir murmured vehemently.

 Sarathy moved through the standing passengers and came to the front to issue tickets to the passengers seated in the front seats.

 “Sarathy” Kathir called.

 “Tell” Sarathy replied without looking at him. Quite busy issuing the tickets, he knew for what he would have called him.

 “Why can’t you understand my feelings?” Kathir with his eyes focused on the traffic questioned Sarathy.

 “It is my duty to let the passengers in.  This is not your private property” Sarathy turned around and disappeared in the crowd.

 Kayal also did not miss the conversation between the two friends, but showed no reaction.  She took a book from her bag and started reading it.   It infuriated Kathir more and the travel turned to be a jerky one applying the brake often.

 It happened to be a Friday evening. The congested road traffic moved slowly inch by inch irritating everyone. No one could help it.

 The bus entered the outer ring road to avoid traffic snarls. Usually Kathir avoid driving on that road for the speed bump on the road hurdled smooth driving.  Every time at the bump, Kathir has to slow and move ahead.  The bumpy ride made him utter foul, filthy words that Kayal hated to hear.  To make her feel disgusted, Kathir always uttered those words aloud. On that day, the front tires refused to move ahead a sharp bump. Kathir pressed the gear hard and moved the bus ahead. With a jerk, the bus crossed the bump but refused to start after that.

 Kathir stopped the engine and climbed down to see what happened. One of the tires looked flat. Kathir looked at the window from where Kayal’s eyes met his eyes.

 “The bus will not go” with a smile, he declared.

“Hmm.  I know how to reach office on time.” Kayal waded through the crowd and climbed down the bus.  Fortunately, the bus stopped near an auto stand.  Kayal took an auto and left for her office disappointing Kathir once again.

“How long will you escape from me? I will see you are mine one day.”  Kathir’s heart took the vow with vehemence.

 The last trip ended around 11:30 pm when the rain started to drizzle.

 “Wait for me. I will submit the charge sheet and come.  I have not brought my bike today” Sarathy requested him.

 “Yes” Kathir got up from his seat to climb down the bus.  Something under the seats got his attention. Kathir remembered seeing it often.

 “Aye… it’s hers” he whistled softly.  “You have come to me.”   Kathir handed over the golden colored watch in the Lost and Found department. He then eagerly looked for the next day to come, the time when Kayal will board the bus.

 “Excuse me” Kayal politely called Sarathy.

 “Yes. How may I help you?” Sarathy replied.

 “I think I lost my watch yesterday in the bus.  Is there any chance of getting it back?”

 “Sure.  You need to write a letter to the manager” Sarathy replied bluntly.

 “Do you remember finding any watch yesterday?”

 “Sorry, I don’t remember. Can you please find it out from the office?” Sarathy moved away from her.  He did not remember submitting any lost item at the office.  Though Kathir submitted the watch, he deliberately refrained from telling Sarathy.

 Kayal walked in hesitantly to the manager’s office. That is the first time she is visiting the place. The sprawling space looked enticing and numerous khaki clad mechanics busy with bolts and nuts. Some buses came in to fill diesel and the place smelt of grease.   

 An elderly person at the counter received her letter and asked her to wait for sometime.  Kayal looked around. No chairs or benches to sit. Kayal moved near the door and waited there standing.

 The person at the counter called her and checked with her the details of the watch. Kayal showed the receipt as a proof of purchase. Then he asked to sign on the letter stating that she received the watch in good condition.  Kayal felt happy to get her watch back.  She walked down the way observing everything there. 

 Now also Kathir’s eyes did not miss Kayal.  It once again turned out to be a treat to watch her happy face that glowed in the morning sunlight.

 “Why she is here at this time?” Kathir questioned.

 “Hello” Kathir could not restrict calling her. 

Puzzled Kayal looked around.  “Did you get your watch?”  He questioned her again.

 “Yes. Thanks.” Kayal replied him curtly and hurried toward the gate.

 Kathir hesitated to deny that Kayal brought sunshine into his heart whenever he happened to see her. He assumed her to be his soul mate. Though his calculation on compatibility and frequency of wave length cheated him in real life,  Kayal made him feel the twinkling sensation at heart.  Kathir could not judge if his thinking and liking for Kayal proved ethical or not. He felt nothing would make him deny he developed a soft corner for her.

When Kathir reached home, his heart was brimming with love and he felt the need to cuddle closely enjoying the warmth of love. Without the patience even to eat his dinner, he quickly had his usual night bath and changed to clean clothes. The late night bath in the chilled water refreshed his nerves and he could feel his love nerves tightened and yearned for a warm hug.

Kathir rolled to the other edge of the bed and cuddled closer to Nilo.  When she failed to respond to his closeness, a sense of failure gripped his heart.  Her cold response is not new to him. Nilo never took the time to respond back and show she too loved him. She continued to sleep ignoring Kathir.

Initially, the rapport between Kathir and Nilo made everyone feel jealous and their compatibility painted their lives rosy and colorful.  Their early days of marriage provided ample moments to enjoy the love space and spending time together in tight hugs and cuddling love, a rich love glow brightened their faces.

Days rolled on and an unseen mask slowly enveloped them that never gave them a chance to sit and thrash out their differences.  Both of them unwilling to disclose anything with a fear that one may hurt the other person, the gap grew wider.

Kathir tried to sleep but his grumbling empty stomach prevented his eyelids to close.  Without switching the main light, he walked into the kitchen. As usual, Nilo kept his dinner near the gas stove.  Six idlis with his favorite tomato chutney along with a spoonful of seasoned curd rice deliciously mixed with finely diced carrot and green chillies. 

With Nilo, it is true a woman can open her beloved’s heart with her culinary skills by cooking his favorites.  Yet, she never allowed Kathir to express his token of appreciation in his way, for he thought just like his fellow men, it is nothing but lovemaking could fully express his deepest love.

Kayal watered the tulasi plant and lit the lamp.  She lit the perfume sticks. The fragrance of the perfume sticks enveloped the place bringing in the comfort at her heart. The dawn has been slowly setting in and the first rays of Sun in the east peeped in through the rims of morning clouds.  Kayal chanting some mantras lit the camphor and completed doing the arathi.  The crows perching on the branch of the neem tree fervently cawed and called her.  That is the first call for her to give them their morning serving, a handful of boiled rice leftover the night.

“Wait, wait” Kayal entered the kitchen with a smile. She took a handful of cooked rice and left it on the windowsill of the kitchen.  The crow cawed before taking its share as many crows flew in to pick their share.

While cooking, Kayal loved watching the sparrows that flew down chattering endlessly. Pairs of sparrows competing with one another to get the attention of the other made her smile.

One more pair always won her attention. A red feathered rooster that roamed around majestically with two more hen. The rooster with its striking plumage of long flowing tails, and shiny back feathers always walked proudly.

One of the hens looked submissive and it will give in always when the rooster approached with its peculiar mating dance, dancing around the hen, lowering his wing that is nearest to the hen. The dance received the response call from the hen immediately, and the rooster mounted on the hen for mating.  

However, the other one made him run around chasing her.   With its beak holding tightly, the rooster held her. Once the rooster let the hen go, the hen spluttered her feathers with a jerk and walked away with a scorn.

A deep sigh escaped from Kayal.   Every day in their lives, Kayal and Sidharth ran around the unhidden wall chasing each other. Whenever Sidharth wanted to quench his sexual thirst, he approached her demanding cooperation. He never spared a second to admire her beautiful face or appreciate her love curves. 

Sometimes, he did not have the patience even to switch off the light.  Without giving a moment to express her willingness, he pulled her into his choking embrace.  Clumsily, he pushed away the folds of her night dress and pinned her down on the bed. 

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