Believing Love - Kalai Selvi Arivalagan (best short novels txt) 📗

“What do you want me to do?” Vel looked at the Manager.

“Don’t take part in the activities of the union.” He told him again.

Though the manager was his classmate till he completed his schooling, they both differed in many ways.

“I am not talking to you as a manager now. I talk to you as you are my friend right from the school, please” He tried to convince Vel and get him out of the election.

“No need to convince me again and again. I have already decided. This year I am in the electoral and will try for a position in the union.” Vel replied him in a stubborn tone.

“Hmm, why don’t you keep yourself away from all these things” Sri asked him in a pleading tone.

“The reason is I want to help people around me” Vel replied.

“You can do it in so many ways. Please, don’t get into this. It can spoil your family life also. Already you are in trouble, why to have these also.” Sri answered.

“Will you please stop this nonsense? Who told you I have problems at home?” Vel could not control his anger.

“Ok, I will not go personal. But listen to me.” Sri requested him.

“No one can stop me. I will be in the elections.” Vel left the place immediately.

“Hmm, but I know what to do” Sri murmured himself.

Around 7 o’ clock in the evening, Sri visited Vel’s house. When Vel entered his home, he could hear the familiar voice chatting with his mother. He immediately recognized it to be Sri’s and he very well knew what he will be talking to his mother.

“Welcome home. So surprising to see you here” Vel’s remark did not surprise Sri.

“I came over here to meet my aunty. So I don’t want anyone’s permission to come.” Sri replied Vel.

Vel’s mother could not understand what was going on between them. She could not understand the conversation.

“Keep talking, I will go and bring something to eat” Vel’s mother entered the kitchen.

“Anything special to share with me” Sri asked Vel.

“Nothing, you carry on with your business” Vel sat down on the other end of the sofa and started to read the evening newspaper.

After eating the dosas that Vel’s mother served, Sri started home. Vel walked along with him to the door.

Starting his bike, Sri looked at Vel. He could not help smiling at him.

“Hey, what makes you smile like this at me?” Vel enquired Sri.

“I heard you are becoming a wanted person in some routes. Is it so?” Sri’s question hit him directly.

“I am always a wanted person, not negative, always positive.” Vel replied.

“I know you are handsome, a bubbly young guy!” Sri laughed at him.

“Mind your words. I know what you mean.” Vel frowned at him.

“See you tomorrow. Good night.” Sri kicked the bike and left the place with a chuckle.

“I think he spies on me. I don’t know how he gets all news about me.” Vel could not find out, how Sri keeps track of all his activities and he could not tell who gave Sri all the updated reports about him.

One more tiring day. The summer has started with scorching hot waves of sun. Vel found it very difficult to manage and perspired more. The crowded buses in the evening increased his pressure and he struggled to control his temper.

“Come girls, the bus has come.” Divya shouted at her friends. Her cool gang of friends tasting the cool chocolate ice-cream sticks walked casually toward the bus.

Unmindful of others they boarded the bus. They giggled and mocked at every one in the bus. Even then they did not stop eating their ice-cream sticks.

“What is happening here? Why are they behaving so wild? Are they girls?” He frowned.

“Get your tickets and continue with your giggles.” Vel mocked at them.

“Oh! It is none of your business to talk about our giggles. We have our bus pass.” Some one replied boldly.

“Divya, it is so yummy!! Will you get me one tomorrow also?” Rita shouted from her seat in the front.

“Sure. Don’t keep shouting from there.” Divya gestured her.

“Oh! Sorry, get one for this gentle man also.” Rita once again shouted at her.

Divya looked at Vel. Though he could hear all the dialogues, he was busy filling his target sheet.

Divya knew how he would react to such comments. She was scared for a minute. She gestured everyone to keep quiet.

“Why you are so scared of him? Will he shout at us?” Pranitha enquired her.

“Nothing, he will go and tell my father that I don’t behave properly in the bus.” Divya replied her.

“Oh, then ok, we will not talk to you, but you can’t ask us not to talk.” She replied back to her.

From their childhood something always went wrong between Vel and Divya. Though their families were related, Divya always kept her distance from Vel. Even a small frown from him made her nervous.

When she got down from the bus, Vel murmured something to her. Divya stopped and looked at him.

“Today I will come home to see uncle" Divya shivered with the thought.

Without replying him, Divya walked fast.

She desperately waited for Vel to know what he is going to tell her father. But he did not.

“It is going to be eleven. Why are you still awake?” Divya’s mother asked her.

“Tomorrow we have our unit test. I need to study.” Divya replied.

“Why don’t you get up early in the morning and study your lessons?” Divya did not answer her mother, but continued to read her lessons studiously.

The clock showed 12 past 30 minutes. At this time, he would never come home to disturb her parents in sleep. Relieved Divya went to sleep.

“Aunty, aunty” Vel called Divya’s mother. Shocked, Divya woke up from her sleep and looked at the clock. It showed 7:30 am.

“Vel, I am here” Divya’s mother answered from the kitchen.

“Ok, what is special today?” Vel entered the kitchen with a smile.

“As usual idlis only” She replied with a smile.

Looking at the packet of chocos in the shelves of the kitchen,

“Who eats Kellogs chocos at home?” Vel questioned her.

“Divya eats chocos daily for her breakfast.” Vel opened the box and took a handful of chocos and started to munch one by one.

“Is it not late for you? It is already 7:30” Divya’s mother questioned him.

“From today, I will be going in the afternoon only” Vel’s eyes searched for Divya.

Every day after brushing her teeth, Divya ate her chocos. To avoid Vel, she went to take bath.

“Yesterday, I went to Parrys corner. I bought some nuts for you.” He handed over her the packet of walnuts to her.

Vel took a plate and served a few idlis, poured sambar on the idlis and walked to the front room. His uncle, Divya’s father was watching the morning news.

“Uncle, how are you?” Enquiring his uncle, Vel sat down on the chair.

“Good. How is your work going on?” He asked Vel.

“Good. Nothing specific to tell now”

“Did you see Sri? I have not met him for a while.” Divya’s father questioned Vel.

“He is here only. Two days back he came home.” Vel replied casually.

“When are you ready for marriage?” Divya’s father asked Vel.

“Not so early. I am not interested in marrying now” Vel replied his uncle.

“Are you once again into union activities?” His next question irritated Vel.

“Uncle that is something I don’t want to talk now.” Vel replied in a stubborn tone.

“Hmm” Divya’s father looked at Vel.

“Your mother is worried” He told his concern.

“Uncle that is something related to my job. I don’t want to discuss that with you” Vel
got up from the chair and walked to the kitchen sink to wash his hands.

“Thanks for the idlis aunty. I will come later” Without waiting for her to reply, Vel left the place.

Divya’s father was worried now. When the family was discussing Vel’s marriage with Divya, Vel failed to show any interest in the marriage.

“Divya”

“Yes, appa” Divya came into the hall.

“When are your exams getting over?” He questioned her.

“Next month. But I want to study further” Divya replied him. Knowing that he is talking only about her marriage with Vel, Divya answered him.

“I don’t know why both of you answer in the same way. I want you to get married. You can study further after that.”

“But, I am not interested in the marriage now.” Divya replied him.

“Are you not interested in this marriage with Vel or not interested in getting married now?” Divya’s father asked her.

Divya’s mother wanted her daughter to continue her studies further and not get married before she is twenty. Whenever they talked about Divya’s marriage, she avoided further conversation on the subject and showed silently her disinterest in that topic.

“I can feel a change in you. Are you not interested?” Divya looked at Vel.
She did not answer to his question immediately.

“Tell me, are you not interested?” He asked her again.

“There is nothing for me. I will marry the person my father selects.” Divya replied him.

“Hmm” Vel stopped to ask any more questions.

“What is going on here?” Rita asked Divya.

“I will tell you later” Divya replied her.

Rita looked at Divya and Vel. She could not find out anything from their facial expressions. Avoiding eye contact with Vel, Divya walked past Vel who frowned at her with a grim face.

While walking toward their homes, Rita once again asked Divya what was happening.

“My dad wants me to marry him” Divya replied Rita.

“What! Why did your father want you to marry him?” Rita’s voice showed surprise.

“Hmm, they will not ask for my opinion” Divya answered her in a low tone.

“Oh, that is stupid; you know what he is working as. Why don’t you tell your parents you are not interested?” Rita questioned her.

“He is my uncle’s son. We love each other. My father also wants me to marry him.” Divya
replied her.

While Divya reached home, she saw Sri coming out.

“Hi, Divya, how are you?” He greeted her with a smile.

“Good. How are you? It’s long time” Divya answered him.

“See you later. Bye.” Sri sped away in his bike.

“Who is this?” Rita asked Divya.

“He is also my uncle’s son” Divya replied her.

“What is he working as?” Rita asked her.

“He is working as a Manager where Vel works.”

“I think he is a better choice than Vel” Rita’s words made Divya feel nervous for a while.

Like Vel, Sri also had a soft corner for Divya. But he hesitated to interfere