Half way in Love (Chapter 21)

Second wave of Covid had hit Kerala. And it started spiking up.

Once again restrictions were in place. Lock down on Sundays, limitations in shopping hours, restrictions for travelling in a group or gathering in a group etc.

It was the restrictions in banking hours that interested Dev the most. As such he followed banking Calendar these days. He kept himself free from any schedules on banking holidays.

Before giving out any appointments he would look at calendar. He was now conscious of the banking holidays. He would request them to reschedule, if anything came on banking holidays.

He wanted to be free on those days.

Banks were working on alternate days during second wave. That too, with fifty percent of original strength. Which meant Revathy worked only once in five or six days.

She was free for most of the days. That made Dev happy. They had ample time to talk to each other.

One day Revathy had posted a status video. She had captioned it " For your eyes only Prince" with a smiley.

It was a zumba dance. She was rocking in sports attire and dancing superbly. She had great structure, Dev noted with a bit of guilty feeling.

"You dance very gracefully Revathy."

He omitted the comment on her structure wisely.

"Thanks Dev. Do you do any work out?"

Dev was of ideal weight. And he didn't have much time for workouts usually. He sometimes took long walks inside his campus. His only workout.

"No Revathy. Usually no time. I walk in the evenings, when I finish with works early."

"Get up early in the morning, and do some zumba. It will make you light Dev. Try it."

"I dance badly Revathy."

"Who cares? Just follow my video. Throw your hands here and there. Burn calories."

Smileys, again.

"Happy just to see you dance. Won't mock that dance form. Don't you walk?"

"Not possible to walk alone, early in the mornings. Girls have this problem. You guys stare a lot."

"The problem is you get uncomfortable, when you are stared at so much."

LOL smiley.

Dev smiled in return.

After a pause she typed again.

"But, if you come, I can walk with you. Can you come at 5? Will you get up?"

"I won't sleep."

Dev replied. Now he was comfortable saying anything to her.

Plenty of LOL icons came in reply.

"Tomorrow, then?"

"Why not today?"

Dev asked with a prank icon.

"For today, have your lunch, prince. Come tomorrow at 5 AM. I will wait near Manapullikkavu temple road. "

"Done".

Dev sent a bunch of smileys.

It was still dark , when Dev started his Fortuner. That was his favourite car for short trips.

Lights shined brightly along the highway. Few early risers were already walking on the side of the road. Some wore shining arm bands. Experience. A group of cyclists with proper rigs, passed opposite to him.

So much happening at this hour. Dev wondered. He was first time out at this hour, after many years.

He parked his car near the road turning towards Manapullikkavu. He got down and went and stood near the junction.

4.59.

When did he become so punctual? He wondered, with a smile.

Sharp 5 , Revathy came in her scooty.

"Dev, did you sleep?"

She asked, when they started walking to the right side of the road, towards Fort Maidan.

"I won't lie. Slept badly. Kept looking at clock."

He replied with a shy smile.

She looked gorgeous in her sports rig. Dev tried hard not to look at anywhere except face.

"You look beautiful Revathy."

He commented when he couldn't control himself.

"Thanks Dev."

She got shy now. She dropped her eyes.

They walked in silence for some time. Dev was aware of her lovely presence, walking alongside him, almost floating on the road.

"Where did you graduate Dev?"

She asked.

Dev was silent for some time.

"I discontinued after +2 Revathy. I am uneducated, compared to you. "

Revathy looked at him now. Their eyes met. He saw questions in her eyes.

"You see me now Revathy; Successful and somewhat rich. My past is not that colourful."

"Would like to hear about it"

Revathy said earnestly.

"Long story, princess. Some other day."

He smiled.

"What about you?"

She was walking silently.

"My story is simple Dev. Born to Army father. Mother was a teacher there in Army school. We stayed in many places, as father got transfers frequently. Now presently in Palakkad, after I got job. "

"But now I am more interested to hear your story."

She was eyeing him through the corner of her eyes. May be she was shy too. She was smiling looking down.

"Very soon you will know the story. I promise." He smiled.

They walked, the balance distance, looking at each other and smiling. Dev felt like walking on clouds.

It was six, by the time they went their own ways. Dev was feeling very happy. His feelings for her were now getting very intense.

That night, he took up his phone, and jotted down few lines, in Malayalam. His mother tongue. He remembered he used to write poems as a kid. He smiled at the final product.

cont chapter 22