Love you more

17: I like vanilla. I meant the ice cream!

I cut the cake while everyone chorused 'Happy birthday to you'. I first fed my grandparents. Sai came forward and fed me the cake. Ramya mouthed what-did-i-tell-you. Everyone walked to me one after the other.

"You make a good waitress," Sai whispered in my eyes.

"Aren't all of you good customers coming in the proper queue?"

My hand froze when I saw who the next person was. Senthil was standing with his eyes on me. My anger rose. Now he looks at me! After all the time he avoided me. Why is he still here?

We must have stood still for quite some time, Sai nudged me slightly. I lowered my hands and handed him the cake. He bent low and bit the cake whilst biting my finger. I hated myself, I reacted. A little moan escaped as I felt heat course throughout my body from my fingers. My cheeks felt warm. Senthil's look told me, he didn't bite by accident. What game was he playing?

My friends left shortly after, most Indian girls have curfew past 6 PM. Senthil and Saranya stayed, and my grandparents had invited them for dinner.

"We are making a special dinner tonight," said Sai.

"You know I'm a terrible cook," I replied.

"Let's not break the tradition."

"What tradition?"

"Trying new food for your birthday."

My face fell, Sai wrapped one hand around me and whispered, "I will understand if you don't want to."

"No, I am ok, Sai. What are we doing?"

"We are making Jajangmyeon and meatballs." (Jajangmyeon - Korean black bean noodles. If you don't know what it is, I recommend you watch Korean dramas. You are seriously missing good things in life)

I couldn't control my laughter, "Sai, we are vegetarians, remember?"

"I know, dear," he replied.

"We don't eat meat."

"Yes, Love."

"Have you brought meat?"

"No."

I snorted as I asked, "How the hell are we going to make meatballs without meat?"

"You are worried about making meatballs without meat, you should worry about making black bean noodles without noodles or any beans for that matter."

"Sai!" I couldn't stop laughing.

I looked up to see Senthil glaring at Sai with his fists clenched, Sai still had his arms around my waist.

"Let's go shopping then," he said.

"Sai, you know there is no supermarket here."

"Let's go to Madurai (Nearby town)."

"Sai Anna, can I come too?" asked Saranya enthusiastically.

"Sure Saranya."

Shivani declined saying she was tired. To my annoyance, Senthil tagged along. 

Sai drove, I took the front seat while Saranya and Senthil sat in the back.

"Ice cream?" asked Sai. I nodded and we stopped at Baskin & Robbins on the highway.

"What would you like?"

"I want bananas and strawberries," said Saranya.

"I will have vanilla," I said.

"Are you sure? You are not the type to settle for vanilla. Chocolate kisses or some other kinky flavor?"

"I like kinky flavors, but that doesn't mean I don't like vanilla."

"I will have vanilla too," said Senthil.

"I like vanilla too," added Saranya innocently. We both burst out laughing. Senthil and Saranya looked at us in confusion. Both were too innocent in all sense.

"Vanilla it is then!" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at me. I just rolled my eyes and pushed him towards the counter.

We settled in a chair, Saranya sat on my side while Senthil settled on the other. I noted with annoyance as he maintained the usual 4 feet distance protocol. Sai came, his eyes gleamed as he pulled a chair between me and Senthil. He handed each of us our ice cream and quite deliberately brushed the ice cream on my cheeks.

"Sai!" I complained and stretched to take tissues.

"Let me," he said and brought the tissue to wipe it himself.

I blocked his hand saying "Sai, I can do it myself."

"Let me."

"Stop it Sai!" I said. He was spreading the ice cream all over my face instead of wiping it.

Before I knew what happened, Sai was pinned with his hands held behind his back and head pressed painfully to the table. Senthil growled, "She said stop."

"Sai!" I shouted while Saranya shouted, "Senthil!"

"Leave him," I shouted at Senthil. But he just pressed him harder.

"Senthil, leave him alone," I tried to push Senthil but he didn't budge.

"You said stop, he wouldn't stop."

"Leave him! You are hurting him!" I punched Senthil in all places I could reach. I didn't realize he had released Sai, I kept at it. He backed off a few spaces but stood still letting me beat him.

"Why are you here if you hate me so much?"

"Ananya, I don't -" he started.

"Save it," I shouted and left the shop before he could complete. I walked for some time before settling on a rock. I couldn't stop crying.