Half Way in Love ( chapter 18)

Few months had passed. Very ordinary months, according to Dev. Not that he was earning any less. Mall drew huge crowd each day. Per day sales shot up to four crore rupees.

Considerable sales, taking into account the size and demography of Palakkad.

His villas were selling too. And the Emerald Project at Kallekkad was coming up beautifully. They were nearing completion of structure levels. Many had been sold. Some were in negotiation and paper work stages.

Still, for Dev, the months were ordinary.

There were no messages between him and Revathy. As always, he hesitated to take the lead.

"What if she feels bad?" He thought.

He had this temptation of commenting on her status updates many a times. But, again, he felt shy. It is bad to be good sometimes. He thought, with a funny smile.

"If you don't want to comment on her status, don't do. Why don't you try putting a status yourself Dev brother? And see if she comments. Brother, men have to take lead. Don't expect girls to do that"

His cousin and his soul keeper, Siddarth told him one day. Siddarth stayed in Chittur , around fifteen kilometers from Dev. He was running a super market in Chittur. Sometimes Dev used to visit his store. He trusted Siddu. And siddu loved his elder brother. Dev had told him about this girl. He had to confide this with someone. And no one better than Siddu.

"There is nothing, still, I feel, I like her".

He had told him once. Since then Siddu was curious how the thing is progressing.

"Try putting some status update, Dev brother. For example, you can post your mall ads, your villa project ads, or some psych quotes. See if she comments. If she comments, she is ok for a conversation. Do that Dev brother. Or else, find her home, go straight and ask her parents. Who will deny Mr. Devanarayan?"

"Ok Siddu. I will do. But, I will block you from seeing my updates. Don't want you to see how badly am doing."

Dev laughed.

Siddu laughed too. "Do any damn thing, but try something to catch her attention."

That night, Dev put a status update for first time in his life.

" The Emerald Mall..life is calling"

It had an impressive image of the mall with its tag line.

Nothing happened for two hours after he put it up. Some of his friends had sent a thumps up icon or a very nice icon. He ignored them with impatience.

He had a quick dinner that day. Sarada was not at all happy with what he ate. Before his father could catch him for some daddy talk, he sneaked into his bedroom.

Phone was on his bed. He picked it up to see if there were any fresh messages.

Some of his classmates, his advocates, some real estate agents, and his friend Joy, the sitting MLA. All came up with a thumps up.

But nothing from her. He took her chat box. No, she was not online too.

Where are you Revathy?

But, why the poor girl should care. He was the one who was knitting up some weird dreams. She was in her own beautiful world. Bank, friends, and family. Happy and laughing. Poor thing may not even know that someone is waiting for her ‘hi’. His mistake. He never let her know.

Night ticked by. No magical words.

He slept off, holding his mobile, spread on his bed, very late that night.

It was nine in the morning, by the time he got up. Probably he slept too late at night. When did he fall asleep? He couldn't fix a time.

He took his phone, and looked at mobile screen. His eyes resisted back the intensive light by trying to close eye lids. Slowly, they got used to the light and opened up.

A long list of unread messages. He started scrolling downwards.

His eyes opened wide now.

There, she was. Her profile picture standing out from the rest.

He opened her message. Sent at 2.30 A.M.

"Hi Dev, it is really a huge mall. I have never been there. Many of my friends went there.

And first time, am seeing your status.”

long array of LOL icons.

“Way to go Dev"

And more smileys.

Dev started typing in, as if in a dizzy.

"Good morning Revathy. Thank you so much. Please do visit. Come any time. And let me know before you come. I will be there to take you around. "

"And you messaged me at 2.30. Don't you sleep? "

Dev had a chance to give back what he got the other day.

"And have a nice day"

And he sent few smileys.

May be this was how the people of his age conversed. He was new to unofficial chats.

Dev was now getting more articulate in messages. Or he was at least trying hard.

He got up. When he came back from shower, toweling his head, his screen was on. With a notification of just received message.

It was Revathy. He felt like a champion batter who had just scored a six over the stands, out of the stadium.

Smiling, he opened her message.

"Thank you Dev. It will be a privilege to walk the Mall with the boss. I need not carry my Credit card."

Some innovative laughing icons.

"Will call you and come one day, sure."

"We have an audit going on in our CPC Dev. Hectic it is. Got back really late from bank. Didn't know when I slept off. It was only when I got up early in the morning, I saw your status. So I thought of messaging."

"And I am getting late for office. Bye for now. I will catch you once when I reach office."

And more smileys.

Dev didn't know how to dance. Or he would have broke into one. He just stood there, happy and smiling.

Then, he dialed Siddu. He came on line at the first ring.

"Hello"

"Champ, it worked. She messaged me."

Dev's happiness was ringing in his voice. Siddu laughed happily.

Finally. He thought.

"Now at least, don't hesitate brother. She is okay to chat with you. Keep sending your heart.

She won't feel bad. Carry on brother."

Dev went down. Sarada was ready with breakfast. He smiled at her. He had a heavy breakfast that day. He was feeling very hungry. Sarada stood near him, rubbing his hair, happily.

Cont . chapter 19