Chapter Four

As the day and weeks went by, Sansali was getting closer to the university exams.

Sansali, who used to study with Lashani, this time studied with Deeptha with great interest. Sansali understood the lessons he taught well. Sansali had an insatiable desire to sit and study with Deeptha company. But she never tried to convince him that she was in love with him because of the promise.

Due to this behavior of Sansali, Deeptha thought that she had forgotten her romantic feelings. He always told Sansali,

"Study well first… then you will find a good one…"

In each case, they have seized it, Sansali controlled it well.

Thus, the time passed peacefully and Sansali's examinations was over. As usual, they were given three weeks off before a new university semester began.

Starting the short vacation, Sansali decided to take a day out for the newly built shopping mall with Lashani as she could not spend time with her best friend due to exams.

Wandering through the colorful wardrobe, the two began to buy clothes of their choice. Lashani, who was carrying heavy luggage in both her hands, paused and open her voice.

"Sansi… I'm so tired.. let's put these bags in the car and have ice cream and then buy some shoes and books…"

Sansali agreed to the Lashani as she was feeling tired too. The two put what they had bought in the car and when to a nearby restaurant to enjoy ice cream.

By the time Sansali and Lashani's shopping was over, it was evening. Although tired, they both deal with their confidence as they choose to embark on their play activities.

Sansali's phone started ringing as they approached the vehicle. Sansali responded to the call from her mother while getting out of the car.

"Hello, mommy.."

"Where are you Honey… when are you coming home…"

In one breath Ramani asked her daughter.

"I'm with Lashani, the mommy.. if we had finished shopping.. now we're going to Galleface.."

Sansali began to say in a happy voice.

"Okay, Sweety… be careful you both.." Ramani said disconnecting the phone.

Sansali stopped near the Galleface4 grounds' and walked with Lashani enjoying the sea breeze.

"Wait, I'll bring Wade5.."

Lashani told Sansali to sit on a bench and started walking towards the street food carts.

Both of the girls ate hot wade brought by Lashani with joy. They both looked at the sea and quietly enjoyed the food from their respective worlds.

"Lashi… I'll pay for the dinner for both of us…let's leave the car like this and walk.."

Lashani and Sansali walked up to the five-star hotel near the Galleface ground for dinner. There was a sweet melody in the dining room. Lashani and Sansali sat at a table and ordered food.

The two were laughing and talking and Lashani opened her voice to hear what she had been expecting to hear from Sansali for so long.

"Sansi,… How is Deeptha?... are you two alright.."

As soon as Deeptha's name was mentioned, Sansali's face brightens up with joy.

"Yeah, Lashi… He is a little busy these days. He told me that he will take me out as soon as he gets free.."

Sansali felt her eyes watering with tears. Sansali, who was looking out with tears in her eyes, felt the pain that exploded in her head.

Lashani said nothing but sneered at Sansali's words.

After the meal, the couple walked to the car parked near the Galleface grounds. Lashani started walking a few steps ahead of Sansali who was holding the phone with a call.

Lashani was shocked to see the couple standing next the ice-cream van in front of Sansali's car. Lashani turned to Sansali at once and stood there with her frightened eyes invisible to Sansali. Concerned by Lashani's behaviour, Sansali ended the phone conversation by addressing Lashani in an unhappy voice

"What is this Lashi.. Let's get in the car…"

Sansali was only a few steps away from putting Lashani to get forward. It didn't take long for the couple to catch Lashani's eye and catch Sansali's gaze.

It was not difficult for Sansali to recognize Deeptha sitting on the concrete bench with her arms folded with another girl.

She ran closer to Lashani and leaned on Lashani's shoulder and started crying. It took a moment for Sansali, who had been happily blossoming like a flower all day, to mature.

Although Lashani felt angry with Deeptha, she realized that scolding him was useless, so Lashani put her friend in the car and sat in the driver's seat because Sansali was not in the mood to drive.

Sansali sighed and cried non-stop until she got home.

As soon as the vehicle stopped in Sansali's yard, Sansali gets off and ran to her room while crying. Ramani's mind trembled with fear as she watched Sansali go into the room crying.

She wondered if there was any danger to the daughter. With that feeling Ramani,

"Mohan…" she shouted.

Not only Nisal and Kamala but Mohan too was distributed by the noise and ran into the living room with a thud.

With tears in her eyes, Lashani entered Sansali's house at that moment. Nisal opened his voice where he could not wait to see what would happen.

"Why Lashani… what happened… mommy is crying too and I see tears in your eyes too.. where is Sansali.."

Nasal asked breathlessly without stopping.

"Sansali is in her room honey… she's crying a lot…"

Ramani stuttered with difficulty as she said her son and husband were in a state of shock.

Nisal who came near Lashani with those words,

"Lashani…. What happened… did you get in trouble…"

Lashani, who had been silent with Nisal's questions, revealed to them how they had spent the day and what had happened to them.

Mohan, who had heard everything well, opened his voice.

"Whatever happened now it's over… Now no one should ask Sansali about this… Let her cries and make up her mind.. I know my child will not get weak easily…"

Ramani also realized that there was some truth in what her husband was saying.

Everyone agreed with Moha because it would be very painful for Sansali to inquire about this incident.

"Nisal.. go and drop Lashani at her place...."

Ramani told her son Nisal and went to her room with a broken heart.

Ramani was deeply concerned about her daughter being overwhelmed by the romantic feelings she had experienced for the first time.

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Sansali sat on his bed and sighed incessantly. The scene she had seen in the evening was still imagining her. Sansali did not even know how long it had been since she got home. The pain of separation had so disturbed her.

Sansali got down from the bed as she cried for a long time and her eyes hurt badly. By then she knew the occupants were asleep.

She took a shower at that time, even though it was a night to relieve the pain.

When Sansali came into the room, she took the photo of Deeptha on the table and hugged it to her chest. She started at Deeptha's face for a moment in the picture and then slowly frowned.

"You'll be happy… I do not bother…" she said looking at the picture of Deeptha in the photo and placing it on the table.

Ramani did not ask her daughter anything even though she remembered what had happened the night before. She stared at Sansali, who was quietly eating breakfast, with a hurt heart.

It was a Sunday and everyone in the house was eating together but everyone was upset because of Sansali. Even while eating, Sansali was in a serious state of mind.

Sansali, who thought it would be a relief to be away from the bonds, revealed the decisions she had made the night before.

"Dada… I will buy an apartment… I have money in my account… I will take that money…"

Sansali's words shook Nisal's mind.

"Why is that Sansali. There is so much space in this house.."

Sansali looked at Nisal and smiled painfully and opened her voice again.

"I want to be alone, Daddy for a while…"

It was not difficult for Mohan as well as Ramani to realize that Sansali was saying this out of her frustration. Thinking that his beloved daughter would be relieved from this pain, Mohan agreed to her decision under the condition of visiting her once a week.