Chapter One

Her name is Sansali Anupama Ranminithenna. She is the only daughter of Mohan Gamini Ranminithenna, a well-known vehicle merchant. Sansali is a person who has taken the natural beauty as a jewel to herself that she was born with. Her good looks are pleasing to everyone.

At the time, Sansali was a sophomore at a private university in Colombo. She was a popular figure among students and lecturers due to her talent in learning and singing.

She was not concerned about young men who came behind her, but she treated them as true friends purely of her kindness.

When the time passes, one day after the lectures, Sansali had to wait under the shade of the temple trees near the university walkway to get a taxi as her friend Lashani did not turn up for lectures this day.

Sansali, who was thinking of getting a taxi, was startled by the sound of someone close to her choking. She immediately turned to it in fear.

Sansali could recognize the smiling face which was familiar. She responds with a smile.

"Where are you going?". Deeptha asked from Sansali politely.

"I am going home Deeptha… I'm waiting for a taxi to come… by the way where are you going?"

Sansali began to growl and moan.

"I'm going to Delkanda1 too… to my boarding place…"

Sansali looked at Deeptha,

"Then let's go together in the taxi... I'll drop you off from the boarding place…" she said.

"If you don't mind then it's ok… but let's share the cost and pay…" he said looking at Sansali.

Sansali nodded and agreed with what Deeptha had said.

They both got into the parked taxi which was stopped by Deeptha.

Deeptha Aloka Herath was a final-year student of the Faculty of Business Technology of the University where Sansali was studying. His well-grown beard and well-combed gel-polished hair highlighted his good look. He had a height and body that matched his appearance.

Breaking the silence between the two, Sansali raised her voice.

"Why are you staying in a boarding?... Where do you live...?"

Deeptha looked at her with a bright smile on his face and started talking.

"I'm in Theldeniya2 Kandy3…Due to my part-time job and campus work, I'm staying in the boarding place."

Sansali stared at Deeptha with widened eyes as boarding life is a strange thing to her.

"Doesn't it cost a lot for staying and food…"

"Sometimes it is… but it doesn't cost that much to food because we cook by ourselves… me and three others…" Deeptha replied.

The two talked about many things on their way. They exchanged information with each other, initiating a stronger identification.

Although they studied in the same faculty of the same university, this was the first time he had spoken to Sansali.

Deeptha went down near the boarding place after exchanging the phone numbers with Sansali.

"Go home and leave a message… be careful…Take care…" Deeptha waited for the taxi to leave.

By the end of the day, Sansali knew the brief details of her new friend Deeptha. Sansali get to know that Deeptha was eldest in a family of two twin sisters, had no father and had been educated at a Buddhist college in Kandy.

Forgetting the new friendship for a while, Sansali focused on her studies because there were so many things like assignment notes to memorize.

The next morning, she woke up and left to go to lectures. She took the lunch packet which was prepared by her mother with herself. Entering the university entrance, Sansali went straight to the row of cement benched built under the shade of the Nuga trees.

Sansali, who was sitting on the bench until Lashani arrived, saw the vision of Deeptha coming from a distance.

"Good Morning Sansi.." Deeptha came closer to Sansali and said with a deep voice.

"Good Morning.." Sansali said, looking into Deeptha's eyes.

"Why are you sitting here… what time are the lectures?..."

Sansali took her eyes off Deeptha and looked away to answer his words.

"I'm waiting for Lashani… We are having lectures at ten…"

When Sansali had finished, Deeptha looked at his watch and said,

"I'm running late… See you …."

Deeptha looked at Sansali and said brightly ready to leave. Deeptha, who was about to leave, turned back to Sansali,

"Don't have lunch until I come…" he said with a wink.

Sansali, started thinking by looking at Deeptha who was leaving. Sansali's thoughts made up thinking that how could such a friendship happen overnight.

"Hey. What the heck… are you even planning to go to an alien…" Lashani shouted as Sansali who was wondering was shocked.

Lashani Minsandi Hettige became Sansali's friend at the university. The friendship between the two graduated was as strong as a sisterhood. Sansali, who does not have a sister, really felt that Lashani was her sister.

Sansali looked at Lashani angrily,

"Don't you know how to come on time…" she said, pulling Lashani's hand and walking towards the lecture hall.

After the lecture, which lasted for two and a half hours, finally, girls came out of the hall and Lashani opened her voice.

"I am hungry… let's go to the canteen. hurry up Sansi.." Lashani's words reminded Sansali of what Deeptha had said in the morning.

"Oh, Lashani…I'm going to meet a friend… you can eat with Sajani today… if you don't mind…" Sansali said sadly.

Lashani looked at her friend with wide eyes and finally said goodbye to her.

Sansali went to the bench and picked up the phone to give a call to Deeptha. But it did not respond. Sansali's mind was a little hesitant because she felt that he was being ridiculed.

"We talked only for one day.. I don't think he will come…" Sansali began to think.

Sansali, who was thinking was suddenly startled by the sound of someone choking next to her.

"Ma'am… though I'm not coming… ? "

Deeptha kept a bright mocking smile on his face and started talking.

"Go away, idiot… I thought you gave me a bucket…" Sansali put on her face and looked away.

"Oh! come on… let's go… aren't you hungry…"

Deeptha took Sansali's hand and got ready to go. Sansali suddenly stopped at once and looked at Deeptha hesitantly.

"I didn't tell Lashani that I am going to eat with you… so shall we eat at the Law faculty canteen?.."

Deeptha narrowed his eyes and leaned towards Sansali's face.

"Why didn't you tell Lashani that you're knowing and going to eat with me…"

Sansali took her eyes off from Deeptha and pressed her face to the ground.

"I thought it was not so good if I tell it to my friend…if so they can get it as wrong way… that's why I didn't tell."

Deeptha grabbed her hand and shook it as he watched Sansali talking.

"It's Ok. now let's go. I am starving.."

The lunch packet that Sansali had brought from home was swallowed by Deeptha with a pleasant appetite. After a while, he got a good meal and quenched his hunger.

*****************************************************

It didn't take long for Deeptha and Sansali to realize that their friendship was something beyond a friendship. Deeptha realized that Sansali's eyes were shining glamorously when she is around him.

Sansali also had no difficulty realizing the feelings in her heart. The desire to talk to him, to see Deeptha's face was a strange feeling to her as she had never thought of a man like that before.

The time passed quickly and Sansali realizes the time has come for the exams.

During such exams, Sansali used to go to Lashani's house to study. It was not surprising that Thanuja also came there to spend time with Lashani and Sansali on certain days when they were studying like this as the three were best friends. On such days while Sansali and Lashani studies Thanuja reads newspapers about the law because he is studying law.

The friendship between Thanuja Randika Gurusinghe and Sansali dates back to their school days. The friendship between the two, who share sorrows and joys never diminished. Thanuja has a tall and slender body.

As usual, Sansali went to Lashani's place in the morning with her notebooks and joined Lashani's to study. Thanuja also joined them that day as the three had not had a break to meet for some time.

At the moment they enjoyed the mango drink prepared by Lashani's mother.

"Sansi.. even you studied you are not in this world… what are you thinking of..?"

Thanuja revealed the thoughts in his mind as Sansali, who used to ask questions from Lashani the other days, was silently looking at the book that day but did not realize from her behavior that she was studying. Even though Lashani didn't mention she also notice some changes in Sansali recently.

"Sansi, are you in a trouble… what's the problem.. there is nothing you kept from us… so tell…" Lashani sat close to Sansali and rubbed her hands softly.

Leaning her face to the ground, Sansali grabbed Lashan's hands tightly.

"Lashi… I really have something to say to you guys… there is no point in hiding it from you…"

Thanuja's impatient eyes wandered around Sansali out of curiosity to know what was being said.

"I think.."

Sansali swallowed what she was about to say and let out a long sigh. After Relived, Sansali began to speak again, thinking that she should not hide it from them.

"I think… I love someone…"

Lashani's mouth opened in surprise. Thanuja got up from the place where he was sat.

"Sansi… who is that… you have not thought of such things as we know for so long.. I have known you since I was in school… tell me who that person is.."

Sansali stared at Thanuja's impatient reactions.

"It's Deeptha who is in our campus…" Sansali said looking down.

Although he did not go to the same university as Sansali, Thanuja knew about Deeptha because he was a friend on his Facebook and because Thanuja was concerned about people who would associate with his friends.

Thanuja quickly placed the empty drink glass which was in his hand on the table, He turned to Sansali, grabbed her by the shoulder, and turned to face her, initiating a long conversation.

Lashani's eyes were still wide with surprise.

"Sansi.. you are my best friend. I'm saying this for your own good…I have not been associated with Deeptha.. but I am skeptical of what our friends on your campus are talking about Deeptha. If you weren't the one who loves Deeptha I would never have counted what I heard… I don't want you to get in trouble.. not only me Lashani also…"

Thanuja was silent for a moment. When he saw Sansali looking at him with her innocent eyes, his heart was heavy with sadness. Sansali thought that Thanuja was saying these things to her because he really cares. Even though it is sad, Thanuja continued,

"Do you know that Deeptha has never had a girlfriend until today, Sansi… The boys on campus say Deeptha is allergic to girls… Things like that can't just be told by boys.. Sansi.. Before you succumb to any emotions anymore find out some about him.."

Sansali could not ignore what her friend was saying so lovingly and kindly.

Sansali thought that she would ask Deeptha about this when she met him again.

Sansali remembered Tanuja's words while lying in bed that night. When those words were remembered Sansali, was worried if it would come true. Sansali, closed her eyes thinking that this troubling problem should be solved somehow.