Kothai was a bright and cheerful second-year student in the computer science department at a college in Chennai, India. She loved making new friends and was always eager to help others. One day, while she was busy with her classes, she received a message from an unknown number. The message read “Sorry.” Kothai was taken aback. Who could this be? Usually, when someone texts from a new number, they start with a “Hi” or a friendly introduction. But this person apologized out of the blue.
Kothai’s curiosity was piqued. She replied with “Apparam” (a casual Tamil term that roughly translates to “what’s up” or “what’s going on”). She put her phone away, wondering who this mysterious person could be. She had a lot on her plate that day, with exams coming up and a project deadline looming. But she couldn’t shake off the feeling that this message was something important.
A little later, the same number sent another message: “I have a crush on you.” Kothai’s eyes widened in surprise. Who was this person, and how did they get her number? She responded with “Appadiya?” (Oh, really?), trying to sound casual despite her growing curiosity. She thought to herself, “How can someone have a crush on me without even talking to me?”
The person revealed himself as Mahizhan, a senior from her department. Kothai was surprised. She had never noticed him before, and she couldn’t believe that someone she didn’t know had a crush on her. She asked Mahizhan how he got her number. Mahizhan explained that he got it from their mutual friend, Jesi.Kothai remembered that Jesi had asked for her number a few days ago. She had thought nothing of it, assuming Jesi just wanted to stay in touch. But now, she realized that Jesi must have given her number to Mahizhan. She asked Mahizhan if he was the one who asked Jesi for her number. Mahizhan confirmed it.
Kothai was torn. Part of her was flattered that someone had a crush on her, but another part of her was wary of this stranger who had gotten her number without her consent. She asked Mahizhan to tell her more about himself. Mahizhan shared his interests and hobbies, and they continued texting.As they talked, Kothai found herself opening up to Mahizhan. He seemed nice and genuine, and they had a lot in common. They both loved coding, watching movies, and listening to music. Kothai started looking forward to Mahizhan’s messages, and she found herself smiling whenever she saw his name on her phone.
The next day, Kothai showed Mahizhan’s screenshot to her friend Meera and asked if she knew him. Meera recognized him as their senior, Mahizhan. Kothai told Meera that Mahizhan had a crush on her and had gotten her number from Jesi. Meera teased Kothai, saying, “Crush-aa crush” (a playful way of saying “crush on you”).Malli, another friend, suggested that Kothai block Mahizhan’s number. But Kothai wanted to get to know him better. She was curious about why Mahizhan had a crush on her, and she wanted to see if they had anything in common.
Later, Kothai asked Jesi if she had given Mahizhan her number. Jesi confessed that she had given it to him because he had been begging her for it. Jesi assured Kothai that Mahizhan was a nice guy and that he wouldn’t bother her if she didn’t want him to.As the days went by, Kothai and Mahizhan continued texting. They talked about everything from their favorite movies to their childhood memories. Kothai found herself feeling comfortable around Mahizhan, and she started to develop feelings for him.
One day, the college principal announced that they would be taking the students to a book exhibition in Virudhunagar, a nearby town. Kothai and her friends were excited to go. They had heard a lot about the exhibition, and they couldn’t wait to see the latest books and meet new people.As they boarded the bus, Kothai saw Mahizhan sitting in the back row. She felt a flutter in her chest, and she couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t know what the future held, but she was excited to find out.
And that’s where the story continues…