I sighed and rose from the desk. If anyone made any sort of commentsabout how I looked, I resolved to head to the closest bathroom andscrub my face co...pletely clean. Until that time, I was determined tocarry myself with the confidence I really didn't feel.The house was eerily quiet when I got downstairs. I'd heard Katieleaving while I was trying to wipe off the way-too-dark lip liner I'dapplied. However, I didn't recall hearing Dad's departure. It wasalmost eight-thirty, though, so I wasn't. En vayathu 25, peyar Arun, pothuvaaga auntygaluku ilam aangal endraala migavum pidikum. Athilum naan sariyaaga vayathil irupathaal, avargalin kaama echam avargal mudai eetrum.Nala kutamaaga irunthathu, naan niraiya aunytgal mulaiyai urasi sugathai anuba vaithu kondu irunthen. Naangal mapilai veetar aanal papilai veetu pakam athigamaaga aatkal nindru kondu irunthaargal, pen veetu pakam aatgal athigam kidaiyaathu. Thirumanam kalaiyil mudinthu ippozhuthu resception nadanthu kondu. Are you two still, you know?” Trish said, blushing slightly.“Yes!” Stephanie said enthusiastically.“How have you been Trish?” I asked, “Pretty good. School is going well, and I have a guy I’ve been going out with.”“That’s great!” I said.“But he’s nowhere near as good as you were!” she giggled.“Thanks!” I grinned. “Did you guys need lunch?”“Yes, please,” Stephanie replied.I fixed soup and sandwiches and sat with the girls while they ate. When they finished, Trish took her bag downstairs and. I was on that corner for almost two hours, and I was getting hungry. So I decided to search. I checked every shop anywhere near the corner.I finally found her working in a book store about three blocks away. And then I started doubting myself. Would she laugh at my American accent? Would she think I was stalking her? Was she married? If she liked me, could she live up to the fantasy in my head?It didn't matter. I had gone this far; I wasn't going to stop. I walked into the store and up to the.