The Lion and the Rose

Chapter 63

Ashwika

I'm going to kill the person who said one can fall asleep after blinking slowly for fifty times.

For the past thirty minutes, I have been looking at the ceiling fan and trying the technique of slow blinking. But I'm unable to sleep and I'm unsure whether Siva has slept. He is lying to his left and his shoulders raise up and down, indicating his breath is even.

He doesn't snore or is he pretending to sleep?

I try sleeping in every way possible, turning to my left, right and lying on my belly but nothing works.

"Enna aachu?" I hear his voice before he turns to look at me. (What happened?)

"Pudhu edam la athanaala thookam varala Siveyy," I sat up, crossing my legs beneath me and placing my face on my hand. (I'm unable to sleep in the new place.)

"Enakkum," he locks his hands behind his head and his biceps and chest bulge up. (Me too.)

Distract aagatha, Ashwi.

I look around every corner of his room but at him. "Isn't this a radio alarm?" I take the alarm clock from the bedside table.

"Yes," he replies with closed eyes.

I lie back on the bed and search for the button, "Shall I turn on the radio? They'll play Raja sir songs at night, won't they?" He nods his head and I turn on the radio. Select FM and reduce the volume to just above the minimum before the song starts playing.

Sivaraathiri thookkam yedhu ho...

Mudhal raathiri thodangumbodhu...ho

My eyes go wide and I look at him. Siva opens his eyes and glares at me.

Pani raathiri oh...ohh.....

Pattu paai viri...

I give him a hesitant smile and change the station.

Female : Kaalam varum varai poruthirundhaal

kanni ival malar karam thazhuvidumae

Without looking at Siva, I can feel his angry glare.

Male : Kaalam endraikku kanindhidumoo

kaalai manam adhuvarai poruthidumoo

Namukkune lyrics ekuthapa varuthe

I pray to god and change to the next station.

Male : Melae potta dhaavani selaiyaagi ponadhu

Rightyuu setha Ashwi neenu

Female : Selai izhuthu viduvadhe velaiyaagi ponadhu

"Atha inga konda," Siva tries to pull the radio from my hand. (Give the radio to me.)

Male : Kokku onnu kokki podudhu hoi

I struggle not to let it go, "Sivey Sivey oru station mathalam nalla song varalana off panidalam." (Let's try for just one more station if they don't play any song with decent lyrics we shall turn off.)

Female : Poojaikaetha poovidhu ...

Naethu thaana poothadhu ...

Ada poothadhu yaaradha paathadhu...

Siva tries to pull with force but I fall on him. The station automatically changed in the struggle and another song got played.

Male : Valaiyosai kala kala kalavena kavidhaigal padikkudhu