Ashwin has always been an introverted person. Especially when it was about her, he wanted it to be just between the two of them. Somehow, he never wanted to express his feelings for HER to anyone but HER.
But, the one in front of him was his best friend and he wasn't going to let him go that easy.
Rakshan: Naa Shaki ma nu nenachen. Avanga dhana?
Rakshan was hell bent on making Ashwin say her name. They have been playing this hide and seek for too long and today he decided not to stop until Ashwin said her name.
Ashwin: Deii Raksha... Unna kola poren
Rakshan: Apo avanga illa... Vera yaaru? Ohh.... Pudichten... Dharsha va?
Ashwin: Sarath part time paithiya kaaran na... nee full time paithiya kaaran da.
Raksha: Vera yaaru Mapla... therlaye...
He put on a confused look to annoy Ashwin and it was clearly working.
Ashwin: Ava daa...
Rakshan: Ohhhh.... Pavi ah... sollave illa.
Ashwin: Un thangachi da..
Rakshan: Rithika va... idhu eppo?
Ashwin was completely exhausted from the dance shoot and was in no mood to extend this useless conversation.
Ashwin: Sivaangi. Podhuma?
Ashwin declared without a second thought.
Rakshan: Nenachen da ... nenachen. Neeyum avalum ivlo amaidhiya maintain panna apove doubt vandhuchu
Ashwin MV: Ivan Vera nelama puriyaama pesrane
Ashwin: Dei apdi Illa. Rombha nal ah pesala avalta. Ippo indha one-week ava kooda time spend panradula definitely happy.
Rakshan: Ennamo solra... nambra madri therla.
Ashwin: Aduku ennala onum panna mudiyadu. Enaku rombha pasikudhu. Engayachu sapda polam. Unkita Pesi irunda energy um pochu...
Rakshan: Dei Mapla... Enga vena polam. Nee dan epodum edachu yosichu vechurpa la.
Ashwin: Seri. Pugazh Mithra freeya irunda vara sollu. Naalai la irundu namma enjoy pannaalum avanga rombha busy ah irupanga.
They started to drive towards the newest and hottest Italian restaurant in town. It was a great hit and had raving reviews. Located in Besant Nagar, the place was known for its ambience and ocean views in addition to their world class food.
Pugazh and Mithra confirmed that they would join the duo as well.
***
Sivaangi's craze for Italian food was a well-known fact. She loved the food so much that she made it a point to do her first ever solo travel to Italy. Two weeks of absolute bliss would be an understatement for the amount of food and fun she had. She felt like a kid in Disney land and did not want to come back ever. Sadly, she had to.
Ani had tried this new Italian place a couple of days ago and was completely mind-blown. The authenticity was stunning. He instantly decided to bring her here and now seeing her enjoy the food with all her heart was definitely fulfilling.
Making her happy was the one thing he would never get tired of. The smile on her face was priceless. It took him a really long time to realize that she was rarely truly happy.
Despite the smiling face the world sees, behind that was a pain she was not willing to share. Music and food were the only two things that made her forget the suffering at least for a moment. So, he decided to keep giving her unlimited music and food to fill her days with these moments of happiness hoping that one fine day her life will have nothing but happiness.
Sivaangi: This mushroom pasta is out of the world. I am mentally in Italy right now.
Ani: So daily ingaye food vangirlam. Ok dane?
Sivaangi: Enna doubt? Namma en studio va inga maathira kooadaadhu?
Ani: Evlovo restaurants try panirkom. En Kani akka restaurant kooda unaku rombha pudikum. But you never were this impressed. This is a first. Chef a kooptu oru thanks aachu solnum.
Sivaangi: Semma idea Ani. Your song and this food just made my day so much better. I really want to thank you and the chef.
Ani gestured the waiter to come over
Ani: Can we meet the Chef?
Waiter: Sure sir. I will ask him to meet with you.
***
Ashwin and Rakshan reached the parking lot where Pugazh and Mithra were waiting for the duo to arrive.
Ashwin: Machan... Mapla kala asathude...
Ashwin hugged Pugazh really tight.
Pugazh: Ippovachu vandhuche...
Mithra: Ashwin neenga vera en idulam solreenga? Avlo dan aatam thaanga mudila already.
Pugazh: En thangachi inga illa ... andha deiriyathla pesra de.. Pesu.
They continued their funny banters while they took the elevator to reach the restaurant which was at the rooftop.
The gang settled in a cozy corner and started to order. Ashwin was super hungry after all the dance steps he had to perform and gestured the waiter over.
Ashwin: Just bring anything that's ready.
Waiter: Sure sir.
Ashwin: Also ask the Chef to meet with me.
Waiter: Sir he is meeting customers in another table over there. I will ask him to meet you right after he is done.
Ashwin: No issues. I can meet him there.
Pugazh: Enna da mapla? Chef eduku paakanum?
Ashwin: Oru china vela. Wait pannunga.
He walked to the table where the Chef was having a conversation with a customer and instantly recognized it was her.
Sivaangi: Food vera level. Ivlo authentic ah panradu rombha kashtam. You aced it. You literally made my day so much better. Thank you.
Chef: Chellama na unga fan. Enaku poi neenga thanks lam solreenga.
Sivaangi: Adukum naa dan thanks solnum. Enna support panraduku.
Chef: Chellama apdilam solaadeenga.
Sivaangi: Recipe ungaldu daana? Neenga book eh ezhudalam.
Chef: Illa. Adhu vandhu...
Ani: Enna aachu? Don't worry nanga yaartayum solla matom.
Ashwin realized she wasn't alone but was with Ani. He did not know how to process this situation nor how to react.
Chef: Adhu... vandhu...
Ashwin interrupted the Chef who was having a hard time to come up with a sensible answer as that information wasn't supposed to be shared with anyone.
Ashwin: Chef don't worry. Naane solren. Recipe endhu dan. Restaurant um.
Sivaangi stood there frozen. Neither did she expect to see him here and nor that he would own a restaurant. It then struck her why the taste felt so familiar. This was the dish he made her numerous times during their show, sometimes even delivered it home at random night times as she craved for it. It was their dish.
Ani: Wow Ashwin... the food was too good. En Sivu rombha happy. Adhunala nanum rombha happy.
Ashwin was raging with anger when he heard him address his Sivaangi as "En Sivu". He had no choice but to control his anger to keep this conversation civil.
Ashwin: Glad that you liked.
Ani: Enna Sivu... apdiye nikra? Unaku dan Ashwin theriyum la?
Sivaangi: Aama theriyum. Food rombha nalla irunduchu.
Ashwin: Thanks. Also, no one knows that this is my restaurant and I would like to keep it that way.
Ani: Bro. Don't worry at all. Your secret is safe with us. Enna Sivu correct ah?
Sivaangi: Aama. Don't worry.
Ani sensed that the glow on her face disappeared for no reason and the air around them got way more tensed. He could not decipher the reasoning behind the sudden change in her but was sure that it had something to do with Ashwin. So, he decided to end the misery without prolonging the conversation any further.
Ani: Shall we leave Sivu?
Sivaangi: Yaa polam. Bye Ashwin. Congrats on your restaurant.
She faked a smile before turning around to walk towards the elevator.
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Thoughts?
Surprise update.