Rakshan's New Firm , Coimbatore - 08:00 PM
"SAM, Office model pathen. Vera level ponga"
"Thank you Pavithra!" SAM replied as he sat on the corner table, helping Pavithra to unwrap food from the silver wrap.
Rakshan was quiet, held up in his world. He had been busy these days. Wood work and interior design for his new firm was going in full swing. Pavithra smacked his arms, indicating the hot dinner in front of him.
"Dei...Where are you lost??" SAM asked munching his food.
"Just Thinking about them" he murmured.
"Konja neram munnadi athai kitta, Avanga rendu perum chinna pasanga illa. They know what they are doing nu dialogue pesune. Ippo enna?"
"That is the problem SAM. I said, They know what they are doing. But I never said THEY WONT DO ANYTHING"
While SAM and Pavi chuckled, Rakshan did not react much. From the day he caught them together in his room, he was disturbed a little. He was indeed happy for them. He even stood up for them when his mother complained. Until Mrs. Maran confronted her worry about Mr. Arunachalam, he didn't know why he was disturbed. But now, he knew the reason for his worry. It was Mr.Arunachalam that he was scared of.
"So what even if DO something??" Pavithra questioned a little offended.
"Illa di, unakku Arunachalam mama pathi theriyadhu. Amma was right. Avaru kandippa othuka mataru. And on top of that, Avar enna sonnalum Shivani kepa. Ashwin ku No sonna, adhayum ava accept pannuva. This is not good for both of them. That's why I am scared of their closeness" he completed pulling both SAM and Pavi into deep thoughts with him.
"If the situation comes, whom would you support??" Pavi asked out of curiosity.
"Years back, had I helped Ashwin to stop the engagement and handled the matter more maturely, so many people would not have been affected. I was scared at that time. I listened to mama and kept quiet. But this time, I will stand for what is right. I will stand for my sister."
"Me too.." SAM spoke looking at Rakshan. Pavithra watched both them quietly, thinking whether to talk about this to Ashwin or not.
~
Chennai,
"6 years back, when I left home, I was penniless. Idhe Chennai la , thanga edam illama suthi irukken. Later I managed to stay at a mansion smaller than my bedroom with 7 other people. The day was considered lucky if we could manage 2 proper meals a day. One day , I fell sick. The atmost care that I could get from them was a Packet of bread."
"Shivani ma.. I got an opportunity to do a side role. When I told them about my sickness, No one in the mansion took that seriously. Infact they mocked me for being a child. Surundu paduthutu irundha enna paathu sirichange. Romba kastama irundhuchu. I became a laughing stock for sometime. That day I understood how much I had been pampered so long."
"This was new to me. I just left the place in tears. I can't blame them. They have faced bigger problems than me. That was the reality there.
Shivani looked at him. While this is not even an issue to the world, for a man who was safe under the wings of his father, who was pampered by the ladies of his house, who was always adored for his good looks, for a man who was always surrounded by smiling faces, who was always applauded for any small insignificant thing he did, this was a huge hit.
No one knew this better than Shivani. After all her own mother adored Ashwin. He was that son, that every mother wanted. Probably this over dose of love on him made Devi vulnerable, when he expressed his disappointment in marrying Shivani?
Shivani who was lost in thoughts, looked at him. Tears rolled down from his cheek and he didn't care to wipe them. Eventhough, her heart craved to wipe them clean and end the conversation, she could stop that 1 % of curiosity to understand the reason behind his weird behaviour. After all you have a life time to spend with him, dentate gyrus, justified her action to keep quiet, letting him continue.
"After that, I don't know what happened, Whenever I get an instinct that I am going to fall sick, I shut myself from everybody. I don't want anybody to see my vulnerable side."
"Aana...thideernu oru naal, nee vandha, enakkaga night fulla hospital la muzhichitu irundha, enna amma pathukara mathiri paathukitta. If it was someone else, I knew for sure that they were doing this for Actor Ashwin Kumar. But it was you and you definitely didn't do it for the little celebrity fame that I hold. You saw me as the same Ashwin Kumar, who had recklessly disappointed and crushed all your beautiful dreams by deceiving you on the day of our engagement.
"After months, this time , the same thing happened. I felt, I wasn't alright. But this time self control saw its end the moment I saw you.
"Engeyum pogadha.. Ingaye iru.. Yen kannu munnadiye iru.." His words echoed in her ears.
"You think, I see you as a kid. I don't see you as a kid, but as my mother when I was hopeless. Shivani ma..unna kitchen la patha andha nimisham, school mudichitu, ammava thedi varra paiyan mathiri than naan unna katti pudichen. Idha unakku eppadi explain panradhu nu therila..."
She moved closer and held his hand tight. To hell with her curiosity. Without much thoughts, she rested her head on his shoulders and murmured "Sorry!"
"Sorry Ashwiney! " They stayed quiet for sometime.
"Yen Ashwiney? Stunt pathi en kitta sollala??"
"Shivani.. One time , just one time, I interrupted in your work. And what was the impact?? You lost Investors. Had I not over-reacted, things wouldn't have happened. Am I right?"
"But Ashwin, you shouted because were worried for me.
"Still it impacted your work right?"
"Yes.." she agreed after a moment of hesitation.
The same holds for me. Had I told you about the stunt, you would be unnecessarily worried. "
"Obviously I would worry. I would have even tried to stop you."
"Exactly! One day I might have to do a stunt, one day I might have to kiss the female lead, one day I might have a make out scene. If I keep updating them in depth, trust me you won't be able to take it."
"Illa...adhu...wait...the DD...you sold the apartment to help me in the project??" she quickly connected the dots and looked at him and when he adjusted the back of his hair instead of answering her. She understood the truth.
"Idhu enna muttal thanam?? Adhukaga apartment vithuruveengala?? I would have found new investors. This isn't the right solution"
"But you couldn't find new investors for the next 2 months right??"
Shivani looked at him.
"Nee sollala na enakku theriyadha?? Oi Rowdy, I didn't take this decision in haste. Pugazh casually mentioned the difficulty you were facing to find new investors. Later . I consulted the actual scenario with Rakshan first. Adhuku apparam than, I decided this"
"But still you could have done something else. Selling the apartment..." she trailed.
"Un mama onnum 'A' list actor illa, casual ah avlo periya amount kudukka. Obviously, I had to sell it off to get the sum needed.
"Shivani I know, we have so many memories there. More than mine, the place is filled with our memories. But that can be created again. But what about your dream and the hard work that you had put for that? How can I let them go waste??"
After hours, the sound of waves seemed to calm her racing heart. Simply resting her head on his shoulders, she starred at the sky. The changing colors of the sky from blue – orange and then to complete darkness, felt as if the sky the changing costumes to go for a party. She indeed felt good after pouring out her heart to him.
"Oru walk polama??" she asked suddenly out of blue and both of them got up, dusting the sand stuck on their dress.
"Shivani, do your still think, I didn't mean to tell you?"
"Podhum.. Sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you. But I suddenly felt like I don't know anything happening around you." She explained raising her head to look at him.
"Shivani.. I should have informed you about my decision to sell the apartment. At least I should have told you the truth later. I accept my mistake. "Sorry!"
If things could be this simple, why do people hesitate to explain themselves to their partner? What could be wrong? This was going to be the Rule #1 of their relationship: "Speak and learn to Listen". Her thoughts were disturbed when he continued to talk.
"But Shivani, On Professional grounds, our worlds are far apart. It is better for both of us, not to interfere in each other's work. To make our relationship work, we just need to trust each other with some unknown information".
"I Trust You Ashwin" she stopped in her tracks and said, looking at him. And something magical happened at that moment. For the first time, he didn't bend to initiate a kiss. Rather, she tiptoed to his height, wrapped her arms comfortably around his neck and kissed him as if she was signing a deal with him in the presence of sea and the waves as their witness.
~
Precap:
"Sir..Mam..Still to compensate for our behaviour, we have compliment for you."
Ashwin took the card from them. Exquisite candlelight dinner and night stay at a suite room exclusive for newlyweds. Ashwin cleared his throat and passed the card to enthusiastic Shivani whose face changed as he expected. And this time, it was her turn to act weird. She passed the card back to him and excused herself to refresh.
Author's Pen!
Ashwin's thoughts convinced Shivani. But did it convince you? Excited to know.
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Author!