"Please de please de, en chellam la, konjam help. I am completely clueless, first time dating ma, konjamaavadhu impress aaganum la" begged Sivaangi with a cute pout to her twin via video call
"Pesaama Ashwin kittaye keka vendiyadhu dhaane, he has better styling sense than me" replied Mika reluctantly, knowing the pain it will cause her if she gets involved.
"Kettene, mkkmmm" she cleared her throat as if getting ready for a stage show
"Unakku edhu comfortable ah irukko adha pottuka, it is not like we are seeing each other for the first time, in fact I have already seen and adored you in every single costume starting from pyjamas to your sloppy tracks to award function level evening gown. So regardless of what you wear, I will get impressed." she repeated Ashwin's words trying to mimic his base voice.
"Adhukkaaga naan pyjama la poga mudiyuma?" asked Sivaangi coming back to her normal voice.
"Seri po, go and open my wardrobe" replied Mika with a smile trying to hide the huge stone in her heart
Mika looked around her wardrobe once and told her
"Take that red off shoulder dress" she said
"Idhuva? ayo enakku idhellaam suit aagadhu Mika" whined Sivaangi
"Naan solradha kekariya illa naan vekkatuma" asked Mika sternly
"Seri seri kochukaadha, sollu enna paanatum?" asked Sivaangi in a surrendering tone
Mika gave her the instructions, Sivaangi followed it to the T against all her inhibitions.
When she wore everything Mika assembled for her as a trial and looked herself in the mirror, her mouth fell open
"Eppadi irukku?" asked Mika proud of her own job
"I look like you Mika, naan enna maari ketta nee unna maari ready pannirkka enna, Ashwin nee nenachu confuse aagida poraaru.. he he" said Sivaangi with a giggle
Just then Mika too realized her mistake, subconsciously she had made Sivaangi ready like she would have gotten ready for her first date with Ashwin.
She felt a twisted knife in her heart knowing that can never happen
"Correct de artificial ah irukku, it doesn't have the Sivaanginess, lets try something else" said Mika looking at her wardrobe via the camera again.
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It was a serene evening, the wind was having fun playing with his well set hair, the sunset along the horizon made the ambience look even more pleasant.
Ashwin was sitting there setting his hair looking at his mobile camera alone, waiting for her to join him.
He had come directly from his shoot and Sivaangi had said she will directly meet him at the restaurant
His mind was creating images of her in all possible casual costumes when she came walking, knocking his breath completely out of him
She was wearing a lilac colored georgette full length flowy skirt, paired up with pure white, boat necked crop top in hakoba fabric. She had straightened her hair and pushed it completely to one side of her shoulder.
Ashwin was continuously staring at her in a trance when she noticed him
"Hi Ashwineyy" she squealed with a frantic wave, came and sat opposite to him.
"Sorry ma, late aagiduchu, traffic la maatikiteen, indha driver anna vum late pannitaaru, enakku theriyum, neenga tired ah, pasi oda iruppeenga, order panniteengala? " she continued yapping looking around the ambience not noticing that not even single word that left her mouth had reached Ashwin's ear.
"Ennachu? en appadi paakreenga? nalla illaya?" she asked little worried snapping her fingers before him.
"Nalla illayava? en kashtam enakku.. Andha gentle man status maintain panradhu ivalo tough ah irukkumnu theriyaame poche da Ashwineyy unakku " he sighed trying to concentrate sincerely on the menu making her break into giggles.
A different proud feeling surged inside Sivaangi that she is able to make this handsome hulk go weak on his knees.
Not letting her ponder over her thoughts, the waiter came wanting to take the orders.
The rest of the evening went on smoothly as planned.
The early beach night was so warm, calm, lonely and inviting that they decided to take a walk along the shore line before leaving.
Ashwin chuckled seeing Sivaangi struggling to walk with her stilettoes.
"Edhukku indha experiment elaam, you could have paired this with a neat white sneakers" said Ashwin holding her hand and helping her to walk.
"Naan sonnen, indha Mika dhaan idhu dhaan ungalukku vasadhiya irukum sonna" Sivaangi replied.
"Enakku vasadhiya? purila" he replied confused
"Enakkum purila , she said you would know.. ippo since you also don't know enakku vasadhiya pochu" she replied and her hands removed her shoes in one swift motion.
She started walking along with him more comfortably now holding her shoes in her hands.
"Oh!!!! " said Ashwin realizing something and cute blush creeped on his face
"Enna oh???" she asked clearly confused
"Paavam Mika ninachutu irukka nee chinna ponnunu, adhaan she had tried to help, enakku dhaane theriyum nee evalo periya kedi rowdi nnu" he replied looking at her with a suppressed chuckle
"Ayo Ashwineyy sathyama purila " said Sivaangi confused
"Puriliya?" he asked and pulled her towards him in one swift movement closing the gap between them to few centimeters.
She looked up at him, her eyes locking with his trying to read the intention behind his actions, making her ears warm
He placed his arms around her waist, bent his head down and whispered in her ears
"Ippo shoes podu" he said while holding her
Like a robot listening to a command, she bent each of her legs backwards and pushed her leg one after other into the shoes.
Once done she looked up at him, almost now to his eye level, their lips almost parallel to each other.
He slowly came near her, making her take a gulp, his lips almost grazing on hers.
"The stilettoes makes the third teaspoon of sugar easily accessible, so that you didn't have to struggle to reach like you did day before yesterday" he said against her lips, sealing them together.
Surrounded by early darkness, with raising full moon as a background, their kiss transported them both to the realm of magic which clearly visualized to both of them, what they really are to each other - Soulmates.
Sivaangi opened her eyes slowly and saw a different emotion in his eyes, and it was not his usual admiration, but pure Love, something that reflected in hers too.
Unable to withstand the intensity of his eyes, she moved away from him, kicked her shoes away and ran towards the water.
"Naan thannila vilayaada poren Ashwineyy" she declared as the cold water hit her legs.
"Pah, enna oru aanandham... " he remarked with a smile
He picked her kicked shoes and sat down on the sand watching her play with the waves.
"Semma jolly ah irukku Ashwineyy, neeyum vaa " she screamed amidst the sound of the waves.
"Ayiyo, enakku beach water na allergy, pudikkave pudikaadhu, nee enjoy pannu ma" he screamed back not moving an inch from his place
Sivaangi slapped her forehead, came out of the water not wanting to leave him alone, sat next to him and placed her head on his shoulders, her body slightly shivering from the cold air hitting her wet body. He took his hand from between them, wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. Her head on his chest, his chin on her head, both of them closed their eyes, taking in the moment where they found their solace, their home in each others arms.
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Present:
Sivaangi looked at him playing against the waves, holding Nethra and Mithra on either side, handling both them easily.
Unlike Chennai, Singapore beaches don't have dangerous waves, they resemble more like back waters, making it easy for Ashwin to handle them.
"Ayo enakku beach water allergy" his voice echoed in her ears.
"hmm, naan koopta mattum vara allergy, ponnunga koopta kaanam poidum pola" she mumbled to herself
"Indha rendu saithaanayum sollanum, appa paatha udane amma vendaam" she continued talking to herself looking at her i-pad trying hard not look at water soaked Ashwin.
He was wearing a white vest over black track pants which he had pulled over his knees bringing all the not at all healthy nostalgic images of him in front of her eyes.
She shook her head forcibly clearing of all the images and concentrated on her work which she was trying to complete in her i-pad for past 15 minutes.
Without knowing the effects he is having on Sivaangi, Ashwin was enjoying every single moment with his daughters, trying to compensate very hard for all the lost years.
"Ashwineyy.. please please let us go little bit more deeper inside" pleaded Mithra
"No Mithu, we will drown" exclaimed Nethra.
"Ashwineyy, please, do something " Mithra whined looking at Ashwin with a cute pout which totally resembled Sivaangi's
He turned and looked at Sivaangi who was busy concentrating on her work.
He didn't have even one bit of hope that Sivaangi would come along with him and also let the kids spend time with him when he requested her.
Once she agreed, the kids became extremely excited.
"Seri ok, amma okay sollita, ippo neenga rendu perum sollunga, enga polaam? " asked Ashwin looking at both of them
"Beach! Beach! Beach! Please Ashwineyyy ! beach ! please Ashwineyy " both of them screamed
"Vaa namma beachkku polam" her voice echoed in his ears, he smiled and agreed immediately and here they are at Singapore's famous Siloso beach at Sentosa, enjoying every bit of their time with their father as much as he is.
"What are you thinking Ashwienyy, please I want to go deeper inside" pleaded Mithra trying to get his attention again.
He smiled at them and with one swift moment he carried both of them in his arms and started walking inside the water.
Both of them held on to his neck and enjoyed floating in water.
Ashwin turned and looked at Sivaangi, he knew how much she likes playing in water, looking at her detached and sitting like this alone pinched his heart.
"Amma thaniya irukka, let us come back another day again, ippo amma kitta polaama?" he asked looking at the kids.
"Amma told, you will be going back to India shortly, then how can we come again Ashwineyy? " asked Nethra sadness overflowing in her eyes.
"No no no no, Ashwineyy is not going any where, Ashwineyy , please don't go to India" pleaded Mithra hugging his neck tight, like not letting him go.
Ashwin's eyes started filling up, he kissed both of them on their faces, "I am not going anywhere kuttimas, appa engayum poga maaten, it is a promise" he said his voice breaking down.
All three of them came and sat on the mat that Sivaangi had neatly spread on the sand.
Sivaangi immediately opened the bag, took out a towel and started wiping Mithra's head, while Nethra was waiting for her turn.
Ashwin pulled the bag to his side, took out another towel and started wiping Nethra's head.
"No, Ashwineyy is mine, you go to amma" squealed Mithra, peeling herself away from her mother's hold, came and sat on Ashwin's lap.
Nethra looked at him and started moving towards her mother, when Ashwin pulled her too on his lap, covered both of them in a single towel and started wiping them while tickling them making them break into bouts of giggles and laughters.
"Amma you also come, Ashwineyy, tickle amma also in the same way" said Mithra pulling her mother closer to them.
In the moment of action, Ashwin turned to tickle Sivaangi but was immediately stopped by the indifference in her eyes.
"Amma big girl, tickle ellaam panna sirippu varaadhu, uncomfortable ah dhaan irukkum" said Sivaangi
After wiping off, both of them took their beach castle molds and started building sand castles, letting the elders alone.
"Serious ah, naan tickle pannina unakku feel aavadha?" he asked her in his base voice
"Aagadhu" she replied back curtly
"Appo enna paathu unakku edhuvume feel aagala appadidhaane" he asked with one raised eyebrow and his charming smile.
Sivaangi purposefully turned her attention away from him and concentrated on her work, not wanting to continue the dangerous conversation with him.
Ashwin waited for her to say something, but when she didn't he shrugged his shoulders, got up, moved away from her a little bit to outside the mat and removed the wet vest he was wearing exposing his chiseled chest.
He squeezed the excess water from it, when Sivaangi lifted her head, looked at him and froze.
Every inch of her body craved to go and hug him tight and kiss him on his chest like she used to. She almost went into a trance mode, looking at him and capturing every inch of him in her memories.
Just then she saw two Indian girls walking pasting them, gawking at him with a wow expression.
Looked like they both discussed something and next moment they started walking towards Ashwin
"Hello, Ashwinkumar? " asked one of them
"Yes.." he replied locking them in with his charming smile
"Ayo , eeeee ,eee, its really you, I can't believe it is really you" both of them screeched in real excitement looking at him.
"We are your big fans, she from your album days and me from Dancing jodi days, we just can't believe you are really here" they both jumped in excitement
"Thank you, thank you so much for all the support" he replied with the same smile
They continued yapping something but Ashwin's concentration was completely on Sivaangi who was hiding behind her I-pad, literally fuming, looking at two girls, gawking over her man's half naked body.
Even though he did not look at her, his mouth curved into a naughty smile indicating to her that she got caught.
He politely refused for a selfie and they both left him with a slight disappointment.
Once they left, sivaangi got up in a swift moment, stomped her legs, came and stood near him.
He slowly lifted his head and asked her what with his eyebrows
"Venumnu dhaana panneenga? " she asked pointing her index finger at him
"Naan enna panninen? " he asked innocently smiling with his eyes
"Ippo edhukku inga dress change paneenga, anga changing room irukku" she said pointing toward the direction of changing rooms.
"Inga change panninadhu naala dhaan sila pala kaatchigal ellaam kedachudhu" he replied with a chuckle.
"Aamam kidaikum kidaikum, adhaan avanga varadhu therinjudhu la, udane oru t shirt eduthu poda vendiyadhu dhaane? appadiye nikkanuma?" she asked her anger evident in her voice
"Adhaane, potrukalaam la, cha enakku thonave illa paaren" he replied teasing her more.
Knowing that he is purposefully pulling her legs and she had got caught red handed, she tried salvaging whatever she could
"Inga paarunga Ashwin, I don't have feelings for you, not anymore, adha nalla purinjukunga" she replied stressing hard clearly indicating that she is lying
"Seri ma" he replied again with a fake sincere face, suppressing a chuckle.
She again raised her finger to start another argument when both the girls came and said they were hungry.
Sivaangi took both of them to the changing room, bathed them off the sand, changed them and all four of them went to a nearby restaurant.
Ashwin too gave up all his leg pulling and concentrated on the kids appetite and hence the rest of the day went on without any other hassles , ending it on a very happy note, letting Sivaangi go to bed peacefully almost after a week
Author's note:
Hello... how are you cute ponnungala? and pasangala (If at all any guys reading the story)?
Ashwin thinks he is slowly winning back his Sivaangi, but is he? Are his actions trying to make Sivaangi realize her feelings going to work in his favor or going to back fire?
Even though the kids love spending time with him, they still haven't addressed him as he should be, so have they really accepted him?
What do you guys think? liked the chapter? or noooo...
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section and shower your love as always via votes.
Happy Karthigai Deepam to all!!
Love,
DV