Present:
"So is it true? is Ashwin back in your life?" asked Akash, while taking a sip of the coffee.
Sivaangi did not reply, she just continued to stare at the foamy substance in front of her. Generally, Sivaangi loathes coffee, but for her current mental status, she needs the caffeine boost, to survive.
"Sollu Sivaangi, why didn't you tell me that he is back in your life? should I have to learn it from Mithra?" asked Akash again, his tone little bit higher than the previous time, which triggered Sivaangi
"Why should I inform you Akash?" she asked back in a razor sharp tone and the words hit the target as intended hurting him.
"I am sorry Sivaangi, I thought, I am your friend, your only friend here, hence felt it is more logical of you to confide with me such an important change in your life" replied Akash, in a hurt tone.
"I am so sorry Akash, I didn't mean to hurt you, just that there is so much going on at a time in my life that I snapped, sorry, yes, you are my only friend here, and I will forever be grateful for everything you have done for me." she replied apologizing for her words
Akash continued to look at her waiting for her to continue.
"Talking about it will start making it, or rather him in my life real, which I am not sure he is. Even now I have a feeling like everything is one elaborate dream and I am going to wake up and realize he was never here." she said looking outside, via the glass window of the coffee shop.
"What are his intentions? " asked Akash as politely as he can
"He wants us to get back together as if nothing happened between us" replied Sivaangi
"Are you going to? " he asked praying all known gods that she should say no.
"I don't know, a part of me wants to for the kids sake at least, but I am sure Ashwin will never agree to that, he is an all in kind of person, he will never settle for anything less" she replied with a hanging doubt
"Do you still love him Sivaangi?" asked Akash, like his life depended on her answer.
But Sivaangi was too confused and tired to notice the changes in his tone.
"I don't know whether I love him, all I know is I can never love another man, as much as I loved him and if at all I love some one again, it can only be him" she replied, clearly confusing Akash.
"Nee enna solla varanu purila Sivaangi, but as a person who had seen you suffer, my advise would be to cut ties completely and forget about him" replied Akash in a stern voice
"Forget about him? You are joking right? How can I forget about someone when I have two live reminder of him looking, walking, talking exactly like him" asked Sivaangi sarcastically
"May be Nethra, but Mithra is more like you" replied Akash little defensively, making Sivaangi to raise her eyebrows.
"Character yes, she little bit resembles me, but looks wise and the way she takes care of me, when I am down or sad or sick, she is exactly her father" replied Sivaangi with a small blushy smile which irritated Akash to the core
"But what if he hurts you again? " he asked wanting to remind her of the pain she suffered because of him, so that she will not think about falling in love with him
"Therila Akash, none of this is an overnight decision, mistakes were made not only from his side but also from my side, pappom, I am just going to go with the flow" she replied getting up.
"Thanks for the coffee and the talk, it really helped" said Sivaangi and left Akash alone to ponder over his own thoughts.
The meet with Akash and her previous encounter with Ashwin where he asked her to think about what she had done, made her take the trip down the memory lane , the sequence of events that lead to the fateful day.
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Past:
"Bye pa, bye ma, Mika, please stay with appa and amma, till I am back" said Sivaangi standing at the entrance of the Chennai international airport, trying to put up a brave front, but her eyes showed all the fear.
Singapore's Raffles college of music had organized a cross cultural music event inviting budding young musicians and singers from across the world and Sivaangi had been invited to perform in it.
In her 24 years of life, Sivaangi had never left home alone, even to a nearby city, but since it is a 15 days long event and her parents had their own commitments, she had to go alone.
Her eyes searched for the other person, whom she will be missing the most in this 15 days of separation. Ashwin had been busy dubbing for his latest release, but he had promised her that he will try his level best to be there when she leaves.
As a man who keeps his promises, without making Sivaangi suffer much, he came there almost jogging.
"Sorry ma, I came as soon as I could " he said trying to catch his breath.
Some curious eyes here and there started turning towards their direction. Even though the earlier craze for their pair had died down, they are still considered one of the cutest couple. They haven't exactly announced their relationship to the world, just that they had stopped denying it.
Few of them came for selfies, both of them politely denied for a together one, however Sivaangi agreed for some solo selfies with a request not to tag Ashwin and they agreed.
"Ozhunga saapdu, verum thayir, yogurt, bun, bread nnu life otaadha, I want you to take a picture of what you eat every single time and send it to me" said Ashwin the moment they were left alone, his eyes overflowing with concern
"Back to back shoots, dubbing, album nnu romba tight ah irukku, illana I would have accompanied you" he added like he really did not want to send her alone.
"Ayo Ashwineyy, Only few days back I became 24 year old, naan kindergarten baby illa, I will take care" replied Sivaanig rubbing his shoulder.
"Therila ma , ennamo manase seri illa, oru maadhiri clouded ah irukku for no particular reason, some how I don't want you to go now" he said his words shocking even him.
"Don't want me to go ah? neenga dhaan indha opportunity vandha undane enna vida adhigama excite aaneenga, now you are saying you don't want me to go? ennachu ma?" she asked little bit concerned.
"Therila Sivaangi ma, ennamo oru maadhiri irukku" replied Ashwin like a toddler who didn't want his mother to go to office leaving him behind.
"Ayo Ashwineyy, this is going to be like my bachelorette party, the last trip I am taking before I become Mrs. Sivaangi Ashwinkumar, so I am going to enjoy this to the fullest, come back and happily forego my bachelor status" said Sivaangi proudly trying to cheer him up.
"Seri careful ah iru, call me everyday" he said smiling at her
"Adhu seri, naan call panracha neenga phone edunga" she replied sarcastically.
Sivaangi along with two other professional acquaintances who were also invited for the event came out of the Changi international Airport looking for the person whom they were supposed to meet.
Sivaangi being the eldest among the three automatically took leadership and moved around reading one placard after the other searching for her name when she heard a voice from behind.
"Hi, are you Sivaangi Krishnakumar?"
She turned and was faced with a cute and charming guy. Moderate height, perfectly build, to a normal girl's eyes he would be categorized among the extremely handsomes.
But Sivaangi just started at him cluelessly.
"Hi, I am Akash, I am here to take you and your team to the hotel" he replied stretching his hand for a shake
"Hi, am Sivaangi, my team is over there" she replied shaking his hand and they started walking towards others
"First time vareengala, Singapore?" he asked looking at her
"Oh neengalum Tamizha dhaana? first time illa, college padikarcha, family oda vandhirken" replied Sivaangi in her chirpy tone
"Singapore la, naalu la oru aalu tamizh dhaan, it is a national language here" he replied with the same smile plastered on his face.
"Yeah theriyum" she replied as they reached the other two, got on the van Akash had bought and left for the hotel.
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Sivaathmika was busy reading the script for the next season of her netflix web series. Initially when she moved to Mumbai she struggled a lot, her encounter with Ashwin, first time living away from her twin, the guilt of hiding her feelings from Sivaangi, loneliness of a new city, everything together took a tole on her mental and physical health.
But once her professional commitments started piling up she started concentrating more on that in an attempt to move on. That is why against her wishes, she even accepted the web series when approached, which unexpectedly turned out to be a hit and has been renewed for the next season.
In the past year or so, even when she visited Chennai, she avoided Ashwin as much as she could, and thanks to Ashwin's move, it was not very difficult, except when Sivaangi does something that involves the three of them.
Even then either one of them will politely refuse creating some fake excuses and the other would support the decision as neither wanted to be put in any awkward situation.
Finally after a long struggle, Mika figured that she had finally moved on from Ashwin and found it very silly to have behaved the way she did like a teenager with a crush.
She brushed away all the thoughts and continued to concentrate on the script when her mobile rang
"Sollu Sivu ma, eppadi irukka? are you all set to come back day tomorrow?" asked Mika in an excited tone.
"Illa Mika, I am extending the stay for one more day, inga Akash sonnen la, he has arranged for guest lecture at the Music college adha mudichitu dhaan vara mudiyum" replied Sivaangi in a frustrated tone.
"Nalla vishayam dhaane Sivu, 24 years la guest lecture, you should feel proud" replied Mika her voice reflecting the pride.
"That is why I am not able to deny, but nee enakku oru help pannanume please" replied Sivaangi
"Sollu Sivu, anything" replied Mika in a excited tone
"Promise? apporam naan ketta apporam mudiyaadhu solla koodadhu" asked Sivaangi
"Enna build up ellam balama irukku, promise!, podhuma, ippo sollu" replied Mika in a teasing tone.
But her face changed the moment she heard Sivaangi's request.
"Hey, loose aagitiya nee, sg la enna moolai eh adagu vetchitiya? mudiyave mudiyaadhu.
Enna vidu, Ashwinkku therinjudhuna avalothaan, vaaype illa" yelled Mika at Sivaangi
Author's note:
Hello !! New chapter is here! How is it?
I know it is bit confusing with bits and pieces of information here and there. But they are all the pieces of the puzzle that needs to be bought together to get the clear picture of what happened between Ashwin and Sivaangi.
Most probably in the next chapter the suspense will broken.
So now, your views, what do you guys think Sivaangi's request was ? any guesses?
What do you guys think of the Akash character? will he be good? bad?
Let me know your thoughts in comments and as always shower me with your love, in the form of votes
Love,
DV