Sivaangi was busy straightening her hair when she heard the ding of the door bell. She looked at the clock confused which showed 4:45 pm.
"Shabbhah, indha manushanum, avar timing sense um" she sighed, pulled the iron out from the socket, kept it on a high shelf so that the kids doesn't touch it by mistake and started walking towards the door.
The moment Ashwin saw Sivaangi he broke into laughter. Sivaangi was wearing a oversized t-shirt most probably her father's, paired up with a tights, she had parted her hair into two, out of which one side was partially straightened whereas the other was in a high bun, overall making her look like a cartoon caricature.
"Enna? neenga seekaram vandhuteenga, chumma enna paathu sirikaadheenga" she said in a defensive tone
"Seri ma naan onnum sollala" he said in a surrendering tone still unable to control his chuckles when they heard running footsteps.
Within seconds, like two bullets from a rifle both of them sprinted towards Ashwin happily with a squeal "Hi Ashwineyyyy"
Both of them were just in their bloomer shorts, but Sivaangi had parted their hair into two and made two kudumis on the top of their heads resembling two palm trees which made them look extra cute.
"Ennadhu idhu? neengalum innum kilambalaya?" Ashwin asked looking at them who nodded a No with a shy
"Illa usual ah naan ready aagittu dhaan avanagala ready pannuven, avangala first ready pannita, they will end up spoiling their dress doing some mischief before I get ready" justified Sivaangi.
"Aunty, uncle enga?" Ashwin asked sitting down on the sofa, with the kids sitting on his either sides.
"Konjam things vaanga little India varaikum poirkaanga" replied Sivaangi moving towards kitchen.
"Seri, nee enga pora, poi ready aagu, I will take care of the kids" replied Ashwin.
"ungalukku coffee poda? " she replied quizzically
"Ayiyo! venaam ma, namakku endhukku indha visha paritchai yellaam, nee poi ready aagu late aagudhu" replied Ashwin trying to hide behind the kids, making them both burst into bouts of giggles.
Sivaangi stared at him playfully, but went to her room to get ready as told.
Within 10 minutes her room door was knocked, and by the sound and angle of the knock she understood who was knocking.
She opened the door and squealed her typical "Wow"
Both of them were wearing a baby pink t shirt paired up with a black denim dungaree shorts, which had a huge minnie mouse printed in the middle. For their legs, they were wearing small pink colored ankle length boots. Overall, their entire look resembled that of a perfect minnie mouse with those kudumis, dungrees and boots, making them look ultra cute.
Sivaangi bent down and kissed both of them.
"Ashwineyy bought this for us ma.. super right?" asked Nethra very excited
"Super o super, thanks sonnengala ?" asked Sivaangi, when Ashwin too joined them
When she looked into his eyes, not a word was spoken but both of them understood what the other one was trying to say.
"We made these two precious little humans" their eyes screamed with pride.
"Amma, tell me, how do I look? " asked Mithra trying to imitate a professional model bringing her parents attention back to her.
The way she was standing reminded Sivaangi of some one who was very close to her once, making her eyes well up immediately.
Ashwin understanding the change in the scenario intervened immediately
"Seri seri, rendu perum poi andha new puzzle set vetchu vilayaadunga, I will come and join you in two minutes" said Ashwin trying to ease up the situation
"Indha ma, nee idha kudi" he said handing her the cup he was holding all along in his hands
That is when Sivaangi noticed two cups in his hands, she got hers from him, still her face bit dull when Mithra's voice came from the living room
"Amma, drink it, this time I made Ashwineyy put three tea spoons of sugar" making them both blush with a smile.
Ashwin leaned on the wall with one leg bent and started noticing Sivaangi properly while drinking his coffee. She was wearing a simple onion colored chiffon skirt, with sky blue floral designs . She had paired it up with sky blue colored collared sleeveless blouse with quite a deep V. She had tight tugged the blouse into her skirt. Her straightened hair was split into half and half, one half in the front of her shoulders while the other half behind. She had completed her look with simple furry danglers, kajal and a small bindi between her eyebrows. Her entire look screamed Ashwin more than Sivaangi.
Sivaangi silently drank the chocolate milk, completely aware of Ashwin's looks on her, giving her a feel of a train running inside her.
She finished drinking it and looked at him with the most innocent look and asked
"Polaama? "
He placed his cup down and came closer to her, making her take steps backwards, until she hit the wall behind, looked into her eyes as deeply as possible and replied in his base voice
"Kandippa poganuma? " knocking the air out of her lungs, making her visibly gasp.
"Pinna poga dhane vandhirkeenga" she croaked her throat feeling like sahara desert
"Aamam, but nee innum sorry kekaliye" he replied his eyes now moving inch by inch all over her face.
He was not very close to her, not even his finger tip was touching her, but just his mere voice had the power to make her insides do a complete somersault.
"Adhudhan yerkanave kettutene " she replied in a combination of squeak and whisper, fixating her eyes on his t shirt collar button.
"Adhudhaan naan othukalaye, seri ippadi pannalaam, naan act panren, nee dubbing kudu... " he said with a mild tease knowing that he is going to get a hit from her, but instead she silently nodded her head as a ok, surprising him completely.
"Are you sure? " he asked again, but this time she didn't reply, she just lifted her head and looked into his eyes and her eyes gave the approval he needed
He slowly moved more closer to her, closing the gap between them completey and kissed her forehead. He waited for her, but when there was no response from her, he himself said the letter S. Then he slowly grazed his lips down to her nose without lifting it from her face, and pressed it on the tip of her nose and said O. Sivaangi closed her eyes and clutched the collar of his t shirt hard. He slowly moved his lips from her nose to her left cheek and whispered in her ear R, making her take a gulp, without lifting his lips even now, he grazed it along her chin to her right cheek and kissed her, his lips again whispering another R. More than this kiss it self, the anticipation of what is about to happen next made her raise up on her toes. He moved very slowly down to her lips, his lips grazing against hers very close that she could feel his beard against her lips. She waited for the seal with utmost anticipation, when he said
"Seri ok, I accept your sorry, vaa pogalaam " and moved away from her leaving behind a startled and pink Sivaangi.
It took few minutes for her to compose herself, then with a blush-y smile she came out.
Ashwin was busy helping the kids with the puzzle like nothing happened between them.
He looked at her, smiled and all three of them got up. While Ashwin carried Mithra along with their go to bag that Sivaangi's mother had packed, Sivaangi carried Nethra.
All four of them came out of the lift and walked happily towards the cab pick up point, unaware of a pair of eyes that was looking at them vengefully.
Akash tried very hard not to let anger and disappointment reach his head, but the scene of a happy family made him loose his common sense
"Enna rendu perum vilayaadreengala? Kashtam time la ellaam naan theva patten, day and night vela seyya naan venum, but kadaisila enga irundho vandhu avan thookitu povaan, naan paathutu irukanuma? Vidamaaten da vidamaaten, dei Ashwin India la dhaan nee periya actor, inga nee oru dummy piece, idhu en ooru, kaatren naan yaarunu koodiya seekram kaatren" he took an oath to himself and left the place.
Sivaangi looked at the 360 degree view of the city from the flyer, it amazed her again as her first time.
Singapore Flyer is the giant wheel that moves very slowly taking almost an hour to complete one single round letting the people get the view of the city in every angle. It is especially beautiful during the dusk when the sun slowly sets and the sky scrapers starts lighting up. It has always been Sivaangi's favourite place.
She turned and looked at Ashwin and kids. Due to non peak time, there was less crowd and they managed to get one cubicle whole for themselves.
Ashwin was sitting on the bench with them on either sides, bending his 5'11" height to their levels, making sure he is giving his full attention to all their yapping.
While his ears were concentrating on them his hands were busy peeling their favourite Longan fruit and feeding them one after other.
Mithra noticed how he was collecting all the peels in a plastic bag, that she immediately jumped from the bench, went and picked a chocolate wrapper she had thrown down previously and put it inside the rubbish plastic bag, getting a hi fi from Ashwin, which made her so happy that she pulled her father down holding his collar and kissed him, while Nethra climbed on the bench the other side and kissed his other cheek.
This scene melted Sivaangi's heart, one thing she understood, whether she likes it or not, whether she is ready to accept it or not, these two need Ashwin in their life.
She turned her attention back to the view of the city slowly lighting up when she felt his presence behind her.
"Azhaga irukku la?" She asked her eyes still on the view
"Romba" he replied and even without turning she knew he did not mean the view, making her insides warm.
"As a wise man once said 'Happiness can be found even during the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light' and this is the proof of that" replied Ashwin standing beside her now with his hands in his pockets
She turned and looked at the kids who were now back to being busy with their game.
"You are very natural with them, fatherhood becomes you" she said
"There is so much for me to do to compensate for all the lost times, I never got to see their first walk, first smile, never changed their diapers or stayed whole night rocking them to sleep" he sighed
"I am sorry, I am not blaming you, I understand why you did it, but still whatever I lost is lost" he said his voice clearly expressing sadness.
Some how Sivaangi was in a very good mood that day that she let whatever he said slide.
She went and sat on another bench beside the kids' and tapped next to her asking him to come and sit.
Once he sat, she took out her mobile and started showing him some videos
"Idhu Nethra" she said showing video of Nethra as 3 month old laughing uncontrollably.
"Appadi sirippa, naan kooda first Ava dhaan enna maari ninaichen as Mithra was very silent during her first few months, but then she proved me wrong" said Sivaangi with a smile, while Ashwin looked at the video like a priced possession.
"Idhu Mithra when she took her first step" she said showing him a video of one year old Mithra trying to walk away from the wall she was holding.
"Oru two days dhaan konjam struggle pannina apporam no walking only running dhaan, amma appa enna ellarayum appadi oda viduva" added Sivaangi her voice reflecting so much pride
When she did not get any reply from Ashwin she looked at him, he was staring at the video his eyes filled with tears which melted her completely
"Unga mobile kudunga?" she asked
Once she got his mobile she started airdropping all the pics and videos from hers to him.
When she was done, she gave the mobile back to him
"Indhaanga I have sent to you all the photos and videos of them in all stages, I cannot give you back those times, but this is the least I can do" she said looking at him with a smile.
Ashwin looked at her for few seconds and pulled her into a bear hug, startling her.
"Thanks Sivaangi Ma" he said hugging her tight and started crying into her neck - shoulder joint
"Ma, what did you do to our Ashwineyy? Why is he crying came Mithra towards them
"No Mithra, Sivaangi Ma did not make me cry but she made me very happy, this is happy tears" said Ashwin lifting Mithra on to his lap.
"Oh ok then" she slid down from his lap in the same speed he lifted her and ran back to her twin who was continuing her game
"I want to accept you Ashwin and forget everything that happened between us, but I am not able to , but I realise that you are essential in these two's lives. So I am ready to accept you in that capacity alone, I mean as their father alone" said Sivaangi looking into his eyes.
He placed his palm on her right cheek, bent down, looked into her eyes and said
"For now, but I will win you back soon Sivaangi Ma, it's a promise"
Author's note:
So how was it? Liked it? No ?
Were you all able to connect with the chapter?
There is lot questions and past need to be clarified still, which will slowly happen in upcoming chapters.
Meanwhile let me know your thoughts and comments about this one and shower me with your love as always via votes
Love,
DV