"Sivaangi, this is my PRO Ramya, she is here to guide us on how to tackle media repercussions and how to announce our marriage to the public" Ashwin said introducing the woman to Sivaangi.
"Hi Sivaangi, big fan of your songs, still my spotify list is loaded with yours, happy to know that you are back" said Ramya gushing like a teenager clearly showing that she is a fan.
"Thank you Ramya for your kind words, I am just back into the country, I haven't decided about entering the entertainment industry" Sivaangi replied with a warm smile
"It is ok, we will wait, baby steps!!" Ramya replied with the same warmth, making Sivaangi comfortable.
"Okay Ramya, ippo un idea enna adha sollu" asked Ashwin showing her the sofa to sit.
"We can handle this two ways Ashwin, but either ways we should be ready to face some back lash, I will tell you my ideas, both of you can discuss and let me know which one you want to go with, before that I have few questions" said Ramya sitting down.
"Go ahead!" Ashwin replied
"How big is the wedding going to be? small or big" Ramya asked
"Normal... small... " came both Ashwin and Sivaangi's voice
Ashwin looked at Sivaangi
"Yen ma? " he asked with concern
"I don't have much relatives Ashwin, lost touch with most of my friends in Chennai in the past three years, so enga side la irundhu I don't think much invitees" replied Sivaangi
Ramya looked at Ashwin.
"Okay, lets keep it small" Ashwin said with little disappointment evident in his voice.
"Okay, about your kids, are you planning to keep them private or just let them be casually known to media and public" Ramya asked again
"Either is fine... private.. " again both of their voices overlapped, where Sivaangi said private to the shock of Ashwin.
"Okay, you guys need to discuss these, so that I will know how to handle it best" said Ramya
"Now, to the main concern, regarding your relationship, I have two ideas" she paused
"One, your relationship even though never made public was never a secret, every one knew that there was something brewing between you both, there were some speculations when you both stopped appearing in public but nothing that blew out of proportion, so you can let it gradually seep in into the public, not exactly making any formal announcements, just start making public appearances, and when asked, just reply casually like you guys are married, not letting anyone know exactly when the marriage happened. " she added
"The pros of this idea is quite straight forward, no one will doubt this because Ashwin is quite a private person, no awkward questions will raise regarding the kids, the con mainly is even though it is not an outright lie, it wouldn't be truth either and in case truth gets out, the damage will be far worse and also if you are not keeping the kids private, either they might end up spilling something out or we might have to teach them to lie, as you know media is vulture, there is no low that they wouldn't stoop to degrade a person especially when they are jealous of their success" She finished looking at them for their opinion.
Sivaangi just stayed silent her face clearly showing that she is thinking.
"What is the second idea? " Ashwin asked
"Setting a trend, leading by example, normalizing break ups and patch ups, standing up for what is right, removing the awkwardness behind pre marital sex, showing to the world and to your kids, never to be ashamed of doing the right thing and breaking the stereotype and proving that there is nothing wrong in getting married in front of the kids, regardless of whether it is theirs or either ones from another marriage or relationship" she said with confidence.
Ashwin looked at her bit confused.
"You both are influential people, you are a well sought after actor with huge youth following, and you still have ample fan following despite being away from media, when you set an example, it will create a huge impact to the society, it might give the courage for many to take the same decision who are confused and worried about societal norms, that is why I personally hope you will go with idea two" she added
"Yes, this idea might go either ways, it can either turn positive or back fire, but I feel it is worth a shot" she finished
"Whatever you say is absolutely correct Ramya, but my concern is not us, we can handle anything thrown our way, kolaikara naai inoru bike paatha adhu pinaadi thorathikittu poidum, ellam content gaali aagara varaikum dhaan, pudhusa edhavadhu kedachudhuna they will move on, my concern is only kids, they have to go to school, classes, et al, chinna kozhandhainga, vevaram puriyaadha vayasu, I don't want them to get caught in midst of all these frenzies" Ashwin said with concern.
"Enakku option 2 ok Ashwin " Sivaangi said in a stern tone.
"Sivaangi ma, kids?" Ashwin asked in a mild voice
"Paathukalaam Ashiwneyy, we didn't do any mistake to hide anything, it is what it is, edhu vandhaalum as long as we are together we can face it easily" Sivaangi said confidently patting his shoulders, bringing a smile on his face.
"Then I would advise some subtle PDAs, nothing overboard, just holding hands, sitting close to each other during public occasions, happy family pictures shared in your social media handle, to show how protective you are of each other, casual ones will do, and mainly something that will smoothly introduce you both back to the public as couple without making a formal announcement " said Ramya
"Ashwineyy" Sivaangi chirped looking at Ashwin with sparkly eyes.
"Aaan " he looked at her with his traditional reply and looked at what she was trying to convey with her eyes
"Ayo, marubadiyum mudhal irundha? venaam ma, adhu mattum venaam, vera edhunaalum ok" Ashwin pleaded back with a fake fear.
"Ennadhu?" Ramya asked curiously.
"I know what will exactly make the transition smooth... " Sivaangi dragged, looking at Ashwin with the corner of her eyes and he gave back a 'pochuda' look
Ramya looked at her with more curiousness.
"A wedding vlog" announced Sivaangi happily
"Wow, great idea" exclaimed Ramya
"Yedhey!!! wedding vlog ah? cooking vlog illaya?" Ashwin asked more confused.
"Cooking vlog raasi illa Ashwineyy, summa edhukku suthi valachikittu, direct ah wedding vlog dhaan" Sivaangi declared.
"Illa ma, wedding na relatives ellarum irupaanga, nee small wedding kettiye" he dragged, not knowing what reasons to give to change her mind
"But neenga normal wedding la kettinga? as a good wife ah I will fulfill your wish and as a good husband ah mariayaadhaya neenga vlog kku pose kudunga" Sivaangi replied
"Aama nee vlog edupiya illa? kalyanam pannuviya enna? I want your full concentration on me during our wedding" he said in his base voice, moving closer to her, trying to convince her by using his charisma.
Sivaangi stumbled a bit when he asked in his base tone, she looked lost into his eyes for few seconds not knowing what to reply. Ashwin started to feel the victory when he heard Ramya saying
"Adhellam kavala padadheenga Ashwin, neenga vlog eh unga channel la poda mattum ready ah irunga, video edukardhellaam naan paathukaren" she said proudly getting a frustrated 'Yen ma' look from Ashwin.
"See Ashwin problem solved, en concentration full ah un mela dhaan irukkum Ashwineyy, donttuu worry, you make the arrangements Ramya, wedding is next week, two days function and I want all the important moments captured part of the vlog" Sivaangi said happily.
Ramya looked at Ashwin for one final confirmation, Ashwin turned and looked at Sivaangi whose face gleamed with happiness.
He looked at Ramya, opened and closed his eyes with a strong head nod giving his approval.
"Okay, thank you both, I will go and start with the arrangements and all the very best to you both, ennoda heart felt wishes to you both for a happy married life" said Ramya before leaving.
Ashwin went outside the house to send her off and came back to Sivaangi looking at her mobile with an emotional face.
He came and sat next to her. She was browsing through her instagram handle, the last post was almost 4 years ago from the SG airport when she returned after her guest lecture. After that till date, there was no post at all.
"Evalo kovathalayum nee enna unfollow pannalaye, yen?" Ashwin asked genuinely curious.
Despite the anger, she never had the heart to unfollow him, she still has all notifications on for him and will be the first one to see his posts and tweets, she even created a fake account in order to view his stories so that he doesn't know that she is seeing them.
"Unfollow pannina ungala eppadi stalk panradhu?, sight adikardhu? apporam ellathayum kovama maathi ungakooda virtual ah sanda podradhu? " she asked casually, opening the camera button.
"Adipaavi, seriyaana kedi dhaan, aana selfish kedi, nee mattum sight adichala nalla? " he replied with a fake frown.
Sivaangi did not reply, but rather moved very close to him and slightly leaned on his chest, her back to his chest and raised her hand with camera on a selfie position.
Ashwin intoxicated with her feminine scent, wrapped his hands around her waist and kissed her neck, without realizing what she was doing. She closed her eyes in the moment of pleasure and her hands automatically clicked and captured it.
Ashwin immediately lifted his head hearing the shutter sound from her mobile.
"Eiii, picture eduthutiya? " he asked leaning forward to get the mobile from her hand.
"Hmmm" she just whined, still eyes closed, pushing herself into his chest even more, totally mesmerized.
"Aatha, phone eh kuduma, post aagida pogudhu PDA dhaan sonna Ramya, nee idha post pannine avalodhaan" he said in a panicked tone, getting the mobile from her.
The picture was actually quite serene and romantic but not something he is ready to share in SM. He saved it to the gallery, replaced her phone with his, opened his instagram handle's camera.
"Enna panra Ashwiney?? un handle la post panna poriya? " she asked confused.
"Hmmmm aama" he replied, moved closer to her, close enough to indicate that they are more than friends yet not awkward at all and clicked the picture.
He started writing a caption for the picture, but paused and looked at her.
"Do you remember what hashtag they used to use when they shipped us?" he asked
"Neraya, Sivash, Ashvaangi, Sivaash" she replied.
"Like all big celebrities namakkunu oru hashtag irundha dhaane nalla irukum, like virushka" he asked her.
"Seri adhukku?" she asked quizzically
He gave back a criminal smile and started typing.
"She was made of magic, that only I could see!! " - Atticus #Love #Loveisreal #AK #SK #Ashwinkumar #Sivaangi
and finally #ASHAANGI.
Author's note:
Hello all, thank you for waiting on me patiently. For those who dm-ed me, thank you again, I am doing much better, not much side effects other than hand pain.
Now about the story, not a very intense one, just a simple factual pre cursor to their wedding, hopefully it is not too much boring. So tell me, like it? no?
Your comments inspires me to think more and write more, so keep them coming and as always show me your love via votes,
Love,
DV