Author's note

Hey guys, hope you all are doing good. I hope you enjoy the story. Just something that came to my mind while travelling. Sorry in advance if it isn't to your liking. College has started. So, I'll try my best to balance things. Thank you for reading and supporting my works.

Author veradham Maha Shivarathri ku. Entwined ini dhan eludhanum. Will update once I pen down the chapter. Happy Maha Shivrathri guys.

Adipoli will hit 60M soon! Keep Ashwin and Sivaangi in your prayers and support their projects!

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Disclaimer

This story is a piece of fiction based on the author's imagination and has nothing to do with the actual life of the characters mentioned in the story. I have casted Ashwin Kumar and Sivaangi Krishnakumar as leads.

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Ashaangi OS On The Way Home

Sivaangi quickly bid bye to her college friends and boarded the bus that takes her to her stop. She's final year M.com student. She usually boards 7AS bus from college to her stop but since she spent extra time at canteen with her friends, she missed her usual bus. It was around 7:30 pm.

As soon as she got in, Sivaangi scanned around the bus trying to find a free seat for her. That's when her eyes fell on a familiar figure who's seated on a double seater; her neighbour who shifted to Chennai three months ago for job, Ashwin Kumar.

To say Sivaangi was surprised to see Ashwin would be an understatement. They were neighbours ever since her family moved into the locality two years back. Her brother Rakshan is friends with Ashwin. Even their mothers are friendly.

The equation between Sivaangi and Ashwin is that they just smile at each other whenever they see, have conversations that are necessary. Sivaangi has a huge crush on Ashwin and that's the reason she doesn't initiate her extrovert nature to him fearing he would ridicule her voice as many does and that given his introverted nature, she doesn't want to because the reason for his annoyance.

But Sivaangi loves to spend time with his sister, Manimegalai. She would come over to Mani's place and steal glances at Ashwin. She has a huge crush on him ever since she laid her eyes on him. She doesn't know what he feels for her but they steal glances at each other now and then making her go giddy with excitement. She doesn't know why he stares back at her but that makes her go crazy in excitement.

Ashwin got placed in a company at Chennai and so, he had to move from Coimbatore three months back. Sivaangi was sore about that. On the beginning days, her mind was always off without feeling his presence or stealing glances at him. Her brother Rakshan works at a company at Coimbatore. Why can't Ashwin do the same and be here?

After three months with no sight of Ashwin given, she couldn't meet him whenever he comes, Sivaangi felt something shift inside her. She realized that she has missed him beyond words. When the bus jerked to life, she broke out of her thought as she blinked back her tears.

To Sivaangi's surprise, Ashwin was staring right at her. She managed to form a smile and he flashed a smile at her, his facial features acknowledging her presence. Pushing her baby strands behind her ear, she gave him another smile before settling down on a free seat couple of rows behind him.

They have each other's number but never texted each other. So, there wasn't any form of communication between them for the past three months. Calming her racing heart, Sivaangi plugged in her earphones and kept her eyes on the back of Ashwin.

With each passing second, Sivaangi started to realize how much she missed Ashwin in the past three months. He came home three-four times but she was away with one work or another that she couldn't even see him once. And now that he's in front of her, she didn't know what to do.

'Sivaangi, avara ipovey nalla paathuko. Adutha thadava avaru ooruku vara varaikum thaanganum' Sivaangi told herself.

To her surprise and amusement, Ashwin turned around couple of times. He turned, looked around everywhere, spared a glance at her, looked around before turning front. She could look right through his act that he's staring at her. She grinned at the very thought, her heart raced with excitement. Their stop was seven stops away from her college that would give her enough time to bask in his presence.

With music playing in the background, window seat and eyes on Ashwin, Sivaangi had a constant smile dancing on her lips as she enjoyed the evening. When the bus stopped at the next stop, a lady sat next to her.

Sivaangi didn't mind. She was just enjoying herself. The bus was filled with people in mid and late 30s and 40s save for few young people. When the lady brushed against her, Sivaangi pressed herself more towards the window but didn't react.

But when Sivaangi felt something poking on her stomach, she frowned and looked down. She gasped when she saw a hand knife pressed against her abdomen and looked up at the lady next to her. The lady had her eyes on the front and she was calm but looked threatening.

"Olunga enn kuda adutha stop la erangi va. Satham pota aprm kilichutu poete irupen" The lady threatened lowly scaring Sivaangi.

Sivaangi started to panic, her hands turning cold. Tears stinged her eyes as she looked at the lady, terrified.

"Ena vitrunga..." Sivaangi managed to say in a meek voice, trying to keep herself collected.

But the lady was firm and held the knife closer to Sivaangi threatening her in hushed voice. When the stop was nearing, the lady threatened Sivaangi to stand up. With her eyes going now and then at Ashwin and also looking for the conductor, she stood up. It was dark outside. Their area is at outskirts of the city.

If Sivaangi can alert everyone once she stands up, she can dodge that lady and get help from everyone; she can reach to Ashwin. With that thought in mind, she waited for her chance. When the bus stopped and few stood up to get down, Sivaangi took her chance and distanced herself from the lady but that lady got alarmed and held Sivaangi's arms.

"Yeii! Yenga thapika pakura! Olunga erangu" That lady held Sivaangi in a death grip.

"Ena vidunga!" Sivaangi shrieked attracting attention to herself, "Inga parunga, indha lady ena merati kupduranga kaththi kamichu!"

Ashwin who heard the commotion stood up on seeing Sivaangi on the scene. He pushed few people to get to there where few people including the conductor was investigating the issue.

"Enoda ponnu dhan ga. Kochutu vandhuta. Kuptu poren solrathuku ipdi panitu iruka" That lady lied through her teeth, "Neenga vidunga, enn ponna naan kuptu poren"

"Ila, nambathinga!" Sivaangi tried to release her hand from that lady's grip.

The small crowd had divided opinions.

"Naan iva amma dhan. Prachana vendam" The lady said pulling Sivaangi closer.

"Yenna ma maathi maathi solringa?" The conductor looked back and forth at them.

"Sivaangi!"

Sivaangi lifted her tear-filled panicked eyes to look at Ashwin who's staring at her.

"Ashwin!"

Relief flooded Sivaangi and with one hard tug she broke free from that lady's grip who was baffled with the turn of events and the way Ashwin's glaring at her. Sivaangi moved towards him and held his arm.

"Yaru iva amma? Neenga la?" Ashwin glared at that lady and then turned to the conductor, "Naan ivaloda ethir veetu la irukavan dhan. Iva peru Sivaangi and iva amma peru Binni. Inga nikura indha lady onum iva amma kedayathu"

The crowd started scolding and rounding the lady who panicked, pushed them aside and run away from there. Sivaangi held Ashwin's hand tightly stopping him from chasing that lady.

Seeing Sivaangi crying, Ashwin patted her hand that's holding his arm.

"Ma, aladha ma" Ashwin tried to comfort Sivaangi, "Va, vandhu okaru"

Ashwin guided Sivaangi to the double seater he was sitting on. She took the window seat and he sat next to her on seeing her shaken up. The conductor blowed the whistle and the bus resumed its journey.

"Ma, calm down. Onum ila, you are safe" Ashwin kept assuring Sivaangi.

After couple of minutes Sivaangi calmed down and looked at Ashwin.

"Thanks, Ashwin. Neenga matum varla na...yenna agirukum nu therla" Sivaangi's face and voice was dull.

"Ma, athellam onum ila. Nee idha nenachu romba bayapadatha. Bold ah voice raise pananum indha mathiri aalungata lam"

Sivaangi was surprised to see Ashwin talking with her comfortably. Mani ka has told her that Ashwin stays away from the women folk. He talks selectively with girls who's mostly his mother, sister, cousins and few college friends.

That's why Sivaangi never opened her talkative self to Ashwin or tried to become friends fearing she would either irritate him or repel him away or that he would reject her advances.

"Avanga takkunu kaththi ah mela vachutanga. Athan bayandhuten" Sivaangi said honestly.

"Yenna ma nee, namma area rowdy don ah irundhutu kaththiku bayandhuten nu solra?" Ashwin teased Sivaangi trying to ease her.

"Aiyo ama la!" Sivaangi faced Ashwin, "Ashwineyy! Idha pathi namma area pasanga ta soliradha! Aprm enoda rowdy image gaali"

They slowly eased into conversation.

"Ama, ongaluku yepdi ena rowdy don nu kupduvanga nu theriyum?" Sivaangi asked curiously.

"Nee dhan area ah vey friend aaki vachurikiyeh. Unna pathi theriyadha yarachum iruka mudiyuma yenna" Ashwin smiled.

"Ohh, apo neenga ena notice panirukinga, apdi dhana?" Sivaangi asked teasingly.

But Sivaangi was surprised when Ashwin said with a smile,

"Ama"

"Nejamava?"

"Nejama dhan"

"Aprm yean neenga enta nala pesavey ila idhuku munna?" Sivaangi asked curiously.

"Nee namma area celebrity, unna suthi yepovum oru gumbal irukumey. Enaku gumbal na agathu. Pesanum nenachuruken aana sandharpam amaiyala"

Sivaangi was amused to know all these. She knew Ashwin steal glances at her but never knew he intended to speak with her.

"Cha! Ipdi rendu varsham waste panitingaley, Ashwineyy"

Ashwin chuckled on hearing 'Ashwineyy'

"Ama, athenna Ashwineyy?" Ashwin asked.

"Athellam oru paasama friendly ah affection ah kupdurathu" Sivaangi grinned forgetting about the frightening incident, "Yean kupdurathu nala ilaya?"

"Nala iruku. Pudhusa iruku" Ashwiin smiled.

Ashwin enquired about Sivaangi's education which she said will be over in a month. She enquired about his job. They didn't have spoken much save for few instances and only stole glances at the two years they stayed neighbours.

So, opening up to each other got them talking. They were learning new things. They laughed, chuckled and teased each other. It was amusing and exciting for them both that how they hit off with each other right away.

"Ama, neenga yenna thidirunu vandhrukinga? Pona varam dhan vandhinga nu Mani ka sonanga" Sivaangi asked enjoying the way their arms brushed against each other.

A bus travel with your crush next to you, breezy air making it pleasant with lighting dim in the city bus, what more Sivaangi could ask for at that moment!

Ashwin was silent for a while as he studied Sivaangi's face who raised a single eye gesturing what.

"Unmaya solava poi solava?" Ashwin asked in a deep voice that made Sivaangi's insides churn. The way his warm brown eyes boring into her black ones didn't help at all.

"Ip...ipdi keta naan yenna kekuradhu" Sivaangi said with a half-confused smile.

"Unaku yedhu therinchukanumoh athu kelu" Ashwin said with a lopsided smile.

Sivaangi put her finger on the chin gestured that she's thinking making Ashwin smile.

"Haan" Sivaangi decided, "Unmayaveh solunga. Ketu therinchupom"

Ashwin thought for a moment and smiled as he stared at Sivaangi.

"Idhuku munna indha maara lam naan yartayum sonathu ila but" Ashwin held Sivaangi's eyes in his, "Unakaga dhan vandhen Sivaangi"

Sivaangi was surprised for sure, shocked even. She took her time to process things as she listened to him.

"Rendu varusham munna yeppo nee namma area ku shift agi vandhiyoh, yepo unna naan chinna pasanga kuda pakathula iruka Shivam park la velayaduratha pathenoh, yepo nee padunatha ketaeno, apovey flat uh" Ashwin averted his gaze from Sivaangi's and looked ahead as he spoke, a smile played on his lips as he recalled his memories, "Andha black dress with purple flowers, nee pana twirl elamey ipovum kannukula nikkudhu"

Sivaangi was dumbfounded on hearing Ashwin speak his heart. She couldn't believe that the guy for whom she harboured feelings for two years feels the same, if not more. She could hear her own heartbeat. Excitement was tingling through her.

Ashwin met his eyes with Sivaangi's.

"Naan avlo ah ponnunga ta pesa maten aana thidirunu unta pesurathu elam roman normal ah comfortable ah iruku. Nee na pidikum. Unna pakama iruka mudiyum nu nenachu dhan Chennai job eduthen aana suthama mudiyala. Moonu maasathula ithana thadava vandhen aana unna paka mudiyala. Anga iruka apo irundha heavy heart unna pakama pona apovum irundhuchu"

Ashwin smiled at Sivaangi,

"Unna pakanum nu dhan Coimbatore vandhen. College munna ivlo neram unna paka dhan ninrundhen. Pathutu unn kuda indha bus travel la unoda presence ah enjoy panitu poeralam nu dhan vandhen. Aana I couldn't help but speak my heart. Unna patha apo apdi oru feel, my heart finally felt peace after months. Your presence makes everything much better in my life. If all this is love then yes, I love you Sivaangi"

Ashwin waited with anticipation as he saw Sivaangi processing his words. The conductor blowed the whistle making the bus stop. They have arrived at their stop. Wordlessly Sivaangi stood up making Ashwin stand as well.

Sivaangi gestured Ashwin to move. He bit his lips in anticipation as he stepped down followed by her. Again, wordlessly she started walking leaving him standing there with confusion and guilt.

'Avala uncomfortable akitomoh? Whatever I think I saw in her eyes, have I made a mistake?' Ashwin thought to himself as he watched Sivaangi walk away.

But Ashwin's face changed when Sivaangi paused on her tracks. He was puzzled to see her actions as he kept staring at her. She turned to look at him once and gave him a small smile that made his heart flutter.

Sivaangi turned back and waited. Ashwin understood her gesture and jogged towards her. She resumed walking without any words and he followed her in silence. She was humming a tune and he still anticipating her answer though her gesture answered for herself. Still, he wanted to hear it from her.

"Ongala modha modha patha apovey enaku onga mela bayangara crush" Sivaangi confessed, "Ongala yepo pathalum naan sight adipen. Neenga football veladuratha pakurathukaga dhan Mani ka ta kenji shuttle veladaya namma area ground ku kuptu varuven. Yenga pakathula vandha neenga irritate agura mathiri nadandhupenoh nu ongata pesunathu ila aana dhurathula irundhu ongala matum dhan papen"

Sivaangi paused on her tracks making Ashwin pause as well. She said staring on the ground,

"Indha three months romba oru mathiri pochu. Enoda day nala dhan pogum but it was never complete without getting a glance of you. Ongala romba miss panen, Ashwin" Sivaangi faced Ashwin, "Ashwin na pidikum. I always wish for good things to happen to you. Neenga happy ah irukanum. Athu dhurathula irundhu ongala pathutu irukadhu naalum seri nu irundhen. Enaku pidicha aaluku enayum pidikum nu therinchathu, overwhelming ah iruku. Heart pada pada nu thodikuthu. Yepovum ongala sight adikura apo oru pudhu vidha feel irukum vayir la, athu ulla irundhu ipovum varudhu"

Sivaangi met her eyes with Ashwin's,

"Sola pona, kulu kulu nu iruku. I don't know if this is love aana idhu love ah nu onga kuda sendhu therinchuka aasaya iruku"

"Yenna ma solra?" Ashwin asked slightly anxious as he couldn't understand Sivaangi's reply properly.

"Ongala pidichuruku nu solren, Ashwineyy. Cha! Idhu kuda puriyala! Yenna aalu neenga! Kastam! Kastam!"

Ashwin was beaming widely now, his hands clasped together in excitement while Sivaangi smiled at him.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Ashwin kept saying to himself in excitement making Sivaangi chuckle, "Apo unaku okay ah?"

"Pidichuruku dhan aana mothala neenga impress pani love pana vainga. Aprm okay ah ilaya nu solren" Sivaangi smiled widely and started walking.

"Aiii olunga solu Sivaangi. Aii, nillu" Ashwin jogged behind Sivaangi.

That was the day Ashwin started jogging behind Sivaangi and he didn't stop when they got engaged or married or welcomed parenthood together. She wasn't his circle that he kept coming back to. They both were like magnets. They were inseparable and even when they fight, a little spark is all they need to get clasped to each other.

One fateful evening on a bus lead to many things at end of which they found themselves in each other's embrace for life. Blessed with two children and stable jobs, Ashwin and Sivaangi worked on their happy ending.

THE END

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Sorry if the story isn't good.

Thank you for reading,

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