Author's note

We have lost one of our fandom members, @ ashiv21kr to Covid. She was just 26 years old! I haven't interacted with her but I believe she had read my works. Gone too soon! May her soul rest in peace.

Everyone please prioritize your health over anything.

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Disclaimer

This story is a piece of work 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 TS Oui, Chef 

Part III | C |

On one fine night after work hours everyone left save for Ashwin. It was around ten forty-five and he was busy checking with the stock list. Once done, he stretched his tired limbs and walked inside the chef locker room to collect his belongings.

Once Ashwin reached the down floor, he checked himself out to the receptionist records and walked towards the parking lot. Just as he was walking, he heard screams making him pause on his track.

Ashwin's heart stopped beating for a second when he saw Sivaangi trying to get herself out of the grip of a man who's shouting hysterically. He immediately run towards them and held the hysterical man from behind.

"Ashwin!" Sivaangi exclaimed, her face tear filled.

"Aiii yenna vidu!" Karthick screamed as he tried to break from Ashwin's grip but couldn't.

Sivaangi was too taken aback to see Ashwin in front of her but composed herself quickly and picked the injection from the floor which Karthick pushed out of her hands.

Just when Sivaangi was about to leave from parking lot, her brother came all a sudden and demanded money so that he can buy substance for him. She denied and he became hysterical and started screaming and shaking her. She tried to inject him but couldn't.

"Eii Sivaangi! Yenna vida solu!" Karthick screamed.

Now that Ashwin's holding Karthick, Sivaangi quickly injected the dose to Karthick who's yelling started to fade slowly as he fell unconscious in Ashwin's arms. By then Ashwin realized that the person isn't a stranger misbehaving with Sivaangi but someone she knows.

Sivaangi cried seeing her brother unconscious in Ashwin's arm. She let out her tears and sobs not bothering about Ashwin's presence. She's tired of seeing her brother this way. Her legs gave away and she collapsed on the ground as she cried.

Ashwin's heart tugged on seeing Sivaangi cry. He adjusted the guy in his arms and dragged the guy to his car. He placed the guy in the back seat before rushing to Sivaangi's side and knelt down beside her.

"Ma"

That was all Ashwin said and Sivaangi threw herself in his embrace. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her and tried to comfort her as he sat down beside her.

"Sshh, calm down. Onum ila ma" Ashwin repeatedly whispered in her ears as he tried to calm her down.

Ashwin caressed Sivaangi's locks comfortingly as he felt her cry against him, her whole form shaking. He realized she needed to cry her heart out and just stayed silent, comforting her with his presence. His heart clenched when he heard her hiccupping through her tears.

Once Ashwin felt Sivaangi's tears died down, he broke their hug and cupped her face. Her eyes were red and swollen. Tears were still making their way out of her eyes. He wiped her tears with his thumb as they stared into each other's eyes.

"Ashwin" Sivaangi managed to say in her cracked tone as she tried to swallow down her tears.

"I'm here, right with you" Ashwin assured, his thumb caressing her cheek to let her know that he's here in person.

Sivaangi took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She placed her hand on top of Ashwin's that's resting on her cheek and gently removed his hand from her face.

"I'm okay" Sivaangi said as she wiped her tears and Ashwin moved back from her.

A pregnant silence dominated the air around them as they sat next to each other on the ground until Sivaangi broke it.

"Athu enoda anna, Karthick"

Ashwin looked at Sivaangi in shock. He didn't expect the guy to be her brother.

"Avan oru substance addict. Normal ah nala iruka mathiri dhan theriyum aana yepo yenga avan yenna panuvan nu predict pana mudiyathu. Avana veliya thaniya poga vida kudathu nu ethachum panuvom aana avan life ah modakura mathiri avanuku feel agum nu sila neram avan ponan na vitruvom. Indha addiction la irundhu veliya vara doctor ta lam katunom aana ivan treatment eduka rehabilitation centre ku varala. Suicide panipen nu meratunan. Avan romba violent aanan na room la dhan paadhi neram adachu vachurupom. Oru oru naalum ivan alaruratha ketu ketu dhan naanum appa um valdhutu irukom"

Ashwin listened patiently, his hand reaching out for Sivaangi's. She held his hand tightly.

"He wasn't always like this. Four years before naan Bangalore la work panitu irundhen. Ena paka varen nu amma um anna um plan panirundhanga surprise ah. They decided to come by road. Car la vandhutu iruka apo oru accident. Athula...athula anna severely injured but he survived but...amma"

Sivaangi heaved a deep sigh as she wiped her tears.

"Andha accident aduthu irundhu, athula vandha trauma dhan anna va indha state ku push paniruchu. That time naanum appa vum amma death ah mourn panitu irundhom. Anna seri agi vandha aprm um amma ooda loss ah face pana mudiyama thavichutu irundhom. Mothala kudichutu vara start panan. Appa kandicharu. Vitruren nu sonan aana vidala. Naanga yenna yethu nu realize panra kula he was completely addicted. Apo irundhu ipo vara daily ithe poratam dhan. Anna va indha state la paka mudiyala aana avana yepdi hurt panama avana kapatha num therla"

Ashwin wrapped his arm around Sivaangi's shoulder and brought her to rest herself against him. She rested her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around him. He caressed her arm softly while she closed her eyes and listened to his thumping heartbeat.

"Do you trust me, Sivaangi?" Ashwin asked in a soft voice.

Sivaangi looked at Ashwin as she half-broke the hug,

"I may look happy, bounce here and then spreading my smiles but I have my own pain, own scars. Idhu vara I never told anything about my family to you it's because I really liked you. I wanted to be a happy figure in your eyes. But in your presence, I didn't find the need to hide my true self. I don't care if I'm imperfect. I don't care if I'm broken because I feel secure in your embrace, Ashwin. Your presence soothes me that I choose to be vulnerable around you. Then how will I not trust you?"

Ashwin was overwhelmed with Sivaangi's words. He didn't realize he held such a hold over her. He cupped her face with his hand and gently wiped her tears as they stared into each other's life.

"Apo will you trust me with your brother?" Ashwin asked softly.

Sivaangi took a second to think but seeing the depths of Ashwin's eyes, she nodded her head affirmatively.

"Enaku ithu podhum" Ashwin said leaving her face and took her both hands in his, "Unoda anna va enn kuda anupuviya?"

Sivaangi frowned.

"Athu..."

"Maa ena nambura dhana?"

"Ama...aana Appa?"

"Naan pesuren" Ashwin assured Sivaangi and stood up followed by her.

Leaving her two-wheeler in the parking lot, they reached Sivaangi's home in his car. They helped Karthick inside. Krishnan was awake, waiting for his kids. Sivaangi introduced Ashwin to her father who then sat down to speak about Karthick.

"Uncle naan sola vandha vishayam ah soliduren. Enoda friend Neil Khanna avanoda rehabilitation centre ah Ooty la vachurukan. I firmly believe and know that he can cure Karthick. If you trust me, I can take Karthick to Neil. I know Karthick is suffering and along with him you and Sivaangi are suffering as well. I know Sivaangi for months. I work along with her and I know that she trusts me. I also know that I didn't offer any chances or instances for you to trust me but I want to help you all with Karthick because I have been in the same position as yours"

Sivaangi looked at Ashwin in confusion. What does he mean by him being in the same position as theirs? Ashwin spared a glance at Sivaangi before fixing his gaze at Krishnan.

"Enoda Appa Amma love pani kalyanam panikitanga college padikura apovey. They had me immediately. With Amma's quest for her career and their indifferences, enaku pathu vayasu iruka apo divorced. Appa per Sridhar Kumar. Divorce hearing la I have to stay half time with father, half time with mother nu sonna naala rendu per kudayum irupen"

Ashwin cleared his voice,

"Amma stayed with her father-my grandfather Lakshmikanthan while Appa was all alone. Divorce, loss in business and career, his mother's loss all a sudden, elamey broke his spirits. He turned to alcohol. Avaru kuda iruka turn apo I witnessed whatever he went through. Andha age la avara yepdi handle pananum nu theriyama kastam patu..."

Ashwin heaved a sigh before averting his gaze and continuing,

"Amma came to know about his alcoholic nature and took it to court. She didn't know what made him change and didn't spare her time to listen to Appa. So, enoda sole custody um Amma ku poeruchu and she didn't let me meet him until I was 18. When I found him, he was in a very bad shape of health. Alcohol vitutaru aana traumatized. His friend was looking after him. Enala mudincha alavu pathukiten. And then I moved away for studies. Enaku Appa friend dhan sonaru he got better but then fell into substance addiction nu"

Ashwin fixed his gaze at Krishnan as he spoke,

"I met Neil by chance, strike a friendship with him. Aprm dhan Appa va Neil ta kuptu ponen an year ago. Ipo avaru anga Neil ooda centre la dhan irukaru. He's doing good. Enoda Appa avaru half life ah indha addiction naala yelandhutaru. I don't want Karthick to share similar fate. Let me help him uncle. Please"

Krishnan heaved a deep sigh before he nodded at Ashwin. He was still a bit hesitant to hand over his responsibilities of his son to Ashwin but he knew he had to. Sivaangi didn't knew about anything about what Ashwin went through. She just knew her parents were divorced. She didn't even imagine that he must have been going through such stuffs.

That night when Ashwin was about to leave, Sivaangi enveloped him in her embrace.

"Thank you so much for doing this" Sivaangi said when she broke the hug.

Ashwin's lips curled into a smile as he said,

"Enoda girlfriend ooda brother ku naan seiyama vera yaru seiva?"

While Sivaangi blinked at Ashwin, he just smiled and left. The next day he came early with an ambulance. They injected a sleeping dose for Karthick and sent him in ambulance to Ooty with Ashwin and Krishnan following behind in the car. They denied Sivaangi to tag along.

After twelve hours journey, they reached Ooty rehab centre of Neil and admitted Karthick. Krishnan looked around while Ashwin met with his dad. He even introduced his father to Krishnan who got hope seeing Sridhar doing well.

Six months later Ashwin and Sivaangi celebrated Anuradha's birthday in Ashwin's house. Sivaangi took it upon herself to bake the cake and Ashwin helped her with the icing. After cake cutting the first thing Anuradha asked for is,

"Seri neenga rendu per um yepo kalyanam panikalam nu irukinga?"

Ashwin and Sivaangi fell silent. Before Anuradha could question them, she got an important call and excused themselves. They both moved towards the balcony in the upper room once they realized Anuradha is speaking to her best friend and that it would take her at least an hour to hang up.

Sivaangi noticed Ashwin standing silently as they both stood leaning against the railings and looking ahead.

"Ashwineyy" Sivaangi called him.

"Hmmm" Ashwin faced Sivaangi.

"Yean amaithiya irukinga?"

"Sivaangi unta onnu kekava?" Ashwin asked as he turned fully facing her.

"Kelu, Ashwineyy" Sivaangi said turning fully to face him as well.

"Amma sonatha pathi yenna nenaikura?" Ashwin asked softly.

"Yedha pathi? Namma kalyanam yepo nu ketadha?" Sivaangi asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Hmmm. Naal poete iruku, avanga ketute irukanga. Namma yenna panrathu ipo? Yenna so-" Ashwin went on rambling.

"Athellam ponnu ready agi yelu maasam aga poguthu. Paiyan ivlo waste ah irukinga" Sivaangi chuckled.

Ashwin blinked twice as he took his time to process Sivaangi's words.

"Sivu?" Ashwin asked with a confused smile with his head tilt slightly gesturally asking if whatever he heard was right.

"Ada yenna alu neenga? Vaayala sonna dhan puriyuma? Cheh! Waste Ashwineyy nee. Yepo pa-"

Now Sivaangi's voice got muffled as Ashwin pulled her into his embrace shutting her down.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you" Ashwin kept on whispering against her ear as he rocked Sivaangi along with her, their lips adorned with nothing but smile.

"I love you Ashwineyy. Yepo, yepdi, yendha nimisham nu theriyathu aana life long onga kuda irundhu adha kandu pidika aasai ah iruku" Sivaangi confessed as she broke the hug, "Aasai padalam dhaney?"

"Ithenna kelvi? Life full ah nee enaku venum. Enaku nee podhum" Ashwin hugged Sivaangi and kissed her head, "I love you di"

Ashwin and Sivaangi didn't know how their life changed in a moment. Everything post their confession moved quickly. They announced their decision to his mother and her father who were overjoyed. They were engaged shortly and married within a year at a resort at Ooty so that his father and her brother can also be part of their marriage.

Karthick became better after two years of treatment and returned home. Meeting each other after years at Ashwin and Sivaangi's wedding stirred old memories in Sridhar and Anuradha. She came to know about what he went through Neil whom she searched and found after her son's wedding.

Sridhar and Anuradha share a friendship post everything. Karthick was a changed man and he focused on his career. Krishnan was happy and content to see his children doing well. And, Ashwin and Sivaangi, they birthed a daughter and then a son whom they named Ashvaa and Sivash respectively. Together they weaved magic in their lives and lived contently with their family.

THE END.

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"Oui, Chef" was meant to be a OS but I changed it into TS and dragged it this long. I started the story with a different plot in mind which I changed in between and now I finished it differently. Nothing went with the way I planned for this plot like my most works but I hope I didn't disappoint at least. Tried to keep it as real as possible. Really thankful for the response you guys gave for "Oui, Chef" and I hope you continue to support me.

Thank you for reading,

Nan ~