Author's note

Hey guys! Loongg time! Hope you all are doing good. I'm finally done with my exam! I'm not sure if I'll clear this time but the foundation has been laid. So, I'll prepare for June exam confidently. This means yes, along with preparation I'll continue with my stories as well.

I know Entwined and Prejudiced Love is pending. I'll start writing both the stories soon. This idea "Podi" came to me on one random day and I had the opportunity to narrate it to two of my readers in person anjuAnjuuz n Chithra96 They said it'll make a good story and so here it is! Hope you all like it as well.

I'm writing a story based on real life after ages. This is because I don't know, I'm getting a really good feeling about them lately. Might be right, might be wrong but that's what I feel anyway. It may or may not change. So, if anyone's not okay with reading real life fic, then this isn't for you guys. Thank you, happy reading.

~ * ~

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.

~ * ~

Ashaangi TS Po Di

Part One

Sivaangi tapped her feet on the floor as her eyes were set on her mobile. She was watching a Korean drama while waiting for her makeup artist to come. Presently she's seated at a dressing room allotted for her at the shooting spot. It was for one of the promotional reels of a housing agency. All she has to do is to shoot a cover song dressed in few dresses.

First costume is a saree in which Sivaangi's already draped in - a yellow saree that hugged to herself. She would have done the makeup by herself but sponsors insisted on a professional make over.

The room was silent save for the TV playing a news channel. Her makeup artist has left to take an important call and so, Sivaangi decided to catch up on the new Korean drama she was watching.

Sivaangi slightly jerked and pulled out her air buds as she looked up when she felt a tap on her shoulder. With a half-smile, she sat straight on seeing her makeup artist.

"Anne heavy makeup lam vendam neyy. Simple ah potu vidunga pleasee" Sivaangi requested the makeup artist who laughed at her whining and agreed.

"Ama ongaluku Chennai dhan ah ney?" Sivaangi kept talking and the makeup artist Krishna kept responding.

"Anneyy, news pakuringala neyy?" Sivaangi asked as she ran out of most questions by the time Krishna set her hair into braid after finishing her makeup.

"Yean ma, change panava?"

"Ama neyy, yethachum nalla music channel ah vainga neyy" Sivaangi requested in a sweet voice making Krishna laugh and nod.

Krishna picked the TV remote nearby and just as he about to change the channel, a flash news started rolling out and the curve of Sivaangi's smile faded into a frown on hearing the news.

"Pala vimarsanangalai sandhithu meenda prabala nadigar Ashwin Kumar marubadiyum sarchaiyil sikki ullar!"

Sivaangi's neck snapped towards the TV as she forgot to breath for a moment. Her eyes widen on seeing the news card on TV screen, 'Prabala nadigar Ashwin Kumar kaidhu'

Sivaangi's frown deepen as she heard further,

"Sembi thiraipadathil than nadipirku paaratu vaangi kuvitha nadigar Ashwin indru kaalai polisaaral kaidhu seiya pattar. Ye-"

Everything else felt deaf to Sivaangi's ears, even the ringing of her mobile; the news of Ashwin's arrest kept ringing in her ears. A lone tear pricked at the corner of her eye but before she could think further, a guy came calling her for the shoot.

"Ma, adhu news uh...adhu Ash-" Krishna hesitated.

"Anney, na shoot ku poren. Makeup nalla iruku, thank you" Composing herself, Sivaangi forced a smile and walked out of the room, following the guy who came to call her for shoot.

~ * ~

Sanjay rubbed his nape in frustration as he watched policemen working around police station. He was sitting in the bench, waiting for the inspector to come out of his room. He arched his neck around, taking a glimpse at the cell where his friend is kept before looking around the whole police station.

Sanjay sprung up on his feet as his eyes fell on the inspector walking out of his cabin.

"Sir, Ashw-"

"Sir, morning sonadhu dhan ipovum solla poren. Onga friend ah dhayavu senju vaaya thorandhu yenna nu pesa solunga. Avaru pesama na onumey pana mudiyathu indha case la" Inspector sighed, "Avaruku against case file agiruku. Celebrity case, thevai ilama media la evlo negative publicity. Vaaya thorandhu yenna yedhu nu solitu prachanaya mudichutu poga vendiyathu dhana. Avarukum thala vali engalukum mel idathula irundhu pressure. Sollunga, solli puriya vainga"

Sanjay nodded his head with a thank you before throwing a glare at the cell where his best friend is at. Heaving a deep frustrated sigh, he fished out his mobile out of his pocket and walked out of the station.

Half an hour later, Sanjay walked in along with a masked man. The masked man approached the inspector and removed his mask.

"Sir, na Rajesh, RDG Productions co-owner Keerthana ooda PR side la irundhu represent panren. Lawyer koncha nerathula vandhruvaru. Ashwin ooda case-"

"Sir, avaru friend elam soliruparu nu namburen. Neengale poe pesunga avaruta" The Inspector pointed towards the cell.

Rajesh nodded at the Inspector and walked towards the cell where Ashwin's kept. Sanjay stood at the distance and checked his mobile. He was constantly getting calls from Ashwin's family and closed ones. Sighing he watched Rajesh speaking to Ashwin.

When Ashwin's father called him continuously, Sanjay sighed and walked out as he picked the call. After assuring him, Sanjay took a sharp intake of breath before walking inside the police station.

Sanjay stood near the bench and watched as Rajesh walked towards him with a serious face.

"Yenna achu anna?"

"Dei" Rajesh stepped closer to Sanjay and said in a low stern voice, "Sivaangi ah kupdu"

~ * ~

"Cut!" Fasal, the camera man who's shooting the reel sequence muttered under his breath before stopping the recording, "Sivaangi?"

"Haan?" A disturbed Sivaangi walked towards Fasal, her face unsettled.

"Yenna achu Sivaangi? Morning already positions and gestures rehearse panomey, yean yedhuvumey sync aagala?" Fasal asked and on seeing worry lines on Sivaangi's face, he added, "All okay? You look disturbed"

"Ila, adhu..." Sivaangi trailed her words not knowing what to say.

"Is it about Ashwin?" Fasal asked with hesitation. One look at Sivaangi's face and he didn't need to think further, "Shoot nalaiku vachukalam nu sponsors ta solla va?"

"Aiyo Fasal athellam vendam" Sivaangi said quickly, "Oru problem um ila. Thala vali, vera yedhuvum ila. Namma continue panlam"

Fasal wasn't convinced but he nodded for Sivaangi's sake and continued with the shoot only to stop again. It was as if Sivaangi wasn't focussed at all. He was about to ask her to postpone again but thankfully Vinayak, her brother hurried to the spot.

Placing his camera on the nearby chair, Fasal watched as Vinayak excused and pulled Sivaangi aside. Her frown deepened and her face shrunk as her brother spoke to her.

Fasal knows the shoot will be postponed by the looks of it. Heaving a sigh, he leaned down and closed his camera lens. He looked up to an apologetic Sivaangi and even before she could say something, he asked her to go.

"Kappal muligiruchu nu sonanga, indha ootam odura?" Fasal shook his head with a chuckle before walking away.

~ * ~

"Avanuku yenna dhan anna prachana? Evlo kekuren, vaaya thorakala!"

"Dei, avan entayeh paadhi dhan vaaya thorandhan. Yenna nadandhadhu nu theriyama onum yosika mudiyala" Rajesh sighed not wanting to say anything until he knew everything clearly, "Sivaangi ta pesuniya? Vara sonniya?"

"Sivaangi varen nu dhan anna sonna aana..." Sanjay hesitated before saying, "Anna, Sivaangi ah indha neram inga vara vaikuradhu sari ah varuma? Avala thevai ilama idhu kula ilukuromoh nu thonudhu"

"Na yenna yennamoh pesunadhuku avan react agala. Ava peru vaai thavari vandha apo pattunu nimundhu pathan" Rajesh sighed, "Unaku theriyum avan inga iruka iruka avanuku dhan prachana nu. Yaru case kudutha num indha inspector solla matran. Ivanum pesa matran. Mam ta solli sir ta pesa solanum vera vali ila na"

"Avan veetla irundhu vera call panite irukanga anna. Avan appa ipovey kelamburen, lawyer ah anupuren nu solitu vandhutu irukaru. Sivaangi ah vara vendam nu solitu namma Appa ah vitu avan ta pesa vaipom. Kandipa vaaya thorapan"

Sanjay knows Ashwin for years. He was his best friend, someone who stood by Ashwim when most didn't. But then when he came to know Sivaangi, he can't help but feel that brother sister equation with her and that comes with looking after her as well. That's why he's still hesitating over bringing Sivaangi in.

"Nee kolapikadha. Avaluku prachana varama pathukalam" Rajesh assured Sanjay who wasn't fully convinced yet nodded his head while lost in thoughts.

~ * ~

"Sivaangi, yethukum inoruka yosichuko. Nee ipo ulla poradhu safe kedayathu. News matum leak achu na kandavan kandamenaiku pesuvan" Vbzu said as the car stopped at the back of police station.

"Anney" Sivaangi heaved a frustrated sigh, "Careful ah poetu vandhralam anney. Adha neenga, Appa, Vinayak lam irukinga la"

Vbzu raised his hand in surrender and Sivaangi covered her face with the burka she was asked to put on for safety. Vinayak held his sister's hand and took her inside the back path to the station followed by Vbzu while a tensed Krishnakumar was busy with call.

"Sanjay Anna!"

Sanjay jerked a little while Rajesh visibly relaxed on hearing Sivaangi's voice. On looking around, Sanjay immediately dragged Sivaangi to the corner, his eyes looking around to check if people's looking at them.

Sivaangi was about to open her burka but Sanjay stopped her.

"Vendam ma. Safe ila" Sanjay said and pointed at Rajesh, "Idhu Rajesh anna. Keerthana mam send panirukanga. Avan kuda already work panavaru dhan. Unna vara sonadhu ivaru dhan"

"Yenna prachana?" Vinayak asked while Vbzu walked towards Sanjay.

"Sivaangi, inga vaa ma" Rajesh took Sivaangi aside while Sanjay filled Vinayak and Vbzu on what he knew.

"Anna...adhu" Sivaangi hesitated, "Yenna achu? Avaru... avaru yenga?"

Rajesh eyed at the cell that's some fifty metres away before filling her with what he knew. Her face twisted into a frown but that was safe from the world's eye, thanks to her burka.

Rajesh looked around and found only two officers at the station. He noticed that it was break time. He excused from Sivaangi and quickly had a talk with one of the constables who nodded in affirmation. Rajesh then quickly walked to Sivaangi and pointed at the cell where Ashwin's kept.

"Po, avan ta pesu ma" Rajesh told a dumbfounded Sivaangi who just looked at him and shook her head before walking towards the cell.

Sivaangi removed her burka and dumped it on the side table before taking steps towards the cell, thousand thoughts infesting her mind at once. Toying her fingers, she walked front with her eyes fixed on the cell but she paused when she heard a loud thud.

A frown bloomed on Sivaangi's face when she saw a woman standing by the sub-inspector table. There were couple of files in front of her on the floor which Sivaangi figured was the source for the thud noise.

"Ma! Indha neram ulla yarum allowed ila, veliya ponga!" The officer standing there raised his voice at the woman whose attention was solely fixed at Sivaangi, her face splashed with shock.

The frown on Sivaangi's face deepen and her eyes widen in alarm when she saw the badge pinned on the woman's shirt that read 'PRESS'

~ * ~

Hope you guys enjoyed reading the chapter. Any guesses on what happens next?

Please continue giving your support as before. That's what keeps me going.

Thank you,

Nan ~