She sipped on her morning coffee, the bitter taste awakening her brain to be active for the day. Scrolling through Instagram early in the morning was a bad decision especially when the feed was just full of pictures that bothered her peace of mind.

"Kulu kulu couple back in the game again!"

"Ashwin Kumar confessing his undying love for his ex-girlfriend, Sivaangi Krishnakumar."

"Ashwin Kumar sweeps Sivaangi off her feet on stage."

"Ashwin Kumar and Sivaangi used to be a thing!"

All the captions and headlines just gave her a severe headache. Media is worse than an unfed wild animal, it is always hungry for gossip. And this man just gifted them with a juicy piece of scandal to devour for God knows how long. What made Sivaangi even more furious was how he just dragged her into this mess.

All he had to do was give a typical speech and thank his fans for the support. Why create a drama for the world to take pleasure in?

"Did you meet him backstage? What did he say?"

Sivaangi heard her cousin, Shruti questioning her but her eyes were still fixed on her phone screen. She was on Twitter now only to find theories about her love life spreading like wildfire. A hashtag that used to be her happy place was trending again after so long.

Sivaangi shook her head. "I didn't stop to converse or catch up with him. I don't think I can do that."

"You still got feelings for him?"

Now that immediately caused Sivaangi to pause and look up at her cousin. "What?"

"Innum love panriya?" Shruti enunciated each word clearly.

(You still love him?)

"Panna kudathunu thaan vilaguren." Sivaangi walked off the terrace before she was bombarded with anymore questions.

(I'm keeping away from him to avoid exactly that.)

Those questions just scared her because it makes her think about him and that's exactly what she doesn't want to do.

According to Sivaangi, feelings or emotions shouldn't matter here. What's done is done. 2 years ago they decided to part ways and it shall remain that way. It is foolish to start over something that was deliberately broken off. And Sivaangi didn't want to make a fool out of herself.

She took a deep breath and put her hair into a ponytail before accessing her official Instagram account that she stayed away from ever since her hiatus.

Her last post was on her 21st birthday. Reading back the caption made her chuckle humourlessly. She was really a lovesick puppy and she had proudly showcased it to the world.

Just how naive she was to think that Ashwin was the love of her life? The dreams her younger self had...to get married, to have a family, to spend the entire life with that man.

All of that simply made her laugh now. Except that anyone can tell how much pain that laughter holds.

Shaking off all that, she made a post to announce her comeback. Sivaangi chose a few snaps from last night and carefully penned down the caption.

"I am learning to love the sound of my feet walking away from things that are not meant for me. I am back Makkaley☺️🙏"

Just as she was done with the post, her phone rang. The unknown number gave her the jitters. "Hello?"

"Hello Sivaangi, Simbu here. This is my personal number ma."

She sighed in relief at the familiar voice. "Sollunga sir."

(What's the matter sir?)

"The single that you sang for me has gotten an amazing response Sivaangi. Chumma therikidhu. Thank you so much for agreeing to work with me.'

Sivaangi beamed in pride. "Ayyo sir naa thaan thank pannanum yenaku indha opportunity kuduthathuku. You could have chosen any singers who are currently trending but you still gave me a chance."

(Oh no I should be the one thanking you for giving me such an opportunity.)

"Singers that are currently trending ah? Nee vera. Nee yeppo vandhalum nee than trending. Anyways to celebrate the success of the album, I've arranged a small party tonight. I'd really appreciate if the main star of the album, which is you of course, can come. Kandipa nee varanum."

(Currently trending singers? Oh please Sivaangi, you will always be trending no matter when you make a comeback.)

Sivaangi nodded as if the person in the call can see her. "Okay sure I'll stop by sir."

After ending the call, he instantly texted her the venue. Sivaangi was not exactly in a party mood but that's precisely why she needs to go. She has to set herself free from thoughts that were weighing her down. Spending the evening with people who gave off good vibes will surely help her feel better.

...

One can always count on Sivaangi to look effortlessly attractive. But for tonight's party, she really did not put in any effort. She dug her hands into her wardrobe and threw on the first thing that she found, a pair of blue jeans which she matched up with a white spaghetti strap top. She let her hair loose since the weather was quite chill.

The party was held at an outdoor resto bar. Her parents were not feeling the easiest to let her go all alone to such a place but if Sivaangi managed to persuade them to send her abroad all alone for 2 years, nothing is practically impossible.

Sivaangi spotted a number of familiar and friendly faces the moment she entered the venue. Waving with a smile, she walked over to Pavitra who already had her arms out, waiting to embrace her.

"Oh my god Sivaangi, nee yeppo India vandha?"

(When did you come back to India?)

Sivaangi giggled, feeling herself being squeezed. "Just a few weeks ago akka. Neenga yepdi irukinga?"

(How are you?)

And that's how she spent the evening, catching up with lots of people that she didn't really keep in touch with when she was in Singapore.

Everything was going perfectly well until Simbu approached her. Simbu wasn't the problem, but the person who tagged along him was.

Sivaangi was very convinced that God was sitting up there and having a blast watching the ridiculous mess he's created. He was literally playing a game of football with her life. How is it that she ends up meeting the one single person that she desperately hoped to stay away from?

"Sivaangi I need you to sing another song for me. Ashwin is acting in that movie and I'm producing it. Nee kandipa padanum."

(You should definitely sing.)

And Simbu kept going on about this movie and the particular song he wants Sivaangi to give her vocals to. But Sivaangi didn't really focus on anything he was saying.

Her eyes were sat on the man standing by Simbu. He had an unreadable expression but Sivaangi could easily detect a glint of mischief in his eyes which riled her up. He's finding this funny? Or did he actually plot this reunion? Either ways Sivaangi couldn't be subtle, she frowned at him with displeasure.

Just then, someone called for Simbu so the duo was finally given some alone time that one of them absolutely loathed but the other one was craving for it.

Before any of them could attempt to start a conversation, the waiter who's been serving all the guests approached them with his tray. He handed Sivaangi a glass of orange punch, but before she could reach for the glass Ashwin spoke up. "Avangaluku orange pidikathu, bring her something else. I'll take that."

(She doesn't like orange.)

Sivaangi just shut her eyes in defeat. He is not making it easy for her at all.

The waiter apologized and strode off, and once again silence filled up air between them. "Inniki odalaya?"

(You're not going to run today?)

His soft, breathy voice did something to her as she fluttered her eyes open to look up at him. "Unga film la song padaporen, I don't think I can keep running away. There's no point in running."

(I'll be singing in your film.)

Ashwin chuckled at that. But before he could say anything, Sivaangi added on, "but Ashwin I still stand by what I said last night, yenaku unga kita pesurathuku onnumey illa. Professional wise we can discuss anything but there's nothing beyond that."

(I really have nothing to say to you.)

"Unaku pesa yedhuvum illaney vechikalam but yenaku neraya iruku. You don't have to say anything but at least hear me out." He worded it out in a pleading tone, almost making her melt.

(Let's assume you really don't have anything to say to me but I have plenty to say.)

But she can't cave in. Hearing him speak terrifies her more than she herself speaking. Because for one, she knows that every word that escapes his lips will have it's own impact on her heart and mind. They will be powerful enough to tear open the wounded parts of her that she has sealed with a bandage.

She doesn't want to expose those wounds even to herself. She has locked them away and decided to pretend they never exist.

Just as she was mentally forming words in her head to put an end to this, he rightfully took hold of her hand.

It's the 21st century. But it felt like she was commiting an unforgivable sin when she found herself indulging in his touch. The touch that she had missed for countless days and nights. She had no idea how much she had been longing for it until this very second.

Her fingers still felt the burn of his touch when he accidentally caressed them last night in the award show.

But this here, it wasn't just a mild caress. He had wrapped his hand around hers tightly like he was holding something that belonged to him. The tightness allowed her to feel his craving and longing for her.

She hated how her hand still feels perfectly at home when it's inside his.

As if all that wasn't enough, he used his other deadly weapon - his husky voice. "Sivaangi, yenna paaren."

(Sivaangi, look at me.)

The voice sent shivers and for a minute she felt like tossing away every principle and beliefs she had down the drain because nothing seemed worth enough to refuse his touch, to refuse him.

As tempting as she felt, her past sufferings have taught her better than to give in to her desires. The Sivaangi 2 years ago would have been a puddle by now. But this is not her.

So she snatched back her hand at once and exhaled heavily before glancing at him.

"I can't do this."

For a second, agony flashed in her eyes making her feel bare in front of him. But that's how she had always been with him.

Real and vulnerable.

"Ashwin, getting over you was the hardest thing I had to do in my life. I don't think I can do it again."

---~~~---

I personally enjoyed writing the last scene very much, something felt very special about it🤭 How do you guys find it?

And thank you so much for showing this book with so much love and support, all in just one day! You guys are such a motivation. I'll try to update as regularly as possible.🙏💜