It was a silent drive back home for Ashwin. He didn't bother turning on any music. The sound of the raindrops hitting against his windows were sufficient background noise for him.

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

Those words kept ringing inside his head even though it's been 3 days since the night at the party. The crushed look of hers when she made that statement, it will forever be etched in his memory and come back to haunt him even in his sleep.

Just what have he done to her?

Frustration built up in him, he felt the urgent need to just scream his heart out.

Just a week ago when he saw her in the award show, Ashwin felt like he won the bloody lottery. As cliche as it may sound, Ashwin thought the universe was bringing him back to the person he was destined with.

With his girl.

But what if she's actually not?

What if this is just the universe trying to punish him for being the douchebag he was in the past?

This is the closest he has been to her physically in the past 2 years and yet he has never felt more distant than this.

Even during those days when he had no idea about her whereabouts, he didn't feel this way. Somehow he always felt her presence in him. With him. He felt the presence of the magic she created in him and that was enough to get through those days.

Now, Sivaangi is right there in front of him but he just can't feel his Sivaangi. He just can't reach her heart no matter what.

She has put up walls that Ashwin is failing to penetrate through. He's afraid of even trying, worried that he may end up hurting her even more in the process of bringing down those walls.

Interrupting those miserable thoughts, his phone started ringing. He sighed deeply taking a look at the caller ID before swiping to answer.

"Sollu machan."

(Yes bro.)

"Yen da ivlo low battery ah iruka?" He heard Rakshan's concerned tone from the other end.

(Why do you sound so low?)

"Yenniki full battery ah irundhen inniki low ah iruka? Nee yedhuku call pannanu sollu."

(When have I ever sounded high for me to sound low now? What's the matter?)

Rakshan hummed and said, "Sony oru album la feature panna offer panranganu sonnala?"

(Remember you told me that Sony was offering you to be featured in an album?)

"Aama, I'm still thinking about it. Because already movie shoot poitu iruku, album ku dates set aagamanu therila."

(Yeah but I'm still thinking about it. Since I'm currently still working on my movie, I don't know if an album project can fit in my schedule.)

"Movie shooting stop panna kuda paravala, nee album la act panniye aaganum."

(Even if it means that you need to stop filming your movie, you have to take up the album project.)

Ashwin frowned at the absurdity he was hearing. "Yen da apdi?"

(Why is that so?)

"Machan the singer for the album song is Sivaangi da, the recording and shooting will be in Bangalore. Idhu thaan chance. Odaney kelambu Bangalore ku, single ah poitu couple ah vanga."

(Because the singer for the album song would be Sivaangi. The recording and shooting will done in Bangalore. This is your chance. Pack your bags to Banglore, leave as a single man and return as a couple with her.)

Ashwin's heart skipped a beat at that. "Unaku yepdi theriyum?"

(How did you about know this?)

"I'm working with the same music director for my movie so casual ah pesitu irundhapo sonnaru. Sivaangi already signed it, nee odaney phone panni agree pannu."

(I'm working with the same music director and it came up in a conversation. Call them up immediately and agree to it.)

Ashwin finally stopped the car by the roadside, unable to focus on driving anymore. "Therila da, maybe it's better if I just leave her alone. Othu varamanu doubt ah iruku."

(I'm not sure, I don't know if things will work between us.)

He could hear Raskhan losing his mind on the other side. "Paithiyama da nee? 2 years back things got messed up but Kadavul eh second chance kudukuraru. Use it and get her back. Sathiyama idhuku mela third chance lam kedaikathu. Naa solliten, vittutu aprom feel pannatha"

(Are you insane? God is giving you a second chance. I swear you will not get a third chance. Don't let it slip away and cry about it later.)

And the call ended with a beep, leaving Ashwin all alone in a confused state to battle between whether to go with his mind or heart.

...

Her milkshake remained untouched as she was still immersed in her endless thoughts.

It's Saturday night, and here she was all alone in a late-night cafe to mourn about her life because she couldn't even do that in peace at home without someone questioning her.

Sivaangi used to be an open book, she would let anyone read her without feeling the need to conceal any parts.

But over the years, she's turned into this closed off person who keeps things to herself. Unable to trust anyone to not hurt her, she promised to be her own knight and protect herself. She will not rely or depend on anyone, she will be the only one for herself

She has no one to lose and she liked it that way.

Because she lost that one person who made her feel in a way no one ever did. And that loss just destroyed her.

The grieve she was subjected to feel, it was too much for her to endure that her heart just shut off.

When he left he did not just take a part of her, he took everything that made her alive just leaving her body alone to rot.

She started getting used to this emptiness, she learnt to cope and live. It was all going fine until he suddenly walked into her life again.

He ignited the fire in her heart and now all she's been feeling ever since then is hatred. Lots and lots of hatred.

Hatred for his beautiful eyes that enslaved her.

Hatred for his voice that felt like her home.

Hatred for his touch that hypnotized her.

Hatred for the way he brought her back to life just by being there.

Who the hell is he to he hold so much power?

Sivaangi drank a mouthful of the milkshakes, as if that will put an end to her internal war.

She has seen many of her friends and cousins who had their own set of breakups. She has seen some of them still maintaining a civil relationship with their exes while there were also many who blocked them and moved on without looking back.

Sivaangi wished she could do that. Just block him out of her mind and heart, move on. She really thought that's what she have been doing. But all those messy feelings and emotions took and U-turn and have returned, leaving her in an unstable spot right now.

She was not capable of being a mature, supportive ex-girlfriend. As unattractive as it makes her seem, she can't help it. She is petty and unforgiving.

She knows she's carrying all these baggages from 2 years ago and she is just not willing to let go off them.

But maybe, it's really difficult for her to let go because those are not baggages that she's carrying. Those are wounds and scars that she's been forced to wear. Those marks are always going to be there.

Regardless of all these justifications she had, Sivaangi is aware that she needs to somehow find a way to breathe in ease in the same space as him because they will be required to be around each other more than she likes considering they're working in the same project.

She has no idea how she can possibly have a decent conversation with that man without jumping on him.

...

"Simbu sir thaan call pannaruma, half an hour ku mela aagadhu. Vandhuruven." She ended the call and slipped the phone inside her pocket.

(Simbu sir called me ma, it won't take more than half an hour. I'll be home soon.)

It was quite late at night already, Sivaangi was hanging out with her old friends in the studio, catching up on whatever she's been missing out when she got a call from Simbu asking if she was free to drop by his office for a quick meeting.

Having no reason to say no, she complied and took a quick drive to his office.

As she was texting Simbu, she noticed her battery that was about to die any minute. She hoped to charge it in his office and left him a text, saying she was in the lift lobby.

Her eyes were still glued to her phone screen when she felt a presence next to her. She did not have to look up to know who it was.

She let out an exhausted breath. Of course he had to be there. The star of the movie she's going to sing for, why would he not be there?

Not in the mood for any drama, she just remained quiet and hoped he would get the hint to do the same. And surprisingly he did.

He did not even greet her.

'Good, now just be quiet until the meeting ends.' Sivaangi thought to herself as they both waited for the lift.

The lift doors finally opened, they both had an awkward moment as they waited for each other to get in first.

Rolling her eyes, Sivaangi decided to step inside first as he shortly followed. Her finger firmly pressed a button when he said,"it's level 5."

Sivaangi finally glanced up at him. "Uhm no it's 13, he texted me that."

"He must have accidentally given you the old address. The office was at 13 but now it's shifted to level 5 so don't waste out time and press 5."

His tone stung her. She would have considered listening to him if he had said it in a less standoffish way. Now there was no way she was going to agree with him.

"He clearly texted me 13 and that's where I'll get down. You can get down anywhere you want."

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. "You just never listen, do you?"

She chuckled humourlessly. "Why would I?"

Just then the lift moved past level 5 but it never reached level 6. Before it could, the lift started to vibrate and shake in an unusual way. Both of them immediately reached for the handrail, panicking they might drop to the floor.

The vibration got even worse, and the lights kept blinking. It was like a scene in a horror movie.

And finally the lights went out completely and there was a loud thud before it was eerily silent.

Her entire body shook as she slowly turned to him but it was all darkness that she couldn't even make out his figure. "A-Ashwin? Yenna aachu?"

(What happened?)

Ashwin gulped, her fearful voice did things to him. He slowly reached out his arm to where he assumed she was and a he couldn't help but smile when she clutched to the tip of his shirt cuffs.

"Lift break-down nu nenakiren." He casually stated.

(I think the lift broke down.)

Sivaangi gasped loudly before she tried to press the emergency button but nothing came. Seems like the emergency button wasn't working either.

"I can't believe this!" She immediately fished out her phone from the pocket only to groan even louder when she realized her phone was completely dead.

"Ashwin, can you do something?! Yedho beach ku vandha madhri jolly ah nikkiringa?"

(Why are you standing leisurely like we're at a beach?)

When he chuckled in response, that was it. She lost it. "Is this funny to you?! Is this a joke?! Modhalla unga phone ah yeduthu Simbu sir ku call pannunga!"

(Take out your phone and call Simbu sir!)

"Yen phone car la iruku." He easily said before leaning against the handrail.

(My phone is in the car.)

Sivaangi's jaw dropped at what she just heard. This couldn't be happening. God can't hate her that much, can He?

How is it that everytime she thinks life can't get worse, something even worse happens just to prove her wrong?

Panic arose in her as she yelled. "Neengala manushan ah? Phone ah yevanavuthu car la vechitu varuvana? Arivu illa?"

(Are you even a human? Who on earth would leave their phone in the car? How senseless can one be?)

Ashwin had a sarcastic smile spread over his lips. "Madam, unga naala thaan namma ipdi matitu irukom. Naa sonna madhri 5th floor ah press pannirndha we wouldn't even be here like this. Panradha lam pannitu thimuru pechi vera."

(Madam, you are the reason we're trapped here. If you had just listened to me and pressed level 5, we wouldn't even be here like this. You have the audacity to talk arrogantly after causing all these?)

Sivaangi shut her eyes, hoping that when she opens it none of this will be happening. But she's no magician so reality was as horrible as it was.

"Ashwin! I don't wanna be stuck here with you. Yennala mudiyadhu!"

(I can't!)

Ashwin gasped dramatically as he clutched his chest like he was in pain. "Yen Madam ipdi solringa? This is my dream come true you know, to be stuck with my ex-girlfriend in a lift."

(Why are you talking this way, Madam?)

"ASHWIN SHUT UP!"

Ashwin tried his best to control his laughter and decided to be quiet for a while knowing she might really lose her mind if he pushes it further.

"By now avanga realize pannirpanga lift break down aachunu, they might take a few hours to sort out the issue. We have to wait." Ashwin slowly said, hoping it will help her calm down.

(By now they would have realized that the lift broke down,)

But it didn't. She was going to be stuck here, in a confined space with the man she wants to keep away from for the next few hours.

Taking in a deep breath, she told herself to be brave and silently prayed she'll be out of here within an hour. Suddenly she heard movement from his side and she found him settling down on the floor, making himself comfortable.

She couldn't really make out his facial expression in the dark but she knows for a fact that he had an annoying grin plastered on his face.

He pointed to the other end of the lift. "Be my guest Your Highness."

---~~~---

This was an unusually long chapter, I hope you all enjoyed reading.

The first two scenes were intended to give the readers an insight on the dilemma both of the characters are facing after meeting each other. It's to explain their current state of minds before we get to see how the story moves forward.

And the final scene🙈 I think it'll be extremely interesting to see how these two characters are going to behave when they're forcefully put in that small space for hours. Will they finally talk? Will they open up? Will they figure things out? You can share your thoughts.

Thank you for reading and do vote if you liked the chapter. The next update will be up latest by Wednesday.