Author's note

Hello makkely, thank you to all those who have read, voted and commented on the previous chapter. Truly, it means a lot.

My working hours have been increased and I'm out of energy at this point. Will try to update the next chapter as soon as possible. Kindly bear with my timings as NAAC work is dragging me down!

As always, stream Adipoli and Ven Sango whenever you can. Support them professionally and keep them both in your prayers. Hope. Believe. Magic.

~ * ~

Ashaangi SS Bewitched

Chapter Twenty Nine

Sivaangi eyed at Ashwin who had his hands joined and praying in front of a small photo. Saradha stood on the opposite side and with her eyes closed, she was praying. It was Ashwin's father's death day.

Dhanalakshmi gestured Sivaangi to help Saradha. Ashwin silently walked out. Saradha asked Sivaangi to help Kamala to bring the food to the dining table while Saradha went out to keep food for the crow. Once the crow eat, rest can eat.

The day went swiftly. Sivaangi didn't see Ashwin much. He texted her that he had to go to Coimbatore for work but she knew he just needed some time. He grew up without a father and to grieve over someone you have never met was never easy.

That night was the first time Sivaangi sneaked inside Ashwin's room, unannounced. And, she only left when her guy felt better.

Two days later, Harish came back by evening. Sivaangi threw herself in her brother's arms. Ashwin greeted Harish with a hug. Kamala made them hot raw banana fitters and coconut chutney. They sat down and relished it with Harish filling in about his work.

In between, Ashwin got a work call. So, he excused himself. Harish and Sivaangi started talking about work.

"Nalaiku LS Showroom ku vara sollirukanga. Namma dresses ellam vandhrucha nu pathutu aprm models vachu photoshoot ku proceed panidalam" Harish suggested, "Naa Bangalore vara poga vendiyathu varum, Sivu. In that case, nee dhan pathukura mathiri irukum. Ashwin ah venum na help ku vachuko"

(Tomorrow, they have asked us to come LS Showroom. Once we get the dresses, we can proceed with the photoshoot with models... I might have to go to Bangalore, Sivu. In that case, you would have to take care. Take Ashwin's help"

"Work ellam naa pathukuren neyy. Onga work oda mix up aaga vendam. Aprm Ashwin avaru new business la vera busy ah iruparu. Avara naa disturb pannala. Namma Georgian team la irundhu oruthara kuptukuren"

(I'll take care of work, brother. Let your work not get mixed up. Then, Ashwin will be busy with his new business. I won't be disturbing him. I'll get someone from Georgian team for help)

Although Sivaangi would get to spend time with Ashwin if she asks him to come along, it wouldn't be fair to him given he have to take care of his works too. If she asks, then he will try to balance both to help her out and she doesn't want that.

"Aprm, andha vlog namma yedukuradha irundhuchula. Adhuvum yedukanum, Sivu. Publishing house la promotion ku ketrukanga" Harish said and Sivaangi agreed.

(The vlog which we planned to take, we have to take it, Sivu. Publishing house has requested for the vlog for promotion)

That's when Ashwin came. Harish told Ashwin about the vlog and Ashwin suggested few places where they can shoot. Sivaangi freely engaged in the conversation and the ease with which Ashwin and Sivaangi conversed didn't slip from Harish's notice but he decided not to react; not until, he was sure.

Harish excused himself as he was tired from the travel. Sivaangi walked him to his room while Ashwin went to his house. He laid down on his bed and took his mobile to text Sivaangi.

Ash: Oiii!

Ash: Ini unn room ku night vara mudiyathu 😫

(Here after I can't sneak into your room at night)

Sivaangi chewed her lips as she read Ashwin's text and chuckled.

Siv: Aama, aama.☺

(Yes, yes)

Ash: Psch! Poo maa, unn annan vandhutan la. Ini naan lam unn kannuku theriya maten.😞

(Psch! Arggh. Your brother is here. Now I won't be visible to you)

Sivaangi giggled as she rolled on her stomach and dangled her legs in the air.

Siv: Aama, aama 🥰🤭

(Yes, yes)

Ash: Maaa, verupethadha 😒

(Don't annoy me)

Sivaangi giggled, teasing Ashwin for few more minutes. He couldn't take it after an extent and called her. She laughed out making him whine. Time slipped for the love birds as they got lost with each other.

Around nine thirty, when Ashwin came upstairs to Harish's room, he was deep down hoping to meet Sivaangi. His face lit up when he saw Sivaangi in Harish's room. They were on video call with the rest of the family. He tried to slip away without their notice but Harish spotted him and asked him to come inside.

Kaleeswaran, Anuradha, Krishnan, Binni and Vinayak were on the video call. They were at Chennai, Dubai and Bangalore respectively. When Ashwin spoke with them, he didn't feel like an outsider but as a part of their family.

Vinayak only let Ashwin once Ashwin promised that he will meet Vinayak when he come to Chennai next. They all spoke for few more minutes before the siblings hung up the call.

"Yenna machan, innerathula ena thedi vandhruka? Yenna achu?" Harish asked.

(What happened, dude? You came looking for me at this time?)

'Unna yevan da paaka vandhan? Yepdiyoh vandha velai mudinchu' Ashwin thought eyeing at Sivaangi once before looking at Harish.

(Who came to see you? Anyhow, my work is done)

"Adhu onum illa, machan. Morning early ah vlog shoot ku sight paaka polam. Confirm na nalaiku afternoon pola illa na day after tomorrow morning shoot panikalam. Adha sollalam nu dhan da vandhen"

(That, dude, we will go to see spot to shoot vlog at early morning. If the spot is confirmed then you can either shoot tomorrow afternoon or day after tomorrow morning. I came to tell you this)

'Yenna solran paru!' Harish scoffed mentally, noticing Ashwin stealing glances at Sivaangi and sighed, 'Naa ava annan nu avanuku nyabagam iruka illaya nu theriyala'

(Look at the way he lies! ... I'm not sure if he remembers I'm her brother or not)

Knowing Ashwin, Harish won't be against Ashwin and Sivaangi if they have feelings for each other. He wasn't annoyed that whatever it was between them that they kept it from him. But he also knows Sivaangi that when the time comes, she will come to him first. So, he let that slide.

"Seri, macchan. 6 ku lam ready agidurom. Yenna Sivu, okay dhana?" Harish looked at Sivaangi.

(Okay, dude. We will be ready by 6. Is that fine, Sivu?)

"Okay dhan neyy. Seri, naa thoonga poren. Good night neyy" Sivaangi side-hugged Harish who greeted her back. She walked past Ashwin, saying, "Good night, Ashwinn"

(Yes, brother. Okay, I'm off to sleep now. Good night, brother... Good night, Ashwinn)

Ashwin gave an awkward smile to Harish, greeted him good night and walked out of Harish's room. His eyes darted towards Sivaangi room. Sighing, he shook his head and walked back to his room.

The next morning, they all started from the house by six twenty. Ashwin was driving. Harish was still sleepy. So, he volunteered to lay down in the backseat. He wasn't sleeping but kept his eyes closed. Sivaangi, who was wondering how to sit front with Ashwin, grinned and happily sat on the front.

Ashwin driven the car for some ten minutes. All the while, he and Sivaangi spoke through their eyes and smile, not wanting to give Harish any ideas as they knew he was just resting and not sleeping. Ashwin stopped near a field and Sivaangi woke up Harish.

"Wow! Kaathula nalla irum iruku. Chill nu, semma view, machan. Nalaiku morning inga first shot shoot panlam" Harish took few steps forward and looked around.

(Wow! The air is dense with moisture. Its chill and the view is amazing, dude. We will shoot here tomorrow morning)

Sivaangi was couple of steps behind Ashwin. He eyed at Sivaangi who was yawning and looking front. Biting back his smile and putting on an innocent face, he walked front. Just when he was about to walk past her, he pinched her waist, earning a yelp and hiss from Sivaangi.

"Yenna achu Sivu?" Harish turned back. He was quick to notice how Sivaangi took her hand from her waist and how her eyes darted to Ashwin's before looking at him.

(What happened, Sivu?)

"Erumbu kadichuruche neyy. Vera onum illa" Sivaangi looked at Harish who shook his head and turned front, thinking,

(I got bitten by an ant, brother. Nothing else)

'Aiyoo raama! Ivanungaluku naa romance novel writer nu marandhu pochu polayee! Ivalo appatama irukanungale! Saradha aunty kandu pidikama irundha seri!'

(Oh god! Looks like they forgot that I'm a romance novel writer! They are this obvious! Let's hope that Saradha aunty doesn't find out!)

They saw another spot and Ashwin parked the car under a tree.

"Inga irundhu andha kovil stone steps valiya erangi pona Anakara pillayar aaru oodum machan. Thadupu kattirupanga dam mathiri. Long steps la water cascade agura apo kutty falls mathiri irukum oru oru steps um. Final shot inga edukalam. Nalla irukum" Ashwin said.

(If you take the stone stairs near the temple, you will find Anakara pillayar river flowing down. It has blocks like a dam and when water flowers through the blocks onto the long stone steps, it will look as if water's cascading down little, little falls. We can take the final shot here. It will be nice)

"Seri, vaa da. Pathutu varalam" Harish said opening the car door.

(Okay, come. Let's go check out the place)

"Nee modha po machan. Naa car ah reverse la niruthitu varen" Ashwin said and secretly eyed Sivaangi to stay back.

(You go first, dude. I'll reverse the car and join you)

"Seri, da. Vaa, Sivu. Namma polam. Avan varatum" Harish got down.

(Okay, dude. Come, Sivu. We will go. He will join)

Sivaangi don't know what to say. She nodded and got down while Ashwin eyed at her to stay back.

"Neyy, steep ah iruku. Unaku theriyum la enaku indha mathiri edam na bayam nu" Sivaangi voiced her concern as she looked down.

(Bro, the path is steep. You know I'm scared of places like this right)

"Aana spot nalla irukum polaye, Sivu" Harish said thoughtfully as he could listen to water's sound from there.

(But I think the spot will be really nice, Sivu)

"Seri onnu pannalam. Nee poe paaru neyy. Spot nalla irundha naa kanna mudikuren, nee ena nalaiku keela kuptu poeru. Apdi illa na vera spot pathukalam. Okay ah?"

(Okay, let's do one thing. You go ahead and check out the spot. If it is good then I will close my eyes, you somehow get me down. If not, we will look for some other spot. Okay?)

Harish found the suggestion sensible. So, he agreed and asked Sivaangi to send Ashwin. She walked back and saw Ashwin reversing the car. With a big smile, she walked towards the car. Just as he stopped it, she opened the front door.

"Polaya?" Ashwin asked removing the seatbelt.

(You didn't go?)

When Sivaangi filled in, Ashwin quickly turned back to see if Harish is coming. When he couldn't find any traces of Harish, Ashwin leaned forward, hovered his arm over Sivaangi and kept his palm on the back of her seat, taking her completely aback.

"Ashwin! Yenna panra?"

(Ashwin! What are you doing?)

Ashwin gave a broad smile, "Paatha theriyala ya?"

(Do you not know?)

"Aiyoo, anne vandhura poranga. Nagarunga" Sivaangi slightly panicked.

(Aiyoo, what if my brother comes? Move)

"Maa, adhellam avan ipo vara maatan" Ashwin leaned forward, his breath hitting Sivaangi's face making her fist his t-shirt and close her eyes.

(He won't be coming now)

"Ashwin..."

In response, Sivaangi was rewarded with a forehead kiss. Her worry lines faded and a soft smile bloomed on her lips as she felt him kiss her cheek soundly. Unconsciously, she pulled him closer by his t-shirt and he was happy to lean front.

Sivaangi's quivering lips found its peace when Ashwin softly nibbled her brims. He cupped her cheek and brought her face closer before deepening the kiss. She kissed back in equal fervour. As much as there was fear of getting caught, the fear also gave a thrill which intensified the kiss.

They pulled back shortly, resting in each other's forehead; panting softly. Pecking her nose, Ashwin pulled back and cleared his throat.

"Vaa, ma. Kovil vaasal la okaralam. Unn anna vandhra poran. Polam" Ashwin said threading his fingers through his hair.

(Come. Let's sit in front of the temple. Your brother might come. Let's go)

"Aama. Kiss panra apo idhellam theriyala ya?" Sivaangi smacked Ashwin's arm.

(Didn't you know my brother would come when you were kissing me?)

Not that Sivaangi's smack was painful but Ashwin let out a hiss anyway and whined saying, "Aah! Valikudhu ma!"

(Aah! Its paining!)

"Odanae nadichu kottadhinga! Vaanga polam" Sivaangi got down from the car.

(Stop acting now! Come, let's go)

The temple was closed and there wasn't anyone around. They sat on the rocks in front of the open temple. They spoke with each other as they waited for Harish.

When Harish came back, he didn't fail to notice how bright Ashwin and Sivaangi's faces were. He shook his head and joined them, thinking,

'Do I even want to know?'

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How's the chapter guys? Hope you enjoyed reading.

Please do vote and comment, to boost my morale.

Thank you for reading,

Nan ~