After two months, students are preparing for semester exams.

On a fine Saturday Afternoon, Sivaangi entered into the Ashwin's room to ask doubt. He is correcting the answer sheets of the previously held exam.

Sivaangi-"sir, ulla varalama (May i come in Sir)?"

Ashwin-"vaa maa (yeah, come)"

Sivaangi-"sir oru doubt (Sir, One doubt)", She started asking her doubts, and he explained clearly, and then she started helping him in calculating marks.

Ashwin-"Aarthi"

Sivaangi-"75"

Ashwin-"Abinaya"

Sivaangi-"80"

Ashwin--"Anu"

Sivaangi--"45... Sir, itha question ku neenga mark podala, (Sir, you didn't gave mark for this questions)"

Ashwin-"athu correct answer ah Sivaangi? (Is that the correct answer Sivaangi?)"

Sivaangi--"paathi correct sir, at least half mark podalamla (It is Half-correct. you can give at least half of the marks.)"

Ashwin--" elaphant-kum cat-kum tamil-la enna ma (What is the tamil word for Elephant and Cat?)"

Sivaangi-" yaanai, poonai"

Ashwin-"rendukume 2 letters thaan, athulaium rendukume second letter same thane? (Both are having two letters and the second letter is the same letter, is it right?)"

Sivaangi-" aamaa sir (yes Sir)"

Ashwin--"appo elephant ku pathila cat nu eluthina, half mark koduka mudima, mudiathulla athu mathiri thaan ithuvum. (So, if the person write the answer as cat instead of an elephant. is it possible to give half marks for that? No. Right? it is similar to that.)"

Sivaangi-"irunthalum kudukalam (you can still give)"

Ashwin-"ena(What)?", he asked in a surprised tone.

Sivaangi-"neenga yen elephant spelling ah cat spelling-oda compare panreenga. comapre panama paarunga paathi mark kuduka thonum (Why do you compare the spelling of elephant with the cat. you just look at the spelling of elephant alone. Then you will have the mind-set to give marks.)"

Ashwin sighed and looked straight into her eyes.

Ashwin-"Sivaangi, unaku yen enna pidikala (Sivaangi, Why you didn't like me)?"

Sivaangi-"apadi ellam illaye yaar sonna ipadi? (It is not like that. Who told this)?", she asked in a confusion.

Ashwin-"enna paaru Sivaangi (Look at me Sivaangi)", she looked at him, "enna pudichuruka ma (Do you really like me)?" he asked in a intense base voice.

Sivaangi struggled to reply. His eyes, voice and the way he asked is doing something inside her. She felt a mini zoo at her stomach.

Ashwin-"sollu ma (say)", she looked down.

Ashwin-"appo ena pidikala apadi thane (It means you don't like me, right)?"

Sivaangi --"apadi illa (Not like that)" she replied suddenly but stop in the middle.

Ashwin-"appo unaku enna konjam pudichuruku nu vachukalama (So, we can assume that you like me a little)?"

Sivaangi-'ennathu ithu ipadi kekuraru, ippo enna pathil solrathu, amam nu sonna athu enna konjam pudichurukunu adutha kelvi keparo....kadavule, un pullaiah kaapathu paa (Why he is asking like this?, what should I answer for this? If I say Yes, will he ask like how much do you like me?, Oh god!!!, Please save your kid.)'

Ashwin-"ippo puriutha(Now you understood)?"

Sivaangi-"ennathu(What)?" she asked confusingly

Ashwin-"ena pudikathu-nu illa, but athukunu pudikkum nu othukavum mudiathu. oruthara pudikanum- na athuku avanga mela nambikkai venum. Athe marri than, intha answer full ah wrong kidaiyathu , but athukaga nan keta question ku ithu answer illa, so epadi mark koduka mudium? (It is not that you didn't like me, but that doesn't also mean you like me. So like that, that answer not completely wrong. But that is not the expected answer too, so how can I give marks to that question?)"

Sivaangi-"enna pudichuruka nu, ithuka keteenga(you asked about my wishes for this)?"

Ashwin--"amam ma, unaku purianumla. ippo puriutha?(yeah, you should understand that. Didn't you?)"

Sivaang-"Aiyo sir, enaku theliva purinchuduchu. Neenga mark-ae poda vendam. Jeevan-um anniyum thania thoongitu irukanga. naan poren sir, evening varen (Sir, I understood it completely. You need not give marks for this. Jeevan and sister-in-law is alone there. I will take a leave sir)"

Ashwin--"sari maa(okay)", He controlled his laugh.

Sivaangi on her way, she literally hit her head with the book she had, 'ivara pathi nalla therinjum argue panenla , enna solanum. intha vaathi-ku vilakkam koduka visayama kidaikala, konja nerathula oru zoo-vaiae vayuthukulla vitutaru'(It is my mistake to argue with him even after knowing him completely. Is he unable to find any matter to give explanation? I literally felt a zoo inside my stomach.), she murmured while leaving.

Ashwin laughed his heart out. suddenly he heard Sivaangi shouting voice and he rushed towards her home.

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The home was in a total mess, Jeevan pulled all the things out and spread all over the hall, poured water in the dry cloth, all the utensils and vessels are rolling, and he is laughing by standing in the middle. Still Malini is sleeping since she is very tired.

He quickly took and shielded Jeevan from Sivaangi who is about to beat him.

Ashwin-"ma, vendam ma, kulanthai ma (Don't do that. He is just a baby.)"

Sivaangi-"vidunga avana, ippo than ella velaium mudichen. ella thuni-laium thanniah oothitan. hall-ah parunga ippo ellam clean pananum.ivana.. (Leave him. Just now I finished all the works and he poured water on all the dry clothes. look at the hall, who will clean this now? he...)", Saying this she moved a little towards jeevan to beat.

Ashwin--"maa, kulanthai na apadi than ma, Nan vena help panren (It is nature of the baby. relax, I will help you)"

Sivaangi--" athu mattum illa, ippo ellam nan solratha kekurathe illa (Not only this, he is not listening to me now-a-days)"

Still Malini is sleeping.

Ashwin-" sari, ini kepaan(Okay, hereafter, he will)"

Sivaangi-"nethu kooda asignment ah kilichutan. naan marupadium eluthinen, theiruma (yesterday too, he tore the assignment and I re-wrote it. )"

Ashwin--"nee yen assignment-ah keela vacha, shelf la vachirukalamla (Why you kept the assignment papers down, you should have keep that in Shelf, right?)"

Sivaangi-"appo nan than thappu panena (So, it is my mistake, right?)?" and started cleaning with murmuring.

Still Malini is sleeping.

Ashwin signaled Jeevan and then he bend down like asking sorry to Sivaangi which is exactly followed by Jeevan.

Ashwin-"please maa"

Jeevan--"sss, atha (ss, aunt)"

Sivaangi melt by the scene and so she took the baby and kissed him. Ashwin watched the scene with a happy smile.

Ashwin-"sari ma, nee poo. Nan clean panren.(Okay ma, You leave. I will clean)"

Sivaangi-"illa vendam sir, nane pathukaren.(No need Sir, I will take care)"

Ashwin--"kulanthaia vachukitu epadi pathupa, nee poo ma. (How will you take care with the baby? You leave ma)" and then again started arguing and the whole scene was witnessed by the brother.

Still Malini is sleeping.

Raju-"rendu perum ponga, Nanga paathukarom (You both leave, We will take care)", said smilingly watching the whole show.

Ashwin--"neengale ippo than vantheenga, neenga rest edunga.(Just now you both came from Office. You take rest)"

Sivaangi--"amam anney, neenga papava pathukonga, nanga clean panidarom (Yes, Brother. you just take care of the baby, We will clean this)"

Still Malini is sleeping.

Ashwin-"vaa ma, first thuni ellam eduthudalam (Come, First we will take the dress)", they gave the baby to them and started cleaning.

Sivaangi--"Thangam enga anney? (Where is thangam, brother)."

Raju--"phone pesaran ma. (He is talking on phone)", and rakshan too joined in some minutes and witnessed the scene.

This gives a heart-warming happiness to the brothers. And Ashwin began to get close with Sivaangi more.

Raju-"amam inga ivlo peria kalavaram nadakuthe. Malini enga (A big Riot is happening here, Where is Malini?)?", he asked with a confusion.

Sivaangi-"anni-ku romba tired ah irukunu thoongaranga(Sister-in-law is very tired so sleeping) "

Suddenly Ashwin raised his eyebrows and looked at Raju. Raju gave a shy smile and blinked.

Ashwin gave a tight hug to raju and soon rakshan joined, leaving the poor soul Sivaangi with confusion.

Raju--"inum check panala. Konjam porunga.(Not yet checked. Just wait)

Sivaangi--"enna check pananum? (What to check?)"

Rakshan--"suspence", he said in a joyful voice.

Raju went to see Malini and Rakshan took the baby, went outside so that they can clean.

Ashwin--" sivaangi, vaa maa, clean panalam.( Sivaangi, come lets clean).

Sivaangi--"mmm".

When she was about to turn she fell down because of the water on the floor. But before falling she also pulled Ashwin who is standing next to her and made him to fall on her. Ashwin was so close to her and his lips almost brushed her ears sending chill spines. Ashwin, too felt her blossoms hitting him and loosing control. He traced her fingers on her waist which made Sivaangi to moan 'Sir' a little loudly. 

Then he composed himself and helped her too.

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Parvathi Suresh Sharma.