28

Short update before celebration as I said. Once you read the update you will know why it has to end where it ended.

Ashwin woke up because his stomach didn't know he caught up only 4 hours of sleep after cutting his call with Shivangi at 7. With droopy eyes and ruffled hair, still in his night clothes, he made his way to find his mom.

"Pasikudha?" his mom asked at the sight of him even before he could say something.

(Are you hungry?)

Ashwin didn't reply, but perched beside his mom on the couch and placed his head on her shoulder.

"Tookamum varudhu."

(I am sleepy too)

Thankfully he didn't have shoot for two days giving him enough time to laze around and also romance.

"Pinna, college paiyan maari night full ah phone la pesitu irunda?" his mother chided playfully. "Nee college padikum bodhu kooda apdi illaye."

(Like a college lad you were in phone whole night. In fact, you were not this way when you were in college.)

"Appo ava kooda ilaaye." Ashwin grinned at his mother.

(She was not with me then)

His mother pulled his face away from her shoulder and patted his cheeks.

"Innike poi ponnu kekuta?"

(Do you want me to take your proposal to her house?)

Ashiwn shrunk his eyes to slits making a thinking face.

"Solren ma." He answered seriously. "Naangale innum adha pathi pesala. Aan, avalum ready dan kalyanathuku. Adhu teriyum enaku."

(Not yet. We didn't talk about it yet, but I am sure she is ready. )

His mother smiled fondly.

"Ungakulla iniku varaikum enna nadanduchu nu enaku teriyadhu, naan kekavum maaten, aana ellathukum rendadhu vaaipu kedaikadhu Ashwin. Ungaluku kedachiruku. Idhu unga nalla manasukum, unga fans ungalukaga manasara vendikitadhum dan karanam. Nee adikadi ennamo solluvaye? Kadavul Setting dana? Adhu dan idhu. Avala ennikum kashtapadhuthada. Nalla paathuko."

(I don't know what happened between you two. I don't want to know either. You both are lucky enough to get second chance. Thanks to both your kind heart and prayers of your fans. 'Kadavul setting' as you say. Take care of her.)

"Ma.." Ashwin straightened himself. "Modala en vazhkaya dan maathana, ippo en vazhkayave maareeta. Ava illama naan illa. Nanga rendu perum nalla purinjukittom. Romba careful ah irupom."

(Mom, when we met then, she changed my life, but now she has become my life. I am no one without her. We know that. We will not take it for granted.)

His mother patted his head, kissed his hair before leaving him the couch to make something for him to eat.

Ashwin was sure Shivangi must be still sleeping, so he decided to text her instead of calling.

'Rowdy, night full ah enna toonga vidama paneetu nee nalla toongara pola.

Kanavula naan varena?

Evening free ah? Movie?'

(Rowdy, you kept me awake whole day and now are sleeping happily.

Are you dreaming about me?

Free this evening for movie date?)

He knew not to expect a reply any time soon, so he decided to catch some sports on TV.

When Ashwin still couldn't go back to sleep after mild brunch, he scrolled his gallery to find something interesting to post for his fans in Instagram story with bemusing song choice that is sure to keep them busy for a day. He really enjoys riling them up by being cryptic in social media.

When Ashwin finalized on a solo photo with a blush because Shivangi was teasing him for intentionally biting his lips to bring attention to his dimple, Ashwin opened Instagram to find that Shivangi has posted something.

A little curious that she was online but has not replied to his text yet, he opened the story only to be shocked.

"I don't encourage unwanted shipping with people I work with."

One simple sentence with black font on white background left Ashwin completely baffled.

He knew she was not talking about him. Or even if she is, he knew not to be offended, because he believed what they share is much stronger irrespective of what she portrays in social media. However, he didn't understand the timing or even need for it now.

What even transpired between the time they were on call and when he was sleep?

Ashwin's first thought was to check their hashtag, but he controlled himself knowing he will only be provided with theories and not facts. He has to hear it from her directly. That will be the right thing.

Five calls went unanswered, no messages were replied and he had no means to contact her but one.

"Machan!" Ashwin sounded urgent.

(Dude)

"Ena aachu?" a clueless Pugazh was worried.

(What is it?)

"Enga da unn tangachi?" Ashwin was beginning to get worried as well as irritated.

(Where is your sister?)

"Enna aachu, maapila?" the endearment escaped Pugazh's lips instinctively as the vibe of the situation surrounded him.

(What happened?)

Ashwin asked Pugazh to check her Instagram story and also translated it for him, and then he conveyed how her not responding to his attempts to reach out was worrying him.

"Naan shoot la iruken, but problem illa emergency nu soleetu varen. Neeyum vandiru. Ava veetla dan irupa."

(I am shooting, but I can take a break. She must be home.)

"Veeda?" Ashwin was hesitant

(Her house?)

"Yen?"

(Why?)

"Avanga amma appa ku ellam innum teriyadhu, machan. Naan epdi veetuku varadha? Sari aagadhu.'"

(Her parents doesn't know about us. I can't go to her home.)

"Sari nee vaa naan paathukaren." Pugazh assured

(I will take care of it)

Ashwin reached her home fifteen minutes before Pugazh and waited few feet away from her home in his car anxiously. His calls and texts were unanswered still.

Pugazh called Ashwin after his car pulled up at Shivangi's house.

"Machan, amma kitta pesinen. Ava veetla dan iruka. Normal ah dan pesaranga, so ava enna mood la iruka nu avangaluku terila. Naan avala veliya kootitu varen nee ingaye wait pannu."

(Bro, I spoke to her mom. Shivangi is home. Her mom sounds casual, maybe they didn't yet figure out Shivangi is upset. I will bring her out)

The minute Pugazh dropped at her house unannounced on a day he had shoot, Shivangi knew he was not alone. Her suspicion was confirmed when Pugazh pretended that they had a meeting that Shivangi forgot and so has to come with him immediately to a producer's office. Moreover, when they were out of her house, he lead her to a familiar white car and not Pugazh's black one.

Ashwin sifted his position to look at Shivangi who was sitting in the back seat of his car along with Pugazh. He could see her eyes were red and puffy. He didn't know if it was because of they did not getting enough sleep last night or had she cried.

"Enna aachu ma?" he tried to sound composed. "Evlo phone and messages teriyuma? Bayande poiten. Apdi enna dan problem? En kitta kooda sollama idhu enna chinna pulla maari social media la story?"

(What happened? All my phones and messages went unanswered. What is the problem? You didn't even discuss with me. What is with story in instagram?)

Shivangi maintained mum. Pugazh was strangely quiet in contrast to the impulsive person he is. When Ashwin met his eyes, Pugazh signalled him to be quiet.

"Kutty, saaptaya?" Pugazh asked in a kind voice that Ashwin didn't know Pugazh was capable of.

(Did you eat something, dear?)

Shivangi nodded slowly.

"Saapadlama? Anna kum pasikudhu."

(Shall we? I am also hungry)

Shivangi didn't reply but Pugazh instructed Ashwin to drive them to a restaurant.

When they pulled over at the restaurant Ashwin noticed Shivangi hide her face behind the big sunglasses he always carried in his dashboard, the one which she otherwise complains veils half her face.

Pugazh strangely seemed to have no curiosity about this changed behaviour of Shivangi. He treated her like he usually does and even cracked untimely jokes that no one laughed at including himself.

"Enna machan?" Ashwin mouthed before the three settled on a table of a star hotel's tea longue that was practically vacant.

(What happened?)

Pugazh gestured with his hand to be patient and whispered "Iru"

(Wait )

The men gave Shivangi all the time in the world as she picked at her pasta and took baby bites of pizza and slurped her rose milk as if she was doing it unintentionally. Finally, after good one hour and full stomach, Pugazh managed to ask, "Enna aachu kutty?"

(What happened, dear?)

Shivangi deliberated with herself for few seconds, she then looked at Ashwin for the first time that day. It was as if his bemused and worried face gave her all the push she needed, so she opened something in her phone and handed over it to Pugazh.

Realization dawned on Pugazh before he passed the phone to Ashwin.

A little relief breath left his nostrils before Ashwin's mind understood what this actually meant. His eyes met Pugazh and both the men read in each other's eyes the urge to make everything alright for the woman they loved differently, but equally.

***

Interesting ?

Already guessed what it is about?

Enjoy CWC celebration. Keep expectations low and have fun.