Epilogue - 1

Ashwin opened his eyes to his wife making excuses to someone over phone for being late.

"Half an hour la irupen anga. Ashwin nethu night foreign shoot mudinjutu late ah vandaru. Pick up panna ponen, adhunala toonga late aaiduchu, endirika late aaiduchu."

(I will be there in half an hour. Ashwin came back from foreign shoot. I went to pick him up, so slept late and woke up late.)

Ashwin rubbed sleep off his eyes and looked at the bedside clock. It was 9. He can afford to sleep more on his day off, especially as he was fighting time difference and jet lag. Pulling the duvet over him, with only his eyes uncovered for it was looking at his wife going around their room getting ready.

It has been six months to their marriage and Ashwin still gets a fuzzy feeling in stomach when he sees her in his bedroom going about doing her work like it's the most common thing in the world. Well, it is now, most common thing for them, their everyday life together as husband and wife.

"Bag enga, bag enga!" she was muttering to herself looking around the room.

(Where is my bag?)

As Shivangi's eyes looked at every corner of the room, it landed on her husband who was looking at her with half opened sleepy eyes.

"Endirchitaya Ashwinney" she grinned

(Are you awake?)

Ashwin in reply only extended his one hand from under the duvet and called her to him.

"Enaku late aachu." She said even as she made her way to him.

(I am running late)

Ashwin pulled her down on the bed before he placed his head on her lap hugging her waist.

"Ei! Enaku late aachu." She said caressing his hair. "Already excuse soleeten. Tirumbi late pannadeenga."

(I ll be late. I already gave them excuse. Should be there soon)

"Hey, kedi, ennalaya late aachu?" he lifted his head and looked at her. "Naan one week shoot mudichitu aasaya vandha madam nalla night toongeetu irundeenga. Phone la late aanadhuku enn mela pali podra."

(Did I make you late? When I came back last night you were already sleeping. Why were you using me as excuse.)

"Unga padathuku dana paadren. Hero mela pali pota dan yaarum onnum keka maatanga." She said sneakily

(Since you are the hero of the movie, I can easily get away using your name)

"Appo hero mela pali potu recording cancel panniko." He rubbed his face on her stomach making her feel ticklish

(Then cancel recording for me)

Shivangi knew he didn't mean it. He is too professional to make her do that. However, her valanda kozhanda loves to throws tantrums like this and expect her to pacify.

"Enna pali podradhu?"

(What do I tell them?)

"Hero romance song mudichitu nalla mood ah irukaru. So, inniku avar kooda private recording iruku nu solleeru."

(Tell them hero is in mood to romance after working on romance song in shoot. So, he wants private recording with you)

Shivangi giggled. He is so different from the Ashwin she thought she knew, different from the Ashwin world thought they knew, but she still loves every bit of him. In fact, she loves this side more because it's only for her.

"Mood ethara alavuku enna paneenga romance song la? Verum dance number nu dana soneenga."

(Was song so romantic? I thought it was dance song)

Ashwin moved back on the bed so that he could see her face clearly. He took her hand and placed on his chest. His face formed a frown and he began with a complaining tone how choreographer made him do a romance sequence in rain.

"Kuluru vera." He said. "Enaku seriyana kadupu."

(It was cold and I was annoyed)

If it was someone else, one could assume they were pretending to be annoyed, but knowing Ashwin, Shivangi was sure her husband was surely not fan of getting even an inch extra closer to the heroine. Every bit of romance he has is meant only for her, not that she has any complains.

"Honeymoon la rain romance pannumbodhu hero sir ku kulu kulu nu irunduchu." She slightly caressed his chest with her nails.

(You loved rain romance on our Swiss honeymoon)

Ashwin's face turned to a grin as he remembered the best moment of their Swiss honeymoon. He could still feel the warmth of her skin he touched in that wet, cold rain. As memory of that night came back, he slowly caressed her arms reaching for the side of her neck. Unlike today, she was wearing a sleeveless cotton shift dress making it all the more easy for him to get his way with her.

"Heyy!!" Shivangi warned as she stopped her husband's hand from going below her neck. She knew where it will lead and she has a recording to attend.

"Eppo varuva?" he asked with a pout like a toddler questioning mother who leave him at play school.

(When will you be back?)

"Seekiram vandiruven." Shivangi held his cheeks fondly. "Rest edunga. Athai ungaluku pudicha lunch seivanga. Sendhu saapadlam." She pressed a kiss to his forehead before leaving him to another round of sleep for him.

(Will be back soon. Take rest and eat)

When Ashwin woke up next time, he was surprised that he again woke up to his wife immersed in her phone.

"Recording polaya?" he asked in raspy voice.

(Didn't you go to recording ?)

Shivangi lifted her eyes off her phone and smiled at him. "Mani 6 aachu. Naan tirumbiye vanduten"

(Its 6 in the evening. I am back.)

Ashwin stretched his arms as he sat up on the bed.

"Romba tired ma."

(I am very tired)

Shivangi stood in front of him as she slowly pressed his taut shoulder muscles to help him relax.

"Body pain vera." He said as he tried to remove neck knots.

(Body aches)

"Spa appointment eppo?"

(When is your spa appointment ?)

"Nalaiku."

(Tomorrow)

Shivangi continued to press his shoulder not that her small hands was making any difference, but he liked that she was thoughtful enough to do it for him.

""Poi kulichitu vanga. Eat something."

(Go shower)

"Oye! Rowdy!" he whispered. "Kulika vai."

(Shower with me)

She bit her bottom lips trying to suppress her blush. It has only been six months. Physically they were very close yet they are yet to explore more. As much as she tries to be bold and loves exploring, he manages to make her blush like a new bride when he makes such statements in his base voice.

"Naan dinner panren nu soleeruken." She tried to answer casually. "Unga favourite veg au gratin recipe paathu....."

(I promised to make dinner. I have new recipe for your favourite au gratin....)

She stopped talking as his hands travelled inside her T-shirt and caressed her waist.

"Romba miss pannen." He said in almost pleading voice. "Night varaikum wait panna vekkadha."

(I missed you a lot. Don't make me wait till night)

How can she say no to that when waiting was impossible even to her?

When Shivangi went to the kitchen couple of hours later, the maid had already prepared dinner for the family under her mother in law's supervision.

"Sorry athai adhu vandhu..." what excuse was she supposed to make.

(Sorry, I was...)

"Parawala ma." Her mother in law gave her the warm smile that sivaangi loves. "Recording mudichu tired ah toongeerupa nu teriyum."

(Its okay. You must have slept due to fatigue after recording)

Shivangi gulped not sure how to react. The maid chuckled and her mother in law left the kitchen patting Shivangi's cheek with a knowing smile.

Shivangi closed her eyes embarrassed. If only this was the first time she was facing this all since her marriage to an insatiable man. Of course, they were gonna put two and two together if she returns from room in clothes different from what she wore in the morning and freshly showered wet hair.

In the dining table, when hot chappatis were served, her clueless husband asked her, "Au gratin illaya?" she gave him a murderous look and kicked his leg under the table making him frown.

(No veg au gratin?)

It was late in the night when Ashwin was sitting on the swing in their garden listening to music when his wife joined him.

Ashwin moved aside making space for her. Shivangi pulled her leg up, leaned on him with her back to him, while he put his arm around her and started pushing the swing on his legs.

"I missed you so much." He said kissing her hair. "Enn kooda inimel outdoor shooting vandiru."

(Come with me to all outdoor shoots)

"Eppo paathalum enn koodave iruka bore adikalaya Ashwinney?" she asked playing with his fingers

(Won't you be bored of me?)

"Epdi adikum? You are my friend, my lover, my wife, my baby. You are complete package. Unn kooda every minute pudhusa iruku enaku."

(No, every minute with you is new. You are my friend, my lover, my wife, my baby. You are complete package)

"Aama, nalaiku enna naal teriyuma?" she asked

(Do you know what day is tomorrow?)

"Teriyum."

(I know)

"Teriyuma?" she was surprised

(You do?)

"Namba six months anniversary dana."

(Our six months anniversary)

Shivangi turned to him with look of amusement. "Parawala Ashwinney, summa onnum most romantic nu sollala. You remember everything about me and us. Neenga nejamave romba romantic dan."

(Not bad. You are romantic. Not just words. You remember everything about me and us.)

"Enaku enna gift tara?" he asked

(What are you gifting me?)

"Neenga enna tareenga?"

(What about you?)

Ashwin grinned as he took his phone. Shivangi should have guessed. He definitely had something in mind when he asked her for gift. He showed his phone that had picture of diamond bracelet that looked breathtaking.

"Customs la iruku. Nalaiku production house la irundu yaarachu kondu varuvanga."

(It is in customs. We will get it soon)

"Super ah iruku!" she exclaimed.

(Its beautiful)

It was not about jewellery. She doesn't even know what it is made of. All that mattered to her is that it is from him. Even when they were miles away, he only thought about her and shopped for her. For Shivangi, this bracelet and those imported chocolates were equally precious as it was from him.

"Naanum oru gift vechu iruken." She said.

(I have a gift too)

"Really!" he asked doubtfully.

"Aana materialistic illa." She said.

(But not materialistic)

He narrowed his eyes.

"Ahh...." Shivangi opened her mouth to say something, but didn't. "Idhu neenga venumnu asai pattadhu. Naan mudiyave mudiyadhu nu sonnen, but ippo naan ready."

(You wanted it, but I was not ready. Now I am)

He was not sure what she was talking about.

Shivangi looked around. Of course, no one was going to see them, the walls were high and her in-laws were already asleep.

She moved closer to him so that their faces were only inch apart and whispered in his ears.

His eyes widened in surprise. Was she talking about one of his fantasies coming true?

"Nejamava?!?"

(Are you sure?)

She giggled. He was such a crazy kid who had equally crazy fantasies. She was confused more than shy when he expressed it. However, last one week was enough for her to ponder on it and understand it was common and in a way exciting too.

"Innike!" she assured

(Lets do it today)

It was too quick how she was next minute in his arms and was being carried to their room.

"Paathu, manna, keela potradenga enna." She giggled as he climbed the stairs impatiently.

(Careful, king, you might drop me)

Thank God he slept whole day, he was going to have a long night.

***

How did you like it?

Four more epilogue shots will be posted before we wrap Lonely Hearts.