Ashwin's eyes wandered around before settling on Sivaangi who was standing only a few steps away. Her disappointment in him was evident on her face and he could not help but feel utterly crushed. Her eyes conveyed a lot more than just distress. It was pain. The kind of ache she did not deserve. To make it worse, now he had to handle this impossible situation in Ani's presence.

There was an uneasy silence that filled the room making Ani wonder what transpired between the two. He wasn't oblivious to the fact that Ashwin had a major role to play in Sivaangi's change from a carefree and outgoing person to the composed and reserved person that she is today. However, he knew better than to pry into details that she wasn't comfortable sharing. Over time, he had assimilated her enough to accept her just the way she is, no questions asked. And that was all she needed. 

Some bonds happen by choice, but some happen by a force of nature that's out of control. While what Sivaangi shared with Ani was by choice, the one she shared with Ashwin was beyond all of that. It just happened, like a miracle.

Both Ashwin and Sivaangi, were well aware of the fact that neither dwelling on what they had said to each other even without meaning any of it nor resenting was going to make the circumstance any better. Howbeit, there wasn't much either could do at this instant, except being patient until they got some alone time.

His words, "I will leave... Nee avan koodaye iru", rang loud in her ears on loop, shattering all of the little hope she had for them. If deserting her was so easy for him, albeit for an argument and in anger, after knowing the anguish and suffering she had to endure for three long years, how was she to trust him with her heart yet again? 

She questioned herself before moving her eyes away from his.

Now that both Ashwin and Ani were sitting right across from her, she implored her mind to handle this best way possible and keep her displeasure with Ashwin to herself. She always made it a point to keep them private and this was no exception. Although there were so many unanswered questions floating around like a dark cloud above them, all of it had to wait.

Sivaangi decided to break the ice before it got way more complicated.

Sivaangi: Ani do you want to get refreshed before having the coffee? Rombha tired ah iruku face. I will go make coffee in the meantime.

(Ani do you want to get refreshed before having the coffee? Your face looks very tired. I will go make coffee in the meantime.)

Ani was too exhausted to decipher that she needed some alone time with Ashwin by her out of the blue statement after complete stillness for the last 10 minutes. He took it quite literally which worked out in her favor.

Ani: Yes.. naane pananum nu nenachen Sivu. Maranduten. Let me quickly refresh and be back.

(Oh Yes. I wanted to but then I totally forgot. Let me quickly refresh and be back.)

He excused himself and walked out of the living room. And then there were two.

Sivaangi swiftly moved into the kitchen and Ashwin walked right behind her.

Silent tears which she had managed to pull back all this while started to roll down her cheeks. He moved closer to stand right behind her with barely any distance between them. Her muffled cries put a dagger through him, right where it hurt the most. Oddly enough, this time he was actually here with her to comfort. Not just in her thoughts or memories, but in reality.

Ashwin: Ma... Edo oru kovathla...

(Ma... My anger...)

Sivaangi: Kovathla?

(Anger?)

Ashwin: Yosikaama edo solten...

(It got the better of me)

Sivaangi: Rendu vaarathlaye vitutu poganum nu thonidchu la? En mela thappu iruku dan. Adhuku sanda pota kooda paravalla. Aana vitutu poganum nu thonidchu la?

(Within two weeks you feel like leaving me all over again right? Yes, I am at fault too. I would have been completely ok if you had chosen to fight but instead you wanted to run?)

He shifted to stand facing her, but she wasn't ready for him to see her torn apart like this.

Ashwin: Enna paaru... please.

(Look at me... please)

Sivaangi: I can't

He wiped her tears off her cheeks before cupping her soft face with his hands and lifted it up so that her welled up eyes looked right into his.

She found solace by his mere look. How on earth did he manage to do that? Why was he here? Why was he her poison and her instant cure?

Ashwin: Thaniya irukra apo peslam. For now, just know that, unna vitu na engayum poga maten. Drop pantu poga mudiyaama dane...

(Let's talk when we are alone. For now, just know that I am never leaving you again. Even when we reached here, I could not just drop and leave...)

Sivaangi: Bayama iruku...

(I am scared)

Her voice was shaky making it hard for her to speak.

Ashwin: Bayama?

(Scared?)

Sivaangi: History repeats itself nu solvangale. Adu madri Ipdilam soltu.. oru nal kaanama poiduveengalo nu.

(They say history repeats itself. So after all this, will you still vanish into thin air yet again leaving me all alone?)

How was we going to prove to her that he was always going to be there? Be it a good day or bad? Even after a fight like this? 

There was no other way than to let his actions speak. He has to earn the trust he lost and it wasn't going to be easy. 

Ashwin: Seekrame indha bayam pogum. Namma history adhu illa. Vera. We will recreate all our happy memories for sure.

(You will soon be over that fear. The history that will repeat is only the good parts.)

All he got from her was a whole lot of silence, as expected.

Ashwin: Nee coffee podu. I will go out there before Ani gets back. We will talk more later.

(Make coffee. I will go out there before Ani gets back. We will talk more later.)

Sivaangi: Hmm.

She focussed on making the coffee which she has definitely mastered over the years mainly because Ani could not survive without it. He had taught her to make filter coffee the right way and now she was better at it than him owing to the countless ones she made for him during their jamming sessions.

Ani got back after a quick face wash which definitely helped after the long and tiring day he had. He was genuinely relieved to see that Ashwin was much more relaxed than before.

Though Ani was not an extrovert to be honest, he did know how to make small talk. Having been in the industry for more than a decade and a half, it's a skill that has grown on him.

Ani: So, Ashwin... Unga movie epdi pogudhu?

(So, Ashwin... How is your movie coming along?)

After the quick yet sincere heart to heart with Sivaangi, Ashwin was unquestionably in a better mood and secretly thanked her for making this scene a lot easier for him to handle.

Ashwin: Nalla poitruku. Doing one with GVM now.

(It's going well. Doing one with GVM now.)

Ani: Super. Music Rahman sir ah?

Ashwin: Aama. Still feels surreal dan.

(Yes. Still feels surreal.)

Ani: Congrats and All the best.

Ashwin: Thanks. Ungalku epdi pogudhu? I know that you are a super busy music director.

(Thanks. How is it for you? I know that you are a super busy music director.)

Ani: Sivu irukum bodhu enaku enna. Elame semma dan. Nethu kooda oru song ku rombha try pantu irunden.. avalta pesna 1 hour la song ready. She is magic.

(It's great. What else would it be when I have Sivu in my life? Even yesterday when I was having trouble with making a song, I just spoke to her and the song was ready in the next hour. She is magic.)

Ani wasn't really trying to show off. He honestly felt that his life was great because of her presence. However, Ashwin was growing to be more possessive and insecure by these candid statements.

He was burning to scream that Sivaangi was his. But was she?

Ashwin gathered his senses before it went too far and tried to keep up with the conversation.

Ashwin: That she is.

He hoped for some divine intervention to stop this exchange right here and Sivaangi walked out of the kitchen just in time, with two tumblers of perfect Madras style filter Coffees and handed it over to the duo. 

Ashwin was grateful for her timing but failed to notice that Ani's smile was replaced with concern, the moment he saw Sivaangi. Her red and puffy eyes with marks of dried tears on her cheeks were too apparent to ignore.

Ani: Azhudhiya Sivu?

(Did you cry Sivu?)

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Thoughts?

This was challenging. Tried to capture insecurities on both sides. I am not sure if it came out well. Nervous.