Intensified emotions are always tricky and there was too much of it going around in the room.

Ani's fear, worry, anxiety and distress were apparent by the way he rushed to stand beside her almost instantly. His care and concern displayed the depth of what they shared.

Ashwin was witnessing all of this first hand and had no choice but to remain a mute spectator which left him flustered. In just a matter of few minutes, he sensed what Kani akka had meant the other day when she said, "Ani Ku Sivaangi is not just a friend".

Ani knew her too well and she was well aware of that fact. At times he grasped her needs even better than her own self and there was no point in lying or making up an excuse. Also, she never lies to him. Not just because he would figure it out in no time but because she could tell him anything without any fear of being judged. 

Silence wasn't always a good thing and definitely not at this time. It evoked an unsettled feeling which was making Ani grow restless. On the other hand, Ashwin wanted to give them privacy and himself the much-needed alone time to calm his nerves. He was human after all and he had to leave before his anger took over his last bit of self-control.

Ani: Sivu... Sollu. Azhudhiya?

(Did you cry?)

Sivaangi: Yaa..

Though it may sound counter intuitive, Ani felt relieved. All he wanted was for her to open up to him. This would not be the first time for him to be there when she cried her heart out and definitely not the last either. 

Ani: Inum azhanuma?

(Do you want to cry more?)

Ashwin was astonished by this. Who asks this kind of a question? It made no sense to him.

Sivaangi: Illa..

(No)

Ani did not care that Ashwin was just a few feet away. He took her hands onto his and squeezed to make her look into his eyes.

Ani: Nijamma?

(Sure?)

Sivaangi: Ya.

Ani: Sivu...

Sivaangi: Am ok now.

A faint smile appeared on her face which reflected on Ani's face at once just like a mirror. He made her sit on the couch and handed his coffee to her.

Ashwin was lost in his thoughts. He noticed how Ani never asked why she had cried but just wanted to make sure she was ok. Ani's thoughtfulness and the way he handled her sensitivities with compassion and utmost comfort was dumbfounding.

He was sincerely happy that she has Ani in her life who understands and accepts her inside out but was also drowning in his own endless questions which were suffocating the life out of him.

Did he just complicate her life by coming back? Should he just leave? What was Ani to her? What was she to Ani? Is all of what he is seeing just friendship? Does he still have a chance with her?

Sivaangi's gaze fixed on Ashwin who was too distracted to notice. His struggle to digest any of what was happening was evident on his face. She couldn't fathom the distance between them. Not being able to ease his throbbing heart was heart wrecking for her.

Ani: Coffee ah kudi Sivu...

(Drink the coffee Sivu)

Both Sivaangi and Ashwin divulged back to reality when they heard Ani. Their eyes met and neither knew what to do next. With so much to process, he was in no state to handle her fiery eyes. One more moment looking into those deep eyes of hers and he would just run to embrace her in his arms.

Sivaangi: Illa.. not in the mood for coffee.

(No.. Not in the mood for coffee)

Ani: What are you in the mood for?

Ani's phone started to buzz before she could answer, and he picked it up without a thought.

"Am leaving now."

"Will be there."

"Yaa.. Sivu inga dan iruka."  

(Yes Sivu is here)

"I will come pick you up."

"Pa... na varen. Ava venam"

(Pa.. Let me come. She does not have to)

Ani: Appa dan Sivu... airport reach pantanga. I will go pick them up.

(It's your dad. They have reached the airport. I will go pick them up)

Sivu: Enaku call panla.. unaku call panranga. Pathukren.

(They call you and not me. Unblieveable)

Ani: Idu usual dane... na dan eppodum pick panven. So, she called me. Idukulam sanda podaadha.

(This is usual. I always pick them up so they call me. Don't argue about this with your parents)

Ashwin felt a strange pain rush into his heart when he heard the mention of Sivaangi's parents. He remembered her dad's words which were still fresh in his memory. All of the tragic turn of events that followed her dad's meet with him three years ago were still affecting not just him but her as well.

He could only imagine what their lives would have looked like if only her dad hadn't met him. As much as he was at fault for letting her go based on his assumption that her feelings for him were temporary, he also knew at heart that her dad was at fault too who assumed that she was too young to make her own decisions.

The war and rage in his mind had to halt when Ani started talking to him.

Ani: Ashwin so sorry. Ungalta seriya pesa mudila. Thanks for staying over for coffee. I have to leave now.

(Ashwin so sorry. Couldn't talk to you much. Thanks for staying over for coffee. I have to leave now)

Ashwin: No issues at all. Next time.

Ani: Sivu lock after Ashwin leaves. It might be a while before am back.

Sivaangi: Ani am not a baby. Nee po. Na pathukren.

(Ani am not a baby. I will be fine.)

Ani: Enaku nee baby dan.

(You are a baby to me)

Ani left leaving the two alone after an extremely overwhelming hour. Both Sivaangi and Ashwin settled back into the couch next to each other.

Ashwin placed his hands on hers and she responded back by entangling her fingers with his. The tightness in her hold conveyed all her insecurities and fear of losing him yet again. Her simplest and subtle gestures that came straight from her heart were much more meaningful and soothing than anything else.

Just like rainbow after a stormy rain, her hands on his after one hell of a day made him believe in magic. Her magic. Their magic.

Ashwin: Ma... You ok?

Sivaangi: Yaa na ok. Neenga?

(Yaa am ok. You?)

Ashwin: Ok aiduven.

(I will be ok)

Sivaangi: Neenga enna feel panna vecha madri yaarum enna feel panna vachadhu illa.

(No one has ever made me feel the way you did)

Her sudden revelation startled him. She wiped off any possible insecurities he had about them in an instant.

Did he deserve this reassurance from her? Was he even capable of being as selfless as she is with him?

A shy smile on his face after the draining episode made her heart palpitate. The smile that she falls for every single time. The smile that she missed seeing three long years.

Sivaangi: Indha smile ah na rombha miss pannen

(I missed this smile so much)

Ashwin: Indha smile undhu ma. Nee irunda matum dan irukum.

(This smile is yours. I smile this way only around you)

Ashwin was always a poet with his words. Just the right ones put in the most aesthetic way to add beauty to the meaning. The intellectual in him was far sexier and more seductive than his outward self.

The two souls were transfixed making their bodies lean onto each other to close the gap between them.

His breath on her lips was making her dizzy and her tempting lips were challenging his restrain. He cursed himself for thinking of all the things he wanted to do to those soft lips of hers but that did not stop his mind from wandering into dangerous places.

Desires and destiny. Why does it always have to be so tormenting?

Sivaangi: Pechu ku onum korachale illa

(You just say stuff)

She said distracting herself from their dangerous and hypnotizing closeness.

Ashwin: Seekrame elam seyal la katren.

(You will see it in action very soon)

His base husky voice sent chills down her spine. Their hands still intertwined, he felt her shiver in the most alluring sense. He felt proud to have that effect on her. The way her body reacted to him and his proximity made him high.

The true reflection of all her feelings were radiating through the shine and sparkle on her eyes.

Ashwin: Enna sathame kaanum?

(Why so quiet?)

He smirked knowing that she was at a loss for words.

Sivaangi: Kanaala pesna satham varaadu.

(When eyes talk, there is nothing but silence)

Her effect on him wasn't any less potent. He gulped seeing her intense eyes burning with passion and glazed with love. He placed his free hand on her neck and pulled her closer. He leaned in.

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Thoughts?

PS: To all those who asked if I am an Ani fan, ofcourse I am ❤️But Ashaangi over Ani 😉