The sea breeze swayed around watching them enjoy the warmth of their closeness in peace while the waves formed a beautiful melody making it magical.

He bent to look into her intoxicating eyes filled with love, passion, ache and longing. It was tragic and excruciatingly painful to accept that he was to be blamed for all her scares and scars. To live with the fact that he will be a walking reminder of her worst days, wrecked him from the inside.

But even after all of that, she was here, leaned onto his racing chest. This glimmer of hope was all he needed from her, to kiss away all her fears and angst that were suffocating the pure innocent soul of hers even if it took an eternity.

They deserved to live a happily ever after. It wasn't just his dream but hers too. Always has been albeit took him just three long years to figure that out.

Reluctantly pulling away from the hug, he vowed in silence to make their dream come true and be by her side no matter what.

***

Ani had to pivot his mind from the barrage of perplexing questions to something more productive to keep himself sane.

His ever growing do to list came in handy. He reached out to the actors finalized for the video, had a quick call with Vicky about the schedules for the shoot and also cleared out his calendar for Pugazh's wedding day.

It was about an hour since she left and he had exhausted all his options to keep himself busy.

Every long and painful minute without her made him feel desolated and handicapped.

What was she doing to him? What was he going to do without her for a whole week? Would she be feeling all the same things he did?

Without having it in him to endure this emptiness that surrounded him, he resorted to his one drug. Their playlist. Her voice in his music. It still made him feel shivers all over.

Every recording was etched in his heart. Her smiles, frowns, laughter, cries, whines, complains and every other emotion under the sky there was. Name it and he has seen it all.

"From her late-night cravings to early morning cries, there is nothing that I do not know about her", he thought to himself which put a smile on his face.

"Except for Ashwin", his mind voice corrected.

Ashwin wasn't a topic she entertained with anyone. In their initial days, he had witnessed a couple of situations in which Siva Anna had tried to probe details but she always managed to steer away from it.

In three years, he couldn't bring up even a single mention of that name which she had initiated and all of a sudden, he was everywhere.

He couldn't help but wonder why.

Why was he the only topic she kept to herself? Why was she here to meet him out of the blue?

An unsettling feeling began to well inside of him.

He fiddled with his mobile contemplating if he should call or text her to check in, while his heart started to feel disturbed and restless.

***

"Kurta buttons en open ah iruku?", she questioned while his irresistible eyes were still bewitching her senses.

(Why have you left your kurta buttons open?)

Looking into her entrancing eyes without losing himself was too outlandish of an expectation even for a guy with extreme self-restrain like him. He stood frozen unable to gather back his senses which earned a gratified smirk from her.

"Evlo neram pathute iruka poreenga?", she asked with a surprisingly shy smile that dazed him.

(How long are you going to continue looking at me?)

"Vaazhka full ah", he whispered into her ears and making it her turn to be baffled.

(All of my life)

His brazen behavior in the last few days was certainly affecting her more than she could express.

She started to button him up with a shy smile but not before letting her fingers play with his mole. Revenge was indeed sweet.

They walked back into the living room where Rakshan and his mom were seated on the couch, trying their best to act oblivious to what happened in the balcony.

"Enna ma thangam pesi mudichteengala?", Rakshan smiled and his knowing look made her flushed in an instant. She hummed back in response with a nod that gestured yes as she could not possibly look at her brother in this state.

(Are you both done talking?)

Ashwin couldn't control a chuckle that escaped while he enjoyed the beautiful shade of pink on her cheeks.

"Epdi ma vandha?", Chitra Ma asked after posing a death glare at the duo before jumping in to rescue Sivaangi.

(How did you come?)

"Ani kooda vanden ma. Keezha wait panran.", she responded with no second thoughts.

(I am here with Ani. He is waiting in the parking lot)

The way she talked about Ani with genuine comfort and ease, rankled every possessive nerve in his body.

Yes, he was well aware that he was the only one in her heart. Nevertheless it still felt a stinging sensation where it hurt the most.

"Ivan tholla sathyama thanga mudila kadavule. Frame cut pannunga epdiyaachu", he prayed in silence.

(Why is he tormenting me like this? God help me get rid of him)

Rakshan on the other hand was in the mood for some fun. 

Rakshan: Super ma. Na kooda enna da Ani morning sogama irundan nu yosichen. Ippo better ah?

(Super. I was actually worried that he was not ok this morning. Is he better now?)

Rakshan looked at Ashwin who was rolling his eyes at him and his expression was priceless.

Sivaangi: Morning edo madri dan na irundan. Ippo ok. Na avana apdi iruka vitruvena?

(Ya he was not ok this morning but now he is fine. Will I let him sulk?)

With no clue about the drama between best friends, she answered her brother with utmost sincerity. 

Ashwin couldn't stand this conversation any longer but there wasn't much of a choice. He glared at his best friend who had a sadistic smirk.

Ashwin MV: Ava kelambatum.. unaku iruku da iniku.

(Let her leave. You are dead meat)

Rakshan: Adhaane. Nee vera level thangam.

(You are amazing for a reason)

Recognizing the tease tone in her brother's voice, she finally realized what this conversation was all about. She slowly moved her gaze to Ashwin who was evidently unimpressed by their brother sister heart-to-heart.

She loved to experience his possessive side. It certainly made her feel special. The way his eyes screamed "you are mine" was a high she would never get tired of.

She winked at him and just as expected an involuntary smile appeared on his sexy face. He gulped and rubbed the nape of his neck to hide his blush which was such a delight to watch.

Chitra Ma: Nee badhrama poitu vaa ma. Ashwin ava kooda parking varaikum poitu vaa.

(Reach safe. Ashwin accompany her to the Parking lot)

Sivaangi nodded with a smile and left to walk towards the elevator with her man-child.

"Yaaruko kovam varudhu polaye", she grinned. He looked too cute when he tried to act indifferent and failed miserably.

(Someone is clearly angry)

It was a pleasure to watch him be helpless. She did feel bad for the stubble that was being tormented in the process of him trying to put on a calm and composed face when in reality was burning with rage on the inside.

"Adhulam illaye", he reassured to act casual whilst his eyes had a whole other story to tell.

(Not really)

Watching him squirm did not quite sit well with her for which she blamed her heart that selflessly loved this brat no matter what. But for once she wanted him to confess that he did not want anyone around her but him.

"Ani um namma kooda dan one week iruka poran",she said with a straight face as she walked into the open elevator.

(Ani is staying with us this week at the resort)

"Apo Ani ...", he hesitated as he was unsure of how to phrase it without being absurd.

(So Ani...)

It was getting too much for him to handle. 

He understood that Ani was her well-wisher and a trusted friend who is now an integral part of her life. What annoyed him was that, all of it happened because he had left. He was to be blamed for this mess.

He couldn't find it in his heart to accept it.

What if she never trusted him like she trusted Ani? What if she went to Ani with her problems and not him?

He wasn't just looking for her to love him. It was much more. 

He wanted their magic back. He wanted to be her everything and not just the person she loved.

How could he possibly express all of these complicated emotions without scaring her away? He wasn't in a place to expect anything more than what she was willing to give. Atleast not right now.

"Ipdi keta enna badhil solradhu? Apo Ani... na enna artham?", she was genuinely not sure what he was trying to know.

*What do you want me to answer?)

"Onum illa.", he faltered as an overwhelming melancholy struck him like a lightning.

(Nothing)

Gloom filled the air as a sudden wave of awkward silence hit them and before she could break the tension, the elevator door opened, and Ani was standing right there.

Ani's lips curved into a wide smile as soon his eyes saw met hers. That's the effect she had on him.

Ashwin got out of the elevator after her and restrained from initiating a conversation.

"Sorry Ani. Rombha late pantena?", she mumbled in distress knowing Ani inside out.

(Did I take too much time? I am so sorry)

"Adhulam illa Sivu. Pugazh call pannaru. Nee inum varlaye nu. Nee phone edukala adhan. Naane varlam nu.", Ani explained to ease her.

(Not at all. Pugazh had called to see why we were not there yet. You were not answering his calls. So I thought I would come up)

It was his natural reflex to keep her comfortable and instantly his eyes moved on to Ashwin.

"All of a sudden, after years, neraya meet panrom la", Ani blurted casually.

Caught between the two guys who were most important to her, all she could do was to be a mute spectator.

"Aama. Aana apdi thonala. Edhuvum maarala. Ippovum being with her makes me feel like home.", Ashwin divulged.

(Yes we are meeting after a long time but it does not feel like that. Nothing has changed. I still feel like home when I am with her)

Her eyes widened in shock. He for the very first time blatantly professed the way he felt when she was around. 

Ani was certainly startled not because Ashwin felt comfortable with her but because his statement wasn't in anyway relevant to the topic.

"She does have that effect on people. Sivu madri innoruthanga indha ulagathla ini porandhu dan varanum. She is so special.", Ani said holding her hand and locking his eyes on her.

(Yes she has that effect on people. There is no one like her. She is so special)

This was nothing like Ani. He was never one to show off what they shared. It was upsetting to see him act so immature and insecure. 

She could not process all of what was happening. 

Ashwin's eyes were turning blood shot with anger and this time he wasn't to be blamed. No one was. They were all a victim of the situation.

She sensed the pressure building between them and had no choice but to step in before it got way more complex and blown out of proportion.

"Ani.. Anna wait panitrupaaru. Let's leave", she implored slowly removing her hand from his hold.

The disappointment in her eyes conveyed everything he needed to grasp about what had transpired.

"Resort la meet panlam.", she mumbled while her eyes pleaded Ashwin to be the bigger person and let this go.

With a faint nod, he gestured not to worry about it. Afterall, that was the least he could do for her. 

That was Ashwin. He would like a brat one instant and pull off being the most mature adult the very next. 

"Ok Ma. Paathu poitu message pannu. I will see you there. You too Ani", he said before waving her bye.

***

Ani knew that his head was not in the right place and that he had acted reckless for no reason which drove him insane. However, there was something more pressing.

"Sivu..."

"Ani... Unaku enna aachu?", she was honestly concerned. 

"I need to know about Ashwin"

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Thoughts?

Took a long time to write this. Hopefully it makes sense. 

PS: 3:19 AM is the time here. This story is making me go crazy for sure 😂