Eventually, it took Sivaangi a good 45 minutes to feel completely conscious after her brief heart to heart with Ashwin.

"Ani enga? Is he ok? Avana paakanum", she mumbled in a low tone, still weak and a little shaken by the incident.

"He is ok. Don't worry. Veliya wait panraaru. Na vara solren", Ashwin stood up to get Ani in and felt her fingers still entangled with his which she squeezed lightly.

He raised his eyebrows questioningly and she mouthed a Thank you that only he could understand.

"Nee dan mukyam", he reassured before walking out the door.

***

Ani was at the verge of an emotional breakdown. Sivaangi meant a lot more than he could ever express. No words nor music would encompass all that she was to him.

She was a part of him. Everything he did, had a tinge of her in it. The bond that started out as an acquittance led to the strongest bond he ever had in his entire 30 years of life.

His life depended on her smile, and he had owed to move heaven and earth to keep that intact. But today he was responsible for her lying unconscious. Life was cruel and unfair indeed.

Pugazh and Rakshan had called 10 times in the last 30 minutes to check if she had woken up and so did her Parents.

Guilt could kill a person they say and in Ani's case it was getting very much real.

He took his mobile out and stared at the wall paper. It was taken after they had recorded the Valentine's day song. She was happy that day and so was he. His arms around her and hers around him. Her curls on his cheek and his eyes looking at her. It was a perfect picture.

"Iniku semma handsome ah iruka Ani. Namma oru selfie edukalam", she had suggested after he tried on the new Balenciaga jacket she gifted.

"Nee kudutha gift ku neeye compliment panriyaa Sivu", he had teased earning a playful hit on his chest.

It was a beautiful memory. It could have been the very last picture of them, and his heart bled at that thought.

***

Ashwin walked out of the room and found Ani sitting alone in a hidden corner along the corridor.

He couldn't imagine if he would have even that sane if the situation were reversed. All of his advice and comforting words to Ani may have sounded very logical and even practical but when it comes to being in Ani's shoes, this was a nightmare. He could have lost his closest person and would have been the reason for it. 

How insensitive was he to expect Ani to forgive himself and move on? How selfish was he to not even ask if Ani wanted to stay in the room with him to be by her side until she woke up?

A deep sense of shame overtook his conscious. This wasn't a game of who is more important to her. They both deeply cared for her and though he was possessive and insecure when Ani was around her, this behavior of his was inhumane and immature given the situation.

He took quick steps to close the gap between them and took the seat next to Ani who was too lost in a black hole of memories.

"Ani", he called out in a low tone, but there was no response and it did not take him long to realize that Ani was lost.

He gently pat on his shoulder which broke his trance.

"Ashwin sorry.. gavanikkala", he apologized quickly gathering back his senses.

"Ani.. Please. Sorry lam soladeenga. Ava muzhichta. Ungala pakanum nu sona. Neenga ponga.", Ashwin saw relief spread over Ani's devasted face. His eyes that were lifeless a moment ago were now full of hope.

"Ashwin... Thank you so much", Ani couldn't control tears rolling down.

"Go see her", Ashwin pushed Ani who seemed to still be glued to his seat which definitely was unexpected. He thought that Ani would run to her the very next instant.

Ani knew that the minute he sees her, he wouldn't be able to control how he reacts. He wouldn't be able to hide his emotions or guilt which did not seem to be a good move at the moment.

"Ava ungala endha kelviyum keka maata. All she wants is to make sure you are ok.", Ashwin assured and Ani pulled him into a hug.

***

The last thing she remembered was her screaming at Ani when a truck was coming right at them and the car was completely out of control.

Just the thought made her tremble in fear.

So many things were unusual with Ani today. Too many to even count. Putting her on the spot, probing into details that she wasn't comfortable sharing, losing his cool, trying to prove their closeness and finally putting their lives in danger.

None of it, not even one, had happened even once in the last three years. She knew Ashwin was the main reason, but she couldn't figure out why.

Was he insecure? Why? Did she change the way she was to Ani because of Ashwin unconsciously? Was he feeling ignored? If yes, why wouldn't he be straight with her?

She missed him. Though she was happy to see that Ashwin was here for her when she woke up, her mind immediately was looking for Ani. He was her person after all and after such a close miss, why wasn't he by her side?

"I miss you Ani. So much", she mumbled to herself and her eyes welled up in an instant.

Not having the patience to wait until he showed up, she tried to sit herself up and slowly moved her legs to the side to get off the bed but overlooked the fact that she was wearing a floor length lehenga.

She was about to slip when both Ashwin and Ani walked through the door. She blinked and let out a low scream in anticipation of her fall however Ashwin's hands wrapped around her small body just in time to catch her.

"Ma...", his tone was filled with concern and entitlement.

"Sorry", she whispered with a puppy face that melted Ashwin's heart.

His hands were on her bare waist between her top and skirt which made her body tremble while wild jitters filled her heart.

Though she tried to form words, they were lost before she could voice them. He was oblivious to the torment until she moved her hand to grip his collar to pull him closer.

If Ani had the least bit of doubt about them, it was all down the deepest ocean after witnessing this cute romantic scene that actually made him chuckle. Even in the worst of his moods, this sight somehow was heartwarming.

"Clearly, I am not into her like that and neither is she.", he confessed to himself.

Ani waited for a couple of minutes, but it seemed like the two were too lost in their dream world and faked a cough to bring them back into the real one.

Sivaangi stabilized herself but Ashwin's hands were still on her waist until she glared.

"Kd", she mouthed to him and he put on a shy smile before trying to hide it with a quick hair fix.

"Neenga pesitu irunga. Na coffee vangitu varen. Ani ungalku?", Ashwin asked, to make up an excuse and leave the room to give them their space to talk it out.

After all these years, she was seeing her old Ashwin back. The one who trusted her and what they shared. No insecurities whatsoever. No matter who was in her life, he knew that no one could ever be Ashwin and that's what made him irresistible.

With that "I know you are mine" look piercing into her and that charming smile, he was too hot to handle right now. She was gawking at him without the least bit of hesitancy making him gulp thickly and rub the nape of his neck. Making him blush made her feel immensely proud and happy.

Ani was reading all of the emotions in the room and felt like he was third wheeling.

"Is this how my life is going to be going forward?" was a question he feared to dwell into at least not yet.

"Enaku coffee", Ani answered and took the seat by the bed.

Ashwin smiled and walked out of the room.

***

"Sollu da Raksha", Ashwin finally answered his phone that had been buzzing all evening since he reached.

"Dei arivu iruka? Evlo dhadava call panren. Eduthu pesa kooda mudiyaadha? Edachu solida poren", Rakshan was fuming at his best friend's reckless and annoying behavior.

On the other end, Ashwin was unaffected by any of it at all. Today for the first time, he saw his old Sivaangi back. The feeling was surreal. His happiness knew no bounds and he quite literally wanted to shout to the world that he was the happiest man on the planet.

Rakshan heard a giggle and lost the last bit of cool he was holding onto.

"Ippo matum nee vaaya thorandhu pesala... mavane na ennalam pesuven nu enake theriyaadhu. Nerla vanden, nee avlo dan da.", Rakshan wasn't in the mood for any more fun.

Ashwin realized that this was a true ultimatum and he better act like the grown-up man that he is.

"Seri Seri kova padaadha. Sivaangi muzhichuta. Ippo ok dan. Doctor oru 1 hour wait panna sonanga for her to completely feel ok. Adhuku apram kootitu vandhuren. Padharaadha. Un thangatha onum pannida maaten.", he explained and heard a sigh of relief from the other end.

"Ani enga? Avan ok va? Phone la rombha dull ah irundhuchu avan voice.", Rakshan couldn't stop worrying about Ani. Even after multiple tries, Ani had asked him not to come to the hospital which evoked uneasy emotions.

"Avaru ippo better. Sivu oda pesitu irukaaru. Na coffee vanga vanden", Ashwin casually said with no irritation or tense which was definitely surprising for Rakshan.

"Enna da ivlo paasama pesra? Seri ilaye...", Rakshan put on his Bond hat as his curiosity piqued.

"Mooditu iru. Na aprama solren. Phone vekren", Ashwin hung up before Rakshan had the chance to tease him any further.

***

"Sivu... sorry", Ani placed his hands on his ears which was too cute and made it impossible for her to even act like she was upset or angry.

"Kozhandha da nee", she chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"I could have lost you. Nenachale edo moozhgara madri iruku Sivu. Una oru nimisham tholachiten. Andha nimisham sethurlam nu thonichu.",he divulged and all his tears that he had pulled back, began to flood out infront of her.

She saw him in pain. His vulnerability. His fear of losing her.

"Ani enna paaru. Na nalla dan iruken", she cupped his face with her palms, but he still wasn't ready to look at her eyes that always shined with nothing but selfless compassion and care.

"Sivu... you mean the world to me. Nee ilama ennala iruka mudiyaadhu. Am so sorry for my reckless behavior today.", he managed to say that out loud to her. He managed to apologize.

"Shh.. its ok. Ani... its ok. Naa unaku evlo important oh adha vida nee enaku important. Adhu maaradhu Ani. Edhunaalayum... Yaaralayum.", she promised and hoped that it will alleviate atleast part of what has been bothering him.

"Ok?", she insisted him to respond.

He at last looked at her and nodded in silence.

"Unaku eppo thonudho apo Ashwin pathi sollu", he implored which startled her and before she could respond Ashwin walked in with their Coffees. 

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Thoughts?

PS: I don't know how this has come out and will add translations later. 

I was low all day after I heard the sudden loss of one of our own from this fandom. Life is so unpredictable. Please do keep her and her family in your prayers. 

To everyone who need to vent or talk to someone, my DM is open. I will at least be a listener. 

Your mental and physical health is most crucial. Take care!!!