Unrequited love was a boon and a bane. 

She was in love with him. With all her heart, she loved everything about him. It was a boon because she found her heart's home. Her soulmate. Sadly, a bane too because it wasn't mutual. 

But when he stood by her side without any hesitation and whole-heartedly believed that she would win for him, it felt euphoric. And when they won together for the first time, yet another shoot day had become an everlasting memory.

That day, after all that he had done for her, she couldn't restrain from following her heart. 

Well aware of the fact that he wasn't going to reciprocate and with nothing but unconditional love, she started to sing her most favorite lines from his most favorite song. The closest she could ever get to confessing her love for him. 

"Muzhusa Unakenna Naa Vazhuren

Pudhusa dhinam dhinam ena paakuren

Azhudaa tholula naa saachupen

Alavilaama Aasa vekkuren"

His eyes widened, lips curved into a grin and his dimples deepened with every line. There was so much conveyed between their eyes, an unknown mystery shared between two souls.

In her eyes, that moment was magical. It transcended any emotion she had known until that point.

The pride and joy in his eyes spoke volumes. It was indeed an ecstatic moment.

To know that the person you love with all your heart is never going to be yours and you would never have their love was a soul numbing pain she hoped no one had to endure. She was literally killing herself with the slowest poison known to mankind. But this man was worth it all.

Drowning is those mesmerizing eyes of his, it took her few seconds to realize that it was not her illusion but reality, when she heard him hum along.

"Unadharugil Kaadhal Ondru Kanden Penne

Lesa Azhagula

Thaana Vizhuguren"

"Those lines. He chose those lines. Why?", she screamed to herself.

That wasn't supposed to happen and when it did, she was speechless.

As if what they shared wasn't complicated enough, that day had created a havoc she couldn't handle. Those blurry lines of friendship were hanging by a thread and she needed to savage what was left of her sanity, to keep their bond intact. Losing him forever wasn't an option.

After that night, she wanted to be incognito until she could knock some sense into her love-sick mind and being at rehearsals for Super Singer 8 launch had given her the perfect excuse to escape from reality. Gladly taking the opportunity with the much-needed time and space, she convinced herself that all he had for her was respect and care. Nothing more, nothing less.

If her memory served her right, there had been no calls or texts from him either on those days which she had assumed was due to his crazy schedules.

Three years ago, proving her assumptions wrong, he had given her the most unexpected surprise that swept her off her feet.

Today, after all these years, she had come to know that he had his own reasons for the grand gesture just like she had hers behind singing those exact lines for him. 

Of all the memories they shared, those elysian nights of bliss had always been her solace on the loneliest of times and she finally knew why. Those were the nights they had professed their love albeit unintentionally.

"Unaku onum illa la? Doctor ah paathutu vandhurlama?", his worried tone snapped her back from reminiscence into reality.

(Are you ok? Should we get you checked?)

After bidding bye to Ani, she turned around and their eyes locked. A shy smile spread across her face when he winked, and she blinked unable to take the tease any more. Her hair swayed with perfect curls and she bit her lips knowing that his eyes were devouring her.

All of a sudden, her face changed and before he knew she was stumbling.

Watching her faint right in front of his eyes made his heart skip a beat. By sheer good luck, he was close enough to rush and catch her before she fell to the ground.

She was lifeless in his arms and he froze unable to think, while his eyes started to well up. A deep fear of losing her crept in and imbued a suffocating feeling of dread like never before.

He pulled back his tears that were edging close to a downpour, lifted her up and walked to the room Mithra had mentioned without wasting a split second.

Those few minutes she took to regain her conscious after his efforts to wake her up with gentle pats and water, that shy last smile of hers deluged his thoughts while he continued to caress her delicate angelic face.

"Ashwin", she murmured in a low tone, bringing him back to life.

Sitting opposite to her right now, an hour since she had woken up, his eyes were still filled with concern.

The culmination of the day's happenings had shaken him up quite a bit and its profound impact left him deeply perturbed. He had almost lost her twice and she knew it wasn't going to be easy for him to move past that. 

She took slow steps towards him and settled right next to him. Taking his hands in hers, she placed her head on his shoulder and intertwined her fingers with his.

"Namba last time ipdi onna irundha nal unaku nyabagam iruka?", she asked to drift his focus to good memories.

(Do you remember the last time we were sitting like this?)

His lips curved into an involuntary smile as he recollected the previous night at his restaurant where she had left him dumb-founded.

"Nethu dhaaney... adhu epdi marappen", he chuckled.

(It was only yesterday. How would I forget?)

"Wow... evlo arivu ungalku. Yaarachu nethu nadandhada iniku ivlo feel panni pesuvangala? Ayooo", she complained in disbelief.

(Do you really think that I was talking about yesterday?)

"Neeye sollu ma. Enaku edhuvume yosika mudila. Rombha distracted ah iruken.", he implored not wanting to make up a silly excuse when she was trying to make him feel better.

(I am too distracted to remember. Please)

"Show mudinju oru 10 days irukum. Na eppovum pola craving nu message panen. Neenga enakaga pasta.. brownie... elam ready senju eduthutu vandeenga.

Aana na thoongiten. Vinayak dan door open panan.

Neenga enna ezhupala... en room la ukaandhu na thoongarda paathute irundeenga... na muzhikra varaikum. Evlo neram nu kooda theriyaadhu..

Enaku kanavu madri irunduchu.. Kan muzhikum bodhu unga smile ah paaka.

Thookam full ah kooda kalayala.. apdiye nadandhu vandhu unga pakathla.. ide madri dan ukandu... thol la saanju... pesitrunden...

Ungalku nyabagam illaya?", she wondered if she was the only one who remembered every meet of theirs with such detail.

(It was 10 days after our show was over. I had texted you craving just like always. You came by with Pasta and Brownie but I was fast asleep. Instead of waking me up, you sat there and watched me sleep until I woke up. I dont even know how long.

You were there when I woke up and it was like a dream. I walked to sit next to you just like this and we talked. Dont you remember?)

"Aniku nee red colour tee shirt poturnda... 5 hours and 23 minutes.. thats how long you were asleep.

Pasta.. Brownie lam Vinayak dan saptan.. Nama pesitu matum dan irundom. Nee aniku last ah sonadhu kooda enaku nyabagam iruku.

Poganuma nu keta.. en kaiya vida unaku manase illa. ", he smiled remembering vividly yet another beguiling day from their past.

(You wore a red tee shirt. 5 hours and 23 minutes.. thats how long you were asleep. Vinayak is the one who gulped down the food I made. We just kept talking. 

I even remember the last thing you said that day. You asked me if I really needed to leave)

She was completely perplexed and taken aback by all the intricate and precise details of that day he put forth with a casual smile. He had surprised her in more ways than she thought was humanly possible in less than 24 hours.

"Enna peche kaanum?", he turned to look at her.

(Why are you silent?)

Biting her soft full lips on her flushed face, she looked irresistible. His hand gently pushed back the strand of hair that was blocking his view of her alluring face and his fingers subtly stroked against her lips making her shiver.

"Nee enna rombha disturb panra. Naa en room ku poren", he avowed and shook away all the dubious ideas that popped up.

(You are disturbing me, way too much. I will move to my room)

"Yaaro oru room podhum nu lam kadha vitaanga... Romance la R kooda varla..", she uttered with just enough volume for him to decipher and moved away to let him go.

(Someone here suggested that we could stay in the same room. Dont even get me started on Romance)

"Na Romance la R pota kooda unala thaanga mudiyaadhu", he assured.

(You wouldn't have the ability to handle my Romance)

"Pechuku lam onum korachal illa", she said with sarcasm and when started to walk away, he held her hand and pulled her close.

(You just talk)

His hands wrapped around her waist and gripped her close to him.

"Ash...win...", she stammered.

"Peru kooda sola varla yaaruko", he smirked.

(You cant even utter my name right)

Just in time for her rescue, they heard a knock.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thoughts?

I always wanted to combine both of their surprises together but it did not work. So here it is. Hope it makes sense. 

Thank you all for your reassurance on the last part. Love you ❤️

PS: I really hope that this is a surprise update.