Ashwin wasn't ready to let her go.

Holding her so close and knowing that it wasn't a figment of his imagination but very much a reality, was exhilarating.

Her petite body leaned onto his tall frame without the slightest  bit of apprehension or demurral, her shaky breath and the beautiful blush on her cheeks were awakening the burning desire he had managed to suppress all these years.

"Vidunga", she quavered under his touch while his hands gently moved her hair aside to reveal her smooth neck that adorned a simple neck piece.

(Leave me)

Inhaling her natural fragranced laced with her floral perfume was truly intoxicating.

"En vidanum", he whispered into her ears.

(Why should I let you go?)

His hot breath on her neck and his fingers moving on her waist were sending mild shocks of pleasure through her body.

"Sollu ma... Vidanuma...", he murmured and turned her around to face him.

(Tell me.. Do you want me to let you go?)

He found her trembling hands and entangled his with hers.

Crazy traffic delayed him by almost an hour. Cursing his luck, he parked the car and walked into the set with a visible frown after losing any hope of meeting her before the pairing.

To his surprise, there she was. Still in their usual spot, waiting for him. He jogged over with a grin and did not notice until she was only a few feet away that she was wearing a kurthi that he chose for her.

"Ashwineyy enna apdiye nikreenga... Nalla illaya?", she looked down to check herself when he stood frozen with a weird expression.

(Ashwineyy Why are you looking at me like that? Is it not good?)

"Na select pannadhu epdi nalla illama pogum", he smirked earning a playful hit on his chest.

(I selected this. How would it not look good?)

"Iniku last elimination week before Semi Finals Ashwiney .. Supera pannunga. All the best.", she extended her hand and he took the small tender hand into his.

(Last elimination week before Semi Finals. Do well Ashwineyy)

Reality hit him with a hammer. Realizing that he would not be able meet with her every week nor spend as much time were daunting in conscious. He wasn't prepared for it.

She had grown on him. Days started with her calls and ended with her songs. Addicted to her presence in his life, he felt like his world was about to shut down completely.

Few weeks from now, he would be Ashwin, her ex co-star. Was he just that?

Maybe they would still be friends. But was he ready to be just a friend to her?

From the simplest of wishes to the biggest of dreams, she was a part of everything he dreamed for. But was he a part of hers?

"Ashwineyy...", her voice came out in a low tone.

He raised his brows questioning her and she moved her eyes to her hand that was still in his. When she was expecting him to let her go, he chose to just shrug.

"Kaiya pudichte irundha... na epdi ready agardhu?", she whined.

(How am I to go if you keep holding on?)

There were days when he criticized himself for falling in love with a girl who was way younger than him. A girl who is yet to explore life at all. Howbeit, that day wasn't one of those.

"Pogadha...", his tone oozed the yearning of his heart.

(Dont go)

He wanted her. He needed her. He was in love with her.

"Seekram vandhuruven. You have a surprise. Ulla vandhu paarunga.", she exclaimed with excitement and her grin widened.

(I will be back soon. You have a surprise. You will see when you come in)

He wished to say that he had a surprise too and go down on one knee. But it was too much and too soon.

Loosening his grip on her hand, he let her go.

In this instant, he had her hands once again and they had come a full circle.

They heard a knock again. Louder this time.

Blinking away from his reminiscence, he focused on the present.

"Sivaangi... Indha ulagathla unna thavara vera endha ponnayum kiss pananum nu thonunadhu illa. Thonaadhu. Aana ippo.. indha second.. un permission irundha... inga nadakardhe vera..."

(Sivaagi I have not wanted to kiss any other girl but you. I would never want to. If I had your consent, I would not be talking to you)

Those words in her favorite warm base tone created uncontrollable jitters that made her body more sensitive to even the smallest movement of his.

"Enakulla irukra ela romance um nee paapa... but inum adhukaana time varla.", he whispered into her ears with such conviction that she wished for that one moment she could let go of all insecurities and close his lips with hers.

(You will see all of my romance and experience it. But it's not the right time yet.)

All she had to do was to turn around and look into his eyes. He would do that rest for her and bring years of longing to an end, albeit for a split second.

But they deserved more.

Their first kiss, after all of what they had been through, cannot happen just for transitory happiness.

They deserved their first kiss to be EPIC.

His hands brushed through her waist leaving her whole-body in shivers. Well aware of his effect on her, he wasn't the least bit hesitant to tease her self-restrain.

She stood debilitated, unable to handle the war between her wants and needs.

He smirked at her plight while his manly pride was definitely happy at a job well done and moved to walk towards the door.

Gaze still fixated on her, he turned the door knob to open with certainty that it must be Rakshan.

"Sollu Machan", he turned his head to face the person standing across him.

"Amma da", his mom corrected.

(Your mom, not your friend)

He kept his reaction very casual and tried hard to mask the sudden panic attack. Being an actor certainly helped.

Ashwin: Neenga enga ma inga?

(How come you are here?)

His evening had been a roller-coaster to say the least. With all that happened since they had reached the venue, he had completely forgotten that he bought his mom along. Deeply regretting his thoughtless behavior, he mentally slapped himself.

AK Mom: Nanum unkooda dan vanden nu nyabagam iruka?

(Do you even remember that I came along)

His mom rolled her eyes at him making him gulp thickly.

Ashwin: Amma rombha sorry ma...

(Sorry ma)

He was genuinely apologetic but today hasn't been an easy one either.

Sivaangi was busy picking out comfort clothes for the night and was sure that it was Rakshan at the door as he was the only one who knew that they were in her room.

AK Mom: Sir nagarra idea iruka?

(Do you have any idea of moving aside?)

Ashwin: Amma idhu ava room... En room illa.

(This is not my room. Its Sivaangi's)

AK Mom: Avala paaka dan vanden... Mudhalla nee en ava room la iruka?

(I am here to see her. Also, why are you in her room?)

As if he wasn't already feeling anxious, his mom's inquiries were making it impossible for him to think.

Without waiting for him to respond, she moved in.

"En angaye nikreenga... yaaru.. Rakshan anna dhaaney", she turned around holding her PJs and her eyes widened in shock to see Ashwin's mom.

(Why are you standing there? Its Rakshan right?)

Sivaangi threw her PJs back onto the bed and went to hug his mom.

"Hi Ma...", she greeted with a smile.

Though they had met for the first time only a couple of hours ago, it never felt so. Mainly because the one person Ashwin talked to her about the most was his mother.

"Amma dan ellame enaku. Epdi vena vaazhalaam nu irukra kaalathla.. ipdi dan vaazhanum nu na rombha pidivaadham ah irukarduku avanga dan kaaranam.

Success ah vida nallavana irukardhu dan important nu adikadi solvanga. Apo purila.. ippo puriyudhu. Enakaaga avanga ennalamo panirkanga... avangalkaaga edachu pananum. Pannuven. Perusa ilanaalum .. chinnadha.

Rombha miss panren. Aana unkooda irukra apo... avanga kooda irukra madri dan iruku ma",he let out a sigh after getting his thought out.

(My mom is my world. She taught me how to live life the right way is to value being a good human more than success. I could not make sense of it then but now I do.

She has done so much for me. I just hope I could do something for her.

I just miss her so much. But when I am with you, I dont)

Over time their conversations had become much more than just random jokes. They shared their deepest fears and insecurities with each other. However, knowing that she could give him the comfort of his mother was baffling.

"Epodume en kooda irupa la?"

(Will you always be with me?)

Ashwin to the outside world was an introvert. Very private. But with her, she saw a guy who ached for care, love and affection, just like just anyone else.

Little did she know that she was the only person who was purview to this facet of him.

"Epodume"

(Always)

"Odambu epdi da iruku?", his mom caressed his cheeks with concern and with that touch Sivaangi quickly gathered back her senses.

(How are you feeling now?)

"Paravalla ma", Sivaangi responded with a faint yet adorable smile that reflected in the elder woman's instantly.

(Better Ma)

"Nee unna nalla paathuko. Odambu nalla irunda dan, manasu nalla irukum", she advised as her motherly instinct kicked in.

(You have to take care of yourself first. You have to be physically healthy to be mentally healthy)

"Ava paathuka maata", Ashwin interjected and walked over after closing the door behind him to stand beside Sivaangi.

(She wont)

Sivaangi furrowed her brows to show her disagreement but he shrugged away and went on to wrap his hands around her shoulder.

"Na pathukren", he finished the thought while Sivaangi was still bewildered by his candid act.

(I will take care of her)

Her mind wanted to put him in his place, but her heart fell more in love with this brazen version of him.

"Nee vandhu ukkaru ma... Naa suthi podren. Elam dhristhi dan", his mom instructed, and she obliged without any questions.

(Please sit. Its just bad energy from all the evil eyes)

"Apo enaku?", Ashwin blurted which was followed by a quiet giggle from both the ladies.

(What about me?)

When his mom was about to say no, Sivaangi intervened.

"Vandhu ukkarunga", she said and pointed to the seat next to her on the couch.

(Come. Sit with me)

***

Ashwin always dreamed for his mom and Sivaangi to be close but, he never imagined that it would backfire on him this badly.

After a good 15 minutes of roasting him on how bad his jokes and humor sense were, the two most important women in his life were discussing the most embarrassing moments of his life.

AK Mom: Nijamma kozhandaya irukra apove ponnunga na allergy dan.

(He always hated girls. Even when he was a kid.)

Sivaangi couldn't control her laughter even for a minute. His mom had so much better humor sense and after a long time she was having some real fun.

Sivaangi: En apdi?

(Why so?)

Ashwin saw the Sivaangi he had met on the very first day on the sets of the show. That chirpy and carefree side of her was peeping out of this mature young woman she had become and it was indeed a delight to watch her antics, in person after so many years.

Holding back his enthusiasm, he decided to play along with his grumpy role.

Ashwin: Ippo rombha mukyam? Adhu enaku moonu vayasappa pannadhu. Ippo enaku 34 vayasaagudhu.

(Is it very important to know? I did it when I was 3 and you are asking me for a reason when I am 34?)

AK Mom: Apdiyaa? Apo Innonu solren

(Oh really? Let me tell you something else)

Ashwin: Deivame venam

(God No)

AK Mom: Iruda...

(Wait)

Sivaangi: Neenga sollunga ma..

(Just tell me)

AK Mom: Oru ponnu ivan pinnadi suthna. College time la. Ivan enna panan theriyuma?

(There was this girl from his college that really liked him. Do you want to guess what he did?)

Ashwin: Amma please...

Sivaangi: Ashwineyyy konjam summa irunga... neenga sollunga ma...

(Ashwineyy.. please dont interrupt.)

He could not believe what he just heard. Was it really happening? Was she calling him the way she used to address him back then?

AK Mom: Andha ponnoda appa ta poi complain panan... unga ponnu en pinnidi suthudu nu...

(He went to the girl's dad and complained)

Sivaangi: Ayayoo... idhu enna Anniyan Ambi ah vida mosama iruku.

(This is worse than Anniyan Ambi)

She leaned onto his chest involuntarily and continued to laugh. It almost felt like a habit. It took a good few minutes to control herself but unable to resist, she still continued to giggle.

His mom admired the sight. Her dream of seeing her son happy with the girl who owned his heart was finally happening.

Ashwin was in trance, still processing that she had addressed him Ashwineyy. The word held so much emotion in it and to finally hear her say that in such a casual setting was better than all of the scenarios he had imagined in his head.

Sivaangi's gaze met Ashwin's and she finally realized that she was leaned on his chest with his hands wrapped around her.

Ashwin's mom witnessing the sudden change in their expressions, quickly recognized that it was time for her to leave the two alone.

She faked a cough to bring them back to reality.

Sivaangi was the first to react, followed by Ashwin.

"Poitu varen ma. Paathuko da avala", she hugged both and started to walk towards the door.

(I will take leave. Take care of her)

"Ma..", Ashwin called out in a low tone and followed behind his mom.

"Na edhumvum paakala pa", she teased and Ashwin tried to hide his blush by rubbing his nape and gulping away as usual. Failing miserably at it, a cute blush found its way through to reach his face.

(I did not see anything)

"Na ungala vitutu varen ma", he did not want for his mom to think that she wasn't a priority to him.

(I will drive you back home.)

"Rakshan driver ah vara solirkan. Na veetuku poitu solren. Nee avala paathuko. Rombha tired ah iruka.", his mom ruffled his messy hair and kissed his forehead.

(Rakshan has already called our driver. I will call once I reach. Take care of her.)

"Atleast car la ethi vidren", he pleaded which she finally accepted.

(I will atleast help you inside the car)

***

Sivaangi picked up her PJs again and saw a notification pop up.

Manna: Amma va driver oda anupitu varen. Adhu varaikum.. miss me.

(Will send amma off with driver and be back. Miss me until then)

She quickly typed her response and sent it.

Ashwin and his mom walked out of the elevator and his notification popped up.

Rowdy: I will.

A grin filled his face. At least they were happy again.

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Thoughts?

Thank you all for being patient with me ❤️

PS: So sorry for the delay. I just could not get back the flow.

As usual my fairy angel came to my rescue and said, "Idhu enna assignment ah? Ivlo en stress panra. Take rest. You will soon be able to write".

I just did what she said and here it is. Hope you all like it.