Ani was almost half way through his drive when his current favorite duet of theirs, from a movie that was yet to be released started to play in shuffle, suffusing his thoughts with memories of the audio launch night.

Sivaangi: Ani... heroine unna semmaya sight adikra.

(The herione is gawking at you)

The event was yet to begin, and they had just taken their seats in the lounge area before they went onto the main stage.

With a beautiful smile that deepened her dimple, perfectly set curls and a black lehenga, she looked divine.

Moments like these always made him wonder if they were more than what they let on to themselves but, as always he evaded from delving before it got the better of him.

Ani: Adhulam illa Sivu.. Nee konjo summa iru..

(Please dont make any assumptions)

She turned to look at him. Her kohled eyes were hard to read with a mélange of emotions.

His gaze fell on her earrings that were dangling. He vividly remembered shopping for it with her just a few days ago. Though he had loved it at the store, on her they were much more elegant.

On her anything looks alluring he thought to himself.

Sivaangi: Nee available illa nu solidren...

(I will let her know that you are not available)

His eyes widened in surprise.

What did she just say? Does she really think he wasn't single?

Ani: En? Na single dan...

(Why? I am single and very much available)

Sivaangi: Apo naa? Nee ava kooda poita.... na thaniya irukanume.

(What about me? What should I do without you?)

He was caught off guard by that sudden statement from her. What did she even mean by that?

Not letting his emotions cloud his senses, he kept up his casual smile and shrugged at her with a disapproving nod.

Ani: Unaku illadha fan boys ah? Nee dan evlo sonaalum social media pakkame vara matra. So many people tag me to get the message over to you. Even when you lay low and there is not even a single picture, they find a way to celebrate you.

(You have more fan boys than anyone else. You are the one who is not entertaining any of them by staying off of social media. They tag me to get over their messages to you. Even when you lay low and there is not even a single picture, they find a way to celebrate you.)

He noticed an instant change in the expression on her face when he uttered the word "social media" and this wasn't the first time. In any scenario that it came up, she had managed to dodge away, and he had let it be until today.

Though they never actually addressed it, it was one of those off the limit topics that quickly put her out of ease which deeply bothered him.

It was almost 3 years since they had become friends and it irked him that there were still pages of her life that were not open for him to read.

Ani: Sivu.. Na unna edhukaagavum judge panna maten nu theriyum la? You can tell me anything.

(Sivu.. I hope you know that you can tell me anything at all without the fear of being judged)

Sivaangi: Solradhuku onum illa

(There is nothing to share)

It wasn't in his nature to probe into details that she wasn't willing to share. But seeing the pain and suffering on her face was getting too much for him to handle.

Ani: I know you once loved social media and your interaction with your fans.

Sivaangi: As you said, I once did. Ippo illa. Adha pathi pesi enna use? It's in the past. I am not that person anymore.

(As you said, I once did. Not anymore. Whats the use of talking about it now? Its in the past and I am not that person anymore)

Ani: Clearly you are not over it and it still affects you. Unna paathale theriyudhu Sivu and it hurts me. Un face la oru china sadness irundha kooda ennala adha eduthuka mudila.

(Clearly you are not over it and it still affects you. I cant bear to see the pain in your face)

Sivaangi: Memories ah epdi azhikardhu nu therla Ani.

(How do I erase memories?)

Ani: Make new memories. Better ones.

Sivaangi: Painful ah irundhaalum, those are memories I want to keep. Adha marakkavo maathavo enaku ishtam illa.

(Though they are painful, those are memories I want to keep. I dont ever wish to forget or change them)

Behind the pain, there were special moments that she treasured. Those days were the most beautiful days of her life, albeit in the past.

Ani: Inum evlo nal unakullaye vechuka pora? Enkita kooda sola mudiyaadha alavuku apdi enna vishyam?

(How long do you plan on suffering with it? What is so personal that you cant share withe me?)

Sivaangi: Unmaya solnum na.... I am still in denial. Adha accept panniktu.... move on panra dairiyam enaku illa. Oru madhri andha valiyoda vaazha pazhagiten.

(To be honest, I am still in denial. I dont have it in me to accept and move on. So, I have learnt to live with that pain)

Opening up her most raw and vulnerable self never felt any easier. With him, she could just say things and he would understand every emotion behind those.

Most often, he could word her feelings better than her which left her speechless every single time. But this was something he could only feel in his heart with no way to express.

Ani: Un siripu la irukra sogam enaku therila nu nee nenacha.... I would like for you to know that you are gravely wrong. Andha vali unaku matum illa... enakum iruku.

(If you think that I dont see that pain in your eyes, you are gravely mistaken. And that pain reflects in me as well)

Sivaangi: Ani..

Ani: Vidu Sivu.... Unakaaga indha valiyoda naanum vaazha pazhagikren.

(Its ok. I will learn to live with that pain for you)

A lone tear rolled down his cheeks as those images flashed back with such clarity. Every pain of hers was his as well and vice versa.

Would that change with Ashwin in the picture? Would she stop being his Sivu? Would he be able to handle himself if that happened?

He hit the brakes, unable to process these nerve wrecking questions that he had no answers for and the car came to a sudden halt in the middle of the road.

***

Mithra and Pugazh changed into their comfort clothes after the Mehendhi function to get ready for the fun night they had planned with just the CWC2 family.

It was the first complete reunion after three years which every single person who worked on the show, including the Chefs, Contestants, Comalis and the backend team were attending.

Pugazh after looking for his sister for a good 10 minutes, finally gave up and went to Rakshan who was with Kani and Pavi.

Pugazh: Sivu enga da?

(Where is Sivu?)

Rakshan: Ava room la iruka machan. Rest eduka sonen. Rombha tired ah irundha adhan.

(She is resting in her room. She was too tired)

Pugazh: Mithra nee poi avala kootitu va.. thaniya irunda inum sick ah feel pannuva.

(Mithra, please go and get her. She might feel more sick if she is alone)

Rakshan: Mithra nee iru ma.. na poi kootitu varen.

(I will go Mithra. You stay)

Being the only person who was aware of the relationship between Ashwin and Sivaangi as of now, Rakshan felt responsible for keeping it that way, until the two were ready to disclose which he guessed was not going to be anytime soon.

***

Sivaangi changed into her PJs and picked up her mobile to check on Ani when it started to buzz with his name flashing across the screen.

Smiling at their wavelength, she swiftly touched on the green call symbol and put it on speaker.

Ani: Sivu..

Sivu: Rombha miss panra la? Nanum dan.

(You miss me too much right? Me too)

If there was one person on earth that could him feel better in a split second, it was her and he wasn't the least bit hesitant to accept that.

After all, she was his blessing. She was all he needed and more.

Ani: Aama.. I don't think I can survive this week without you.

(Yes. I don't think I can survive this week without you.)

Sivaangi: Na solo trip pona apo kooda, next flight la vanta.

(You came behind me even when I went on my solo trip)

"Nee illama Chennai la iruka pudikala. Adhan vanten. But don't worry, you can do your solo trip. Just every night enkooda dinner sapdu. Ok?", he asked with his baby face that she would never say No to.

("I couldnt stay without you in Chennai. But don't worry, you can do your solo trip. Just have your dinner with me. Ok?")

A million little things like these were the reason why he felt empty without her.

There was momentary silence on the other end and Sivaangi was more than sure that he was reminiscing the exact memory that she was reliving too.

Sivaangi: Italy la vandhu... unkooda daily dinner sapadnum nu sonadha dhaaney yosikra...

(You are reminiscing the memory of how you requested me to have dinner with you every night in Italy right?)

He wasn't surprised. Just like him, she remembered every tiny detail about him and them. Maybe more than him in some cases.

Ani: Unna thavara edhuvume yosika mudila. Anything and everything around, reminds me of you.

(I cannot think of anything but you. Anything and everything around, reminds me of you.)

Sivaangi: Enaku matum? Indha phone kooda nee dan gift panna. Every single outfit that I have packed for this function was either gifted by you or chosen by you.

(Its the same with me. Even this phone was gifted by you.  Every single outfit that I have packed for this function was either gifted by you or chosen by you.)

Ani: Except for the Saree and Lehenga that Mithra got you.

Sivaangi: Adhuku kooda nee dan color sonna..

(Even for those, you chose the colors)

Ani: Adha vidu. Saptiya? Are you feeling better? Enaku unna paakanum. Video call panren.

(Lets change the topic. Did you have dinner? Are you feeling better? I want to see you. Let me switch to video call)

They immediately switched to video.

Ani: En ivlo tired ah iruka? Are you ok? Naa varavaa?

(Why are you so tired? Are you ok? Should I come?)

Sivaangi: Vaa..

(Yes come back)

She could not help but smile at this kid of a guy who pampered her more than anyone else.

Ani: Sirikaadha Sivu.. unaku venum na, nijama varuven.

(Dont laugh. I will truly be there, if you need me)

Sivaangi: Na serious ah dan solren. Va.

(I am serious. Come back)

Ani: Ok I will be there in 30 minutes.

Sivaangi: Until then... I will miss you.

Ani: I miss you more.

She heard a faint knock on the door and quickly ran over knowing that it was none other than Ashwin with just the sound of his knock.

"Would she ever get used to his presence?", she thought to herself and for a brief moment got lost in his killer smile that instantly made her feel weak on her knees.

Seeing her change in expression on video and sudden silence, Ani was puzzled.

Ani: Sivu...

With the voice, Ashwin gathered that it was Ani and tapped her shoulder to bring her back to reality.

Sivaangi: I miss you much more. Just drive safe and be here soon.

Ani: See you.

They waved byes to each other and hung up while Ashwin made his way into her room.

She locked the door behind them and walked in.

"Enna panreenga?", she let out a low scream and swiftly buried her face in her palms.

(What are you doing?)

"Paatha therla.. dress maathren. Nee matum PJs la iruka.. Na en kurta la irukanum?", he responded casually and stood half naked searching for his tee.

(I am changing. Cant you see? You are in your PJs. Why should I be in this Kurta?)

"Ulla poi maathunga", she pleaded with her eyes still closed and her heart racing like never before.

(Go in and change)

"Shorts or tracks?", he asked.

"What? Na veliya wait panren", she turned around unable to handle her overwhelming emotions and started to walk towards the door.

(What? Ok I will wait outside)

A part of her yearned to graze her nails over his chiseled abs and lean into his chest but the other part knew that she would not be able to stop herself or him at that point.

It was a dangerous proposition that neither of them were ready for. Not yet.

When she was about to open the door, he held her hand and pulled her close.

"Enna miss panniya illa Ani ya miss panniya?", he whispered into her ears and twirled her around. 

(Did you miss me or Ani?)

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

Thoughts? 

PS: I missed writing Ani and Sivu's bond. To all readers who asked if his part in the story was done, Hell No. He is and will be a very important part of this story. 

Bromance is on the way too, I hope 😜

OMG Mannar looks too cute in the frames of Oh Manapenne ❤️ Look forward to watching the movie and looping his scenes. His hair and jawline game are soo Ufff. 

Next update Unalome ❤️ If you have not tried, please do and let me know your thoughts on that as well.