Sivaangi was unsure of what was going to happen next. Ashwin had cut the call before she could ask him not to come and when she tried to call back it was switched off. It was not the first time he was coming to see her. There were a couple of instances in the past when they had met without anyone's knowledge but their unnamed equation was different then. He was extremely protective and caring, and his undivided attention for her often made the lines between them too blurry to make sense of.

But, that was a long time ago. Today, there was nothing between them except for a painful past that she fights hard every single day to let go of. He showed her a dream only to wake her up and slit her throat.

Strangely, at every low moment of hers, she would always feel his presence by her side. As if she was wrapped up in his arms and he was comforting her. Though he was not physically present, it was their moments from the past that calmed her down and lifted her up. How crazy is it when the thing that rips your heart apart is the same thing that heals you in a moment? He was her poison but he was her cure too.

Her love for him never changed. In their initial days, honestly it was just an admiration. But, his respect, care, support, motivation and understanding made her fall for him. There have been days when she introspected to find the moment, her admiration changed to love, but it was impossible. It just made her fall more in love with him and she stopped questioning it.

She distracted herself with music and work to keep her mind and heart focused on other things. But none of those helped when she felt all alone in a room full of people. It was his thoughts, their thoughts that filled her heart and soul, and kept her alive. Love is not always mutual and she became the perfect example.

She loved him unconditionally without expectations and she still did the same. But she valued her self-respect so much more that she did not even want to ask him why after he explicitly asked her to stay out of his life. She just left and she wasn't going to let him waltz back into her life as well.

Her thoughts were broken when her mobile started ringing again and she was sure to check the caller ID this time. "Manna 😍"

She sighed out and declined his call. He kept on calling until she switched off her mobile.

In a couple of minutes, she heard her door bell ringing. She knew he was stubborn but she did not think that he was going to have the guts to face her parents in the middle of the night.

She thanked God that her parents and brother were out for a family function and she was alone. What was he trying to prove? She asked herself before calling him back.

Ashwin: Ma... Enaku unna ippove paakanum.

Sivaangi: Neenga dane I don't think we should be in touch anymore nu soneenga. Adhey dan nanum solren. Let's not.

Ashwin: En sonen nu kooda keka thonala la unaku? Vitu poga sonen.. poita.

She did not respond

Ashwin: Sivaangi Ma... Kenji kekren. Enaku unna paakanum, unkita pesanum.

Sivaangi: Ivlo varshama ilaadha aasa iniku en?

Her voice was shaky and it was evident that she was nervous.

Ashwin: Adukaana badhil un manasuku theriyum.

Sivaangi: Oh... enakum manasu iruku nu theriyuma ungalku?

Now her voice was breaking and he sensed that she was crying.

Ashwin: Please ma. Open the door. Let me in.

Sivaangi: I can take care of myself.

Ashwin: I know you can but that does not mean you have to. I am here.

Sivaangi: Enaku yaarum theva illa. Moonu varshama paathukta enna, ippovum enaku paathuka theriyum. Iniku irupeenga nalaiku edam theriyaama poiduveenga. Innoru thadava adha thaangara sakthi enaku illa.

Ashwin: Epdi? Veliya sirichu... unnoda ella true emotions um ulla vechu evlo nal irukalam nu nenachtu iruka?

Sivaangi was truly astonished by his question that popped out of nowhere. She managed to fake her happiness to everyone including her parents and this guy in one day managed to look right through her.

The tears she was trying hard to pull back were now out of control.

Ashwin: Kadhava open pannu ma.

He was her weakness. She could never see him vulnerable and right now he was. Her first instinct was to comfort him. That's been the case since the day she met him for the very first time. She could not stop herself from feeling that way and even today as they were leaving, she uttered Take care just like old times.

She wiped off her tears and opened the door to see him leaned against the wall opposite her front door with his airpods still on looking at her. Those killer eyes of his made her immediately feel weak on her knees. Inspite of all that happened, his presence made her skip a beat even at this moment. He managed to bring out the woman in her with such ease and grace.

She stood beside the opened door to give him the space to walk in. It was not his first time being in her home either but it certainly was the first time they were all alone.

He who was extremely calm and composed until that moment, was suddenly feeling heart beat racing like a marathon. For the first time today, he noticed how the young girl he had fallen in love with has grown into this beautiful woman standing only a few feet away from him. In his eyes, she was always the most beautiful girl inside out. She was the only girl who made him nervous and awakened a different side of him.

She closed the door behind them and leaned against the wall of her living room while he stood frozen next to the closed door. Their eyes as always did all the talking when their mouths were dumb folded.

Ashwin: Dress change kooda panama ivlo neram enna panna?

Sivaangi: Idha keka dan vandeengala?

Ashwin: Illa. Un siripu enga nu keka dan vanden.

Sivaangi: Idulam oru kelviya?

Ashwin: En kanna paathu badhil sollu.

Sivaangi: Enna solanum?

Ashwin: Are you happy?

She could not look at his eyes anymore. She did not have it her to lie looking into his eyes.

Sivaangi: How does it matter to you? Neenga yaru enaku?

Ashwin: Well-wisher. Apdi dhaane elartayum solirka?

Sivaangi: Na sonna adu unmai aiduma? Ungalku theriyaada?

Ashwin: En life laye rombha important aana person nee dan ma.

Sivaangi: Funny that you say that. I would have believed it three years ago but I know better now. 

Ashwin: Seri Nee sollu ma. Namma yaaru?

Sivaangi: To me, we are just two strangers who share a past.

Ashwin felt his heart breaking apart but he also knew that he deserved it.

Ashwin: You have all the reasons to feel that way and to not trust me. But, I had my reasons for what I did.

He managed to finally say it out loud.

Sivaangi: The day you decided to break me forever may have been a better time to give your reasons.

Her tears rolling down even after she tried so hard to pull them back. He did not think twice before walking closer to wipe her tears off.

Ashwin: It broke me too. Just so you know, I may have made the decision but it hurt me as much as it hurt you or even more.

Silence filled the room as it was getting too much to handle for both of them. All of the emotions that were boxed and built up over the years that have been breaking them from the inside, was finally getting out.

He was standing right there in front of her but it still felt too far.

Ashwin: Sivaangi Ma.. I wanted you to be happy and successful.

Sivaangi: En happiness kaga enna vitu poneenga nu solradu la enna logic iruku?

Ashwin: Apo irunda situation la adu dan correct nu thonichu. I thought I made the right decision but I now know it was a grave blunder.

Sivaangi: Rombha seekram kandu pudichteenga.

Ashwin: Enna panradu? Moola back vangiduchu.

Sivaangi: Ippo enna venum ungalku?

Ashwin: Give me a chance to prove myself. I want to be there for you.

Sivaangi: Why? We are different people now. Whatever happened is in the past and let it be.

Ashwin: I think we are wearing masks for the outside world. We are still the very same people who need each other in their lives.

Sivaangi: Therila... Yosikanum.

Ashwin: Yosi. Na inga dan irupen.

She raised her eyebrows in question.

Ashwin: I mean... un life la unkooda un pakathla unna paathukte irupen nu.

Sivaangi: Ohh... Seri. Time aachu kelambunga.

Ashwin: Inum en per kooda solala ma..

Sivaangi: Solanum nu thonala.

Ashwin: Seekram thonum.

He left with a smile on his face. He did not know why he was happy but he was. She surprisingly left lighter though she still had a lot to process. 

She changed into her night clothes and remembered that she was hungry when her stomach started making sounds again. As she walked into the kitchen, the door bell rang again and a message popped up. 

Manna 😍 : I got your favorite Dosa withTomato Chutney  and Curd rice with Mango pickle. Open the door. 

He watched her eat until she forced him to start focussing on the food in his plate. Half an hour later, she was completely full and looked much better with a content smile on her face. 

Ashwin: Na kelambren. 

Sivaangi: Drive safe. Take care.

She stood by her door as he left and he saw a faint smile on her face which was all he needed.

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Thoughts? 

What will happen next? Keep Guessing 😉