Ashwin and Rakshan reached their favorite restaurant which they frequented not only because it had great food and ambience but because it was owned by their darling Kani Akka. Located in a prime location in ECR, it had an amazing private beach front that offered the exclusive privacy that most starts craved for.

They settled on the table with the best view and within minutes Kani joined the duo with a couple of new dishes that were recently added to the menu. CWC was never just a show to Ashwin – it was a life changing experience where he not only found the love of his life but also earned a loving family in addition to countless fans and overwhelming support. It gave him everything he wished for and much more.

Kani started serving them the dishes expecting Ashwin's feedback as he was the best judge she knew when it comes to innovation in cooking. He never settled for anything normal and loved to experiment. If it were a normal day, he would have jumped at the dish. But today, he was too distracted and lost in his thoughts to notice any of what was happening around him. This did not go unnoticed by his best friend and sister.

Ashwin might have physically left Sivaangi at the studio, but mentally he was still there. He could not snap out of it until Kani decided to interrupt.

Kani: Enna Rakshan... Ashwin enga? Avanum un kooda daana vandan.

Ashwin heard the sarcasm in his sister's tone.

Rakshan: Avan engayo kaanama poitan nu nenaikren. Thedanum ka.

Ashwin: Enna kalai ah? Nalla illa.

Kani: Avana en da moraikra? Inga rendu per irukom nu kannu theriyuda illaya? Apdi enna yosikra?

Rakshan: Adhuvaa.. na solren...

Ashwin: Onum solla theva illa. Nane solikren. Nee summa iru.

Kani: Seri sollu enna aachu? En edayo pari kudutha madri iruka?

Ashwin: Sivaangi ah meet panen.

Kani's eyes widened in surprise and just the name put a smile on her face.

Kani: Kutty ma epdi da iruka... Paavam rombha busy ah pogudu work nu sona.

Rakshan: Avaluku enna ... Super ah iruka. Mapla rombha nal kazhichu meet panan vera...

Ashwin: Aama nalla iruka. Neenga sona madri dan busy ah iruka pola. Dho indha valandhu kettavana meet pana wait pantu irunden... apo dan pathen. Apdiye recording studio la drop pane.

Kani: Aama rendu perum neram kalam paakama work panna epdi meet panna mudiyum... inikaachu nadandhuche. Adhu happy aana vishyam dhaane? Aduku en ipdi moonja vechurka?

Rakshan: Adu onu illa ka. Mapla avala studio lendu veetla safe ah drop pananum nu irundan. Na inga kootitu vanten... adan kovam.

Kani: En da? Avangale evlovo varshathuku apram meet panaranga. Avana en ipdi paduthra? Ipo paaru... avan ava safe ah irukala ilaya nu yosichte irupan.

Rakshan: Akka... Ani studio ka. Adan.

Kani: Ohhooo.. Purinjudchu.

Ashwin: Enaku dan onum purila. Konjam theliva pesunga. Ivan enna da na ... ava safe ah dan irupa nu solran. Neenga ippo Ohoo nu solreenga. Enna dan kadha?

Ashwin's possessiveness on Sivaangi was not alien to either of them but to see him react the same way after all these years was shocking to say the least. They did not expect him to care about what happened in Sivaangi's personal life all of a sudden.

Kani was not sure what evoked this reaction in her brother who usually was calm, composed and least interested when it came to any topic related to Sivaangi.

The two of them were very close during the show and there was a point in time where she thought that they were in a relationship only to be proved completely wrong when they did not even keep in touch owing to their busy work schedules.

Today out of the blue, seeing him interested in her life was not just unusual but also raised her suspicions. Maybe it was just a case of out of sight, out of mind, but she knew neither Ashwin nor Sivaangi were people who could forget people and move on.

Ashwin: Ka... Ippo neenga enna yosichtu irukeenga? Enna dan nadakudu?

He was least concerned about what Rakshan or Kani might think about his sudden scrutiny in her subject that he had intentionally avoided all these years. He just needed to know.

Kani: Ani ku Sivaangi is not just a friend nu nanga nenaikrom.

Ashwin: En apdi? Velila paaka neraya thonum. But nijamave apdi daana nu epdi theriyum?

Rakshan: Ivlo singers irukaanga. Elarayum avare veetla poi drop panraara?

Kani started giggling on Rakshan's comment.

Kani: Adhu matum illa. Inga kooda vandurkanga rendu perum.

Rakshan: Thaniya

Ashwin: Restaurant varadu lam oru vishyama? Friends kooda dan varuvanga. En na kooda Reba va inga kootitu vandurken... aduku nu enaku avanga mela interest iruka?

Ashwin was now losing his cool. How could they think or judge anything about Sivaangi's personal life without knowing anything for sure? Were they clueless about how this industry worked?

Rakshan: Seri adha kooda vitralam... Last one year la vanda ela Ani oda duet songs um Sivaangi dan female singer. Vera singers eh illaya?

Ashwin: Enaku siripu dan varudu. Ava extremely talented singer. Avanga rendu per voice um dream madri irukum sendu keka...

Kani: Apo idu ellame coincidence? Apdi dane solra?

Ashwin: Idu matum vechu judge pannaadeenga nu solren. Avlo dan.

Kani: Puriyudu...

Her brother had a valid point.

Rakshan: Kavala padaadha da mapla... Pugazh marriage la confirm panirlam.

Ashwin had a confused look on his face.

Kani: Avare dan varen nu Pugazh ta solirkaaru.

***

Sivaangi walked out of the studio alone after convincing Ani that she was meeting her friend after a long time and cannot cancel on him, only to find that Ashwin had already left.

She felt like a fool to have expected him to wait. Her mind mocked at her heart that was secretly hoping to spend a little more time and maybe make one more memory.

How could she let her heart trust the man who caused irreparable damage? How stupid was she to think that he really cared, again?

Strangely, that's the man who her heart wanted to be with in-spite of all the distress. A lone tear rolled down her cheeks which she wiped away before reluctantly walking back into the studio.

Ani: Enna aachu? You were so happy only a minute ago and now you look so dull. All ok?

Sivaangi: Plan cancelled.

Ani: Plan cancel ku lam nee en feel panra. Vaa namma polam. I wanted to take you to a new dessert place.

Sivaangi: Enaku sapda mood illa. I just want to go home and crash.

Ani: You? Not in the mood for dessert? Pudusa iruke.. All ok?

Sivaangi: Inoru nal kandippa polam. Just tired. Anna marriage preparations are exhausting.

Ani: Nalla vela.. Just remembered.

He quickly vanished into his closet and came back with a couple of bags.

Sivaangi: What is this?

Ani: I went shopping. Apdiye my favorite girl ku special something. I hope you will like it.

Sivaangi: You spoil me. Eduku idulam? 

Ani: Haven't you got used to it in these two years?

Sivaangi: I guess I don't have a choice. Do I ?

Ani nodded no and drove her back home.

***

Couple of hours later Ashwin was done with dinner and was on his way back to his new apartment in Besant Nagar that he had just moved into.

He noticed that there were no messages from her and not knowing if she was still at the studio or if she had reached home made him anxious. Although he had convinced Rakshan and Kani that Ani and Sivaangi might genuinely be just good friends, he could not stop wondering if there was something more.

Ani was one of the most successful and busiest music composers in the industry. For him to take the time to drop a singer back home safe was definitely out of the ordinary and intriguing to be honest. But, he also knew that Sivaangi came into the industry through Siva anna who deeply cared for her like his own sister and Ani shared a long standing bond with him.

He did not want to assume anything at all. He once did that blunder and lost all happiness. It caused pain and heartbreak not just him but her as well. He had lost the one thing that he should have protected and treasured by all means, HER. This was life giving him a chance to do things differently and he sure as hell was not going to repeat his mistake, he thought to himself as he looked at the passenger seat which was now empty.

Her eyes that moved away from his as he continued to drown in them flashed in his mind. He still smelled her fresh floral scent all over his car that embraced him like a warm hug. He remembered the instant rush he felt when their hands had accidentally brushed for a moment while he was changing gears. He had looked sideways to check on her and found the sensation was mutual as she was all flustered.

Inevitably a shy smile formed on his face. He wondered how he managed to stay away from her for so long as he parked the car in the same spot where he was only a few days ago. Her home.

He did not think twice before texting her.

"Are you home?"

"Yes" she replied in seconds.

He was contemplating what to say when another text popped up making him frown.

"Good Night"

"Can we go on a drive?", he texted back.

"NO"

He was confident that he had successfully messed up yet again and mentally smacked himself for not waiting at the studio. It was evident that she was angry and he was so desperate to console her right away though he knew it was not entirely his fault.

"Un veetuku vella dan iruken. Please ma. Oru small drive polam.",he pleaded.

He saw her open the balcony door and walk out in her PJs. He immediately called to hear her voice.

Ashwin: Ma..

Sivaangi: Eduku inga vandeenga? Neenga dan rombha busy aache.

Ashwin: Un annan dan dinner polam nu izhuthutu ponan. Avana kelu.

Sivaangi: Ohhh Apo avaraye drive kootitu ponga.

Ashwin: Sorry. Na wait panirkanum. En thappu dan. Please vaa ma.

Sivaangi could sense the pain in his tone but she was not ready to forgive.

Sivaangi: Mudiyaadu.

Ashwin: Atleast unna paathutu poren.

Sivaangi: Adan paathuteengala?

Ashwin: Maa..

Sivaangi: Enna Maa?

Ashwin: 5 minutes. 

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