14

Pugazh was in deep sleep. It was back to back shoot for him and he didn't manage to catch any rest as he was hell bent on finishing everything soon to make time for this trip.

So, when someone shook him awake calling his name, it took a minute for him to know if it was dream or reality.

"Dei Anna." Shivangi called patting Pugazh on his shoulder.

(Lousy Brother!)

Pugazh sat straight awake and looked at Shivangi bemused. "Dei Anna va? Enna mariyadha korayudhu?"

(Loust brother? Is that how you respect your brother?)

"Naan eppo irundhu ungala kooptutu iruken!" she complained angrily.

(I have been trying to wake you up)

"Eppo enna?" he asked then noticing that car was pulled over he looked at Ashwin. "Yen inga nirithi iruka?"

(What is it?) (Why have we stopped here?)

Ashwin didn't answer anything, but kept staring at the steering wheel.

"Naan pinnadi varen neenga munnadi vaanga." Shivangi said

(I want to sit in your place. You move to passenger seat)

"Ada loose-ae idhuku dana elupana?" Pugazh scolded. "Thookam varudhu enaku."

(Idiot! Why did you wake me up for such silly reason? I am sleepy)

Before Pugazh could go back to sleep, Shivangi pulled his hand. "Neenga ippo munnadi varalai na, naan ingaye irangeeduven." she said with finality

(If you don't come to sit here, I will get down now.)

Pugazh has not seen this adamant side of Shivangi though he has many times heard her mother complain that Shivangi can be unwavering when she wants to be.

"Ei Papa enna aachu?" Pugazh asked concerned

(What happened, doll?)

Shivangi ignored his question as she climbed down from her side and opened the door of the back seat waiting for Pugazh to switch places with her.

Pugazh climbed on the passenger seat and looked at Ashwin. "Enna aachu maapila?"

(What happened, dude?)

"En kitta en kekara? Un tangachi kittaye kelu." Ashwin replied sternly.

(Why do you ask me? Ask your sister.)

As the drive continued, Pugazh was unsure what had transpired between the two seemingly sweet people when he was asleep. He was surprised to see both of them irritated. While Ashwin does get agitated when something goes wrong with cooking, he was otherwise a very composed and reserved person. Shivangi on the other hand is chirpiness personified. So, it was surprising that they both were annoyed about something and especially with each other.

Pugazh was fairly privy to the evolution of Ashwin and Shivangi's friendship in the show. His only concern was if Shivangi knew what she was doing. Even to a man, media can be unforgiving while being so open about interest in opposite gender and so Pugazh wasn't sure if Shivangi comprehended what she was getting into. He tried warning her, however, once he understood Shivangi had clarity, Ashwin was a sorted guy and more importantly Shivangi's parents had no qualms with the budding friendship, he took a backseat.

Pugazh saw whatever that was between Ashwin and Shivangi as a cute bonding that not many are blessed with. With his own life taking unimaginable turns, he had less time to analyze if their bond was more than platonic.

However, now, to see them like this came as a surprise to Pugazh. For the first time he wondered what is between Ashwin and Shivangi in actual. Was it something more than what they saw in the sets and later in TV with edits and music?

Once Pugazh and Shivangi got down in front of the resort and Ashwin drove to the parking, Bala and Sarath were the first to reach Pugazh with smile and brotherly hug. Soon Rakshan followed them calling out endearments.

"Partner enga ?" Sarath asked

(Where is partner?)

"Un partner irukane..." Pugazh said shaking his head in displeasure.

(Your bloody partner is...)

"Yen machan?" Sarath asked

(What happened?)

"Avan nalla payaan ache. Enna pannan?" Rakshan defended

(He is a good chap. What did he do?)

Pugazh looked around making sure neither Ashwin nor Shivangi was nearby before he said, "Avanukum Shivangi kum edho sandai pola. Rendu perum vara valila enna paduthi yeduthutanga."

(I think he and Shivangi fought. Both annoyed me to no ends)

"Enna sandai?" asked Bala

(Why fight?)

"Enaku enna teriyum?" Pugazh said. "Sanda podra alavuku avanga pesikuvanga ne enaku ippo dan teriyum. Set la ellam rendu perum summa jolly ah dana kalichitu irupanga."

(How do I know? I didn't even know they were close enough to have a fight. They used to only goof around in sets.)

Sarath was in deep thoughts when the others were discussing.

"Sarath annen, enna yosikareenga?" Bala asked

(Sarath, where are you lost?)

"Naan solla vendam nu dan nenachen..." he drawled. Others looked at him curiously. "Adhu vandu..."

(I didn't want to talk about it before. I think...)

"Sollu da." Rakshan insisted

(What is it?)

"Partner ku papa va pudichiruku nu nenaikaren."

(I think Partner likes our doll)

"Pudichiruka? Enna da solra?" Pugazh asked surprised

(Likes her? Really!)

"Aama machan, naan dan Ashwin kooda set la konjam close ah pesuven la. Enaku indha doubt romba naal munnadiye vandiruchu. Show paathutu en pondati kooda keta avanga rendu perukum edhadhu iruka nu. Naan illa nu sonnen. Ava dan sonna paathale triyudhu kandipa iruku nu. Inda vishayathula ellam pombalainga kannu sema sharp. Naan aprom dan notice pannen. Enkitta partner open ah sollala, aana ennamo iruku."

(Yes dude, I am closer with Ashwin. I have had this doubt for a while now. Even my wife asked if there was something between them after watching the show. I denied, but she insisted. You know women have sharp instincts about such things. I started noticing after that only. Ashwin didn't confess anything to me, but I think he likes her.)

"Edhu ennada pudusa kadai solra?" Rakshan was equally surprised.

(This is news to me)

"Dei enaku confirm ah teriyadhu machan. Oru ponnu vishayathula tappa edhum pesakudadhu nu naan summa irunduten. Neenga serious ah eduthukaddenga." Sarath said worried.

( I am not sure about it. Since it involved a girl's reputation, I didn't want to talk about it. Don't take it seriously.)

"Papa edho chinna pulla maari crush-u crish-u nu sollitu irunda. Evan enna adha serious ah eduthutu love pandrana?" Pugazh asked. "Unaku teriyuma Rakshan?"

(Doll is just naive. It is only crush for her. Did he take it all seriously and fell for her? Do you know about it Rakshan?)

"En kitta idellam onnum avan sonnade illa da. Unaku dan avana pathi teriyum illa. Yaar kittayum avlo open ah pesa maatan. Avan first open up aanade Shivangi kitta dan."

(He doesn't open up to me. Only person he is comfortable with is Shivangi)

"Seri, idha pathi neenga vera yaar kittayum pesadeenga. Naan time paathu Shivangi kitta pesikaren. " Pugazh said and all agreed

(Okay, lets not discuss this. I will talk to Shivangi when time is right.)

Ashwin took few minutes in the parking to calm himself before he walked to the resort. He was greeted by Rakshan in the lobby.

"Epdi machan iruka?" Rakshan asked giving Ashwin a side hug

(How are you?)

"Super da ! Nee?"

(Good, You ?)

"Nalla iruken."

(Good)

"Veetla kootitu vandirukaya?"

(Has your wife and daughter come?)

"Illa da. Corona bayam iruku-la adhu dan papa ku safe illa nu varalai nu sollita."

(No they didn't fearing safety due to corona.)

Ashwin just knew that he was being scrutinized. The way Pugazh and Bala looked at him conspicuously made it evident that Pugazh had been generous in sharing what happened in the car. Even though Sarath and Rakshan were being casual, they were sharing secret looks with the former duo. Ashwin hated attention, especially this kind.

He looked around the lobby searching for the person who was equal contributor to the mess they were in.

Shivangi was with the women gang who were sitting in a gazebo. She was side hugging Manimegalai while laughing at something Kani said.

Ashwin wondered if it was a woman trait or it was simply Shivangi to forget the argument they had few minutes ago and behave like nothing was amiss. All he could now think of is only about taking her away from everyone for a minute and making her see rationality.

It all started with a song just like every other time in their life. After few minutes of silence in the car, Shivangi decided to play a song. As luck would have it, the first song in her playlist was "Sirikadey".

Ashwin cursed his luck as memories associated with the song fled back to him. He had hard time the past week keeping his thoughts about her in check. After he left media masons office, he spent fair amount of time pondering on the words of that man. It hurt more every time, but at the same time he gained new perspective about his feelings for her.

Maybe what the man said is what everyone thinks, but that in no way made Ashwin feel less about his feelings. He is the kind of man who knew what he wants. Now, that he has found a woman who he is ready to give his heart to, he has no second thoughts about his feelings. However, on the other hand, he was sceptical about Shivangi's feelings.

Growing up as a loner, he had only his own family to love him unconditionally. They were programmed to love him, so they don't count. Yes, he had friends but only a couple of them. Ashwin only had handful of people to show for the bond he was capable of creating in thirty years. This made him wonder if it was he who lacked the ability to create likability. This same insecurity seeded his worry on how Shivangi sees him apart from through the rose tinted glasses she dons when she said she has a crush on him.

What is special about him to make her see a potential future with him?

So the whole week became more about debating with himself on why he and why not he for her?

Apart from the two days he had work, he spent the rest playing games and watching moon in the night playing romantic songs in the background. He hardly even slept.

This song, special song that she sang for him, a song that she taught him word by word for fun, is the last song he wants to hear when he is in her presence after one whole week of thinking about her and when his heart is not in his control at all.

Ashwin switched off the player.

"Edhuku song off pannenga?" she asked immediately

(Why did you off the player?)

"Enaku disturb aagudhu." He gave a bad excuse making her narrow her eyes at him. "Pugazh ku disturb aagum. Pawam thoongaran."

(Its disturbing me.) (It will disturb Pugazh who is sleeping)

Shivangi turned around to look at her brother and nodded in understanding.

"Nerungade Nerungade enn penmai taangade..." she hummed the same song

"Konjam paadama varaya?" Ashwin said helplessly. Will she ever understand what her songs do to him?

(Can you stop singing?)

"Yen? Meduva dana hum pandren? Pugazh anna ku onnum disturb aagadhu."

(I am not loud. Pugazh anna will not be disturbed.)

"Driving la ennala concentrate panna mudiyala." Another lame excuse

(I am not able to concentrate on driving. )

"Naan paadradhukum driving kum enna samandam?"

(How is my singing disturbing your driving?)

Ashwin turned to her with a exasperated sigh. "Paadna ennala concentrate panna mudiyadhu. Nee otraya?"

(I am not able to concentrate if you sing. DO you want to drive?)

Shivangi glared at him for being unreasonable before she crossed her arms over her chest and looked out of the window complaining about him.

"Show la mattum naan paadna pudikum. Inga naan paadna distraction aama."

(In show he loves my singing, but here he says its distracting)

Ashwin heard her clearly. She was deliberately being loud in her complains.

"Show mudinju dan rendu vaaram aaiduche." He said

(Its been two weeks since show ended)

"Appo show mudinja ellam mudinjudha?"

(So did everything end with show?)

"Show mudinjum show la kedachadhu kedaikadhu nu naan enna palaka padithikanum illa?"

(I should get used to the fact that what I got in the show will not be given to me lifelong)

"Eiii... Yen apdi solreenga?"

(Why do you say that?)

Ashwin didn't reply and kept staring at the road.

"Ashwin, enna aachu ungaluku?" she asked concerned.

(Ashwin, are you okay?)

"Tirumba tirumba sonnen. Third episode-laye sonnen. Ipdi crush-nu ellam solladha nu ketaya?"

(I told you repeatedly. I told you after third round not to call me your crush)

"Ippo enna prachana?"

(So what?)

"Ellarum enna pesaranga nu nee paakraya illaya?"

(Do you follow what everyone is talking about us?)

"Twitter la Ashaangi hashtag India wide trend pathi solreengala? Cute ah dana iruku. Fans enjoy pannitu poranga. Ippo enna?"

(Is it about people shipping us and trending us over twitter? Isn't cute? Fans are having fun. Let it be.)

"Adhu epdi Shivangi ma unn kannuku positive mattum teriyudhu?" he asked genuinely curious.

(How do you see only good in everything?)

"Vazhkaila namba enna eduthankun nu nenaikaromo adhu dan kannuku teriyum. Neenga yen tedi poi negative comments paakareenga?"

(It is all about what we want from life. Why do you particularly notice only negative things?)

"Appo tappa edhadhu pesina unaku prachanai illa?"

(Is it okay if someone badmouths?)

"Naan adha pathi ellam care-ae panna maaten. Enaku terium enna pathi, en parents ku terium avlo dan. Strangers enna pesina namaku enna?"

(I don't care about all this. I know about me, my parents know. Why bother about strangers?)

"Terinjavangale tappa pesina?" he asked

(What if they are not strangers?)

"Yaaru pesina?"

(Who are you talking about?)

Ashwin narrated to her what he overheard in Media Masons office about them. Shivangi listened to it carefully and thought for few minutes before reacting.

"Ennala unga per ketruchu nu nenaikareengala?"

(Do you think I spoiled your name?)

"Che che... Enna ma ipdi kekara? Unaku teriyadha en manasula enna iruku-nu?" he asked looking at her. "Naan ellame manasara dan pannen."

(Not at all. Don't you know how I feel about us? I did everything from heart.)

Shivangi averted her gaze from him before she spoke again. "Naan ellam vilayatuku pannen nu nenaikareengala?"

(Do you think I did it for fun?)

Ashwin opened his mouth to answer, but decided against it and kept mum. Not receiving an answer from him appalled Shivangi.

She removed the seat belt and turned her whole body to face him.

"Nejama apdiya nenaikareenga?" she asked taken aback

(Is that what you feel?)

"Seat belt podu ma."

(Wear the seat belt.)

"Naan kekaradhuku badil sollunga."

(Answer me)

Ashwin sighed. "Apdi ellam onnum nenaikala. Idellam avoid panni irunda namaku indha rumour ellam..."

(I don't think so. But, we could have avoided unnecessary rumours..."

"Naan full show-um unga pinnadi loose-u maari sutthitu irunden. Ellarum enna evlo ootnanga teriyuma? Enaku edho unga mela oru affection adhunala dan edayume kandukama ungalukaga ellam pannen. Ungaluku naan edho fun ku panna maari iruka?"

(I was behind you the whole show like an idiot. Everyone made fun of me yet I stood beside you because of affection and you think it was mere fun for me?)

"Ma, naan apdi sollala." Ashwin said helplessly. "Veliya tappa project aagara nala sonnen."

(That is not what I meant. It is portrayed wrongly to people...)

"Naan ungaluku yes solladha nala naan kaatna affection ellam poi nu solreengala?" she asked her voice choking

(Is it because I didn't say yes to you that you think what I did was for fun?)

"Enna pathi nee enna avlo cheap ah va nenaikara?" he asked offended.

(Do you think I am cheap to hold grudges?)

How can she?

"Aprom yen neenga naan fun ah pannen nu nenaikareengala nu ketaduku answer sollala?"

(Then why didn't you answer me when I asked you if you thought I did it for fun?)

Ashwin was helpless now unable to make her understand what he wants to convey.

"Kolanda maari pesadha Shivangi ma. Naan solradha purinjuka try pannu." He argued.

(Don't be childish, Shivangi. Try and understand what I am saying.)

"Naan onnum kolandai illa. Neenga dan tevai illama ellam complicate pandreenga."

( I am not a kid. You are the one who is complicating everything.)

"Naan ah?" he asked "Adhu seri. Devadas maari pathu naala suthitu iruken la. Adhu dan moolai kolambi ellam complicate pannikaren. Neenga dan romab teliva irukeenga."

(Me? Yeah right! I have been mooning like a Romeo for a week. That is why my mind stopped being rational and I am complicating everything. You are very sharp.)

Shivangi was slighted when he said the name Devdas. Is he blaming her again for his plight?

"Appo naan dan unga complications ku ellam reason ah?"

(Am I the reason for all complications in your life?)

"Ama" he said out of annoyance before he realized what he has said.

(Yes)

He immediately turned to her side to apologize, but one look at her eyes and he knew she was on the peak of anger.

Ashwin saw her immediately wake up a dazed Pugazh to switch seat with her. A confused Pugazh looked at them both trying to analyze the situation.

Ashwin tried to catch her eyes through rear view mirror, but she unabashedly ignored him. His inability to make right by her annoyed him even more that is why when Pugazh asked him what the issue was he gave a curt reply.

Ashwin cursed himself for hurting her because of his own helplessness. No wonder he had few friends, he thought.

Ashwin was lying on the bed in his room in the resort recollecting the fight he had in the car with Shivangi. It was their first proper fight. Strangely, on hindsight, he felt little relived. The fact that they fought meant that they were normal and not the fairy tale couple their fandom was making them to be.

Checking his watch, Ashwin noticed that he had only five minutes before he had to meet everyone for lunch in the restaurant. He stood up to refresh, when he heard a knock on the door.

He was half expecting Rakshan while opening the door, but was surprised to see it was Shivangi.

Ashwin was unsure what to say. Shivangi looked at him for a minute before side stepping and entering his room.

"Inga enna ma pandra?" he wanted to ask. Trust her to be reckless enough to walk into his room alone. But, now he can't tell her anything if he doesn't want any repeat of what happened in the car.

(What are you doing?)

Shivangi looked at him. "Enaku namba sanda potadhu kashtama iruku, Ashwiney."

(I didn't like that we fought, Ashwin)

There she is, the Shivangi he knew and adored.

****

Any readers out there with romance book recomendation that has characters like Ashwin Shivangi?