15

Shivangi's mother once told her that the most common question she receives from people is if Shivangi fights with her. "A lot." Her mother answers genuinely, but no one believes.

Shivangi's mother used to tease that Shivangi pretends to be the ideal good girl in front of the world while being her devil self only to her closed ones.

In reality, it was Shivangi's voluntary decision to maintain her calmness in public, in presence of anyone not family, no matter what people says to her. Her lack of filter is only for her thoughts and words, not her anger. Yet she was not surprised that she fought with Ashwin.

There is something about him that made her feel very comfortable. In his presence, she felt like she was with her closed ones, at her home, like she doesn't have to think twice before being her true self no matter how imperfect that self is.

He was the one who agitated her and started the fight. There is no two way about it. How can someone who has more experience than her is still concerned about all baseless things people talk is beyond her. Shivangi felt as if it was her personal duty to keep reminding him again and again to let go and have fun. Not that she had anything against it. In fact she loves pampering him and motivating him. It is not as selfless act as people think as she really enjoys doing it for him.

The problem with Shivangi's anger and any fight that follows is that she can't hold on to it for longer, especially if someone she has fought with her close to her.

The minute she joined other women and began goofing around, her anger vanished. She searched for him and saw that he was with Rakshan talking about something. He looked restless and Shivangi knew she had to do something to calm him down.

After settling her luggage in the room that she is to share with Shakila (On her parents' instruction), she was about to go in search of him when Shakila stopped her.

"Enga pora? Lunch ka?" Shakila asked

(Where are you going? For lunch?)

"Ama." Shivangi lied.

(Yes)

"Seri." She nodded and turned to continue unpacking, but soon called Shivangi once again.

(Okay)

"Sollunga mam." Shivangi asked

(Yes, mam)

"Amma appa naan unakaga permission ketadhu onnum tappa nenaikala illa? Compel panna maari feel pannangala?"

(Were your parents okay when I asked permission for you to come with us? Did I trouble them?)

"Illa mam. Avangaluku santhosham dan neenga enna care pannikuren nu sonnadhu."

(No, mam. They are happy that you said you will take care of me.)

"Appo okay. Naan kooda yosichen. Ashwin dan naan pesina kandipa uduvanga nu sonnan."

(Okay. I was not sure about it. Ashwin insisted I talk to your parents)

"Ashwin ah?" Shivangi asked surprised.

"Aama. Unga veetla taniya vida yosikaranga nu avan dan sonnan. Adhunala dan naan unaku message pannen."

(Yes, he told me your parents are not willing to send you. So, I messaged you to know about it)

Shivangi now found more reasons to want to talk to Ashwin.

Ashwin looked surprised seeing her in his room. He didn't welcome her in and Shivangi didn't expect one. She walked in like it her own room.

"Enaku namba sanda potadhu kashtama iruku, Ashwiney."

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

A smile appeared on Ashwin's face. The kind that Shivangi liked. The one that is rare. The one that reaches his eyes and makes his face glow.

"I am sorry, Shivangi ma. Naan ennennamo ulariten. En tappu dan." He said genuinely

(I am sorry Shivangi. I am an idiot. It was my mistake)

"Parava illa." She nodded. "Aana neenga tevai illama complicate pannitu ipdi ellam sanda poda koodadhu." She pouted

(It is okay. You should not complicate things anymore and fight with me)

"Adhuku onnum panna mudiyadhu ma. Naan porandhadhula irunde overthinker. Nee dan enna cool panni kulu kulu nu vechukanum."

(I can't help it. I am an over-thinker by birth. You should help me keep calm)

"Appo naan sonna neenga kepeengala?"

(Will you listen to me?)

"Nee enna sonnalum naan kepen."

(I will listen to whatever you say)

"Nejama?"

(Really?)

"Nejama."

(Really)

"Aprom yen en message pathum reply pannala? En kooda pesina dan naan enna solren nu teriyum."

(Then why didn't you reply to my message? Only if you talk to me you will be able to listen what I say)

Ashwin looked stunned for a minute. He always knew she was a bold, straight forward person, but didn't expect her to be this honest with him.

"Adhu vandhu..."

(That is...)

"Neenga dan Shakila mam ku phone panni en kooda pesa soneenga nu avanga sonnanga. Neenga yen enaku phone pannala?"

(Did you ask Shakila mam to talk to my parents? Why didn't you call?)

"Adhu epdi ma naan idha pathi unga appa amma kitta pesaradhu. Unga ponna enna nambi resort ku anupunga nu yedhadhu paiyaan poi parents kitta kepana? Kevalama tittuvanga."

(How can I talk to your parents about this? Imagine telling them to trust me and send their daughter with me to resort? They will kill me)

Shivangi made a thinking face trying to comprehend what he meant.

"Aana anniku late night party ku vittangale."

(The other day they sent me with your for late night party)

"Adhu epdi vittanga nu enake puriyala. En mela avlo nambikai iruku unga appa amma ku nu nenachu enake oru nimisham oru maari aaiduchu."

(That is still a mystery to me. Knowing that they trusted me so much overwhelmed me)

"Adhu seri, Ashwineey. Aana neenga inimel enna irundalum en kitta sollunga. Naan purinjikuven. Illati puriya veinga. Ipdi neengalum confuse aaitu ennayum confuse pannadeenga. Evlo tension paarunga, enaku pasiye vandiruchu." She said rubbing her stomach.

(Okay, but in future whatever it is, you ought to talk to me. I will understand, else make me understand. Don't confuse yourself and in turn confuse me. So much tension made me so hungry.)

Ashwin laughed out loud at her cute antics.

"Sorry. Inimel enna aanalum naan unkitta dan first share pannuven. Eppovum ignore panna maaten."

(Sorry. I will share everything with you henceforth. I will not ignore you)

"Promise?" she asked raising her pinkie.

"Idhu enna?" he asked confused

(What is this?)

"Ipdi dan promise pannanum. Idhu kooda teriyaha? Enna aalu neenga?"

(This is how you promise. Don't you know?)

Ashwin rolled his eyes as he raised his pinkie and she hooked both their fingers.

"Nee enna pandra inga?" they both were startled by a voice and immediately moved away. Pugazh was standing outside the room looking between Ashwin and Shivangi with raised eyebrows.

(What are you doing here?)

"Naan Ashwin ah paaka vanden. Unga room inga dan iruka?" Shivangi replied.

(I came here to meet Ashwin. Is your room nearby?)

"Lunch ku pogala?" Pugazh asked as he made his way inside.

(Don't you want to go have lunch?)

"Polame." Shivangi answered again. Then turning to Ashwin, she asked "Polama?"

(Let's go, shall we?)

"Naan innum refresh aagala." Ashwin said

(I wanna use the restroom.)

"Ellarum keela irukanga. Nee po. Naan Ashwin kooda varen." Pugazh said.

(Everyone is waiting downstairs. You join them. I will come with Ashwin)

Shivangi waved bye to them both before she skipped out of the room.

Pugazh fixed his gaze on Ashwin.

"Naan sondha anna illa dan, aana enaku ava mela akkarai iruku." Pugazh said and Ashwin immediately understood his concern

(I might not be her own brother, but i care for her like one)

"Enaku enna veeda adigama ava mela dan akkarai iruku." He said confidently. "Naan avala eppovum hurt panna maaten. Nambu."

(I care for her more than I care for my well being. I will never hurt her. Trust me)

"Neenga rednu perum???" Pugazh lifted his shoulder in question

(Are you both??)

"Romba nalla friends." Ashwin said. What else could he say when she is hell bent on not accepting her feelings for him?

(We are good friends)

Pugazh didn't look convinced, but he didn't question Ashwin further.

After Pugazh left, Ashwin refreshed in his room. He was joined by Rakshan on the way to the restaurant.

"Machan, naan onnu kekuta?" Rakshan asked hesitantly.

(Dude, shall I ask you something?)

"Teriyum unaku enna kekanum nu." Ashwin said

(I know what you want to ask me)

"Tappa nenachukadha machan, but kekama iruka mudiyala. Love panraya da?"

(Don't mistake me for asking this. Are you in love?)

Ashwin wanted to lie, close his heart like he usually does, but decided against it in the last minute. How long is he going to built a wall around himself and make it hard for people to enter? If someone is willing to be his friend, then he should make it as easy as possible.

"Propose pannitan da." He confessed

(I confessed my love to her)

"Adhu eppoda panna?" Rakshan asked shocked

(When did this happen?)

Ashwin and Rakshan took long detour to reach the restaurant as Ashwin was narrating whatever transpired between him and Shivangi in short.

"Apa! Ivlo nadandiruka?" Rakshan sighed. "Naan kooda show la fun ku nu nenachen."

(So much has happened between you two. I thought it was just fun in the show)

"Machan, show la fun nu ellam solladha. Vaai tavari sonnadhuku dan ippo full ah sorry ketu convince panni vechuruken. Tiruma kova paatuta na avlo dan."

(Don't even say it was fun. I regret saying it to her once. Just now I apologized and pacified her)

"Machan, edho magic irnduchu unga rendu perku nadulayum. Episode la paathane tangachi kooda irundale vekka padra, valiyara, neliyara, kolayara. Seri amaidiyana paiyaan aache edho pudusa try pandran nu nenachen. Ippa dana puriyudhu."

(There is some magic about you two. I have noticed while watching the show. I didn't know what was cooking between you two )

Ashwin chuckled accepting the teasing without any comebacks.

"Aana onnu da. Ara adi irundhutu show la dan unna aati vekkara nu paatha nejatilayum vechu seira, illa?"

(Even in reality she is making you dance to her tunes like in the show)

"Ava vera maari ponnu, machan." He said excitedly. "Idhuku munnadi idellam naan feel pannade illa. Ennaye enaku pudusa kaatra."

(She is different. I have never felt this way about any woman. She makes me feel like a new person)

"Nalla vazhunga da. En ashirvdam vechuko." Rakshan said pretending to throw blessings at him with empty hand.

(Bless you both)

A big table was occupied in the middle of the restaurants by their team. Thankfully, the resort was not occupied due to corona fear, few people who moved around didn't really care about this bunch of celebs.

"Ashwineey, Inga vandhu ukkarunga." Shivangi waved at him pointing to the empty seat near her.

(Ashwin, come here)

It was no new sight for the team to see Shivangi being vocal in wanting to have Ashwin near her, so no one paid heed. However, Rakshan who knew the new development in their relationship found it ironical.

"Nee pawam da, machan. " Rakshan said stopping Ashwin before he could walk to Shivangi. "Manasula onnum illa nu solra, aana unna boyfriend maariye treat pandra."

(I pity you. She doesn't accept her feelings for you, but treats you like her boyfriend)

"Unakadhu en nelamai puriyude."

(At least you understand my plight)

"Seri po po. Unaku mattum kooda ukkara asai illaya? Enjoy pannu." Rakshan gave a teasing smile.

(As if you don't enjoy all this)

Passing a general smile to everyone, Ashwin settled beside Shivangi.

"Idhu super ah iruku." She said sharing few baby corn pieces to his plate.

(This is good)

Ashwin ordered Berry mocktail for himself, but once it was served Shivangi was quick to take it. "Naan first taste panni paakaren."

(Let me taste first)

"Ungaluku idellam panna teriyuma?" she asked curiously when green sauce pasta was served.

(Do you know how to make it?)

"Teriyadhu ma."

(I don't)

"Enna Ashwiney neenga. Idellam kathukutta dana enaku senju tara mudiyum. Enaku Italian dan romba pidikum."

(Learn it so that you can cook for me. I love Italian food)

Ashwin nodded his head with a smile. "Kathukaren Madam."

(Will learn madam)

Rakshan caught Ashwin's eyes from across the table and gave him a teasing smile. Ashwin rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but smile slightly. Of course, he was enjoying every single moment she was with him, especially after the emotional week he had.

Shivangi was looking at the dessert menu contemplating what to eat.

"Naan Chocolate ice cream solren, neenga apple pie sollunga share pannikalam. Okay?" she asked him excited.

(I will order Chocolate ice cream, you order apple pie, let us share, okay?)

Ashwin nodded smiling at her.

Shivangi's phone rang and she looked at the caller ID surprised.

"Dei Samey, sollu." She said attending the call.

(Sam, whats up?)

"Enga iruka? Ingaya? Poi solladha da."

(Where are you? Here? Don't lie dude)

"Nejama va?"

(Really?)

"Iru naan munnadi varen." With that Shivangi left the table not even excusing herself properly.

(Will meet you at the entrance)

Rakshan looked at Ashwin questioningly for which the latter only shrugged clueless.

***

Fun chapter, right?

Give Pugazh some time to come around about Ashwin's interest on Shivangi. No brother is going to be okay with his sister (sister like girl) dating someone at the first instance (Even Ross was initially angry)

Speaking of FRIENDS, keeping Ashaangi aside, who is your CWC cast for FRIENDS?

MY PICK

Chandler : Bala

Joey : Pugazh

Ross : Rakshan

Monica : Rithika

Rachel : Sunitha

Phoebe : Manimegalai