17

Sam fidgeted his fingers while staring at the shoe lace. Shivangi sat leaning on the wall with a pillow on her lap. Her elbow rested on the pillow and her face cradled on her palms while she waited for Sam to speak.

"Ennada nee edho yosichite iruke. Pesave maatingara." She complained

(Where are you lost?)

Sam lifted his head and looked at her.

"Naan edhadhu tappu pannitena?" he asked

(Did I do something wrong?)

"Yen apdi kekara?"

(Why do you ask that?)

"Illa nee modhala maari en kooda pesaradhe illa. Adhu dan."

(You are not talking to me the way you used to.)

"Apdi ellam illa."

(That is not true)

"Illa enaku ennamo nee enna avoid panrayo nu tonudhu."

(I feel as if you are avoiding me)

"Nee yen friend da. Naan yen unna avoid panna poren?"

(You are my friend. Why will I avoid you?)

"Appo naan verum friend dana Shivangi?"

(Am I only a friend to you?)

He finally asked her what has been in his heart since forever.

"Friend dana." She said. "Vera enna?"

(Yes, you are)

Sam knew he has to say it to her. It is much better than holding it inside him.

"Naan unkitta onnu sollanum. Romba naala nenachutu irunden..." Sam began.

(I have been meaning to tell you something since long...)

"Solladha, Sam." Came her quick reply

(Don't, Sam)

Sam looked at her surprised. Her eyes and tone held a severity that he hasn't seen before.

"Nee enaku neraya help panni iruka. En kooda eppavum ninnu iruka. Naan ennikum adha maraka maaten. Aana ippo edhadhu sonnaina, namba friendship ku artham illama poidum."

(I have helped me a lot. You stood by me through thick and thin. I will never forget all that. But, whatever you want to say might ruin the meaning of our friendship.)

Sam clenched his hand and looked down at his shoes again trying to control his emotions.

Silence spread in the room for few minutes as they both sat staring at nothing in particular trying to ease off the awkwardness.

Chair that moved when Sam stood up was the first noise to break the unease.

"Naan kelambaren." He announced.

(I am leaving)

Shivangi only hummed her answer.

Sam exited the room, but returned a minute later and asked, "But namba ippavum friends dana Shivangi?"

(Are we still friends?)

"Eppavume." She assured him

(Always)

Shivangi held her head in her hand as the emotions she felt while Sam was here overwhelmed her. She was not used to any complicated emotions. This myriad of emotions her friend left her with was too intense.

But, why she has to feel guilty, let down and exhausted is beyond her.

It was not her mistake if someone likes her in a way that she doesn't feel about them. A woman is trained to feel guilty of actions of men around her. Even though Shivangi had the most progressive parents, she was still bought up in this patriarchal society that restricts women.

She wondered why it felt so wrong when Sam wanted to speak his heart out. It was after all his rights to do so.

Shivangi realized it is not only because she didn't reciprocate his feelings, it was also because she was not willing to be wooed by a man who isn't her choice.

The emotions that crowded her mind made her dizzy and she wished she was home. 'Where is Ashwin?' her mind wondered automatically when she realized he could be the closest to home she can imagine at this moment.

"Enaku yen avar ippo kooda irundha en manasu calm aagum nu tonudhu?"

(Why do I feel if he is with me, I will feel calm)

Shivangi closed her eyes and let the feeling of restlessness slow down.

"En manasula iruku"

(I have feelings for you)

She remembered his words. Why does it feel so right when he speaks his heart, while it feels unacceptable when someone else does?

"Avar pesana kulu kulu nu iruku. Vera yaaradahu edachu feelings nu sonna kadupa varudhe. Yen?"

(I feel good when he says about his feeling, but annoyed when others speak)

Popularity has bought with it its share of admirers, but Shivangi knew better than encourage anyone. Her easiest weapon has been making everyone her brother at first sight.

"Avar mela feelings illai nu kooda dan sonnen, aana avar solradha innum ketukitte irukanum pola iruke. Yen apdi?"

(I told him I don't feel anything for him, but I always want to hear more and more about his feelings. Why?)

Shivangi remembered how he took care of her like a baby when she got hurt. "Onnum illa ma. Naan dan kooda irukane." He whispered in her ears and it seemed like that is all the assurance she needed.

(I am with you. Calm down)

"Naan avara Raja maari paathukaren nu solraru, aana avar-um enna Rani maari dan patthukararu."

(He told that I treat him like a King. He also treats me like a Queen)

The restless feeling that spread in her heart and mind was now completely replaced by feeling of intense something that Shivangi didn't know how to name. She felt rejuvenated just by thinking about him.

"Naan feel pandra maari dan avarum feel panrara?" she thought and immediately corrected herself. "Avar dan enna vida adigama feel panrare. Appo idhu rendum ore feeling dana? Indha feeling ku per enna?"

(Does he feel the way I do? ) (He has more intense feelings. Are both the feelings same? What is it called?)

"Shivangi ma."

Shivangi turned to look at him entering the room and for a minute his current image blended with the very first time she saw him in the sets.

First hint of respect sprouted on him when he looked at her like his equal. He made her feel like a woman and not like a child everyone treated her. When he asked her something, he really wanted her ideas. He cared for her opinion.

"Cute ah iruka ma nee." Whenever he said that to her, she knew he meant it, because he always made sure to make eye contact even if it is for fraction of a second. And he found her cute no matter what she does.

(You are cute)

"Nurse kitta pesiten. Nee room ku polam nu sollitanga. Nalaiku morning oru dressing pannanum."

(Nurse told me I can take you to your room. You need another dressing in the morning)

He sat near her leg and took her feet in his hand.

"Enna pandreenga?" she pulled back her leg and winced in pain because of the action.

(What are you doing?)

"Bleeding iruka nu check panna sonnanga."

(I was asked to check for bleeding)

He again tried to take her leg, but she pulled back.

"Enna pandra?" he looked at her

(What are you doing?)

Shivangi nodded her head in no cutely. "Vayasula periyavanaga kaal ellam toda koodadhu nu paati solluvanga."

(My grandmother used to say that elder person should not touch younger person's feet.)

Ashwin chuckled. "Ei 2K kid, 70s kid maari pesadha. Un kaal todradhala naan onnum koranjara maaten."

(Don't be old school. I have no ego in touching your feet.)

He pulled her leg on his lap and checked for external bleeding. He pressed her toes as instructed and asked her if she could feel any pain. She nodded a no.

"Ellam okay dan. Polama?" he asked

(Looks good. Shall we leave?)

His care. How can he be such a sweet and sensitive person?

Shivangi has been pampered all her life, but the way he treats her is something beyond everything she has experienced before. He made her feel like she is the most important person in the entire world.

The way he says "paathu ma" has made her skip many heartbeats. No matter how busy he is, his eyes will always be on her and the minute she is in trouble, he will be by her side.

(careful)

"Enna yen apdi paakara?" Ashwin asked narrowing his eyes.

(Why are you looking at me?)

"Enaku unga heartbeat kekanum." She said

(I want to hear your heartbeats)

"Heartbeat kekanum ah? Enna olarra?"

(Heartbeats? What ?)

Shivangi threw her leg off the bed and tried to stand up.

"Paathu ma." Was his instant reaction and he held her hand to support her.

(Careful)

Shivangi's heart did a little flip hearing him say that. Pity her small heart being subjected to his constant care and affection.

Ashwin's breath caught in his throat as he felt her wrap her hands around his waist and placed her head near his heart. The blood from his whole body seemed to have evaporated and he felt like he was floating.

"Sh..i.vangi?" he stuttered. "Enna pandra?"

(Sh..i.vangi, what are you doing?)

She tightened her hands around him.

"Unga manasula iruku nu soneenga illa, adhu dan enna iruku nu ketu paakaren."

(You told me you have feelings for me, I am trying to listen to those feelings.)

"Adhu kaadhu ku kakadhu. Manasuku dan kekum." He said.

(You can't hear it. You can only feel it)

Shivangi pulled herself a little and looked up at him.

"En mansuku ketruchu." She confessed. "En manasulayum iruku. Naan yosichiten."

(I can feel it. Even I have feelings for you)

***

There is your Kulu Kulu update for AK's birthday.

Happy Birthday Ashwineey!!!

Another awesome may born person

(Yours truly is also May born)

Now that they are a couple any scene/scenario you want to read on them, you can suggest here, I will try to add it.

Aprom song mood obviously is this

https://youtu.be/BQE2hrC_gFo