20

DISCLAIMER : This chapter is technically PG, however, if you have any issues with reading intimate scenes, you can skip.

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Shivangi hit her head in mock annoyance as she saw Ashwin walk faster than her. "Eiii..." she held his elbow and pulled him back.

"Enna ma?"

(What happened?)

"Neenga enna marathon ka vendirukeenga? Beach idhu. Slow va ndanga." She complained angrily.

(Are you walking in a marathon? This is beach. Walk slow.)

"Sorry sorry sorry." He repeated as he offered her his arms for her to hold.

Shivangi wrapped her hand around his forearm and they began to stroll slowly.

"Enaku beach na romba pidikum." She admitted. "Appa chinna vayasula eppavum beach ku kootitu povar. Naanga onna paatu paduvom."

(I love beaches. My dad used to take me to beach often and we sing)

"Appo enakagavum paatu paadu." He asked

(Sing for me now.)

"Hmmm... aprom padren."

( I will sing later)

"Enaku romba naal ah oru doubt. Kekuta?"

(I have a doubt)

"Kelunga."

(Shoot)

"Show la epdi enakaga enna paatu paadnum nu decide panna?"

(How did you choose songs to sing for me in the show?)

Shivangi shrugged. "Summa apdiye flow la vanduchu."

(Just went with the flow)

"Alaipayude ellam release aagum bodhu nee poraka kooda illa. 'Snegidane' paadanum nu unaku epdi tonuchu?"

(Alaipayude released even before you were born. How did you decide to sing 'Snegidane'?)

"Nejamave naan avlo yosikala, Ashwineey." She confessed. "ARR songs na romba pidikum. Aprom konja romantic songs kepen. Manasuku tonana song summa casual ah paadnen."

(Trust me, I didn't think so deeply. I love ARR songs and also I listen to romantic numbers. I picked songs casually.)

Ashwin stood on his tracks and gaped at her. "Casual ah va?"

(Casual?)

Shivangi nodded unsure why he looked pissed.

"Naan anda snegidane paatu nenachu moonu naal toongama irunden, nee casual ah padanaya?"

(I didn't sleep for three days after Snegidane and you call it casual?)

Shivangi giggled.

"Sirikada ma. Nejamadan solren." He sounded serious

(Stop laughing. It is true)

"Toongama edhuku irundeenga?" Shivangi giggled again. "Appo namba nalla friends kooda aagala. Neenga appo ellam didirnu pesuveenga, didirnu silent aaiduveenga. Enna romba confuse paneenga."

(Why didn't you sleep? We weren't even friends then. You either talked or ignored. You confused me a lot)

"Nee enna sonna?" he pondered. "Girl instinct ah? Enaku puriyadhu nu sonnaye?" She nodded. "Anda maari idhu oru boy thing. Oru ponnu kanna paathu anda maari paatu paadna apdiye ulla irundu uyir ah veroda pidingi edukara maari irukum."

(What did you say? Something about girl instinct? You said I won't get it, right? This is boy thing. When a girl sings a song like that looking into eyes, she takes part of soul with her)

Shivangi looked at him unblinking as he expressed with an intensity that she hasn't seen in him before.

"Cha.." he clicked his tongue and shook his head. " 'Ragasiya snegidane'... Enaku ippo nenachalum pul arikudhu."

(Wow! 'ragasiya snegidane'. I still feel Goosebumps)

"Ungaluku avlo pudichirundhu da? Yen?" she was finding it hard to relate with his emotion regarding the song.

(Why do you like it so much?)

Ashwin looked at cute clueless Shivangi who was staring at him with wide eyes with surprise and confusion etched on them. Those beautiful innocent eyes that captivated him. How would it feel to see the emotions he felt reflect in her eyes with same intensity?

"Adhu sonna puriyadhu ma. Oru naal, nee ready nu enaku tonum bodhu, naan unaku kaatuven." He promised. "Adhu varaikum enaku oru promise pannu. Indha paata endha show or event la paada koodadhu. This is our song."

(You won't get it. In future, when I think you are ready, I will show you. Promise me that you will not sing that song in any show or even. It is our song.)

Ashwin extended his little finger imitating her from evening. "Pinky promise." She said wrapping her finger around his.

As they began their stroll again, Shivangi could feel change in Ashwin's demeanour. His walk became slow. He dragged his steps as if he was trying to float. Their palms were entwined and his grip on her tightened. Infrequently and also probably involuntarily, he was also caressing her with the pad of his thumb. He was humming something. Not a popular song, but some slow melody reflecting his mood.

Shivangi realized he was in a good mood. That made her so happy. She didn't want to bring his attention to any of this and make him conscious. She held his forearm with free hand and moved closer to him.

"Tanni la vilayadlama?" she asked excited

(Shall we go to water?)

"No." He denied.

(No)

"Ashwin!" she pouted

"Dressing eeram aaidum ma. Kaal sari aananyum vilayadlam."

(Dressing of wound will be infected. We will go once your ankle is alright.)

Shivangi looked down at her leg. How can she forget that she injured her ankle in the evening? She is so silly. She can't even remember this about her and he, on the other hand, remembers everything under the sun.

"Epdi Ashwiney ivlo responsible ah iruka mudiyudhu?"

(How are you so responsible?)

"7 varshama taniya irunden illa, so palagiruchu."

(I have been living alone for 7 years. I am used to it)

Imagining him living alone in a strange city struggling to make it big broke her heart every time.

"Kashtama irundu da taniya iruka?" she asked with worry etched in her voice. "Naan appove unga kooda irundirukalam."

(Was it tough to be alone? I should have been with you from start.)

Ashwin chuckled at absurdity of knowing her 7 years ago. He doesn't even want to calculate how old she was then. He believed now is the right time for them to have met and he will be forever be grateful to God for sending her to him.

"Ini mel tanimaye kedayadhu. Nee irukaye."

(No more loneliness since I have you)

"Naan ungala nalla paathukaren." She promised nodding her head innocently

(I will take care of you)

"Naan unna en kannula vechu paathukaren."

(I will take care you too)

They both promised with words and soul with five elements of earth as their witness. With the cool breeze, waving water, boundless sky, rocky sand and blazing bonfire in distance looking on their bond officially became absolute.

Not wanting her to walk any longer, Ashwin pointed a stone bench near bonfire for them to sit. Instead of sitting on it, Ashwin sat down on the sand and leaned comfortably on the bench. Shivangi also followed suit.

Shivangi picked a shell from near her and showed him placing it on her palm. He took it in his. It was too delicate for his huge palm immediately she snatched it from him reprimanding, "Odacharadeeenga. Enaku idhu venum."

(Don't break, I want it)

"Naan enna pannen? Summa kaila dana vechen."

(I didn't do anything. I was only looking)

"Hulk maari kai vechutu yen shell ah odika paakarenga."

(You were trying to break the shell with your hulk hands)

"Hulk ah?" he looked at her amused. "Nee dan minion maari kutty kai vechiruka."

(Hulk? You have minion hands)

Shivangi narrowed her eyes at him unconvinced. She lifted her palm and looked at it. Ashwin placed his palm parallel to her. That way, together, their palms did look like Hulk's and minion's.

"Azhaga kutty ah iruku." Shivangi smiled pleased

(I have cute little hands)

Ashwin traced the lines in her palm with his index finger. "Nalla soft ah iruku."

(And soft too)

Shivangi repeated his action and touched his palm. "Avlo soft ah illa."

(Not so soft)

"Immunity round la adhu un kai nu enaku teriyum." He confessed

(In immunity round, I knew it was your hand)

"Nejamava? Epdi?"

(really!)

"Nee kai vettikitta illa? Master kooda work pannum bodhu?"

(You once cut your fingers remember?)

"Ama."

(Yes)

"Appo lunch break la naan unna paaka vanden. Nee nap eduthitu irunda. Manasu kekala. Un kai parava illaya nu paaka kai totten. Un kai pudichitu konja neram apdiye ukkanduten. I felt guilty. Ennala dan nee kova pattu vegama cut pannen nu nenachen." He confessed with a blush.

(I came to visit you during lunch break. You were taking a nap. I took your hand and held it for a while. I felt guilty as you were upset with me and worked fast because of me only)

Shivangi looked at him surprised. She always felt she was the one who had so many memories of them associated with the show and she enjoyed the most. Now, with him confessing things that were his personal memories with her, she wondered what more stories he has not told her yet.

"Nee enna yosikara nu enaku teriyum." He said looking at her. "Namba rendu per memories taandi, naan mattum en manasula unkooda create panna memories neraya iruku."

(I know what you are thinking. In between memories we shared, I have my own set of memories about it.)

"En kitta yen edhuvum sonnade illa?"

(Why didn't you tell me anything?)

Ashwin chuckled. "Ippo keta romantic ah irukum ma. Naan appo solli irunda nee enna paitiyam nu nenachirupa."

(Now it might sound romantic. Then you would have thought I was crazy)

"Vera edachu sollunga Ashwin, please." She loved hearing him talk about them from his perspective.

(Tell me something else, please)

"Onnu onna meduva solren ma."

(Later)

"Illa ippo onne onu sollunga please. Naan ungaluku enna pathi onnu solren."

(One more, please. I will also tell you something)

"Naan finalist aana odane ellarum enna hug pannanga. Naan neeyum pannuve nu nenachen. Aana, nee handshake pannitu poita. Aprom enakaga azhaga oru paatu paadna. Naan aasa patta maariye en pakkathula vandhu hug panna. Unmayana achievement enaku andha nimisham dan feel aachu. Er..." he hesitated for a minute. " Anniku... Naan unna innum pakkathula vechukanum nu nenachen." He confessed. "Nee takkunu oodita.Konjam kashtama irunduchu."

(When I was announced the finalist everyone hugged me. I wanted you to hug me. You only shook my hand. You sang for me. Then you also hugged me like I wished. That is when I felt my achievement was whole. I ... I wanted to prolong the hug, but you left me too soon. I felt bad.)

Shivangi reminisced the exact moment in her mind. Once she returned after a handshake, she felt like she has left something incomplete. The happiness at him winning, the content that she felt suddenly felt hallow. The song and his reaction for the same somehow prompted her to do what she did. She was shy more than anything. The minute she hugged him, her body reacted in a way that it has never and that prompted her to untangle herself like she touched fire.

Till now, she thought it was a special moment only for her. Knowing he felt as elated as her, a new meaning has been formed for that moment.

Shivangi lifted his hand that she was already holding and moved herself to settle in the crook of his arms. She let loose his arm around her shoulder and placed her head on his shoulder. She with her one hand clutched his shirt near his chest.

For a minute, Ashwin didn't know how to react to this sudden closeness. But, soon he composed himself. He adjusted himself to make her comfortable in his arms making her move closer to him. He let his one hand stay on her shoulder while with other he took her free hand and held closely.

"Naan oru padam paathen. Korean padam." She began to say. "Adhula hero vum heroine um oru beach ku povanga. Night full ah moonlight la pesitu irupanga. Paatu ellam paduvanga. Enaku adhu romba pudichidhu. Appo irundu enakum adellam pannanum nu romba asai."

(I watched a movie where hero and heroine go to beach and spend time there, talk and sing. Since then I have been wanting to do this)

"Unaku vera enna asai irundalum namba rendu perum sendhu adhu pannalam."

(Whatever you wish for, lets do it together)

"Ungaluku enna asai iruku?"

(What about your wish)

He sighed deeply.

"Nee enaku kedachade ennoda periya asai niraiverinadhu. Enna enakaga pudikara, enna mattum pudikara oru aal en vazhkaila varanum nu naan romba engi iruken. You are the answer to all my prayers."

(You were my biggest wish. I wanted someone to accept me for who I am and love only me and here you are. You are the answer to all my prayers)

Shivangi lifted her head off his shoulder and looked at him. He was making her feel happy and sad at the same time by confessing such emotional things. Sensing that his past lonliness affected her invariably, he smiled to lift her spirits.

Shivangi left his hand that she was holding and touched his dimples.

"Unga dimples azhaga iruku."

(Your dimples are cute)

"Unn dimples um dan." He complimented and with the hand that was still around her shoulder touched her dimples with the tip of his finger.

(Your dimples too)

Kannazhaga.. kaalazhaga
Ponnazhaga.. penn azhaga
Engaeyo thaedi sellum.. viral azhaga
En kaigal korthu kollum vidham azhaga

Shivangi giggled as she went back to narrate a funny anecdote related to young her and dimples. However, Ashwin was not paying any attention to her.

His fingers that caressed her dimples, too tempted by the softness, stayed there. Then, they slowly pushed back the strand that was disturbing by dancing on her forehead. When his knuckles touched her ear shell, he let them caress her ear slowly. His fingers got bolder as the descended down and gazed her neck.

Uyirae uyirae unaivida edhuvum
Uyril peridhaai illayadi
Azhagae azhagae unaivida edhuvum
Azhagil azhagaai illaiyadi

Shivangi stopped talking as she felt the tickle near her neck. On reflex her shoulder lifted and she tried to shrug off the reason for tickle. "Enna Ashwin panreenga." She mumbled thinking he was playfully trying to distract her.

(What are you doing, Ashwin?)

His hand didn't even move an inch from its place. He was, in fact, looking at her straight in the eyes now. Shivangi finally caught on to what was happening when she met his eyes.

Engaeyo paarkiraai
Ennenna solgiraai
Ellaigal thaandida
Maayangam seikiraai

Her eyes widened in surprise and she gasped inaudibly. Her breath caught in her throat and gulp of saliva felt like swallowing a rock.

"Ashw..." she wasn't even able to complete his name because of the breathlessness she felt

Pulling his gaze from her has always been the hardest thing for Ashwin and today especially because he finally knew that she was his. She has agreed to grace his life with her presence and he has become one lucky man.

Unnakul paarkiren
Ulladhai solgiren
Unnuyir serndhida
Naan vazhi paarkiren

Her khol filled eyes, button nose, pale pink lips, teasing jumkas, playful hair strands, everything tempted him more than ever. The fact that she was here on this beautiful starry night, cool breeze caressing them, the things they shared everything added to him feeling more open with her. Last time when he felt this way, they were not even friends and he ended up confessing his love, this time however, he knew she is his forever and he hers.

The pride of the realization made him move forward and cup her cheeks.

Idhazhum idhazhum
Innaiyattumae
pudhidhaai vazhigal illai

Immaigal moodi aruginil vaa
Idhupol edhuvum illai

Shivangi tilted her face accepting his touch. His warm hand on her felt blissful in the cold of the beach. She moved more into his touch as she with trembling fingers touched her bearded cheeks with the tip of her fingers.

Ashwin thought if this is how being intoxicated felt. He was feeling out of body experience with her so near him.

Unnakul paarkava
Ulladhai ketkkava
Ennuyir serndhida
Naan vazhi sollava

This might be it. The moment he has been imagining in his mind since forever. He lifted his eyes and looked at her eyes. The hint of passion he always wanted to see in her eyes was visible making him feel surreal. With that passion, he also saw uncertainty and hesitation.

Was he putting her in a spot?

Was he manipulating her senses to give in to his desire?

He knew she was young, but not too young to not know what he wanted. But, does she truly understand what she wants yet?

Ashwin's grip loosened as once again ambiguity on how to deal with his physical eagerness while making sure she felt the same and wanted the same.

He didn't even know how to discuss all these with her. How do other couples do that even? Do they plan or just go with the flow?

He wasn't sure if what they were doing was how the actual flow felt.

Is she ready for him?

Can't he wait some more before all this?

Closing his eyes, Ashwin sighed deeply trying to control his raging hormones. 'Control pannu da' he told himself.

(Control yourself)

He untangled himself from her as slowly as possible, but jumped on his feet too quickly. Patting the mud off his back, he said, "Polam."

(Let's go)

"Enna aachu?" Shivangi asked unsure

(What happened?)

She was experiencing the most blissful magic in her life and he broke off from her crashing her beautiful dream. Now, he looked as if has swallowed a huge bitter pill.

"Late aachu." He replied though he knew she was not asking about it.

(It's late)

Shivangi looked at Ashwin from where she was sitting trying to analyze what was running in his mind. But, he refused to meet her eyes. Giving up, Shivangi pushed herself off the ground.

"Ashwin?" she tried one last time to get his attention

"Polam ma, please." He didn't meet her eyes

(Let's go please)

"Enna aachu nu sollunga ma, please." Hearing her say that Ashwin finally met her eyes.

(Tell me what happened, please)

Doubts and insecurity clouded her beautiful pair of innocent eyes and he immediately cursed himself for putting her through conflict just because of his predicaments.

"Naan edachu tappu...." she started

(If it was my mistake....)

"Che che... Naan dan..." he said interrupting her

(No no,...It was me)

Ashwin calmed himself and took her hand in his.

"Namba inni konjam wait pannalam." He said

(We should wait)

"Yen?"

(Why?)

Ashwin looked at her in surprise and lifted his one eyebrow. What was she insinuating, he wondered.

Shivangi moved her gaze away from him. "Polam." She mumbled this time.

(Let's go)

***

Would love to know how you all feel about it. 

https://youtu.be/mEYVfy8MvZ0