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Ashwin has hard time making small talks. It was the reason he barely had friends in the industry. More than often when he tried to make small talks he ends up either being presumptuous or irrelevant. So, he decided it is best if he just takes a step back and observe before he says anything. This also explains his reservation during the initial episodes of the show.

It was people in the show who made him feel comfortable enough to bring a side of him that not many but closed ones have witnessed. In fact, some shades even closed ones have not witnessed.

He remembers the appalled phone call his sister, followed by his mother made after the promo where Ashwin challenges Baba master that he will win immunity by making Shivangi cook aired. It would be an understatement to say that they were shocked.

"Apdi ellam pesi challenge panna sonnangala?" his sister asked

(Were you asked to pose a challenge by the team?)

"Illa ka. Yen?"

(No, Why?)

"Nee apdi ellam pesara aal illaye."

(It didn't sound like you)

She was right. Ashwin wasn't an antagonistic person, at all. The adrenaline he felt that day was unexplainable.

First master had called Shivangi out for not putting enough efforts which completely irked Ashwin because he didn't believe one bit of it. Yes, she was unsure of nuances in cooking and can hardly ace power tasks with her fragile arms, but she always puts her best foot forward. That in no way means she was any less than others.

Then, master went ahead and made remarks about whatever that was between Ashwin and her, which weren't malicious, but still made Ashwin upset. He didn't know why it mattered so much. It was just harmless quip. In fact, the very show has seen more unforgiving relationship jokes involving Pugazh and many women. Once inside the sets, no one really gets offended with anything.

Ashwin wondered why it stuck him in a place that it shouldn't. Was it because unlike others his intention wasn't completely innocent? He likes when she sprints to his table every time when not paired with him. He likes telling her what he was up to. He likes that in some way his every dish had a contribution from her. He liked seeing her adorable expression when she is stuck between him and others. He felt exuberated when she more than often picks him over every one else.

When Baba master pointed out how Shivangi was always only at Ashwin's table, Ashwin was scared thinking if his inner feelings had become transparent and if Master has somehow sensed that Ashwin enjoyed and encouraged her equally albeit silently.

And that fear triggered him to do whatever he did that week.

They won the round and it still plays out in his mind like a superhit movie, however Ashwin was not late to realize that that was when he started to let his guard down.

Some people who knew him started seeing the difference. Though she has never really confronted him about anything, she carries a knowing smile when he talks about the show. Others who not so close but very perspective like Baba master has also caught on that Ashwin was changing.

Being the only two male contestants they had bonded very well. One day, before shoot, when they were discussing about right way of cooking fish, Shivangi passed by them to get ready not before giving them both her brilliant smile. She was wearing a pretty pink graphic sweatshirt over jeans and her hair was pulled in high pony tail. In spite of zero make up, she looked beautiful and Ashwin's heart warmed up immediately by her presence and smile. He stared at the way she went long after she had disappeared.

When master cleared his throat to get Ashwin's attention, the latter immediately pretended to recollect a forgotten recipe. Master, however, didn't buy it.

"Nadikada da." He said giving Ashwin a look. "Avaladhu paakaren nu sollitu paakara. Nee irukaye, aiyoo saami, romaba danger da. Yarkum teriyada maariye paakaradu. Illa?"

(Oh! Pretend not. At least she is open about looking at you. But, you, by God, are dangerous. You look at her sneakily.)

If anyone else had noticed anything odd about Ashwin's behaviour, they hadn't openly confronted him thankfully.

Ashwin wondered if Shivangi was oblivious to things that some perspective minds were privy to about his not so badly hidden interest in her.

"Shivangi ma, paatu kekaraya?"

(Are you listening to music?)

As an answer, she showed her phone screen to him and said, "Naan inda paata dan Super Singer la paada poren. Next week shooting. Adan ketutu iruken."

(I am going to sing this song in Super Singer episode. I have shooting next week so I was listening to it.)

"Oh!" he said not paying much attention to the song on screen. "Yen kooda vandu ukkandadu aala enkooda pesuve nu nenachen."

(Oh! I thought you will be talking to me)

"Neenga enkooda pesuveengala?"

(Will you talk with me?)

"Un kooda dana anju masama adigama pesitu iruken"

(I have been talking to you the most in the past five months)

She giggled at his reply. Returning her phone to her bag, she turned her body to the right to face him. Placing her elbow on the hand rest, she rested her face on her palm and looked at him expectantly. "Pesunga."

(Shoot)

His lips threatened to break into beam and blush deepened. She always has this effect on him when she looks at him this way.

"Yen ma apdi paakura?" he managed to mutter

(Why are you looking at me this way?)

"Ada enna aalunga neenga." She complained. "Pesa solringa. Paada solringa. Aaana paaka koodadhu nu solringa. Toda koodadhu num solringa. Ungala purinjukave mudiyala Ashwineeyy."

(You are confusing. You ask me to talk, sing, but then you tell me to not look or touch. You are hard to understand Ashwin.)

"Appa munnadi toda vendamnu dana sonnen." He bit his tongue as soon as he said that.

(I told you not to touch only in front of your father)

Shivangi narrowed her eyes to slits and looked at him. She bit the corner of her lips and shook her head. "KD fellow neenga." A small smirk spread on the side of her lips.

(You are sly.)

"Ama unga appa amma unna tittalaya TV la enna crush nu sonnaduku?"

(Didn't your parents mind that you called me your on TV?)

"Illa." She said shrugging her shoulder

"Nejama?"

(Really!)

"Naan eppavum ennoda ella crush pathiyum avanga kita solliduven. So avangaluku en mela romba nambika."

(I tell them all my crush stories. So, they trust me.)

"Ella crush ah? Apdi evlo crush irundiruku unaku?"

(All stories? How many crushes have you had?)

She made a thinking face and asked sincerely. "Celebrity crush-um setha?"

(Including celebrity crush?)

Ashwin nodded unsure if he really wants to know the answer now.

"Sumara oru 10 irukum."

(Around 10)

"10 ah!"

She nodded naively before she proudly added, "Neenga dan anda 10th aalu."

(You are the 10th person)

Damn! And here he was feeling special.

It was ridiculous that now he was feeling insecure about those nine people who occupied a small part of her heart at some point of time. Was it even sane to be angry on some nameless men?

"Unga crush pathi sollunga."

(Tell me about your crush.)

"Enaku adellam ella ma."

(I don't have any)

"Appo love irunduda." She asked seriously

(What about love story?)

"Irundudu nu sonna enna pannuva?"

(What if I had one?)

Her face shrunk and all light was lost. With the same expression with which she asked 'Veetla ponnu pakarangala.' in one of the episodes where Sharath was teasing her, she asked him, "Ungaluku love irunduda?"

('Are your parents looking for suitors?' --- Did you love someone?)

This Shivangi wasn't the same one from few months ago who asked him if he was single in one of the early episodes. When he gave a non committal answer, she very indifferently told him that she doesn't care about that anyway.

This Shivangi cared. Oh! A lot. This realization made Ashwin's heart beam with joy. It certainly mattered to her that his heart has been as untenanted as hers.

He decided to put her out of mercy.

"Love ellam illa ma. Naan perusa ponnunga kooda pesave maaten."

(I have no love story. I hardly talk to girls.)

Smile was back on her face and so did the glee.

"Naan kelvi patten."

(I did hear few things.)

"Enna kelvi patta?"

(Say what?)

"Pavithra ka sonnanga short film nadikumpodhu avanga koodave olunga pesa maatinga nu."

(Pavithra told me that you barely spoke to her while shooting for short film)

"Oh! Enna pathi details ellam collect pandriya?"

(Oh! you talk about me to others?)

"Crush na apdi dan Ashwineey. Avanga pathi ella details um gather pannanum."

(If you have crush on someone, you should know great deal of details about them)

Ashwin needs no lecture on that. He has been quiet a stalker in the past couple of months watching her old videos and interviews. That is how he found out how she had told in an interview that her dream man should be 5 feet 11 inches tall. The reason she gave for it was more adorable. Universe materialized him in front of her in matter of months since the interview. Kadavul Setting.

"Aama ponnunga kita pesa maaten nu sonnenga. En kitta nalla dan pesureenga."

(You claim to hardly talk to girls, but you talk well with me.)

"Nee ponnu illa ma Angel."

(You are not just any girl. You are an angel)

Few minutes with her and he was already gaining enough confidence to flirt openly.

"Kalaikadeenga Ashwinneeyy." Even as she brushed it off as a joke, he saw blush creep up her cheeks. Ashwin was pleased with himself.

(Don't ridicule me)

They heard the announcement that flight will land in another ten minutes.

"Enaku unga oora suthi kaatuveengala?"

(Will you take me sightseeing in your city?)

"Chennai maadiri Coimbatore la persusa paaka onnum illa ma."

(Coimbatore doesn't have many tourist attractions like Chennai)

"Parava illai unga favourite spots edachu irukume. Anga kootitu ponga."

(How about your favourite hangouts?)

Ashwin waited a minute before answering. He was not sure if she was serious or casually asking him for conversation sake.

"Unga appa?"

(How about your dad?)

"Appa nalaiku morning Chennai ku kelambeedu vaaru. Avaruku kacheri iruku. Mudichitu night dan varuvaru. "

(He has to go back to Chennai for a concert tomorrow morning. He will return only at night.)

"Appo okay." He agreed rather too quickly

(Sure then)

"Yeah!!" She squealed in delight gaining her father's attention.

"Yen maa kathura!" Ashwin said eyeing her father cautiously.

(Why are you shouting?)

Shivangi followed Ashwin's line of sight before turning to him with a smirk and raised eyebrows.

"Ungaluku yen enga appa va paatha avlo bayam?"

(Why are you scared of my father?)

"Bayam ellam illa." Ashwin drawled. "Summa oru mariyadai."

(Not fear, only respect)

Once the flight landed, Ashwin played the dutiful host as it was his hometown and waited on Shivangi and her father until car arranged by the production house picked them up.

"Hotel la settle aaitu text pannu." He told her discreetly when her father was talking to the driver.

(Text me once you have settled in the hotel)

Ashwin's friend who was at Airport to pick him up caught the interaction. He wasted no time in teasing Ashwin though.

"Enna machan appa ellam vandirukaru. Maapla paaka va? Congratulations da. Samandam pesi mudichiruveenga pola."

(Bro has she come with her father to fix the marriage? Congratulations!)

"Olunga road-a paathu car ottu da."

(Concentrate on driving)

"Ennamo!" his friend chuckled. "Ingellam nalla paiyaan maariye iru. Chennai la enna koothu panrayo."

(You are so innocent here. No idea what you are up to in Chennai.)

"Dei summa iruda. Chinna ponnu ava."

(Cut it, bro. She is very young.)

"Seri seri." His friend sang unconvincingly

(Whatever)

After dropping Ashwin home, his friend asked if he was up for lunch meeting next day.

"Plan iruku machan."

(I have plans)

"Naan dana da unn friend naan illama enna plan?"

(What plans without your best friend?)

"Eh... Family kooda veliya poren."

(I am going out with family)

Before his friend could probe him, Ashwin bade bye and went inside his home.

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