7

Ashwin has lost count of how many times he has visited Ooty. With friends, with family and on couple of occasions even alone he has visited the hill station, but never has he felt this 'kulu kulu' in the queen of hills.

With Shivangi by his side, every mundane experience felt like a precious one to cherish.

He was a simple man with simple wishes. Bike ride to Ooty with a special girl was on the top of the list since he was a teenager. Never before he had right opportunity to tick it off. Now he was glad that he hasn't done this before, because with Shivangi, it felt even more exceptional.

She every single time managed to bring out the fun side in him. Just like now where he is holding out a hand to her standing on a three feet high branch of a tree in the not so deep woods so that she can climb beside him and they can click perfect picture with lake in the background just the way she wanted.

Once she climbed on the branch, Ashwin helped her sit on a higher branch and made sure she was safely settled.

"Ashwinney naan idu dan first time maram eraren." Her childlike excitement was visible in her eyes.

(Ashwin this is the first time I am climbing a tree)

"Naanum dan." He confessed

(Same here)

"Apdiya! Super."

(Really! )

Ashwin extended his hand that held the phone and positioned it for selfie. Once she was satisfied with that click, she asked him to click a solo of her.

"Seekiram keela irangi enna photo edunga."

(Get down and click a photo of me)

"Naan erangita nee eppudi balance pannuva ma? Vendam. Neeum irangu."

(You won't be able to balance if I get down. So, you get down first)

"Naan manage pannikuven. Neenga enna photo edunga."

(I will manage. You click a picture)

He knew he can't win with her. So, he jumped down mumbling 'Inni enna ennavellam seiya vekka poralo.'

(What more is she planning to make me do?)

Ashwin couldn't help but smile at how much camera loved her. She looked absolutely stunning. She was rare mixture of elegance and innocence.

"Naanum ungala maari jump pandren."

(Let me also jump like you did)

"Vendam ma..." before he could stop her, she jumped with a yelp.

(No)

Ashwin's heart skipped a beat hearing her shout.

"Enna ma aachu?" he asked panicked. "Adi patrucha? " he bend on his hips to examine her ankle.

(What happened?) (Did you hurt yourself?)

Shivangi's giggle bought him out of alarm. He straightened himself and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Neenga enga appa madiriye Ashiwiney. Naan yenna sonnalum seiringa. Naan yenna sonnalum nambureenga."

(You are just like my father. You do whatever I say and believe whatever I say)

Ashwin empathised with her father in a way that only a man who was completely attuned to a woman truly because of affection could. It was a strange feeling to want to give her everything she wants at the same time want to protect her in a cocoon every single minute. This is a feeling only a man could understand irrespective of the woman in question is his friend or daughter or love or share a magical bond like in their case.

It was another two hours before Shivangi gave into hunger and decided they should break for lunch. She was otherwise occupied exploring the highest peak in the hill station and clicking pictures at every corner.

"Kuluruda?" he asked when he saw her rub her elbows. Shivangi was keen on having Pizza for lunch and to avoid crowded pizza place, Ashwin decided to get take out and eat in a private spot overlooking train track.

(Are you cold?)

"Illa." She said. "Ungaluku kuluruda?"

(No. Are you cold?)

"Illa. Kulu kulu kooda irundu kuluru palagiruchu." He flirted

(No. I am used to cold now being with someone so chill)

Her blush deepened when he said that looking into her eyes. He always manages to make her blush like no one else.

"Naan story podren." She tried to change the topic. She took her phone and pointed at pizza to click a picture. "Ungala tag pannuta?"

(Let me add Instagram story) (Shall I tag you?)

Ashwin looked at her as if she has gone crazy.

"Illa enaku puriyala." He said imitating Pugazh.

(I don't get it)

Shivangi looked at Ashwin surprised as she was witnessing another side of him for first time. Probably even the first and only person to see this side. Can he even mimic?

"Pugazh anna maari pandrenga." She pointed out laughing

(You are mimicking Pugazh bro)

"Neenga enna try pandrenga?" he countered

(What are you trying to do?)

"Yen?"

(Why?)

"Ippo enna tag panni Tamil Naatu-ke namba onna lunch sapadrom nu solla poraya? Aduvum taniya Ooty-la."

(If you tag me whole world will know we are having lunch together in ooty)

Shivangi made a thinking face before it finally dawned on her.

"Correct-u." She nodded. "Appa amma ku terinjudum."

(My parents will also know)

Her parents will know and so would half the population who are on Instagram. Youtube channel will make sure even the rest of the population learn about it in another half an hour. Ashwin shuddered imagining what scandalous headlines they will come up for this innocent lunch together.

"Nee dan appa amma kita edayum maraika maataye. En kooda vandada en maraikanum?" he teased

(You don't hide anything from your parents, right? Why hide this?)

"Aama illa. " she nodded. "Naan vena amma kita phone panni solliruta?"

(You are right.) (Let me inform mom that we are together in ooty )

Shivangi picked her phone from side and Ashwin immediately stopped her worried.

"Adellam vendam ma, please." He insisted.

(Please don't)

"Ashwinney ungaluku appa na dana bayam amma kita sollalam. Ungala dan gentleman nu sonnangale."

(Ashwin you are only scared of Dad, right? Why mom? She even called you a gentleman.)

"Bayam ellam illa..."

(I am not scared.)

"Summa mariyadai." She completed his sentence. "Teriyum teriyum."

(Only out of respect. I know)

Ashwin looked at her amused. "Nee enna eppo paathalum enna kalaichute iruka?"

(Why do you always keep pulling my legs?)

She chuckled "Naan ah?"

(Me?)

"Aama. Show la kooda apdi dan. Enna palaya aalu nu solli kalaicha."

(Yeah. Even in show you did that. You called me an old school.)

"Neenga palaya aal dana. " she teased

(But you are one)

Ashwin looked at her immediately offended. "Avlo onnum vayasu aagala enaku."

(I am not that old)

Shivangi laughed. "Parava illa. Pudu aalugalukum ungala pudikum." And Ashwin immediately joined her in laughter.

(It's okay. Even new Gen will like you)

How easy it is for her to make him feel everything at once? She can make him feel insecure and like the best man in the world all in matter of one sentence.

"Epdi ma nee idellam pandra?"

(How do you do all this?)

"Edu ellam?"

(Do what?)

"Ellame"

(All of this)

Shivangi shrugged. She didn't even understand what he was asking her.

For someone like her, who has always been a princess in her own world, it was not easy to understand how difficult it is to live in an island of one.

"Unga kooda ipdi ellam taniya veliya varuven nu nenaikave illa. Romaba lucky ah feel panren."

(I never imagined I will be this way with you. I feel very lucky.)

Ashwin's smile vanished all of a sudden and a distant look fell on his face.

"Enna aachu Ashineeyy?"

(Are you okay?)

"Bayama iruku ma." He said truthfully. "Nee enna unn manasula romba periya edathula vechuruka. Enaku aduku tagudi irukka ne teriyala."

(I am scared. You see me in high regards. I don't know if I deserve it.)

There he has yet again voiced in front of her what he hadn't even dared to admit to himself openly. She always has her way with his heart. It is as if his heart only knew to beat on particular tone and until her even he didn't know how to pull the strings.

Ashwin found no ego in confessing to her his inner insecurities. In fact, it felt more natural when she is with him. He felt she deserved to know everything about him.

"Yen Ashwineey apdi solringa." She looked at him sadly. She didn't expect him to say something like this.

(Why do you say that?)

"Unmaya dan solren. Nee vera madiri irukka. Unna madiri oru ponna naan paathade illa. Nee edho naan chinna vayasula keta fairy stories oda fairy madiri iruka." He chuckled. "Naan unna life la meet pannadhu ennoda luck nu nenachitu iruken. Nee paatha enna maari oru idiot ah poi special ah treat pandra. Naane enkita paakadada nee enna ma paatha?"

(It's a fact. You are different. I have never seen a girl like you. You are like a fairy. I feel blessed to have you in my life. You treat am idiot like me very special. What do you even see in me?)

Shivangi usually had readymade answers like 'idellam oru affection' to such tricky questions, but this time she truly felt she needed to tell him the truth.

"Enaku teriyala." She confessed. "Unmaya sollanum na inda show ku munnadi unga work naan paathiruken. Appo ellam enaku onnum tonanudhu illa. First summa idellam naanum comedy-ah dan arambichen, but..." she wasn't sure how to put her thoughts in words.

(I don't know. To be honest, I have seen your previous works. I have never felt this way before. Initially I started all this for fun, but....)

As much as she was expressive and more than often appeared like a person who knows what she wants, with Ashwin all these months she has not been able to figure out what is that one invisible thread that binds them together.

"Nejamave enaku teriyala." She said helplessly. "Crush nu neraya peru solliruken. Anna idhu...Unga kooda..." What was she even supposed to say? "Edhu ennadu Ashwiney?" she asked sincerely.

(I have no clue. I have had many crushes. But this... With you... What is this Ashwin?)

If only he knew...

Ashwin took in a long breath to calm himself while Shivangi fidgeted with the last pizza piece. It was a deep discussion that both were not ready for.

"Horse riding poraya?" he asked desperately trying to change the topic. She nodded with a smile. Though her smile didn't reach her eyes like other times as she was still thinking about what they spoke, she jumped on opportunity to move past the awkwardness.

(Do you wanna go house riding? (

***

Okay, I know you all were waiting for twist, but sorry I had to push it to next chapter. This chapter has enough to ponder up on even without the twist.

So, come back to read next chapter to know the TWIST.