Disclaimer

This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the popular show cook with comali 2. The description of incidents in this story is fictional and entirely unrelated to the persons after whom the characters are named. The story is only an imaginary plot with my take on ashaangi. This is not to hurt anyone or affect their personal space. This is purely a fictional plot that is not recommended to connect with real-life incidents.

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17

"Nillu Ashwin!" She stood a few steps away from him and her voice boomed through the passage leading to the restroom. She was trying to catch a breath for all the running she had to do to cope up with his long strides. Her voice was blaring enough to startle Ashwin and he couldn't move an inch forward. His blood almost froze for a second contemplating if it was really happening or if it was all a figment of his imagination. He was waiting for this very moment the entire evening and when she was right there behind him, he didn't have the audacity to even turn back and look into her eyes.

(Stop Ashwin!)

He shut his eyes tight. All that was going on in his mind was what Rakshan warned him a few minutes back. He dint want to make things worse! Exhaling through his mouth and gulping down his temper, he turned to look into her doe eyes as if wanting her to read his mind through his eyes, to make it all easy for him.

The wrath he was in a few seconds ago suddenly seems to have disappeared and confusion suffused his mind when Sivaangi's eyes reflected nothing similar to his emotions. He turned around to only be taken aback, to find his girl with furious eyes almost trying to burn him down alive.

She breathed out loud and shut her eyes breaking off the eye contact, trying to gather some courage to meet those deep brown orbs again to make further conversation or rather an argument.

"Enna nenachitu iruka nii un manasula?" She took a few stern steps towards him.

(What do you think you are doing?)

"Vandhadhula irundhu nanum pakureyn elarayum morachitu iruka! Un manasula enna odudhu nu unna thavara yarukum teriyadhu Ashwin! Edhuku ipdi panitu iruku?"

(I am watching you right from the time you came in and all that you did was glaring at people or picking a fight! No one is going to understand what is going on in your mind other than you! Why are you doing all this? )

"Oh! en manasula ena oduradhu nu enna thavara yarukum teriyadhu la?" He repeated her words with a smirk on his face. For a second it made her think if she constructed that sentence right.

(Oh! No one is going to understand what is going on in my mind other than myself is it?)

Shaking off, she continued "Edhuku ipo nii elaru kitayum theva ilama kovapadura?! Pavithra akka pesurapo avangala kola panna pora madhiri pakura! Pugaz anna un plate la edho serve panrapo avara thittura! Sakthi edho selfi eduka pakathula ukkandhan, avan kita sammandhamey illama sandai ku pora! Ipo thirupi Pugaz anna! What is up with you? Have you lost it?" She stomped her feet showing frustration, which made him almost take a step back.

(Why are u getting angry about everything? You gave Pavithra death glares when she was talking. When Pugaz was serving you something you yelled at him. Sakthi was about to take a selfie and you snapped at him for no reason at all! Now again Pugaz! What is up with you? Have you lost it?)

She almost pounced on him like a little wild cat. He could do nothing but stare at her, jaw dropped.

"Ipo edhuku ipdi kathura?" He frowned at her and raised his voice just a little not wanting to make a scene.

(Why are you shouting now?)

"Please don't be a spoilsport! If you want to talk anything to me, En kita directa pesu! Adhu vittu elaru kitayum un kovatha katadha!" She ranted out the things she was holding back without paying attention to what he said.

(Please don't be a spoilsport! If you want to talk anything to me, talk to me directly! Don't go around showing your anger to everyone else here!)

"Spoilsport? Naana?" his eyes widened.

(Spoilsport? Me?)

"Ama pinna? Unaku en kita edachum solanum na enta pesu! Adha vittu elaru sandoshathayum kedukadha elarum enna madhiri summa iruka matanga Ashwin!"

(Yea! who else? Don't go around killing others' happiness, not everyone will keep shut!)

He was amazed by the way she was accusing him in every sentence. He has not seen this version of her ever before, especially with him. He has watched her protect him from others but never seen her stand against him. 

She was not there to defend anyone but herself and her precious heart that was broken years back. She dint have it in her to go through the same thing once again. She was done with the confusion and overthinking. It felt like she was going through a rollercoaster of emotions and now she stood completely drained out.

"Enaku un kita pesa onnum ila Sivaangi. Nii kelambu." He managed to put those words together with a daunting calmness in his tone.

(I don't have anything to talk to you Sivaangi. You may leave.)

Silence filled the space. She wanted a clear-cut answer to his obscured behavior. It dint make any sense! It didn't matter to her if they end up fighting, but she needs an answer for everything that troubled her mind! She needs just clear answers this time!

It felt like a calm before the storm. Ashwin could already feel the stench of calamity coming up.

"Onum iliya? Apo edhuku inniki inga vandha?" she hit the bullseye straight!

(Nothing is it? Then why are you here today?)

"Dhamu appa insist panni kuptaru, vandheyn, that's all" He gave a bland answer as if he was already prepared to give an answer to such a question from anyone. He dint want to make any detailed conversation that might end up dirty.

(Dhamu appa insisted and so Im here. That's all)

"Poi!" She uttered a crisp reply and intensified her glare. He stood stiff not knowing how to react to that. His breath almost hitched as he found his tongue-tied.

(Lie!)

"Ivalo varusham illama ipo enna pudusa indha madhiri event attent pananum? En pakuravanga kita lam ipdi behave pananum?"

(Are you telling me you are attending such an event without an intention, after these many years? Your behavior towards everyone is quite unlike you. Why?)

He was deliberately avoided every single event that she would take part, after they stopped communicating. But that doesn't mean he wanted to avoid her. He dint know how to face her and even now he didn't understand what urged him to attend this party.

He felt as If he was caught red-handed when she asked a question like that. How was he to answer it?

"Na ennamo panitu poreyn unaku enna? Avalo self-importance kuduthuka theva ila, na onum unnala inga yarukitayum kovama pesala! Unakagavum varala!" He started rambling, not sure of what to say.

(How does it bother you? Please don't give so much self-importance, my behavior with others doesn't involve you! I am not here for you!)

In his head, he wanted to grab her by her shoulder and judder her back to senses and scream "I'm here for you goddammit! Stop interrogating and get it straight woman!" But something bothered him and he knew that was not the right place to talk anything considering her temper and their fluctuating emotions at the moment.

"Apdiya? Apo anniki interview la en andha patu paduna? En Interview mudinju enkita pesanum nu pinadiye vandha? Inniki Pavithra akka Arjun peru sonnapo edhuku un moojila apdi oru kovam? Unaku nejamavey en kita solla onum ila. Apdidhaney?" She was not in any plan to give up this time! She persuaded him to talk his mind. Her voice was stern yet soft. Her lips trembled a little in the last question. Enough of this game!

(Is that so? Then why did you sing that specific song during the interview? Why were you behind me after the interview? Why did your face show anger when Pavithra mentioned Arjun's name? You don't have anything to tell me, right?)

Arjun's name immediately raised the tension in him. He clenched his jaws hearing his name. He dint know what bond they shared and that terrified him. Those few seconds of wordless communication between them, their eye contact, the way he looked at her when she was singing with her eyes closed flashed before his eyes. He saw himself in Arjun when he was looking at Sivaangi with complete adoration. In fact, he saw a better version of him in Arjun, a sweeter and more understandable version that he himself is yet to show her. He was hell scared of the fact that she might actually choose Arjun over him. Insecurity crept its way into his head and haunted him. He wanted to control his tongue because he knew if he ends up saying one wrong sentence it is going to be irreversible!

"Ama Onnum ila. Nii kelambu" His voice came out strained as he spoke through his teeth suppressing all the anger.

(Yea. Nothing. You may leave.)

"Apdina en Ashwin, Arjun ah pathu un moonji apdi maranum? Nii avara patha nu enaku teiryum. Avaru enaku ennava irundha unaku enna?" She pointed a finger at him.

(Then why did your face change when you saw Arjun. I know you saw him. Whatever be the relationship between us, how does it bother you?)

His eyes were bloodshot in anger. He felt as though he was third-wheeling when the duo was communicating with their eyes to each other. Wasn't it 'their thing'? He felt lost and homeless all of a sudden. For a person who constantly fears losing people, how can he see her move away from him?

"Niruthu sivaangi! Idhuku mela edachum pesuna theva illama..."

(Just stop it Sivaangi. Dont talk anything that might....)

"En niruthanum? Enaku badhil venum Ashwin!" She cut him short.

(Why should I stop? I need answers!)

That was it!

"Hey! enna badhil venum unaku? Huh enna enna badhil venum? Anniki interview mudinji un kita pesa vandheyn. Enna pesa vittiya nii? Niya onnu purinjitu anga irundhu poita. Nii nenaikurapo enna corner panni enna enna nu keta, na ipo edhum pesura nelamai la ila! Unaku enna kekanumo poi Arjun kitta kelu po. En en kita kekura? Na yaru unaku?" His eyes held the pain that couldn't be defined. He unnecessarily dug his own grave continuing the conversation

(Hey! What answers do you need? Huh, what answers? I came behind you after the interview the other day. Did you let me talk? You understood what your heart please and just left! Now you corner me and bombard me with questions! I am in no state to talk to you now. If you still want to know, go and ask Arjun! Why me? What am I to you?)

"Industry ey pesudhu nii avan kuda suthitu iruka nu! first of all apdi pesikuranga nu unaku teriyuma?" He was clearly out of control.

(Entire industry is gossiping about you two! Are you even aware of that?)

"Nanum rumour nu dhan nenachey avana inga patha nimisham minnadi varikum!" he uttered under his breath and huffed. But thankfully she didn't hear a single word.

(Even I believed it was only a rumour before I saw him here)

His words came out as an outburst of insecurities and feeling unsafe of being robbed of his priced procession, his girl, his Sivaangi by someone who entered her life when he was absent. He was too worried that Arjun has already filled up his place in her life. He has always felt insecure about himself, his job, and most of all losing a person close to his heart. Only he knew how he struggled to meet her eyes for the first time after 3 years. It wasn't easy for him as well. But that was not the place to talk about all that. 

On the other hand, Sivaangi couldn't stop but to probe him with the questions throbbing her heart with uncertainty and pain for too long now. So she didn't think before bombarding him with question without considering where they were or anything around her.

"Enna?"

(What?)

"Sollu! Enna matum kekutey irundhiye ipo nii sollu"

(Tell me! Now its your turn, tell me, do you have any clue of what is happening around you?)

"Nii enna sonna nu unakey ketucha? Avanga sonna? Enna edhu nu terinjikama niya onu nenachu nambiduva la? Mathavanga pesuradha pathi enaku kavala illa! 3 varusham munadi na patha Ashwin apdi enna kekavum matan! And how does it bother you anyway? Seri ipo enna, ama na Arjun kuda relationship la irukeyn ney vechiko ipo enna adhuku? Unaku vazhkai la dhan Maha iruka la?" She gave her last push to make him talk, at least out of frustration!

(Do you hear yourself? So what if people talk ill behind my back? Will you just blindly believe that? I dont care what people talk! The Ashwin that I know will not question me like that. And how does it bother you anyway? Okay, what now? What if I am in a relationship with Arjun? How does it bother you? You have Maha in your life right?)

He stared at the floor and smirked, gathering his thoughts. "Huh! En keka mata.....Moonu varsham minadi Ashwin, ipo Arjun nu industry ......" He lifted his head to look into her eyes, he stopped his sentence right before he was about to end, when he saw her looking at him in disgust. She had mentally finished his sentence without listening to him. 

(Huh! 'Three years back it was Ashwin and now its Arjun' that is what....)

"Oh, ama la! Nii ilati innuruthan....avalo dhan la! How dare you Ashwin?!" She took a step back in trance as every painful word escaped her mouth. Her eyes were filled with tear and anger. She is used to hearing such things being a celebrity. It doesn't affect her usually but this time it was not just someone pointing out such a rumour. She heard those words from his mouth.

(Oh, yea right?! If not you someone else.....that is all it take right? How dare you Ashwin?!)

"Sivaangi na solla varadha fulla keltutu po! Padhi ketu tappa purinjitu pogadha!" His voice came out as if warning her.

(Sivaangi listen to what I was to say, fully! Dont fill it up with anything that come to you mind!)

"Avalo dhan nii enna purinji vechiruka apdi dhaney? First of all unaku na edhuku explanation kudukanum? Ama na Arjun pinadi suthureyn nu industry ey nenaikura madhiri niyum nenachuko, apdiye vechiko Ashwin!" She declared in a firm voice and walked out, not giving him a chance to finish his sentence.

(So that is all you know about me? First of all why should I give an explanation? You are free to think what ever you want about me and Arjun, like how the entire Industry apparently thinks, Ashwin!)

Ashwin gritted his teeth in anger and hated her unreasonably apprehensive attitude! This time it was not his mistake atall, she didn't stand there to listen to what he wanted to say.

"Why is our communication not easy like how it was 3 years back? Are we not meant to be together?" Ashwin's mind was clogged with scary thoughts.

Sivaangi felt nothing but numb.His hot-temper and her impulsive moves at critical times had always managed to win and keep them far from each other all these years. If only he had not gabbled about Maha when his ego kicked in during their first meet after three years, the story would have been different. If only she had gone back to check on him, trusting her instinct, when she left him at the corridor, she would have known the truth. If only she had listened to wat he had to say, she would not have left him there like that. 

Her eyes teared in anger, disgust, sorrow, disbelief, and what not? She stopped before she entered the hall to wipe away the tears.

Ashwin came behind her running "Na solradhu fulla kelu Sivaangi. Na apdi...." She gestured him to stop not even looking at his face. 

(Listen to me Sivaangi. I dint....)

"Idhuku mela enaku edhuvum keka vendam Ashwin." She whispered with a stern voice not wanting people to hear them.

(I dont want to listento anything Ashwin)

Ashwin cursed himself for attending the event! He dint know what else to feel like!

Seeing Sivaangi and Ashwin's face Rakshan's smile dropped and he was sure that what he feared has already happened inspite of the warning. He raised his eyes questioning Ashwin for which he shook his head in disappointment. She headed straight to Dhamu to inform him that she was leaving.

"Enna da kutty adhukula kelamburiya? Kannu en kalangi iruku? Azhudhiya?"

(Leaving already? why does your eyes look teared? Did u cry?)

"Illa illa pa edho vizhunduruchu nenaikureyn. Enaku oru director kuda meeting iruku pa na kelambureyn, apdiye vetuku poiduvyen" She said. 

(Its nothing. Something might have fallen in my eyes. I have a meeting with a director, ill just go home after that pa.)

Dhamu ofcourse did not buy her excuse but he dint want to look into it and make it awkward for her, for now. Right then he spotted Ashwin coming out from the same direction from where she came from. He was now sure that there was some serious problem between the two and looked at Ashwin suspiciously.

"Seri da vetuku poitu message pannu. Pathu po!" he tapped her cheek.

(Okay. Just let me know once you reach home. Take care!)

She nodded and left the place bidding bye to everyone as she called up Arjun over the phone. Dhamu was silently watching Sivaangi move out followed by Ashwin and a worried Rakshan.

"Arjun side exit la irukeyn. Nii enga ir...?" The line got cut due to poor signal.

Before she could realise someone walking behind her, Ashwin held her by her wrist stopping her from taking a step further. He tightened his grip as she tried to get rid of his hold.

"Sivaangi nillu!" Ashwin said in a firm voice and a wistful gaze exactly when Arjun entered the hallway after trying to reach her again. His grip only tightened seeing Arjun there as if clearly staking out his claim on her. He is not going to give her up!

(Sivaangi, Stop!)

Rakshan followed Ashwin not knowing where it was all going to end, messed up. He was staggered to see all the 3 in the same frame and sighed in despair. How worse can it get?

Arjun's eyes widened to witness the scene in front of him. He also noticed Rakshan's reaction behind the two of them. He dint know if he should take her out of the place or let her deal with Ashwin. Neither of the options would do him good. But he dint want her to doubt his actions so he just chose to stand there.

"Vidu Ashwin!" Sivaangi said in a shuddering tone and fiery eyes after she struggled and failed to get her out of his hold.

(Leave me Ashwin!)

He managed to grab her other hand and he pulled her violently close to him causing her to yelp in the sudden jerk.

"Na solla varadha ennikumey muzhusa keka matiya nii?" his eyes were filled with anger and fear of losing her.

(Will you never listen to what I was to say?)

Rakshan and Arjun took a step close to the duo in pure care for her and stopped uncertain of what to do next.

"Vidu Ashwin!" Only this time her words became feeble and her voice quavered. She fixed her gaze at him and he could feel her body tremble against his.

(Leave me Ashwin!)

Ashwin loosened his grip and pushed her back creating a distance between them, making her almost lose her balance when he saw a tear escaping her eyes. He dint want to be the reason for even one drop of tear she sheds anymore. He walked away thwacking his shoulder against Rakshan's, who was standing a few steps behind him. Arjun was quick enough to hold her by her shoulder when she lost her balance in the sudden thrust.

Her eyes that were brimming with tears poured down uncontrollably as she straightened herself. She looked at her helpless brother holding a chaotic gaze. She walked away through the exit door followed by Arjun who dint know how to react to anythign at that point. He just gave Rakshan an understanding nod before leaving. 

Rakshan jogged his way towards Ashwin who took the exit after the drama he had created.

https://youtu.be/gRcVffVwajQ

Medum pallam illamal
Oru paadhai ingu kidaiyadhu!
Pirivum thuyaram illamal
Oru kadhalin aalam puriyadhe!

(It's not a smooth ride  when it comes to love. And without separation you can't gauge the depth of love 💜)

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Hellllo dear reader!

First of all verrrrry sorry for the delay, I was held up and that's why I couldn't upload yesterday! :(

So how did you like the update? Is it getting interesting? 

What do u think will happen next?

Do follow "dk_storiess" for updates.

Also, check out my Ashaangi OS in my profile if you haven't already💜 Ill try to post a one shot in mid week if possible 💜

Happy reading!