Threat And Trepidation

Shot 1

Written by stories_by_madhu 

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After a long day of shoot, Ashwin unlocked the door and tiptoed into the apartment while his eyes swayed across, looking for a special someone and finally found her inside their kitchen making hot chocolate.

Just the sight of her in a saree at home on a cold day had his mind meandering into dangerous places with wild thoughts. As always, her effect on him was beyond his control and he had no qualms or complaints.

Pausing at a safe distance, he relished the perfect moment she was having after her hectic recording schedules for the past few days.

It took them a great deal of planning to make sure they both can take a few days off for their Thala Diwali and more importantly to celebrate 5 years since the day they met each other on the sets of CWC. However it also meant crazy work calendar for the past two weeks.

"Aahaa... Smells soo yummy... Cold day and Hot chocolate. Idhavida vera ennavenum", she was talking to herself, holding her mug so close to her chest.

(Smells sooyummy.. Cold day and Hot chocolate. Just perfect. What more do I need?)

"Adi paavi.... Naavenama? Naapaasamillaya?", he whined to himself, envying the drink that his wife was holding so intimately.

(So you don't need me? Don't you miss me?)

Yes he was jealous over that drink in her hand. It had to be him.

Without waiting any longer, he moved swiftly to stand right behind her and took a minute to enjoy her natural fragrance.

From coming back to an empty house to coming back to their home with her in it was certainly a big shift in his life, in the best way possible.

Waking up and going back to sleep with her next to him, morning cuddles before leaving for shoot, her constant "miss you purusha" texts even when she was in the middle of shoots and recordings, and most of all her smile that filled their home with love, being her husband made his life perfect.

She was the meaning to his very existence.

Unable to resist his urge to feel her warmth, his hands grazed and lingered on her delicate bare waist for a few seconds before wrapping her up into a back hug with a wide grin filling his charming face.

"Ashwineyy... ipdi pannadha nu evlodhadava solradhu?", Sivaangi grumbled at her husband who just sneaked up on her from thin air, but not before placing her mug on the counter to ensure its safety.

(How many times should I tell you not to sneak up on me like this?)

She could not afford for anything to happen to the delicious hot chocolate.

After three years of dating which was strictly restricted to only them, being married to the love of her life for the whole world to know felt surreal even after five months. With a fair share of fights, makeups and of course romance and intimacy, being wife to him was unequivocally more exciting than she had ever imagined.

How did they even manage to survive life without each other all those years was a mystery they could never solve.

Placing his head in the crook of her neck, he tightened his hold around her waist to pull her closer, until their bodies were clinging on to each other and his hot breath on her made her gasp.

"Sivaangi Ma... I love you", he whispered in his base voice with a husky tone that instantly made her shiver from head to toe and the shy smile on her lips turned into a deep blush to cover her face in a beautiful shade of pink.

"Andha tone la pesadha ma... oru madri pannudhu", she pleaded for him to stop tormenting her.

(Please don't use that husky tone one me. It's making me nervous)

"Ivlo varshamaagiyum... unnoda indha blush ah paakaenna vena panlam nu dan thonudhu. Na ennapannatum?", he placed a peck on her cheek.

(Even after all these years, I feel like I would do anything to see that beautiful blush on your face. What can I do?)

"Ipdilam soltu... inum 2 months la abroad shoot pora. Na matum inga thaniyairukanum. Na unnaevlo miss panuven nu yosichiya? Enaku inga thaniyairuka bayamairuku Ashwineyy... Ennayum kootitu po ma... Pleaseee", she complained with a frown and looked adorable doing it.

(You say all these things but then you have an abroad shoot coming up in 2 months. You would leave me here. All alone. Will I not miss you then? Did you even care to think about that? I don't want stay here alone. Please take me with you)

"En Chellame.... Unaku neraya shoots, recordings lam iruke. Enaku matum enna aasaya unna vitutu poganum nu?", he tried to reason but she wasn't in the mood to listen.

(You have a packed schedule of shoots and recordings here. Do you think I don't want to take you with me?)

"Enaku inga iruka bayama iruku ma.... nee illama enaku inga iruka venam. I feel unsafe here without you.", she implored meekly.

(It's scary to be alone here. I don't want to be here without you. I feel unsafe)

Her sudden revelation jolted him. To see his bold and independent girl that dared to break every stereotype out there being terror-struck was appalling beyond words.

Though she had been hinting her fear of staying alone in this apartment all by herself when he had long night shoots in the last couple of weeks, this was the first time she was admitting that it truly frightened her.

Anyone would go through a roller coaster of emotions when they actually move out of their home for the first time. It might be for a job, studies or anything at all and in her case, it was marriage.

For months now, he had tried not to read too much into it and make her more conscious of her vulnerable state. However, today he saw the courage in her overshadowed by fear, exposing her trepidation.

Unable to shrug it off, he turned her around to look into her deep brown orbs glistened by her glassy tears that were threatening to roll down her cheeks.

"Enna aachu Sivaangi ma? Enkita pesu", he pulled her chin up as she tried to lean into his chest.

(What is wrong Sivaangi? Please talk to me)

He wanted an answer. He needed an answer. To see her in pain and terror was killing him from the inside.

"Therilaye... Enaku bayama iruku. Thaniya irundhade illa Ashwineyy.... Epodhum veetla aal irundhute irupanga. I just don't like this feeling", she hugged him tight and he felt her tears on his chest underneath the shirt.

(I don't know what is wrong but I do know that I don't feel good to be alone. I never have been alone in my entire life. I just don't like this feeling at all)

Fear became a tangible, living force that crept into her soul and immobilized her entire being even without her realizing it.

"Why do you feel unsafe? Edhuva irundhaalum sollu ma.", he earnestly hoped that she would open up about whatever that was causing her this intense distress and angst.

(Why do you feel unsafe? Talk to me)

How was she supposed to tell him that she had been receiving death threats for almost a month now? How could she tell him that it has been a week since she slept at night? How would she express any of it when terror sucked the very breath from her mouth?

Those pictures of them, him and herself from anywhere they went even when it was unplanned made her feel insecure. Anywhere they went seemed to be exposed to whoever was behind all of this which made her feel increasingly precarious with every passing day.

She whimpered in pain and tried to scream when her heart was pounding in her ears. His heartbeat that could calm her down even when she was at the verge of an emotional breakdown wasn't helping. Not today.

Who was she going to blame for this? Why was this happening to them? What did they do to deserve the fright of losing each other after fighting against all odds to finally be each other's forever?

Battling a war between her mind that wanted to just tell him everything and her heart that wanted to keep him safe, she was drowning into emptiness which was all consuming.

All he wanted was her to be happy and right now she was not. It was evident to him that something was deeply bothering her and to be in the dark about what it was, was making him lose his sanity.

He had no choice but to be wait for her to confide in him and stood as still as possible until she found her safe-haven in his embrace.

***

Dressed up in a black chic off-shoulder tulle midi dress with her curls perfectly set to fall on her toned collarbones, dainty diamond danglers that complemented her attire and glimmered against her dark hair, subtle pink lipstick that plumped up her soft lips and kohled eyes, she looked ethereal.

With a perfect blend of cute and hot, she was looked irresistible when she walked out of their room making him gasp and gulp at his own plight for the evening.

"Enga porom Ashwin?", she asked with a clueless look as he just asked her to get dressed up out of the blue with no particular details.

(Where are we going?)

"Surprise", he exclaimed with a proud smile, happy with his turn around on planning an impromptu date night by the beach.

If there was one way to make her happy, it was his company, time and attention. And it worked both ways. There was nothing more they craved for.

The drive, as expected made her loosen up and after a few of their favorite songs, her smile that he was yearning to see for a few hours now was back on her face which put him at ease.

"En ma apdi paakra?", she could not handle his boring gaze that was piercing through her soul into parts that were still unknown to her, making her tremble with emotions that could not be named.

(Why are you looking at me like that?)

Their bond had transcended every belief and myth she had ever heard of and made them experience a kind of love that could not be put in words but could only be felt. A kind that she never knew existed.

To look into his orbs and see nothing but herself was indeed a pleasure to behold for eternity. The silent promises they had shared over the years through their eyes were testimony to the fact that their love was beyond human intellect.

"Andha kanla dan unaku en mela iruka love theriyudhu.Unakulla na irukradha paathute irukardha thavara vera vazhi therla ma", his lips curved into a smile and deepened his dimple, just the way she liked it.

(Its a pleasure to see your love for me in those eyes. To look at myself in your eyes and feel like I am a part of you is something I am addicted to)

It was in her eyes he fell, the very first time their eyes had locked and it was those bewitching eyes that had confessed her love for him, long before any form verbal communication.

"Nera paathu vandiya ootu... apo dan rombha naal enna paathute iruka mudiyum", she let out a giggle and bit the insides of her cheek to restrain herself from blushing profusely.

(Look at the road when you drive if you want to live a long life with me and keep looking into my eyes)

***

"Beach Date... Not bad at all. Perfect time to make an entry.", Varun spoke out loud to himself with a devilish smirk, looking at the GPS and Audio tracking his men had set up in Ashwin's car.

He looked down on the handwritten card on his hand that he made with love just for her.

Get ready to experience a slow and painful death.

Countdown begins – 30 days to go

"You will regret what you did Sivaangi. En da vaazharom nu yosipa... Yosika vepen.", he vowed to himself and replayed the 60 second video that managed to ruin his life one last time, before starting to drive towards the date location.

(You will regret what you did Sivaangi. You will regret being alive. I will make you regret)

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Written by  stories_by_madhu

A part of Zokuhen collaboration

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