Ashwin was sitting on the edge of the chair waiting for his to be in laws to respond. He exhaled loudly and moved forward to take Binni's hand in his. She looked up at the young man who was waiting with bated breath.

Binni had a call from Tanu this morning about Martin and herself wanting to visit them to discuss something important. So the couple were invited over for tea that evening but they weren't expecting a forlorn man to tag along. They were surprised to see Ashwin who has never visited their home before even though their daughter cant stop speaking about him and from the looks of it, she talks to him over the phone almost every morning and night. It has been a concern to the parents as they believed that their young daughter has fallen for this man who looked elusive and most importantly disinterested in their daughter. The last thing they wanted for their 20 year old was rejection which seemed certain to happen.

They invited him in with an open mind. After the usual pleasantries came the biggest shock.

Appa, amma. I love your daughter and I would like to ask for her hand in marriage.

The complete silence that followed was alarming for Ashwin. No one spoke a word for what seemed like forever.

Binni and Krishna have discussed Ashwin a few times in the last few months. Sivaangi and her crushes have never bothered them. They have given their children a good upbringing and understanding that they trust the parents with their secrets. Their first born has never hid anything from her parents, and when she talked about her crushes, they looked at her as just another harmless teenager crushing on boys for no particular reason. Its been just an infatuation that faded over time, but this man is definitely not one of her passing crushes. The Krishnakumars watched their little girl blossom into a beautiful young lady in the presence of this gentleman. It was quiet clear that their little princess was in love with him but either she hasn't realised it yet or she hasn't told them yet.

The events from last night made them understand that something wasn't right in Sivaangi's life and it had something to do with Ashwin. When Sivaangi reached home with a certain emptiness the previous night, her mum who was scrolling through some fan edits commented casually.

Inga paaru Sivaangi! Unga fans decode pannarennu ennavellam solaraaganu. Manasatchiye illa, antha payan eppadi irukaan, unna paaru. Eppadi set aagum?! Avan eppadi than un torture ah thaangaraano, paavam.

That was the breaking point. Sivaangi felt hot tears gush out.

Naan kevalama than iruken, othukaren, pothuma? Innime avaru pakkam thirumbi kuda paaka matten. Santhoshama? Yaarum enkita pesaatheenga.

Saying that she ran off to her room and locked herself in. Binni and Krishna were at a loss for words.

You should stop teasing her like that. She was disturbingly quiet in the car. I think she argued with Ashwin just before I picked her up. Naan poi pesaren.

Sivaangi refused to talk to anyone. They heard her sobbing uncontrollably, but was helpless and went to bed with a heavy heart. Sivaangi on the other hand fell asleep crying. She woke up in the morning feeling emotionally numb, she called Pugal and asked him to pick her up for the Super singer shoot. She wasn't ready to tell her parents anything yet. She got ready and dressed up without any interest. She walked downstairs and found her parents and brother waiting at the dining table. She refused to meet their eyes, sat down and picked at her food. By then Pugal arrived to pick her, before Binni could stop her from leaving, Krishna motioned for Binni to let her go. They wanted her to have the space to feel confident to trust her parents with whatever was consuming her mind right now.

Back to the present, Ashwin was waiting for Sivaangi's parents to respond to his proposal. Binni had tears in her eyes when she looked up from her hand that was encased in Ashwin's hands.

A: Aiyoo amma! Naan ketathu thapaa? Please alaatheenga..

B: Illa da kanna. Enngaluku romba santhosham than, avalum unna love panaraanu nenaikarom, aana etho oru bayam kuda iruku. En ponnu nethiku night romba alutha. Ava enga kita eppothume ellame solluva aana ippo ellam konjam thaniya iruka. Nethu naan enna pesarennu theriyaama avala hurt pannitennu nenaikeren. Ennaku ennanu therila aana ava romba confused ah iruka. Kashta padra, etho manasula vechikitu yaarkitayam sollama iruka. Nee konjam pesaraya?

K: Ashwin, nee romba nalla payannu engaluku theriyum aana ennaku oru kelvi. Yen Sivaangi? Enna piduchirukku en ponnu kita? Unna mathri payannuku oorla neraya peru ponnu tharuvaanga but nee Sivaangiya choose pannunathuku reason enna?

A: Naan Sivaangi ya choose pannula, ava than enna choose pannuna. Ennada life ithu, ethuku naan la uyiroda iruken nu nenachitu irunthen, enna ava kan valiya paaka vachu, intha ulagathuku mattum illa, ennakum en familykum naan kuda special than nu kaatuna, entha expectation illama kaatuna. Ava en enna choose pannuna?! Ithuku minnadi enna yaarume ippadi feel panna vechathila. She is a beautiful angel. She spreads happiness wherever she goes but she is the only one who has ever brought happiness into my life. I want to be that blessed person to have her in my life forever. Ennaku ava mattum pothum, en life complete ah feel pannuven. I promise to take good care of your daughter and her beautiful heart. Nambunga please..

K: Avalum unna love panarala?

That question! He was actually not sure of the answer to that question.

A: Avaluku enna pudichirukku aana etho onu avala bother pannuthu. I intend to speak it all out openly with her today. Aana, athuku minnadi, ennaku unga permission and blessings venum. Naan Sivaangi ya kandipa nalla vachikuven, neenga oru naalum regret panna maateenga. Unga ellarayum nalla paathukuven. En appa amma akka eppadiyo, athe maara than neenga moonu perum ennaku. En appa amma kandipa Sivaangi ya ponnu maara treat pannuvaanga, ennaku theriyum.

Binni and Krishna looked at each other and when they turned to look at Ashwin, they had a smile on their face. Binni nodded her head and Krishna got up to give Ashwin a hug.

Welcome to our family. You won our hearts long back. Go and win her heart now.

Ashwin sat down on the sofa after the hug. He let out a breath that he didn't realise he was holding on for long. His eyes were moist and Binni held his hand while tears rolled down his cheeks.

At the other end of the city, Sivaangi felt a dark loneliness engulf her. She made a poor effort to keep a smile on her already dull face. Pugal and Rakshan did not fail to notice their usually cheerful little sister sad like never before. They decided to take her home and Rakshan decided to talk to her in the car. Sivaangi walked wordlessly and sat in the car and stared off into the distance. Rakshan and Pugal noticed her being unusally quiet, and just when Rakshan opened his mouth to speak, they heard a whimper. Pugal parked at a safe spot and they confronted her.

P: Paapa, ennada aachu? Anna kita sollu da. Yaarachu ethavathu sonnangala?

Sivaangi hid her face in her hands and her body was shaking. They were truly worried at this point.

R: Thangam, inga paaru? Ashwin ethavathu sonnana? Nethu ungalukkula irukara problem solve aachunu nenachen. Enna da aachu? Please sollu da. Appo thane naanga ethavathu panna mudiyum. Unna ippadi paaka mudila da.

P: Dai, avanuku phone pannu. Ithu eppadiye pona seri illa.

S: Anna, vendam please. Avar ethuvum sollala. Ellame en thappu than.

P: Enna thappu da?

S: Onnum illa, please vidunga.

R: Illa da. Naan avankitaya kekuran. Avan than etho paneerukanum. Nethi avan unna kathunatha naan light ah eduthiruka kudaathu.

S: Anna please stop it! En thappu! Naan than avara love pannuren. Avar enna maathri aala poi love pannuvaara?!

Rakshan and Pugal were outraged. Whatever has that man done to this pure soul to make her think that she doesn't deserve him.

P: Enna da sonnan avan?

His voice full of menace brought Sivaangi back to her senses. She realised that she has unknowingly given a bad opinion of Ashwin.

S: Anna, naan love panrathe avaruku theriyathu. Vidunga. Naan eppadiyo seri aiyuduven. Veetuku polam. Tired ah iruku, night olunga thongala.

Rakshan looked at Pugal and he nodded his head and they had both decided to speak to Ashwin. They reached Sivaangi's home and saw two unknown cars parked outside. They decided to take her in to have a word with her parents. They walked in to see two bodyguards and then saw Tanu seated there with her husband Martin. Sivaangi ran to hug them and she felt emotional seeing them after a long time. She turned around and saw her mum and dad sitting quiet and her mother's puffy eyes gave away the tense atmosphere. She rushed to them and was worried if something was wrong. That is when she saw this familiar figure on the side, bent down with his head between his palms.

Ashwin?? Inga enna panareenga?

Having no response from him, she knelt down and lifted his chin up and saw his teary face and red eyes. Her mama bear instincts kicked in and she threw her arms around him pulling his head to her chest.

Amma, enna aachu? Appa, neenga Ashwin ah vara sonnengala? Ethavathu sonnengala avara? Is this about me crying last night? Naan alutha neenga avara eppadi kelvi kekkalaam?

Ashwin hugged her tightly and his body shook as he cried into her chest. She held him whispering something into his ears and his worries melted away, and he felt calm yet again. He pulled back and she looked at him, worry etched on her face. He gave her a small teasing smile.

Goodbye sollitu pona nethiku night, ippo enakaaga amma appa kita sanda podara?

She pushed him away and stood up.

S: Enna nadakuthu inga?

B: Enna nadukuthunu theriyama, ennayum appavayum ethuku di kathura?

Sivaangi ignored her mum and turned to Ashwin.

S: Please sollunga. En vantheenga? En alutheenga? Yaaravathu ethavathu sonaangala?

Ashwin stood up and stepped closer to her. He took her left hand and placed it over his heart and clasped her right hand. Her heart skipped a beat when he looked deeply into her eyes.

Sivaangi, this heart belongs to you. You have owned it from the day I met you. I am not good with my words but I am trying my best. I want to belong to you. Always! You always speak your mind so please don't change your ways now. I know what you think of me but I would be happy if you could express it. I feel nervous about this uncertainty in my life. I have seen enough betrayals and losses in my life but I don't think I can afford to lose you. You have no idea what I felt last night when you left me there. Don't even think of walking away from me again, it will break me completely. I will come back to you no matter what you do to me so fight with me, shout at me, but please don't walk away.I felt abandoned.

Sivaangi closed her eyes feeling guilty. She looked at him to say sorry but what she saw in his eyes made her bite her lower lip and blink back her tears. She knew what was coming next, her heart beat faster and she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.

Sivaangi, I love you!