Author's Note

Hello makkaleyy, hope you all are doing good. Thank you to all those who have read, voted and commented on the previous chapter. Seriously, it means a lot. Our Adipoli has crossed 94M! Please do stream whenever possible. Support them both professionally and keep them in your prayers.

Hope. Believe. Magic. ☃️❄💜

Happy reading.

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Ashaangi SS Bewitched

Chapter Fifteen

Sivaangi had dinner with Harish and Saradha. Her eyes roamed around looking for a certain someone who she hasn't seen for a while. As she stepped inside the living room, Dhanalakshmi waved at her.

Sitting next to Dhanalakshmi, Sivaangi greeted the old woman Dhanalakshmi introduced to her. She looked up when she heard rounds of giggles. Her eyes fell on a mixed group of young girls to young women.

Sivaangi frowned slightly when she saw Ashwin sitting in the middle of the group, speaking and laughing with them. Her eyes fell on Raji, Meena and Krithika whom she remembered from earlier.

'Aiyoo, ivangala?' Sivaangi remembered how they kept tagging Ashwin as 'Mama' Earlier it didn't irk her but somehow it did now.

(Oh god, they?)

Ashwin yanked someone's braid who whined at him as the other women laughed. Sivaangi gulped and averted her gaze when she felt an uneasy feeling creeping inside her. She just couldn't bear the sight.

"Kelambalama paati?" Harish asked sitting next to Sivaangi.

(Shall we leave, grandma?)

"Kelambalam kannu"

(We'll leave, son)

Harish helped Dhanalakshmi while Sivaangi looked at Ashwin once before walking behind them. Saradha bid bye to Aanandhi and informed Ashwin that they were leaving.

"Polam da"

(Come, let's leave)

Ashwin was about to stand up but the young girl whose braid Ashwin yanked held his arm.

"Perimmaa, anna inum koncham neram irukatumeyy"

(Aunty, let brother stay for a while)

"Ama, athai. Mama aprm varuvaru" Raji chimed while others said the same.

(Yes, aunty. Mama will come later)

"Nalaiku nerama Harish, Sivaangi kuda Coimbatore ponum nu sonniye kannu" Saradha reminded Ashwin.

(You said you wanted to go to Coimbatore early with Harish and Sivaangi)

'Enga pona iva?' Ashwin stood up as he looked around but couldn't find Sivaangi.

(Where did she go?)

"Ama Maa, idho kelambalam" Ashwin said.

(Yes, Maa. Let's leave)

After assuring the women folk that he will meet them again soon, he excused himself and went along with Saradha. He saw Sivaangi standing next to Harish in front of the car while Dhanalakshmi was seated inside.

"Kelambalama da?" Harish pocketed his mobile.

(Shall we leave?)

"Idho bike eduthutu varen da"

(Let me get my bike)

Ashwin spared a quick glance at Sivaangi who was busy looking at her mobile. When he came back with his bike, Raji came there.

"Mama, ena veetla vidringala? Amma apovey kelambitanga" Raji said standing next to Saradha.

(Mama, can you drop me home? My mom has already left)

Sivaangi looked up with a jerk. Her eyes met Ashwin's for a quick second before she averted her gaze.

'Mama va?' Sivaangi pursed her lips as she looked at Ashwin's bike.

(Mama?)

Saradha patted Raji's arm and was about to speak but Sivaangi didn't knew what came over her when she loudly said, "Anneyyy, Ashwin car drive pannatum. Nee ena bike la oru drive kuptu poriya?"

(Bro, let Ashwin take the car. Shall we go for a ride in the bike?)

Ashwin looked at Sivaangi who looked expectantly at Harish. Before anyone could say anything, he got down from the bike and looked at Harish.

"Macha, indha bike key. Nee Sivaangi ah kuptutu po" Ashwin said and turned to Raji, "Nee car la eru, naanga unna vitutu porom"

(Dude, take the bike key. You take Sivaangi... You get on the car; we will drop you)

Raji sulked on missing out a chance to go on a bike ride with Ashwin but agreed. Harish got the bike keys from Ashwin but he didn't miss the way Sivaangi behaved. Nonetheless he decided to think over it later and got on the bike.

Sivaangi climbed behind Harish while Ashwin took the driving seat as Saradha and Raji got on the backseat. Ashwin drove to Raji's house. They dropped her and went home while Harish took Sivaangi on a ride.

"Neyy, enaku ice cream venum" Sivaangi leaned against Harish.

(Bro, I want ice cream)

"Inga inneram kedaikadhey de"

(We won't get any at this time)

"Namma pakathu ooruku poe pakalama?" Sivaangi suggested.

(Why don't we go to nearby town?)

"Bike la ya? Modhave sollirundha car la poerukalam la?"

(In bike? Had you told earlier, we could have come in bike)

"Neyy, namma bike la povom" Sivaangi whined.

(Bro, we will go on bike itself)

Harish was hesitant given Sivaangi was travelling without helmet and its late. But he gave in when she whined. Thankfully there was a grocery shop open in Arasur itself. He got ice creams for her and others too.

Ashwin looked up from his mobile when he heard Harish and Sivaangi walking in. He waited to catch a glimpse of Sivaangi before going home. He scrunched his eyebrows when she eyed at him and walked inside the kitchen.

Sivaangi came back with three bowls of vanilla ice cream. She gave one to Harish and then to Ashwin. He got the bowl with his eyes on her. He wriggled his eyes in question and she just shook her head before sitting next to Harish, relishing her bowl of ice cream.

"Cha! Oru brownie matum irundhuchu na top notch ah irundhrukum neyy" Sivaangi ate another spoon of ice cream.

(Cha! It would be top notch if we had it along with brownie)

Harish promised Sivaangi to buy one the next day. He and Ashwin were immersed in their conversation while she went to kitchen and came back with another scoop of ice cream.

"Sivu, podhum" Harish was about to grab the bowl from Sivaangi but she stood up, hiding the bowl behind her.

(Sivu, enough)

"Neyy, orey scoop neyy" Sivaangi whined and walked away before Harish could say anything.

(Bro, just one scoop, bro)

Harish glared at the direction Sivaangi went.

"Vidu macha, oru naal dhana. Sapdatum"

(Leave, dude. Let her have today)

"Ava romba saapta voice yenna da aguradhu" Harish pursed his lips, "Aprm thondai valikudhu nu solluva"

(If she eats lot of ice cream then what will happen to her voice... Then she will say her throat's sore)

"Adhellam onum agadhu. Nee andha Radha mill pathi keta la"

(Nothing like that would happen. You asked me about Radha mill right)

Ashwin engaged Harish with work conversation.

Later that night when Sivaangi hit the bed, she looked at Ashwin's unopened inbox. Chewing her lips, she contemplated whether to open his texts or not. She didn't know what overcome her when she witnessed all those girls around him.

When she arrived, Sivaangi wasn't bothered when those women called Ashwin as 'Mama'. But when she heard Raji calling Ashwin was Mama, she felt a surge of heat within her. It was as if the whole thing bothered her and she didn't like it.

"Sivu, ipdi ellam yosikadha. They know each other way before. Their dynamics is different and yours and his is different. Romba yosikadha" Sivaangi told herself as she picked her mobile.

(Sivu, don't think like that. They know each other way before. Their dynamics is different and yours and his is different. Don't overthink)

Ash: 🤩🥰 (for Charu's birthday pics)

Ash: Idho vandhute iruken ma.

(I'm on the way)

Ash: Yenga ma iruka?

(Where are you?)

Ash: 👀

Ash: Evlo azhaga paadura nee 😻🫠

(You sang beautifully)

Ash: Ma, yenna achu?

(What happened?)

Ash: Oii, nee okay ah?

(Hey, are you okay?)

Ash: Thoongitiya ma?

(Are you asleep?)

Sivaangi read all the texts she received from Ashwin. She felt bad for not opening his texts. He shouldn't pay for her overthinking.

Siv: Onum illa, Ashwin.

(Nothing Ashwin)

Siv: Thank you 🥰 (for singing compliment)

Siv: Nalla dhan iruken. Tired ah irundhuchu. Thoonguren. Nalaiku pakalam. Good night 😴

(I'm fine. I was feeling tired. I'll sleep now. We'll see tomorrow. Good night)

Sivaangi stared at her mobile for couple of seconds. Heaving a soft sigh, she kept her mobile aside and laid down.

Ashwin, on the other hand, was wide awake. He clearly saw how Sivaangi reacted when Raji approached him to drop her. He can think about Sivaangi's reaction later. He was puzzled of why he didn't want to drop Raji. He knew her for years. He looked at her like a sister and he never felt anything romantic for any of the girls there. He had dropped her handful times earlier but hesitation was never there.

That is why Ashwin was confused of why he felt this way. And when he saw the way Sivaangi reacted, he wanted to jump in and explain to her that he doesn't want to drop Raji. Why did he wanted to justify his actions to Sivaangi? What were these feelings?

Ashwin's mobile buzzed with notification, pulling him out of his thoughts. He read Sivaangi's text in the notification. Sighing, he decided to respond the next morning. He has lot of things to be done tomorrow and so, he decided to sleep. After lot of twisting and turning, the duo finally slept.

The next morning when Sivaangi woke up, she took her mobile to check if Ashwin replied. A small smile touched her lips when she read his text. Pulling herself off the bed, she quickly got ready and hopped down the stairs.

Sivaangi paused when she saw a man in his late twenties seated next to Dhanalakshmi. Wondering who he is, she walked into the living room.

"Vaa kannu" Dhanalakshmi acknowledged Sivaangi and then turned to the guy, "Idhu dhan Sivaangi, na sonen la oorla irundhu vandhruka ponnu"

(Come, dear... This is Sivaangi, I told you about my guest right)

The good-looking guy introduced himself, "Hi Sivaangi. I'm Sanjay" He gave a soft smile before adding, "Ashwin's friend"

Sivaangi greeted Sanjay and enquired if he had breakfast. When he replied positively, she excused herself to have her breakfast. While eating she looked up when Harish came down. She had her food when her brother got introduced and came to have breakfast.

"Ashwin ku investor kedachutanga pola" Harish said as he served himself.

(Ashwin has got investor it seems)

"Investor ah?" Sivaangi paused.

(Investor?)

"Ama, Sivu. Ashwin oru affordable range la premium merchandise clothing brand launch pananum nu work panitu irundhan" Harish said looking at Sivaangi, "The Souled Store iruku la. Adhulaye oru affordable range la premium clothing aana merchandise namma country consumers ku targeted ah iruka mathiri"

(Yes, Sivu. Ashwin was working on launching a premium merchandise clothing brand in an affordable range... Like the Souled Store, but in an affordable range and merchandise targeted to the likes of our country's consumers)

"Oh" Sivaangi was still processing the whole thing. She never knew Ashwin was trying to start his own business.

"Ama. Ashwin, avan friends Sanjay and Stanley, moonu per um sendhu panranga. Adhuku licensing lam done. Celebrity investors ta dhan pitch panitu irukom nu sonnan. Sanjay vandhrukadha patha investor kedachutanga pola"

(Yeah. Ashwin and his friends Sanjay and Stanley are working together on this business. Licensing is done. He said they are trying to pitch the brand to celebrity investors. That's why when I saw Sanjay I thought they got investor)

Sivaangi was amazed. They have tailoring units and batter shop units bringing in a very good income. Ashwin was clearly talented in designing. He can easily pursue any of that and have a comfortable business. But to see him take such an ambitious risk impressed her.

A loud celebratory scream reached the siblings ears. They frowned at each other before moving to the living room. Sivaangi saw Ashwin hugging Sanjay. They both looked excited.

Like Harish expected, Sanjay and Stanley have managed to land not one but two celebrity investors. One was actor Arya and the other was actor Atharva. Saradha and Dhanalakshmi were happy for their son.

Ashwin's eyes searched for Sivaangi's and his smile widened when he saw her eyes twinkle in happiness for him. His already thudding heart raced when she blinked her eyes at him. This was a promising start for him and he was happy to have her presence in his life.

Harish congratulated Ashwin and Sanjay with a hug. For her share, Sivaangi congratulated them both elaborately and made Sanjay promise to make her meet Atharva making Ashwin roll his eyes.

Harish and Sivaangi left for a meeting with Priyadharshini while Ashwin was busy with Sanjay. It was evening when Ashwin opened Sivaangi's texts and he chuckled on seeing her genuine appreciation and excitement for his business, warming his heart.

Later that evening Ashwin took everyone out to one of the best multicuisine restaurant in Coimbatore. He discreetly ordered a brownie with ice cream specially for Sivaangi who gave a bright smile to Ashwin and relished the dessert.

That night when Ashwin hit the bed, he couldn't fight off the smile on his face as he texted Sivaangi. They were talking about random things. He enjoyed this teenage feeling of getting excited whenever his mobile chime with her text notification.

Ashwin threaded his fingers through his hair as he texted a good night to Sivaangi. Hiding his excited grin in the pillow, he rubbed his face in the soft fabric before lying on his back. Ever since she came into his life, good things are coming his way. These new, exciting feelings doesn't seem like stop plaguing him anytime soon. Crazy part is he doesn't want to. It made him feel alive in every sense.

Ashwin looked at Sivaangi's photo in his mobile, his eyes shined with mirth as he muttered,

"Nee enoda lucky charm ma"

(You are my lucky charm)

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Enn Annan business success aguma? Is this his true calling or should Sivaangi try persuading him to compete in the competition? 🤔

So, how's the chapter makkaley? Hope you enjoyed reading.

Thank you for reading,

Nan ~