Do check out kavi_fantasies 's book 24 to 24. Enjoyed reading her story.

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Ashaangi SS Bewitched

Chapter Twenty Two

Sivaangi was surprised to see Ashwin's carefree side. Her eyes stayed on Ashwin as he danced along with his friends and her brother. The DJ changed to another kuthu song and the boys picked their pace.

The trio reached the event an hour ago. Ashwin introduced them to his college friends. Reena and Manisha, Ashwin's friends were dancing with Sivaangi. Since she felt a bit tired, she stepped out and watch them dance.

Sivaangi never knew Ashwin could dance this well. The way he let loose and enjoy with his friends made him look way younger than he actually is. The pure excitement and joy on his face made her happy.

"Sivaangiii, vaa, chaat saptutu varalam" Manisha tugged Sivaangi's arm pulling her out of her reverie.

(Sivaangii, come, let's have some chaat)

"Haan, polam, polam" Sivaangi grinned and the girls left to have chat.

(Yes, come, come)

Ashwin grinned and patted his friend's arm as the song ended.

"Vera level la organize paniruka da macha" Ashwin told to Prabhu, his friend who organized the event.

(You have organized this event very well dude)

There Sivaangi moaned and whined to the taste of Pani Puri. She excused herself from the girls when she got a call from Abin. The call lasted for few minutes. Not finding the girls in the same spot, she walked back to see everyone standing together.

The DJ, as a part of audience engagement asked someone from the crowd to come to stage, to sing. They were standing nearby the stage along with Prabhu.

"Sivuu, nee po" Harish urged making Sivaangi shook her head at him.

(Sivuu, you go)

"No! Naa maten!" Sivaangi took a step back.

(No! I won't!)

"Heyy, nee nalla paduviya Sivaangi?" Reena asked, a bit surprised but didn't show it on her face.

(Heyy, do you sing well, Sivaangi?)

"Enn thangachi romba nalla paaduva" Harish grinned.

(My sister sings really well)

"Apo poe paadu, Sivaangi" Manisha urged.

(Then go and sing, Sivaangi)

"Ma, nee romba nalla paaduva la. Aprm yenna ma? Paaden" Ashwin urged.

(You sing really well. Why hesitate? Sing)

"Illa! Adhu, vendam" Sivaangi averted her gaze.

(No, that, I don't want to)

"Sister, stage la eri paada yosikuringa na, inga irundhe paadunga. Na mic vaangi tharen" Prabhu insisted.

(Sister, if you are thinking about getting on the stafe, you stand here and sing. I'll get the mic for you)

Sivaangi gulped and looked at Harish. He shrunk his eyes, whispering a please. Her eyes fell on Ashwin, who looked at her with blank face making her shiver. It looked as if he wanted to ask her to go sing but holding himself back. She shook her head slightly and he sighed.

"Poe paadu ma" Ashwin said and turned to Prabhu, "Dei, nee mic ah vaangu"

(Come and sing... Dude, you get the mic)

Sivaangi stood helplessly as Prabhu went and whispered something to the DJ and got the mic. She moved to Harish who wrapped his arm around her and rubbed her arm comfortingly. Her eyes stayed on Ashwin who gestured her to take a deep breath and mirroring him, she did.

"Please, paadu" Ashwin whispered making her jittery.

(Please sing)

Prabhu gave the mic to Ashwin who stepped towards Sivaangi and extended the mic to her.

"Pidi ma"

(Hold)

Sivaangi looked at the mic, both hesitantly and with longing. She didn't want to look at Ashwin's disappointment. At the same time, deep within, the opportunity to sing in front of a huge crowd looked tempting. She sighed as she took the mic from Ashwin's hand, her insides shivering.

Her insecurities were the major reason she refused to reveal her identity. Even though Sivaangi learnt how to manage those incidents, she doesn't want to be ridiculed in front of Ashwin. But a part of her has always wanted to perform on stage. So, putting her heart on her sleeve, she brought the mic closer to her lips.

"Kaadhalika guide Illa"

Sivaangi paused as the crowd cheered making her heart race and finally gaining some confidence. Her hold on the mic tightened as she closed her eyes with a soft smile,

"Kaadhalika guide Illa
Solli thara vaa vaathi
Serthu vacha aasai ellaam
Alli thara vaa vaathi
En usura un usuraa
Thaaren kai maathi

Adi aathi idhu enna feelluuu"

Sivaangi's eyes widen when Ashwin held her hand and dragged her to the stage stairs that was only few metres away. Sivaangi quickly regained herself as the crowd cheered more on watching Sivaangi on the stairs of the stage.

Throwing a nervous smile, she averted her gaze to Harish who nodded his head at her. She threw a soft glare at Ashwin who grinned at her. Taking a deep breath, she continued,

"Adi aathi idhu enna feelu
Unnala naan failu
Pudikaama ootunen realu
Inimel naan un aalu"

The DJ played the background music for the song making everyone cheer. Sivaangi's melodious voice won over the crowd. Her eyes fell on Ashwin who was cheering for her loudly. Her lips curled as she finally stepped on the stage,

"Un pera dhinam koovum
Kuyila aanean naan
Nee paarka pudhu maari
Style ah aanean naan

Pocketil un hero pena
Aanean naan
Manasaara unnoda fan ah
Aanean naan"

Sivaangi averted her gaze from Ashwin,

"Konjam parkanum
Kaigal korkkanum
Jodi sernthu loversaaga
Oora suthanum

Bandu vaasichu
Grand ah marriageu
Getti melam engum Kekkanum

Adi aathi idhu enna feelu
Unnala naan failu
Pudikaama ootinen realu
Inimel naan un aalu"

(Vaa Vaathi song from, Vaathi)

Sivaangi finished while the crowd erupted in cheers. She quickly mumbled a thank you and got down from the stairs making the DJ chuckle and ask everyone to give a big round of applause for her. She hugged Harish who expressed how proud he is of her while her eyes stayed on Ashwin who was beaming at her.

"Thank you for the performance, Sivaangi" The DJ said once Prabhu told Sivaangi's name to the DJ.

The crowd chanted Sivaangi's name for few seconds making Sivaangi's eyes glossy. She gulped her tears and excused herself from Harish. As the DJ proceeded to host a game, Ashwin's eyes searched for Sivaangi but couldn't find her. Just when he was thinking who to ask about her, Harish tugged his arm, dragging him aside.

"Yenga da porom?" Ashwin asked walking by Harish's side.

(Where are we going?)

"Macha, vaa da. Jolly ah oru oram ninnu sight adipom" Harish grinned.

(Dude, come. Let's stand in the corner and check out girls)

"Yedhey?! Naa lam varla pa" Ashwin tried to turn around but Harish holds him tightly.

(What?! I'm not coming)

"Deii, vaa da. Sight dhana. Maja va irukum" Harish dragged Ashwin along with him.

(Dude, come. Just sighting right. It'll be fun)

'Maja va? Unaku maja va dhan da irukum. Unn thangachi ku matum idhu therinchu, naa gaali dhan!' Ashwin thought trying to wriggle from Harish's hold but couldn't.

(Fun? It'll be fun for you. If your sister gets to know this then I'm done!)

"Macha, vendam da. Enaku a-"

(Dude, no. I-)

"Psch! Seri, nee onum sight lam adika vendam. Enaku company kudu. Adhu podhum"

(Psh! Okay, you don't have to do that. Just give me company. That's enough)

Harish dragged Ashwin to a corner while Ashwin sulked.

"Aaha, andha ponna paaru mapla" Harish grinned.

(Aaha, look at that girl dude)

Ashwin sulked. He was clearly uninterested. He wasn't a saint and has his share of such moments in life. But ever since he met Sivaangi, his eyes didn't search for anyone else than her.

There Sivaangi leaned against their car and wiped her tears. For years she has repeatedly heard about how people made fun of her voice, of how she looks. Sure, she has worked on herself a lot. She may even seem like all those words doesn't affect her. But it does.

That is why Sivaangi could never come up to reveal her identity. Yes, she longs for people to know it was her voice behind those songs. She didn't want to hide behind the name 'Sivani' but the voices she keep on hearing pulled her back every time.

When the crowd chanted her name, Sivaangi couldn't control herself. It was as if every single nerve in her body was excited. Holding the mic and singing in front of the crowd felt right. Her lips curled as all she could hear was the crowd's excitement for her.

And then Sivaangi's thoughts went to Ashwin. If it wasn't for the way he pushed her, she wouldn't have stepped on the stage. Smiling, she pushed herself off the car and walked in.

Sivaangi beamed when her eyes fell on Ashwin but she frowned when she saw Ashwin and Harish talking and laughing between themselves. She cluelessly followed their line of vision and gasped when she saw a group of young women.

Ashwin said something to Harish and Harish kept his head on Ashwin's shoulder, muttering something before straightening up. Ashwin jumped his eyebrows and said something. Sivaangi has seen enough.

"Ada paavi! Sight ah adichutu iruka nee!" Sivaangi huffed as she marched towards them.

(What the! Are you checking out girls!)

Harish kept on talking about how he found his future wife as he showed new girl every two minutes making Ashwin chuckle. That's when they saw a guy with folded hands getting scolded from a woman; might be his girlfriend, from the looks of it.

They arched their neck a little and saw the scene as a group of young women were in front of them. They laughed on watching the guy giving caught look and commented between themselves about that guy's future.

They jerked when Harish hissed.

"Aahh! Yean Sivu adicha?!" Harish rubbed his arm on seeing Sivaangi glaring at him.

(Aahh! Why did you hit me, Sivu?!)

'Aathii!' Ashwin gulped.

(Oh my!)

"Sight ah adichutu irukinga rendu per um!" Sivaangi scowled.

(You both were checking out girls!)

"Ma, anga paaru ma" Ashwin immediately said turning Sivaangi to that guy's direction by holding her arm.

(Ma, look there, ma)

"Andha ponnungala paathu na yenna panna poren?" Sivaangi huffed, wriggling out of Ashwin's hold.

(What will I do by looking at those girls?)

"Sivvuuu, anga illa, adhuku pinnadi" Harish held Sivaangi on either side and asked her to look.

(Sivvuu, not there. Look behind them)

Sivaangi was annoyed but her frown deepened when her eyes fell on the couple and she chuckled when the guy smiled at his girl sheepishly while she knocked his head.

"Oh"

"Ivangala dhan pathutu irundhom" Ashwin clarified not wanting to get into trouble. When Sivaangi looked at him, he gave a sheepish smile making her shook her head at him and smile.

(We were watching them)

"Ama, munna namma rendu per um sendhu dhana sight adipom. Ipo yenna madam ku kovam varudhu?" Harish asked wounding his arm around Sivaangi's neck.

(Earlier we used to check out people together. Why are you getting angry now, madam?)

'Nalla vela. Enaku viluga vendiyathu' Ashwin sighed in relief but then frowned, 'Yedheyy! Sendhu sight adipangala?!'

(Thank God. It was supposed to be me...What?! They used to check out people together?)

'Aaha, ipo yenna solradhu?' Sivaangi ducked her head, giving her signature caught look.

(Aaha, what do I say now?)

"Ah, nee ena vitutu sight adichutu irundha la. Adhan neyy" Sivaangi managed and added, "Seri, veetuku povoma? Kaal romba valikudhu neyy"

(Ah, you left me behind right. That's why bro... Can we go home? My legs are paining bro)

Harish nodded. They decided to go home. They bid bye to Ashwin's friends, who were staying back a bit longer. Harish walked ahead to take the car out while Ashwin conversed with Prabhu and Sivaangi gave her Instagram Id to the girls. Bidding them bye, Ashwin and Sivaangi walked side by side.

Sivaangi eyed at the way they are walking. As it is around nine thirty, the path to the parking was bit dark. She didn't want to take a wrong step and twist her ankle.

"Ma, iruta iruku. Indha. Enn kai ah pidichuko" Ashwin said, looking at the way.

(Its dark. Here. Hold my hand)

Sivaangi smiled at Ashwin's thoughtfulness and extended her hand. He smiled at her and took her hand in his.

"Paathu vaa ma. Unn annan ah front la eduthutu vaa da na, back gate la poradhu dhan easy nu sollitan"

(Careful. I asked your brother to take the car front but he said its easy for us to leave through back gate)

Ashwin safely held Sivaangi's hand as they walked. She smiled and swung their joined hands making him chuckle softly.

"Evlo azhaga paduna theriyuma? Unn voice vera level ma. Sweet ah. Melodious ah. You are truly gifted" Ashwin complimented wholeheartedly.

(You know how beautifully you sang? Your voice is next level. Very sweet and melodious. You are truly gifted)

Sivaangi's smile deepened but then her smile dimmed a little.

"Ashwin, manasu la onnu thonudhu. Sollata?"

(Ashwin, I have something in my heart. Shall I say?)

Ashwin's mobile blared. It was Harish. Sparing a quick glance at Sivaangi, he attended the call.

"Idho vandhute irukom da" Ashwin hung up and pocketed his mobile.

(We are on the way)

"Idhellam nee kekanuma? Sollu ma" Ashwin looked at Sivaangi once before looking ahead.

(Do you even have to ask? Tell me)

Sivaangi looked around. They were getting late and Harish must be waiting for them, "Veetuku poe pesalam ah? Anna va wait panna vaika vendamey"

(Shall we talk once we are home? Let's not make my brother wait)

Ashwin nodded and they resumed walking but Ashwin stopped Sivaangi by holding her wrist making her look at him.

"Nee okay dhana ma?"

(You are okay right?)

"I am, Ashwin" Sivaangi smiled softly tugging her hand from Ashwin's grip and held his hand.

"Veetla poe pesalam dhana?" Ashwin asked, a bit concerned.

(We will talk at home, right?)

Sensing Ashwin getting serious, Sivaangi put on a smile and dragged him, "Kandipa. Naa okay dhan. Vaanga polam"

(Sure. I'm okay. Come, let's go)

A soft smile bloomed on Ashwin's face as he let the bite sized woman drag him. As they walked the darker path, he softly wriggled his arm from her grip and then held her hand in his. She looked up at him and smiled, making his heart race; his mind stuck with one thought,

'Damn those kohled eyes!'

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How's the chapter makkaley? Hope you enjoyed reading. Thank you to all those who have read, voted and commented on the previous chapter. Means a lot. Please do keep streaming Adipoli whenever possible.

Thank you for reading,

Nan ~