Author's  note

Hello makkaleyy, hope you all are doing good. Thank you to all those who have read the previous chapter. Here's to hoping that you'll continue giving the same support, if not more. Please do stream Adipoli whenever possible and keep them both in your prayers.

I was supposed to type the chapter yesterday but I was way too fatigued to type anything. The English translations are funny because I lack the strength to process everything and Tamil dialogues were written prior. Sorry about that. Will definitely work on it later.

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Ashaangi SS Bewitched

Chapter Two

Singing a newly released movie song and with a basket dangling in her hand, a little girl hopped on her way. With her each hop, her ribbon clad hair plait danced along.

"Confuse pannatha kannala thaan

Naan stun aren unnala thaan

Enna unfollow pannaalum altaama thaan

Vandhu nippen un munnaala thaan"

(Cute Ponnu song from Enna Solla Pogirai)

The little girl sang as she jumped in front of a rice flour shop and gave her basket to the lady in the shop.

"Vaa de kutty" The lady in her mid-fifties got the basket from the little girl, "Yenna ivlo late ah vara? School ku poga vendama?"

(Come, dear. Why are you late? Don't you have to go to school?)

"Saradha aunty, atha yean kekuringa? Kaalailaye naa amma akka lam aathuku kulika ponom. Adha late agiruchu"

(What do I tell you? Early in the morning, my mother, sister and I went to take bath in the river. That's why I'm late)

"Aathu la thanni nalla varudha?" Saradha questioned as she filled the rice batter in the vessel and kept it back in the basket.

(How's the water flow?)

"Ohhh, super ah irundhuchu. Nalla chill nu" The little girl beamed and her smile widened when she heard a Bullet bike sound in the distance.

(It was super; really chill)

"Anna vandhruchu!" The girl squealed making Saradha smile. It warms her heart that everyone loves her son.

(Brother's here)

"Hahaha, indha da" Saradha handed the basket to the girl who gave her money.

(Here, dear)

"Na annan ah pathutu poren" Charu declared.

(I'll go after meeting brother)

Saradha nodded her head with a smile. Soon the bike came to a halt in front of the shop and a man in his late twenties got down and removed the helmet. He was dressed in a track pants and yellow jersey that fitted well to his tall handsome frame.

"Ashwinnn annaa" The girl squealed and rushed to Ashwin before hugging his legs making Ashwin chuckle.

"Charu, school ku polaya da inum?" Ashwin asked placing the helmet in his bike seat before wrapping his arm around Charu's shoulder.

(Why didn't you go to school still?)

"Unn Bullet sound ketucha anna. Adha unna pathutu polam nu wait panen" Charu smiled widely.

(I heard your bike sound, brother. So, I waited to meet you and then go)

Ashwin patted Charu's head lovingly before he said, "Seri vaa, mor kudichutu polam"

(Okay, come, have buttermilk before you go)

"Ila naa, school ku late achu. Enoda birthday dress nee senju tharen nu solliruka. Marandhuradha" Charu said excitedly.

(No, I'm late for school. You said you'll design my birthday dress. Don't forget that)

"Marakala da. Un birthday ku inum rendu vaaram iruku la. Na mudichutu unaku kamikuren, seriya?"

(I won't. There's still two weeks for your birthday, right. I'll finish and then show you, okay?)

Charu bobbed her head excitedly.

"Seri anna. School ku late agudhu. Na poetu varen. Bye Auntyy"

(Okay, brother. I'm late for school. I'll leave now. Bye Auntyy)

Charu waved them bye and hopped her way off singing,

"Cute ponnu follow me, follow me, follow me, follow me"

"Vaa ya. Paaka kalaipa iruka. Nera veetuke poerukalam la" Saradha said handing a glass of buttermilk to Ashwin.

(Come, son. You look tired. You could have gone straight to home)

"Ground la irundhu veetuku pora vali dhana Maa. Ongaluku edhuvum help venuma?" Ashwin drank the buttermilk.

(This is on the way to house from the ground, Mom. Do you need any help?)

"Raju kitta um Sathish kitta um solliten pa. Avanga ella kadaikum nerla poe oru thadava pathuduren nu sollirukanga"

(I have informed Raju and Sathish. They said they'll go to all shops in person)

"Seri Maa, Tailor kadai kanaku ellam inaiku night sari pakuren"

(Okay, Mom. I'll check tailor shop records tonight)

"Adhellam porumai ah pakalam. Nee modha veetuku poo. Ground la irundhu verthu viruviruthu vandhruka. Nalla heater potu kuli" Saradha said patting her son's arm.

(You can do it later. You first go home. You have come all sweaty from the ground. Take a hot bath)

Saradha shook her head when her son walked past her inside the building. Her heart swelled with warmth when she saw her son washing the glass in which he had buttermilk. People often find fault with single parent's upbring. She's glad that despite being a single mother she has raised her son well.

"Na veetuku kelamburen Maa"

(I'll go home, Mom)

"Seri ya, dining table la sapadu iruku. Saptru" Saradha said patting her son's cheek.

(Okay, son. There's food at the dining table. Eat)

Ashwin bid bye to Saradha and left. She smiled at the direction her son left and walked back into the shop. God has blessed her with a great son. She came to Arasur, Coimbatore when Ashwin was barely one and now, they have made a life for themselves here.

As a single mother Saradha went through tough times. Ramanathan, a brotherly figure in her life helped her settle down in the town. He helped her financially but once Ashwin was three, she saved money and bought a tailoring machine. She worked for few women nearby and stopped taking help from Ramanathan.

When Saradha felt there wasn't much work in the town, she worked in nearby towns. Her neighbour, an old lady named Dhanalakshmi used to baby sit Ashwin when Saradha wasn't around. Dhanalakshmi's son has settled in the city and her daughter in the states. She pretty much lives alone and enjoyed taking care of the young child.

Saradha, with Dhanalakshmi's encouragement and help with the bank loan, started a tailoring unit named "Star Tailors" in Sulur. There wasn't much of scope in Arasur for her. So, she had to start in Sulur. She employed two women who were struggling to make ends meet.

Sometimes Saradha would bring the work home. Ashwin would watch his mother work patiently. When she isn't working, he would sit in her chair and try to reach his little legs to press the tailoring machine paddle. Her lips always curves whenever she recalls those memories. They were happy even when they didn't had much.

Ashwin grew and so her business. She started a tailoring unit near an Arts & Science college in Peelamedu. The area was getting developed at that time and it helped her business a lot. She would travel everyday from Arasur to Coimbatore through bus once she drops Ashwin in school.

As Saradha got busy, Dhanalakshmi helped with taking care of Ashwin. She was the grandmother he never had and he absolutely loved her. He was an obedient child. He doesn't make a fuss to go to school. He doesn't constantly need his mother by his side for he knows she was working for him, for them.

Saradha fell down when Ashwin was in his seventh standard and had to stay in bedrest for three weeks. By then she had three tailoring unit in Peelamedu area and one in Sulur and one in Kulathur. She employed women who wanted to stand on their own and those women were loyal to Saradha. So, she didn't worry about her business. She spent time with her son.

The income from the tailoring unit will help run the family. But Saradha needed to earn more if she were to give a promising future to her son. As she took rest for those three weeks, she saw an opportunity in front of her; rice flour batter.

That's when Saradha decided that she will open a rice flour batter shop. Their brand name was "Lakshmi" named after Dhanalakshmi, who was touched with the gesture. In those times rice flour batter shops weren't common but the trend was at its start. So, she took advantage of that. With her savings, she took a building for lease where she ground flours and sell the batter at front.

Sure, the business was slow at first but over a period of time it took heat. She expanded her supply to Muthalipalayam and Uthupalayam. She added ragi batter, lentils batter also. As her business grew, she employed more trusted people. Ashwin used to help his mother in whatever ways he could.

Saradha used to find Ashwin by her tailoring machine trying to help her in work. When questioned, he would always ask her to teach how to sew so that he can help her. She politely refused few times but he was stressing about learning that she ended up teaching him.

Ashwin was a quick learner. Something about the tailoring machine fascinated him. Sure, he goes out and plays football with his friends. But he enjoyed learning stitching. For longest time he didn't realize that he enjoyed getting taught by his mother because he enjoys spending time with her.

When it comes to studies, Ashwin wasn't extraordinary but he was good. He pursued mechanical engineering from a reputed college in Coimbatore. Honestly, he wasn't concerned with making a career out of his degree. He was more interested in building a business, taking care of his mother's business and well, another passion which he knew he shouldn't dare to pursue.

Saradha was amazed with Ashwin's designing skills. He could draw really well. He used that to randomly design the blouse and gown orders that come to their tailoring units. He learnt how to design and make a dress from scratch with the help of women who work for his mother.

At present, Saradha and her son owns an own house, own business units and few lands to their name. They stepped into the town with nothing, worked hard over the years and now, they have made a place for themselves.

Snapping out of her reverie, Saradha shook her head with a smile before going back into the building. Her workers will be arriving soon and she has a long day ahead.

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Ashaangi meet epo? Andha kelvi ongaluku iruku nu puriyudhu but koncham wait panunga. Let me set the base of the story first.

Hope you guys enjoyed reading the chapter. We now have an insight about Ashwin's life. Let's take a look at Sivaangi's in the next chapter.

Thank you for reading,

Nan ~