So, here is the final part of this story! Hope you will enjoy it.

Enjoy the story and please do share, vote and comment! Again, this is a work of fiction, it is not my intention to hurt anyone.

*****

Two days. It had been two days since he had properly slept. That chit of a girl has taken residence into his mind, her voice ringing in his ears and her memories flashing in front his eyes. Sivaangi was inhabiting his days and haunting his nights.

The knock on the door broke his daydreaming, and with a sigh, Ashwin stood up from the couch and opened the door.

"Dei Machan, eppidi da iruka?" Rakshan entered the flat, catching Ashwin in a fierce hug and patting his back. (How are you, Buddy?)

Pugazh entered behind him, with his usual "Mappillai" and a pat on Ashwin's shoulder. Truth be told, Ashwin would have welcomed any distraction, but he did not want to face her brothers right now. His good manners kicking in, he invited them to sit on the couch and made some coffee.

"Enna da, rendu naal-ah oru phone kuda pannela nee. Sir avalo busy-oh?" Rakshan asked, examining his tired face. (Why did you not call these past two days? Are you that busy?)

"Appidi ondum illa da, veeda thaan irunthean." Ashwin replied, sighing. (Nothing like that, I was here all the time.)

Pugazh and Rakshan exchanged a glance, wondering what was wrong with him. Pugazh had an inkling about the issue, but he would rather wait for Ashwin to open up on his own.

"Ethavathu pirachanaya Machan?" Rakshan asked, concerned. He lifted himself off the couch to sit on Ashwin's left, his arm coming to rest on Ashwin's shoulder in support. Pugazh was sitting on Ashwin's right side. (Is something wrong?)

Ashwin weighed the pros and cons and knowing that he badly needed some advice, he sighed, giving in:

"Unga thangatchi thaan da pirachanai", he said, looking at his feet. (Your sister is the problem.)

"Enna da aachu?" Rakshan asked. Pugazh was staying silent, just observing. (What happened?)

Ashwin sighed for the third time in 10 minutes and started talking, narrating the happenings of the last few months. Rakshan and Pugazh listened silently to him till...

"...So, unakku enna venum endu kettean." Ashwin paused, his right hand entangling itself in his hair. (So, I asked her what she wanted.)

As he was staying silent, Rakshan nudged him: "Enna da venum nu ketta?" (What did she ask for?)

"Ava ennaye venum endu ketta da!" Ashwin said, throwing his hands in the air and looking at them, his eyes flicking from Pugazh to Rakshan. (She asked for me.)

Both of his friends stared at him, then at each other. Their lips quivered into a smile that quickly changed to laughter, astonishing Ashwin who looked at them, betrayed by their hilarity.

"Enna da? Enn problem-ah sonna neenga rendu perum payithiyam mathiri sirikuringa?" He scowled at them, making them laugh even more. (What the hell? I am telling you about my problem and you both are laughing at me.)

Knowing that nothing would do, Ashwin just glared at them, waiting for their laughter to abate. After some time, Rakshan and Pugazh stopped laughing and sat properly on the couch.

"Parava illai da, thangatchi nalla therita!" Pugazh said to Rakshan, his lips twitching. Seeing that Ashwin was still crossed, he continued: "Dei Mappillai, engalukku ithu nadakkum endu eppavo theriyum, athu eppo and yaar first solluva endu thaan confusion ah irunthathu." (We have to admit that our sister is something else! We knew for a long time that this would happen, we were just not sure of when and who would make the first step.)

"Aama da, engalukku mattum illai, intha ulagathukey therinja vishayam da. Neenga thaan well wishers, pond wishers endu sollithu thirinjinga."(Yes, not just us, the whole world knows that. It was just the two of you who kept saying that you were well wishers only.)

"Ava chinna ponnu da! Naan eppidi avala..." Ashwin paused, wondering how to put his thoughts into words, in front of her brother nonetheless! "A relationship is not a joke. Responsibilities, commitments and expectations neraya irukkum, rendu side layum. Chumma ippo okay sollithu, 2 months la vendam, seri varathu endu varutha pada mudiyathu da. And enga careers ippo thaan start aguthu. Ellam serthu kolapidum!"

(She is so young, how can I... A relationship is not a joke. We need to be responsible, commit to each other. Both of us will have many expectations. I can't say yes, and regret it when 2 months later we decide that it won't work. Moreover, we both just started our careers, we can't afford to let anything come and destroy that.)

"Yen da ellathayum negative avey paarkura, Machan?" Rakshan asked. (Why are you being so pessimistic?)

"Romba paarthachu da. Ippa thaan konjam achum nallathu nadakuthu." (I have seen a lot of things. I have just now started experiencing good things.)

"Ithuvum nallathavey irukum endu yosiyen da." (Why can't you see this relationship as a good thing?)

"Dei, naan commit aguren na antha ponna-ye kalyanam panni, kozhanda kutty oda athu life long commitment-ah irukanum endu naan eppavo mudivu pannithean da. Dei Pugazh, naan serious ah pesuren, joke ethavathu potti na tholaichuduvean unnai!" Ashwin turned to glare at Pugazh.

(I have decided a long time ago that if I ever enter a relationship, I want it to lead to a marriage and a family life. Pugazh, I am speaking seriously, if you dare utter even one joke, I will kill you.)

Pugazh who started to open his mouth to place a punchline, closed it very quickly, his eyeballs rolling from side to side in guilt.

"Avalukku ippa thaan 21 aguthu, enakku 30", Ashwin continued with a sigh. "Ava life la innum neraya uyaram parakonum, ennoda avala katti poda ennaku viruppam illai Machan. Enakku irukkura expectations vera, avaluku irukkura expectations vera da." (She is just 21 years old, I am 30. She still has so many things to experience in life, I can't tie her to myself. We don't have the same expectations in life.)

"Aval sonnala da? Aval unnatha enna expect pannura endu sonnala da?" Pugazh asked, being serious all of a sudden. At Ashwin's negative shake of head, Pugazh continued:

"Unnai first meet panni palagum pothum seri, ippavum seri, aval ondumey expect pannela. Nee kudukura 10%-ah aval 100%-ah mathural da. Unakkey theriyum, ellarum Sivaangi ah eppudi treat pannurom endu, aval parents la irunthu, VijayTV team-ah irukatum, naanga, ean aval thambi Vinaayak kuda avala oru kozhandhaya thaan treat pannuran. Aana aval... Sivaangi unnai thaan Mappillai kozhandaya paakural. Nee sirichu santoshama iruntha atha paarthu mudhal santosha padurathu aval thaan, unakku oru problem na atha paarthu kashta padurathum aval thaan."

(Did she say what she expected from you? Be it when you first met each other or now, she has zero expectations. She takes whatever you give her and gives more. Even you know that for us all, she is a kid. But for her, you are her kid. She is happy when you are happy, and when you have a problem, she feels bad for you.)

Pugazh stopped talking, giving Ashwin some time to digest his words, then continued:

"Age gap paathi sonniye, inga yaarum appidi kalyanam pannelaya, illai santoshama illaya? Othukurean, generation gaps ippo jasthiya irukkuthu thaan, but unnaiyum Sivaangi-um paarkekula, athu engalukku theriyela da. Engalala unga rendu perayum pirichum kuda paarka mudiyela. Engala vidu, ippidi ivala solluriye, Sivaangi-ye future la vera oruthana kalyanam panni santhoshama irunthalum, nee aval illamal santhoshama irupiya? Naan solluren da, aval kuda iruntha nee eppidi iruppa, aval illamal antha rendu maasamum nee eppidi iruntha endum nerla paarthavan naan da. And unnai ippavey kalyanam panniko nu sollela. Take time, projects ellam pannunga, eppo thonutho appo kalynam panni konga!"

(You are worried about the age gap between the two of you, but there are so many couples who have this same gap or even more and they are living happily. I agree that in this era, the generation gap can look huge, but when we look at Sivaangi and you, we never see it. We can't even separate her from you. Forget even about our opinion, in the future, even if Sivaangi gets happily married to someone else, will you be able to be happy without her in your life? Even I can tell that you can't. I have seen how you are when in her presence and how you were these past two months without her. And we are not telling you to get married now. Take your time, grow in your careers and get married when you both want it.)

Ashwin stayed silent. Pugazh had subsided some of the doubts Ashwin had, but Rakshan could see that there still were some doubts in him, and he surely was hesitant to ask them in the presence Sivaangi's most protective brother.

"Pugazh, konjam velila iru da." (Pugazh, can you go out for a minute?)

One look at Rakshan was enough for Pugazh to understand. He knew that even if Rakshan was also a brother to Sivaangi, Ashwin would have less problem talking to him as a friend. As Pugazh left the flat, Ashwin's head stayed facing down, and Rakshan put a hand on his shoulder.

"Ippo sollu da, unakku Sivaangi ya pudikkelaya?" (Tell me now, don't you like Sivaangi?)

"Pudichirukka da. Avala yarukku da pudikkathu?" (I like her. Who doesn't like her?)

"Naan atha kekala. Unakkey theriyum naan enna kekurean endu. Aval oru chinna ponnu, cute ponnu, oru friend, well wisher ennavo, adha vidu! Unnala Sivaangi ya oru lover sthanathila vacchu paarka mudiyathu na, ippavey sollu, naaney poyi ava kitta pesi..."

(I am not asking this. And you know very well what I am asking. You already told us how she is young, your friend and even a well wisher. But if you can't see Sivaangi as a lover, tell me straight and I will even go and talk to...)

Rakshan interrupted himself, as Ashwin looked up, straight in his eyes. His eyes were teary, guilt taking residence on his face. If one were to see it, Ashwin was the very picture of misery. Maybe another man would not have been able to decipher the mystery that Ashwin Kumar was, but Rakshan did.

"Eppo da?" (When?)

"Antha elimination round, nee kuda enakku Sivaangi thaan pair agonum endu clue thanthiye da." (That elimination round in the show. Even you helped me in choosing her as my pair that day.)

Rakshan had the sense to look guilty at that, and with a chuckle, he defended himself: "Dei andhaiku Thangam romba azhaga iruntha da, ava sollithey iruntha nee ava azhaga irukkum pothu ellam edukurela endu athuku thaan... And neenga rendu perum frame la sernthu ninda athu oru Magic da, semma ya irukkum."

(That day, Sivaangi looked so beautiful. She was complaining that you never chose her when she looks pretty, that's why... And when you both are in the frame together, there is some Magic around you.)

A flash of Sivaangi, regally clad in that maroon saree flashed in front of his eyes. Ashwin passed a hand on his face, his eyes closed to preserve that mirage in his mind. His hand then descended toward his chest and he rubbed it over his heart, feeling its raced pace as he thought of her.

"Romba filmy ah irukkum da Raksha but andha padam dialogue mathiri... Avala chinna ponnu endu ninaichean da, but saree la paarthathuku piragu thaan da naan vizhunduthean." (It may sound filmy, but just like that movie dialogue, when I saw her in that saree, I was flat.)

Rakshan looked at Ashwin, amazed, a smile splitting his face. Ashwin was not a man of words, and Rakshan knew that it would have taken a lot from him to say this.

"Andha episode paartha theriyum full-ah avala paarthu sirichuthey thaan iruppean, cooking ah kuda marantuthu. Andha day ku piragu romba kashtama irunthichu da. Ava pakkathila vanthaley oru mathiri ayidum. Thank God, naan cook pannekula enn concentration full-ah cooking la irukkum, but wild card round... Fans ellam enna vecchi senjuthanga. Oru frame la naan ennaye maranthu avala appidi paarthu-tu iruppean. Seri, saree and dresses la thaan ippidi endu paartha, finale la antha Pulikesi look la kuda enna kollura da."

(If you watch that episode, you can see me always looking at her and smiling goofily, forgetting even my cooking. After that day, it became so hard for me to be around her. I should thank God that at least when I cook, my attention goes to the task at hand, but when I was sitting idly in that wild card round... Even the fans made fun of me because I was staring at her unbeknownst to me, forgetting even the cameras. I thought that she was enchanting me when wearing that saree or dresses, but in the final episode, even in her King costume, she attracted me.)

Rakshan started laughing at Ashwin's pout: "Enna Manna, Thangathuku meesai irunthum thangalukku aasai pogavillaya?" (Even when she had a moustache, she made you crash, my King.)

Ashwin hit him on his arm, making Rakshan laugh even more.

"Dei athala thaan da, naan konjam thalli thalli ponnean. Aval oda pesum pothu ellam naan unakku well wisher ah iruppean endu solli solli, avalum atha solla arambicha. Antha pictures issue vanthathum ennaku sathakama atha payan paduthi konjam distance maintain panninean and now these 2 month gap too. But every time, aval kitta marupadiyum odi vanthudurean da, ennala thalli irukka mudiyela. And every time ava innum azhaga therira da, enna attract pannura da. Ennakey enna paartha kevalama irukku, antha ponnu mela thappana aasai varuthonu."

(That's why I tried to stay away from her. I kept saying that I was just a well wisher for her, and at one point, she started saying the same. When that issue about the morphed pictures came, I took upon the opportunity to go further away from her, and then came this 2 month gap. But everytime, I came back to her running, I couldn't stay away from her. And each time I see her, I am even more attracted to her. It feels disgusting to be this much attracted to her.)

"Dei, stop overthinking this. Nee innum unn feelings ah kuda sollela. Oru ponnu mela feelings varekulla, ellam than da varum, care, affection, protection, love.. Ellathoda sernthu attraction and lust um varum. Athu sagajam, athukum intha age la athu romba sagajam. And athu thappu illai. Ithu engalukku mattum illai da, girls kum porunthum. Neeya ellathayum yosichu kolambatha Ashwin."

(Stop overthinking this, you have not even told her about your feelings. If you like a girl, there are all sorts of feelings that come in the mix: care, affection, protection, love... And there is also attraction and lust. It is normal to feel this, especially at your age. This is not wrong at all, and it does not happen to only men, it happens to women also. Don't overthink and confuse yourself, Ashwin.)

"Dei enakku mathathu ellam okay da, avaluku enna venumo athu ellam pannuvean da, nalla paarthuppean. Avalum ennai nalla paarthupa da Machan. Ennakku theva padum nerathila ennaku Amma va irunthu ennai paarthukira. Athey neram, naan eppo sorvanalum oru kulanthaya mari enna santhoshama vachikura da. But enakku thaan avakita ethavathu thappa behave panniduvomo endu romba bayama irukku. Avalukku first ithellam vilangumo endu kuda enakku theriyela."

(I agree with everything else, mate. I know that I can take care of her and do whatever she asks for. I also know that she will take great care of me. When I need the care of a mother, she gives it to me, and whenever I feel down, she becomes a child and makes me smile. I am just afraid to let myself be driven by my feelings and do something she doesn't want or like. I don't even know if she understands this aspect in a relationship.)

"Unakku intha relationship la problematic ah irukkurathu intimacy na, nee ava kudavey pesi paar da. Thappu illai. Define boundaries with her, communication and trust thaan Machan romba important relationship la, love kuda second thaan. Nee silent ah irunthu ivalo yosichu torture pannikura but Thangam simple and clear ah sollitha nee avalukku venum endu. Heart la irukuratha first sollu da, then go with the flow."

(If intimacy is your only problem in considering this relationship, just talk to her. It's not wrong to discuss it, and define boundaries with her. In a relationship, communication and trust are very important, even more than love. You are being silent and torturing yourself, but look at Sivaangi, she told you what she wanted and she is at peace. Just tell her what you have in your heart, and then go with the flow.)

Rakshan became silent, watching Ashwin go through his words, his expressions changing quickly. Then, Ashwin looked at him and smiled, making Rakshan reciprocate that joy.

"Aprom enna Machan, eni paathu pada vendiyathu thaan!" said Rakshan, unlocking his phone and playing Ashwin and Sivaangi's song. (Now what? Time to romance and sing songs!)

♪ Made For-u Each Other-u
Super Jodi Thaan
Oor Paarthaale Kannu Padum
Fairy Tale-u Thaan
You Both are Hastag-u
Couple Goal-u Thaan

Oru Cute Aana Ponnu Ready
Edhu Vandhaalum Kaiya Pudi
Ava Minjuna Vittu Pudi
Ini Avadhaan Da Katti Pudi ♪

"Thanks da, Machan," Ashwin said, laughing at the lyrics, his arms reaching out to hug Rakshan fiercely. At the same time, Ashwin's flat door opened and Pugazh walked in.

"Appo, seri ya da ellam?" He asked, making Ashwin jump to his feet and tackle him, taking him in a headlock. (Is everything settled then?)

"Otthu kettiya da?" Ashwin asked. (Were you eavesdropping?)

"Aama, ivanga rendu perum periya Chithambaram ragasiyam pesuranga, atha naan otthu kettean vera velai illamal. Paathu kettu vanthean da! Vidu da! (As if you were sharing some NASA secrets and I was eavesdropping. I just heard the song and came in! Let me go, now!)

The three of them fell into their familiar banters, pulling each other's legs and laughing. Half an hour later, Pugazh and Rakshan stood up, announcing their leave.

"Dei innum konjam neram irunga da." (Guys, stay a bit longer.)

"Illai Mappillai, oru chinna work irukku, pogonum." Pugazh said, eying Rakshan. (No, we have some work to do.)

Hugging them both once again and thanking them, Ashwin bid them bye. As they were going down the stairs, Rakshan turned to look at Pugazh, who was putting his phone in his pocket after sending a message.

"Dei otthu ketta thaaney da?" (You eavesdropped, right?)

The 'caught red handed' expression Pugazh gave was enough to answer Rakshan, and laughing, they quit the premises to walk toward Pugazh's car. As they came closer, the back door of the car opened and a petite figure got down from the car.

"Anney, avara paarthingala? Eppidi irukuraar?" (Have you seen him? How is he doing?)

"Thangam, nee Ashwin eppudi irukkuran endu thaan paarka sonniye thavira, avan nilamai ku neethaan karanam nu sollela", Rakshan said, caressing her head. (You asked us to check up on him, but you did not say that you were the reason behind his silence.)

Sivaangi blushed and looked down, unable to meet her brothers' eyes.

"Seri Paapa, nee avana poyi paaru. Engalukku konjam velai irukku naanga kilamburam, Ashwin tha kellu unna drop panna solli." Pugazh told them, making Rakshan look at him in surprise. (Dear, go and see him. We have to leave, ask Ashwin to drop you back home.)

With a nod, Sivaangi hugged the two of them and took tentative steps toward the building entrance. Her brother disclosed nothing about what happened upstairs, but they would not send her there if something was wrong.

As Sivaangi left, Pugazh and Rakshan got into the car and Rakshan turned to look at Pugazh:

"Dei, anga avan roommate um illai taniya irukkuran, ippo ivalum poral..." Rakshan interrupted himself and face palmed himself. "Anga irukkurathu Ashwin endu maranthu pesurean paar." (Hey, his roommate is out of town, he is alone in his flat, and now she is going to meet him... I forgot that I was talking about Ashwin!)

"Aama Raksha, avan Paapa kaiya pudichu pesavey innum oru maasam venum Machan." (Yes Raksha, Ashwin would need a whole month of practice to just hold her hand.)

Laughing at the expense of one Ashwin Kumar who was blissfully unaware of the moqueries, they started the car and left the place.

***

Ashwin, on the other hand, was looking at his phone screen, amazed. As soon as Pugazh and Rakshan left, he received a message from Pugazh. Wondering if he had left anything there, he had opened the message.

Since then, he was staring at his phone. What laid in his palm set his whole being ablaze. Pugazh had sent him a picture that he must have taken unbeknownst to Sivaangi and him in the Purple park.

In the frame, Ashwin was kneeling down in front of the bed of roses, looking up at Sivaangi. He was clutching the blood red rose, extending it toward her. His hand was enclosed by both her hands.

It was not the pose in the picture that dazed him. It was the emotions he could decipher in it. He was looking at her with pure adoration, his eyes sparkling and a radiant smile gracing his face. Sivaangi's incandescent smile was a match to his own. She was glowing, her eyes ignited with the love she had for him.

There, more than ever, he could see why so many found him and Sivaangi to be made for each other. The devotion, the oozing happiness... Their love made such a perfect frame, that one could never recreate it.

At that moment, Ashwin felt very jealous of the man in the picture. That man, was very lucky to have fallen in her eyes. Ashwin had heard many praises on his good looks through the years, he had most of the time brushed them aside. But seeing himself there, through her eyes, he admired himself. There was an urge in him to reach that man, frozen in time in the image, and let Sivaangi infuse life into him.

***

Sivaangi slowly climbed the stairs, her heart pounding. She had told Ashwin to think about it, but hearing nothing from him for two days had worried her. She did not even know if he would agree to see her now.

Once at the door, she hesitantly knocked on the door. She waited half a minute, breathing harshly and forgot to breathe as the door opened to reveal Ashwin, his eyes widening at her sight.

Both stared at the other, starved by the silence between them. Ashwin took in her floral blue and white dress that reminded him of their Purple park. Sivaangi gave him a once over, taking in his grey sweatpants and tee, before focusing on his eyes.

"Ulla vaa ma." (Come inside.)

She came inside and walked past him, her arm brushing against his as he closed the door. On her own, she went to sit on the couch and he went into the kitchen to make her a cup of hot chocolate. No other than the utensils in the kitchen and their breathings were heard in the flat, until Ashwin sat beside her, handing her the cup.

She took it gingerly, her fingers brushing on his fingers, making both of them jerk and look at each other. Ashwin cleared his throat and sat further into his couch and Sivaangi looked at him, sipping the hot beverage.

"Enna ma thideer nu inga?" (Why have you come, all of a sudden.)

"Neenga two days ah oru message-um podela, I was worried." (You didn't contact me for two days, I was worried.)

None of them mentioned that two days, compared to the two month long silence they had before, were not much. Sivaangi finished her drink in silence, and putting the cup on the coffee table, she stood up.

"Seri, I am leaving."

She made a move toward the door, when Ashwin gripped her hand. She turned to look at him, her eyes boring into him.

"Unn kelviku bathil vendama?" (Don't you want an answer to your question.)

She was not expecting an answer when she came to see him. But he had one ready for her.

He pulled her back toward the couch and made her sit on it. Sivaangi was not aware of anything, losing herself in the hazel sea she was seeing. His hold was strong yet gentle on her wrist, his fingers pressed against her pulsepoint.

He slowly neared her, his right hand still clutching her hand, his left hand lifting itself to put behind her ear one rebel strand of hair. His eyes were still burning into her eyes, and he noticed her pupils dilate, affected by his proximity. He very well knew that his eyes would also be reflecting the same desire and passion he was seeing in hers.

He kept nearing her, going so close to her that he could feel her body heat. He bent his head to her left ear, his breath gracing her, making her shudder at the assault he unleashed on her. The quickening of her pulse under his touch and the goosebumps erupting on her skin were a tell tale of her state. It was time to put an end to the yearning and the misery both were feeling.

The question she asked, few days ago was running in both their minds, like a melody. 'Enakku neenga thaan venum Ashwineyy, tharuvingala?'

"Thanthu vitthean ennai." (I am giving myself to you.)

As his lips uttered the words in a whisper, Sivaangi sagged against him, her right hand clutching his tee above his heart. Her sudden movement made his lips touch her ear in a barely there kiss, before she put her forehead on his shoulder blade. She felt his cheek land on her hair.

Ashwin was still holding Sivaangi's wrist, feeling her pulsepoint. And Sivaangi felt his heart thunder below her hand, before slowing down, getting attuned to her own heart beats.

There was a melody in the rhythm their hearts sang and a solace in the presence of the other, as both of them quenched their yearning for the other.

*****

I did it! Thank you guys for you support! #Peopleslove

How is it, guys? Please do share, vote and comment!

I am already planning on something else, but if you have any suggestions, do share with me!

Also, you can catch me on Insta @sanah_chandran

Until then,