Hello Guys, here is the third part! It was supposed to be the last one, but as usual, your Authoreyy got herself immersed into this and wrote more. But do not worry, this is a double update! Hope you will enjoy it.

I am dedicating this to us Ashaangians, stay positive and believe in Kadhavul setting, and keep supporting AK & SK.

This update was supposed to be posted for Uruttu song release but it got delayed and I am posting it on the day of Enna Solla Pogirai audio launch. This is also a samarpanam to my Manna Ashwin Kumar and my Chellama Sivaangi. I am just so proud of them, and it is just the beginning! There are many more to come...

Again, this story is not to hurt anyone, it's just fictional. Enjoy the story and please do share, vote and comment!

PS: Does anyone know the floral language and colour meanings of flowers?

*****

Lunch and one falooda each later, Ashwin, Pugazh and Sivaangi quit the restaurant and drove toward their destination. On their way, Pugazh turned in his seat to look at Sivaangi:

"Paapa, ippa kanna moodu." (Close your eyes, dear.)

"Ean?" (Why?)

After a bit of assurance from both men, Sivaangi agreed to close her eyes. As she felt the car slow down, she tried to peek between her fingers, but her attempt was cornered by Ashwin who was watching her in the mirror:

"Eii, kanna moodu!" (Close your eyes!)

Pouting, she covered her eyes again with her hands. She felt the car stop, then heard Ashwin and Pugazh get down.

"Irangu Paapa kila", Pugazh said, helping her get down. (Get down from the car.)

As soon as she was down, she felt Ashwin behind her, taking her hands off her face and replacing them with his own, larger hands.

"Naan thaan kanna moodithean la, ethukku ippo neenga mooduringa?" She asked, annoyed. (I was doing it properly, why are you covering my eyes now?)

"KD fellow, unna nambha mudiyathu. Olunga, pesama vaa", Ashwin replied, nudging her to start walking, making Pugazh laugh. (We can't trust you on this, keep silent and walk ahead.)

As soon as they started walking, Sivaangi realised that Ashwin did not need to ask her to be quiet. His closeness silenced even her thoughts.

His arms were resting on her shoulders, nearly hugging her from behind and each step they put forward made his front brush against her back. She was painfully aware of his warm breath on her left ear, and she shivered when he laughed at something Pugazh said and her lock of hair flew to caress her cheek. He was close, too close that she felt his body heat seep through his clothes to her back.

Pugazh and Ashwin stopped walking, and counting to 3, Ashwin took his hands off her face.

"Wow!" Sivaangi stared open-mouthed at the park in front of her. "Super ah irukku!" (This is beautiful!)

They were standing at the entrance, admiring the breathtaking view in front of them. Ashwin tapped on her shoulder and pointed toward the sky. Sivaangi followed his lead, and looking up, she gasped.

They were standing under an arch made of red and purple clematises, the climbing vines. The fences surrounding the park were also covered in the same flowers. There was a stone path in front of them, bordered with red, pink and white chrysanthemums. The path led to a fountain at the center of the park, enclosed in a circle of red and white roses.

Sivaangi bounced on her feet and clapped when she saw that the fish statues around the fountain were pouring water into the fountain, but also sprinkling some around. She ran toward it, her arms stretched in front of her to grasp some of the water droplets.

"Ashwineyy, inga paaru roses!" (Look at the roses!) Sivaangi turned to look at them, pointing at the different shades of roses.

Ashwin and Pugazh smiled at her joy, then at each other, feeling very happy to have taken her there. Both of them had missed her and the happiness she would give them by her presence.

Seeing that Pugazh had his phone out and was taking some selfies and photos, Ashwin also took out his phone from his pocket.

The blooming flowers were beautiful and their colour vibrant, yet they failed to capture Ashwin's interest. As he shifted on his heels for different angles, his phone camera inevitably found its focus in Sivaangi. The camera lenses caught her frame, yet, she was etched in his eyes and immortalised in his heart.

He watched her bend forward and smell the fragrance of the roses. She brought her hand close and brushed a red rose with her fingertips in a gentle caress. A frisson ran through Ashwin at the sight, and mesmerised, his feet took him to her. Clueless of his plight, she turned to look at him, a smile brightening her face.

"Romba azhagu irukku ena, Ashwineyy?" She asked, eyeing the roses as droplets of water sprinkled on them. (Isn't it beautiful?)

"Aama, romba azhagu thaan", he replied, his eyes never once glancing at the flowers. She had captured his whole attention. (Very much.)

A droplet of water from the fountain fell near his left eye, jerking him from her emprise. When did he come near her?

"Eppidi intha idam ungalukku theriyum? Inga yaarumey illai." (How did you discover this place? There is no one here.)

He smiled at her exuberance and replied, smiling:

"Inga pakathila shoot ku vanthom, naan free ah nikekula, as usual songs play pannitu naan nadakka thodangithean. Thoorathila nindhu pakekula etho purple ah therinjichu, ennava irukkum endu oru curiosity. Intha place la etho oru Magic irukku, and it's peaceful. Athukku aprom thaan Pugazh ku kaathinean." (We had our shoot near here and as I was free, I was listening to some songs and I started walking as usual. I saw something purple from afar and decided to check it out. This place feels magical and peaceful. And then showed it to Pugazh.)

"Aamam, Oodha niram thangalai illuthu vidum. Thangalukku migavum piditha niram allava, Manna?" Sivaangi asked in an old Tamizh with a smile, reminiscing them of the finale of their show. (Indeed, purple has a magnetic effect on you. It is one of your favoured colours, is it not my King?)

Ashwin smiled brighter, his mind flashing with the memories of that day. He playfully bowed in front her:

"Aamam Manna... Mannikavum. Aamam Manni." (Undoubtedly, my King. Pardon me! Certainly, my Queen.) Both chuckled at their silliness, blissfully unaware of Pugazh's presence.

***

Pugazh, on the other hand, was looking at them from afar, a smile grazing his face. He had known that something was not right between them for a long time. During the few calls he had made to Sivaangi, he had seen that she was not entirely her chirpy self, and it did not take a genius to link it to the gloomy Ashwin.

Had it been someone else, he would not have hesitated before pouncing on them and asking questions. But Pugazh knew Ashwin well, and in the little year they had known each other, he had come to consider him very close to him, and trusted him. More than that, he trusted Ashwin with Sivaangi, just like her parents did. In that respect, he had let them deal with it and interfered only when Ashwin asked his help.

Pugazh would not judge Ashwin's hasty decision in trying to be away from Sivaangi. He knew that the media's exposure and pressure can break anyone, and for someone like Ashwin who had waited so long to be under the limelight, he could not afford a downfall when he just started raising. And even in that moment, Pugazh admired Ashwin, for he had not been selfish. He had also thought about Sivaangi and her career in his decision making.

Even if it had taken some time, Pugazh was glad that Ashwin had realised that his decision was not the best one and had asked for Pugazh's help to make amends. Ashwin and Sivaangi suited each other so well that Pugazh wondered how long it would take for them to see what the whole world was already seeing. Looking back at the duo, Pugazh widened his eyes at the sight and eagerly focused his phone on them.

***

Ashwin frowned, looking at Sivaangi's display of emotions. She was looking at the roses in front of her, once pouting, once pensieve and once smiling.

"Enna achu?" He asked her, bending his head toward her as she was now pouting. (What happened?)

She looked at him sheepishly, and he understood her dilemma. Chuckling at her, he crouched down in front of the roses, his left knee on the ground to keep his balance and started pulling out the thorns of the rose she had earlier caressed. Once it was cleared of thorns, he gently gripped the stem and snapped it.

From his position, he looked up at Sivaangi and extended the rose clutched in his right hand toward her. She clasped his hand in her left hand and took the rose with her other hand, her eyes sparkling and a smile blooming on her face.

Sivaangi, her hold gentle on Ashwin's hand, helped him get back on his feet. Looking at her admiring the rose, Ashwin's mind took him to the day he had met her. She had, then, given him a rose on their first meeting.

To this day, that rose was still enclosed in his favourite book on his bedside table. The fragrance of the rose had long been gone, but the memories attached to that single rose were enough to still enchant him.

They had come a long way, from that day. Thinking about their journey, his mind took him to the promise he had made some time ago and that he had not yet fulfilled. As they stood amid the fragrance of the flowers, it felt right to ask her about it.

"Sivaangi maa", he called her, his voice dropping a notch. She turned to look at him. "Unakku nyabagam irukka, naan show la jeicha nee enna kettalum tharean endu sonnean." (Do you remember that I told you that if I win in the show, I would give you whatever you ask for.)

"Athu thaan enn birthday ku beach ku porathuku mudhal enakku pudicha macaroons senju thanthinga." She replied, frowning. (But on my birthday, just before taking me to the beach you gave me macaroons.)

"Athu antha award function la nee kettathu kaga. Ippo naan sollurathu show la jeichathuku." (That was what you wished for in that award function. I am talking about what you want, since I won in the cooking show.)

"Oh! But naan finale la ungalukku pair ah varela, semi-finale thaaney naanga jeichom." (But you were paired with me only in the semi-finale round, not in the finale.)

"But nee enakku lucky charm achey ma! Naan show la jeichathukum nee oru karanam, naan life la jeikurathukum nee oru karanam." His voice was hoarse, his eyes full of unsaid words. (You are my lucky charm. You are one of the reasons behind my winning in the show and behind my success in life.)

Sivaangi smiled, captured by the man in front of her. He eyed her, asking silently the same question. 'What do you want from me?'

She went into her thinking mode, one finger pressed on her chin, looking up at the sky, and Ashwin chuckled at her cuteness.

"Unakku ippo ondum thonela enda, don't worry, yosichu aprom sollu." (If you can't think of anything now, take your time and ask me later.)

She paused for a moment, then as struck, she looked at him, hesitation filling her eyes, and he looked back, lifting his left eyebrow, his head bent toward her.

"Enna ma? Sollu, ennatha enna thayakam?" (What is it? Don't be hesitant with me, just ask me.)

"Naan enna kettalum tharuvingala?" (Will you give me anything I ask for?)

"Enna venalum kelu, naan thaarean!" (Ask me anything, I will give it to you!)

Sivaangi gulped, doubts clouding her mind. Should she ask? His eyes were boring into her, and instead of making her nervous, she drew courage from his warm eyes and asked innocently:

"Enakku neenga thaan venum Ashwineyy, tharuvingala?" (You are the one I want. Will you give me?)

Ashwin jerked and took a step back in shock. Nothing would have prepared him for what she was asking. Sivaangi stayed put, hardly even breathing, her eyes boring into his hazel orbs.

"Maa, nee therinju thaan kekuriya?" He asked, still staring at her. "Naan eppidi ma...?" (Do you really know what you are asking me? How can I...)

"Naan therinju thaan kekurean Ashwineyy. Ean, ungalukku enna pidikelaya?" (I know what I am saying. Don't you like me?)

"Unnai enakku pidikkum ma, romba pidikkum! But adha vida un mela enakku romba care irukku, nee avalo important ma enakku. Oru hasty decision edututhu penthu yarum varutha pada koodathu." (I like you very much! But more than that, I care for you, you are very important to me. But we can't make a hasty decision to regret it later.)

"Ithu onnum hasty decision illai. Neenga enakku evalo special endu ungalukkey therium, and unga movie release ku piragu pesalam endu thaan ninaichean, but nadanthathu vera." (This is not a hasty decision. You know how important you are to me, and I wanted to discuss our situation with you after the release of your movie, but things just happened.)

She smiled softly, and stepped closer to him, her hand reaching for him. His loss of grip on the situation emboldened her and she took his hand in hers gently and continued:

"Intha two month separation thaan neenga enakku evalo important endu puriya vachathu. Neenga illamal naan sirikkela, sappidela, thoongela endu solla mathean. But naan siricha adutha second neenga thaan enn mind la vanthinga, ungaloda enn santhosham share pannonum endu thaan thonichu. Naan sappidura dish ellam ungalukku seiya theriyuma endu thonichu. Naan thoonga pogum pothu, neenga enn kanavu la vanthu pesuvingala endu thonichu."

(It was this two month separation that made me understand how important you were to me. I won't say that without you by my side, I could not laugh, eat or sleep. I laughed, but the next moment, I wanted to share my joy with you. I ate, but all I could think about was, if you would know how to cook the dishes I was eating. I slept well, but I would always wonder if you would come into my dreams to be with me.)

She exhaled deeply, her warm breath falling on their entwined hands:

"Ungalukku space kudukonum endu thaan naan wait panninean, and yesterday ennai reach panna amicha message ku piragu, neenga vanthu meet pannela na, naaney vanthu solli iruppean. Intha decision edukurathu mudhal, naan aayiram vathi nalla yosichean. Eppo yosichalum neenga thaan enn munnala nindinga. Ippo, oru vathi kuda yosikonum endu thonela."

(I wanted to give you some space and stayed away till you were ready to meet me. After your attempt to reach me with yesterday's message, had you not come to meet me today, I would have come to you to speak about my feelings. I took time to ponder over this and every time, you were my answer. Now, my decision is made.)

She had spoken, but then why did he feel breathless. When did she learn to talk like that? Her gaze never left his eyes, her hand never broke its hold on his hand.

"Naan sollithean, neenga yosichu sollunga." She said, before starting to walk, his hand still enclosed in hers. (I said what I had to say, now it is up to you.)

Ashwin followed her footsteps, his eyes still fixed on her. They joined Pugazh who was sitting on a stone bench, his phone in hand.

"Anney, enga poninga ivala neram-ah?" Sivanagi asked him. (Where did you go all this time?)

Pugazh looked at them, ready to tease them for leaving him on their own, but noticing Ashwin's lost look, he decided instead to tell them that he had a phone call to attend. What happened over there? There was something troubling Ashwin. Pugazh looked at Sivaangi. She, on the other hand, was smiling. Deducting that there was something going there, he quickly thought of an idea to put Ashwin at ease.

"Seri Papa, ivalo azhagana oru place la oru paathu padean, nalla irukkum." Pugazh asked her, keeping a hand on her cheek. (We have come to such a beautiful place, can you sing a song?)

"Enna paathu anney?" She asked. (Which song?)

"Ethavathu nalla song paadu, Paapa. Mappillai, ethavathu song suggest pannu da." (One nice song. Ashwin, suggest one song.)

Ashwin seemed to come out of his trance at the call and he looked at the brother-sister duo:

"Unakku enna vennumo atha paadu ma." Just as he was saying the words, Ashwin realised that the wording echoed what he had told Sivaangi earlier. (Sing whatever song you want.)

Sivaangi smiled and nodded, clearing her throat.

♪ Vennilavai Poovaai Vaippaenae
Vaanavillai Udaiyaai Thaippaenae
Unakkaaga Edhum Seivaen
Nee Enakkenna Seivaayo

Indha Oru Jenmam Podhaadhu
Eazhu Jenmam Eduthum Theeraadhu
Andha Dheivam Unai Kaaka
Dhinam Thozhuvaen Thavaraadhu

Enna Naan Kaetpaen Theriyaadhaa
Innumum En Manam Puriyaadha
Ada Raama Ival Paadu Indha Aanmai Ariyaadhaa

Ahh...

Yaedho Yaedho Yaedho Ondru Unnai Kaetpaen
Illai Illai Illai Endraal Uyir Thurappaen
Un Paadham Nadakka Naan Ennai Virippaen
Un Dhegam Muzhukka Muthathaal Padhippaen

Ullaahi Ullaahi laahi Ullaahi Ullaahi laahi
Oru Aasai Manadhukkul Podum
Adhai Mattum Nee Thandhaal Podhum... ♪

When she uttered the last word of the song, Pugazh instantly cheered for her. After a short moment, Ashwin clapped his hands, offering her a tentative smile. She thanked them both with a face splitting smile. If Pugazh noticed the changes she made in the lyrics, he did not mention it. Sivaangi was known for her forgetfulness of the lyrics or her habit of humming the tune when she did not know the lyrics.

But Ashwin noticed. Oh hell, he did.

Her focus had stayed on him through the song, her eyes burning into him. Each word was dedicated to him, her feelings laid bare at his feet. The raw passion she had for music had disappeared in front of the devotion she showed toward him. That chit of a girl was going to be the death of him.

As the aftermath of her voice and her words washed over him, Ashwin felt something stirred into him. It was not the usual admiration he always had for her voice. It was something else. Would he dare give a name to that feeling?

*****

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