Hello!

Sorry guys! So much happening in my personal life. I have not been able to sit and write with work and me personal commitments. Anyways, here is the update! Hope you all like it!

S: Appa?

Sivaangi felt a hand on her shoulder and her voice cracked as she looked up at her dad. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as she jumped up to her feet and hugged her dad.

S: Appa, naan romba periya thappu paniten. Ashwin enna vitutu poitan.
(Dad, I blew it up completely. Big time! Ashwin has left me.)

Krishnan: Ithellam pesara idam ithu illa ma. Azhaadha Sivu, paathukalaam. Vaa da, namma veetuku poi pesuvom.
(This is not the right place to discuss this. Don't cry Sivaangi. Come, let's go home and talk about it)

Tarun had informed Krishnan about Sivaangi ending the engagement and he rushed to her office. Vinay told him about Sivaangi's interest in Ashwin before he left home and he sort of guessed it already. She looked so lost that morning after arriving from the airport.

Ashwin stood near the glass window with hands in his pocket as he watched the father daughter duo walk out of the office to their car. Her father held his broken daughter as she wept uncontrollably. Ashwin clenched his jaws as he controlled the yearning to run to hold his baby girl in his arms.

She will remain the only love in his life. He could forgive her easily but will he trust her again? Will he be able to forget it? The answer was a big no. He needed time to build that trust from scratch.

Despite his efforts to break the engagement, he now realised that this was more complicated than he had imagined it to be. He had a million unanswered questions in his mind.

How could she have agreed to marry someone if she had been in love with me the whole time? What sort of person would do that? How is that being fair to me or even Tarun for that matter?

He had assumed that she liked him but that she was unaware of the deposed meaning, so he had vowed to make her realise her love and stop her wedding. But this was a big blow. He hadn't imagined in his wildest dreams that she would have listened to that vicious man who lied through his teeth about his sexuality.

Did she assume that I had someone else on my mind when I kissed her with so much longing? This is so fucked up! Sivaangi! What have you done to me! To us!

Sivaangi cried her heart out while she explained to her dad about everything that has happened between them, carefully avoiding personal moments.

K: Sivu, ippo yenna pannanum unnaku?
(What do you want to do now?)

S: Appa, ennaku ithuku apparam life la kalyanam pannanumnu iruntha, athu Ashwin ah than pannikuven. Sorry pa, naan unga ellathayum romba kashta padutheetan. Romba selfish ah behave panniten aana atha pathi ippo pesi onnum aaga porathu illa.
(Dad, if I have to get married to someone in this lifetime, it is Ashwin. I am really sorry that I have put you all through this. I have been really selfish but there is no use discussing all that now)

K: End of the day, it is your life Sivu, we don't have a say in it. We can help you, we can give our opinion on things but only you know what you want. But don't you think that you have made a lot of bad decisions in life? Yes, you have been self  absorbed to think about the consequences of agreeing to marry Tarun when you have someone else on your mind? Now, what about Tarun? He is a good guy. How are we to face his parents?

S: Appa, naan Tarun oda amma appa kita pesaren. Avungalukku puriya vaika try panaren. Tarun kitayum thirumba sorry ketkaren. Avannuku already purinjiruchu. Enga kalyanam nadantha, naanga rendu perume kashta paduvom. We won't be able to stay together for long.
(I will speak to Tarun's parents. I will make them understand the situation. I will apologise to Tarun again. He understands that if we end up together, neither of us will be happy. We won't be able to stay married for long)

Krishnan looked unsure and unhappy about everything in her life at the moment.

S: Ennala vera ethuvum panna mudiyaathu pa, sorry.
(I can't help it, I am sorry dad)

Krishnan breathed out a heavy sigh and took her hand in his.

K: Sivaangi, appa ku un mela neraya nambikai iruku. Atha odachitaatha ma. I stand by you. Go and make Ashwin better.
(Sivaangi, I trust in you and I stand by you. I hope you will do nothing to break it. Go and win your love)

Sivaangi hugged her dad and for the first time today she felt like regaining some strength to fight for what she wanted in life.

The next morning, Ashwin came into office in one of his rare, nasty moods which was a result of a completely sleep deprived night. He looked around and noticed the absence of the girl responsible for his state.

He usually picked her on his way to work but he hadn't bothered to even call her after last evening's confrontation. But he secretly hoped that she was at work waiting for him but not being able to spot her did not go well with him.

He looked at his watch as Rohit approached him.

A: It is half past ten. Where is she?

R: Who?

A: You know who?

R: No. Who are you talking about?

Rohit refused to give into his best friend's intimidating glare. He whistled and walked to the café ignoring an undoubtedly frustrated Ashwin who followed him.

A: Dai!

R: Yenna da? Yen kathura? Coffee venuma?
(What happened? Why are you shouting? Do you want a coffee too?)

He turned to the man on the other side of the counter.

R: Sathish, can we have two flat whites?

Ashwin strode out uttering profanities at his friend. Rohit smiled as he apologised to a stunned Sathish.

R: Sorry you had to witness that. Our boss is in a bad mood this morning! I will take his coffee, thanks.

Back in his cabin, Ashwin paced like a caged animal. Rohit entered and put the coffee cup on the table while he sipped his own.

A: Sivaangi yenga?
(Where is Sivaangi?)

R: Why do you care?

A: Do not test my patience. Where is she?

R: She quit.

A: WHAT!? No, she did not.

R: Why do you look shocked? Nee than vendam nu sollita la? Ava yenna aana unnaku yenna da?
(You rejected her love, now why do you look shocked? Why do you care about her?)

A: I did not reject her. I said I needed time.

R: Oh interesting!

A: I am in no mood for your sarcasm. I know my Sivaangi. She wouldn't give up on me that easily.

R: Why do you still keep calling her your Sivaangi like you own her?

A: We own each other. We need each other. We complete each other.

R: Then why did you push her away and hurt her? Not just her, you are hurting yourself too!

A: You wouldn't understand. It is love.

Rohit called Sivaangi and placed his phone on the table without Ashwin's knowledge.

R: Yenna karumamo po! Intha kandraavi love eh than vendamnu odita antha ponnu.
(What nonsense! She left you behind notwithstanding your constant torments)

A: Dai. Konnudaven unna.

R: Ashwin, I am sorry but you are acting like an ass here. You look totally clueless. You want her but you say you need time. So you want her to beg you to take her back? What are you trying to prove? She is a mere puppet in your hands right now.

A: Rohit, you really don't get it, do you?

R: Sathiyama purila da. Rendu naal minnadi, avla love panaren, eppadiyavathu ava en kuda irukura maathri sei appadinu polambuna. Unga appa sonna poi naala ava oru chinna thappu pannita, athuku ivlo periya punishment ah da?
(I swear I don't get it! Just a day ago, you called me and threw a fit about how much you love her and beseeched me to help you. Now, you are punishing her for a small misunderstanding which was a result of a lie from your father)

A: A misunderstanding? It could have easily cost us our lives! We would have been happily married had she trusted me instead of my dad. 2 years!! Avalayum kashta paduthi, ennayum kashta paduthi, ethellam yaar thappu?
(A misunderstanding? It could have easily cost us our lives! We would have been happily married had she trusted me instead of my dad. 2 years!! She put us both through this misery)

R: Ennaku nejamave unnoda logic purila Ashwin. Why are you blaming only her? Nee mattum yenna kilichannu avala thappu solara? Ava engagement aagara varaikum, vaaya thirakave illa nee. Yenga da irunthuchu intha true love? Nee solleerkalaam la?
(Ashwin, I don't understand you logic. Why are blaming only her? Why aren't you blaming yourself? What were you doing until her engagement? You could have proposed to her right? )

A: I could have if I had the confidence. I wasn't ready to lose the friend in her.

R: So by your bullshit logic, she should have risked losing you after your father told her that you are not ready to come out to the world about your sexuality. She should have risked everything in her life for you?

A: Rohit, right now there are only two things that are important to me. My career and my love. You know what my friends, family and the rest of the things in my life mean to me. Nothing comes close to my ambition to make Triump become a leader in venture philanthropy in India but the foremost thing on my mind is having Sivaangi by side as my wife until my last breath.

Rohit remained silent.

A: You know what is bothering me? I did not go and find a replacement for Sivaangi in my life but she did. I can't digest the fact that she did that even after being in love with me. I tried to win her love under the impression that she hasn't looked at me as a potential life partner. But in reality, having loved me sincerely, she had still moved on from me after whatever stupid reason she has. So if I can be easily replaced, then how do I believe that she won't change her mind in the future?

R: Dai Ashwin, ithellam romba over da. You are being very harsh on her.

A: True it sounds dark but I am sure she will accept me that way. I need her to be able to convince me that when she understands and is still willing to be part of my life where she walks in knowing that she has no way out.

R: Ashwin, thirumbavum solaren, konjam un ego va vitutu yosi. Neenga rendu perume paavam da.
(Ashwin, let go off your ego and listen to me. I feel sorry for both of you)

A: Rohit, this isn't ego! You only know a tiny fraction of how pathetic my life was in my foster home. But she knows me inside out. I am not calling it a privilege but she was the only one I could bring myself to open up to and she knows that too. Do you find it hard to accept that it is difficult to digest that she chose to believe my father instead of me after all this? I really want to trust her but I have lost it all. She needs to work hard to make me believe in her.

R: And how is she supposed to understand your expectations?

A: Athaan phone la avaluku call panni vachiruke la? Avalluku ellame ketrukum.
(You have her on the call right now, don't you? She would heard all of it by now.)

Rohit's eye widen at being caught red handed by his friend. He discreetly hung up on Sivaangi and pretended that he did not understand what Ashwin meant.

A: Give me your phone.

He snatched it and dialled her number only to hear the phone ring behind him. He turned around to find a composed Sivaangi looking at ease. Rohit was decent enough to leave the room to give them privacy.

S: Hi Ashwin!

Ashwin lifted his chin with a scornful look and turned his head the other way making her step closer to him. She held him by his chin making him meet her gaze.

S: Enna thedunaya?
(Were you looking for me?)

A: Illa

S: Yen poi solara? I was right outside the room.
(Why are you lying? I was right outside the room.)

A: Apparam yen ketkara?
(Then why question me when you already know the answer?)

He pushed her hand and tried to move but she stopped him by holding his biceps.

S: Ashwin, look at me.

He did and his eyes were accusing her of causing hurt to his heart.

S: I love you. And I will make you say that to me.

He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows like challenging her. She moved so close to him that their bodies were touching, and she lifted her palm and ran a knuckle down his cheek.

S: Baby, when you discover a particular side of me, you won't be able to say no to me.

A: We will see that.

S: You will, my love. Really soon.

She stood up on her toes, placing her hands around his neck and kissed him tender. He automatically responded to the kiss.

S: I want you. I want us. I don't want it any other way. I want this life with you.

A: It was only you but you did not see it, did you?

She noticed that her words were slowly breaking him to an extent. She understood that he needed to be constantly reassured and that it wasn't going to be an easy job but she was ready for the fight. This wasn't a choice, it was fate. They needed each other to survive.

Noticing that he felt disappointed when she started to move away, she hugged him again laying her head on his chest.

S: Ashwin, please trust me.

A: I wish I can. I really do!

It was her turn to be disappointed but she hid her emotions and looked up at him with a big smile on her pretty face.

S: Actually I know that you trust me. I will make you accept that. Now, come on, grab your stuff, we are late for our meeting. I will wait for you in the car.

She pecked his lips one last time and strolled towards the door. She could feel his eyes on her until she exited the room. A second later, she peaked in and called him out.

S: Ashwin, I will come and sweep you off your feet. I promise.

He smiled at her confidence.

I can't wait for that to happen.

Ashwin sat on the floor skipping channels on the television, his bowl of noodles untouched. He had ordered a takeaway when he got back home from the meeting but it looked unappetising to him that he couldn't even get himself to take a bite. He was feeling numb and mentally exhausted. He switched his phone off and threw it carelessly on the couch so that he wouldn't given in to the temptation to call Sivaangi.

He heard the doorbell ring nonstop which he ignored for a good few minutes. He cursed switching off the phone as he couldn't answer the doorbell to look at who was tirelessly knocking the door. He finally pushed himself off the floor to answer the door.

His heart leapt as he saw the pretty doll at his doorstep with packed bags.

A: Sivaangi?

S: Hi baby!

A: What are you doing here?

S: Help me with the bags.

Ashwin refused to move.

A: Yen vantha?
(Why are you here?)

S: Enna veeta vitu thoratheetaanga.
(My parents asked me leave the house)

A: Unna?
(You?)

He scowled at her happy face when she said that!

S: Yeah.

He gave her a dirty stare at her grinning happily.

A: Seri, athuku inga yen vantha?
(Alright, why are you here?)

S: Where else will I go? Unnaala than naan Tarun vendaamnu sonnen, so athunaala than veeta vitutu poga solleetaanga. Unkita than ah vara mudiyum.
(Where else will I go? I broke up with Tarun because of you and that is why they sent me out of the house so where else will I go? You are my fall back option)

He heard the car honk only to see Krishnan waving from the car.

Krishnan: Hello Ashwin.

A: Hello uncle. Ulla vaanga.
(Hello uncle, please come inside)

Krishnan: Some other time. You guys carry on. I will call you later. Bye!

As his car disappeared from sight, he regarded her happy face.

A: Do I look like a fool to believe in your drama?

S: What drama? Moveee! How long can I stand outside?

She pushed Ashwin and walked into the house.

A: Who will carry your bags?

S: You?

Ashwin pinched his nose and controlled his temper. He took her bags in and shut the door behind him. He saw her inspecting the bowl of noodles.

S: This isn't edible. Let me fix you a meal.

A: Thevai illa. I am not hungry.
(I don't want anything, I am not hungry)

S: But I am. And you love my cooking so I know that you will eat whatever I make. But let me change into something comfortable first. Can you help me carry the bags to my room?

She kept talking as she started walking towards his room.

A: That is my room. You can stay in the guest room.

S: I am not a guest, I am the owner.

Ashwin rolled his eyes.

A: Don't you think that it belongs to my father? Sridhar is the owner.

She moved to clutch his shirt and pulled him towards her and fidgeted with his buttons as she spoke with pride in her voice.

S: He did not. I know why you live in this house and not in that mansion with your dad. Every penny that went into constructing this house came from your pocket. Your hard earned money!

He was happy that she was proud of him. He wanted this!

S: Also, I own the owner, so this house is mine too.

She kissed his cheek making his heart flutter with joy.

A: How can it all change overnight Sivaangi? Yesterday, you were still engaged to Tarun. And today you are standing in my house telling me that you own me.

S: It has always been you, only you. I know I have made some big blunders. But I am glad you have given me this chance to change it.

A: Don't be hurt if I am not the same Ashwin.

S: Even if I am hurt, I am here to stay.

Sivaangi hopped off to make a meal while he stood there with a foolish grin on his face. He was delighted to have her in his house.

How was it? I will try my best to update in a couple of days. Atleast a short update xoxo