Sivaangi was a lot chattier than usual this morning while Ashwin was quiet which was every unusual.

S: Ashwin, namma meeting nalaikku afternoon thaan ah? Naama yen innike poganum? I have already finished my presentation. I would love to spend another night here. Rohit and Vaishali are the only two who needs to be at the conference today so why don't we just camp here and relax until tomorrow?
(Ashwin, our meeting is tomorrow noon right? Why do we have to go today? I have already finished my presentation. I would love to spend another night here. Rohit and Vaishali are the only two who needs to be at the meeting today, so why don't we just camp here and relax until tomorrow?)

Relax? He is your friend! You are not honeymooning with your husband!

She muted the voice in her head and decided to listen to her heart.

The sinful cravings of my little heart!

Sivaangi craved for more than the physical connection, she yearned to know every inch of him. She wanted a friend in a husband and who better than this man who happened to be her best friend. But things weren't that simple.

She had managed to reluctantly move back into her sleeping bag early this morning before he woke up but she felt a guilty pleasure waking up next to him, feeling cocooned by his solid, masculine chest and broad shoulders. She was moulded to the front of his warm body and loved the feel of how his forearm held her like he owned her. And now for the first time in the years she has known him for, she realised that she was physically attracted to him.

She felt like a two timer wanting to experience the feeling of warmth as she snuggled in the comfort of his arms yet again. Greed was clouding her head. The voice in her head warned her that she was highly delusional. Being in love with someone who is never going to be available was stupid but she was beyond worrying about it at this point.

She felt guilty switching off her phone after sending a text to Tarun saying that she forgot her power bank at home and that she will call him when she was back in the car to charge her phone.

S: Ashwin, okay va unnaku?
(Ashwin, is that okay with you?)

A: Hmm.

S: Ashwin? Look at me, are you okay?  Yen kaalaila irunthu quiet ah iruka?
(Ashwin? Look at me, are you okay? You have been too quiet all morning.)

Ashwin just nodded his head and was busy stuffing the sleeping bags. He was clearly sulking. If there was one person who has witnessed this side of Ashwin, it was her. Not many people knew that he was capable of having mood swings but she has watched his frequent wavering extreme moods.

Ashwin is used to being surrounded by lots of people, they adore him, they love him, all for their own reasons. But he is very good at judging them. They were mostly parasitic souls. Some of them loved his personality, some his looks and most of them loved his money. He had a handful of true friends he trusted and believed in. Sivaangi topped the list.

It wasn't love at first sight. Initially, she was just another pretty girl who came to work for him. But he fell head over heels in love with her as each day passed.

A good person, that is what she is and that is all that mattered to him. His mind sought that simplicity. He started noticing the simple girl who he understood was also a strong, independent woman. She never tried to impress anyone. She was just herself with no hidden intentions towards anything or anyone. That simplicity did not make her unambitious. She worked really hard towards what she considered as giving to the society. She had so many ideas about contributing to the world for the good.

Ashwin fell in love with her easy going and uncomplicated persona. She is what he needed after all the drama in his life.

She filled the void his mum had left. It felt like spending his time with someone who gave him the same importance that he gave them. She was his go-to person in life, which he has never wanted ever before. He has never been dependent on anyone so it was very special.

The same could be said about Sivaangi, she always went to him straight when she was happy or sad. He strongly believed that she loved him too and so, he was over the moon when she took him shopping to choose an engagement ring. He had naturally assumed that she was hinting on wanting a proposal. But the biggest shock came when she gave him her engagement invite after the shopping.

Ashwin sighed as he looked at their entwined hands. He knew he had every intention of holding those soft hands until his last breath. He deserved her. Even if it's late, he was going to take what was his. Such a villainous thing to say! He wasn't usually this dark and twisted but there was demon inside him that took over when needed.

Sivaangi looked at this disturbed soul distracting himself with unwanted packing when she knew that he won't change his mind about camping that night when she has already asked him. He has never denied her anything. She knew that there was only one thing that could bother him.

She took his hands in hers making him stop working on it. He heaved a deep sigh and slumped his back as he sat down from his kneeling position.

S: Ashwin, can you please speak up?

Sivaangi had learnt over the last couple of years that there was a complex mind inside the perfect, happy face of this handsome man and that she had to nag him to open up.

S: Unga appa kupitaangala?
(Did you get a call from your dad?)

A: Avaru ennaku appa illa.
(I don't consider him as my dad)

S: Seri okay. But he is the only living family you have now. Appa nu accept pannita, intha kovam unna disturb pannaathu.
(Fine. But he is the only living family you have got. If you come to terms with the fact that he is your dad, this anger wouldn't affect you this badly)

A: But he is technically not my dad.

S: Well, technically, he is. He is your biological father.

Ashwin scowled at that and looked into the distance.

A: You are right, the father who ignored my very existence until I was 16.

Ashwin grew up with his mum and had never once met his dad until he was 16. His mum had a child out of wedlock and his dad was cowardly to accept it. He was a struggling businessman who married another woman for the sake of his business, society and money.

But Ashwin's mum made sure that he had the best childhood. His mum was an amazing woman who gave him all that a child could ask for. She was a fashion designer and so they were very self sufficient without anyone's financial support. She made a beautiful boy out of her child with good values and manners instilled in him.

She made up for the absence of a father figure in his life but the biggest blow came when she died in an accident. Ashwin was passed on to foster care having lost the only living family member.

Two years of moving from one home to another, he was completely broken. It was a blessing that he was still sane after all that trauma. Sridhar finally managed to adopt his own biological son in the name of fostering.

Ashwin was clueless about his father's identity until he turned 18. He lost all the respect for the man who was a spineless swine who couldn't reveal to the world that he had a son, and instead he showed him off as the adopted son.

A: He wants me to stay at his friend, Rajan's farmhouse in Bangalore this weekend. Of course I refused but he says he has given word and it has got to do something with the recent acquisition we made. But Mr Rajan's daughter is very clingy and I have a bad feeling about this whole thing.

Sivaangi was totally confused.

Is Sridhar trying to hook Ashwin up with that girl?

A: He clearly knows I am not interested in these girls. Damn! I hate feeling obliged to make that man happy.

Sivaangi had a bewildered look on her face.

I really wish I can get a clear picture of what is happening between Ashwin and his dad.

S: Ashwin, you should go. I can fly back home with the rest of them.

A: NO! Please stay with me.

S: Ashwin, I can't. This is your social circle. I am sure your dad won't be happy if you took me to his friend's house. Also, I have other plans with Tarun and his family this weekend.

Mentioning that fool's name was the final straw. Ashwin had made up his mind. They were staying the weekend.

There is no way I am letting you spend the weekend with that sleazebag.

Moreover, staying and finding out details about this shady merger will be beneficial in terms of his work but yes, most importantly, he can keep her away from that creep.

Creep? Him? You are the creep here, stealing another man's fiancée.

He wanted to punch the voice in his head. He did not feel guilty about his feelings towards her. He has been in her life longer, and believed that there was nothing wrong in changing her mind if it did not hurt her.

A: We will decide later. Seri vaa. Ennaku pasikuthu. Intha edathula sapida ethavathu kidaikumaanu paakalaam. Unnaku pasikalayaa ma?
(We will decide later. I am starving, let us go check if we can grab some food. Aren't you hungry?)

S: Not really. But let us go. Athuku apparam hike panalaama? I found this beautiful mountain trail in the woods last night.
(Not really. But let us go. Shall we go hiking after brunch? I found this beautiful mountain trail in the woods last night)

She looked at him with puppy eyes, like pleading him to say yes. He couldn't stop smiling at her cute self and before he could stop himself, his hands automatically pulled her to him, making her crash into his chest.

A: Unna maara cute aana oru human illa.
(You are the cutest thing ever)

S: I know.

She smiled and winked at him as he watched her in a hypnotic state. He looked into the beautiful angel's eyes, the love in his eyes reflecting in hers and their hearts beating at the same rate. He moved his hand to stroke her cheek making her part her lips and close her eyes for an impending kiss which was interrupted by the sounds of a screeching car.

He closed his eyes and cursed his luck. He looked at her upset face and pretended to remove the non-existent dust from her cheeks and let go off her.

A: You have got something on your face.

S: Huh?

A: Why don't you wait here while I go and grab the car keys.

Sivaangi's unsaid emotions poured out through her tears. For a second, she had believed that he was going to kiss her. She was so sure until he decided to walk away like nothing had happened.

Is he truly incapable of loving me? Is he not affected by my presence?

That moment, she knew that he completely owned her heart but it hurt her deeply to know that she might never own his. His silence and indifference over these emotions was starting to feel like a rope around her neck threatening to strangle her. She knew that she was going to burst out soon.

Sivaangi tried to sound cheerful as they had brunch and was later joined on their trail by another couple, Ajay and Varshini whose car was the reason for stopping their almost kiss. The couple commented on how beautiful they looked together to which Ashwin smiled and a distant Sivaangi said thanks instead of clearing the air for mistaking them to be a couple.

Ashwin was mildly surprised but was secretly happy that she was showing signs of him affecting her. He was extra careful and wanted her to break her engagement before proposing to her. He did not like the idea of proposing to her and making him the third person in a relationship branded to be the reason for the breakup with her fiancé.

It was a balmy evening and the day ended with a lot of fun conversations, eating alfresco with a campfire and a meal cooked in the fire. Sivaangi laid her head on Ashwin's shoulder, wrapping her arm around his biceps and sipping the last of her wine.

A: Thookam varuthaa ma?
(Are you sleepy my dear?)

S: Konjam. Aana ippo thoonga poga vendam. I am having good fun.
(Yes, a tiny bit sleepy but I would like to stay a little longer. I am having good fun)

Her eyes closed as she said that and he kissed her hair.

Varshini captured the moment on her phone.

Varshini: You guys look so good together. I am not jealous but I watched you two the whole day. It was magical, like out of a fairy tale. Not just because she is pretty and you are handsome, but your synchronised thoughts and activities, it is complementing each other. The word I am looking for is.. Perfect!

Ajay: Not jealous? Really?

Varshini: OKAY! A tiny bit jealous.

Varshini glared at her husband making Ashwin laugh.

Ajay: Dude! She is going to expect all this from me! You are bad influence!

Varshini pinched her husband asking him to stop the teasing.

Ajay: So when is the big day?

A: What?

Ajay: I see the rock on her finger, so when are you guys getting married?

Ashwin gritted his teeth at the mention of the engagement ring. If only he could be transparent about the complicated relationship!

A: Soon!

Varshini: Don't forget to invite us. I would love to see you two in wedding attires.

Ashwin laughed at how she hasn't stopped telling them that they were good looking. Sivaangi was fast asleep and Ashwin made her comfortable on his lap as he carried on chatting with Ajay and Varshini.

It was past midnight when they moved into the tent. She woke up as she felt her shoes being taken off.

S: Ashwin? Time yenna?
(Ashwin, what's the time now?)

A: 12.45. Drink this water and go back to sleep.

He handed her a bottle knowing that she was probably feeling light headed from her drinking. She drank the whole bottle of water and noticed that she was lying in Ashwin's sleeping bag.

S: Ithu un sleeping bag thaan ah? I will get mine out.
(This is your sleeping bag right? I will get mine out.)

A: Ethuku? Eppadiyum night la enkita thaan varuva.
(What for? You will anyways move into mine in the middle of the night)

S: What do you mean?

A: You were in my sleeping bag last night.

Silence.

A: Hmm?

He looked at her straight in her eye, awaiting a reply. He wasn't confronting her but he wanted her to understand her own feelings about him.

S: Ashwin, I am sorry. I don't know what made me do that. I felt lonely when I woke up to a nightmare. I wanted to be close to you. I know it was inappropriate to crawl into a man's bed in the middle of the night but your proximity was the only thing that could helped me calm at that point.

You sound miserable! He is not going to buy your pathetic reasoning. Try harder.

A: My proximity is calming you?

Woman, are you fking clueless? This proximity is dangerous. You are testing my control.

S: Yes, I feel peaceful and powerful when I am with you.

Her mind voice was screaming at her.

I think you are drunk. Stop talking. You are digging yourself a hole! I am repeating one last time. You are engaged to another man. You are flirting with this man here who is unavailable. Don't make him stop being friends with you. This proximity isn't peaceful. You are drowning in it and you will never be able to come up for air.

S: I am really sorry. It was highly inappropriate.

A: Sivaangi, it is fine. Don't explain yourself. You are my best friend, I will always be there for you.

She felt like he threw a bucket of cold water on her dreams.

Friend? Really?

Their thoughts were synchronised.

She hated being confused. She knew that the day was not far before she asked him openly about how he felt about her.

He had his arm out for her to lie on the crook of his shoulders. As she stretched next to him, she felt the familiarity that she has never felt with anyone else. He turned around and looked at her lying there with her eyes open.

A: You kissed me.

It wasn't a question, it was a statement. He was awake. She felt ashamed of being caught red handed. Most importantly she was worried about offending him.

She opened her mouth to answer while he silenced her with a finger.

A: Don't say anything. Sleep.

Wrapping his free arm around her waist, he moved closer and she felt his hot breath on the sides of her face.

Dear God! I need him. All of him. Inside me, around me. Please end this torture.

The feel was deliciously sinister and she was getting sucked into the sensation. She so wished that she could un-fall in love with this man. It is going to be a downright rejection and she still wanted nothing but this trance like state, the feeling of being with him. Only him!

How was it?

Sorry, it took longer to post this. I have been a little sick after my holiday and I couldn't find time to sit down to finish the update. Hope this isn't disappointing.

For those who are interested in my other works, please check out my new OS Falling out.

https://www.wattpad.com/1125896468-ashaangi-oneshots-falling-out

Thanks for waiting and love your comments x