Sorry guys! I had a long week. Work, laziness, flu! Lots of excuses. But here is the next update! I haven't proofread it so I really hope it isn't bad! I promise to post another update on Tuesday

R: Sivaangi!

Sivaangi stopped in her tracks and shut her eyes. She was hoping to avoid meeting Rohit today. She turned around to see Rohit jogging towards her. She wasn't in the mood for his interrogation about Ashwin.

Most importantly, there was an unknown emotion in her heart as she looked up into Rohit's eyes. She was consumed by guilt lately but this is an emotion that cannot be named.

R: Hi Sivaangi!

S: Hi.

R: How was the party last night?

S: Good.

R: Eppo vantha?
(When did you come back?)

S: This morning.

R: I want to talk to yo..

S: Rohit, I need to send out some emails. How about we speak during the break? Okay? Bye!

Without waiting for his answer, she tried to walk away from Rohit only to be stopped again, with him holding her by her elbow.

R: Sivaangi?

She knew he was going to talk about Ashwin. She wondered if he already knew about the kiss.

R: Why did you leave Bangalore without informing Ashwin?

So he doesn't know about last night. Not yet!

S: Athu..

She wasn't prepared to be drilled by Rohit. She let out a long, loud breath.

S: Rohit, thappa nenachukaathe. Ennaku ippo konjam thanniya irukanum. Naan unkita neraya pesanum aana ippo illa. Namma apparama pesalaam ah?
(Rohit, please don't mistake me. I need some time alone. I have so much to discuss with you but this isn't the right time. Maybe later?)

Rohit watched the young woman looking sad and distressed. He obviously mistook Ashwin for being the reason behind the deep emotional pain and cursed his friend. He wrapped his arm around her slouched shoulders to give her a comforting side hug.

R: Naan Ashwin alavukku unnaku close friend illa than, aana enna un anna ah nenachuko. Enna venumo enkita vanthu kellu Sivaangi. Yethuva irunthaalum, naan unnaku kandipa help pannuven. Promise.
(I am not as close as Ashwin is to you. But consider me a brother and come to me when you need help. I will do whatever is needed to make you feel better. I give you my word.)

S: Thanks Rohit. I will keep that in mind. But right now, not even Ashwin can help me. I need time to sort out my life. It is in my hands.

Rohit realised that his friend had messed it up big time. The problem looked bigger than he imagined it.

R: Okay. Marupadiyum solaren. I will be there for you no matter what. I am going to come and check on you during the lunch break.

Sivaangi's lips quivered as she nodded her head and she quickly turned on her heel, moving away from Rohit who stood rooted to the spot watching her almost run from him.

Sivaangi couldn't stop herself from calling Manish to know what Ashwin was doing. Her mind was worried for him but she was clueless about who to get in touch with to find out and she suddenly remembered that Manish stayed with him the previous night.

Manish: Hello!

S: Hello Manish, naan Sivaangi pesaren. Ashwin yenga?
( Hello Manish, this is Sivaangi. Where is Ashwin?)

M: Hey hi! He must be in the room. I left the hotel at 8.30 am itself. He was still sleeping when I left. Did you try calling him?

S: Oh! I am not at the hotel, I had to take an early morning flight back home. I tried calling him but his phone wasn't reachable.

She lied so he won't doubt her intentions. She had no idea what to expect if she called him. She was actually upset that he hadn't noticed her missing.

Or did he notice it and decided to let it go? Is that all I am to him?

M: Yenna aachu Sivaangi? Yethavathu problem ah? Do you want me to call him or drive to the hotel to check on him?
( What happened? Is something wrong? Do you want me to call him or drive to the hotel to check on him?)

S: No, it's okay. I will call him again.

M: Okay, let me know if you need me to check on him.

S: Sure thanks, bye.

Rohit tried calling Ashwin for the nth time but he wasn't reachable. He hoped that he was heading back to Chennai.

He watched Sivaangi in the meeting room fake a smile as Vaishali shared news about the success of the team's presentation with the rest of the team members.

I have no idea how I can make these two feel better but I really have to step in and help them sort out this mess. And Tarun! He is a good guy. Ashwin shouldn't cause any trouble in their marriage.

He walked to the window, and looked outside at the grey skies, lost in thoughts about how to help his friends. He then realised that he could call the hotel to find out if Ashwin had checked out. As he rang the hotel, he saw Sridhar walk out of the elevators. The smug look on the man's face wasn't good news.

He was going to cut the call when he heard a voice on the other end. His eyes stayed on Ashwin's dad as he spoke to the hotel's receptionist on the phone and found out that Ashwin had checked out four hours ago.

He was glad with the piece of information and walked towards Sridhar.

R: Uncle. How are you this morning? What brings you into our building?

Sridhar: This is part of my office too. I am the boss!

R: Yes SIR!

Sridhar: Stop it!

R: Uncle, this is the part of your office that you chose to ignore. There must be something important if you have decided to surprise us by paying a visit?

Sridhar: Ashwin yenga?
(Where is my son?)

R: He hasn't returned from Bangalore.

Sridhar: Sivaangi inga iruka? Last night avan kuda than ah iruntha iva.
(Sivaangi is here. How is he not here when she was with him last night?)

His voice was full of menace and disgust as he spit out the fact that she was with his son the previous night. Sridhar stood near the glass window with his eyes fixed on Sivaangi.

R: Uncle, is something wrong?

Sridhar: That chit of a girl is ruining my plans.

R: What? Who are you talking about?

Sridhar: Who else! Sivaangi! I think Ashwin is interested in her.

R: And what is wrong with that?

Sridhar's gaze moved from Sivaangi to Rohit.

Sridhar: Ashwin is my only son. I have plans for his future. He is destined for bigger things in life. He is meant to be married into royalty. Swapna's mum is a descendant of a former Indian prince. My son is a fool to ignore her. Do you know what he has done last night? He has insulted her by kissing Sivaangi at the party. Luckily, Rajan's family understands that women like her are just a phase in our lifestyle.

Rohit felt revolted listening to the words coming out of this vicious man's mouth.

Rajan understands? Wow, no shame whatsoever! Thank god I am not born into a so called rich lifestyle.

Sridhar: I thought I had managed to keep her out of his life. But she keeps crawling back in like a bloodsucking parasite. I was hoping that her engagement will keep her out of Ashwin's life. Fking slag! She has a fiancé and needs my son too. I was wrong about her, she isn't one of these regular, boring nice girls. She is a gold digger.

R: uncle, Sivaangi isn't interested in your son. Leave her alone.

Sridhar: You do not know her. She loves Ashwin. I had to come up with a story to make her quit her job but I don't know why she is still here.

Rohit gritted his teeth and fought the urge to punch his face. But he had to pretend to be calm to know all about his plans. Sridhar did not realise that he was giving away too much information to an enemy.

Sridhar: Let me come straight to the point. I have convinced her that Ashwin won't marry her. And that there is someone else in his life but he cannot disclose it to the world.

R: Yenna solareenga?
(What does that even mean?)

Sridhar: I have told her that Ashwin doesn't want to disclose the truth about his personal life to the world.

R: Sivaangi is no fool to believe such a thing about Ashwin. Who will believe that an extrovert like Ashwin feels ashamed to reveal the identify of his girlfriend to the world.

Sridhar: She does believe the lie I told her.

Rohit was confused.

Sridhar: I have told her that her best friend would kill himself rather than 'coming out' to the world.

R: WTF!!!! You did not do that?!!

His banged his fist on the desk as he listened to the venomous man scheming this whole thing. He was purely evil!

Sridhar: I had no choice. Any other excuse would have made her run straight to Ashwin to clarify. His life and a sensitive problem like this is what made her stay as a friend for the last year.

R: A year? She has loved Ashwin for over a year now?

She loves Ashwin and not Tarun. Oh god! That kiss last night must have devastated her.

Rohit was disgusted with this pathetic excuse of a man who lied about his son's sexuality.

Sridhar: I want you to keep an eye on her and make sure she stays away from my son.

R: Why would I do that?

Sridhar: Remember who paid for your masters! You will be grateful to me.

Rohit gave Sridhar a dirty look as he walked towards the door with a smug look on his face.

R: I can't really help you. How can I make her stay away from him?

Sridhar stood with his hand on the door knob. He answered without looking at him.

Sridhar: Unnala mattum than mudiyum
(You are the only one who can do it)

R: Yeppadi?
(How?)

Sridhar turned his face and said in a spiteful voice.

Sridhar: Because I have told her that you are Ashwin's boyfriend!

Rohit stood glued to the spot as he felt completely sickened and baffled beyond his wildest imagination at the lengths that this wicked man would go, to ruin his only son's life.

Later that evening, Tarun called Sivaangi to inform that he was waiting outside her workplace to pick her up. He was surprised when she agreed to meet him without any objections.

That is a first! She accepted to go home with me, without creating a scene? I guess she must have given it all a thought. I hope she has realised her mistake.

After what happened in the morning, he took the rest of the day off. With a lot of pondering, he decided he will sweet talk his way to win her back. He did not like the idea of being rejected by her and it hurt his ego. So he decided to apologise and cajole her into agreeing for the marriage and then, she will have no choice but to move to America with him, even if it was after a few months.

Little did he know that she wanted to use the opportunity to end the engagement. She gathered her stuff and walked out of the building. She saw him leaning on his car and he waved a hi at her.

She took deliberate steps towards his car, contemplating on how to break it off with him, then and there! She wouldn't want a scene here but she wasn't interested in getting in the car with him giving him hopes about making the relationship work.

Suddenly, her fiancé was a complete stranger! The ring in her finger felt heavy. More like a hand around her neck, strangling her. She was suffocated in this relationship.

There was no guilt but she felt weird and she wondered how she had managed to get herself engaged to him, she racked her brain to find out the reason she thought she loved him.

She couldn't recall even a single happy memory with this man in the last six months. Not that he was a bad person but she wanted to erase the chapter of Tarun from her life so she has conveniently forgotten all of it. She felt like an unprincipled woman but she did not care. She believed that if something doesn't work, she shouldn't force herself into that.

She concluded that he had obviously impressed her with his ways and that is why she said yes to the proposal but now all that mattered was the fact that Tarun wasn't her Ashwin. So there is no point dragging this any longer.

T: Hey babe! First of all, I am sorry, I was a bit of a daft this morning.

S: A bit?

He ignored her throwing shade at his attitude.

T: Wait, I got something for you.

He grabbed something from the front passenger seat. It was a red rose bouquet.

Seriously? Do I look like an idiot to accept these flowers and forgive his chauvinistic attitude?? Dream on pig!

She furrowed her brows as he held out the flowers for her.

S: Tarun, can you put that aside? We need to talk.

T: Babe, please listen to me.

S: No, you listen to me. I am sorry but I don't think this is going to work. I thought I liked you but I have realised that we are not compatible. We wont last even if we get married. So let us spare the hassle and part as friends?

Tarun was shocked and he recovered to ask the one question on his mind for the last week.

T: Is this because of Ashwin?

Sivaangi rubbed her forehead as she huffed out her frustration.

Why is he making it difficult!

Her inner voice started the usual confusion.

S's MV: Don't do this. You will be a social outcast. Your parents will be ashamed of you.

S: My parents will understand. Tarun isn't right for me.

S's MV: So you are going to get married to Ashwin?

S: Marriage is not the purpose of my life. I can stay single as long as I want. If I get over Ashwin, I will find someone to marry. If I don't, I will stay single. No one can question my decision. It is my life.

S's MV: You will end up feeling lonely later in life.

S: My problem, not yours.

S: Tarun, you are a good man. But of late, you are losing respect in my eyes. Do you think we would be happy together after this?

T: You haven't answered my question. Is it Ashwin?

S: No, the problem is you. Me. Us.

Tarun, I know I won't be happy being married to you. You are not in my dreams anymore. I can't picture myself having a happily ever after with you. I don't see myself planning a happy home and family with you.

T: What about me? Ennaku enna venumnu naan yosikanum la.
(What about me? I have my likes and dislikes right?)

S: Unnaku venum ingrathukaaga namma kalyanam panna mudiyathu Tarun. Enna force panna mudiyaathu.
(We can't get married just because you wish to. You can't force me.)

T: The society will look at you as a selfish, characterless woman if you break up with me.

Sivaangi smiled.

S: You are making it worse.

T: Sweety, I am not. I am just looking out for you.

S: Funny you say that and then you yourself abuse me.

T: Did you just accuse me of abusing you?

Tarun stopped talking and glowered at someone behind her shoulder.

Ashwin!

She felt his presence. She did not have to turn around to confirm that it was him. Only he could make her feel weak on her knees, his closeness sent tingles down her spine.

She felt his nose nuzzle in her hair as she felt herself automatically lean into his chest and she felt at home as he slid his big hands up to rub her arm and it travelled down to hold her waist, pulling her closer to his body. She relaxed as she felt safe while he held her in place. She was absolutely elated whenever his hands touched her.

Tarun was taken aback by Ashwin's sudden display of PDA which looked like marking his territory.

She could have sworn that she felt his lips on her her hair before he bent down to whisper in her ear.

A: Hi sweetheart.

The hot breath on her ears reminded her of the feel of his lips on hers making her want to close her eyes and moan.

S: Huh?

A: I said hi.

S: Hmm?

A: Yenna aachu ma? Avan unna tholla padutharaan ah?
(What is wrong? Is he bothering you?)

S: No, he isn't. We are just talking.

A: You want me to give you two some privacy?

S: NO! Please stay.

Ashwin's eyes finally met Tarun's and he looked like an arrogant man showing off his victory. Tarun wasn't ready to accept defeat even after shamelessly witnessing the exchange between the two which made him feel like an outsider.

T: Ashwin, I need to talk to my fiancé alone. We have so much to discuss about our forthcoming wedding. We have less than two weeks. And I would really appreciate if you have the decency to keep your dirty hands off her.

Sivaangi's eyes flashed anger as she moved from Ashwin and pointed a finger at Tarun.

S: Tarun! Stop it!

T: Sivaangi, that's enough. Not another word. I am talking to your friend who looks like he needs a lesson on manners.

S: TARUN! No more. Not..

Ashwin held her wrist and shook his head asking her to stop talking so he could take care of this swine.

A: Sivaangi ma, give me a minute with Tarun.

She walked towards their office entrance without sparing Tarun another look. Ashwin's 6 feet muscular frame towered over Tarun and he sneered down his nose at Tarun.

A: Stay away from her.

Tarun's lips drew back in a snarl as he growled at Ashwin.

T: That is my to be wife you are talking about. You stay away from her.

Ashwin's face broke into a smile.

A: Tarun! When you are leaving to San Francisco?

T: What? How do you know?

Ashwin stayed silent.

T: YOU!!!

How was it?

It is a short update but I hope I haven't disappointed you guys. See you all with another update on Tuesday xxx