Across Time

4. a stolen moment (part one)

2028, banglore

"Answer me." Sivaangi kept her eyes fixed on her phone screen, pointedly swiping through Facebook. "Answer me nu sonna, di." She ignored the command until her phone was snatched away. She looked up, annoyed. "For the last time Raghav, I'm not telling you how much this saree was. I don't know why you care so much." "I care because you're always buying useless, expensive things we can't afford!" "We are going to the Filmare awards, and I'm presenting an award. Do you want me to wear a 100 rupee polyester saree?! Besides, it's money I earned. Eppadi spend pannanu na decide pandren." "Oh, periya aalu aakkum? Don't forget who got you those singing auditions when you were nothing." She groaned, pressing her head into the backseat. She was so tired of these pointless arguments.

Four long years ago Raghav had been a fresh-faced music director, giddy off the success of his debut album. Her parents had worked with him on an event, and were impressed by his creativity and dedication. He approached Sivaangi's family with a marriage proposal after seeing her sing and she had agreed naively without much thought. She had imagined them to be a musical fit like her parents, or GV Prakash and Saindhavi. Instead she had received the opposite. All of his albums after his debut had flopped, leaving him with sparse, low-end offers. His pride stopped him for accepting such work, and he was mostly jobless laying around at home or begging top producers to give him a chance. Sivaangi first tried to get him to do the work he was offered, but his attitude only got worse. She couldn't help someone who refused to be helped. With him being perennially unemployed; their monthly expenses, loans, savings, everything was paid for by Sivaangi. She worked tirelessly to support them. But he was a macho man, always projecting an image of endless wealth and importance. Behind the scenes he was a broken, wasteful man.

The resentment between the couple had gotten to an unbearable point. She has no idea what to do. It wasn't like things had started well for her to think of a path back to happiness. There has always only been fighting and distance. She tried to to talk to family about it, but how would her mother understand? Her father had always been so kind and understanding. Two things Raghav knew nothing about. "Reach pannitom," their driver announced with no emotion, he was more than accustomed to their bitter arguments. They quickly stepped out, putting on fake smiles for the cameras and their acquaintances in the industry. After a bit of small talk in the reception area, Sivaangi was pulled away by a worker. "Ma'am you're due to present in thirty minutes. VIP lounge la wait panndringla?" "Sure, that's fine with me," she replied. Anywhere away from Raghav was fine with her.

She sat on a plush lounge chair, trying to forget about the fight with her husband when a voice interrupted her thoughts. "Sivaangi Raghavan, correct? My co-presenter for the best lyricist award?" She smiled, standing up. It was none other than Ashwin Kumar, total A-list actor. "No please, sit, it's my honour," he said shaking her hand warmly. She had seen him in several movies of course, but it was nothing compared to him in real life. He was...gorgeous. Tall and built with a picture perfect smile. She felt her stomach flip like a schoolgirl. She chided herself for the silly reaction as she pulled her hand back. "Nice to finally meet you Mr. Ashwin Kumar! Or Mr. shining star as everyone calls you?"

"Aiyo please, Ashwin is fine. Neenga eppadi irrukinga Sivaangi? Namba ivlo naal engayum meet pannama irrunthuthu shock thaan. Aana unga singing ennaku avlo puddikum. What a voice." She felt herself brush. "Thanks, actually naanthan ungaloda periya fan, Ashwin. Ippo thaan Vetri Kodi paathen, loved it! And the charity work you do is outstanding. Especially the schools you have built in villages." "Aiyo yenga ithukkla yethuku appreciation? Nine years la earn pannathu vachu ennaku mudinchuthu pandren." He paused. "But wow, almost a decade in the industry. I feel old," he said with a laugh. "But you still look good!" She said without thinking, feeling her cheeks burn.

"As in, as in you don't look old," she stammered. He laughed. "Thank you. All natural." There was a sudden lull in the conversation, and Sivaangi could not stand awkward silences. "Approm... neenga singlea, illa committeda? She winced. That was what she decided to say? Question him like a overeager journalist? Why did she have to be so embarrassing. He gave her a confused look, eyes flickering to the red sindoor mark at her middle part. "Ethukku kekkuringa? Unga thangachi ku mappalai pakkringla," he replied in a teasing tone.

"Illa, chumma kekka thonuchu. Sorry thappa patuchuna, na ipdi neriya olarideven. My husband is always annoyed at me for it. "Che, che na onnum thappa eduthukla, kavala padathinga. But palla varshama morattu single a irruken. I'm looking for a girl with a pure heart, innocence and true boldness. But intha industry atha find pandrathu romba kashtam. And industry la irrukatha pengalku yennoda shooting schedules, constant working accept panna mudiyala. Yenna pandrathu," he said with a shrug.

"I'll be forty in a few years. Everyone else my age, my friends and relatives all have wives and children and days full of joy and love. I feel like the only one living a lonely, shell of a life. But I'm still hoping I'll find some happy ending one day." Sivaangi was taken back by his openness, she had just asked a casual question but he answered so vulnerably. She wished she could tell him marriage and settling down wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. But their conversation was cut short as they were whisked on stage to present. The hosts first goaded them into a small segment of Sivaangi teaching Ashwin how to sing; he wasn't bad at all as he sang the chorus to Sirrikadhey. They handed out the award, and Sivangi noted the way Ashwin held the heavy statue for the thin-looking elderly man who had won without any prompting. This guy was really something different.

Here is the second one shot/short story set in an alternative, future world. Let me know what you think!