Across Time

6. see you again (part one)

2017, chennai

On the usual day, at 7 pm the Accord Fine Dining restaurant would be bustling with hungry customers. Today, however, was not the usual day.

The entire cast and crew of "Tamil Nadu's Next Superstars" season 2 were gathering for their five year reunion. Five years since the first episode of season 2 premiered, an episode that marked the start of so much. Though many of the seasons had been hits, season 2 was the audience favourite and the cast's favourite as well. They had a special bond that went far beyond television.

The group sat around a large table, with some loitering near the buffet and drinks table while some latecomers were still arriving from time to time. They all took great pleasure in catching up, and seeing what everyone was doing with their lives.

"Enna Pugazh, thala and thalapathy padam pandriya? Yengayo poita po," said Sunitha with a warm smile.

"Nee vera, ennaku etho mudinchuthu pandren. Nee thaan ippo periya dance master nu kelvi patten. Ellarum Sunitha master sollungaa," Pugazh replied as Sunitha smacked his shoulder.

Damu sir, their beloved judge/mentor on the show reached to hold both Pugazh and Sunitha's hands.

"I am just happy to see all of your success. Unga santhosham, yennoda santhosham. And unga ellarayum avlo miss pannen. But still my darling isn't here, eppo Sivaangi varuva?"

Someone's eyes shot up from across the table.

"Hussain kootitu varaan sir, they're finishing up dance rehearsals for a project they're working on together," chimed in Manimegalai.

Someone's heart began to beat at an alarming rate.

One mention of her and his calm demeanor completely melted away. It was replaced with an intense feeling of agony, anxiety and suppressed longing. How long it has been since he'd seen those eyes and that smile. Despite the cast holding several parties and get-togethers in the past few years, he hadn't run into her once. It was never deliberate, atleast on his side, but there was always some schedule conflict. On the show Sivaangi and him had called their meeting and chemistry "kadavul setting" now it was as if kadavul was keeping them apart.

Ashwin's brain had convinced him that this reunion would be like every other event where some divine grace would stop them from seeing each other. It was a stupid way to think, but he'd thought maybe they'd arrive and leave at different times or she just wouldn't come at all. Now, however, was the news that she was on her way.

His appetite had vanished the second he heard that, so he sat pushing rice and paneer around his plate as the clock ticked down.

"Yenna Ashwin, tense-ah irrukingla," said Sakthi as he sat down next to him.

Sakthi was a close friend of both Sivaangi and Ashwin and one of the few that knew what happened between them. Even other close cast members like Pugazh and Sarath had no idea. Despite this knowledge, neither him or Sakthi ever brought up the topic, rather leaving the issue to be sealed away forever. But Ashwin couldn't control himself.

"Illa da, ava vara. Sivaangi."

Sakthi raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Ohh apdiya? She said she had shooting and couldn't make it to me, but maybe plans changed since Hussain anna is alone there. Aana.."

He paused.

"Aana neenga avangla paathu romba varsham aiyutu-la?"

"Aama da. Avala patha enna soluven or pannuven nu theriyala. Konjam bayama kooda irruku."

Sakthi laughed nervously.

"Ungala pathi avanga pesava mattanga, unmai thaan. But you know she is pretty easy-going and lighthearted. Maybe it won't be awkward."

Ashwin scoffed. "What happened between us was not light-hearted."

Sakthi shrugged. "Maybe so. But you'll have to see her some-"

"Hello makkaleee," a loud, bubbly one of a kind voice erupted from across the room; interrupting their (and everyone else's) conversation.

Ashwin turned.

And there she was.

When most humans are shocked, or overcome with emotion they find themselves speechless, unable to form even a singular sentence. Ashwin was the opposite. His throat yearned too scream, his mind yearned to spill out into the open. The man who was a proud recluse at the peak of his youth and fame wanted to run over and pour all his words out. There she was, the same yet completely different. He couldn't believe he hadn't seen this girl in four years. She was dressed in a dark blue sari, a silver choker around her neck matched with big, silver jhumkas. Her hair was longer than he'd seen it before, silky and straightened. His eyes were too nervous to look directly at her face. Goodness. Those eyes lined with dark, smudged kajal and the glossed lips were enough to knock him out for the night. He couldn't believe he'd stayed away for this long.

He quickly grabbed Sakthi's hand, dragging him to a secluded corner as she made her way around greeting everyone.

"Please da, inga ennoda nikkuriya? Romba nervous-ah irruku."

Sakthi laughed. "The famous, influential, most popular Ashwin Kumar is this scared of one girl?"

"Please, please da. Please da, please. Please,"

"Okay, okay nikkuren bro. Antha repeat mattum start pannathiga."

"Is it legal for one to be this handsome?" Sivaangi thought as sipped her grape juice. I mean, men like this were not supposed to be real. He was 34 now, and his beauty remained untouched. Still perfect hair, height and build. Soulful eyes, sharp features and a megawatt smile. She remembered when she had the privilege of running her fingers through that hair, resting her head on those broad shoulders.

After chatting and catching up with everyone she had situated herself in a corner where she could steal glances at him without anyone, especially him noticing. She knew him well enough to know that he was hiding away from her, too nervous to even say hi. She could understand, after all she could barely handle her own anxiety on the way here. She hadn't seen him in forever, though she neither tried to avoid him or seek him out. Life had just kept them separate and she was fine with that. But her heart still fluttered and her mind couldn't control the deep yearning she felt at the mere thought of him. She who was usually so relaxed and carefree could not go up to him and pretend her bond, her equation was easy-breezy with him. Never with him.

Sakthi could not take the awkwardness, the tension that he seemed unfairly stuck between. He was the only one privy to the fallout and drama between the two, but he knew many in the group wondered why they weren't talking and didn't even acknowledge each other. He could bet it was the question on everyone's mind that no one wanted to openly ask.
After all, the two were inseparable through the show and offscreen for awhile. It was true, however, that they belonged to different social circles and were busy beyond belief so no one thought they would be close forever. But not even saying hi was definitely weird. He internally groaned as he watched Ashwin's eyes flick in her direction every time she was distracted, and Sivaangi staring at Ashwin anytime his back was turned. It was obvious they needed to talk, even if they didn't realize it themselves. Someone had to do something, and that someone was him.

Sakthi tightly grabbed Ashwin's arm.

"Listen bro, don't hate me but I'm doing this for your own good."

With that, he pulled him to where Sivaangi was standing despite Ashwin's complaints and refusal. Her eyes widened as Sakthi pushed Ashwin forward close to her.

"Hey Sivaangi so Ashwin was looking for you and I think he wanted to talk so you guys should talk and hey is that the strawberry red velvet cake I've always wanted to try that okay so I'm going to leave you two talk okay bye!"

Sakthi quickly ran away leaving them to stare at each other timidly; the world falling away as two were on the cusp of a reunion. The universe, "kadavul setting" seemed to have set them up for one, long-anticipated exchange after so much absence.

"...hi."

"Hello."

Just a reminder that the characters and events have no relation to the real life people, so don't connect the years/time or the relationships to them, thank you! And please let me know what you think of this :)