Across Time

8. see you again (part three)

Sivaangi gasped, taken aback. Never once did she let herself believe he felt that way about her, not wanting to cause heartbreak for herself. After all, they were great friends and close confidantes. There seemed no need to express her true feelings and complicate things. But here he was, taking the first step pouring his heart out and declaring his love so openly.

She blinked slowly, replaying his words in her head.

"I'm hopelessly in love with you and everything you are."

Sivangi didn't know it was possible to form such a lovely sentence.

"Oh Ashwin... yenna soldrathu nu theriyala, I..."

Her head was spinning, thoughts crashing all over.

His eyes were set on her, calm as could be. Of course she knew he never did anything without absolute certainty. But this revelation had completely thrown her off. And there were so many reasons this step from friendship to more could wreck them.

"I'm only 21. You're almost 30."

"Theriyum."

"Everyone says I'm immature."

"Unmai thaan."

She rolled her eyes.

"The media and our fans already track our every move, ithullam therinja.."

"Avangalaku onnum theriyatha maari na pathukkuren. Trust me."

Trust him? Was that a question? She would jump off a bridge if he told her to. The depth of trust she had in him almost frightened her.

"But we are both so busy right now, our careers just taking off. Can we handle... handle being a committed couple?"

He smiled knowingly.

"Seems to me we are already committed. We are constantly concerned, supporting and being there for each other. We can't go a day without talking, we share everything with each other. You always understand how I feel and I'm the same for you. I can't stand the idea of you being like that with another guy. Can you?"

She blinked slowly, his words forcing the realization that they had stepped away from friendship a long time back.

"Kavala paddatha ma. Ellam nalla pogum."

Sivaangi's concerned expression slowly turned to one of hesitant happiness. It was Ashwin after all. He always knew what to do, and if he was okay with this then why worry? Her dream guy was confessing her feelings to her and this was not the time to overthink. She looked at him nervously, deciding she needed to declare her love too.

"Naanum sollanum. Appo full-ah puriyala, but-"

Ashwin shook his head.

"No need, I know. Kannala ellam sollita."

Her smile broke out into a grin at his cheesy words, and she launched herself into his arms snuggling herself into his chest. He held her close, one hand stroking her hair slowly.

"Seri Ashwiney, ippo naan unna eppo venalum hug pannuven. Nee no sollamudiyathu."

"Nee eppo venalum hug panna mudiyum na, approm naan eppo venalum..."

He raised his eyebrows tellingly.

Sivaangi gasped, smacking his shoulder.

"One minute kooda agala athu kula yenna yenna la pesura," she said with a blush.

They broke out into a fit of a laughter, him pulling her closer as they dreamed of their bright, bright future.

Back to present day, 2017