Across Time

9. without her

Sivaangi groaned as the third Ola driver in a row cancelled on her request. Today was the absolute worst day to have this luck. It was bad enough that she was running super late (she overslept due to late night singing practice) and had to rush getting ready. Now she was stuck at home while a very, very important function was almost over.

"Ennachu anna?"

Ashwin broke his stare away from the door to see his assistant, Vikram, looking at him questioningly.

"Onnu illa da, just...just nervous that's all. Big day la?"

Vikram smiled.

"Nervous ethukku anna, full jolly ah irrunga! Inniki ungaloda naal!"

Vikram patted his back, then leapt away to take care of some matter. Ashwin felt unease fill him again, and he resisted the urge to check his phone. It was really getting late. Where in the world was she?

"Sivaangi enna ipdi careless ah irruka? Ashwin, Pugazh avlo mukkiyum kooduthu koopta ipdi pandra?"

"Ma, na enna venunna late pannen? Etho ennoda neram. Oru cab kooda kedikkala."

"Pinna? If you were ready early you wouldn't have to deal with these last minute problems. No use complaining now."

"Ma! Please, na already semma stress la irruken. Nee vera kadupu ethatha."

Binni sighed.

"Appa innum konjam neruthul veetuku varuvaru, appo driver anna vum neeyum car la ponga."

"But amma, by that time pooja confirm mudinjurukum!"

Binni shrugged.

"Vera enna pandrathu."

Sivaangi slumped back into the couch, feeling defeated.

Ashwin fought to keep his focus on the pooja processions. He should be completely happy but he felt restless and anxious. Sivaangi had texted him she would be late, but at this point she had missing the whole function. He felt robbed of some peace, some tranquility that she wasn't present. It was his first film's pooja and she was his lucky charm after all. It just felt wrong.

Sivaangi jumped down from the car and hurried inside, nervously adjusting her mask and hair. The event had clearly winded down and the crowd had dispersed. Ashwin's last reply to her text wasn't exactly happy, and she was worried he may have even left by now.

"Papa! Inga va!"

She smiled warmly as she spotted Pugazh at the entrance, who engulfed her in a big hug as she ran in.

"Ellam mudinjuthu kapram va. Nalla thoonginiya?"

"Annaa, sorry na ennoda thappu thaan. But heartfelt congratulations! Neenga rendu perum super ah start pannitinga, live stream konjam paathen."

Pugazh pulled back, eyeing her with a smirk.

"Thank you chellam. Aana ennaku theriyum, avana pakkunum nu thudikkumei? Po, po, avan ulla interviews pandren poi pathukko."

She grinned sheepishly, then headed into the building.

"Ashwin your fanbase is unrivaled. In less than a year you have accumulated millions of loyal admirers, how does it feel?"

"I can't put it into words. But I am always most thankful to my fans, my people for bringing me here, without their lo-"

Ashwin tripped over his words as he heard a familiar laugh from the opposite room.

"Um, without their love I wouldn't be where I am. Thanks again."

He wrapped up his last interview, his mind focused on the fact that she'd arrived. Finally. He slowly moved in the direction of her voice to find her standing with her back towards him, deep in conversation with the two heroines for his movie.
He shook his head with a smile. He had barely spoken two words to his co-stars and here she was laughing and hugging them like she'd known them for years.