Sivaangi stared at the shop, fiddling with the ends of her duppata. The shop was small and compact, a black neon sign hung before it that read "LIBERAL TATTOO PARLOUR''
Pavitra, her friend, walked up next to her, "Seri okay, va."
(Okay, come.)
Pavitra was who you'd call the "it" girl. Extremely popular, pretty and a huge hit with men. Reckless, almost. But nevertheless sweet. She had a great liking towards getting tattoos and had number on her body.
They walked into the parlour and Pavitra shouted, "Rakshan! Rakshan!"
He appeared from behind a room, "Ada Paithyame, kadaiku vanthu ipadi kathuviya?"
(Stop shouting in the store.)
Pavitra rolled her eyes and plopped down the couch, before picking up a magazine, "Ashwin irukana?"
(Is Ashwin there?)
Rakshan hummed, "He's out back. Etho phone call vanthuthu."
(He's out back. He got a call.)
Sivaangi sat down next to her and asked, "Enna tattoo podpora?"
(What tattoo are you getting?)
Pavitra without skipping a beat said, "Butterfly. Down my arm."
Sivaangi blinked at her, "Valikadhu?". She had this love-hate relationship with tattoos, they looked absolutely pretty but she was scared of them as well.
(Won't it hurt?)
Pavitra smiled "Idhu enna en first tattoo ah? Avalolam valikadhu."
(It's not my first. It doesn't hurt much.)
Rakshan gave Sivaangi a smile, "I'm Rakshan. You?"
Sivaangi shook his outstretched hand, "Sivaangi." Just as she said that the backdoor opened and in came a man. And god, was he good looking. He had brown eyes and was wearing an all black outfit, he had a sleeve tattoo with vines and flowers, other words and other beautiful images. Sivaangi wanted to know the meaning behind each tattoo.
He glanced at her for a moment before looking at Pavitra and sighed, "Un veetuku poratha vida inga than naraiya vara." His voice was deep and soothing, and Sivaangi wondered how he sounded when he sang.
(You're here more than your own house.)
Pavitra jumped out of her seat, "Seri vaa, tattoo podu."
(Okay let's go. Give me a tattoo.)
The man raised an eyebrow, "Ennamo chutney podu mathiri solara? Mothala enna nu solu, stencil varayanum"
(You're saying it like eating cake. Tell me what you want, we need to draw a stencil.)
Pavitra smiled, "Boss athellam ready panitu vanthurkom."
(That's already ready.)
"You can't draw to save your life."
Pavitra glared, "Hello, naanga nalla than vaaraiyuvom. But varanjathu na illa, Sivaangi," she said looking at her.
(Excuse me. I draw very well. But it was Sivaangi who drew it.)
The man turned to look at her and that's when he realised how beautiful she was. Unlike anyone else he had seen. She got up, and walked towards them and asked Pavitra,
"Enna di solra? Naa eppo stencil varanjen?"
(What? I never drew anything.)
Pavitra gave her a smile, "Inaiku class la varanja la. Oru butterfly, blue colour. Athu than venum." They both wede art students in a nearby college.
