It's Complicated

Thirteen

Ashwin frowned in confusion, phone held to his ear.

"Oh... he's driving you?"

"Yeah. Vihaan lives only ten minutes away, athan convenient ah irrukum."

"Right... I just didn't even know he was coming."

"Oh, well he asked about my plans then asked if he could tag along. Okay nu sonnen."

"It's just, I thought this was our tradition ma."

Sivaangi and Ashwin had a pact, a ritual. Before any of their big project releases they would go to a special place together. They had stumbled upon it during a drive, it was a private area in the countryside, the middle of nowhere. The space was serene and natural with a large banyan tree in the middle. They would go there to pray and leave some offerings for good luck and success in their endeavors.

"I thought this was something for us to do alone."

She sighed.

"Well avan varalan nu already solliten. If you want you can bring someone too. Go ask Kavya."

Ashwin was taken back. Sivaangi had never voluntarily brought up her, it was weird to hear.

"Illa, it's fine. I'll be there soon."

Unfortunately "soon" took a lot longer than expected when his tire popped. By the time he replaced it and got going again, he was thirty minutes late.

"First time Sivaangi has been on time and I haven't," he thought jokingly as he got out of his car.

He saw Vihaan standing alone near the tree.

"Hi Vihaan. Sivaangi yenga?"

"Hey bro, good afternoon!! And..."

He paused, pointing into the far distance.

"SK- I mean Sivaangi has been sitting by herself over there. She was quiet during the car ride, then when we arrived she just wouldn't talk to me. Enna achu nu theriyala."

Ashwin frowned.

"Seri, inga irru na pathutu varen."

His mind began to go into overdrive as he walked to her. She had seemed upset on the phone earlier. Was he the cause of her bad mood? Had he done something wrong?

As Sivaangi heard footsteps behind her, she pulled her legs closer to her chest.

"No, please go Vihaan. I just want to be alone."

"Ma, it's me."

He saw her body soften, then she turned.

Her big innocent eyes spoke to him and he immediately knew what was wrong.

Sivaangi was a social butterfly, someone who strived to make everyone smile. But she seldom let her walls down, and never liked to expose her dark fears and insecurities. To him, however, she was an open book.  He could see her happiness and sadness equally, and he didn't need words to do it. He chided himself for thinking her off mood was related to him. Not everything was about him.

He slowly sat next to her.

"You're scared. Why?"

She stared out into the distance.

"Today, ever since I got up this morning my mind has been all over the place. Inga vantha peace varum nu paatha innum anxiety than vanthuchu. I just don't feel good about debuting as a heroine Ashwin. I just don't think this will go well at all."

She looked down.

"Maybe I should just take a step back from everything. Go and do my PG. I don't think this media world is right for me."