Ashwin straightened out his shirt, taking a deep breath before ringing the doorbell to her house. Few agonizing seconds later, the door swung open and Sivaangi's brother stood there. He grinned when he saw Ashwin,
"Enna thalaiva? Intha pakam lam varinga?"
Ashwin smiled, "Onam la. Amma than vara sonanga."
Vinayak nodded, "Oho, appadi. Seri ulla vanga."
He moved away, letting him inside. Ashwin was nervous, he didn't know why. He had been to her house before, he had spoken to her parents, in fact, he had even stayed over for a couple of nights whenever he felt homesick. Her mother's food felt so comforting to him. But for some reason, being in her house, for a festival only celebrated by their family he felt nervous. He automatically looked around for Sivaangi.
Vinayak said, "Akka mela iruka."
Ashwin looked at him, "Naa kekave illaye."
Vinayak smirked, "Neenga pathingale aana."
Ashiwn flushed at being caught. There came some noises from inside and her mother emerged from the kitchen. Her eyes lit up when she saw Ashwin,
"Ashwin! Eppo vanthinga, sorry kitchen la velaya irunthen."
He smiled, "Paravala ma. Ippo than vanthen."
Binni ma smiled and looked at Vinayak, "Dei! Engada un akka?"
Vinayak who was engrossed in his phone just mumbled, "Ava saree katikara."
Binni ma sighed, "Ivalo nerama? Ivaluku eppo porupu vara poguthu, enna pand-"
"Aiyo, amma. Naa vanthuten."
Ashwin turned around, and saw glimpses of her white saree at the top of the staircase. She slowly emerged downstairs and Ashwin stopped breathing.
He blinked slowly at her, and the only thought that was running through his mind was, Ashwin, you're the luckiest guy on earth.
She looked at him and smiled, unaware of the thoughts running through his mind. She was so beautiful, dressed in a traditional onam saree. Her hair was let open, and her jewellery was sea blue and green. Her eyes were beautiful with kohl, and small bindi adorned her forehead. She stood in front of him.
"Damn." he whispered when he saw her face to face.
"Ashwineyy, eppo vanthinga? Varenu sollave illa?"
Her questions fell on deaf ears, because he was too busy staring at her, trying to digest her beauty. Sivaangi blinked at his lack of response, and snapped her fingers infront of him.
"Ashwin!"
Ashwin snapped out of his daze and said, "Amma than-"
His voice cracked and he cleared his throat immediately. Behind him, Binni ma laughed.
"Amma than vara sonanga."
"Ohh," Sivaangi nodded. Ashwin felt so constricted, like he was enclosed in a never ending maze of beauty. She was simply breathtaking.
"Sivaangi" Binni ma said. Both of them looked at her, "Ashwin ku prasadam kodu. Avarku pasikuthu pola," she said with a twinkle in her eyes
Sivaangi nodded, and took his hand before dragging him into the kitchen. She held up an appam to him and he looked at her.
"Saapdunga."
Naa enna mood la iruken iva appam thara, he thought.
Sivaangi insisted on it and he took it from her with a sigh, and she ate on as well. She looked at him,
