Ashaangi Shots

Taking care

I tried, really did try, to walk without slipping. I really don't know how I managed to have these heels on for the entire award show. I hear the car engines die. Grinning, I turned back to him, 

"Ashwineyyy I missed you!"

"Sivaangi Ma, its been two minutes since you got down from the car, adhukulla miss panraya?" Ashwin asks, amused.

"Yov! Onakku arivu irukka ilaya?", I scolded, "Pondatii miss panren nu sonna enna sollanum?"

"Yenakku theriyaadhe ma, neethan ennoda 1st pondatii." Ashwin said, shrugging.

"Dei!!"

"Dei ahh? Thookam varutha onakku?" Ashwin asked, removing his shoes.

"Aama kanna thorakkave mudiyala." I yawned. I felt really tired, almost wishing I could sleep without washing all this makeup. 

My feet are throbbing, and I stumble after him. At the front door he bends down, grasps my ankle, and gently pries off first one shoe, then the other. Oh, the relief. He straightens and gazes down at me, holding my heels.

"Better?" he asks, amused.

I humm in response.

"Seri vaa" Ashwin took me inside the house and made me sit on our couch. He went somewhere, I closed my eyes. Suddenly I felt him pouring something into my mouth.

"Paal kudichittu thoongu maa" Ashwin said.

"Ithu wash pannanum." I said, gesturing to the makeup on my face. 

"Do I need to carry you?" He asked me.

I hummed, no words forming in my mouth.

"You're wrecked, aren't you?" he says softly, staring down at me. I nod. 

He shakes his head, bends down swiftly and picks me up like I am just a piece of paper (which I am definitely not), walks into the restroom and makes me sit on the stool.

"Don't fall!" He warns.

I close my eyes again. I hear him messing around with bottles. I am too tired to open my eyes to find out what he's doing. A moment later he tips my head back. Now I open my eyes, in surprise.

"Kanna moodu," He says. He's holding a cotton ball!!

"Eyes closed!" He says again and I oblige.

Gently, he wipes it over my right eye. I sit stunned as he methodically removes my makeup.

"Ah. There's the woman I married," he says after a few wipes.

"Onakku makeup pudikkadha?" I asked, pouting.

"Pudikkume!" He says, amused, I think, at my expression, "But I prefer what's beneath it. Do you need a private moment?" he asks.

"No, too tired to walk on my own. Enna thookitu po Ashwineyy!" 

He lifts me up again, takes me to the bedroom and puts me down. "Let me help you out of that dress." He moves away, bringing my mickey mouse PJ's, keeps it down and undoes the botton at the back of my dress. He kisses my shoulder and  then tugs my dress down onto the floor.

"Step," he commands, and I step out of the dress, holding his hand for balance. He helps into the PJ's and I'm ready for bed.

"Thanks for taking care of me," I whisper softly, as he lays my head onto the pillow.

"My pleasure. When I come back after changing, I expect you to be asleep." Its a command.

"Yes, Mr. Best find of the decade," I say, proudly.

He smiles, kisses my forehead and breathes, "Goodnight, Chellamma!"

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