As the first hints of light peeked through the early morning horizon, Ashwin stuffed his last luggage into the cab.
Sivaangi stood by her gate watching, rubbing her eyes to get rid of the sleepiness.
He closed the trunk, then walked up to her.
Dressed in a hello kitty top and neon headband, she reflected her youth.
"Seri, na kelumburen. Airport ku seekrama ponum."
Sivaangi pouted, shifting her gaze to the ground.
"Neenga poi thaan agunuma? Enga college la vellai seiyarathu ungaluku pudikalaiya?"
He laughed.
"I told you already, this job opportunity is once in a lifetime. A spot at one of the best IT companies, and getting to work with top people in America is a dream. Eppadi no solluven?"
She crossed him arms.
"Lavanya miss ah pakka mudiyathu, atha yosichingala? Inga Salem la mattum thaan irrupanga."
"Lavanya va? Avanga ennaku set aga mattanga ma."
"Ennathu? Avlo naal na alanjathu waste ah! Aprom yaaru thaan ungalukku set avanga?"
He shrugged.
"Athulam explain panna mudiyathu. Oru feeling varum, iva thaan nammuluku correct nu. Appo ellam set ayudum."
She groaned, her mind already on another subject.
"Ippo yaaru enna college ku kootitu pova? Thiripiyum antha veena pona bus la ponum chai."
"Athuku sorry ma, serious ah sorry. Maybe konjam time paathu kelumbuna bus ah unnaku pudichu poidum. It's not so bad."
His usual roughness and sharp tongue was soft, tempered by the obvious hurt of the girl in front of him.
"Ada po Ashwiney, enna thaniya vittutu advice kuddikiriya?"
For Sivaangi, watching her beloved crush move away across the world was nothing short of devastation. Especially one that had seemed to warm up to her. At least by a tiny bit.
She stared him, her eyes glistening.
"I'll miss you Ashwiney."
He reached to ruffle her hair.
"Naanum thaan."
He sighed.
"Nalla padikkanum, seriya? Amma va pathuko, romba tholla panatha. Veetu vellai la mudincha help seiyu. Mukiyama culturals la kandipa participate pannu. You are very talented, don't ever forget that."
She nodded, and they stood in silence for a moment.
Sivaangi sniffled.
"Okay, you better get going now. Bus driver kooda wait pannuvaru, plane driver la apdiya poiduvaru."
He snickered.
"Plane driver ah? Sathiyama nee mattum thaan ipdi pesa mudiyum di."
After one last look Ashwin got into the cab, taking off as she waved goodbye with tears in her eyes.
He turned back to see her through the rear windshield, a lone figure in the empty street.
He didn't have any family, barely any friends and nothing to really call home. But something about that girl's affection made him feel like he belonged, that someone truly cared. It was an invaluable gift.
YOU ARE READING
Across Time
FanfictionA collection of one shots in different times, situations and moments. Total fiction of author's imagination, has no connection to real life people or events.
