"Enna da nadakkudhu?" Aravindh asked in the shot break.
"Edhu paththi kekura?" Ashwin asked clueless.
"Na edha paththi kekuren nu unake theriyum da!" Aravind sat opposite to him, taking the script book and looked at Ashwin intently.
"Machan! Unna enaku 10 years a theriyum! Oru chocolate kaaga oru ponna thoraththitu pinnadi odura type ne ila! Set la elarum paathanga, ne Sivaangi pinnadi odunadhu, avangala thookkitu caravan kulla ponadhu ellame!" Aravindh said with a sigh.
"Ila da! Adhu vandhu-" Ashwin didn't think about all these at that moment. All the self control he had, got unleashed for an instance and he acted like a teenager.
"Macha! You don't have to explain me your feelings towards her. Adhu love or attraction a nu lam ne yaarukum prove panna venam," Aravindh calmly explained. After a brief pause he added, "but set kulla edhum venam da! Indha web series unga rendu per oda career ku romba important! Already producer paiyan unmela iruka kaduppula production team la prechanai pannitu irukan. Idhulam avanuku oru chance to spoil your reputation. It will be better if you treat her as a co-star. Once the schedule gets done, you are free to do whatever you want!"
"Dei! Avala love pandren da! It's not a causal fling or PR stunts. You know me better! I would never use her for my popularity," Ashwin said, his voice laced with mixed emotions.
"Unnoda 8 years ulaippu iruku. Avangaloda 5 years struggle indha movie la iruku. Endha negativity um venam nu dhan da na idhu soldren. Think about it!" Saying that, Aravindh left the room.
And just like that everything spiralled into a confusing mess. Ashwin acted indifferent towards Sivaangi, even though he said, 'to be continued!'
Sivaangi tried her best, but everytime she tried to talk to him, he avoided her, hurting her beyond words and Sivaangi decided not to talk to him anymore. The set sensed the change of air, the off screen funs were long gone, Sivaangi giving cold shoulders to Ashwin and Ashwin treating her as just a co-star.
Eventually the shooting got over and both of them got busy with their upcoming projects, so there was literally no time for Ashwin to justify his behaviour- as if Sivaangi was ready to listen to him.
Six months later:
"She is coming," Aravindh said and he saw Ashwin turning numb for few seconds, before he composed himself adjusting his hair.
"She?" Ashwin asked acting clueless, though every cell in his body was aware of the name behind that pronoun.
"Sivaangi a sonnen! Sir ku ipo velangudha?" Aravindh asked irritated.
It was true that Aravindh asked Ashwin to focus on his career and not act like a love sick teenager to avoid unnecessary media attention till the shoot ends. He thought Ashwin would discuss the matter with Sivaangi and take the right decision. But being the overthinker and oversmart that Ashwin was, he totally avoided Sivaangi trying to glory his love by sacrificing her.
"Dei! If you don't do something today, apram Arjun will take up the chance. Already Arjun national television laiye Sivaangi dhan en crush nu sollitaan. And neraiya shippers um vandhachu! Man up and just talk to her," Aravindh said, who already decided to give up on convincing his thick-skulled friend.
True to Aravindh's words, Ashwin saw Arjun approaching Sivaangi in their director's birthday party, for every five minutes making her laugh with his stupid jokes and accompanying her like a boyfriend.
"Stop sulking more. Atleast talk to her once! Anga paaru, thaniya dhan ninnutu iruka! Don't miss this chance Ashwin!" Aravindh pushed him towards her.
Ashwin quickly composed his posture, saving himself from falling on his face. He tried to rehearse the words he wanted to say tonight, when he saw Arjun walking towards her with a drink in his hands.
