Ashaangi Shots

Dark Side - 2

He sat in the hospital bed of the first aid room as his limbs ached, his head screamed of pain and worry, and his brain seemed to be not thinking of anything but one girl who managed to make him a nervous wreck.

Sivaangi.

Just thinking of her made his stomach twist and tighten horribly. The thought of the previous night flooded through his mind, and his stomach dropped to the floor. How can you be so stupid!? His mind chided.

She knew. Now that she knew, we would be done. Why would she still like me? How can she still like me? She's not stupid. His mind threw more disconcerting thoughts at him, which made him feel worse.

He was bitten at a young age, probably when he was around 7. He felt bad and worse as he grew, but eventually, he realised that the wolf was part of him and nothing can be done except to accept the fact and stop hating himself.

He has never bitten someone, but when someone gets hurt accidentally, he feels very, very bad about it. His friends, for example, help him every month. They can do nothing about the transformation, but they were constantly with him during the previous day of the transformation. He gets sick the previous day, and they help him by staying with him to help him with whatever he needs.

He had accidentally scratched them once, and the next day he wouldn't stop brooding until Sarath became irritated and said, "Dei nee mattum ippo ozhunga pesala kola panniruven paathuko!"

Ashwin looked through the window as the sun rose like a flower opening, gifting its petals unto the world. Amid the dancing raindrops was the blush of scarlet, the warmth of tangerine. Gazing toward the illuminated clouds, still beneath the ethereal glow, Ashwin gazed at it, his disheartening thoughts left for a second as his mind filled with awe. Sivaangi would love this, his mind told him.

Eventually, his tiredness took charge, and he fell asleep, thinking of a certain short, chirpy girl.

****

Sivaangi has always considered herself as a person who hated discrimination. In other words, she wouldn't judge people by their colour, caste, creed or anything. The only thing is, should she judge a guy, who is her boyfriend, who also happened to be a werewolf?

She has only read that in stories, and seen those movies. But, never in a million years did she expect her sweet boyfriend to be one. What should she do?

After the initial shock of seeing a werewolf about 50 feet away, and being pulled away by two of his friends, she had been scared. Scared of what she saw. Scared of what might have happened if Ashwin hadn't pushed her away. Scared of what could have been her state if Rakshan and Sarath didn't take her away.

They had taken her to the other part of the ground, and Rakshan told, "Thangam, I hope you don't judge him. Avan yen sollala nu reason irukku. Nee vittutu poiduviyo nu bayam. Scared of the same disgusted look he had gotten from his relatives when they found out. Adhaan sollala. Sollalam nu nenachitu irundhan, but ippo neeye therinjikita." Rakshan shrugged.

Sarath continued, "Nee mattum avana apdi paakadha. Thaanga maatan. He is still the same. The same Ashwin who was scared out of his wits to confess and ask you out. Avane dhaan. It's just a wolf peeking out every full moon. Avan mela kova padu, but we're telling you he is the same Ashwin."

Sivaangi thought of their words, and realised it was true, though she was still angry. One thought kept playing inside her head on loop.

He doesn't trust me.

She understood that it was his privacy and that it was none of her business unless he chose to tell her. But, a part of her heart ached that he thought she would hate him. It hurt that he thought so less of her, to think that she would hate him.