Hope Believe Magic

God sent

The practice with the kids continued for the next couple of days and once they got that taken care of, Gopi sir told the choreographer to just work with them separately and would meet up with them again, closer to the performance day for final rehearsals. AK noticed how Shivu knew the names of all the 20 kids and each one of them wanted to give her a hug before leaving. Right after the kids left, Gopi sir called for a coffee/tea break. Shivu quickly ran to use the wash room. When she came back, she noticed that everyone had gone to the break room. She too went in there and looked around. He was nowhere to be seen. She grabbed a couple of the ginger cookies, her favourite, and left the room to go look for him. He was still in the theatre, sitting all alone, browsing through his phone. She smiled and yelled out, "Sir enna madiri coffee/tea kudikka maateengala illai ellarayum avoid pannareengala?" He looked up smiling. She walked up next to him and handed him a cookie which he accepted. She raised her eyebrows as though wanting an answer to her question. He smiled and cleared his throat before answering, "Appidi ellam illai. You are right about the coffee/tea part. Naan kudikka maaten but yaarayum avoid ellam pannale. Enakku eppidi pesardhu nu theriyadhu. Romba aasai ungala madiri ellarodayum sagajama pesanum nu aana eppidi nu thaan therila." She plopped herself next to him and placed a little finger on her chin as though she was thinking, "Adhu eppidi ennoda mattum nalla pesareengale? Adhu madiri thaane ellarum?" He smiled and said, "Illai maa it is not the same. Ungalukku nyabagam irukka nu therila but first time neengala thaan enkitta vandhu pesineenga. Neenga enna judge paanale. Naraya aalunga ennoda shy nature paathu naan arrogant nu nenachuttu poiduvaanga. They don't even try to get to know me aana Neenga appidi ellam yosikkale. Enna immediate aa comfortable aakineenga. Ippo kooda paarunga, Neenga unga friends kooda break room la arattai adikkardha vittu enna thedi vandeenga. Thank you so much." Shivu stared at him. She had never thought that such a simple gesture made such an impact on him. His words tugged her heart. She realized how this big, tall human was just a child within. She quickly smiled and extended her hands saying, "ok appona innelerndhu naan thaan unga best friend. Ungala ennoda matha friends ku introduce panni vekkaren. Namma serndhu ukkandhu arattai adikkalaam appidiye ungalukkum pazhagidum. Kavala padaadheenga naan eppovum unga koodave iruppen." He was overwhelmed by her kindness. He wasn't sure if she realized how deep those words were.

True to her words, she included him while chitchatting with Monica, Pugazh and Rakshan and very soon they became a gang. They started hanging out together after rehearsals. They would stop at the near by juice shop and Shivu would always make it a point to buy an extra juice for the watch man thatha who guarded the theatre. AK was hopelessly falling in love with this beautiful soul. He did not realize that his feelings for her was so visible that, except Shivu, everyone else noticed it but they decided to just keep it to themselves.

AK started looking forward to the practice sessions and he would be one of the first person to show up. He was always prepared with his lines and was ready to help the others. Soon people started to see that he wasn't an arrogant man but just someone who was really looking for friends.

One evening, it was pouring cats and dogs so AK offered to drop Shivu home. Initially she was reluctant but the other friends insisted so she agreed. As soon as she got into the car she asked, "Are you sure? Enga veedu Ungalukku out of the way." He looked up at her lovingly and smiled saying, "It is perfectly ok. Eppidi mazha kottudhu paaru. Idhula nee eppidi bus pudichu porey? Full aa nenanju poiduve aparam udambu seri illama poidum." She blushed when she noticed that he had, organically, started addressing her as "nee" instead of "Neenga". There was something about that, that made her feel close to him. She was starting to feel these emotions that she had not experienced before. It felt good and real. She quickly distracted her thoughts by asking him, "Unga veetla yaarellam irukaanga? I am sorry if I am getting into your personal space." He replied in his base voice, "che che Adhellam onnum illai maa. Naan thaniya thaan irukken.... Oru 7 varshama." She looked up in shock, "Achacho yen thaniya irukeenga? Ohh Appo adikadi oorukku poveengala?" He nodded sadly, "Illai maa. Ennoda family la yaarum enkitta pesardhillai. I..... have disappointed them. Orey paiyan nu nalla padikka vachaanga. Enakku ellame vaangi kuduthu Chellama paathukittaanga aana naan thaan avanga manasa odachutten maa." Shivu looked at him sadly, "Neenga appidi ellam venum nu pannirka maateenga, enakku theriyum." He felt a lump in his throat listening to her words. How could she know him so well? How does she know him more than his own mother? She definitely was an angel sent to him, he though but he realized she was looking at him so he continued, "Avanga naan Engineering and MBA mudichu Appa oda business la help pannuven nu nenachanga but acting is my passion. This was my calling so I had to choose between them and my dream. So I broke their heart to satisfy my soul. Oru paiyana naan romba periya thappu paneerken aana idhu pannalena naan daily sethuttu iruppen and adhu avangala innum kashta paduthum."

Shivu listened to all that he said. She took a few minutes to think through this and then, with a smile she said, "Neenga kavala padaadheenga. Avanga orey oru vaati ungala stage la paathangana avangalukku puriyum." She then placed her warm hand on his and said, "Appa Amma oda love is unconditional. They might be upset with you but they will always love you. Neenga paarunga avangale ungala seekirama appreciate pannuvaanga." He looked at her and said, "Nee eppidi maa ippidi irukke. Nejama kadavule paathu Unna.... I mean, nammala meet panna vachirukaar." She giggled and said, looking up, "Aama Aama ellam kadavul setting" and they laughed as he stopped outside her house and she jumped out of the car saying, "Thank you. Bye. Safe a veetuku ponga and reach panina udane message pannunga" and she ran towards her house.

He waited until she disappeared into the house not without turning back to give him a beautiful smile and a quick wave.

Brinda Subramanian