Tales of Them

Pothavillaye 2

"Get out of the class!" Ashwin hollered, his voice filled with frustration as he ignored her earlier words.

"Thank you," Sivaangi countered without missing a beat, flashing a wry smile as she gathered her things and strolled out of the classroom with an air of nonchalance.

Ashwin rubbed his forehead in exasperation, feeling the tension throb behind his temples. He returned to the front of the class, distributing the papers with a stern expression.

"Everyone must complete your impositions. I won’t accept any excuses from you," he warned, his voice firm as he tried to regain control of the situation. Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and walked out of the classroom, his mind still reeling from Sivaangi's audacity.

As he stepped into the corridor, Ashwin’s gaze landed on Sivaangi, who was casually leaning against the wall, enjoying an ice cream as if nothing had happened. She caught sight of him and, with a mischievous grin, extended the half-eaten ice cream toward him.

"Venuma sir ?" she asked, her tone light and teasing, as if challenging him to break his stern facade.

Ashwin closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He could feel his patience wearing thin, but he refused to let her get under his skin any further.

"Veetukku va, pathukuren," he murmured under his breath, his voice low and laced with irritation as he walked past her.

"Poya," Sivaangi shot back, not bothering to hide her indifference to his words. She continued enjoying her ice cream, clearly unbothered by the situation.

A few moments later, her friends emerged from the classroom, their faces etched with curiosity and concern. They hurried over to her, their voices hushed as they surrounded her.

"Enna sonna siva ethuku avaru una veliya po sonnaru" Sri Nisha asked, eyes wide with anticipation.

They had missed the exchange, and their imaginations were running wild. Sivaangi took another lick of her ice cream, savoring the moment before shrugging casually.

"Perusa onnu illa," she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Calm down aga sonnen avalothan"

Her friends exchanged looks of disbelief and awe, trying to process how she could be so nonchalant about the whole situation. But Sivaangi remained unbothered, her playful demeanor completely intact.

"Seriously, Sivaangi, unnala mattum than ippidi irukka mudiyum," Mounisha said, shaking their head in disbelief.

Sivaangi just smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Life’s too short to be scared of everything," she replied, finishing off her ice cream with a satisfied sigh.

"Besides, it’s just Ashwin. Enna panniduvaru ?"

Her friends laughed nervously, still unsure how she could be so fearless in the face of his wrath. But deep down, they couldn’t help but admire her for it.

☄️

"Yen lateuh ?" Ashwin asked as Sivaangi walked into the house, his tone laced with irritation.

"Nadanthu varanu la ?" she countered, dropping her bag on the couch and slumping into it with evident fatigue.

"Nadanthu vara unaku 7 agutha ?" he asked, eyeing her tired face with concern.

"Na 7 ku vanthen ana enaku elra  ( seven and half ) la arambikuthu" she murmured.

"Enna ?" Ashwin interwined.

"Ethuku ippo na etho perusa thapu panna mari question panndringa ?" she shot back, unscrewing her water bottle and taking a long swig.

"Thapu illama vera enna ? Class la lastuh konjam aachu, kavala irukka unaku ?" Ashwin inquired, his frustration tempered with a hint of concern as he observed her exhaustion.

Sivaangi sighed heavily, letting her shoulders slump as she sank deeper into the couch. "Illa," she snickered softly.

Ashwin's irritation flared. "Why the hell are you lethargic ?"

"Everyone can't be you, husband," she said, glancing at him from the corner of her eye, her tone playful despite her fatigue.

"Appidi koopdatha," he retorted, trying to maintain his stern demeanor.

Her lips curved into a small smile as his words registered. She leaned closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Vera eppidi koopdatum professor ?"

"Sivaangi," he said, his voice taking on a strict tone.

"Mrs. Sivaangi Ashwin Kumar, professor," she corrected with a smirk, watching as he closed his eyes in defeat.

"Good night," she said cheerfully, rising from the couch and heading towards their room.

"Hey, nillu," Ashwin called, prompting Sivaangi to turn towards him with a questioning look.

"Sollunga sirrr," she drawled, her tone playfully defiant.

"Saptiya ?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, while her lips twitched into a smile.

"Enna sir care aa ?" she teased, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

"Adhu ellam illa," he shrugged immediately, trying to deflect her playful tone.

"Ohh love aa ?" She asked with glinting eyes.

"Appidi onnum illa," he cuts off.

"Athana vara koodathae after all ungaluku than enna suthama pudikathey," she said, her tone softening slightly, hinting at a deeper truth.

For the first time, Ashwin noticed a subtle shift in her words and tone, something that seemed to touch him.

Sivaangi was a vibrant, strong-willed woman Ashwin first encountered during their wedding as his fiancée's cousin sister.

He wasn't meant to marry her.
She wasn't meant to be his.
They weren't made for each other.

Yet, destiny had bound them together.

"Ethuku theva illama pesura ?" Ashwin probed, his tone laced with irritation.

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