ℂ𝕆ℂ𝕂𝕋𝔸𝕀𝕃𝕊 𝕎𝕀𝕋ℍ ℂ𝕌ℙ𝕀𝔻

𝟳𝟬: 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗺

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Important A/N at the end of the chapter. Please read it!

Also, I wrote this entire chapter while listening to the Mouna Ragam BGM-and it matched so damn well, I just had to name the chapter after the film. 🤌😩♥️

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Avi stood behind her, his buttoning his shirt, while Ananya faced the mirror, combing her hair in slow, absent strokes. The silence between them wasn't heavy-but it was close. Close enough that the unspoken pressed in from all sides.

She was wearing a white kurti with blue borders, paired with black jeans. He too had on a crisp white shirt and black jeans-unintentionally matching her.

Without looking up, he said,

Lawyer'ku yellam theriyum, I've told him. Un kitta just un consent kaga kepanga avlodha.

(I've told everything to the attorney. He knows everything. He's just going to ask your consent, that's all. )

His tone was matter-of-fact, but there was something careful in the way he phrased it.

Ananya nodded, eyes still fixed on their reflection.

Okay

she replied, her voice softer than she intended. She didn't know why, but there had been a jitter in her chest all morning. Yet when Avi said those words, something in her settled slightly. His calm, oddly enough, steadied her.

She turned around slowly, not expecting him to be that close. He was just... there. Right there. Her breath hitched before she could stop it. Their eyes met for half a second, and that was all it took-too much, too fast, too near.

Ananya quickly broke the gaze, eyes darting to the floor. Without a word, she pushed the comb into his hand, her fingers brushing against his briefly. She stepped aside, her shoulder brushing past him as she slid away, putting distance between them like she needed air again.

Avi let out a slow breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. The comb stayed in his hand, motionless, as he stared ahead for a second longer. He didn't move. Just stood there, letting the weight of something he didn't name settle into his chest. Then, almost mechanically, he continued with getting ready.

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403 saw them just as they were about to head out-after having their breakfasts. Avi and Ananya, side by side, dressed neat, looking composed. His eyes lit up like a switch had flipped.

Oho! Yenna rendu perum onna jodi'ya kelambitinga?

(Oh! What's this? You both heading out together?)

he asked, barely hiding the excitement in his voice. Avi blinked, scratching his eyebrow he said,

Ama da, konjam veliya porae vela iruku

(Yeah da, just stepping out for a bit-got some work outside.)

But 403 was already lost in his own mind. That "yeah" was enough for his imagination to kick into high gear. Romantic outing scenes, movie montage style, began playing in his head-Avi and Ananya strolling through a park, laughing over ice cream, holding hands, walking side by side. His heart did a little jig. To him, this was progress. Big progress.

He giggled to himself, completely unaware of the actual destination they were heading to.

Super bro! Jolly ah poitu vanga! Nalla fun panunga! Sikiram veetukullam vandhuradhinga, yenna?