Disclaimer

This story is a piece of fiction based on the author's imagination and has nothing to do with the actual life of the characters mentioned in the story.

~ * ~

Ashaangi SS Entwined

Chapter Three

After thanking Bala and watch him close the shutter and leave, Ashwin looked around the single room condo before walking inside with Sivaangi securely in his arms.

The whole condo was a single room with a single bed on the floor at one corner against the wall with a study table and cupboard at a corner opposite to that, a small bathroom on his left and a small kitchen opposite to the study table.

Though the building they're in is a mid-way unconstructed building, Baba Baskar's men have built a perfect hideout. The whole condo was clean. Ashwin's sure that Master's goons are either in the same building or in nearby somewhere. So, he needs to keep an eye on Sivaangi all the time.

Ashwin gently placed Sivaangi on the bed before moving to the mat near the front door, removed his wet shoes and closed the door. Placing his shoes in a corner, he cleaned the shoe tracks with mat and set his eyes on Sivaangi before he walked towards the kitchen.

Running his hand through his wet locks thanks to the rain on their way, Ashwin boiled water in a vessel while his mind was filled with thoughts of the day's happenings.

Ashwin shook his head and turned off the stove and let the water cool down to drinking temperature as he eyed around the condo successfully fighting the urge to look at unconscious woman on the bed only to fail at the end.

After chugging down a glass of hot water with his eyes fixed on Sivaangi, Ashwin then checked the mini fridge, study table and cupboard that was stashed with men cloths. He removed his wet t-shirt and put on a black t-shirt found in the cupboard before grabbing two towels and walked towards the bed.

Ashwin settled himself on the floor nearby Sivaangi and placed a towel beside her. On their way to this hideout, it started to rain all a sudden and he somehow managed to keep Sivaangi from drenching much by covering her as best as he could but he got drenched.

After wiping his wet locks, Ashwin put the towel around his neck and stretched his legs, a tired groan escaping his lips. It was 2:25 in morning and he was busy with one thing or another throughout the day that tiredness is catching up with him.

Leaning his head against the wall adjacent to the bed, Ashwin took his mobile to place a call to Rakshan to check on his boys but heaved a tired sigh as there was no signal. It was still raining outside and the floor was cold.

Ashwin placed his mobile on the bed and his gaze fell on Sivaangi. His eyes trailed her face inch by inch as if he's registering her face into his mind. She was dressed in red saree and he was noticing it in peace for the first time. For a moment he couldn't avert his gaze from her, his mind filled with various things all at once.

From the time of Ashwin's vague memory of Sivaangi to now, she sure has grown into a beautiful and attractive woman with right curves. He gulped and averted his gaze from her not wanting to get any unwanted thoughts. He's living in a dangerous world and he doesn't want to involve her more into it. He didn't then and he wouldn't now.

When Ashwin met Sivaangi today, there was bewilderment from his side, yes but he also felt something different, a spark may be but he would rather extinguish it rather than feeding it with his feelings, especially after coming to know who she is.

But Ashwin's lips did curl at the thought of how life brought them together even though he's sure that they would have met eventually if not this way today. Unlike most conman, Ashwin believes in God. He gave his hope a shape i.e., Lord Shiva and he also believes in fate, destiny and stuff like that because if not why would the girl he met years ago comes in front of him in the most unbelievable yet dramatic way?

Shaking out of his unwanted thoughts, Ashwin sat straight with his eyes still fixed on Sivaangi. There were bruise marks in her arms making him scrunch his eyebrows before he realized those were marks from ropes tied around her.

Hesitation is not Ashwin's cup of tea unless it involves business or dangerous threats. He's rugged and assertive and someone who knows his way with people. But a part of him hesitated to move towards Sivaangi as he eyed her bruise marks. Its nothing physical. It's the way her presence makes him feel.

Heaving a sigh and pushing his hesitation to the back of his head, Ashwin crawled to Sivaangi's side. He checked her bruise on her arm and his eyes fell on her exposed waist that's bruised too.

Ashwin looked at Sivaangi once before he moved her saree aside exposing her midriff. He won't hesitate a bit if it concerns health. He also noticed that her cloth is slightly wet and that there were slight bruise marks there too along the line of her navel. His fingers traced her bruised skin. He moved her cloth back and stood up. He walked over to the cupboard where he noticed a first aid box before.

As he sat on the bed beside Sivaangi, Ashwin opened the box and took out the ointment tube. With his eyes fixed on her arms, he applied the ointment on the bruise marks and once done, he pushed aside her saree and applied it on her bruised skin.

Ashwin had to avert his gaze when his fingers brushed along her navel. For a man who always has his desire on check, the sight of her navel made him hot. The promise Ashwin made to himself after witnessing his father's cruelty to his mother always kept moral policing him that he's practicing abstinence from sleeping around or involve with girls in any way. He has other ways to please his needs every alternate day.

Although he's involved in illegal business, Ashwin is a man of morals and would never take advantage of an unconscious woman even though she makes him feel things he hasn't before just by her mere presence.

Ashwin stared at her face while he applied ointment, trying to keep the image of her inviting navel off his mind. Clearing his voice, he pushed the cloth back, stood up and washed his hands.

Grabbing his mobile and opening his gallery, Ashwin stepped inside the washroom. Twenty minutes later, when he came back, he was flushed and tired. It was still raining outside and the cold floor irritated him.

Placing his mobile by the bedside, Ashwin sat next to Sivaangi before laying down on his back and stretching his limbs. He was beat but sleep hasn't touched his eyes yet. Not having any energy to fight his urge, he laid sideways with his hands beneath his head as he stared at her sleeping form.

As if Sivaangi was an art that he wanted to explore more than what meets one's eyes, Ashwin's eyes glided over her face inch by inch studying her calm unconscious face. He knew she fainted because of exhaustion and he knew that the longer she's unconscious the better. He can prepare himself before questioning her.

Ashwin was surprised that the girl he met years ago has managed to affect this much. He didn't identify her right away but once he read about her, after overcoming the initial shock of who she was and how she's bound to him, he has a vague memory of who she is.

As he was lost in his thoughts, sleep knocked Ashwin's senses and his eyes slowly started to droop. Fatigue lulled him into sleep and couple of minutes later, sleep took over him as he slept with his deep thoughts.

~ Dream/FB/Thoughts of AK ~

7 years before

It was last day of Ashwin's college life. Every college has this one guy who's attractive, rugged and mysterious with I-don't-give-a-damn-about-anyone attitude and Ashwin was the one from Cavel Institute of Tech, Coimbatore. His indifferent and mysterious aura made girls go behind him but he always sticked to his friends' circle and stayed clear from girls.

While searching for Rakshan and Pugazh, Ashwin reached English department side that's by car parking lot. He stopped by a stone bench, texted his friends, sat down on the bench as he scrolled his mobile and waited for them.

"Ashwineyy"

Out of blue, Ashwin heard a very peculiar voice uttering his name making him jerk and look up at the girl in front of him. No one has ever called him in that way save for his mother. Somehow the stranger's voice warmed his heart that he quickly chose to brush off. His sharp eyes took in the sight of the young girl with blank face, studying her.

The girl was dressed in a deep purple maxi dress. The first thing Ashwin noticed was her height. She must be around 5.2'. She had short hair and she looked young and cute, most probably a fresher. And she was smiling brightly at him, her kohl eyes twinkling with happiness radiating warmth and joy.

Ashwin just raised an eyebrow at the girl who unaffected by his indifference attitude kept her smile intact.

"Naan Sivaangi"

(I'm Sivaangi)

She extended her hand excitedly and introduced herself but took back after few seconds as Ashwin just stared at her hand and then at her without shaking hands. She bit her lips, gave a nervous smile and tugged her hair strands behind her ear.

Ashwin and his friends have to leave for Chennai that night for a job interview. They also have to complete a hacking assignment for a businessman before that night. So, he was tired of waiting for his friends who's off to bid bye to few of their classmates that he wasn't fond of.

"Yenna venum?" Ashwin asked eying his watch.

(What do you want?)

"Neenga dhan"

(You)

On hearing her, Ashwin looked up at Sivaangi, his eyes scrunched in scrutiny as he eyed her, her unfiltered words amusing him while he maintained a poker face. She, on the other hand, was beaming at him with a full smile.

'Just another girl, just another proposal' Ashwin thought to himself mentally rolling his eyes.

It was last day of college for Ashwin and he got proposed by six girls already annoying the hell out of him. He was tired of hearing those girl's cheesy love lines, open flirting and them trying to touch him. But somehow, this girl Sivaangi's words didn't annoy him. Rather she fascinated him. She was cute, like a doll, her presence made his restless form relax.

"Nee yendha year?" Ashwin asked calmly, his eyes fixed on Sivaangi.

(Which year?)

"1st ...1st year, onga department dhan" Sivaangi stammered with a nervous smile and averted her gaze as she couldn't handle the way he's staring at her, a hue of pink adorning her cheek.

(1st year... I'm also from your department)

"Na ithuku munna una pathathu ilayeh?" Ashwin patiently asked entertaining the girl and himself for two reasons.

(I don't remember seeing you before)

First was to kill time and second, she was the most well behaved yet bold girl among all those who proposed him so, there was no harm in speaking to her. Or so he thought.

This has to be the longest Ashwin's conversing with any girl who approached to propose him. Normally he would straight away refuse them on their face but somehow, he couldn't be that rude with her.

"Aana naan ongala matum dhan pathen" Sivaangi said giggling.

(But I only saw you)

But she went silent when Ashwin leaned back against the tree, pursed his arms together and moved his head slightly before raising an eyebrow successfully hiding his smile.

"Transfer student. 1st sem half la dhan join panen" Sivaangi said slowly with a small pout and added with a huff, "Onga munadi vandhalum neenga dhan yendha ponnayum paka matringaley. Aprm yepdi ongaluku ena theriyum? Cha! Yenna aalu neenga!"

(I joined only in the mid of Ist semester) (You don't spare a glance to any girl who come your way. Then how will you know me? What kinda guy you are!)

Ashwin couldn't even hide his amusement from reflecting on his face. No girl has ever dared to do this and here she's making fun of him straight at his face. He eyed her form before looking up at her and was about to say something but his mobile buzzed with a text. It was from Rakshan who said they would be there at their bike parking in five minutes.

"Anjadi irundhutu ivlo vai pesura" Ashwin commented as he opened his camera and added, "Itha pidi"

(You speak too much) (Hold this)

Ashwin extended his mobile. On seeing Sivaangi's puzzled look, "Enaku hair set pananum, cam ah correct angle la pidi"

(I'm going to set my hair. So, hold the camera at correct angle)

Sivaangi gave Ashwin a bright smile and took his mobile from him. With the same smile, she patiently held it in the correct angle for Ashwin to adjust his hair, her eyes fixed on his face.

Ashwin brushed his locks with his fingers as he bit his lower lip and stared at his image on screen. Then he brushed his beard and twisted his moustache. Once done, he looked up at Sivaangi who was looking at him with a dreamy smile. He shook his head and took his mobile from her. That was when she broke out of her trance and said,

"Yepdi neenga ivlo cute ah irukinga?"

(How come you are so cute?)

'Naan ah nee ah?' That was the first thought that ringed his mind but he shook it off not wanting to let his guard down. He was used to girls complimenting him as handsome, hot, even sexy but cute? That was new. He mentally chuckled.

(Is it me or you?)

Ashwin studied Sivaangi's face for a moment before shaking his head with a sigh.

"Yenna, love ah?"

(You love me?)

It took few seconds for Sivaangi to understand what Ashwin asked and when she did, she nodded her head with a smile that touched her eyes and said,

"Ama Ashwineyy"

(Yes)

That Ashwineyy from her hit him different reminding him that he has to refuse her and let her down gently, not rudely. He doesn't want to watch the girl cry.

"Hmmm seri solu" Ashwin said leaning back against the tree eyeing her.

(Okay then, say)

"Yenna sola?" Sivaangi asked with a bright smile that lit up her face, her curious eyes waiting for Ashwin's words.

(Say what?)

"Love dhana sola pora, takkunu solu. Enaku velai iruku"

(You are going to propose, right? Do and get over with it soon. I have other works)

Sivaangi went silent for a moment on listening his words, her spirits dampened for a second as she eyed Ashwin and averted her gaze. She bit her lower lip as her eyes frantically moved before she looked up at his expectant gaze.

"Namma kalyanam panikalama, Ashwineyy?"

(Can we get married?)

Ashwin was taken aback by Sivaangi's words, a soft gasp escaping his lips. This was the last thing he expected her to ask. But he quickly masked his surprise and looked up at her only to find her staring back at him. He sighed before saying,

"Unaku yenna vayasu aguthu?"

(How old are you?)

"Naan chinna ponnu nu soli venam solalam nu nenakathinga!" Sivaangi quickly said, a frown adorning her face.

(Don't try to point at my age to reject me)

"Naan ketathuku pathil solala la. Seri, naan kelamburen" Ashwin said standing up but Sivaangi clasped his wrist.

(You didn't answer me. Fine, I'll get going now)

"Haiyoo, nillunga Ashwineyy!"

(Stoppp!)

"Yenna?" Ashwin paused and asked as he gently tugged his hand out of her grip.

(What?)

"Solren, solren. First okarunga" Sivaangi huffed and mumbled, "Yenna aalu ivaru! Cha!"

(I'll say. Take a seat first) (What kinda person he is!)

"Seri ipo solu. Unaku yenna vayasu aguthu?" Ashwin asked again as he sat back on the stone bench.

(Okay, tell me. How old are you?)

"18" Sivaangi said gritting her teeth knowing Ashwin would lecture her but what he said surprised her.

"Seri" Ashwin said and stood up again.

(Okay)

"Yenna pathil solama poringa?" Sivaangi frowned going behind him and made him stop by holding his hand.

(Why are you leaving without answering me?)

Ashwin turned to look at Sivaangi who's frowning at him with puzzled gaze.

"Yenna solanum?"

(What am I supposed to say?)

"Naan keta kelvi ku pathil" Sivaangi deadpanned.

(Your response to my proposal)

How is Ashwin supposed to respond Sivaangi? He doesn't know anything about the girl. First of all, she's barely an adult and he's twenty three. She didn't just say that she loves him but also that she wants them to get married. He was surprised that he hasn't lashed out on her yet.

Ashwin sighed before he tugged his hand out of Sivaangi's grip.

"Naan una chinna ponnu nu soli unoda feelings ah disrespect panla. Aana unaku idha pathi yosika decide pana ipo right age kedayathu. Padichu mudichutu kalyanam pananum nu vara apo ithey ennam, enn mela love un manasu la irundha enn munna vandhu kelu, apo enoda pathil ah solren" Ashwin said and quickly walked away leaving behind a stunned Sivaangi.

(I don't want to disrespect your feelings by pointing out your age but this isn't the right age for you to think about marriage. Study well. When you are at marriable age and if your feelings remain the same, then come to me with the same question. I'll answer you then)

By the time she grasped his words and went to look for him, Ashwin left with his friends. That was the first and last day they met. He left to Chennai the very night. Couple of days later Ashwin found a love letter in his college bag when he was unpacking his things.

Just when Ashwin thought he brushed Sivaangi's thoughts off his mind, he found her love letter. As he read, he could feel the intensity of her feelings and her longing for her parents love as well as his. He's living a dangerous life and even out of sympathy, he couldn't even be her well wisher and afford to drag her in his unsafe life. So, he just kept the letter safe with him and with time, he forgot her.

~ * ~

A loud thunder cracked on the sky. Ashwin woke up with a jolt and sat up with his hand on his chest. He rubbed his eyes before burying his face into his palms. Sighing loudly, he looked straight before blinking sleep away.

Ashwin's eyes went towards Sivaangi to check on her. He was shocked to see her whole body shivering as she trembled with her eyes closed. With furrowed brows, he instinctively placed his hand on her forehead.

Sivaangi was cold. Her whole body was shivering. Ashwin checked her Sari and it was still wet. Cursing himself under his breath for leaving her in wet clothes, he moved her shivering form to sitting position, laid her against the wall, stood up and walked towards the cupboard.

With a black t-shirt and dry towel in his hand, Ashwin quickly kneeled down on the bed and without any hesitation, unpinned her pallu and quickly removed her sari. She was in her blouse and in skirt, her body trembling from cold.

Sitting beside her and pulling her to lean against him, Ashwin took the t-shirt and made Sivaangi wear it. He then took a dry towel and wiped her hair. He could feel her snuggling closer unconsciously, her body craving warmth because of cold.

Sighing, Ashwin focused on wiping Sivaangi's locks and once he's convinced that he has dried her hair enough, he threw the towel away and made her lay down. She was still trembling. He noticed a bedsheet beneath the pillow, took it and wrapped it around her.

The bedsheet was very thin and it wasn't helpful to her in any way. Ashwin heaved a tired sigh and laid down. He took his mobile and checked the time. It was 4:10 am and it was still raining outside with no signal.

Groaning in annoyance, Ashwin laid sideways and watched as Sivaangi shivered. Heaving a deep sigh, he decided to put her out of misery and moved slightly closer. He placed his hand on her arm and pulled her towards himself.

Ashwin placed Sivaangi's head on his arm and wrapped his arms around her, engulfing her in his embrace. I'm doing this because she's sick and I'm not taking any advantage of her, he told himself. He looked down when he found herself snuggling into him in sleep, her head resting on his chest.

Tightening his grip around her, Ashwin waited for Sivaangi to warm up enough so that he can place her back in bed. But lack of sleep and exhaustion took the best of him and he slowly slept with her securely in his arms.

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Thank you for reading.

Nan ~