Me Before You

2

2

Ashwin sat in the airport longue waiting for boarding call. Usually, he loved going home to his comfort place back to his loved ones. Today, however, he felt strange feeling of disquiet when he had to leave. It felt as if he was leaving behind a part of him.

He is already missing the show and people who had become an integral part of his life in matter of few months. While that is true, even Ashwin couldn't deny that it was only over simplifying the fact. The unexplainable ache was also because he knew he was going to miss certain someone who with different shades of hers introduced new colours to his life.

He leaned back in the chair, pulled the mask in place for he didn't want anyone to recognize him. Airport was practically abandoned as it was very late night, but he still didn't want to run into fans. He was at his broody best and no one deserved an encounter with this Ashwin.

Crossing his legs at his ankle and half hugging his backpack, Ashwin began scrolling through Instagram. He couldn't be enough thankful for all the love he keeps receiving from fans. It was more than he has ever asked for.

When he clicked on the tagged section to view some fan works, he automatically chuckled seeing how the screen was mostly filled with their photos and videos.

He was on his own and at least now he can be honest with himself and accept that he likes watching them together. He began scrolling the feed.

'Ashwineey' filled his ears as every video was of her calling him with her addicting unique voice.

Smiling at the scene from semi finals episode where she complains that he never laughs at her jokes, Ashwin wondered when he will get to hear one of those crazy quips again.

"Ashiwnneey, enna paathu sirichitu irukeenga?"

(Ashwin, what are you laughing at?)

Great! Now he has started imagining her voice everywhere. Shaking at his absurdity, Ashwin exited the app. He wanted coffee and he stood up to leave when he was shaken as much as small hands can manage to move his full 5 feet 11 inches body.

"Ashwinney!"

It took long five seconds for him to register that she stood in front of him in flesh and blood and it was not one of his imaginations.

She looked at him with her ever present smile and eyebrows lifted with a sense of victory for having caught him by surprise.

"Nee yenna ma pandra inga?"

(What are you doing here?)

She giggled before she said, "Airport ku eduku varuvanga? Veli oor poga dan."

(Why will anyone come to airport? To travel, of course)

"Veli orrku poraya? Enga?"

(To travel? Where?)

"Namba ooru ku dan. Coimbatore." She giggled once again as she said that.

(To our city. Coimbatore)

"Coimbatore?"

"Don pada shooting anga dana nadakudu."

(I am shooting for Don Movie there)

How can he not know that? 'Kadavul setting' (wish of God) she told him before her first visit to his hometown, 'ungala paatha apram dan naan unga ooruku ponum nu iruku'.

(It is destiny that I should first visit your hometown after your acquaintance)

Her joy at spotting him at the airport doubled after learning that they are going to the same place in same flight.

"Paathingala Ashwinney kadavul setting."

(See, that's wish of God)

Now even he has come to believe it. Whatever is happening between them has long passed the phase of simply calling it coincidence. Being offered a show where she was a star, pairing with her for nine times*, doing music album under same label and sharing award with her. If he was any kind of romantic, he will only call it destiny.

Before he could enquire anything more, they were joined by her father who had the familiar poker face that Ashwin believed that was exclusively reserved for him.

Ashwin straightened himself. "Hello, sir." He wished. He only received a nod with barely there smile in return.

"Appa, Ashwin-um Coimbatore dan poraru."

(Dad, Ashwin is also going to Coimbatore)

Again, nod was the only acknowledgement Ashwin received.

"Pasikudhu sonna illa. Vaa sapadlam."

(You were hungry, weren't you? Let's eat something)

She nodded happily at the mention of food, but instead of following her father she turned to him and invited him.

"Naana? Illa enakku..."

(Me? No, I....)

Dinner with his favourite girl with her father as third wheel is too conservative even for Ashwin.

Knowing her, she will say something that she deems innocent, but will only put him in awkward situation and make her father's expression towards him more stern if that was even possible.

"Scene podadinga Ashwinney. Vanga sapadlam. Ghee roast super ah irukum."

(Don't act pricey, Ashwin. Let us eat together. Ghee Dosa will be wonderful.)

Delicacy at 1 in the morning cannot be more tempting than the prospect of spending time with her. Ashwin was held back by the gentleman act he was trained to put on all the time from childhood, even though many times the gentleman in him threatened to break lose in her presence to become flamboyant.

Ashwin was going to refuse, this time more firmly in spite of knowing that it will break her heart, when her father looked vaguely at his direction and said, "Parava illa vaa pa."

(Do join us)

Guess he was not the only man who finds it hard to refuse her anything. Even her father was putty in her hands.

She leaped in joy as the three of them began to walk towards the restaurant.

_____

*Nine times pairing is what we know, but I suspect in some capacity they will be paired for tenth time in the finale.

I typed this last night and realized I am very much motivated to write this story. So far I have another two or three scenes already contemplated in mind. So, I will give short, frequent chapters.

What I am not sure about is the ending.

How do you think I should end this?

Teaser :

"Neenga romaba palaya aala irukeenga Ashwineyy."

(You are very old school, Ashwin)

Why do you think she says this to him?

To anyone who wonders how a noun that is a name translates from Ashwinneey to Ashwin, it  is the unique way she calls him. Check out the video to hear it.