Me Before You

16

16

***

Shivaangi walked in followed by Sam. Some knew him personally, while others were only vaguely familiar. Nevertheless, everyone welcomed him. It was Pugazh who walked to him for a brotherly hug.

"Inga epdi?" Pugazh asked

(How come you are here?)

"Oru event ku poren. Adhu dan pora valila unga ellathyum paathutu polam nu vanden."

(I am on the way to an event. Thought of dropping by to meet you all)

"Super. Sapadraya?"

(Great! wanna join for lunch?)

"Illa na. Saaptuten. Kelambanum."

(No, I had mine. Got to leave soon.)

"Adukullaya? Konja neram irundittu po."

(Why so soon? Stay for a while)

Sam turned to look at Shivangi unsure if it was okay for him to stay.

"Event eppo?" she asked

(When is the event?)

"Nalaiku."

(Tomorrow)

"Aprom enna. Oru rendu manneram irundhutu kelambu. Cricket aada porom." Pugazh insisted.

(Stay for couple of hours. We are planning to play cricket)

Ashwin was a silent spectator of the interaction though their conversation wasn't audible to him. He knew about their friendship only through the edits of them circling around social media. Shivangi spoke about him in recent interview as well, but Sam was never part of any of their conversation before. However, if Shivangi says he is just a friend, then Ashwin was going to believe it no matter what anyone else say.

A pat on his shoulder bought him back from his thoughts. Rakshan sat beside Ashwin.

"Machan, enaku terinja varaikum avanga friends dan da. Summa Priyanka-vum MaKaPa vum dan ootitu irupanga."

(Dude, I am pretty sure they are only friends)

"Che... Tappa naan onnum yosikala da. Oru 5, 6 masama dan enaku Shivangi ah teriyum aanalum naan nalla dan purinju vechiruken avala."

(I know. I have known Shivangi only for around 6 months, but I understand her pretty well)

"Nee eppo partner ipdi Romeo aana?" Sharath' voice startled both Ashwin and Rakshan

(Partner, when did you become such a lover boy?)

"Enna Partner solra?" Ashwin pretended to not understand what he meant.

(What do you mean?)

"Ashaangi fan club president kittaye maraikara paathiya."

(I am ashaangi fan club president. You can't hide it from me.)

"President ah?" Rakshan asked

(President?)

"Pinna? Ivanga fans ellam enna mootha member ah ethukittanga."

(yes, their fans have accepted me as their honorary member)

"Maraikaradhula ellam naan waste partner. Ovvaru video-layum naan avala pakaradhu pesaradhu ellam epdi akku vera aani vera fans decode panni enna tag pandranga teriyuma? Enake siladha paaka vekkama iruku."

(I am bad at hiding. Fans over analyse old videos and pick moments I am looking at her or talking to her. Its so embaressing.)

"Naanum sila edits paathen." Rakshan said. "Adhu epdi da ivlo sight adichum, kadala potum velaila kanna irunda?"