This chapter is a continuation of the previous work Sattena Nenaindhadhu Nenjam: 1.
It's a pretty long chapter by my standards.
As always, there's a note at the end of the chapter . I have added some additional notes/ tidbits to certain things written in the chapter.
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Sattena Nenaindhadhu Nenjam: 2
"Enna sonna? Enna pesuneenga maadi la?" her mom asked a dumbfounded Sivaangi. Of all the things she had expected, what the man who came to see her to get married spoke was not one of them. He had asked for time to arrive at a decision. And he had taken her by surprise by addressing her before he left. These were things she only thought happened in movies. These things did not happen in her world.
"Ei Sivu unnadhaan?" her mom asked her again. "Ipdi sollitu pogudhu indha thambi? Ennaththa sonna?" her mom asked again. Getting back to her senses, Sivaangi defensively replied "Naan edhum sollala. Kesari nalla iruku nu sonnaru. Thanks nu sonnen. Avaru per sonnaru, enna padichirukaaru nu sonnaaru. Appram naa keezha kootitu vandhuten" not meeting anyone's eyes.
Her anni, Indu kept looking at her suspiciously. She said "Naa poi thuni maathika poren" to no one in particular to avoid meeting Indu's eyes. If anyone could read her lies at home, it was her younger anni.
Much to her relief, her father had put a full stop to further discussions saying they would wait to hear back from Ashwin's family and her anni hadn't spoken anything to her either until she left to Madurai the next day.
Three weeks later, on a Thursday evening on the last week of October as Sivaangi walked out her college gate, she heard her name being called. Thinking it was in her head, she continued walking with her friend until she heard it again, "Sivaangi". She turned around but couldn't spot the source until she heard again, "Sivaangi, inga" to see a tired looking Ashwin walk towards her.
When Sivaangi's friend walked a little away from them to give them some privacy, Ashwin asked her "Epdi irukeenga?". Confused she replied "nalla iruken. Neenga? Enna Inga?". When he replied hesitantly "haan, ungala paakalaam nu dhaan" she looked around dubiously. Men loitered around their women's college gate during the mornings and evenings. She wasn't sure if he was here for other reasons and saw her accidentally or if there was any truth to what he was saying. "Ayyo sathyama ungala paaka dhaan nga vandhen. Madhyaname vandhu college eppo mudiyum nu gate la watchman kitta kettutu, appram half hour munnadi dhaan vandhen" he rushed out sensing what was probably running in her head. When she mouthed an oh, he continued quickly "oru coffee sapdalaama? Pakkathula nalla hotel onnu en colleague oruthar sonaaru".
"Ayyo coffe ah? Edhuku?", she asked confused and a little hesitant. When he replied "Aenga coffee dhaana nga? Ninnute evlo neram pesradhu? Ellarum vera paathutu poraanga", she looked around cautiously before she agreed "seri. Aana enaku aararai mani kulla hostel vandhiranum". When he confirmed with a "kandippa vandhirlaam", she called her friend over and introduced them awkwardly "Ivaru Ashwin. Idhu Shanmu".
When she addressed her friend "Shanmu naa veliya poitu one hour la vandhruven", Shanmu glared at Ashwin doubtfully. Sighing Ashwin spoke, "Aenga naan Rajaji Hospital la dhaan Junior resident ah velai paakren. Pediatrics department la. Unga friend ah kidnap edhum pannida maaten". Her friend responded "Delhi la padicheenga nu sonnaa? Inga Madurai medical la ya padikareenga? Junior resident nu solreenga?" much to Sivaangi's annoyance. Clearly surprised that she had shared something about him with a friend, Ashwin replied "illanga, AIIMs la dhaan padichen. Inga Rajaji la Ippo dhaan join pannen. Last year ae padichu mudichuten. DCH naala junior ah dhaan hire pannuvaanga".
