Author's note

Hello makkaleyy, hope you all are doing good. Thank you so very much for the response on the previous chapter. Forever grateful for the love and support you guys bestow on my stories. Please do stream Adipoli whenever possible. Our first child is heading towards 94M. Paathu panunga, pleaassee. Support them professionally and keep them both in your prayers.

Adhavadhu Chennai veil la, indha vekkai la, vervai sotta sotta na solitu iruken, "Aaha kulu kulu nu irukee nu ❄☃️" Chennai la dhana iruken aana enaku enamoh Switzerland la iruka mathiriye iruku 🥶😝 Ongaluku yepdi? 😉

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Ashaangi SS Bewitched

Chapter Seven

Saradha walked in to find Ashwin having his lunch. He was watching a football match highlights in his laptop.

"Ashwin"

Ashwin looked up and smiled at his mother. She walked to him while he paused the video.

"Kalai la veetuku vandhrukalam la saami. Ipo paaru, eda nerama sapdura mathiri agiruchu" Saradha said caressing Ashwin's hair.

(You could have come home for breakfast. See, now you are having food in untime)

"Adhu velai pathute irundhadhu la neram ponadhe theriyala, Maa. Neenga saptingala? Ammachi nerathuku saptangala ilaya?"

(I lost track of time while working, Maa. Have you eaten? Did grandma eat on time?)

"Unn ammachi nerathuku saptanga. Naa madhiyam veetuku poe saptukuven. Nee ipo sapdu kannu. Nee saptiya ilaya nu paaka dhan naa vandhen"

(Your grandma ate on time. I'll go home in afternoon and eat. You eat now, dear. I came to check whether you had your food or not)

Ashwin had a bite and then asked,

"Sapadu kondu vandha ponnu... avanga peru... haan, Sivaangi. Andha ponnu matum dhan vandhrukangala?"

(The girl who brought the food... her name... haan, Sivaangi. Did she only come?)

"Andha ponnu annan, Harish um vandhrukan, pa. Rendum nalla kolandhainga. Paasama, mariyadhai ah, nalla gunathoda irukanga" Saradha beamed and praised Sivaangi, "Adhuvum indha Sivaangi pilla, eduthadhum enta nalla ottikita. Rest edukaama na onga kuda varen nu kelambi vandhuta. Thangamaana ponnu"

(Her brother, Harish has also come. Both are good kids. Very affectionate and respectful; very well mannered.... Especially Sivaangi, she got attached with me right away. In spite of resting, she tagged along with me. Such a good girl)

"Hmmm thangamaana ponnu matum illa, Maa" Ashwin grinned at his mother, "Azhagaana ponnum kuda"

(Hmmm she isn't just a good girl, Maa... She's beautiful too)

"Vaalu" Saradha chuckled twisting her son's ear.

(Mischievous)

"Ahh! Maa, valikudhu, Maa" Ashwin feigned pain.

(Ahh! Maa, its paining, Maa)

"Nadikadha" Saradha pinched Ashwin's cheek softly, "Yenna sir, andha Aarthi pulla mela one-side love fail aana aprm ponnunga pathi nee pesunadhe illaye. Yenna nadakudhu?"

(Don't act... What sir, after your one-side love failure on Aarthi, you have never spoken about girls. What's happening?)

"Maa, azhaga iruka nu dhana Maa sonen!" Ashwin got defensive, "Adhuvum andha Aarthi va-"

(Maa, I just said she's beautiful! .... And that Aarthi i-)

"Aarthi akka(sister)" Saradha corrected.

Aarthi was Ashwin's senior on whom he earlier claimed to have one-sided feelings. He used to share about his sights and crushes with his mother, though nothing was serious. He isn't a flirt or someone who was interested in checking out women. Hardly six women must have caught his attention but nothing was serious.

Ashwin didn't even had a clue that Aarthi was his senior. When he came to know that, he shrugged off it as nothing but when he knew she was committed, his one-sided feelings faded into air.

"Maa!" Ashwin whined and sighed when Saradha raised an eyebrow, "Serii, adhu one-side love lam kedayadhu! Oru crush nu vachukalam!"

(Finee, it wasn't one-side love. May be just a crush)

"Oho" Saradha chuckled and then asked, "Apo idhu?"

(Is that so? ... Then what is it now?)

"Idhu adhu kuda illa. Summa thonuche nu dhan sonnen"

(This isn't even that. I simply just said that)

"Hmmm, namma veetuku vandhruka ponnu, Amma ku venda patta ponnu, Ashwin. Unn Ammachhi munnadi ipdila solladha. Peran paasathula aprm avanga andha pulla veetla pesi unake avala katti vachuruvanga"

(Hmmm, she's our guest, related to Amma, Ashwin. Don't speak like this in front of your grandma. Out of love on you, she might talk to that girl's parents and get her married to you)

Wide eyed, Ashwin looked at his mother, "Maa, yenna veladuringala? Na yedho azhaga irukale nu sonnen. Neenga yenna kalyanam nu lam solringa?"

(Are you kidding, Maa? I just said she's beautiful. Why are you dragging it to marriage?)

Saradha laughed on watching Ashwin's panicked face. Pinching his cheek, she said, "Naanum summa dhan sonnen"

(I was kidding)

"Maa, ponga, Maa" Ashwin whined and Saradha laughed. She knows Ashwin is responsible and brushed aside the whole thing.

(Whatever Maa)

"Ama, tournament ku yedhuko poren nu sonniye saami, adhu yepo?"

(You were talking about participating in a tournament, dear. When is that?)

"Adutha varam pola Maa. Aana na ponuma nu yosikuren"

(Around next week Maa. I'm thinking if I should really go)

"Yean kannu? Nee dhan valakama practice ku poetu dhana iruka?"

(Why son? You are going for practice every day, right?)

"Poren dhan aana thidirunu inga velai adhigam vandhruchu na yenna panradhu? Adhan yosanai ah iruku"

(Yes, but what if some work comes up here and you need me? That's why I'm thinking)

"Ashwin, na unta munnaveh sonnen. Inga velai iruku nu yosichu nee mudivu edukadha saami. Nee poetu va"

(Ashwin, I have already told you. Don't decide anything by thinking you'll have work here. You go)

Ashwin slightly smiled at his mother and nodded. If only she had the same answer for everything.

"Seri, kannu. Nee sapdu. Na poe velai ah pakuren"

(Okay, dear. You eat. I'll go work)

"Maa, indha maangai ellam eduthutu ponga. Bhanu amma kuduthanga. Na enaku eduthukiten"

(Maa, take these raw mangoes with you. Bhanu Maa gave. I have taken for myself)

Saradha took the raw mangoes and left. Ashwin sighed and completed his lunch. After washing the lunch box, he placed the mannequin inside and cleared everything before locking the place.

When Ashwin went inside the grinding building, his eyes fell on Sivaangi who had her eyes closed as she tasted the raw mango.

"Aaha! Yenna taste uh!" Sivaangi commented before dipping a raw mango piece in the seasoning and took another bite. Her eyes closed and face twisted with the sourness and then a smile bloomed on her face, appreciating the taste of the raw mango.

(Waah, what a taste!)

Ashwin didn't realize he was staring at Sivaangi until Rajesh patted his arm.

"Huh?" Ashwin tore his gaze off from Sivaangi and looked at Rajesh.

"Indha da vandi saavi. Na poe maavu delivery ku aranjurucha nu pakuren" Rajesh handed the keys to Ashwin and left.

(Here's the key. I'll go and check if flours that are to be delivered are grinded or not)

Ashwin cleared his voice before looking up at Sivaangi, who was still lost in her food. Shaking his head, he called out Saradha's name as he walked inside. Sivaangi looked up at Ashwin and then lowered her gaze right away.

'Aathii, ivara?! Sivuu, nimindhu matum pathuradha' Sivaangi thought, ducking her head and giving her signature thirutu muli (caught eyes).

(Oh my, him?! Sivu, don't look up at him)

"Yenna thambi, veliya kelambitiya?" Saradha wiped her hands in towel.

(Are you going out, son?)

"Orey modai ah iruku. Na veetuku kelamburen, Maa"

(I'm feeling very lazy. I'll head to home, Maa)

"Seri pa, unn room la thayyal kadai kanaku note iruku. Adha matum rathiri kulla oruka sari pathuru"

(Okay, dear. Tailoring units' calculations are in your room. Go through the corrections by tonight)

"Seri Maa"

(Okay, Maa)

Ashwin turned to leave but paused and turned back to see Saradha has gone in. His eyes fell on Sivaangi who immediately ducked her head on seeing him look at her. Biting back his smile, he shook his head and left on his bullet.

Once Ashwin's bike left, Sivaangi looked up and sighed in relief.

'Indha manushan ta koncham jagradhai ah dhan irukanum' Sivaangi thought looking outside.

(I should be careful with this guy)

Turning her attention back to mango, Sivaangi shrugged and tasted the mango, appreciating it. When Saradha and Sivaangi came home for lunch, Sivaangi was genuinely surprised to watch Ashwin and Harish together in the living room couch, watching a football match highlight together, discussing between them.

"Saptiya pa?" Saradha asked Harish.

(Had lunch, dear?)

"Sapten Aunty. Neenga sapdunga" Harish politely said and turned to Sivaangi, "Sivuu, nee um poe sapdu, po"

(I have, Aunty. You eat... Sivu, you also eat, go)

Sivaangi nodded at her brother, without sparing a look at Ashwin and then turned to Saradha. Excusing herself that she'll refresh and come down, Sivaangi went up to her room.

Hopping down the stairs, Sivaangi sat down on the dining room that's at one side of the living room. She helped herself before Saradha could serve her.

"Neyy, vera yedhachum podalam la?" Since it was just highlights, Sivaangi tried her luck knowing Harish would never change the channel if he's watching football match. He loves playing football and plays football in turf with his friends.

(Bro, can't you put on something else?)

"Sivuu, Ashwinn um football player ahm. Naanga indha match ah discuss panitu irukom. Nee um paaru, interesting ah irukum" Harish said and Sivaangi looked at Ashwin who looked right back at her.

(Sivu, Ashwin is also a football player. We are discussing about this match. You watch too. This will be interesting)

"Ha... ada po neyy. Neengale parunga" Sivaangi quickly averted her gaze and turned her attention to Saradha, "Vaanga, aunty. Namma pesite sapduvom"

(No, broo. You watch.... Come, aunty. We'll talk as we eat)

Ashwin and Harish left out by evening and Sivaangi rested in her room. Before dinner, she managed to arrange her things and hopped her way to Saradha's house.

"Onga veedu azhaga iruku, aunty" Sivaangi complimented looking around.

(Your house is beautiful, aunty)

Sivaangi paused by the wall that had Saradha, Ashwin and Dhanalakshmi's photo frames. Her eyes zoomed in on an individual photo frame of Ashwin; must be from his college days.

'Hmmm, nice man'

Saradha made hot dosa and tomato chutney for dinner. Sivaangi had four crispy dosas and returned to her room happily. She spoke to her parents and God-parents through call. Anuradha explained when she had few doubts about things to be done.

Harish came to Sivaangi's room around ten thirty. He went to Coimbatore along with Ashwin and returned just then. He told Sivaangi that Ashwin agreed to help them collect the market details and take them to the required factories.

They bid goodnight once they finished discussing their agenda for the next day. After a roller coaster of a day, Sivaangi retired to bed. Hugging a pillow, she snuggled herself comfortably in the comforter and closed her eyes. As she slept, her lips curl into a smile as she dreamt of a certain man who bewitched her.

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How was the chapter makkaleyy?? Also, how's the story shaping? Let's see what we have in store for Ashaangi in coming chapters.

Thank you for reading,

Nan ~