This chapter is the last of the series Dear Professor: 1 and 2.
Please read the note at the end of the chapter.
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It was 4 days since his outburst in his friend's house and Ashwin was still feeling guilty over it. He hadn't been this disappointed at himself, ever. Not even a couple years back when he had missed the NSF (National Science Foundation) award. Sitting in his office, rubbing his face for the hundredth time, he tried to focus on the paper he was writing. What the hell was wrong with him, he wondered. He hadn't even shaved since the incident which was so unlike him. The guilt in him was eating him alive. For the hundredth time he read the title he had given his paper and all that registered was he was going to write on something about cloaking techniques and Phishing. His head had been pounding for the past hour and he considered just going back home.
He heard a knock on his office door bringing him out of his thoughts. It was just the 4th of January and classes didn't start until the 20th. The campus were deserted save for a few professors. He considered being quiet so that the person on the other end of the door would leave until he heard a knock again. Deciding they were just going to be persistent, he asked them to come in. Shocked would be an understatement looking at the petite woman standing in front of him.
Sivaangi had been beyond furious for the past 4 days and she kept thinking about what her friend had said before she went to bed. Upon entering his room, she burst out like a firecracker "When Rakshan anna invited me, I did ask him if you were going to be there. He said you were not. I went there first, not you. You weren't even going to come. If you had a problem with me, you should have left, not shout out me, Professor". She nothing but spat the last word like it was an insult. She waited for a beat and turned around to leave his office. "Sivaangi" he called out. She turned back to him angrily like she was ready to go down fighting.
He merely said "sorry, ma. Really sorry for my words that day". Of all the things she had imagined he would say, an apology was not something she had considered, not in her wildest dreams. She was even ready for him to write her up for a dismissal. Heck, this was not something she had expected from him. Shocked, she stuttered "oh.. ok.. alright then. Thank you?! I am going to go now" and left his office.
For the first time in four days, Ashwin could finally fall asleep that night.
On Saturday, Ashwin was a little nervous going to the coffee shop where she worked. Upon seeing him walk through the doors and not wanting to face him when she wasn't sure about her feelings over his outburst, if she was truly ready to let it go, she quickly swapped places with her co worker to work on the coffee machine instead of manning the counter. Ashwin placed an order for an espresso and a chocolate croissant while watching her ignore him. He picked up the coffee from the counter and asked the other employee to give the croissant to Sivaangi and walked to his usual table. While he had just settled in the chair, she walked to his table, placed the croissant on the table, pushing it to him and said "I don't want it". Turning around to go back to work she was stopped by his voice "Innum kovam pogala pola, can I have a word with you for 2 mins?". He pointed to the chair in front of him and she reluctantly sat down fiddling her thumbs.
"Sorry ma, nejama sorry. Naa Enna panna en apology ah accept pannuva?" he asked. "Enna kettalum pannuveengala" she asked back unsure. "Sollu ma" he pressed on. "Inimel ipdi katha koodaadhu" she said to which he responded "kathamaaten". "Promise?" she asked wanting to make sure. "Promise" he promised her with a smile plastered on his face. When she said "Appo ok, apology accepted. Croissant eduthukren", he teasingly chuckled.
