Avi woke up in the hospital, the room was dim, he looked around drowsily to find Shalini asleep beside him, sitting on the chair, her hands on the bed-side table, over which her head rested. The oxygen mask fogged up due to his breathing, he tried to pull it of by himself, but hearing the shuffling, Shalini jolted up. She helped him take it off. "Avinash ellam okay va? Doctor ah koopdava?" She offered and he nodded no and smiled watching her shower her concern on him. "Bayandhitiya?" He asked. Shalini chuckled realising his reference. "Uyire poiruchu." She whispered and they smiled.
"Avinasheyy, neenga yedhuku ivalo risk edukringa? Roof vizhudhu nu terinju edhuku ulla poringa? Naa evalo bayanthen teriyuma?" She chided. "Romba naal aasa madam, ipdi azhaipayudhe scene recreate pannanum nu." He joked and she glared seriously at him. "Ada andha chinna ponnu ah kaapatha ponen ma." He whined surrendering to her glare. "Yen andha chinna ponnu ah vera Yaarum kaapatha maatangla? State oda CM ah dhan uyira kudukanum ah?" She questioned with a strict face. "State oda CM na enna komba mulachirku? Andha edathula naa pogama, andha kozhandha ku edhachu aayirundhuchu na andha guilt lirndhu ennala veliya vandhurka ve mudiyadhu." He told, looking down and she just smiled.
"En sirrikra?" He asked. "I felt lucky." She voiced out. "Enna maari oru husband kedachadhuku ah?" He flirted. "Un aasa!" She exclaimed. "Indha State ku oru nala CM kedachirkaru nu, I felt lucky." She told. "Seri nambren." He told. "Neenga nambalenalum adhu dhan nejam." She told making him chuckle. "Ennaku okay va dhan irruku, I would like to be discharged." He told. "Yen? Edhuku ivalo rush panringa? Oru naal ingaye irruklame?!" She whined. "Illa ma vendam, I am alright." He told. "Illa Avinasheyy--" She began but he glanced at her sternly. "Naa sonnadha mattum seiyunga PA madam." He added and she nodded.
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Shalini was helping Avi get into the car with the help of Rakshan while the paps tried to click pics of it. Avi and Shalini settled in the back while Rakshan took the front seat, beside the driver. "Neenga andha ponnu ah save pannadha yaaro video eduthu social media la potrukanga. Ungluku ippo semma following." Shalini told. "Aama da, unnaku seriyana female following." Rakshan added and Shalini glared at him making him smile sheepishly while Avi chuckled. "Enna PA madam posa posa va?" Rakshan teased. "Yaaruku posa posa?!! Naa pesambodhu kuruka pesna naala dhan moraichan!!" Shalini intervened. "Seri pesu." Avi told. "Illa pesi mudichiten." She whined pouting and looking down making the boys chuckle.
The car reached back home and they slipped in through the back gate avoiding the press and media. Once Avi was dropped on his bed, Rakshan left after asking Shalini to take care of Avi.
"Shalini?" Avi called. "Yenna?" She questioned back. "Naa andha village la ketta officials kooda ellam meeting set panna sonnen eh! Panniyacha?" He asked. "Illa, ungluku adi patruku--" she began when he asked her to stop. "Ennaku vai la onnum adi padala. Naa late panra oru oru naa um Anga yaarachu kashta paduvanga la?" He asked and Shalini just admired him in return. "Ennachu?" He asked. "Mahesh sir um idhe dhan solluvaru." She told. "Nejamava?" Avi questioned feeling overwhelmed. "Naa idhula edhuku poi solla poren?" "Sir" she added, as her respect for him went high.
"Sir ah?" Avi asked. "You have earned my respect sir." She told. "Meeting ell set panna oru naalu time kudunga, naliku ready panidren." She told and he smiled. She was about to leave when he called, "Shalini?!" "Enna sir?" She asked. "Enna sir nu Ellam kupdadha, yaarayo kupdra maari irruku. Unkitta irrundhu romba distant ah feel panren...." He told and her eyes softened. "Enna eppovum pola, Avinasheyy ne koopdu." "Ennaku nee apdi kooptadhu pudichudhu." He confessed and she smiled. "Seri Avinasheyy!!" She yelled and left the room leaving him smiling.
Avi then opened his phone, he scrolled the millions of posts that showed the video of him saving the kid, but one video that Rakshan sent caught his eye. It was a video of Shalini rushing to Avi and tapping his cheeks calling for him.
'Naa evalo bayanthen teriyuma?' her voice resonated in his head, bringing a smile to his face. The feeling of someone genuinely caring for him felt better than drugs for him. It fluttered him.
'Machan, unga marriage ah reveal panradhuku munnadi indha video veliya vandha enna nadakum nu unnake teriyum, adhan PR team ah pulinju eduthu indha video va remove panten.' Rakshan messaged.
'Thanks da.' was the reply, whether it was for removing the video or for sending it to him was debateble.
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"Avinash shirt ah kalatunga." She told. "Cha!! Naa nee nenaikra maari paiyan illa!?" Avi commented earning a glare. "Yov!! Dressing maathanum!! Doctor dhana nee!! Idhu kooda teriyama irruka?" She questioned. "Naa pathukren, nee kelambu." He told pouting. "Enna pathukvinga? Shoulder la adi, adha epdi neenga change panna mudiyum?" She argued. "Appo Rakshan ah kupdlam!" He exclaimed. "Aahn!! Nadu rathri la koopudren!!" Shalini exclaimed sarcastically. "Avare paavam nethu full um Namma kooda travel pannirkaru...." She whined. "Ma!! Appo naliku mathiklam." He whined pouting.
"Adam pidikadhinga Avinasheyy!! Erkanave late uh" She whined. "Ippo neenga kaltringla illa naa kalatatuma?" She questioned. He nodded no rapidly and pouted. He then hesitantly removed his shirt, under which a Greek god like body resided. Shalini was quick to realise maybe this was not a good descion to ask him to half undress on a rainy midnight in a dimly lit room.
