Avi tied on the apron and ushered all the cooks, maids and Sharanya off the kitchen. If food was the way to impress Aadhira, he knew he had to do it. Avi began cooking and the smell reached the dining impressing Aadhira. Avi served the lasagna and apple pie on the table and Aadhira smiled to it. "Unnaku samaika ellam teriyuma?" Aadhu asked. "Teriyum ah va? Adhu en speciality ma." He added. Aadhira was about to dive in when he stopped her. "Enna appa nu koopdu, sapdalam." He told.
"Yenna? Blackmail panraya?" She asked. "Santosh tirumba hotel ku poitan ngra dhairiyama?" She asked. "Enna periya Santosh? Naa oru CM teriyum la?" He asked. "Adhukaga Ellam unna appa nu koopda mudiyadhu." She told. Sharanya's face fell hearing it. "Dei nee feel pannadha da, innaiku illana enna? Ava unna oru naal kandippa unna 'appa' nu koopduva." Rakshan comforted. "Adhu illa da, ava kovathula sapdama pora." Avi added.
Avi then filled a plate and walked to Shalini's room but paused feeling awkward to go in with Shalini in there. He knocked the door, but there wasn't any response. He knocked again, but still there wasn't any response. He was about to knock again when the door opened. Shalini's hair fell loosely onto her, Avi only now noticed her hair had grown from shoulder length to waist length. Shalini on the other hand gulped on meeting his eyes. His eyes certainly was her weakness. "Ennachu?" Shalini asked.
"Illa, Aadhira sapdama mela kochitu vandhuta, adhan." He dragged. "Idha kuduthren?" He asked. "Neengale kudunga." She told and opened the door wide open. "Naa kudutha sapduvala?" Avi asked. "Saapadu vishyatha la Ellam romba neram kochika maata. Kudunga sapduva." Shalini assured. Avi gulped and walked inside, Shalini took her night clothes and announced, "Naa change panre.". Shalini just intended for the duo to have privacy.
Avi passed the plate to her. "Eduthu saapdu." Avi offered. "Ennaku venam." She told. "Enna appa nu ellam koopda venam, eduthu saapdu." He told. "Theva illa." She continued and Avi began to beg her. Shalini who overhead the conversation was enraged. 'Ivakitta kenjuna Ellam velaiku aagadhu, apdiye avanga appa oda ego!!' she thought and walked out.
She stood beside Avi and told, "Avalaku dhan vendam la, enkitta kudunga naa sapdren!" Shalini told and snatched it. "Naa vera eduthutu vara solr--" his words muffled to his wife's glare. "Aaha!! Indha madhiri oru lasagna en vazhkai la saaptadhu illa!! Out of the world Avinash!!" She praised. She took a small piece of the pie. "Idhu apple pie eh illa!!" She exclaimed and continued, "Amritham, apdiye vaila vecha odane melt aagudhu, idhula Ellam saapda kuduthu vechirkan--" Shalini continued when Aadhira snatched it from her and began eating. Avi again chuckled to this.
But suddenly Avi's thoughts were clouded by the fact that Shalini hadn't yet had her dinner. He didn't want to express his concern directly, "Umm... Nee eppo saapta?" He questioned discreetly. "Illa Ennaku pasikala." She told. "Neenga saptu mudichitu vaanga, unga kooda konjam pesanum." Shalini told. "Enna pesanum?" Avi asked. "Solren, neenga poi saptu mudichitu vaanga." She added.
######
Shalini sat in the balcony chair, hugging her knees. Avi walked in and sat at the furthest corner from her. "Ungakitta naa apologize pannanum. Adhuku dhan koopten." She told, still stargazing. "Unga ponnu ah unga kitta irrundhu naa pirichadhu periya mistake dhan, adhuku sorry." She told. 'Appo enna vitutu ponadha oru mistake ah kuda paakala?' Avi thought. "Idhuku melayum ungla pirichu veika vendam nu decide pannirken." She told. "I'll try to make my business India based, Inga irrundhu oru driveable distance la irruka try panrom, but adhukellam ennaku oru six months time venum, also Aadhu oda academic year mudiyavum avalo time edukum." She continued. "Ungluku okay dhana?" She asked.
"Neenga eppovum ungluku thonnadha dhana pannuvinga, ippo enna pudhusa opinion Ellam?" Avi asked. "Avinash naa endha descion eduthalum adhuku pinnadi oru valid aana reason irrukum." She told. "But andha reason ku validity eh illa nu teriyara appo regret panradhula enna prayajonam?" He questioned. "Naa Adhira va unga kitta irrundhu pirichadha thavara naa edutha endha descion aahyum regret panla." Shalini added and Avi was grave silent. The silence wasn't a tad bit comforting.
"Naa nammakula irrukura awkwardness ah stop pannanum nu dhan pesa vandhen." She told. "Inime kozhandhanga kaga namme neraya meet panna vendiyadhu varum." She added. " I understand." He told. "Don't worry, I won't bring up the past, neengalum eduthutu varadhinga." He told. "Yeah we have both moved on during these years, it's pointless to bring it up again." Shalini added and Avi nodded. He got up swiftly, "Okay, then I'll take my leave." He confessed and she nodded.
Shalini just sat in the balcony for a few hours, contemplating how much she has to deal with. Everytime she met his eyes, she found her falling for him and despite it all, she had to put a brave face on. She felt like she lost the right to be in his arms at the same time she didn't regret leaving at that situation one bit, she could completely justify her act.
Shalini felt thirsty and went downstairs to drink some water and when she decided to go back upstairs, she passed through their old room. 'Indha room ku oru lock podanum' his words resonated her ears. 'Apdi andha room la enna dhan irruku?' she thought and reached to its handle. 'Permission illama innorthanga personal aahna vishyatha paakuradhu thappu Shalini.' her mind reminded and she paused.
But something kept telling her to keep going, she opened the door and gasped.
