Iravil nizhalaaga (இரவில் நிழலாக)

Four

Later that evening, Vikram and Mansi reached the apartment,

Vikram: Mansi

She hummed.

Vikram: Na stay pannikava un kuda?

Mansi: Ila Vikram. I can manage.

Vikram: Ne innum ena mannikala ila.

She remained silent. The lift door opened on the second floor, he was about to go, she pulled him back by his shirt,

Mansi: En floor sixth. Enga pora?

He smiled and ruffled her hair. They went to her flat. Mansi: Na fresh up aagitu vara.

He nodded and sat on the couch. He started watching TV.

She freshened up and stood in front of the mirror in her room, she smiled looking at her image,

Mansi: Vikram, nallavan thaan. Enaku romba pudikum. But konjam romantic aana, nalla irukum.

She sighed and turned towards the door. That's when she realized something, she turned towards the mirror again, she smiled looking at the image.

She was shocked and started walking backwards when she realized that the image did not smile. She extended her hand and touched the mirror. Everything is reflecting except the smile on her face. She is breathing heavily. The smile on her face dropped. But...

The image started smiling. She ran outside and bumped into him,

Vikram: Mansi

She hugged him tightly,

Vikram: Mansi. Inga paaru. Ena ma aachu.?

She didn't pull away,

Vikram: Mansi

He called and pulled away, he dragged her and made her sit on the couch,

Vikram: Na poi thanni eduthutu vara.

But she didn't leave his shirt.

Vikram: Mansi

Mansi: Pogatha Vikram. Please.

Vikram: Ena ma?

He asked while cupping her cheek, she looked up to find HERSELF behind him. She widened her eyes and pulled him to the couch, she got up, she was breathing heavily,

Vikram: Mansi

He got up,

Mansi: Vikram. Inga. Vikram.

She fainted.

Vikram: Hey Mansi. Mansi. Inga paaru.

He ran to the kitchen and came back with water, he splashed water on her face,

She slowly opened her eyes to look at his concerned face,

Vikram: Ena Mansi?!

She closed her eyes and calmed her down.

Mansi mv: Something is wrong with me. With this house.

Vikram: Mansi

He called. She opened her eyes, tears welled up in his eyes,

Vikram: Ena aachu?

Mansi: Onnum ila. Ethayo paathu bayanthuta.

She said with a smile. He hugged her.

Vikram: Ne nalla iruka la.

She pulled away,

Mansi: Nalla iruka, Vikram.

Vikram: Please if something is wrong, en kita sollu. We will get through this. I'll be there for you.

She smiled.

Mansi: Onnum ila Vikram. Na nalla thaan iruka. Trust me.

Vikram: Epdi ma nambarathu. Ne mayakam pottu vizhutha. Bayanthu veliya odi vantha. Epdi namba solra.

She smiled and caressed his cheek.

Mansi: I love you, Vikram.

She said with a smile. He smiled and kissed her forehead.

Vikram: U okay?

She nodded.

Mansi: Sari ne iru. Na poi dinner pandra.

Vikram: Naanum varava?

Mansi: Ila. Na paathukara.

She said with a smile and went to the kitchen. She started making dosa and sambar. She made dosa and started putting it in a hot pack,

Mansi: Ena cooker la whistle ae varala?!

She tried to open the cooker,

Mansi: Ena open um aagala, whistle um varala. Ena prachanaya irukum. Cha.

She tried again. But she was pushed to the corner and the cooker exploded.

Mansi: Vikram

She shouted in fear closing her ears,

He came inside the kitchen and held her arms,

Vikram: Mansi ena aachu?

Mansi: Therila. Na slip aagi keezha vizhunthuda. Cooker vedichiduchu.

Vikram: Thank god.

She glared at him,

Mansi: Ethuku antha thank god. Cooker vedichathuka. Na keezha vizhunthathuka?

Vikram: Hey lusu. Ne keezha vizhalana, cooker vedichathula unaku adi pattu irukum.

That's when she realized.

Mansi: Aama ila.

She looked around.

Mansi mv: Yaar thalli vittathu. But nallathu thaan nenaikaraangala?! En ellame puriyamale nadakuthu.

Vikram: Mansi, ena aachu?

Mansi: Sorry. Antha cooker la etho problem.

Vikram: Athu enaku ethuku ma sorry solra. Unaku onnum ila la.

She nodded.

Vikram: Sari va. Ne living room po. Na chutney panni kondu vara.

Mansi: It's okay, Vikram.

He smiled.

Vikram: It's okay. Ne po. Na pandra.

She smiled and went to the living room.

Mansi mv: En ipdi elam nadakuthu. Intha veetla etho thappa iruku. But. Athu en enaku avalo bayama ila. Itha yaar kita solrathu. Epdi solrathu. Nambuvaangala.?!

She kept thinking about the things that were happening in these two days.

Mansi mv: But na intha veetla romba naal ah iruka. En ipo mattum ipdi elam nadakanum. Two days munnadi etha peculiar ah nadanthucha. Aaahhh. Ena pandrathune therilaye. Parthi leave podarathuku munnadi naal ah irunthu thaan intha dream elam start aachu. Athukum ithukum etha sambantham irukumo.

Vikram: Mansi.

She snapped out.

Vikram: Ena adikadi physical ah present ah iruka, mental ah absent aagidra.

She smiled.

Mansi: Onnum ila. Cooker epdi vedichithu nu yosichitu iruntha.

He chuckled.

Mansi: Ne siricha azhaga iruka.

He looked at her. She blushed and looked down,

Mansi: Saapadlaam.

He smiled and ruffled her hair.

Thanks for reading darlings ❤