Telugu words in the chapter : Bava = brother-in-law (elder sister's husband)

Just to avoid confusion, content in italics with single quotes is mind voice.

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"Anirudh, I need your help" said Vennela. "I forgot my phone at home. I need to apply for leave. Could you please arrange a laptop or a phone?" She requested him.

"Sure vadina." Anirudh returned with his laptop. She applied for leave. "Now I just have to wait for my project manager, Chandrakant, to approve my leave request. Thank you so much, Anirudh."

"Sisters don't thank younger brothers. They just order" said Anirudh. She looked at him with twinkle in her eyes. That's exactly what she keeps telling her sisters.

An hour later Shruthi visited Vennela with all her belongings packed in a bag. "Akka I've brought your things-- what happened? You look sad."

"The project manager didn't approve my leave request." Vennela answered.

"That's it? Come on. It's just a leave application. Stop behaving as if your favourite character died in the Game of Thrones series."

"He spoke rude words. He questioned my integrity for not being available when the project needs me the most. He didn't believe me when I told him that I got married suddenly. He said I've been planning this for a long time and intentionally delayed informing him because he would have asked me to change the wedding date." Vennela ranted.

"Can I chop his head off?" Shruthi was furious. "Wait till bava garu knows."

"Don't tell him. I'll sort this out myself."

---***---

"Anna, let's kidnap vadina's project manager and beat him up." Anirudh stormed into Amar's room. He overheard Vennela and Shruthi's conversation.

"Why?" Amar frowned.

"He rejected her leave application."

"I can't beat people up just because they didn't approve my wife's leave. Besides, wedding leaves will get auto-approved in our company." Amar explained.

"He scolded her" said Anirudh.

"You're lying."

"No, I'm not lying. Let me tell you what he said." Anirudh whispered.

"Why are you whispering?"

"Because he spoke unforgivable things in unacceptable language. What if someone hears me saying those things?" Anirudh told him everything he has heard. Amar clenched his fist. He wanted to kick the manager out of the firm.

"According to vadina, he is always rude to his teammates." Anirudh added.

"If that is the case, then let's talk to his team. Let's see if they have any complaints against him." said Amar.

"Why? Let's just fire him." Anirudh was determined to see him punished.

"I can't do that. It would be irresponsible of us to fire him without any evidence. With great power comes great responsibility."

"Alright Spider-man. Do it your way." Anirudh sat on the couch.

Amar called his manager, Karthik who was efficient and trustworthy. "Karthik, Collect every bit of information you can find about Chandrakant Kumar of Hyderabad branch. Search all his mails and conversations with his teammates on the company's instant messenger. Report to me if you find any abusive content which don't comply with our ethics. Also talk to his teammates about his behavior with them."

Karthik called him back an hour later. "Sir, the employees tell us that he treats them like slaves. We found many such conversations in his instant messenger history. He violated the company's policy many times by giving good ratings to his favourites and average ratings to deserving candidates." 

Amar thanked him. "Let's have some fun" he told Anirudh.

They called him. "Hello Mr. Chandrakant. This is Amar Pratap speaking."

"Sir!! I am honoured." The man exclaimed.

"Chandrakant, I have called to inform you that I'm really impressed with your performance. We need more employees like you. I am planning to transfer you to our New York branch where you will be handling a new project. Are you willing to go?"

"Thank you, sir. It's my duty to serve the company. You have given me a very good opportunity to prove my dedication. I would be happy to move to New York." His happiness knew no bounds.

"New York? You must have misheard me. I said Nagpur. Not New York" said Amar. Anirudh roared with laughter.

"Na-Nagpur? I'm so sorry, sir. I can't go. I have an ailing mother to take care of. I can't leave Hyderabad."

"Not interested in Indian cities? Whatever happened to dedication? A  minute ago you were dying to go to New York." Amar spoke sternly. Chandrakant didn't answer. "I have received information from reliable sources. You are ill treating your teammates which is an unforgivable offense. You should be fired. But you have served our company for 8 years. So, you will be given three months. Find a new job and get lost."

"Sir, please--"

"I won't tolerate misuse of authority." Amar ended the call. "I've fired two employees in a span of three days. But they deserved it." He said grimly.

"That's excellent" said Shruthi, who was standing by the door. "I came here to complain about him and you already fired him."

"How are you, Shruthi? I hope everyone's fine at your place."

"Forget about everyone else. Concentrate on Vennu akka. Go and talk to her. She's feeling lonely." Shruthi advised him.

"But I'm not allowed inside her room. She may not feel comfortable talking to me. I'm almost a stranger to her. And--"

"If you keep making such excuses you will be a stranger to her forever. She's your wife. She needs you."

"Shruthi is right. Go, break the ice." Anirudh pushed him out of the room.

He found Vennela sitting in the living room listening to stories of his childhood narrated by his grandma. The hall was noisy with all the guests' chatter. His heart was pounding as he reached her. "Good morning Vennela garu. How are you feeling now?" Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and stared at them. The irritating gang of teenagers started giggling.

Vennela ignored them and answered politely, "Better than yesterday. Thank you."

"I was just wondering if you would like to join me for a walk in the garden." Amar never felt so nervous. Not even on the day he collected 'Businessman of the Year' award. 'I wish someone would give me a crash course on how to talk to my wife'.

"But Amar, the Satyanarayana pooja is not over yet. You can't take her out" said Shambhavi.

"Shambhavi, the rule is to keep him away from her room. They are allowed a simple stroll in the garden" said Janaki.

"They need some privacy. Let them bond. We dated for two years before getting married. Remember?" said Bharat making Shambhavi blush.

"Alright. Take her if she agrees."

"Go with him child. You'll feel better." Janaki smiled encouragingly. Vennela nodded and stood up. Amar winked at his grandma and mouthed 'Thank you' before leaving.

She being a nature lover walked slowly admiring each and every plant in the garden. Amar tried hard to talk to her but failed miserably. He didn't understand why he became tongue-tied in her presence. He was startled when she stopped walking suddenly and turned to him. "Thank you for sorting out my leave issue, Amar sir."

"How did you know it was me?" Amar was puzzled. 'And why does she always call me sir?'

"I received a call from my teammates. They informed me that your manager spoke to them personally about their complaints on Chandrakant." Vennela explained.

"Anirudh told me that he was rude to you. So, I asked my manager to enquire about him before firing him."

"I'm glad you didn't act on impulse. You gathered proof before dealing with him" said Vennela.

'She's praising me'. Amar was overjoyed. "If there is anything else that needs my attention please tell me. I'd be happy to serve you."

"Thank you sir. Actually there's something I wish to ask you. But I don't know how you would react."

"Please tell me what it is. I promise I won't be harsh."

"Could you please forgive me for calling you a moron on that day in the park?" Vennela was nervous. "Actually I didn't know it was you, my boss. And the boy was already hurt. I was scared you would drop him. I didn't mean to call you that. I was just--"

"Vennela garu calm down. I'm not angry. In fact it felt good. And now that you are my wife you have a right to call me whatever you like."

Vennela smiled. They sat down under a huge neem tree. "What's on the other side of the wall?" She asked pointing at the compound wall.

"A big lotus pond." Amar answered.

"Lotus is my favourite flower. It is so--" she stopped speaking. She was staring at something. Amar craned his neck to see what she was staring at. He found a large pile of invites for the wedding reception with collaged photographs of him and Lasya on the front page. He remembered Shambhavi asking the servants to throw them off. 'Who in their right mind would dump them in the garden?'

He collected them and threw them in a nearby dust bin. He returned to  Vennela. She was visibly distressed. He cursed himself for bringing her there and making her feel worse. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know-- I mean-- um, well, I'm really sorry about this."

"You don't have to apologize. I know I'm just a replacement for Lasya." She walked towards the main door leaving Amar in the garden.

---***---

Vennela entered her room. She has been advised to sleep early so that she can wake up early for the Vratam. She was surprised to see a bunch of lotus flowers on her bed with a note that read-

Sorry for what happened in the garden. I hope this brings a smile on your face.

A smile crept across her face as she sat on her bed admiring the flowers her husband sent her.

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