Telugu words in chapter : Putarekulu - A famous sweet from East Godavari district

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"I'm sorry anna. I didn't tell you because I thought it would break your heart." Anirudh apologized to Amar.

"Your elder brother isn't that weak. My heart can't be broken so easily." Amar answered. Anirudh hugged him. He knew how upset his brother was.

"Let's go and talk to Shambhavi aunty. I need to know why she has done this." Amar was determined to confront his aunt. Anirudh followed him.

They found Shambhavi in her room discussing something with Bharat. Amar sat down facing her and showed her the soft copy of the agreement in Anirudh's phone. "Explain" said Amar in an authoritative voice.

"Where did you get this from?" asked Shambhavi.

"From your laptop." Anirudh answered.

"How dare you touch my things without my knowledge?" Shambhavi scolded Anirudh.

"I'm glad he did it without informing you. Or else we wouldn't have known. You were planning to hide this forever." said Amar, his voice calm. He never yelled because he knew that a calm and composed voice will be more intimidating.

"I did it for you. I did it for our family. That foolish girl ran away leaving us to answer for her mistake. Everyone would have laughed at us. So, I thought, it's only fair that her family compensated for her folly" said Shambhavi.

"So, you thought you can mix up business and personal lives? You threatened Vennela's family. You, along with her aunt and uncle, forced her into marrying me. It's a crime as per the law." Amar spoke gravely.

"How is this a crime? I got her married to a billionaire. Her parents are dead. She's an orphan. Do you think her aunt and uncle could have found such a good husband for her? She should be grateful to us." Shambhavi argued.

"That's rubbish. Do you even hear yourself? According to your logic, orphaned children don't have a choice when it comes to life decisions. Then how come you have forgotten that your nephew, whom you are so proud of, is an orphan too?"

"Amar please don't call yourself--"

"She cried last night. She said she can't pretend to like me. You might be labouring under the delusion that you have done her a great service. But the fact is, you have ruined our lives."

"I'll talk to her. Make her see how perfect you are." Shambhavi offered.

"No. You have done enough. Don't push it. She said she needs some time to accept me. I agreed to it. Now I want you to promise me that you won't interfere in her personal life. Promise me you won't trouble her." Amar demanded.

"If that is what you want, I promise you I won't trouble her. I'll be a dutiful mother-in-law." Shambhavi promised.

"And please come with me to London the day after reception." Bharat requested her.

"But I was planning to stay with them for a couple of months" said Shambhavi.

"Shambhavi, please. I'm sure your intentions are noble. You just want to help them. But they don't need it. They can manage. They need some privacy. Anirudh and Archana need you. Who will take care of them in your absence?" said Bharat, careful not to hurt her ego.

"Alright. I'll come with you" she sighed. Anirudh mouthed 'well done' to his father.

"Right." Amar turned to Anirudh. "You will travel with me today. Your vadina may not feel comfortable if she is alone in the private jet with me. Uncle will take the rest of them in another plane." Anirudh had no choice but to obey.

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Vennela found the interior of the plane amazing. "I don't usually travel in planes unless it's urgent. But this is amazing. I came to Vishakhapatnam in a train and going back to Hyderabad in a private plane."

"Vadina, let me take a picture of you two" said Anirudh. The couple posed for photograph.

"So sweet of you, Anirudh. Can I send it to my cousins?" Vennela asked Amar.

"Of course, you can send it to your 'Weasleys' group." Amar answered.

"How do you know the name of our WhatsApp group?" Vennela asked frowning.

'Okay Amar Pratap. Right time to start Mission IV- Mission Impress Vennela.' Amar told himself. He was aware of the widely acknowledged fact - to impress a girl talk to her about her favourites like favourite hobbies, favourite food, favourite novels, favourite fictional characters, etc.,

"Rishi-Raj told me this, when I said that I love Harry Potter series. Now that I am family, they promised to add me to the group. But they asked me to think of a new group name. I suggested 'Avengers'." Amar told her.

Vennela was very pleased to hear this. "You are a Harry Potter fan? Me too. And I just love Avengers."

"It seems you two have many things in common." said Anirudh as the plane took off.

"You know what? We have a huge library in our new home. You will never be bored. And the garden has many varieties of herbal and medicinal plants" Amar knew she loved books and plants.

"That's great. I love reading. I can spend my entire life in library. And I like preparing Ayurvedic medicines with the herbs." She spoke with great enthusiasm.

"Ayurvedic medicines? Can you teach me?" asked Amar.

"I'm just a beginner. I know only a few things about Ayurveda. I can't teac-- Alright, I'll teach you. It'll be fun." She was determined to be nice to him.

"I'm going to miss grandma" she said abruptly. "She is so cool. She told me all your funny childhood stories. She said your favourite sweet dish is Putarekulu. I promised I would learn how to prepare it."

"It's very difficult. It takes months to learn the process perfectly" said Amar.

"You don't know me. I'm a quick learner. Even my schooling started two years earlier." Vennela quipped.

"Really? You mean all your classmates were two years older than you?" Amar asked incredulously.

"Yes. Imagine being in a class where teenage girls talk about crushes and giggle constantly and you don't understand what they meant. They used to treat me like a kid." said Vennela. They burst into laughter. Amar was delighted to see Vennela talking to him normally.

"Vennela garu. May I ask you something?"

She nodded. He made sure that Anirudh was sleeping and lowered his voice. "Why didn't you just tell my aunt that you don't want to share the room with me yesterday? Why did you come?"

"I agreed because I knew you wouldn't hurt me. Even if you did, I would have hit you to defend myself. I'm a brown belt in Karate" she answered.

Amar's joy knew no bounds. He himself was a black belt in Karate. But he didn't tell her because he wanted her to feel superior. "Wow. A brown belt in karate. That's awesome."

They reached Hyderabad in no time. Vennela was taken to their new home in Hyderabad. It was a huge mansion. Her jaw dropped. "Amar sir, you live in a palace." She remarked. She noticed a sign board that read- Smoking and drinking are injurious to health. Don't drink and drive.

She was amused. "Why do you have this sign board here?"

"I don't support smoking and drinking. So, this sign is to remind my employees, servants and guests that getting addicted to these will destroy their lives." said Amar. Vennela noticed the pain in his voice. But she didn't question him because she felt it's not her place.

Shambhavi and Bharat, who reached before them, welcomed Vennela. "How was the journey, Vennela?" asked Bharat.

"It was fine, uncle. Thank you." Vennela answered politely.

"I hope you like the house. Amar used to stay here with his parents before he moved to London with us." Bharat informed her.

"It's a very beautiful house, uncle. I like it" answered Vennela.

"Let me introduce you to the house staff. This is the manager-in-charge Mr. Shankar. This the security chief, Mr. Dinesh and his team. The remaining are domestic help." said Shambhavi pointing at a group of people who came to meet her. Vennela stood up and greeted everyone politely with a namaste. The staff were impressed.

"This is Amar's wife. Her name is Vennela." said Shambhavi turning towards the staff. "You should report to her from today and take orders from her."

Amar was surprised at the change in his aunt's behavior. He knew she was trying to make amends for her mistake. He caught Anirudh's eye. Both looked away instantly, grinning.

"Vennela, it's your home from today. Let me show you around." Shambhavi spoke gently leading Vennela to the pooja room. The men followed them. "Amar's mother used to sing devotional songs everyday before pooja. I know you would be busy. But I request you to take time out of your busy schedule and sing a devotional song once in a week along with Amar."

Vennela looked at Amar, smiling. "Sure. I will."

She then took her to the locker room. "This is where we keep important documents, jewellery and cash. I have prepared a new access card for you. Set your password to activate the card." Shambhavi handed over an iPad. Amar, who stood behind Vennela, tried to see the password.

"What are you doing?" Bharat frowned.

"I was just curious." Amar shrugged.

"Stop being childish, Amar" said Bharat. Vennela typed the password hiding it from Amar.

"Now let me show you something that interests you. The library and the music room." Shambhavi continued the remaining tour. When it was finally over, they had lunch.

"You two rest for a while" said Shambhavi.

Vennela went to her bedchamber and started unpacking. "Amar sir, where's your room?" she asked as Amar entered.

"This is my room. I mean, our room." He answered. Vennela looked uncomfortable again. He understood that she didn't want to share the bedroom with him.

"I will shift my things to the adjacent room once the guests leave. Until then let's adjust in this room." He expected her to say that she didn't mind and he need not shift. But she looked happy with his decision.

"Thank you so much, Amar sir, for understanding my problem. I am not used to a man sleeping next to me." said Vennela. "Let me get some water." She exited from the room.

'The man you are talking about is your husband.' He smiled sadly. 'But I won't give up. I will find a way to your heart.'

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