"Surpriiiiiseeee!" The boys screamed when Shruthi entered the music room at 12 o' clock with Vennela. Rishi-Raj lifted her on their shoulder singing 'Happy Birthday'.

She cut the cake. "I can't believe I'm 21 now. The cake is delicious."

"We made it ourselves" said Vennela pointing at herself and Amar. Shruthi understood why everyone was behaving oddly, the previous day.

'So it was a fake hug. Just to keep me away from the kitchen' She was disappointed. She held the gifts to open them. Vennela stopped her. "The surprise isn't over yet."

The twins played guitar and piano while Anirudh sang a song. "You two please dance for me." Shruthi requested Amar and Vennela.

Amar gladly agreed but Vennela didn't. "I'm not an expert in dancing." She tried to make excuses.

"You are not a bad dancer either. Please akka it's my birthday," said Shruthi.

Vennela agreed. They danced to the song to entertain Shruthi. Their dance steps were simple yet beautiful. Amar kept staring at Vennela. But she avoided looking at his face because she knew she would be lost in his intense brown eyes. His breath fanned her face. When the performance was over, Shruthi clapped her hands with glee. "Excellent, I wish my birthday comes everyday just to see you two dancing."

Vennela pretended as if it meant nothing but she secretly liked it.

"Akka, can I skip the afternoon session tomorrow and take my friends out for lunch?" Shruthi asked Vennela.

"Bunking classes is a bad habit" said Vennela reprovingly.

"As if you never bunked a class" said Raj.

"You always used to hide in the restroom along with your friends so that junior lecturers don't find you. Remember?" asked Rishi.

"You did that? Hid in the restroom along with friends?" Amar was surprised.

"Everyone does that. I mean that's the best hiding place. When they once caught us and asked us what we were doing, I said we were trying to open the chamber of secrets." Vennela made everyone laugh with her college story. She gave her card to Shruthi asking her not to spend much. Shruthi was overjoyed at the idea of partying with her friends. It was 2 am when they decided to go to bed.

"Someone's going to have a sleepless night" Amar remarked in a low voice so that only Vennela could hear him.

And he was right. Visions of Amar hugging her that evening kept coming back to her making her blush. She couldn't sleep.

The next afternoon when Vennela was in the office, she received a call saying Shruthi fell ill and was taken to hospital. She rushed to the hospital along with Amar.

"What happened?" She asked Raj.

"Her friends made her try something she never ate before. She vomited twice. Nothing serious." Raj replied.

She went inside to see Shruthi and Rishi arguing. "You are a patient. You can't eat sandwiches now."

"Come on, it's my birthday" said Shruthi. She was lying on the bed.

"Shru, you got yourself hospitalized. Who celebrates birthday like this?" Vennela was angry.

"Akka, it's not my fault. My friends made me eat that."

Vennela was about to say something when Amar stopped her. "Don't scold a patient."

After a few minutes the doctor gave them permission to take her home advising her not to eat spicy food for a week.

"Come let's take her home. Let's stay there for a few hours" Amar started the car.

Vennela looked troubled. "I can't go in there."

"What's more important to you? Your hatred for your grandfather or your love for Shruthi?" Amar asked her gravely.

She didn't answer. They reached  house owned by her grandfather. Amar observed Vennela, who looked uncomfortable. Shruthi tried to engage her in a conversation, failing miserably.

"Vadina, I heard Shruthi has been hospitalized. Is she fine now?" Anirudh came to visit them.

"She's fine. Nothing serious." Vennela told him everything.

"Rudy. You stay with Shruthi and Rishi-Raj. Vennela we need to talk." Amar took her to her parents' room and made her sit on the bed.

"It was my parents' room" said Vennela, pointing at a huge photo frame of them beside the bed. "We used to come here during summer vacation."

"Vennela, I have been told that you never speak about their deaths. I feel you need to let it out. Or else you will be miserable forever."

"No. I'm fine." Vennela didn't like sharing her pain.

"We won't be termed weak if we share our pain. In fact, I believe it will make us stronger. I trusted you enough to share my past with you. If you have the same amount of trust on me, then tell me what you are feeling." Amar caressed her forehead.

Vennela sighed and started talking. "I once had a wonderful family. A loving mom and a caring dad. I couldn't ask for more. My mom was doctor. Dad was a police officer. He wasn't interested in our family business." Vennela tried hard not to cry.

"My grandfather was the biggest villain in our story. He forced dad to quit his job and work for our company. Dad kept refusing for a few months. But he emotionally blackmailed my dad who finally agreed. He forced dad to accompany him on all his business trips. On one such trip a gangster with whom my grandfather had a fight earlier, tried to shoot him." She was weeping now. Amar put his arm around her shoulder. He could imagine what must have happened next.

"But the bullet hit my dad. Right in the chest. He died. I was six. I still remember seeing his lifeless body soaked in blood. He was gone. My mom had a massive heart attack when she looked at his dead body. She died the next day. I will never forgive that man for destroying my family." She cried bitterly. 

"Vennela, I can imagine what you must have gone through having experienced similar loss myself. But, let me tell you this. Your parents are lucky, they had a daughter like you. They will be proud of you forever." Amar rubbed her palms and massaged her head.

He let her cry until she wiped her tears finally. "I'm glad my aunt and uncle never treated me like an orphan. They helped me battle depression by enrolling me in yoga and martial arts institutes. My life has been good since then. Though I stopped at brown belt to concentrate on engineering, I've taken up painting to keep myself busy on Lasya akka's advice. I met so many wonderful people in my life. And that includes you too. Thanks for everything." She smiled at him.

He caressed her face affectionately. "Don't thank me Vennu. I'm your husb- I mean, I'm your friend." She slept on his shoulder.

He kept thinking about how Anirudh disagreed with him on telling Vennela the truth about Lasya. "Stop being so idealistic. She will never trust you again." He warned Amar. So, Amar gave up the idea of telling her. 'There's no point telling her. I haven't done anything wrong.'

The other side, Shruthi allowed Rishi-Raj to have her share of ice creams. They rushed out of the room to eat them. "So, there's no improvement. It was just a fake hug?" She asked Anirudh.

"You should tell me. You were here. I was away." Anirudh replied sharply.

"I was busy with my studies. I didn't have time to concentrate on them. They did get comfortable with each other. But that's not enough. They don't even share the bedroom. I'm sure they have feelings for each other. We have to bring them closer" said Shruthi.

"We need to plan something bigger. Like a date." Anirudh shared his idea.

"Bad idea. She won't agree." Shruthi knew what Vennela would say. "She will say going on a date should be a choice, not compulsion."

"Okay. I have another idea." Anirudh whispered it in Shruthi's ear so that no one could overhear it. She giggled.

"Why are you giggling?"

"Nothing" she said moving away from him. "I like your idea. You are a genius." Shruthi praised Anirudh and shook hands with him. 

To everyone's surprise, Vennela seemed happy during the dinner. She felt relieved after sharing her past with Amar. She kept smiling. They decided to stay there for the night.

"How will you get home?" Amar asked Anirudh.

"Bike" Anirudh answered. He left without looking back, much to Shruthi's disappointment. He was scared he might give her too much attention.

Vennela sang a lullaby for Shruthi who slept hugging her pillow with a sweet smile on her face. She looked at her little sister who turned 21 that day. 'They grow up so fast.' She switched off the light and tip-toed out of the room.

She switched on the light in the guest room, where Amar was sleeping. "Is my moonlight here to illuminate the night?" He asked her with a mischievous grin.

"Your moonlight has decided to share the room with you from today. You don't have to sleep on the couch. You can sleep next to me." She said looking into his eyes.

"OMG!!! I really, sincerely, desperately hope this is not a dream. Could you please tell me why I am thus being blessed?" Amar asked with sparkling eyes.

"Well, the kids might think we had a fight if we stay in separate rooms." She lied. She actually wanted to follow Janaki's advice.

"Don't lie. I know the reason," said Amar, moving closer.

"What might that be?" Vennela moved closer.

"You are here because you find me irresistible." He teased her.

She was annoyed and felt the mad urge to teach him a lesson. "No. I'm here for my vengeance."

She pulled him into a tight hug. He stood still not knowing how to respond. Before he could wrap his arms around her, she broke the hug. "Someone's going to have a sleepless night." She made a line of control with pillows and slept.

Needless to say that Amar lay awake for most of the night.

---***---

Now we know why Vennela stopped at brown belt. ENGINEERING.

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