Chapter 25 - Forgive and Forget

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"What are you doing here, Mr. Narayana?" Vennela was surprised to see her grandfather.

"He's come to talk to you. We heard that you had a tiff with Amar." Her grandmother, Gayatri, answered.

"Tell him that I don't need him." Vennela spoke rudely.

"Yes. You do," said Lasya. "I called them so that they can talk some sense into you. Don't insult grandpa. He traveled all the way from Vishakhapatnam to Hyderabad just for you."

"Then ask him to travel back. I don't need a murderer talking--"

"Shut up, Vennela. How dare you call him a murderer?" Gayatri scolded her.

"He murdered my parents. What else should I call him?" Vennela shouted.

Gayatri almost slapped her when Narayana stopped her. "Vennela, do you know what your problem is? You never look at the issue from others' perspective. You make a lot of assumptions. You think what you feel is right. Ever thought why Amar had to do that? Ever thought there could be more to what you know about Pranav's death? No, you just--"

"There's more? What are you saying?" Vennela was puzzled.

"Nothing. I think you should talk to Amar" said Narayana.

"No. Answer my question first." Vennela wanted to know.

"Tell her. She is old enough to know." Gayatri placed her hand on her husband's shoulder.

Narayana took a deep breath. "You think I've forced your father to quit his job. Yes, I did. But, I did it on your mother's request. He was a strict and sincere police officer. He received many death threats. But, nothing could scare him. One day Geeta received your photograph taken in your school with a note which said - If your husband keeps interfering in our business we may have to kill this little one."

Vennela was shocked. No one has ever told her this.

"The threat was from a gangster. She was scared for you. She asked Pranav to resign. I ordered him to come back. He didn't agree. He was brave and rebellious just like you. He continued to gather evidence against the gangster and got him imprisoned. The death threats increased. Geeta's health deteriorated. He finally quit the job and joined family business."

At this point he couldn't speak anymore. Gayatri continued the remaining story. "The gangster's son sought revenge. He k-killed my son." Her voice shook. "Geeta died a day later. You were the only one left alive. We couldn't afford to lose you. That is why we didn't let you stay with us. We sent you to Prakash. Your grandfather destroyed the gangster's family."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Vennela tried hard to process the information.

"Because you were very depressed after their deaths. You were a child. We couldn't tell you that your life was in danger. It could have worsened your condition. I wanted you safe. I knew you blamed me. Your hatred didn't matter to me because I loved you." Narayana smiled weakly.

Vennela sat down holding her head in her hands. Shruthi offered her a glass of water. Vennela drank it and asked for another glass. "Why did you hide this from me even after I grew up?"

"I tried to tell you. But you never listened." Narayana sat down beside her.

"Akka, grandpa is right. You expect everyone to be as perfect as you. Not everyone is strong enough to tell the truth. You need to understand others' weaknesses." Shruthi spoke firmly.

Vennela looked at her grandfather. "You're right. I make a lot of assumptions. But, when proved wrong, I don't hesitate to apologize. So, are you willing to forgive your granddaughter so that we could live peacefully for the rest of our lives?"

"That doesn't sound like an apology. It's like you're ordering him." Lasya remarked.

"That attitude sets her apart from other grand kids." Narayana chuckled. "Vennu please talk to Amar."

"Do you even know what he did?"

"What would you have done if you were him?" Narayana asked Vennela. She didn't answer because she knew she would have done the same. She would have helped Lasya.

Narayana tried to defend Amar. "Had Lasya told me everything, I would have supported her. I wouldn't have let Prakash separate her from Surya. I'm very grateful to Amar for helping Lasya. Having brought up in a protective environment, she didn't know where to go and where to hide on that day. Amar just protected your sister. It's not like he persuaded her to run away."

"Vennu please. Stop being childish. Amar is your husband. At least let him come inside" said Gayatri.

"I agree. He did us a great favour. But how do you explain what he did after that? Why didn't he tell anyone?" Vennela was adamant.

"His aunt would have killed him. You saw her. You know her. He was scared. He couldn't have told you because he knew you would hate him. Let me ask you this. What would Amar do if you did something wrong? Will he ask you to leave?" Gayatri asked in a serious tone.

"No" said Vennela immediately. "He will never do that."

"So, ask him to come back. Punish him if you're not satisfied but never break ties with him." 

---***---

"Anna, please find a comfortable place to sleep. The ground is too hard." Anirudh yawned.

"Sure. I'll make a bed with rose petals. Don't hesitate to use my lap as pillow. Will that be enough or should I sing a lullaby?" Amar was annoyed.

"I just love your sarcasm" said Anirudh. "Let's ask Bunty to share his doghouse with us."

"Anirudh, I sent Rishi-Raj many times to bring you home. Why didn't you come?" Vennela approached them.

"Vadina, how can I come inside when anna can't?" Anirudh, the ideal brother, asked her.

"Who asked him to leave? Did I tell him? No. He left on his own. He is free to come in." Vennela announced.

"Anirudh, tell her I'm staying here because she will leave the moment I get inside" said Amar.

"Anirudh, tell him I'm not a kid. This is my home and I won't leave" said Vennela.

"Anirudh, tell her I won't go in until she forgives me and invites me" said Amar.

"Anirudh, tell him he's expecting too much" said Vennela.

Anirudh yawned. "Vadina let's just drag him inside." 

Vennela liked the idea. They held Amar and forced him to get in. "My grandparents are here." She pointed at Narayana and Gayatri.

"I know. They talked to me before coming in" said Amar.

"Fine. Everyone, off to bed. I need to talk to Amar alone." Vennela took Amar to their room and locked the door.

"Vennu, I'm sorry." Amar lowered his head.

"How dare you call me Vennu?" said Vennela, sharply. Amar was startled.

"Call me moonlight. Like you always do." Vennela tried to look stern.

"You like it? I thought it annoyed you." Amar grinned like an idiot.

"It annoys me. But it annoys me more if I don't hear it from you at least once in a day. Don't ask me why. I don't know why. Now, don't make any assumptions. I'm still mad at you. But I understood your intentions were not selfish. And from today, I expect you to tell me everything I deserve to know. Do you understand?" Vennela pulled him closer.

"Yes" he nodded.

"Right. Now coming to your punishment. Let me see. You have to follow my orders for an entire day and treat me like a queen" said Vennela, smirking.

"As you say, Your Highness" Amar bowed.

"Right. Now let me sleep. It was a long day." Vennela started walking towards the bed.

Amar stopped her and lifted her in bridal style. "What are you doing? Put me down." Vennela wished to freeze the moment. But still, she pretended as if she didn't like it.

"How can a servant let his queen walk?" Amar winked at her.

"Never call yourself a servant." Vennela felt bad.

"Then, who am I? Your king?" Amar asked in a mischievous tone.

"Stop flirting and sleep" Vennela told him.

"How can I sleep without serving my queen?" He started massaging her feet. 

Vennela pulled her feet away and giggled. "Please don't touch my feet."

"Come on moonlight. You belong to twenty-first century. You are not exactly 'my husband is my god and he shouldn't touch my feet' kind of girl." 

"Idiot. I'm not allowing you because I'm very ticklish on the feet." Vennela blushed.

"I know. I understood it during our toe rings moment." Amar smiled at her. "But, I can't stop serving you. I made a promise. I have to massage your feet." He tickled her foot on purpose.

"Stop it Amar. If you don't stop then I will have to.."

"I will have to what?" Amar didn't stop.

"I will have to tickle you." She tickled his neck. They completely forgot the huge fight they had that morning. 

She stopped tickling and hugged him. "What happened sweetheart?" Amar wrapped his hands around her.

"Nothing. Just felt like doing it." She broke the hug after few minutes. "Time to sleep."

"Okay. Would my moonlight like a goodnight kiss?" He asked, his eyes twinkling.

"Your moonlight will punch you if you don't sleep. Remember. No one can save you from me." Vennela switched off the lights.

Amar chuckled and closed his eyes. Vennela too closed her eyes and started imagining the goodnight kiss Amar talked about. She admitted to herself that it would be wonderful. She couldn't believe she has fallen in love with the man she was forced to marry. 

---***---

Finally!! She admitted that she's in love. 

Don't worry the book won't end. Lot of chapters with many twists before she makes a confession.

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