Just realized I never introduced myself formally.  Hello everyone, my name is Harshitha Musle. 

---***---

"How are you feeling Vennu?" Prakash caressed her head. She regained consciousness after one and a half day.

Vennela smiled in reply. It was a bit difficult for her to speak. "Feeling good after removing the oxygen mask." She observed everyone's anxious faces. "You know what? At first I thought I woke up after spending years and years in coma. Expected Lasya akka's kids to come running and take my blessings." Everyone laughed except Amar. He was standing in a corner.

"Guess you have been watching lot of movies" said Praveen. "Had this happened in real, it would have been a sensational news." 

Vennela laughed. She felt blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family. 

"Tell me what happened to my left leg? Why am I unable to move it?" Vennela asked them. Everyone stopped smiling.

"Honey, you need to rest. We'll talk later." Nanditha tried to divert her mind.

"No. Tell me. I am strong enough to take it." Vennela was adamant.

Nanditha's eyes were filled with tears again. "Because of the injury, the movement in your left leg is temporarily arrested."

"Temporarily? How long will it take to be normal?" asked Vennela.

"7-8 months. We are lucky it's just a partial damage which can be cured with the help of modern technology." Vidya answered.

"7-8 months?" asked Vennela blankly. She was sad. She wondered how they were so sure about the time. Cases like this took many years. She hoped it can be cured like they claimed.

"Vennu, don't feel bad. Just a few months. You will be normal again. You have faced many problems in your life. But, you fought bravely and emerged victorious. Time to show your bravery once more." Vidya knew exactly what to say to console Vennela.

"Yes. I'm a brave girl. I can wait till my leg gets cured." Vennela decided to stay strong. "Where is Shruthi? Where are Rishi-Raj and Anirudh? And I heard Ragini donated blood. Is that true?"

"They have gone to Hanuman temple to thank him after you gained consciousness. They will be here in an hour. And yes, Ragini donated blood. She rushed to the hospital as soon as she heard the news." Gayatri answered.

"Meenakshi aunty. Please thank her when she returns." Vennela felt bad for shouting at Ragini the previous week.

"I will, honey. She will be back soon. You can talk to her if they allow us to visit you in the evening again." Meenakshi promised her.

The nurse came and asked them to leave. "Your ten minutes are over. Only one of you can stay with her."

"Right. Amar, stay with her." Narayana told Amar before leaving.

Everyone went out leaving Vennela alone with Amar. He slowly walked closer and knelt beside her. "Amar, what are you doing?"

"Apologizing."

"Why should you apologize? It's me who needs to beg you to forgive me after what I've done." Vennela fought back tears.

"No Vennela. This misunderstanding started because of me. I lied to you. I hid the truth even after you repeatedly told me not to hide anything from you. How can I expect you to trust me when I broke my promise? I'm a fool. You were already feeling insecure. You just reacted the way any insecure wife would. But, my reaction landed you in this problem. My lies could have k-killed you." Amar's voice shook.

"Amar, these wounds mean nothing to me. I think I deserve these for wounding your feelings. Grandpa is right. I make a lot of assumptions. I should have asked for explanation instead of accusing you. I was equally wrong." She looked at Amar's face. "No need to feel so bad. I accept your apology if it makes you feel better. Will you in turn accept my apology and give me a chance to call you 'Amar darling'?"

Amar smiled. "Sure sweetheart. The offer is so tempting that you leave me with no choice other than accepting your apology."

"Looks like I might take several months to recover." Vennela pointed out. "Now you don't have to worry about me hurting you with stilettos."

"It's not as bad as we think. Don't worry about it. We will consult the best doctors once you are allowed to move. I will serve you until then. Trust me." Amar squeezed her hand.

"What about my job?" Vennela didn't want to resign.

"It's our company's policy to welcome back employees after they have recovered from serious illness. It doesn't take into consideration how long you were on leave. So, don't worry. You will be welcomed back like a queen. Besides, all my assistants are very fond of you. They will kill me if I don't allow you," said Amar making Vennela chuckle.

"Where's grandma Janaki?" She asked.

"How can you be so sure that she has come to Hyderabad?" asked Amar.

"Because she loves me. We are the only family she's left with. She will definitely come." Vennela prayed she wasn't wrong.

"You're right, moonlight. She was here yesterday. She even came to see you when you were asleep. I sent her home last night along with uncle Bharat and aunt Shambhavi." Amar noticed her smile vanish at the mention of Shambhavi. "Nothing to worry about. I won't let her irritate you this time. I will not allow her to meet you if you want to stay away from her."

"Hey! Don't make it sound like we hate each other. It's just that I find her priorities..." Vennela struggled to find a less offensive word. 

"Questionable" Amar completed the sentence.

"Right" She yawned.

"You need to sleep. You have been awake for more than an hour." Amar kept caressing her hand as she slept peacefully.

---***---

"What are you doing here?" Shambhavi fumed at Lasya.

"There's no need to take that tone with me. I am Vennela's elder sister and I have a right to be here." Lasya replied angrily.

Both had a reason to be angry with each other. Shambhavi didn't forget how Lasya eloped a day before the wedding. Lasya hated Shambhavi for forcing her sister to marry Amar.

"Lasya, we are here to meet Vennela. Shambhavi is as worried as you for her." Bharat requested politely.

She nodded and stepped aside. She didn't want to meet Vennela in Shambhavi's presence. So, she let them go first. 

"How is my granddaughter feeling?" Janaki smiled at Vennela.

"Strong enough to defeat your grandson in arm wrestling" said Vennela. 

Janaki chuckled and turned to Bharat and Shambhavi. "Didn't I tell you not to worry? Our Vennu is so brave."

"I'm so glad you are fine. We were  worried. Archana was so scared." Bharat told her.

"Archana, I'm fine. I won't die so easily." Vennela tried to make them feel better, ignoring the pain in her right arm and head.

"Don't ever talk about dying Vennela," said Bharat.

"You need to rest. I'll talk to your doctor for more details." Shambhavi told her before leaving with everyone. She gave a furious look to Lasya, who stood next to the door. Lasya replied with an equally furious look and went inside.

Shambhavi had a long discussion on Vennela's health condition with the doctors. She wasn't happy with the fact that Vennela may take several months to recover. 'Extra work for Amar' she thought. 

On her way back, she saw Amar who was talking to someone on phone. "No, no. I'm sending Kailash. I can't go for the conference. Cancel all my meetings if the location isn't Hyderabad for the coming one year. And I won't be able to come to office for two months. I need to concentrate on my family. My wife is ill. Anirudh will take all the major decisions from now."

Shambhavi has heard enough. 'Amar is ruining his career for that girl. What shall I do? Can't convince him. He won't listen.'  She, being his mentor in business, didn't want to see his years of training go wasted. She worked hard to make him a successful businessman. So, she decided to set things right.

She re-entered Vennela's room. "The doctor said it will take a few months for you to recover." 

"Yes" Vennela nodded.

"So, I was thinking you should go and live with your family till everything is normal, for your own good. I mean, your family knows your needs and requirements well" said Shambhavi.

"Amar understands my needs better than anyone else" said Vennela. "No issues."

"That is the issue dear. He will completely concentrate on serving you. He has many more responsibilities which need his attention. He won't be able to do justice to anything. He will be under tremendous pressure." Shambhavi wanted to convince her.

It badly hurt Vennela to know that Shambhavi could think like this. "So, you are saying that he won't be under pressure if I stay away? Don't you understand? It will only make him miserable."

"You misunderstood me. I was just suggesting a way in which you would not be a burden for him. This extra work will strain your relationship. He may lose interest in you after a few days. So, staying in your house is the best option.  After all, it's just a matter of few months. This is for your own good. I have your best interests at heart. I'm worried for you," said Shambhavi.

"Really? If you are worried for me so badly, then why don't you stay here and take care of me while my husband concentrates on his work? After all, it's just a matter of few months." Vennela looked at her as if daring her.

Shambhavi was taken aback. She didn't expect that reply. 'She was meek and docile during her wedding. When did she get so strong?'

"Well, er, you see Vennela, well, I'd be glad to serve you. But, I can't stay with you for several months. I have a family." Shambhavi answered in a low voice.

"Right. Not very unlike you, I too have a family. The family which includes my husband. I choose to stay with my family like how you chose to stay with yours. I won't leave my husband alone." Vennela spoke with a finality in her tone.

---***---

"You look angry sweetheart." Amar brought her food. "Anything wrong?"

"Nothing. Just made it clear to someone that you and me are inseparable." Vennela took a deep breath to calm down and started gulping down the bland food Amar brought for her. "This is so tasteless. Promise me a Panipuri treat after I recover..."

---***---

Thank you so much for all the encouragement.