"The treatment is working. We'll start advanced procedure from next month. Meanwhile, you can consult a specialist doctor in Kerala who is an expert in handling such cases." Vennela's doctor was talking to Amar, while she was half asleep.

"Did you say Kerala?!!" She exclaimed with her eyes wide open. "It's my favorite place. Thank you doctor."

"Is it okay to travel in such condition? I mean the head injury is still not cured completely." Amar was apprehensive.

"Your wish. This is not a part of our treatment. You may go next month if you feel she won't be able to travel now. I can give you the details if you are interested" said the doctor.

"Of course, we are interested. Don't mind my husband. Give me the details." Vennela spoke before Amar could say anything. The doctor looked amused. He gave them the details of the clinic in Kerala.

"How can we go to Kerala in this condition? You are not strong enough to travel. Let's go there next month" said Amar, as soon as they were out of earshot.

"Why can't we go? I want to go." Vennela pouted. "Kerala is one of the best tourist places."

"Tourist place? Is that why you want this trip? You talk as if you are checking honeymoon destinations. We are talking about treatment" said Amar, as they sat in the car.

"Hey! I've already decided my honeymoon location back in 2010. It's Venice" said Vennela, before she could stop herself.

Amar was amused. "You decided where you should go for honeymoon when you were seventeen?"

Vennela blushed. "Amar, please let's go there this month. I spent my childhood in Kochi. Never got a chance to revisit the place." She told him the real reason.

"Fine. I will take an appointment with the clinic in Kerala. But you have you promise me you won't strain yourself. You will listen to what I say throughout the trip and eat more than what you have normally. You need all your strength while travelling. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir." Vennela saluted. She was very excited.

Amar requested Vennela's servants to join them in the trip to help her. Prakash and Nanditha also accompanied them.

Vennela was happy to travel in Amar's private plane for the second time. "Remember the first time we traveled together? I was talking nonstop."

"Of course, I do. That was the first time we had a beautiful conversation." Amar's face broke into a smile. "So many days have passed but I remember it as if it happened yesterday."

Vennela felt happy that she was successful in creating a few good memories with him. At that moment she understood the true meaning of Janaki's advice. 'She was right. Memories reside in our heart forever.'

They reached their destination in no time. They relaxed for a while. "You have such a nice house in this town. When did you buy this?" asked Vennela.

"Day before yesterday, when we decided to come here" Amar answered.

"You bought a house for a stay of five days?" Vennela looked shocked.

"I couldn't let you stay in hotels. This is more comfortable" said Amar as if it was no big deal.

"This must have cost you very much. Why did you waste so much money?" asked Vennela.

"Excuse me! I didn't waste any money. I spent it for comfort, not luxury. What did I earn billions for? Just to increase my bank balance? No. I will use it." Amar explained.

"But as per my conditions, you have to use my money for treatment." Vennela reminded him.

"You should choose your words carefully while stating the conditions, Mrs. Vennela. You said your money has to be spent for treatment. This house is not a part of treatment. It's just a place of stay." Amar smirked.

"You are an expert in finding loopholes" Vennela remarked.

"Yes. Don't forget who I am. I'm Amar Pratap the wise and clever." Amar looked smug.

"You are not half as wise as you think." Vennela slept on his lap. "This pillow is more comfortable than your luxurious bed."

"Yeah. Right. Use my lap as your pillow. Because we are just friends." Amar massaged her head.

"There will be relaxation in the 'just friends' condition whenever I want." Vennela announced. "You are right. I was depressed when I said those words. Thank you for not taking my words seriously. Or else we would have been divorced by now."

"Not a chance sweetheart. We are inseparable" said Amar.

---***---

"This treatment looks fine. I mean it's better than what I expected." Amar massaged her leg with the oil bought from the clinic. "I think we should order few more bottles of this."

"Didn't I tell you? Ayurvedic medicines are the best" said Vennela.

"May I come in?" Nanditha requested permission to enter.

"Yes. You may. You don't have to ask for permission every time aunty." Vennela allowed her. Their strained relationship was back to normal again.

"You need to sleep early tonight. We are leaving for Kochi tomorrow" said Nanditha. Vennela's mood lifted on hearing the name of the city.

"There's one more thing. I talked to the owner of the house in which you used to live. He said he is out of town. He talked to his daughter who agreed to let us visit the house for a while." Prakash told Vennela.

"Really uncle?" Vennela couldn't believe her ears. "Thank you so much. You are the best. I can't wait to visit the place. I hope it didn't change much. It has been eighteen years. I hope the mango tree is still there."

Prakash smiled at her childish enthusiasm. "It will be."

The next morning, they traveled to Kochi.

"Uncle, when are going to visit the house?" She asked Prakash for the fourth time.

"In the afternoon." Prakash answered patiently.

Amar bought a few gifts for the owner's daughter. "It was so nice of her to let us visit."

Vennela spotted a park. "I remember this park. I used to come here with dad on Sundays. Just one kilometer away from our house. We used to buy an ice cream only for two rupees and share it. I still remember how we used to hide it from mom. She would scold him if she knew."

"Like mother, like daughter." said Amar.

"Let's go inside." Vennela requested. He gladly obliged. Their bodyguards maintained a respectable distance from them.

Amar was pushing her wheelchair slowly so that she would get a good view of the beautiful flowers.

She greeted a few kids who waved at her.

"Do you know them?" asked Amar.

"No. These children have a big heart." She looked at them as they played hide and seek. "Children know how to make you forget your woes. Lucky are those people who don't lose their childish innocence even after growing up. And you are one of them. Innocent and adorable." She squeezed Amar's hand.

Precisely at that moment, she saw a group of women in their early twenties having lunch in a corner of the park, throw dishwater away. It fell on a girl, ruining her dress. The girl started crying. They shooed her away without apologizing.

Vennela was furious. "Hey! Are you blind? Can't you see the girl is crying? At least have the courtesy to apologize."

"Relax! That girl is the sweeper's daughter. Her dress was full of mud stains already." The woman who threw the dishwater, answered. The other women from her group nodded.

"Hello! So called high class women! Can't you read the sign at the entrance of the park? It says you can't bring food from outside. You broke the rule by bringing your food to the park" said Vennela.

"Just leave stupid woman." She yelled at Vennela.

"Mind your language. You don't want to get into trouble now" said Amar as if warning them.

The women checked out Amar, literally drooling. One of them wolf-whistled at him. "Come on, man. Are you supporting this crippled woman? She just wants attention."

"Call the security, Amar." Nanditha suggested. People started gathering around.

"No. We can handle this." Amar gestured the guards, who were approaching the women, to stop. He didn't like misusing his power.

He turned towards the group of women. "The girl is a sweeper's daughter. I agree her dress was full of stains. But, that doesn't give you the right to throw dishwater at her. If I throw dishwater on your face, would you like it?" He asked politely.

"It seems no one has taught you manners" said someone from the crowd.

"This is a public place. Next time, book a private place for lunch, your highness" said another person from the crowd. Everyone laughed.

The women glared at them. They muttered an apology to the girl and started leaving.

"Wait." Vennela stopped them. "There's one more thing. Do you see this man standing next to me? You may wolf-whistle at him. You may drool over him. But, you can never stop him from supporting this crippled woman. He is my husband."

Amar looked at her with pride in his eyes. They bought the little girl brand new clothes. She kissed Vennela's hand and kept waving at them till they reached the car.

Vennela finished her lunch quickly. They reached the house at 3 pm. She felt nostalgic looking at it. "It has changed so much. Where's the mango tree?"

"Are you sure it was here?" asked Nanditha. Vennela nodded.

"The owner must have chopped it off" said Prakash.

"Let's go inside" said Amar.

Nanditha held the gifts they brought for the house owner's daughter. Amar rang the bell.

The door opened. Amar was shocked on seeing the woman who opened the door.

It was the woman from the park.

---***---

Don't forget to vote and comment. Thank you.