Chapter 53 - You are my king

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"Hello Praveen. Come and join me. The boys will be here soon." Bharat invited Praveen.

"Thank you. Is that a drink? Make one for me too before the kids come." Praveen asked Bharat.

"Sure." Bharat offered him the glass. "You are very different from your brother."

They emptied their glasses in a go and repeated it. "My nephew doesn't let me drink. But this is his Bachelor party. I will drink to my heart's content."

"Right" said Praveen.

They were enjoying when they heard voices coming from outside. "You didn't take us with you on your bachelor trip. We hate you" said Raj

"You took Surya bava. He is not even a bachelor." Rishi complained.

"They are my kids" said Praveen. "They are not supposed to be here before 7 pm."

"You are not eighteen yet" said Amar. "We will go when it is Rudy's turn."

"Sure. We'll go to Vegas. The girls told me it was absolutely delightful" said Anirudh.

"Those are mine" said Bharat. "Quick, hide the bottles."

"Uncle, you are already here? Good. Let's wait for Surya then" said Amar.

"Surya? You mean Sun God? The sun rises in the morning Amar" said Bharat.

Amar eyed Bharat suspiciously. "You two are drunk. Aren't you?"

"No. Divya doesn't let me drink" said Praveen.

"I believe our mother's name is Vidya" said Raj.

"Oh! Okay" Praveen grinned.

"So called responsible elders of our family." Amar muttered.

"Just for a day. We are happy today" said Bharat. Amar sighed. He nodded.

Bharat gave Amar a side hug before he turned to Praveen. "What was I saying? Yes. When Shambhavi's father came, I hid in the water tank. But my great father-in-law caught me. I stood there for hours shivering, trying to explain that I wasn't a thief. That is when Shambhavi came and rescued me. She told him the truth. Very brave woman she is. Very brave."

Praveen and the boys clapped their hands.

"Tell me your story" Bharat asked Praveen.

"Vidya is from Kochi. She was Pranav anna's neighbor. She used to babysit Vennela whenever vadina was busy. When I went to stay there for a fortnight, I flirted with her like I did with all the other girls--"

"Wait, you flirted with other girls?" Rishi asked sharply.

"Well, er, you see I was just a boy" Praveen said sheepishly.

"Continue" said Raj.

"She didn't respond. My charms didn't work on her. That is when I understood that she doesn't care about my wealth or good looks. I decided to woo her sincerely. It took me many days before she finally said yes. My cute little Vidya. Eight inches shorter than me. I had to bend a bit in all our photographs." Praveen spoke fondly of Vidya. The boys grinned.

"But she gave me tall kids" Praveen pointed at Rishi-Raj. "My twin boys. The reason my hair is turning grey before forty five."

"Come to think of it, Shambhavi is six inches shorter than me. She is okay with the height difference. She said she can wear high heels without hurting my ego" said Bharat.

"Vennela is just four inches shorter than me. I like it. We both are in first floor. It is convenient for everything this way" said Amar.

"And by everything do you mean..." Anirudh frowned.

Amar grinned like an idiot. Prakash arrived because Amar invited him and he couldn't decline. He greeted everyone. Surya arrived. Prakash and Surya looked at each other for a second. He turned away before Surya could greet him.

"Come on. Have a drink" Praveen pulled them.

Prakash took the glass and drank. "You don't drink?" He asked Surya.

"No. As you all know I am into social service during my free time. A person like me should set an example. In fact Lasya quit drinking because of me" said Surya.

"You forced her?" asked Prakash.

"I didn't. It was her decision" said Surya. "I asked her to join me in a campaign to educate teenagers about ill effects of drinking. I prepared a speech for her and sent her the material. She didn't talk to me for two days. She called me the third day and told me that she felt guilty. She doesn't have a right to speak on stage when she herself drinks. So she decided to quit drinking after reading the material I sent her. That is exactly when I.."

"Fell in love?" Amar asked him. He nodded.

Prakash didn't speak. He emptied his glass and asked for more. "You know, you are a good boy" He said abruptly.

Surya was shocked. He looked at Amar, who was looking at Prakash, who in turn was looking at Surya. Then Amar looked at Surya, who looked at Praveen, who said, "It's the alcohol talking."

"A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts" said Amar.

"Amar is right. Everyone here is good. Surya, Anirudh, Praveen...everyone. And the best one is--"

"Me?" asked Rishi.

"No. The best kid among you is Amar" Prakash patted Amar. "I like your collection of bikes" He added.

Amar's friends started arriving. Together, they had lot of fun dancing to ear splitting music. Amar, the groom, was lifted up by his friends and passed over the heads of everyone present in the hall. Fifteen minutes later he was thrown into the swimming pool. He immediately took his watch off and held it above water to prevent it from getting damaged.

After hours of celebration, his friends started to leave. Amar made sure that those who got drunk don't drive. He sent his security guards with them.

"Amar, I need your help. We need to take these two to the Dhanunjaya mansion without anyone noticing. The girls are hosting a party in the ground floor. It won't look good if the bride's uncles come home drunk. Will you come with me?" Surya asked Amar.

"Bava you don't need to ask. He is dying to come" said Raj.

Amar agreed. They reached the house and went inside through the backdoor to take Prakash and Praveen directly to their rooms. They could hear music coming from the ground floor. Vennela's party was still going on. Nanditha dragged Prakash away.

"Hi Divya, I mean Vidya" Praveen waved at Vidya.

"Rishi, get me a knife from the kitchen" Vidya ordered.

"Amma, it's okay. He drank out of courtesy. He didn't drink in years" said Rishi.

"He called me Divya" Vidya glared at Praveen.

"Just a slip of tongue" said Raj.

"Slip of tongue? Divya was his first crush." Vidya looked at Praveen with murderous rage. She took her husband to their room. 

Amar started to leave. He almost stepped out of the door when two on Vennela's friends spotted him. "Girls, Vennu baby's fiance is here" One of them yelled. Soon Amar found himself surrounded by fifteen girls.

"Hello" He waved at them awkwardly. His hair was all messed up. He tried to flatten it.

"Trust me you look ten times more handsome than your pictures" One of them squealed. "Vennu you are lucky."

Vennela and Amar blushed at the same time. "Look at their coordination. They are so cute" The girls were excited. They didn't let Amar leave. He turned towards  Archana as if requesting her for help.

"Girls, how can we let Amar Pratap leave without dancing. Come on. To the dance floor." Archana yelled.

Amar was shocked. Before he could say something, he was being led to the dance floor. 

"Come on. Dance" They asked Amar and Vennela.

"I'm not a good dancer" said Vennela.

"We won't leave you until you dance" said the girls.

"I will teach you." Amar taught her a simple step. She imitated him. Lasya recorded it in her phone.

Everyone else joined them. Vennela held Amar's hand and helped him sneak out. They reached his car.

"So, we are getting married in five days" said Vennela.

"I know" Amar answered.

"The rituals will start tomorrow" said Vennela.

"I know" 

"We won't be allowed to meet until the wedding" said Vennela. She was unbuttoning and buttoning his shirt repeatedly.

"I know that too. I fail to understand why you are telling me what I already know" Amar teased her. 

"How am I suppose to live for five days without seeing you?" She hugged him.

"Same here. But, the prospect of our reunion in five days will give me strength to stay away now." Amar caressed her hair.

"Do you know what the best thing about you is?" Vennela asked him.

"You never told me" 

"Your name" said Vennela.

"Hey! Copycat. That's my answer." Amar complained.

Vennela smiled. "Your name suits you perfectly. Amar Pratap means immortal bravery and vigor. You have shown undying vigor and strength since the day we met. No matter how difficult the circumstances are, you never lost faith. When I looked at you during our wedding, I forgot all my worries for a while. You looked like a king. Now, I can proudly say that my husband doesn't just look like a king. He is a true king."

"Am I?" Amar was delighted. "Who is my queen? Am I allowed to choose one of your friends?" He asked pointed at the house.

"No" Vennela smacked his head. 

"This is not fair. What good is a king with no queen? I want a queen. Tell me. Who is my queen to be? Where is--"

Vennela covered his mouth with her palm to stop him from speaking. "You already have a queen. It's me." She paused and moved closer. "You are my king. I am your queen." Amar grinned. 

"Do you have a spare shirt in your car?" She asked Amar. 

"No. But I have a blazer."

"Good. Take your shirt off and give it to me. I'll sleep by hugging it" said Vennela.

"Great idea" Amar gave her his shirt and put on the blazer. "Sleep peacefully for the coming five days. Take afternoon and evening naps too if necessary."

"Why?"

"Because so many sleepless nights ahead, once we get married." He winked at her and left.

---***---

Last chapter and epilogue are left.



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