The next morning, Divya's parents called her down to the living room. They said they had something important they wanted to discuss with her. Divya sat down opposite them, a faint knot tightening in her stomach.

Lakshmi was the first to speak. 'Divya, your father and I... we've been talking,' she started, her eyes warm but serious. 'We want you to get married.'

Divya’s breath caught in her throat. 'Get married?' she echoed, her eyes widening in disbelief. This was it. The moment she had been dreading.

Lakshmi continued, appearing oblivious to her daughter’s internal turmoil. 'Yes, dear. And we already have a match in mind for you. He’s one of our relatives, a very good family, and—'

Divya didn't hear the rest. The words blurred into a distant humming. Her relatives. It wasn't Arjun. It would never be Arjun. She didn't trust herself to speak, terrified that her voice would crack and betray her secret. She just sat there, her head bowed, and managed a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. A tear finally escaped, rolling slowly down her cheek.

Lakshmi and Lokesh, seeing only her silent acceptance and mistaken her tears for happiness, exchanged a triumphant smile. 'Wonderful!' Lakshmi beamed. 'We will arrange a meeting soon.'

Divya couldn't stand to be in the room for another second. She mumbled a quiet excuse, stood up on shaky legs, and almost ran back to the safety of her bedroom, her heart breaking with every step.

A cab pulled up at the Kancherla house, and before it even came to a full stop, Nidhi was out. She paid the driver and ran inside, not stopping until she hit the kitchen.

Her mother, Lakshmi, was standing at the stove, her back to the door, stirring something that smelled delicious.

Nidhi didn't make a sound. She carefully wrapped her arms around her mother from behind, burying her face in her neck.

Lakshmi paused, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Without even turning around, she said, ‘Who is it? Divya?’ Then she placed her hands over Nidhi’s, a soft chuckle escaping her. ‘Wait... it’s chinnu.’

‘Amma!’ Nidhi squealed, squeezing her tighter. She hadn’t realized how much she missed this familiar scent, this comforting kitchen.

Just then, Divya and Lokesh entered the kitchen, drawn by the sudden noise. Their eyes widened when they saw Nidhi. Nidhi immediately released her mother and launched herself at her father. ‘Nanna!’ she cried, throwing her arms around him.

Lokesh laughed, a rich, warm sound, and hugged his youngest daughter back. "Bangaru Thalli! (My daughter!) Look at you! How are you, chinnu?"he asked, kissing her forehead.

Next, Nidhi pulled Divya into a tight, spinning hug, laughing and chattering about her journey.

The reunion was sweet, but Lakshmi, ever the mother, interrupted. ‘Okay, okay! Nidhi, you look exhausted. Go fresh up. I know you missed my food, so I made your favorite chicken biryani.’

Nidhi stopped mid-sentence, her eyes wide.

‘Biryani? Really chicken biryani?’ She didn't wait for another word. She grabbed her bag and bolted up the stairs to her room.

After a long, relaxing shower, Nidhi was a new person. She went downstairs to find a massive plate of biryani waiting for her. She didn't hold back. She ate until she couldn't move, and then she fell right into her comfortable bed, asleep within minutes.

She slept fully until 8 PM. When she finally woke up, the house was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of evening light. She took one deep breath and realized... she was still hungry.

She bounded downstairs again, ready for round two. This time, Lakshmi served her steaming hot pappucharu (lentil stew) with a big plate of crispy chicken fry. Nidhi tucked into the meal, realizing just how much she had been missing her home food.

After eating, she stood up and said, 'Amma, nenu Atthayya intiki velli vastha' (Mother, I will visit Aunt's house and return).

Her mother, Lakshmi, quickly responded, 'Chinnu, wait.' She was already busy packing up food. She packed the chicken fry and the pappu charu into containers and handed them to Nidhi.

Nidhi took the heavy boxes and made her way over to Syamala’s house. She crossed the yard and entered the kitchen area. The family was still at the dining table, finishing their meal.

Nidhi spotted her aunt and couldn't contain her excitement. 'Atthayya!' she squealed, running full speed toward Syamala.

Syamala stood up, startled but genuinely pleased. She wrapped Nidhi in a big hug. 'Hey kothi, eppudu vacchav?' (Hey, monkey! When did you come?) she asked with a smile.

'Madhyanam vaccha, Attha' (I came this afternoon, Aunt), Nidhi replied, pulling back.

Syamala’s smile shifted into a mock pout. She looked at her niece, her voice laced with playful frustration. 'Madhyanam vacchi... ippudu vacchava ikkadiki?' (You came this afternoon and... you are just now coming here?).

Nidhi giggled and gave her aunt a quick kiss on the cheek to make up for it. 'Sorry, Attha. Vacchi tired ga undhi ani padukunipoya' (Sorry, Aunt. After I came, I was very tired, so I went to sleep).

Syamala’s pout instantly vanished, replaced by a gentle smile. Her attention turned to the stacked boxes in Nidhi’s hands. 'What is this?'

'Amma gave this for you,' Nidhi explained, setting the boxes down. She knew they were Syamala's favorite.

Nidhi turned to her uncle, Ramakrishna, who was watching them with an amused expression. 'Enti mavayya? Ela unnaru?' (What, Uncle? How are you?).

'Bane unnanu amma. Sugar, BP em raledhu' (I am fine, child. Sugar and BP have not come to me), Ramakrishna replied with a chuckle, enjoying the attention.

'Mavayya!' Nidhi responded, emphasizing the word and laughing along with him. After her greetings were finished, she looked around the room. 'Where is Arjun?'

Syamala said. 'He is in his room. Go and call him.'

Nidhi nodded and headed toward the main stairs. The Rudramaneni house was sprawling, and Arjun’s room was tucked away on the third floor. She started climbing, initially full of energy. But as she hit the third flight, she started to feel the fatigue.

'Rey! Entra babu! (Hey, what is this!) Inni metlu unnayi! (There are so many stairs!)' she groaned softly to herself.

She finally reached the third floor. She paused to catch her breath, looking around the expansive floor that she rarely visited. She began observing the art and decorations on the walls, a habit she always had, and to keep herself occupied, she started singing.

The song that came to mind was one of her favorites:

“Pilichina ranantava... kalusukolentanava... naluguru unnara antava... bava…” (Will you not come if I call? Will you not meet me? Do you say there are people watching......)

She was so absorbed in her song and her inspection of a painting that she turned a corner without looking.

Thwack!

Her forehead collided with something incredibly hard. It was solid, warm, and smelled faintly of expensive cologne.

"Abba! Eyy evadra dhari madhyalo goda pettindhi " She rubbed her head and looked up, and she saw Devarsh, who was looking deeply at her. She took a step back. She was seeing him after three years. She had come home during holidays, but had never met him.

She was scared of him or frustrated because he always teased her. She looked at him and saw him openly checking her out from top to bottom. She didn't feel uncomfortable she felt shy, but she didn't want to be shy.She tried to move another way.

Devarsh was looking at her and thought, "Didn't she eat well? She lost weight and is looking thin." He thought this, but he stopped her from moving to the other side. She again tried, but again Devarsh moved. Again she looked at him, frustrated, and tried to go back. She turned and took a step, then Devarsh caught her wrist and pulled her towards him. Nidhi’s eyes widened, and she fell against his chest.

"Eyy, enti?" he asked. Nidhi shook her head, trying to remove his hold, but Devarsh said again, "Enti," his voice cold.

"Arjun kosam vacchanu," Nidhi said, stammering slowly.

Devarsh lifted his hand, moving the hair behind her ear. "Exams Ela rasav," he asked, his voice cold and husky.

"Bag..ane ras..anu," she stammered. Nidhi closed her eyes tightly.

Slowly Devarsh left her. "Po," Devarsh said.

She ran from there at jet speed downstairs, cursing him.

"Bandodu," "Mondodu," "Atleast eppudu vacchav ani premaga adagochu kadha. Ledhu, bedhiristhunnadu," she cursed him.

A small smile was playing on Devarsh’s lips. He followed her down.

Nidhi saw Arjun coming from the garden. When Arjun saw Nidhi, "Hey Nidhi," he said and hugged her like a brother.

Devarsh saw that, his eyes narrowing, maybe because of jealousy. He slowly sat down on a dining chair.

"Nidhi, kurcho. Nuvvu kuda thinu," Ramakrishna said.

"Mavayya, nenu already dinner chesa. Nenu Meeku vaddistha, meeru thinandi," she said and started serving them. She started serving Devarsh, and her hands started shivering when it came to Devarsh.

She took a vegetable curry, which was ladies' finger curry, which Devarsh hated to the core, but he didn't say anything and started eating. During all this time, he started looking at her.

When Syamala saw that Devarsh was eating, she asked, "Devarsh, from when are you started eating ladies' finger curry?"

He looked at her and didn't say anything. They didn't understand that, but someone was observing Devarsh too, with great importance.

After dinner, Nidhi went to her home, saying "Goodnight" to everyone except Devarsh. Devarsh looked out and went out until she reached her home safely. All of this was being observed by someone.

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