Ananya stumbled down the stairs, her face burning, muttering curse under her breath about her. She flopped onto the sofa, trying to distract herself by scrolling through her phone.

Arun came downstairs a few minutes later, still chuckling softly at Kavya's embarrassment. He saw Ananya on the sofa and, a mischievous glint in his eyes, walked up behind her and slapped her lightly on the head.

"Ahh! Entra? Endhuku kottav?" Ananya yelped, rubbing her head, turning to glare at her brother who sat down opposite her. (Ahh! What? Why did you hit me?)

"Naa ishtam," he said and sat in front of her. "Ayina, door knock chesi ravochu gaa?" (My wish. Anyway, you could have knocked before coming in, couldn't you?)

"Nuvvu thalupu lock vesukuni chavachu ga!" she retorted, matching his tone, her own embarrassment still fresh. (You could have locked the door)

Arun just smirked, a comfortable silence settling between them for a moment. Then, his face grew serious, all traces of humor vanishing. "Enti, intha sudden ga pelli, Anu?" he asked suddenly, his gaze sharp. (What, such a sudden wedding, Anu?)

Ananya's face paled instantly. She tried to avoid his eyes, a knot forming in her stomach. Arun observed her carefully, his protective instincts on high alert. He stood up. "Paiki le,"he commanded gently but firmly. (Get up.) Ananya, confused but sensing his shift, stood up.

Arun caught her wrist and, without a word, led her towards the backyard, away from any prying ears. "Rey, Annaya, ekkadiki thisukuni velthunnav raa?" Ananya asked, a tremor in her voice.

(Hey, brother, where are you taking me?)

He stopped in front of her, his eyes piercing. "Neeku ee pelli ishtama ledha aa?" he asked, his voice low, intense, demanding the truth.

(Do you like this wedding or not?)

"Adhi, Annaya..."she stammered, looking down. (That, brother...)

"Ishtama ledha? Just say yes or no," he pressed, his voice cold, unyielding.

(Do you like it or not? Just say yes or no.)

"No," she whispered, the single word a torrent of suppressed pain.

Arun sighed, running a hand through his hair. He placed both hands on his waist, waiting. "Mari endhuku oppukunnav?"

(Then why did you agree?)

"Adhi... Thathayya kosam," she began, and then, unable to hold it in any longer, she poured out the whole story – how Hari Narayan had harassed her at the Jathara, his cunning plan to marry her to trap her. As she spoke, Arun's eyes turned red with fury, his jaw clenched so tight it looked painful. He loved his sister more than anything.

"Intha jarigina naaku endhuku cheppaledhu, Ananya?!" he gritted out, his voice a dangerous growl, hurt and rage warring in his eyes.

(All this happened, and why didn't you tell me, Ananya?!)

Ananya didn't raise her head, guilt and fear mixing. "Vikram," she whispered, the name barely audible.

Arun's furious expression softened slightly, confusion replacing the rage. "Vikram enti?" (What about Vikram?) he asked.

Ananya slowly raised her head, meeting his gaze, tears welling in her eyes. "Annaya, Vikram nenu... preminchukuntunnam."

(Brother, Vikram and I... we love each other.)

Meanwhile, Kavya, after finally managing to compose herself, slowly made her way towards Vikram's room. She found the door slightly ajar. Vikram was sitting on the bed, his back to her, intensely reading some papers—the details against Hari Narayan that Anand had just sent. Vikram had sent Anand to dig up any dirt he could, and the first reports were in.

The door creaked open. Vikram knew it was Kavya but didn't lift his head, his cold shoulder a deliberate punishment.

"Vikram," she called softly, her voice trembling. He didn't respond. "Vikram," she called again, a little louder, a plea in her tone. Still no response. "Vikram, sorry raa,"she whispered, walking towards him. She reached out and gently lifted his head. His eyes were cold, but he couldn't hide the deep hurt in them when he saw the tears streaming down her face.

(Vikram, I'm sorry, man.)

He sighed, a heavy, weary sound, and stood up, pulling her into a stiff hug.

"Edvaku, Akka," he said softly, his voice finally breaking, his hand reaching up to gently remove the tears from her eyes. (Don't cry, sister.)

"Vikram, nenu neeku cheppali anukunna raa. Kani adhi... bhayam vesindhi," she confessed, her voice thick with sobs, clinging to him.

"Nuvvu Arun ni oppukokapothe nenu nee mata kadhu analenu, ala ani Arun ni vadhalalenu, Vikram. Andhuke raa, Arun valla family ni oppinchaka neetho matladadham anukunna."

(Vikram, I wanted to tell you, but I was scared. If you didn't agree about Arun, I couldn't say no to your words, but I also couldn't leave Arun, Vikram. That's why I wanted to talk to you after convincing Arun's family.)

"Shhh, Akka. First edvatam aapu," he murmured, rocking her gently. (Shhh, sister. First stop crying.)

"Endhuku bhayam? Arun manchodu ayithe, nenu ae oppukunta kadhe?" (Why were you scared? If Arun is a good man, I would have agreed, right?)

"I'm sorry, Vikram. Sorry raa" she repeated, hiccuping into his shoulder.

"Ok, naku Bava nacchadu," he finally relented, a small, genuine smile touching his lips. (Okay, I like my brother-in-law.)

Kavya's face lit up, a radiant smile. She gently pulled his cheeks. "Naku thelusu Pappu, neeku Arun nacchuthadu ani." (I knew, Pappu, that you would like Arun.)

"Aapave! Nannu ala pilvaku!" he said, playfully irritated, pulling away. (Stop it! Don't call me that!)

She laughed, the first genuine laugh in days, and sat on the bed. Vikram leaned against the table, watching her, a sense of peace finally settling within him. "Avunu, nuvvu ikkada em chesthunnav? Ayina, Thathayya valla ooruki velthanu annav kadha?" she asked, looking at him curiously.

(By the way, what are you doing here? You said you were going to Grandfather's village, didn't you?)

Vikram sighed. "Idhi mana Thathayya illu ae, Akka. Raghuram garu... mana Thathayya." he said slowly.

(This is our Grandfather's house, sister. Raghuram... is our Grandfather.)

"What?!" Kavya shot up from the bed, utterly shocked. "Em matladuthunnav, Vikram? Idhi antha nijama?"

(What are you talking about, Vikram? Is all this true?)

"Avunu, Akka,"Vikram nodded. (Yes, sister.)

"Ante... Arun naaku Bava avuthada?" she asked, her mind reeling, trying to process this. (So... Arun is my brother-in-law?)

Vikram inhaled sharply, a wry smile on his face. "Neeku adhi okkate ardam ayyindhi aa inni vishyallo?"

(That's the only thing you understood in all these matters?)

She smiled sheepishly.

"Akka, neetho inkoka vishyam cheppali," he said, his expression turning serious again. (Sister, I have to tell you one more thing.)

"Entra, cheppu," she urged. (What is it, tell me.)

"Adhi... Arun valla chelli..." he began, speaking about Ananya. (That... Arun's sister...)

Kavya interrupted him warmly. "Avunu, Ananya chala manchi ammayi raa." (Yes, Ananya is a very good girl, you know.)

"Adhi, thanu nenu..." he tried to say, the words catching in his throat. (That, she and I...)

Just then, the door burst open. Arun stood there, his face a mask of cold fury, his eyes blazing. Ananya was right behind him, her face pale, her eyes wide with fear.

Arun stormed into the room, his sights set on Vikram. He grabbed Vikram by the collar. "What the hell! are you loving my sister?" he roared, his voice shaking with rage.

Vikram, his face hardening, didn't flinch. He just calmly removed Arun's hands from his collar.

"Arun, enti idhi? Vadhulu Vikram ni!" Kavya screamed, rushing forward. (Arun, what is this? Let go of Vikram!)

"Annaya, vadhulu!" Ananya pleaded, grabbing her brother's arm. (Brother, let go!)

"Avunu," Vikram said, his voice dangerously calm, his eyes locked with Arun's. "Ananya ni nenu kuda chesukunta."

(Yes,I love Ananya. And I will marry her.)

Ananya looked at Vikram, bewildered. Why is he making him more angry? Kavya stood stunned, processing this new, shocking information. Then, her face broke into a wide, ecstatic smile. She pushed Arun aside and threw her arms around a startled Vikram.

"Ooh, Pappu! Nijam ga chala ante chala happy ga undhi! Thanu chala manchi ammayi! Eppudu muddha pappu la unte asalu nuvvu pelli chesukuntava ledha ani doubt vacchindhi raa! I'm so happy!"

(Ooh, Pappu! I'm really, really happy! She's such a good girl! You're always such a wet blanket... I doubted if you'd ever get married! I'm so happy!)

Arun and Ananya stood there, completely dumbfounded by this joyful outburst in the middle of a major confrontation.

Arun, his patience snapping, pushed Kavya aside, his grip on her wrist perhaps a little too tight. "Ikkada godava jaruthunte nuvvente happy ga feel avuthunnanu antav?! Nuvvu pakkana undu!"

(A fight is happening here, and you're saying you're happy?! You stay aside!)

Vikram's face turned to thunder. He saw the push. "Ma akka ni em anaku!" (Don't say anything to my sister!) he roared, lunging forward and grabbing Arun's collar.

Ananya and Kavya screamed, desperately trying to pull the two furious men apart.

"Arun, aagu!"(Arun, stop!)

"Vikram, vaddhu!" (Vikram, no!)

As they struggled, Kavya, in a desperate, panicked wail, shouted the one thing that could stop them. "Arun! Nenu Vikram... mee Mavaya Raghuram... son and daughter!"

(Arun! Vikram and I... are your uncle Raghuram's... son and daughter!)

The fight stopped. Arun's hands froze, still gripping each other's collars. The room fell into a dead, heavy silence.

Arun and Ananya, their faces pale with shock, whispered in unison, "Raghuram Mavaya...?" (Uncle Raghuram...?) Their eyes widened, staring at Kavya, then at Vikram.

"Nuvvu cheppedhi nijam aa?" (Are you telling the truth?)

Vikram and Kavya nodded, and quickly, tensely, they explained everything – their father's exile, his sadness, Vikram's secret mission to come here.

Ananya's mind reeled. It all made sense now. Vikram's presence. He wasn't just a guest; he was family. But he had kept it from her and let her believe he was just a stranger, let her confess her love... all while knowing this. The hurt was sharp, a betrayal far deeper than his silence at the engagement.

"Naku endhuku cheppaledhu, Vikram?" she asked, her voice quiet, trembling, not with anger, but with a profound, heartbreaking pain.

(Why didn't you tell me, Vikram?)

He looked at her, his eyes filled with regret and a desperate plea. "Anu, I..."

But she couldn't listen. She couldn't even look at him. She turned and walked out of the room, her heart shattered, leaving the three of them—Vikram, Kavya, and her brother—in a stunned, heavy silence.

So sorry this update is late I had to travel to another city, and I literally wrote this chapter on the bus. 😅

​As always, please vote and comment! Your support means a lot.