"Amma! If you send him with me, I will bite you!"

Vennela yelled as the whole house was running around like a headless chicken.

"Karma. This girl was already mental enough. Malli idokati naaku! Karma karma"

Lakshmi hit her head as she wiped Vennela's sweat spread forehead.

"AMMA!"

Vennela yelled and took a deep breath. Ganganamma brought the kashayam.

"Drink this Vennela."

"Vaddu Ganga."

"Osei! Don't do drama. Drink that. It will help you."

"Kampu. I will throw up."

"Throw up all you want. Here is the bowl. But drink that."

Lalli said handing her a large bowl.

"Chinnatha!"

"Avunu.. Chinnathane. Drink that. And catch this if you throw up."

Saying she put the bowl in Vennela's hands and rushed in to get hot water. Not having any choice, Vennela drank the concoction making faces.

"Here I am being tortured and look there at that fellow who is the reason for all this happily taking fresh air."

Vennela yelled in irritation while Jai who was standing near the balcony parapet and getting his hands massaged by Arjun turned and looked at Vennela.

"Osei! He is here because there is a good chance that you have broken a few bones in his hand."

Arjun said throwing the hand he was massaging making Jai yell in pain.

"Even then, what he is making me go through is far less!"

Vennela said as she held the bowl in her hand like throwing.

"Orei Thindi Rama! Her holding my hand is also fine by me. But in the name of treatment you throwing my hand here and there as if it is a cricket ball is far worse. Vadulu ra nannu. I have to be by Vennela."

Jai said wanting to move in when Vennela gave him one look.

"Take one step towards me and I will throw this bowl on you head. Pakkana vachavo.. Jaakratha!"

Vennela said and moved into the washroom for a bath in hot water with some medicines and neem leaves. Deva who saw all this from the room threshold chuckled.

"Amma Vennela. Looks like you will kill him before my grandchild will see this world."

"Mari yenti Mavaiyya? Throughout my term he was the one who kept saying that he will take good care of me, he will not let anything happen to me, he will stand by me. But what happened when my first pain hit me?"

"Spruga thappi paddadu. Paapam."

Arjun said laughing.

"Yeah. Right! Maharaja fainted. What happened to standing by me?"

"Raakshasi Vennu. Give that man some time to take in all these feelings. Neeku physical pain ante bava di mental.."

"Mental eh! Kachidanga mental eh!"

Vennela said and shut the washroom door. Laughing Deva moved to his son and held his shoulders.

"Don't get tensed Jai. I know that you are going through a lot. But remember Vennela might look like she is strong. In reality, you are her strength. If you go weak, mari thana paristhiti enti?"

"Ledu nana. Sudden ga, ala thanu naa cheyi pattesariki.. You know, her hold on my hand was too strong and when my brain understood, it could only go blank. And after that ladies took over and threw me out. What can I do?"

"Jai! We took over because certain things only we can understand and we can only do. You fainted just as she held your hand. If you had been awake to see her in contractions further, what would have happened to you?"

Manasa said and ran with a towel.

"Osei, kuduruga undu. Don't wet your hair."

"Amma, your bathing instead of relaxing me is making me more irritated."

"Normally for Human this will help to relax. Keep quiet!"

This conversation between Lakshmi and Vennela was heard by all three men as Manasa opened the door and went in with the towel.

"All these days you took the house on your head every time she uttered an AAhh."

Arjun said chuckling.

"Now she has taken up the role."

Deva continued shaking his head.

"Nice Jodi!"

Naagulu concluded.

Once Vennela was bathed and dried, she came out wearing a maternity nighty and was made to sit on the bed. Jai looked at resting Vennela and said something in a low voice to Arjun and Deva who nodded their head and moved out taking everyone with them.

Jai closed the door and sat beside Vennela slightly caressing her head and then hands and then calves. Vennela sighed.

"I am sorry. I know I should have stayed strong and been with you."

Vennela opened her eyes and smiled at Jai.

"But you got scared. I am scared too."

"Don't be. Let all your tension, worries and frights to me."

"You might faint again."

"Vennela!"

She chuckled and held his collar pulling him closer.

"How is your hand?"

"Better!"

But before he could say anything else, her hold grew stronger. He took her hand in his and helped in anyway he could to ease her pain.

"Vennela, your pains.."

"Frequency is getting better. I think we should leave for the hospital."

"I will call Seetha atha."

"Already informed. Take me to the new hospital building. Pinni is there inspecting the new NICU ward and the new equipment that have come."

"When did that happen?"

"When you were there, fallen on the sofa with your mouth wide open!"

Vennela said and laughed. Making a baby face, Jai helped her out and into the car.

"Keys ivvu Bava, I will drive. If you drive, instead of going to the labor ward we all will land in ER!"

"Rei!"

"Bava, he is right. Give him the keys and join me in the back seat."

"Manasa.."

They heard Arjun and looked up to see Manasa taking the keys from Arjun.

"Look at you pulling Jai's legs. Forgot how a few minutes after Jai fainted I had to give you a dose of salt doused lime to stabilize your shivering and shaking body? Mari nuvu oka doctor!"

"I am neurosurgeon!"

"Then you should have been even more prepared. You were the one who said that you assisted many gyneacs while doing house surgeon. Sit in the passenger seat. Let me drive."

"Tiger in front and mouse at the back. Thindi Rama!"

Vennela chuckled and settled in the back seat as Manasa drove the car towards the new hospital. The Moon shone in the sky smiling down at them.