"Amma, dorikedhe oka roju off aroje nuvu ilanti programs pedithe ela?",Anu said coming into the kitchen adjusting her spects.

(Mom, I only get one day off and that day itself if you arrange programs like this then what is the use of this weekly off that I get?)

"Anni problems eh anu nekaithe, working day pedithe tired ayyanu amma antav, poni holiday roju pedithe ila antav, asalu elane neeku inka pelli chesedhi?",Roja her mother said annoyed.

(In this whole world all the problems are faced by you alone, Anu. If we arrange on working days you will say you are tired, now you will say we are wasting your holiday? How will you get married like this?)

"Ippudu em kompalu munigipothunnay ani amma? Ayina ninnu kadhu, ammammaaa idhantga nee training eh kadhaa",Anu said and went to Kumari who was secretly hearing the whole conversation but when she heard Anu was coming out, she went and sat near her usual place in front of Bhagavadgeeta with her eyes closed.

(Now what is the hurry to get me married? Wait, this is all trained by my grandmother right?)

"Ammamma, ushh! Kaanivandi meeku nachinattu cheskondi",Anu said and went to her room.

(Grandmother, God! Do whatever you want)

"Rojaa, aa yellow colour saree kattukommani cheppu nee kuthurki",Kumari said.

(Roja, ask your daughter to wear that yellow colour saree)

"Ippudu nuvu dhyanam cheyatledhu kadha?",Anu said and yet again Kumari closed her eyes.

(Now are you not praying or meditating, grandma?)

After finishing her works in the kitchen, Roja went to her daughter's room and saw that Anu was sitting on the bed talking to her best friend, Ishira on phone.

"Yemma, Ishu! Baunnava?",Roja asked as they were video calling and Roja sat beside Anu.

(Hello, Ishu! How are you?)

"First class, aunty! Meeru(What about you) ?",Ishu asked to which Anu just narrowed her eyes towards her but who was she even trying to scare.

"Baunnanu, Ishu! Eppudu vastunnav intiki?",Roja asked.

(Good, Ishu! When are you coming home?)

"Igo ippudu phone andhuke aunty naaku chesindhi. Urgent ga rammani",Ishu said to which Roja smiled looking at Anu.

(She called me asking me to come home itself aunty)

"Cheppave, cheppey, notlo oka maata undabattedhe neeku",Anu said twisting her lips.

(Nothing will stay in your mouth, right? Tell her everything)

"Maa aunty ra bhai, cheppakunda ela unta? Ayina meerem tension teeskokandi aunty daaniki ee pelli choopulu valla problem em ledhu. Naa maata nammandi. Migatha matter nenu vachaka matladadam. Vachetappudu emaina bayata nunchi techedhi undha aunty?",Ishira said and asked simultaneously.

(My aunty, my wish, how can I stay without telling anything? Also you don't need to take any tension aunty. She doesn't have any problem with these bride seeing ceremony. Trust me about it and rest things, I'll tell you when I come there. Should I get anything while coming, aunty?)

"Em ledhu nanna, ninnane mee uncle anni techaru. Nuvu driving chesetappudu jagratha. Sare mari",Roja said.

(No dear, your uncle got everything yesty. You drive safe! Okay bye)

"Naatho matladaku, intiki vachaka chooskundham",Anu said to which Ishira winked at her giggling.

(Don't even try to talk to me, I'll see you once you come home)

Ishira ended the call and Roja just put her head on Anu's shoulder.

"Nee ishtam kanna, ninnu force cheyatledhu evaru, kani emo oka chance ichinantha mathrana manadhemi podhu ga. Abbayi gurinchi Bhanu garu antha bane undhi annaru inka migathadhi nee ishtam",Roja said and Anu remained silent.

(Your wish dear, nobody is going to force you but we don't lose anything if we give one chance right? The guy seems good is what Bhanu uncle said. Rest is up to you)

"Igo, ila silent ga untene naaku nachadhu. Sare neeku ishtam aythe aa yellow saree vesko lekapothe nee ishtam",Roja said and went from there.

(See if you are silent like this, I won't like it. Okay, if you like this bride seeing ceremony then wear that yellow colour saree and come or else your wish)

Anu's POV

Abba, ippudu pelli vadhu ani evaru annaru? Evaridhi valle aneskoni cheppesi, okka sari konchem balavantham chesthe cheppana enti.

(Oh god, now who said that I don't want to get married? Everybody will think as they wish, nobody asks me at all, just a bit if you pressurize me I would have said it)

Pelli kavali, kani ee madhya abbayilni and chuttu jarugutunnavi choosthene konchem bhayam thappa. Manakantu oka family undali ani evaru anukoru.

(I do want to get married, but seeing the circumstances around some fear is still there. I am like everyone too, who would not want to have a family for themselves?)

Inka ee drama antha maaku mamule marii desperate ga undakudadhu ani konchem bettu chestunna anthe, amma ki telisthe direct saavey anukondi kani ippudu kaka inkeppudu ani naku nenu sardhi cheppeskuntunna.

(All these drama is quite normal for us just so that I don't sound too desperate to get married. If my mother knows about this, I am dead but if not now then when, that's what I keep telling myself)

Author's POV

Anu waited for Ishira to arrive, the prospective groom family was arriving at 2 pm which is actually lunch time for our dear Anu.

After forty five minutes, Ishira arrived and as soon as she came in, she was wishing Kumari but Anu dragged her into her room.

On the other hand, Ishu sat on the bed while Anu Shruthi was making her hair.

"Ayithe eesari mari okay na?",Ishira asked.

(Then is it okay this time?)

"Matladavante champutha, nenemo correct ga abbayi vallu vachinappudu yellow saree tho kanipisthe ishtame anukuntaru ani nenu plans vesthunte, nuvemo em parledhu aunty, ishtame ani cheppadam avasaram antava?",Anu asked narrowing her eyes at her.

( I will definitely kill you if you open your mouth. I wanted to come out wearing this yellow colour saree and give them a hint that I am okay with all this but you spoilt all my plans by saying it to mom that I don't have any problems)

"Sei, endhuku anavasaranga tension aunty vallaki? Sare kani abbayi details kani pictures kani vachaya?",Ishira asked.

(Hey, why do you want to trouble aunty? Okay! Do you have the picture and details of the guy?)

"Point eh anuko, kani ippuudu kakapothe inkeppudu nenu ila cheyagalanu cheppu. Haa vachayi, naa phone andhuko akkada aa bag kindha undhi anukunta",Anu said.

(Seems like a fair point, but if not now when can I do all this, you tell me! Yeah I got them, take out my phone, it's under the bag I guess)

Ishira grabbed her phone and gave it to Anu. Anu also settled down beside her and opened the contact Bhanu uncle.

There was the guy's picture and some basic details about him. She handed the phone to Ishira.

"Peru Prashanth, BFA chesadu, Freelancer. Interesting",Ishira said.

(His name is Prashanth, He did BFA, Freelancer! Interesting)

"Haa, adhe interesting. Kani abbayi tho matladithe kani edhi cheppalem amma. Monna alage oka waste gadu tagiladu vadi perenti Hiran anta, vedhava! Work chestha ante endhuku tini kurchoka ani annadu. Vadu naku bayata kanipisthe vadiki untadhi choodu",Anu said recollecting the conversation with the previous prospective groom meeting.

(Yeah, that's interesting only! But can't say anything unless and untill I talk to the guy. A few days ago like this only one stupid guy, his name was Hiran. I was telling him I would continue my work and do you know what he said? He said I can happily sit at home why stress myself. If I see him outside, I'll show him stars in the bright morning)

"Sarlevey, vadhiley! Kani nijam cheppalante ee yellow saree lo super unnav",Ishira said.

(Okay, okay, leave that! But honestly you look super pretty in this saree)

(Anu's outfit)

"Thank you, thank you! Jhumka pettukona ledhante ivi pettukona",the conversation went on and on.

(Thank you, thank you! Shall I keep jhumkas Or these ear rings)

Ishira helped Anu get ready and made her hairstyle as well not before tucking in garland in her hair and completing her look.

"Dishti chukka",Ishira said and took out kajal from her eyes and put a dot behind her ear.

(Dot to remove nazar)

"Devuda twarala ee chukka, maa chakkani chukka bugga meedha pettela choodu",Ishira said earning a playful hit from Anu.

(Oh god, this dot should be kept on my beautiful friend's cheek for her wedding soon soon)

The prospective groom's family was there just in time, a family of five members entered Anu's home sweet home.

"Namasthe, please come in",Roja and Srinivas welcomed them home and asked them to feel at home.

Roja quickly gave them some water to drink, while Ishira came out to see how the family was and what all were they going to talk before the bride seeing ceremony takes place.

"Mee illu chala baundhi andi",the lady beside the groom said.

(Your home is really beautiful!)

"Thank you andi, Sweet, hot emaina teeskondi ammayi vachestundhi. Ishu, Anu ready ayindho ledho choodu amma",Roja said.

(Thank you, please have something. Our daughter is getting ready, she will be here soon. Ishu, please go and check if she is ready)

Ishira nodded and went to the room. Though Anu was ready, she wanted to wait for a while before she goes out.

"Maa family lo nenu, maa aavida Roja, maa athayagaru, maa amma, nanna chanipoyi chala yellu ayopoyindhi maa athayagaru maaku intlo pedha. Maaku idharu kuthurlu, pedha ammayi Anu, chinna ammayi Laasya ippudu Banglore lo undhi akkada chaduvukuntundhi ippudu B. A second year. Mari mee family?",Srinivas said.

(In our family, me, my wife Roja, my mother in law, it's been years since my parents passed away and since then my mother in law has been here as the head of our family. We have two daughters, elder one is Anu and younger one is Laasya who is in Bangalore, she is doing her graduation there. Bachelors in Arts second year )

"Maadhi anthe andi, naa peru Kumar maa aavida peru Nayani, maa pedha abbayi Pranay and maa pedha kodalu Midhuna. Inka maa chinna abbayi Prashanth. Pedha abbayi software engineer, kodalu kuda adhe field. Inka nenu ee madhye retirement teeskunnanu postal department lo",Kumar said.

(Ours is almost all same, My name is Kumar and my wife's name is Nayani. That's my elder son Pranay and our elder daughter in law Midhuna and our younger son, Prashanth. Our elder son is software engineer and daughter in law is also in the same field. I recently retired from the postal department)

"Roja, ammayi ni teesku raa",Srinivas said.

(Roja, get our daughter)

"Mari chinna abbayi em chestunnadu?",Srinivas asked in the mean time.

(Then what is your younger son doing?)

"Cheppu ra",Nayani said nudging him as he looked up and made an eye contact with Srinivas.

(Tell him, son)

"Ippudu oka internship chestunnanu uncle, alane freelancer laga kuda chestunnanu",Prashanth said.

(Now I am doing one internship uncle, at the same time I am also a freelancer)

"Enti babu, nee profession asalu?",Srinivas asked and just at the moment Anu entered the room.

(What is your profession, son?)

"Raa maa, vachi kurcho",Nayani said and Anu who was already looking at the family made an eye contact with Prashanth but quickly averted her gaze from him and just smiled at Nayani.

(Come dear, come and sit)

Anu sat on the couch opposite to Prashanth. She wasn't the shy types bride, she just looked at all of them and then kept glancing at Ishira who was having a smile on her face but kept trying hard not to laugh out loud.

"What do you do, Anu?",Nayani asked.

"I am working as Assitant Engineer in Transcom Hyderabad aunty. I recently got transfered from Bhadradri which was my first posting",Anu Shruthi said.

"Wow, that's such a great position!",Nayani said to which Midhuna also nodded.

"Mari meeru?",Anu asked Prashanth.

(Then you?)

Prashanth who was lost in some thoughts, got out of them hearing her voice.

"Working as an Intern in Digital Art Agency also naaku oka page undhi Instagram lo where I make commissioned customised art for people",Prashanth said with a small smile which actually didn't reach his eyes.

(Working as an intern in Digital Art Agency also I have an Instagram page where I make customised art for people which is commissioned)

Anu noticed some kind of discomfort in his voice but assumed that could be because he won't talk to girls much.

"Pelli ayyaka, okavela transfer unte mari meeku parledha aunty?",Anu asked.

(If I have a transfer after marriage, then is it alright, aunty?)

"Daantlo emundhi amma? Manushulu anna tarvatha change is the only constant and prathi place manaki oka kotha lesson and kotha experience isthundhi. Abbayi elano freelancer kabatti pedhaga problem kuda undadhu",Kumar said.

(What is there in that, dear? As humans change is the only constant and every place will teach us a new lesson and give us a new experience since he is also a freelancer there won't be much of a problem)

Anu was having a wide smile on her face hearing from him but she wanted to know what is going on in this groom's mind as well.

The families continued having small talks here and there. Though Anu wanted to ask if she could talk to the groom in private, she wasn't really understanding where to cut the conversation.

"Abbayi ammayi tho edho personal ga matladali antunnadu, meeku okay ante",Nayani said when Prashanth nudged her amidst their conversation.

(Our son wants to talk about something with your daughter in private if it's okay with you)

"Ayyo, parvaledhu andi. Anu, meeru terrace meedhaki vellandi",Roja said to which Anu nodded and got up from her place as Prashanth followed her lead.

(Oh, no problem! Anu both of you go to the terrace dear)

They reached the terrace and both of them stood facing each other.

"Meeku ee pelli ishtam ledha?",Anu asked.

(Don't you like this marriage?)

To be continued...

Hello dear readers, here is a new chapter.

Mee andhariki nachindhi ane anukuntunnanu.

I hope you all liked it. Feel free to drop your views.

Can't promise about next chapter as I have exams going on. But thank you for your support.

Don't forget to vote and comment your views!

Your Author
Sakshi Devi