"Meeku ee pelli ishtam ledha?",her question caught him off guard.

(Are you not interested in this marriage proposal?)

"Ayyo, alantidhi em ledhu andi. Endhuku ala adigaru?",Prashanth asked.

(Oh no, nothing like that. Why did you ask though?)

"Ledhu, chala uninterested ga kanipisthunte doubt vachindhi. Parledhu, alantidhi emaina unte you can tell me",Anu said.

(No, you seemed way too uninterested so I had to doubt about it. No problem, if there is something you can tell me about it)

"Ledhandi",Prashanth said in a monotonous tone.

(No, there's nothing like that)

"If it's not too early, meeru oka freelancer ni pelli choopuluki endhuku consider chesaru?",Prashanth asked.

(If it's not way too early, to ask this question why did you consider a free lancer's proposal?)

"Adhedho pedha neram chesinattu ala adugutharentandi, consider cheyakudadha?",Anu asked.

(You are telling me as if I did a crime by considering a freelancer's profile. Shouldn't we consider their profile in general?)

"Ala ani kadhu, meeru government job mari..",Prashanth didn't really understand how to put his thoughts into words.

(No, it's not like that. It's just that you are a government job holder and..)

"Naku ardham ayindi, ante ippudu nenu high position lo undi oka low position abbayi ni pelli cheskovali ani endhuku anukuntunna ane ga mee doubt?",Anu asked to which he hesitantly nodded.

(I understood. So what you mean to say is I am in a high position and freelancer's are not of government job's position so why would I want to marry someone like that, right?)

"Ayyo rama, anukuntune unna ilanti question vasthadhi anni, vachindhi. Jobs lo high position, low position emundhi andi. Manasu important, understanding is important out of all trust anedhi important. Meeru em antaru?",Anu explained.

(Oh god, I thought so question like this would arise and it did. There is no such job which says it's high position and low position and out of all, understanding is important, trust is important and your heart and feelings are important)

"Ivanni cheppadaniki bauntayi andi, kani practical world lo ammayilu usually valla husband baga earn chesi vallani baga chooskodaniki proper income source undi, settled ga unte nachutaru kadha?",he asked.

(All these things are good for saying, but in practical world usually girls prefer their husbands who can earn well and look after them well with proper income source and having a settled life, don't they?)

"Evaru chepparo kani, I don't believe in all this. Money earn cheyadaniki savalaksha options unnayi ee kalam lo. Passion undabatte kadha meeru ee stream ni profession ga choose cheskunnaru. Mari mee profession gurinchi inni insecurities endhukandi?",Anu asked.

(I don't know who told you about all this but I don't believe in all this. In today's generation there are numerous ways to earn money but you chose this stream and this profession because you are interested in it right? Why are you feeling insecure about it?)

"Oka vishayam adagana if you don't mind? Meeru happy eh kadha ee job chesthu?",Anu asked to which he nodded.

(Can I ask you something if you don't mind? Are you happy about this job?)

"Mari vere vallu em anukunte enti, meeku happiness ichedi cheyadam important. Rest all is just chill! Meeru emaina adagali anukuntunnara nannu?",Anu asked.

(Then why do you care about what others think. You need to care about what gives you happiness, rest is all chill. Is there anything that you want to ask me?)

"Actually naaku move avvadam ishtam ledhu andi, transfers annappudu nanna freelancer eh kadha parledhu annaru kani. I love this place and this work and deentlo I just can't compromise. Mari migathadhi mee ishtam",Prashanth said.

(Actually I don't want to move out. When you were talking about transfers my father said it is of no problem and since I am a free lancer it would be fine, I love this place and this world and this is just something that I can't compromise. Rest is upto you)

"Adhe doubt vachindhi, uncle ala annappudu mee face choosi. Parledhu, no problem! Let's see where this goes",Anu said though she was kind of disappointed about it.

(I got that doubt when I looked at your face while your father was talking about it. It's okay let's see where this goes)

"Mari future plans enti meevi?",Prashanth asked.

(Then what are your future plans?)

"Assistant engineer anedhi nenu temporary ga work cheyadaniki crack chesanu kani nenu civil services ki prepare avutunnanu, I want to go for it",Anu answered.

(Assistant Engineer is something I cracked temporarily to work. I want to prepare for civil services exam)

"Why? If I might ask endhuku civil services?",Prashant asked.

(Why? If I might ask why civil services?)

"Obviously because I want to serve the society kani more than that, evariki ayithe ground level problems telusthayo valla chethiki power vasthe hopefully society manchi hands lo padi healthy way lo untundhi ani",Anu answered.

(Obviously because I want to serve the society but more than that I feel like who knows the ground level problems if they get the power, hopefully society will be in good hands and will be in a healthy way)

"Chala depth ga matladataru andi meeru!",Prashant said to which Anu chuckled.

(Your talks are very deep)

"Ishu kuda Ila ne antundhi, avunu mari mee future plans enti?",Anu asked.

(My friend Ishu says the same thing. What are your future plans then?)

"Idhi avvali ani em ledhu, just better avuthu velladame",he said.

(Nothing in specific, just want to be a better version of myself than yesterday everyday)

"Good, that's not a bad thing",she said.

"Meeru inka emaina adagala?",Prashanth asked.

(Is there anything else you want to ask?)

"Ledhu, prasthuthaniki aythe mind blank ga undhi",she said to which both of them chuckled.

(No, my mind is blank as of now)

"Veldhama, mari?",he asked.

(Shall we go then?)

"Ippudu velthe decision adugutharu. Daani gurunche alochistunna. Hey, naa best friend Ishira kuda BFA ne chesindhi. She is also an artist, same meelage",Anu said excitedly.

(Now as soon as we go, they'll ask for the decision that's what I am thinking about. Hey, my best friend Ishira also did her BFA and is an artist like you)

"Avuna, that's great! Meku art ante ishtam ledha?",he asked.

(Is it? That's great! Don't you like art?)

"Art ante ishtam okkate unte saripodhu andi, art vese capability kuda undali. Nenu art ni appreciate chese type vese type kadhu",she said.

(Just liking towards art is not sufficient we should have the capabilitiy to do art as well. I am the person who appreciates art and does not make art)

"Vese prathi okkariki appreciate chese vallu undali kadha, memu entha important meeru anthe important",he said to which she just smiled.

(For everyone who makes art, there should be a person to appreciate so as much as we are important you are important too)

"Oka question, any relationships in the past or present?",Anu asked.

"Antha time ledhandi honestly, atu side alochinchina manaki nache valu leru manam nache vallu undaru. Ayina mana face ki love enti andi?",he said.

(Honestly, didn't have that much time. Even if I think about it I didn't like anyone neither did anyone like me. Love for my face is a big joke indeed)

"Hey, endhuku ala mimmalni meeru takkuva cheskuntaru? Meekem takkuva ani?",Anu said in a flow and later bit her tongue realising what she said.
(Hey,Why do you belittle yourself? Why are you less?)

"Ante adhi flow lo, em anukokandi",she said still being embarrassed and shut her eyes tight while smacking her head with her hand for speaking too much.

(That.. It came in flow please dont mind)

She was surprised to hear him laugh, from the time he came here till this moment his smile didn't really make any impact but this one made her heart run a marathon.

"Calm down, calm down! Mari ila tayarayyaventey nuvu ushh paruvu teesesthunnav",she scolded herself in her mind.

(Calm down, calm down. Why did you turn out to be like this, Anu? You are defaming yourself)

"I take compliments andi, nothing to worry about",he said trying to ease the situation.

"Emanukoru ante, meeru ippudem cheptaru?",Anu asked.

(If you don't mind, what will you say now?)

"Meeru em cheptaru?",Prashanth asked.

(What will you say?)

"Naku no cheppadaniki reasons levu honestly except aa transfers part tappa. Adhe alochistunna, mari meeku?",Anu asked.

(Honestly, I don't find any reasons to say no except for the transfers part and that's what I am thinking about. What about you?)

"Anthe anukondi naaku kuda, inthaki meeku nenendhuku nachanu?",Prashanth asked.

(Same for me as well, why did you like me?)

"Chepthanu, kani meeru kuda ee question ki answer chestara mari?",Anu asked.

(I'll tell you but you'll have to answer the same question as well then, is that fine?)

"Tappakunda",he said leaning on to the wall crossing his arms across his chest and waiting for her answer.

(For sure)

"Meeru cheppandi kadha first, indhaka kuda nene cheppanu",Anu said nervously.

(You go first, I answered first too before)

"Ante you are straight forward and Sandeep Maheshwari laga manchi motivational speaker and for a person like me who always needs a push I think you are a great match. Also about art ante oka artist ki appreciate chese wife vasthe antha kante em kavali cheppandi",he said and a slight blush formed on her cheeks.

(So, you are a straight forward person and a great motivational speaker like Sandeep Maheshwari and for a person who always needs a push I think you are a great match also about art, for an artist if I get a life partner who can appreciate my art and efforts what else will I need?)

"Matladaru, introvert anukunna kani bane matladutunnarey. Naku yes cheppadaniki reasons ante, nenu chala fast dentlo ayina decisions teskune tappudu ayina edhi chesina pedhaga alochinchanu it's a boon and curse also, if I have person who is like you maybe konchem help avutundhi and anger issues, mukku meedha kopam naaku and as far as I observed meeru konchem calm types laga unnaru so yeah malli it'll be helpful and last and not the least meeku nachithe dani eppatiki vadulukoru ani naku anipinchindhi adhi art ayina, office ayina, family ayina soo yeah",Anu said.

(I thought you won't talk much and you are introvert types but you said so well about it. Well, coming to the point the reasons for me to say yes are I am very fast, be that in taking decisions or anything and I don't think much before doing things and so far according to what I observed you are person who takes things slow and thinks thoroughly before proceeding further, so if I have a person like this maybe it'll be of help and also I have anger right on the tip of my nose and I get angry very quickly and you are a calm person I believe so again yeah. And last but not the least, I think whatever you like and value you'll never leave that and prioritise it be it your family, your art or your job or work space)

"Hey sorry to disturb kani pilustunnaru mimmlani",Ishira came upstairs and told them.

(Hey, sorry to disturb but they're calling you downstairs)

"Okay",both of them said together.

Prashanth went first and then the besties followed him.

"Okay na?",Ishira asked to which Anu nodded shyly.

"Vammo, sigge? Dachukomma mundhu mundhu upayogapadathadhi",Ishira said and Anu hid her face with her palms.

(Oh my goodness, are you feeling shy? Save it up, it'll be useful in near future)

As they entered the living room again both of them settled down in their places.

"So what is your decision?",Anu's father asked..

To be continued..

So hey everyone, ela unnaru (how are you all?)

I hope meeku ee chapter nachuthundhi ane anukuntunnanu

Please don't forget to vote and comment your views.

Is it going a bit fast?

Malli inko update lo kaludham, anthavaraku selavu!

(See you in another update, bye bye till then)

Your Author
Sakshi Devi