Rao Mansion, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad , 9:00 am

"No."

"But it's Janmashtami. I always celebrate this day. What is the problem, at least tell me that.."

"Pallavi, I told you. I have never celebrated anything related to Krishna."

Pallavi slammed the plate of idlis on the table and the assistant cooks ran behind the kitchen counter to take cover. This was the signal that a world war was about to commence. Raghav didn't even deign to look up from his tablet which he was immersed in while munching on his fruits.

"Raghav! At least do me the courtesy of looking at me while speaking."

Raghav looked up from his tablet, raising a sculpted eyebrow at his wife who was glaring at him, her hands on her hips, a classic pose she unassumingly assumed when she was gearing up for a fight. He sighed and kept the tablet on the table and gave her his full attention.

"So I am apparently under the wrong impression that this is my house too."

"Pallavi you know it very well that I had told this to you the day we married that all I possess, belongs to you from now as well. So stop the ITV drama and speak clearly."

"I want to do Krishna Puja."

"No."

"Raghav!"

"See, I have never stopped you from doing anything and I never will, but please for my sake listen to me for one Goddamned time!"

Pallavi sighed and looked away, knowing fully well that he knew she was trapped in his words. She would never intentionally do something he had explicitly told her not to. For all their ceaseless verbal wars and silly games of one upmanship, none of them had ever disrespected the other outright.

Not when the entire staff had probably heard their conversation.

Raghav felt a pang in his chest seeing his wife deflate and debated whether he was being too harsh with her.

"Pallavi... I don't want to make you upset."

"I have always celebrated Janmashtami with my family..."

She said sadly making him feel like a villain.. again. He looked at his bowl and tried his level best to clear his head of the memories of the past haunting him like a reel from a psychological horror film but in vain.

"What constitutes as Puja for you Raghav?"

His wife's sudden question seemed so random that he was momentarily blindsided.

"Uhh.. the usual. The aarti in front of the idol."

Pallavi looked thoughtful for a change and Raghav didn't know whether this was the calm before the storm or something else. His wife letting go of an argument had always led to some devastating consequences for him every time. It was always a tough battle with his Saree Ka Dukaan, which he lost more times than he would like to think about.

Pallavi seemingly unconcerned about the entire issue dropped it and went to the kitchen to get the coconut chutney for the idlis.

"Bappa.... Aho! Stop drinking that useless protein shake and have proper breakfast like a normal human being. Malā kāya vēḍā navarā miḷālā āhē!"

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Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, 1:30 pm

The man sighed in frustration as the Customs officer kept rummaging through this bag voraciously. 

"I told you Sir, it's useless. You won't get anything there."

He tried one more time but the official glared at him and he leaned back on the chair tiredly. His colleague kept looking at him concerned and then decided to intervene when he was getting overtly annoyed. 

"Leave it Prashant."

"But I am hundred percent sure, the diamonds are here only. I just can't find.."

"Even if you do find them, what will you do?"

Prashant looked at his colleague shocked while the man lounging in front of them looked around the office disinterested, as if he had seen the insides of it a million times. 

"What are you saying Naveen, I will arrest him of course and we might finally manage to nab that Raghav Rao."

Naveen burst out laughing and the man in front cracked an all knowing smile. 

"In your dreams my dear friend. Pani mein rehke magarmach se dushmani mat karna. See I know you are a man of principles but this game has been going on for far too long, much before any of us were even posted here and will continue even when we'll be transferred. It's useless trying to frame that man. He is as slippery as a Cobra and just as dangerous."

Prashant crossed his hands defiantly. 

"This is why men like him have no qualms about committing crime. Because we keep overlooking it like scared ass wimps."

The man seated in front finally broke his silence again. 

"It is not only about fear Sir. Raghav Rao has ruled on fear no doubt and his business is mostly on diamonds but more than that, he deals in information. That is his biggest shield. He knows everything about everyone in power."

Prashant looked concerned now even as the man named Naveen gestured the man to leave. 

"Don't be tensed Prashant. Rao might be ruthless but he isn't strictly immoral. If you haven't messed with him he will not harm you."

"Be that as it may, I am worried about the department now. The cases of smuggling are increasing exponentially... how will we manage everything? And what if we are caught?"

Naveen looked pensive at the thought as well. So lost in their own minds were they that they hardly noticed the man they had just allowed to leave, silently exchanging his bag with another one which a different guy had been carrying as they pretended to pass each other swiftly. 

The man exited the airport and called from an unknown number. 

"Yes. I have got it."

"...."

"No, they thought it was diamonds."

"No.. no one saw me. I am sure. Yes.. will see you later at the spot."

The man entered an unmarked SUV from the parking lot not noticing a non descriptive sedan which suddenly changed it's course to enter his lane and keep going behind him in a steady pace.

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Rao Mansion, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, 7:45 pm

Raghav and Farhad came in from the entrance, busy discussing something in Telegu only to stop short and gape at the sight in front. The entire hall of the Rao Mansion was decorated with flowers and lights. It wasn't something extremely extravagant but it's beauty lied in the simplistic, almost homely design making them know who the person behind this was immediately. 

Raghav looked around the place awe struck as he struggled to match the picture of his own house with the one in front. The fragrance of sandalwood and marigolds from the incense had spread like a welcoming blanket everywhere. 

There were marigolds wrapped around the pillars and the handle of the massive staircase in front and he almost stepped over the rangoli made on the marble floor in front. Something broke in his chest seeing the rangoli as the memories of a childhood long gone by resurfaced in his brain. 

His mother would make him draw the rangoli every time, and his siblings would sit by watching him like he was performing an impossibly majestic feat, their young eyes shining in amazement and hero worship. 

"Anna all this..?"

"I don't know Farhad.. I..Reddy! Naidu! What is going on here? Pall.."

Suddenly he heard music coming from the gym area and he found his feet moving towards the sound almost in a trance, not aware of his trusted secretary following at his heels, seemingly enraptured as well. 

The sight which met him in the artificial garden made his heart seize for some seconds. He didn't even notice how loudly he had drawn in a breath making her turn towards him swiftly. 

She was clad in a baby pink lehenga with organza fabric in a Chikankari style, her dupatta was pinned to a shoulder and wrapped around that wraith like waist in perfect crisp pleats. She was donning the Polki diamond set he had brought for her after the wedding which he had never seen her wear before.  Her long raven locks were let free as usual, framing her slight build in long waves. Her face was free of makeup, only dewy lips and a single swipe of the kajal made her eyes look larger on that mischievously smirking face. 

The woman was thoroughly enjoying the effect she was clearly having on her husband. 

Then Raghav realised that she knew he was here while he stared at her completely dumbstruck, dancing like the nymphs of Amaravati. 

Then he caught the lyrics of the song as Pallavi Rao went twirling to the beat, coming progressively closer to her husband who was gawking at her. 

Muripaala mukundaa...
Saradaala sanandaa...

It was a song for Krishna! 

Pallavi danced to the tune like she was a river flowing around a mountain. It was like seeing her dance in front of the idol like the Devadasis did all those centuries ago. 

Poda podalona
Daagudu moothalaapara
Yada yadalona
Nartinchindi chaalura
Alasata ninu kori niluchundira

Raghav found his eyes unable to leave her for even a microsecond as his throat kept drying up. She was looking at him but also seemed to be looking through him. It was unnerving.

Kanna nidurinchara
Naa kanna nidurinchara
Chitikena veluni
Kondanu mosina
Kannaa nidurinchara
Naa kannaa nidurinchara
Chilikina challala
Kondalu dochina

Was the choice for playing the Telegu version a conscious decision? The lyrics were beautiful but nothing compared to the dance his wife was performing in front. He had never seen someone so immersed in her art yet so removed from it. 

Kanna nidurinchara
Naa kannaa nidurinchara
Kanna nidurinchara
Naa kannaa nidurinchara

He had seen Pallavi dance kathak before. It was jaw dropping as well but that had a different feel to it. It was a performance. This.. this looked like obeisance. 

Gopela valuvalatho
Chelagi alasevemo
Gomuga sayaninchu
Ungili vennelakai
Urike ubalatamuke
Oorata kaliginchu
Syaamanaa...
Mohanaa...
Chalu chalu nee atamatalu
Pavalinchaka teeravu
Alasatalu virise madilo viriseyyalu

She was gyrating to the tune, her limbs loose and completely in control. The lights played an interesting game on her skin while the intermix of her own fragrance along with the scent of the incense was making his head spin. In a good way. 

Kanna nidurinchara
Naa kannaa nidurinchara
Kanna nidurinchara
Naa kannaa nidurinchara

Was this how the Gopikas used to dance in front of their Lord? Had he been transported to some other world? Was this some supernatural phenomena he was seeing?

Nera nera chupulake
Karigi kadili neekai
Bira bira vachitine
Tadi tadi kannulatho
Neepai vaali soli
Tamakamu telipitine
Maadhavaa...
Yaadavaa...
Naa athi maali
Dooshamu jarige
Oo vanamaali yeddu
Ninnu podiche
Paapam antha naadenuraa

He didn't know that his shocked face had turned into a delighted one as Pallavi danced around him now, circling him from all sides like a spinning wheel. Her dupatta and skirt hitting him occasionally, her hair teasing his skin when it came in contact. He felt like a drowning man clutching at a straw. 

Kanna kanna kanna..
Krishnaa radhaa ramanaa
Kannaa nidurinchara

The dance came to an end as his wife spun for a final time and came in front of him, her soft bosom heaving with the exertion yet a foreign look of exhilaration on her ethereal face. Her eyes were almost dancing in mirth, an odd glint of triumph in their shiny depths. A few strands of hair had stuck to her pink cheeks which he wanted to remove but the sheer magnificence of the situation had him rooted to the ground befuddled.  

Pallavi suddenly side stepped him to bring the big brass thali she had kept at the corner with the incense which he noticed just now. It seemed to have all the materials decorated for a puja. Raghav looked at her inquisitively and she raised a sculpted eyebrow copying him perfectly. 

It seemed like there was a line of shocks kept in store for him today. 

He saw his wife starting to do the arti in front of him. She was muttering something incomprehensible to him under her breath, maybe some prayer while circling the plate in front of his face a few times and then she touched her forehead to it, shaking something up in him violently. 

Raghav felt lightheaded as the meaning behind the gesture started to be clear and he drew his brows in an expression which looked almost pained. 

" Ayiayiye picchi am'māyi! What are you doing wife?"

Pallavi smiled at him brightly. 

"Puja. I am doing my Janmashtami Puja. You see my dear husband forbade me to bring the Krishna idol in the house so I decided to worship my Krishna instead. It's the same thing now, isn't it?"

She put the tilak on his forehead and held out the prasad in front urging him to open his mouth.

 Raghav let out a shockingly wet half laugh and ate the prasad quickly and took the Puja thali from his wife's hands to circle it around her face and then gave it to Reddy who immediately collected it from his hand all the while never removing his eyes off Pallavi's confused face. 

Then he took her delicate hands in his own and bent over to touch his eyes to her knuckles in move so inherently reverent that Pallavi literally felt like her knees would give way and she would collapse on the ground. 

"Wh.. what are you doing Raghav..?"

She stuttered completely shaken. 

The world has never seen Raghav Rao bow in front of anyone except his parents and his God. 

Seeing him bow to her was overwhelming. And scary.  

"Worshipping my Radha."

She immediately brought her hands which he was still holding to her own chest in horror. 

"N.no.. Raghav. Y..you are my husband.. I can.. I am allowed.. I mean, I am supposed to do this..but..."

"Why are you supposed to do this?"

"That's tradition Raghav. It's just the principle of the thing... nothing to do with stature or anything...."

"Isn't it though.."

"No.. I mean.."

"The principle of the thing is the mutual respect. I bless you, you bless me so that all the unintentional curses we have spat at each other gets cancelled."

Pallavi stared at her husband awestruck, her hands still in his much larger ones. 

The moment broke the next instant when Reddy seemed to have suddenly developed a viral coughing fit. They left each other's hands immediately and felt the colour rising to their respective cheeks. Pallavi cleared her throat the next moment, keeping her hands on her hips and stared down at her husband. 

"So, I have won the challenge."

Raghav burst out into a surprisingly long bout of laughter mesmerising his wife and his staff who looked at the man once so averse to even smiling straight, laughing with such genuine mirth. His voice rang like rich velvet and felt like hot chocolate sliding down Pallavi's throat.

"That you have mājhī dhūrta baiko. Tell me, what do I have to do?"

Pallavi flushed at the praise and also because he spoke in her tongue which had it's own separate appeal. 

"I want your permission to do something."

"From when did you need to take permission to do something, wife? That also from me?

"Don't act over smart. Just tell me yes."

"First tell me for what you need permission?"

Pallavi pouted adorably making her husband want to coo at her like she was an infant and pull her cheeks. When she knew he would not agree to anything without knowing what it is, she sighed in defeat and decided to let the axe fall. 

"I want to invite Amma and Keerti for your birthday."

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Keerti and Jaya's rented house, Hyderabad, 9:45 pm

Jaya brought the bowl from the kitchen to the living room where her daughter was seated at the single couch, busy staring at her laptop. Her pretty face was drawn in a dilemma. 

"Keerti, what is wrong?"

"Nothing Amma, was just looking for the next exam dates. Hopefully none falls on twenty sixth, I have a very important meeting with the clients that day."

Jaya smiled and sat beside her. She was immensely proud of her daughter who was handling both her job and her management studies side by side. She truly was a Rao. That reminded her of her other offspring and as usual, a mixture of emotions followed that thought. The familiar hard bitterness and a rotten grief which always made a volatile amalgamation in her heart whenever she thought of her eldest. 

Keerti as if sensing her mother's turmoil shut the laptop and turned towards her. 

"Amma.."

"Yes."

"Are we... I mean... are we going to go to the Mansion tomorrow?"

"You know my answer Keerti. But like I always say, you are free to visit."

Keerti looked down and sighed.

"It's been what... a decade now Amma.. don't you think its time we.."

She shut up seeing Jaya's expression and sighed again. Maybe it was a battle she was always destined to lose. Suddenly they heard the bell ring and Keerti got up to open the door. 

"Who has come so late Keerti?"

"Might be Archana, Amma.. she did say she had some work with me.."

Keerti opened the door expecting to see her friend's face but got shocked seeing someone else's entirely. 

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A/N:- I have decided to mention the times along with the places as well. Or else it's tough to write events which are jumping. If you see the time, follow that in sequence, some might come earlier, that means it was in flashback. Like the morning breakfast scene, which has happened right after the bedroom scene from last chapter.