Samhitha POV:
As I was about to enter my room, Pedhamma (mother's elder sister) called out to me.
"Osey, when did you come? Go get ready fast. We have to do the pellikoduku ceremony first, and after that there's the gaajula function. All of us are going to wear bangles."
(Pellikoduku – ritual done for the groom before the wedding)
(Gaajula function – ceremony where women wear bangles together)
How many more functions are left? Can't they just give me a break?
Already exhausted, I replied,
"Okay Pedhamma, I'm coming. Give me ten minutes."
I was already tired and my social battery is dead. How do people keep smiling and talking all the time? Seriously, how do they do it?
And how can I forget that person who keeps doing it right in front of my eyes... none other than that Ayaan, who keeps roaming around like a sparrow.
The way he talks... once he starts, it turns into a full monologue.
He looks like a good person. But he's exactly the opposite of me.
His smile looks fine on the outside, but it doesn't feel like it comes from the heart. If you look into his eyes, you can tell he's hiding something. To everyone else he seems like an open book... but that's not really who he is.
I noticed it earlier in the car too. While we were going, he kept talking nonstop. But on the way back, he completely zoned out, lost somewhere in his own thoughts.
But that mischief of his... my God. He causes more chaos than Myra and Anvi combined.
Since I came here, everywhere I go people have been talking about Ayaan's pranks. Everyone seems to have become his fan because of those pranks.
After getting ready, I went to join the others. They had already started the function.
Normally, in our culture the pasupu ceremony is done for three or five days.
(Pasupu – turmeric ceremony done before a wedding (haldi) )
Today was the first day, and along with that there was the gaajula function where all the women wear bangles together.
I saw Kiran, Anvi, and my cousin Sanjana standing nearby. I joined them.
"Akka, puja ela iyyindhi?" asked Sanjana. (Akka, how was the temple ritual?)
"You could have taken me too... Ayaan anna would have been full entertainment", anvi complained.
"Enti entertainment? Eppudu vasa pittala la vaaguthadu," I said, rolling my eyes. (What entertainment? He keeps talking like a noisy sparrow.)
"Nuvvu matladav... neeku maatlade vallu nachaaru. Andharu neela untey inka library aipothundhi," countered Kiran.
(You don't talk. Of course you don't like talkative people. If everyone was like you, the whole place would become a library.)
"Entira emo annav?" I raised my eyebrows. (What did you just say?)
"Nothing akka, I'm just saying Ayaan should belong in a museum... that's all," he said nervously.
I saw aunties teasing Rohith anna and giving him tips for his married life. Soon they would come to me asking about my marriage or suggesting their sons.
Being a 23-year-old, it's actually difficult to attend family functions. Why does everyone suddenly want to get me married?
"Why are we discussing about him? Let's focus on the function. Andharu bangles vesukuntunnaru kadha?" I asked them. (Everyone is wearing bangles, right?)
"Andharu ante including anna vaallu kuda na akka?" Anvi laughed.
(Everyone means including brothers too?)
"Osey kothi, em annav? Aagu nuvvu!"
(You little monkey, what did you say? Wait there!)
Kiran ran behind Anvi.
"Manamey kadhu, andharu Ayaan gurinche maatladthunnar. Few aunties even wanted to ask him for their daughter," Sanjana again took his topic.
(Not just us, everyone is talking about Ayaan.)
"Then why aren't they asking?" I frowned.
"Adhi em le... vadiki inka job ledhu kadha. Andhukey aagipoyaaru."
(He doesn't have a proper job yet, so they stopped.)
"Why are you all just standing there? Go apply turmeric to your brother. Once he gets married he'll only revolve around his wife. This is the correct time to tease him" said my mummy from another side, making everyone laugh.
"He is already under his wife's control... what do you say, anna" I said, going near Rohith anna with turmeric in my hand.
Kiran came from behind and held him, and a few other cousins came carrying buckets of water.
I applied turmeric to him while the others poured water over him. Everyone burst into laughter. Soon everyone started running around chasing each other with turmeric in their hands.
Taking that as a chance, I quietly escaped to my room since I was standing right in front of Rohith anna, water had splashed on me.
I was extremely tired, so after freshening up I went straight to sleep.
Suddenly, a knock disturbed me.
But the moment I opened it everyone barged into my room and dragged me out to the gaajula function to wear bangles.
By the time we reached there and sat down, it was already dark outside.
"Why didn't you answer when I called you, akka?" Sanjana complained sitting beside me.
"My phone is in the room... I think it's on silent. Anvi, go bring it"
"I won't go. Send Kiran anna instead ", she whined.
"Chinni, Please bring it. I'll buy chocolates for you and Myra." I bribed her. She sighed dramatically but finally went.
"Eppudu aa musalollalaga aa muchhatlu entey?" said Sanjana's mother while wearing bangles. (Why are you girls talking like old ladies all the time?)
"Memu kadhu musallolu, meerey amma. Mem edho secrets maatladukuntunnam, neeku endhuku?" Sanjana argued.
(We're not the old ones, you are mom. We're discussing secrets, why do you care?)
"Those secrets must be about boyfriends, I know "Anitha akka smirked, bringing a tray full of bangles for us.
"Yes yes, we're talking about boyfriends. But you're already married, you're an aunty now. Go sit with the aunty group." said nanda to Anitha akka.
"Then your Ammu akka will also become an aunty in one year," anitha teased.
If I don't stop them now, I know exactly where this topic will go.
So I quickly said, "Okay okay, wear the bangles quickly. Let's have dinner. Tomorrow we still have work."
Tomorrow is the second day, and we are doing mehendi along with haldi. It's going to be a big wedding, Ammu... better charge your social battery.
Just then I saw Anvi walking toward me with a confused face while checking a phone.
I asked her to bring my phone, but whose phone was she bringing?
"Akka, I searched the whole room... this is the only phone I found. When did you change your phone?" she asked.
I took the phone from her and checked it. It was none other than Ayaan's phone.
Devuda... (ohh god!!) earlier I was helping Kavya vadhina and my dress didn't have pockets, so I gave my phone to Ayaan to hold. And after speaking with his mom, I didn't return his phone back.
So now our phones had been exchanged. And with all these functions going on, I didn't even get time to check my phone.
Suddenly Sanjana took the phone from my hand and unlocked it.
"Whose phone is this? It doesn't even have a lock... wait, there are messages coming."
She said it while sitting with the phone, and all the cousins gathered around her including me.
"Sanju, it's not good manners to check someone's phone. I think it's Ayaan's phone. Our phones got exchanged. Give it to me, I'll return it," I said, asking her for the phone.
But another cousin held my hand and said, "Wait akka, you don't know anything. Keep your rules with you."
"I got an idea! Let's prank him. He's pranking everyone, right? Let's text someone from his phone. Sanjana akka, open WhatsApp," said Nandha, Sanjana's sister.
"Yes, good idea," Saying that, Sanjana opened WhatsApp.
"Sanjana Don't do it, it's his personal "I said, glaring at her.
"Okay akka, stop glaring. I'll just read, but I won't text anyone. Okay?" she said and started reading the chats.
Having no other option, I stayed silent.
"Okay fine, first everyone wear bangles. Then we'll go to the room and read. If anyone sees it will be an issue", Anitha akka suggested.
"Anitha akka, no need. We will return the phone to him," I said.
"Nuvvundavamma... ohh ichedham ichedham ani idhemaina nee mogudi phone aa?" said Sanjana. (You keep quiet... why are you so eager to return it? Is it your husband's phone or what?)
"It's not your phone, right? Let's just tease him for fun."said Anitha akka.
Everyone quickly wore their bangles. During that time I tried to get the phone back, but that monkey Sanjana had already kept it in her room.
When we were going to her room, Pedhamma stopped us.
"Where are you all going? Go eat dinner first. Did you see the time?"
Sanjana immediately whined,
"Abbah pedhamma, malli thintam le."
(We'll eat later, pedhamma.)
But Pedhamma raised her eyebrows and threatened that she would complain to Pedhanana (Pedhamma husband).
Hearing hitler name, we all went to eat dinner quickly.
Soon we finished dinner and went to Sanjana's room.
Sanjana sat in the center of the bed. I sat to her left side and Anitha sat to her right side. She started reading.
"Ok, so there is a group where there are so many messages. Let's see that."
"Sanjana, just this one group ok please. We should not invade someone's privacy."
"See akka, it's his personal phone. But the topic is you, so it's not his personal anymore," said Sanjana with a mischievous smile.
"What do you mean?" I glared at her in confusion.
"I saw something about you in the group earlier. See the group name... ohoo Kanya Raasi. Andharu TFI banisalu ithey," Sanjana smirked.
( Look at the group name Kanya Raasi. Looks like everyone there are Telugu film industry fans.)
Manish: Mama eyyyuuuu... last night you said you didn't like that girl. Now why is she sitting right next to you in the car?
Arun: Bava aa sangeeth ammai ni evar chesukuntaaro kaani life time settlement ra. (Whoever marries that Sangeeth girl will be settled for life.)
"Akka... that Sangeeth girl is you right?" Nandha leaned towards me.
"Who else would it be? Everyone was whistling for Ammu's dance" said Anitha akka.
"Let's read... we'll find out who that girl is" Sanjana said, silencing everyone.
Sathish: If you don't like her, set her up with me
Manish: Orey Ayaan... intlo biryani pettukoni bayata curdrice vethukuthunnav enti raa... aa chunni ammai ni vadhilei.
(Bro Ayaan... you're leaving the biryani at home and searching for curd rice? Forget that chunni girl.)
"Intha karuvu lo unnar enti akka veellu," said Sanjana. (Why are these guys sounding so desperate?)
But my mind got stuck on chunni ammai. Who is she? Is she his girlfriend? Ex? ...Ina naak endhukuley.
(Why should I care anyway?)
Arun: Try it bava... you two look like a movie poster when you stand together
Sathish: Bro last night you gave a full lecture saying you don't like her.
Arun: But the girl is very silent.
Sathish: But her words are violent.
Manish: If you have her number give it to us... memu break istham. (we'll try our luck.)
Sathish: Of course he has it. He's the one who went to pick her up.
"So this is definitely about Ammu akka" said Nandha, leaning on Anitha.
"I already told you it was about Ammu akka, didn't I? "she smirked looking at me.
I gave her a are you serious? look, but even then I could feel my heartbeat increasing.
Why. Being the center of a group chat somehow made me feel both angry and nervous.
They were judging me. How could they talk about a girl like that? Even if the texts were decent, it still felt uncomfortable.
I hated this. I didn't want this to continue, so I said,
"Let's stop here guys. We'll go to sleep."
"Chance a ledhu akka... you can go and sleep," Sanjana argued with me. (No chance akka, you can go sleep if you want.)
Arun: Bava nuvvu aa ammai ni thagulko... nenu thana cousin ni thagulkunta. Idharam settle ipodham. (You take that girl, I'll take her cousin. Both of us will settle.)
Manish: I'm first in line bro, you move aside.
Sathish: I left the seat for you and now you're betraying me.
"Akka kachithanga veellu aa edaari nunchi vachharu," Nandha laughed holding her stomach. (These guys definitely came from some desert — they're that desperate.)
Arun: Mama manodu silent ga unnadu... matter serious. (Bro he's silent... this must be serious.)
Sathish: Just say clearly... do you like her or not?
Ayaan: Nachaledhu ra... naaku aa chunni ammai antene istam. (No bro... I only like that chunni girl.)
Suddenly I heard Ayaan's name when Sanjana read that message.
Even though I don't care about what he thinks of me, the way he said it felt like a direct rejection to my face.
And he likes someone else.
But why do I care?
Why do I feel... sad?
It's actually good that the topic will end here.
Arun: Then why are you going out together?
If two people go out together, does that automatically mean something is going on between them? How do people think like that?
Ayaan: Mom asked me to take her to the temple. Ayina aa ammai nannu choosthey chiraaku paduthundhi... kopam mukku meedha untundhi. Kopisti. (Anyway that girl gets irritated whenever she sees me... anger always sitting on her nose. Short-tempered.)
"Akka ninnu kopisti annadu," Sanjana and Nandha laughed together.
(He called you short-tempered.)
I am serious with him because I misunderstood him as a creep. That's the first impression he got from me. But how dare he call me that.
Repu kanipisthaadu kadha... chepthaanu vaadi sangathi. (Let him show up tomorrow, I'll deal with him then.)
"Nannu kopisti antaada... vaadey pedha idiot, waste fellow, stupid, irresponsible, gaaliki thirige vedhava," I thought angrily. (He calls me short-tempered? He's the idiot... useless fellow... irresponsible guy wandering around.)
"Osey nee thitla puraanam aapavey..." Anitha laughed. (Stop your whole scolding story.)
That's when I realized I had said it out loud.
Manish: What did you do to make her angry?
Good question... let him explain his heroic actions
Ayaan: I didn't do anything. Anyway she's Rohith bava's sister. Rakshasi. Gayyali. Dhayyam la arusthundhi. Vadhileyandi manakendhuku. (A fierce devil. Shouts like a ghost. Leave it, why do we care.)
Sathish: Ithey inka varasa kuda bava-mardhalu meeru. (Then technically you're future brother-in-law and sister-in-law.)
"eyyuuuu bava-mardhal" everyone hooted and gave me teasing looks I ignored.
"I think soon we are getting another bro-in-law, what do you say Nandha",Sanjana teased me. Which I ignored. Then she continued reading.
Arun: Look at his acting... I know what his eyes are saying.
Ohho... sir gaari kallu kuda maatladthaya? Nenu noru okkatey anukunna. (Oh wow, his eyes can speak too? I thought only his mouth worked.)
Manish: Orey vaadi kallu em chepthunnayo neeku ela telusu raa... nuvvu nijanga theda kadha. (How do you know what his eyes are saying? You're seriously weird.)
Sathish: Ninna night okati annav... ippudu inkoti chesthunnav. Jhumka chetiki isthuu mama full feel undhi raa. (Last night you said one thing, now you're doing another. Giving her the jhumka... bro that scene had full feel.)
What did he say about me last night?
Don't these people have any other work apart from discussing girls?
Arun: Orey aa ammai ni meeru chooskondi kaani... aa Sanjana undhi choodu... mass mama mana type. (You guys take care of that girl... look at that Sanjana though... she's our type.)
"Eyyyyuuu Sanjanaaaa!, now add another bro-in-law nandha" Anitha akka and the other cousins teased her.
Sanjana shushed everyone with a shy smile.
Manish: Mundhey chepthunna... Sanjana naadhi.(I'm saying it first... Sanjana is mine.)
Sathish: Vachadandi Arjun Reddy. (Here comes Arjun Reddy.)
Arun: Orey nee mohaniki aa pilla raadhu ra. (With that face, that girl won't come near you.)
Manish: Ithey aa Anitha ki nenu try chestha raa. (Then I'll try for Anitha.)
"Pellaina vaalani kuda vadalatledhu raa," said Anitha and Sanjana together. (He isn't even leaving married women alone.)
Sathish: Mama she is married ra. (Bro she's married.)
Arun: Ledhu raa... medalo thaali ledhu, kaallaki mettalu levu. (No bro... she's not wearing a mangalsutra or toe rings.)
Manish: Ee madhya ammailu pettukovadam maanesaaru raa. (These days girls have stopped wearing them.)
Arun: Mama neeku interest lekapothe naaku number ivvu. At least Insta id aina... Snapchat kuda chalega. (If you're not interested, give me her number. At least her Instagram... Snapchat also works.)
"Maa akka assal social media lo active ga untey kadha... eppudu aa books pattukoni kurchuntadhi," said Nandha. (Our sister isn't active on social media at all. She's always sitting with her books.)
"Osey naa books ni emaina antey assal baagodhu choodu," I scolded them. (Don't you dare say anything about my books.)
Manish: Mundhu ninnu chalega. (First you will be kicked.)
We all laughed.
Arun removed Manish.
Sathish added Manish.
"
Vellentey ammaila kanna ekkuva matladuthunnaru," said Anitha akka. (These guys talk more than girls.)
Sathish: Orey drama cheyyaku raa... group nunchi vellipoyi malli osthav.(Don't do drama. You leave the group and come back again.)
M
anish: Nen em chesina raa... meere remove chesi meere add chestharu.(Whatever I do, you guys remove and add me yourselves.)
Finally the chat ended here. But suddenly I heard the notification and the texts started again.
Arun: Mama Ayaan reply chey raa. You have last replied in the morning. (Ayaan, reply bro.)
We heard phone ringing sound. Sanjana immediately silenced it.
Manish: Phone lift chey raa. He is leaving us on seen (Pick up the phone.)
Wait... didn't he notice that his phone is missing?
And my phone is with him.
Now what is that idiot doing with my phone?
Devuda... nene dorikaana neeku.
(God... did you only find me for these problems?)
Sathish: Silent ga unnadu ante confirm... matter serious. (If he's silent, it means the matter is serious.)
What serious? What the hell are they even asking?
Do people fix relationships just by seeing a girl once?
Idiots.
Arun: Maybe the girl is sitting beside him... that's why he isn't replying
"May be the phone is with the girl", Sanjana smirked.
Manish: Eyyuuu annaaa mana Ayaan gaadi love story start ayipoyindhi roi. (Brooo our Ayaan's love story has started.)
"Eyyu akka... nee pelli next ithey, Ayaan + Samhitha = Samyaan," Sanjana shouted.
"Chi akka, Samyaan is not nice. Let's think about other names. Aan from Ayaan and Itha from Samhitha... it will be Aanith," said Nandha.
Anitha immediately hit her on the head.
"I am Anitha."
"That's not my problem," said Nandha.
"Shut up everyone. What the hell is this? I am not interested in this kind of shit, you know that right? Why are you guys joining those idiots? Give me the phone, I will return it to that idiot. Alagey kadigesthaanu vaadini enti ee thingari eshaalu ani," I shouted.
(And I'll also question him properly about these nonsense behaviors.)
Everyone looked at me like I was a ghost.
"Sorry akka, we just did it for fun," said Nandha.
"But it's not fun, Nandha," I said.
I took the phone from Sanjana's hand, but while closing it I saw a few more messages.
But before I could stop her, Sanjana grabbed the phone again and quickly read the remaining messages.
Manish: At least introduce her to us.
Sathish: He's leaving the messages on seen... veediki balisindhi baga.
(he must be very busy.)
Manish: Orey phone ekkada esinav raaa. (Where did you throw your phone bro?)
Sathish: Silent ga unnadu ante confirm... padipoyadu.
(If he's silent it means he has fallen for her.)
Manish: Orey group name marchestha. (I'm changing the group name.)
Manish changed the group name to: Ayaan💖 Samhitha Love Story
What the hellllllllll.....
Sathish:Orey change cheyyaku raa... inka confirm kuda kaaledhu.
(Hey don't change it... it's not even confirmed yet.)
Manish changed the group name to: Kanya Raasi
Arun:Mama final ga chepthunna... number ivvakapothe next function lo direct ga adugutham.
(I'm telling you finally... if you don't give the number, we will ask her directly in the next function.)
Having enough of all this, I took the phone from her hand and went back to my room.
Anvi was already sleeping.
I thought of returning his phone right away, but then I saw the time. It was already 11.45 PM. Everyone might be sleeping, and if I meet him now, andharki leniponi doubt lu vasthai.
(People will start getting unnecessary doubts.)
So I just layed down beside Anvi and tried to sleep.
But the moment I closed my eyes... all I could see were those messages.
Assalu em cheyyali.
(What am I even supposed to do now?)
I kept turning from one side to another on the bed.
Ayaan's words... his laugh... his stupid pranks... everything kept appearing in my mind.
Assalu thanu manchivaade naa?
(Is he actually a good person?)
How can they talk about a girl like that in a group chat?
Though they didn't say anything extremely bad... still... who knows what they actually think.
Since the moment I met him, my heart and brain haven't been agreeing on samething. What happened to me.
But somehow... every time the heart wins.
And I don't want it to win.
Even while taking the jhumka from him earlier, I got irritated. Because I was observing him when he suddenly got lost in his thoughts... and then he cracked that helicopter joke just to mask the moment.
Why am I thinking about him so much?
Am I becoming crazy?
Ammu... pelliki vachama, vellama anthey. (Ammu, we came for the wedding, we'll leave after the wedding. That's it.)
Ee edhava gurinchi marchipo.
(Forget about that idiot.)
But how can I? He's a close relative. I know I will keep on meeting him. Ammu, leave it. Don't think about him.
He's not worth it.
He's irresponsible. Always careless.
But ammu how can you judge a person like that, that's not you right. I know I should not judge him but I cant help myself either. What is wrong with me.....
HE IS AN IDIOT.
That's all and his friends are idiots. No argument. I trust my brain.
Tomorrow when you see him... gattiga adugu enti ee tamasha ani.
(Ask him properly what all this nonsense means.)
By the way... Who is that chunni girl...
With all these messy thoughts running in my mind... I finally fell asleep around 2 AM.