All Strings Attached

Chapter Thirty Four

"Of course," he says, and glances at my amused face, before admitting with a tinge of embarrassment, "I mean, Sita did."

"Evaru ayithe enti, it doesn't matter which one of you it's from, it's the same to me, coming from the both of you."

Dhushyanth smiles at her. "You guys should've started," he says, "why wait for us so long?"

"No one wanted to start without you," Prashanth insists, "Neither Deeksha, nor my mother. Even dad wanted to wait."

"That is extremely sweet," I claim. "I'm surprised people can be so fond of Dhushyanth."

Deeksha giggles looking up at me. "I'm sorry, we only briefly met at your wedding, and you were so tired after all the rituals."

Tired was an understatement. I was emotionally, mentally, socially, and physically exhausted.

I wish our wedding had been different.

I look up at Dhushyanth who's already looking at me, as if he had the exact same thought. "That's okay," I tell Deeksha, looking away from my husband. "Everything's been so busy since the wedding, I feel like I haven't met any of Dhushyanth's friends at all. Abhi and I had made plans for all of us to meet, but ever since we've come back from Kurnool, it's just been so many events. I'm glad we could meet today, at least."

"You guys are staying late, aren't you?" She asks, confirming with me to which I nod.

"Dhushyanth said this is a good chance to spend some time because we've barely got any time to spare over the next few weeks, and then we're back to Kurnool."

She smiles. "I'm glad," she says, "then we're good. We'll spend good time together."

Dhushyanth and I step back to let the elders take over the woman of the hour, starting with the rituals. They apply gandham (sandalwood paste) on either side of her cheeks, apply a pinch of kumkuma (sindoor) to her forehead and help her put on a pair of bangles each, blessing her with a long married life, a smooth childbirth, and a healthy child.

Abhi and Esha find us, with their kid, Avyukth leaping into Dhusyanth mama's arms. I watch as Dhushyanth kisses Avyukth's cheek, observing how much taller he's gotten over the last few months.

"Hi, Avyukth," I coo, extending my hand for a handshake, which he takes nimbly, before hiding in Dhushyanth mama's neck.

"Hi cheppu Atha ki," his mum encourages him, to which he raises his head slightly, his fair cheeks turning pink before he hides once again.

"Aiyo, siggu," his mother teases. [Aw, he's shy.]

"Amma," he groans.

"Arey, neeku pilla ni iche Atha ra," Abhi tells his son, "Atha ni chusi siggu padakudadhu. Atha ni butta lo veskovaali." [She's your mother-in-law to-be, baby. You should have her on your side.]

"Shut up," Dhushyanth chuckles, slapping Abhi's arm. "Chinnapillaltho enti." [Don't speak that way around the kids.] "Leave my daughter alone," he murmurs at the end, frowning at the thought of having a daughter who could be married off.

"Ammo, anagaane leni kuthuru gurinchi entha benga," Esha teases. [Aw, look at him getting upset about marrying off a daughter he doesn't have.]

"Nee koduku ni ivvu, memu theeskeltham," Dhushyanth counters to Esha. [Give us your son, we'll take him away.]

"Bharinchaleru, sayanthram ki vachi dhimpesthaaru," she jokes, subtly taking her son away from Dhushyanth, making all of us laugh out loud. [You won't be able to put up with him, you'll drop him back by the evening.]