Raghu sat in the passenger seat of the car and raised his brow at Parthu who was sitting holding the steering with steel grip. Raghu whistled happily irritating her more.
"Ms. HR, to drive a car, you should start it first!"
Parthu growled.
"Do not irritate me!"
She started the vehicle which growled just like her.
"I never knew my car had your characteristics! Wow!"
"Just Shut UP!"
And she geared the vehicle which started with a jerk and went on to the road.
"This is a road! Not a Go Kart racing course Ms. HR"
"Irritating Architect"
"Easy prey HR"
Raghu hid his smile as he could hear her gritting her teeth. He turned to another side and chuckled silently.
Good thing that both had their seat belts intact. Because, Parthavi's driving was proving to be a roller coaster ride with every passing moment and Raghu was enjoying it completely. She was not reckless or rash. She was just fast but controlled. But she had to work on her turns.
Once they were in the hotel parking, Raghu turned to her.
"Remind me to take a packet of mints next time you drive!"
"Hain?"
"My stomach is growling woman. What was that? This is called driving?"
"This is MY driving!"
"That's why. Remind me to take mints next time"
"There is a next time?"
Parthu asked frowning.
"Of course."
"Even after seeing me drive?"
"What is wrong? You are just fast and raw in turns. Otherwise you are quite good. The way you just slipped past in that narrow road shows that you are a good driver."
"Wow! Mr. Architect. You are the first person to say that. Others call me reckless and rash"
"I am not much slow myself. If I complain about your driving then its like Pot calling the kettle black"
Parthu smiled as she parked the car and removed her seatbelt.
"Who is pot? Who is kettle?"
RAghu chuckled as he got down undoing the seatbelt.
"Well.. given our stature.. We both are neither. We should think of some different comparisons."
Parthavi laughed curling her arm around his.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you are too cheesy for your own good Mr. Architect?"
"Never Ms. HR! Not many got the chance to see this Avtar of mine."
He said placing his hand over hers.
"Oh! So I am that lucky person eh?"
"The only person may be."
He smiled down at her. Their eyes held for a moment long when they heard a honk. They turned to see Ved's car there parked beside theirs. Ved and Vasu got down and raised their brows at Raghu and Parthu.
"Enti?"
Parthu asked fuming.
"Looking at Bava's green face, you did drive. Kada Partha?"
"Akka drove? No wonder Bava's hairs are standing like that."
Both Vasu and Ved winked at each other as Parthu growled. RAghu chuckled irritating her more.
"Enough! She is good!"
"Busssss!"
Both Vasu and Ved hit their heads.
"Bava! You are one gone case!"
"Ippude! You are supporting her! Bava! Nuvu ila ayipoyav enti ra?"
Ved shook his head with pity spreading on his features. Vasu was having fun.
"Orei! Enough! I am saying the truth. She is better than you. You are rash. But she is really controlled though fast. So better accept the fact!"
"Vasu. We have no place here ra. Come lets go!"
"Avunu Ved Anna. Bava is going to be tied to her saree pallu! I can see his very bright future. And we dont have any place there. Padha Anna!"
Raghu slapped on Ved's back and Parthu held Vasu's ear.
"Mohan! Chaalu! Lets go in"
"Intiki ra! I will show you better place Vasu"
Giggling and laughing all 4 reached the A/C dining of the hotel where their families were waiting.
"Ra Nandhu. We were waiting for you only."
"Have you ordered amma?"
"Not yet Alludu."
Raghu looked taken aback by the new way of addressing. His shock was so visible that Ved and Parthu laughed while Vasu tried stifling her smile.
"Urrhh! Aunty. Mind calling me by name"
Durga chuckled and this time Vasu too joined the laughter.
"Sorry bava. I try supporting you. But you do fall prey easily."
Raghu smiled remembering him saying the same to Parthu sometime back.
"Ahem ahem!"
Parthu cleared her throat making him shake his head.
"We are not supposed to call you by name."
Hari said. Durga smiled.
"Its okay Anna garu. Don't get into formalities. We are not that formal as a family."
Prabha smiled. Her daughter was going into a family that was really good and easy going.
"Ahh! Lakshmi! Looks like luck has struck us both."
Shivaprasad said smiling. Bhoomi and Prithvi hit each other's shoulders and chuckled making their daughter giggle too.
"No doubts Shiva."
"Prithvi. Give Dhitvi to me. I will make her eat."
"Ledu Athamma. You eat first."
"Its okay Prithvi. We will eat and make her eat too. You enjoy there. We have booked a separate table for you youngsters."
"Nana! Why did you.."
"We old age people will talk all boring non sense amma. You young lot can enjoy and have some privacy too. Enti Durga garu?"
"You are so right. Nanna Nadhu.. Go to the next table. We will send a waiter. And Bhargava, Shantha, you both leave the kids with us too. And Shantha, choose your food wise and healthy."
"You eat well amma. And Athaiyya Mavaiyya you too!"
RAghu said looking at Prabha Hari and Shiva Shakthi making them smile.
Parthu smiled as all the younger lot shifted.
"Athaiyya mavaiyya eh? Mr. Architect?"
"Yeah! Better than Aunty uncle no?"
"Charming!"
"Humbled!"
He chuckled and she did too.
"Thammudu.."
Raghu turned to his brother and Vadina who were looking at him and Parthavi with those wide grins.
"If you are done.. Shall we order?"
"Huh..!"
"Orei Bava.. Don't act innocent"
"Rei Thaati Chettu.."
"Why are you attacking him Parthu.."
"Shut up Bhoomi"
"Lovers spat!"
"Super Anna!"
Ved, Vasu and Prithvi hi5ed while Bhoomi Parthu glared at them and others chuckled irritating them more. The waiter came there for order saving the day.
"Bhoomi?"
"My usual andi.."
Prithvi smiled at her and then turned to Raghu.
"You Raghu?"
"You did not ask HR.. I mean Parthavi.."
"Bhoomi and her choice arent much different."
Ved stifled his smile.
"What is that?"
"Andhra meals with special Gutti Vankaya kura and Avakaya pachadi."
"Are you serious?"
This was from Bhargava who had this surprised expression while Mahi, Shantha and Rishi were laughing.
"Shantha.. Jodi Bale Kudirindi! Perfect match."
"No doubts Mahi."
"Not everyone has our luck Shantha."
Shantha glared at her husband. Prithvi raised his eye brow at Raghu's family.
"Arey Prithvi Anna.. Bava ki kuda athey ishtam. Wherever he goes for lunch he orders the same!"
Ved cleared the air. This time Parthu raised her brow at Raghu who just smiled shaking his head.
"Do you order for spicy food too Raghu?"
Bhoomi asked for which Raghu smiled.
"Yes! Always. But I compensate with nice Bobbattu or chilled Rasamalai."
"Pootarekulu and Rasamalai!"
Parthavi muttered making Raghu smiled. His life was definitely going to be fun. Parthavi gave him a sideway glance and smiled looking down at her mobile phone in which she was checking some news updates. She was sitting next to Raghu but was so immersed in her phone as Prithvi and Bhargava ordered for everyone.
Raghu peeped in and saw that it was all about her star couple.
"Seriously?"
He whispered. Parthavi frowned at him.
"What?"
"Again these both?"
"What do you mean?"
"For how long will you go mad over these two Ms. HR? They are not getting married anytime soon. But you are. Look at your husband to be!"
"What is there to look at my husband to be?"
"What is there to look at that man?"
Parthavi raised her brow hiding her smile.
"What is not there? Oddu podugu.. Aaradagula andhagaadu, All handsome 6 feet tall, a smile to die for.."
"Yeah Yeah.. As much as confused soul. But look at his woman there. The Queen. Tall, smart always saves him when he blabbers and man she is one beauty."
Parthavi narrowed her eyes at him. He hid his smile this time.
"Enti?"
He asked.
"When did Mr. Architect find time to look into these people's lives?"
"I watch movie madam. Its not as if I am in board room 24*7."
"This is not movie we are talking about. How did you know about them?"
"I watch TV too. And remember we are talking about a movie that made India and Telugu film industry famous all over the world."
"Ahaan.. So are you telling me that you watch gossips?"
"No! I watch news channels and when the interviews come, I do watch them too."
"Forget it."
"Do I smell something Ms. HR?"
"What?"
"Kadupu kaaladam?"
"Might be hunger!"
"Not for me praising that queen there?"
"Thinking too high of yourself Mr. Architect"
"Ahan?"
And the food came before she can retort. Raghu enjoyed every moment. Not just the food. But also the sight of his woman sitting beside him and enjoying the food. In his business and most places he went, apart from his family, he has never seen a girl enjoy food this much. He could see that she was not conscious at all. She was just appreciating good food.
He looked around and saw Vasu and Mohan playing and eating. Others were busy in their own romance. So when he saw Parthu about to put one gutti vankaya in her mouth, he bend and took the piece into his mouth making her gasp.
She looked up at him and saw him licking his fingers and giving her side glance. When he saw her looking at him, he turned to her and raised his brow.
"What did you just do?"
"I am eating!"
"My Vankaya!"
"No mine!"
"Orei Bava.. Vankaya whose is not the question. Is this the place and time to romance? Is the question"
Raghu and Parthu glared at Ved who was chuckling with Vasu.
"Osi Na Baathu.. Bava ate only one Vankaya. Why are you making a scene out of it?"
"Shut up Vasu!"
"Abbo! Oka Vankaya ki inta?"
"Grr!"
Parthu threw the napkin at Vasu and Ved and continued attacking her food much to raghu's amusement. He also finished his food and started attacking his rasamalai and so did Parthu. Before she took a piece she turned to him.
"Don't you dare come to eat this now."
"Ammo! Jejamma!"
"Grrr! Moddhu!"
"Hey!"
"Shut up you both!"
Mahi came out frowning.
"Sorry vadina!"
"Sorry"
Both said meekly making everyone laugh. Bhoomi hit her forehead.
"These both should be romancing.. Look at them romancing the food and fighting for it"
"Bhoomi. This Pandu fellow is waste fellow. Give him food and he will not look at anything else."
"Haiyoo Shantha.. Then my dreams of getting a junior Parthu whom I could spoil rot and make Parthu see hell?"
"Don't worry about that Bhoomi.. Bava and Partha are foodies alright.. But it doesnt mean they are weak in other department."
"Orei Thaati Chettu! Shut up okay.."
"What okay?"
"Reii.."
"What? Did you tell bava about all those romantic novels you read hiding from others?"
"Osi paapishti thana! I thought my novels were just forgotten by me in the places.. But it was you all the time?"
RAghu laughed heartily seeing the color coming on Parthu's cheeks. His HR had so many layers to her and he was going to enjoy learning every layer.
Soon they were leaving.
"Amma Parthu? Enjoyed food?"
"Bava did enjoy Athaiyya!"
Ved said earning a jab from Parthu. Durga raised her brow at RAghu who just shook his head looking down.
"That is good then!"
Prabha said grinning at Parthu who glared at her mother.
"Very good!"
Shakthi said earning another glare.
"Stop it! Don't irritate my chellam okay."
Shiva came her rescue. As they went to the respective cars, Shiva again made a request of Raghu dropping Parthu while they come in their respective cars.
As they walked to the car..
"Romantic novels eh Ms. HR?"
"Shut up Mr. ARchitect."
"I don't mind"
"I never asked you.."
"May be you can give me the list of your favorite books."
"For what?"
"I can get them for you. You don't need to take Vasu's books and then pretend you never cared."
"I have library card. Thank you."
"Well then, you should take me once to library with you."
"Why?"
"To see the titles?"
"Shut up Raghu. I read only Romantic suspense. Ved and Vasu were exaggerating"
"The color on your cheeks say otherwise."
He said as both got into the car. Parthu just buckled her seat belt.
"Parthavi.."
"Enti?"
"I think, I will not be that bad in romance.."
She hit him once as he took the car laughing loud. Soon Parthavi joined his laughter. Life was good.