Raghunandhu watched with a small smile as he saw Parthavi being engulfed with a small but very happy gang. He smiled as he saw her jumping holding her friends. Suddenly he saw her frowning as he leaned on the pillar nearby.
Seeing her frown, he raised his brow in question for which she waved her hand calling him to her. That’s when all her friends saw him. They were giving him all leering glances and oohing and awing at him as he walked to Parthavi.
God! he felt so embarrassed. As soon as he was close to Parthavi, she held his arm and pointed to every girl introducing them.
“Ishani Sanjeev”
Raghu smiled at the girl who raised her brow at Parthavi making him stifle his chuckle.
“Mathi.. I mean Vidya Murali”
“Hi”
The girl said smiling making Raghu comfortable.
“Nazneen Rizwana and etc.”
The girl swatted Parthavi’s arms making Raghu chuckle.
“Hello”
“Rashika”
“Hi..”
She said and Raghu realized that she looked the youngest in the group.
“Don’t go by her looks, she is the Nanamma of us all.”
Raghu laughed as the girl punched Parthavi.
“That is Priyanka Ammineni.”
“Hello andi.”
“The respectful one here.”
Parthavi said earning a glare and chuckle.
“This is Anbu, Anbumozhi, the Tamizh kavi of our group.”
“Shut up Partha. Hello.”
The girl admonished Parthavi and greeted Raghunandhu at same breath.
“These two are special people in our group. Our creative head and stress buster. Tasha and Laddoo, I mean Lakshya.”
Both the girls giggled and greeted Raghu.
“You know Harshita, she will be a little late coming with Matheysh Annaiya and her naughty little twins.”
Raghu nodded his head. The girls chuckled.
“Hey Ms I am full of manners, you never introduced this hunk to us.”
Ishani poked Parthavi making her giggle.
“Only if you let me Ishu. This is Mr. Raghunandhu Narayanudu, my fiance.”
There was a loud noise reaching the roof making Raghu wince.
“Hey you criminal. You never told us.”
Rashika said scowling.
“I am telling now right Rash. Actually it is a long story.”
“We have all the time in the world!”
Said Laddoo.
“This Mr. Maharaju came for pelli choopulu and well, things went well and dates were fixed for 2 months later for engagement and then the wedding. But something in our Jathaka chakram changed and engagement was preponed to today. So we did not have time to invite anyone from here.”
“Ahaha.. Whom are you kidding. How come Harshita and Ved were there?”
“Ved is my cousin”
Said Raghunandhu saving Parthavi making girls make noise again. But he noticed that all the time, Parthavi did not leave his arm.
“Harshita is not just my friend. Matheysh Annaiya, her husband is in joint venture with Prithvi Anna, so as family she came.”
“So we are not family?”
Asked Anbu scowling.
“Girls. Cut our girl some slack.”
Tasha said making Parthavi take a sigh.
“We will take revenge in wedding.”
She continued her phrase making Parthavi scowl, Raghu chuckle and others laugh.
“Seriously!”
Everyone laughed. Then Parthavi frowned.
“By the way where is our Ms. goody shoes?”
“You mean Sathya?”
Priyanka asked.
“Yeah.”
“She will be here! Where is Ved?”
That is when Raghu and Parthu looked around and found Ved to be found no where. Parthavi frowned.
“Evandi.. He came with us only right?”
“Avunu Parthavi.. Wait let me check.”
Raghu was about to check when Vedmohan entered with phones to both his ears making them both frown.
“Orei Bava! You and this elephantu.. You both and your weird habits! Forgot your mobiles in car.. And see now.. Your parents have been calling me and yelling at me.”
Both chuckled.
“Forgot!”
Both said in unison gaining another shout from the girls around.
“Here, Partha! Athaiyya in your phone. And Bava, Amma on line.”
Both nodded their heads seeing the other parent calling them and took the phones to assure them.
“Hello Vaanara sena!”
He greeted the girls earning beatings and punchings from them chuckling.
“Hey slowly slowly! Most of you are married. I can see from the way the punches have grown strong.”
“Dai! Stop pulling our legs. Where is your wife?”
“What wife? I am single.”
“Oh really?”
Everyone turned to see the source of the sarcastic question and immediately Vedmohan’s face lost its smile. All the girls cheered.
“Sathya…”
The girl in Burgundy color saree smiled walking to the small gang.
“Sathya, we thought..”
“I know Isha.. you thought I will give it a miss like last time. But this time, I was in India.”
“Wow! Queen of Europe descends to India.”
Vedmohan murmured making others frown. Vidhya was the first to catch.
“Well, Sathya its good you are here. Maybe we can catch up.”
“I have a lot to catch up.”
Sathya said throwing a glance to Vedmohan who was looking elsewhere.
“Sathya.. Is that really you?”
Sathya turned and saw Harshita entering and engulfing Sathya in a big bear hug.
“Hey Harshu.. Missed you a lot..”
“Says the one who left the country without a word to me.”
At the same moment in a secluded corner where the noise from the party hall was less, stood Parthavi and Raghu chuckling after the long phone call with their parents.
“The perks of being engaged!”
“Yeah!”
Raghu shook his head.
“Should learn to carry mobile hereafter.”
“May be yes!”
She said playing with her hair fringe that framed her face making her look so elegant. And Raghu cornered her and arrested her to the wall behind making her widen her eyes.
“Mr. Architect! Do you remember you are in public?”
“This is party hall Ms. HR that is dark mostly.”
“That doesnt..”
She gasped as she felt his palm on her arm.
“Give you the liberty.”
She finished breathily as she felt his palm moving to her exposed waist.
“I am usually very well behaved..”
“I don’t see any.”
She said placing her palm over his that was sliding over to her hip now. Pulling out of her grip, his hand went around her waist and pulled her close to him.
“But with you..”
“Shh! Not here!”
Her voice was a mere whisper. He sighed as he leaned and placed his forehead on hers. Her arms went up his torso and her palms settled on his chest.
“Did I say you look good in this saree..”
“Hmm.. No..”
“Odd! We match very well!”
“Lucky coincidence!”
She said meeting his eyes. Intensity met intensity.
“You do like to play Ms. HR!”
He rasped.
“You aren’t any less Mr. Architect”
She rasped back.
“Good that marriage is preponed.”
Giggling she pushed him and moved towards the place where her friends were. But on the way she saw Vedmohan walking restlessly towards the back exit. Frowning she saw her group and saw Sathya standing there. She rushed there.
“Sathya..”
“Hey Bride to be.”
Sathya smiled.
“Who told you?”
“I have my sources. And that is your Mr. Architect?”
“You know much details for a person who went missing for a period of over 4 years.”
“I was away. Not missing Partha. Hello Mr. Raghunandhu. I am Sathya Kanitha, the alien in this group”
Raghu frowned as he shook her hands.
“Alien?”
“I am not their classmate in mechatronics. But I am from another department, the one as same as you, Architecture.”
“Wow.. That is a coincidence.”
“We go a long way Raghu.. And sathya was a very dramatic addition to our group.”
“Some other time Mr. Architect. Maybe we should enjoy the party.”
“Yeah.. You people go.. We will join you in sometime.”
The girls nodded and left the couple alone.
“Raghu.. Ved..”
“Back exit.”
“Come.”
Both moved to the back exit and found Vedmohan who was sitting on one of the steps leading to the labs on the next floor pulling his hairs.
“Ved..”
He looked up with troubled eyes. Parthavi was immediately beside him.
“Ved.. What is wrong..”
“I thought I could manage.”
“Ved?”
“I really thought I could manage looking at her and not get affected..”
“Ved! Talking in puzzles will not help..”
Raghu said in his usual stern but soft tone.
“Kani.. Sathya Kanitha..!”
Was all he could manage startling both Raghu and Parthu.