S, wearing a capris pant and tshirt, was sitting on the low wall at the porch of her house with Mehendi on her hands and feet trying to dry them.

S: Hooo... Hoo come on dry faster I am hungry my stomach is rumbling.

D, in his oversized tshirt and shorts came in search of her.

D: Sweety, can I borrow your phone charger I forgot to bring mine.

S: It is on the dresser in my room.

D turned to go back but he realized she was tensed so he stopped and made his way back to her.

D: Tensed for tomorrow ??

S: No Pabsu I am very hungry I am waiting for this to dry so that can eat. You had your dinner ?

D: Yes I had. Err...why don't you call someone to feed you I mean looks like that is not going to dry anytime soon until then are you going to stay hungry??

S: Huh.. no one has come to my side ever since I put mehendi. My cousins/friends have gone home, Tammy has gone for shopping, Rama garu and SSR have gone to visit their relative. Wonder what Amma and my sil are doing.

D: I saw aunty and your sil inside.

S: Oh great then can you pls call either of them to come with food pls Pabsu?

D nodded and went to the kitchen. He saw her mom preparing sweets.

D: Aunty, Sweety has not eaten anything she is hungry.

S's mom: Oh no I am one person managing everything here pls ask her to wait for sometime Prabhas, I'll get the food.

D: But..she is... ok fine... (mv: Will the sky fall on your head if those monkeys coming tomorrow don't get to taste your delicacies?? Pleasing them is more important than feeding Sweety???? Ggrrr!!)

He went to look for her sister-in-law who was busy yapping on the phone.

D mv: There... another one.. discussing serials. First these kind of home-wrecking shows should be banned secondly her phone must be thrown into crocodile pit!

Shaking his head he took a plate, filled it with food and with a glass of water went to S.

S: Yum... food... huh.. where is Amma ?? My sil ??

D: Both in an important meeting with Modi ji..

S: Huh?

D: They are busy Sweety. I will feed you, open your mouth.

S: Pabsu you?? Huh... it's ok I will wait for them to come.

D: If you're going to wait for them you will have to sleep on an empty stomach. You have to take rest to be fresh in the morning. Sweety you have to look your best tomorrow your beau should be dazzled by your beauty. Come eat this.

S: Erm...you didn't take a spoon ??

D: Spoon for Kaaju barfi. Hands for bangaram.

S: Huh..what ??

D: Huh..uh..mmm...I mean we are not english people to eat in fork and spoon. We are Indians. Say aaaa....

She opened her mouth looking into his eyes as he fed her.

S mv: I feel so lucky and unlucky at the same time. 😔

D: Sorry Sweety.

S: Why?

D: Yesterday when you asked my opinion about the groom I blabbered nonsense and today I behave liked a fool, don't mind me.

S: Its ok Pabsu I didn't feel bad.

D: You do.. you do....do you like him ??

S: Everyone liked him.

D: Leave aside the rest, I am asking you.

She felt her heart getting heavy and didn't feel like eating anymore.

S: Enough Pabsu...

D: No eat this only a few more mouthfuls.

He fed her and she coughed.

D: Slowly... here drink some water.

He made her sip water.

S mv: What do I tell him ?? Even if I tell him what can he do about that?? He can only pity me.

She finished. D went to leave the plate and returned.

D: You still didn't tell me...

S: Leave that topic... pls Pabsu..

D mv: Maybe she's shy to tell me that she likes him it's ok so long as she is happy.

D: Ok ok cool.. Anything else required yuvarani Devasena ?? Amarendra is at your service...(chuckles)

S:(Chuckles) No nothing. Thank you.

She placed her leg on the floor trying to get up. D saw that.

D: What are you doing??

S: I want to go to my room.

D: Like this?? If you walk won't that design get smudged? So beautifully drawn...

He remarked looking at her decorated feet.

S: I know Pabsu but how long can I sit out like this it is getting cold and mosquitoes are biting.

D: Hmm.. ok then... time for Baahubali (strong arms) to show up.

Even before she realised he bent and slipped one arm behind her knees and his other arm to support her back, he carefully lifted her and started to walk.

S: Aiyooo... Pabsu what are you doing?? I am no more 'Billa' Maya. Your arms will hurt put me down pls.

D: I am fine. I will ferry you to your room safely yuvarani.

He said in his husky voice which made her insides flip. As he walked with her in his arms they didn't talk but their eyes never left each other for a moment. He climbed the stairs, went into her room and gently lowered her on her bed.

D: There, we have reached your chamber yuvarani Devasena!

S silently gazed into his eyes.

D: Sweety! Sweety!

He gave her a shake breaking her reverie.

S: Huh...uh...Did you say anything ??

D: I said we are back in your room!

S looked around.

S: Oh..huh mmm... are your arms hurting ??

D: No not at all !

He noticed her hair falling on her face and S trying to push it away with the back of her palm trying not to ruin the design. He found it cute and smiled.

D: Wait I'll help you.

He picked a hairbrush and went behind her to comb her hair.

S: Pabsu pa, what now??

D: Tying your hair in a bun so that it doesn't cause you discomfort.

S: Huh... you know this ??

D: Hey what do you think about me?? That I only know to eat, play around and sleep ?Pabsu is jack of all trades just that I don't show it.

S Lol...but still how do you know?

D: I used to tie akka's hair when we were much younger then later for all my sisters.

S: Oh wow... what else you know ??

D: Mmm. I know how to dress up!

S: Yeah right... the whole world knows your dressing sense wearing shimmery pant, a shirt 3 for 1 that you bought at sales and temple fair shades. (giggles)

D: (giggles) I might not dress up properly because it is boring for me so I just grab what I can get my hands on but I can dress up a girl. Wait l'll show you!

He went to her dresser, scanned the table and picked a few things.

D: See now I'll transform you! First. eyes..

He sat on the bed beside her and held the back of her head for support. Taking an eyebrow pencil, he drew her brows filled her eyelid and water line with kohl. He looked at it and did some adjustments.

D: I thought I had lost touch because it's been quite a while since I did this but not bad I have done a decent job.

S: Is it ?? Let me see ! Let me see !

D: Sshhh! Wait ! I will show you the mirror at the end of the make up session.

S: Mmm.. ok. Pabsu... you didn't put eyeshadow...

D: Eee yucks ! That rangoli powder on the eyes and cheeks I don't like at all makes one look like a ghost. Those days girls were not wearing such stuff just kohl and bindi they looked so beautiful and it is natural beauty unlike now applying layers of foundation changing the face into someone else altogether. Sweety you don't need those.

S: (Laughs) Ok make-up expert pls continue.

D: Eyes done.. next hmm... I'll keep these jasmine flowers in your hair.

He took the strands of closely knit fragrant jasmine flowers and adorned her hair.

D: There.. done... next lips.. yours is naturally pink so no need for lipstick this gloss will do to give it some shine.

Catching her chin in between his thumb and forefinger for support, he filled her lips with her favorite flavored lip gloss.

D: That is giving a sheen to your already pink lips. Now jewels. The head piece (maang tikka / nethi chutti)... ok... next earrings... nose ring.. chain..

He put on all the accessories for her. Each time his hand came in contact with her skin it sent tingles down her spine and she flinched at his touch.

D: Now this...

He took some sindoor on his ring finger and drew a medium sized dot on the centre of her forehead.

D: Ok.. show me...mmm.. perfect!

(Imagine this is how she looked after D dressed her up 😍)

S: Show me the mirror ! Show me the mirror!

D: Wait.. wait.. there is another last step. What is that?? Tell...

S: All done right ? Hair, face, jewels... mmm....don't know Pabsu...

D: You have to smile ! The best accessory for a woman is her smile. No jewellery or make-up can beat that.

S: Oh Pabsu!

She smacked his shoulder playfully and blushed. He smiled and brought a face mirror infront of her and looked into it along with her.

D: Ammo ! You're blushing ! You look like a telugu ammayi now!! Reminds me of village girls I crushed on in my teens.

She smiled.

D: You are so beautiful Sweety ! Tell me how is it ?

S: I never thought myself to be beautiful Pabsu whenever someone complimented me l used to say it's because of the make up artist or costume designer or cameraman who show me that way but now I am saying I am beautiful.

He blinked his eyes at her and made a cute face.

S mv: You brought out the beauty and femininity in me Pabsu.

Bahubalifan, the mischievous fairy or Robin Goodfellow of this story, batted her eyelashes seeing DS together.

Feeling lovey-dovey, she sprinkled some 'ahem ahem' dust on their heads and flew away giving privacy to the couple.

Due to the effect of the magic dust, S lowered her eyes and D raised her face by her chin to meet his gaze. They locked eyes with each other.

(This song from the movie Geethanjali played in the background. Pls listen to it.😍) 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5HuM2y5PfjE

The soulful music, her traditional beauty and the sweet smell of fresh jasmine flowers from her hair turned him on. In the heat of the moment, he hugged her and she reciprocated. His mouth grazed the side of her face and neck and she clenched her fist on his tshirt. Her lips brushed his cheek and he shut his eyes reveling in the feel. He secured her face between his hands and she parted her mouth inviting him to savour her petal-like soft lips. He went closer. A gush of wind blew toppling a vase. The sound broke their moment and the dust lost it's effect so both pulled apart. He saw the sindoor on her face smudged, her hair messed and strands of flowers pulled some lying on her tshirt and the some on the bed.

D mv: Oops why is she like this ? Huh..uh... because of me..I dressed her and I only messed her up! Chi..chi... I am a filthy rogue. If I stay here a little longer I will become a beast! No no no I shouldn't...

Feeling embarrassed he looked away.

D: Huh.. uh... I am so.. sor...sorry Sweety...forget what happened...no no actually nothing happened ok... relax...I better go now... goodnight...

He got up rubbing away her lipgloss marks on his neck and the sindoor off his face.

S: Pabsu...wait...

She called out to him but he didn't stop and walked out of her room. D regretting his cheap act stopped at the corridor cursing himself when he felt a pair of hands hugging him from behind.😍