"Bava.."

"NANA.."

Jai looked up and then down and rubbed his eyes seeing one adult figure with hands on hips and another little figure with a similar stance.

"Nana!"

Jai turned listening to another call and saw another little figure running around him creating ruckus. Jai tried to stop it when he heard another call.

"Nana.."

And he saw above to see another figure hanging from the window parapet giving him heart attack. He tried running to the window when he heard one more voice.

"Nana!"

And he felt a weight on his calves. He looked down and saw a little silhouette sitting hugging his legs. Jai's eyes went wide as he looked around himself and saw many such images around.

"BAVA!"

He heard in distance. He tried looking around but the image started fading and slowly Vennela came into view. And it was angry Vennela.

"What is wrong with you? I have been yelling for past hour."

She asked shaking him up. That is when he understood that he had fallen asleep on the recliner when he was supposed to help Vennela with her nighties that he had bought two days ago.

In past two days, Vennela was made to undergo a lots on procedures. First, she was stopped from going out during the dusk hours. Then she was taught to understand the position of the baby inside her by predicting the movements.

Her walking routine was cut short but walking was must.

Then she was taught about the false pain and the real labor pain. She was taught special yoga routine to beat her lower back ache that was growing bad.

"BAVA! Help me"

He heard Vennela and breaking out of the stance he rushed to help her with the buttons.

"Huh! Ento ee gola gola gown lu.. I was more comfortable with my sarees."

"Its not helping you Vennela. And accept it.. they weren't comfortable either."

He said buttoning her down. Suddenly he felt her hands on his shirt. He looked up.

"Are you saying that I am growing out of my comfort dresses?"

"Vennela? Why are you taking it in the wrong sense?"

"Oho? Now I am retarded who cannot understand what you say?"

She asked shaking him. Jai felt like hitting his head somewhere.

"Vennela.."

"Enti?"

"Saree.. Is really uncomfortable.."

She pushed him.

"Malli adey maata?"

Chuckling he moved close to her and moved behind her holding her from behind.

"Its very uncomfortable for me when you wear those sarees and parade in front of me like that.."

"Like what?"

"A big.."

"Huh?"

She glared.

"A beautiful.."

She tried hiding her smile.

"Hmm?"

"Pregnant duck.."

He said and bit the inside of his cheeks waiting for his volcano of a wife to erupt. And just as he knew, once his prank sank into her brain, she growled and looked here and there for anything to throw on him.

"No use, all the dangerous things are in our room upstairs. Here only your dresses and other things."

He said and as he finished his sentence, a book came flying to his head which he escaped by ducking the last minute. He looked up with wide eyes at Vennela who was fuming.

"Never provoke a woman saying that she doesn't have a weapon. She can use anything as one."

She said and sat on the bed supporting herself and then leaned back keeping her hands on the bed. Her legs would not allow her to stand for long, as they were swollen.

She smiled as she felt her Bava's hands slowly massaging her feet.

She remembered the first time he held her foot. To paint her toe nails. Even today she remembered that day clearly as it was something she was not ready to forget easily. The moment was such. Her bava holding her foot with all the rights he had on her. It was telling her so much without him uttering a word.

People usually hold the hands of their loved ones to express their love. But what her Bava did expressed something beyond that. Love was a small word for them.

"What are you thinking Vennela?"

"What was I thinking?"

She asked back but couldn't help her smile.

"May be a day when you wore that pink oni? Weed green langa?"

"Ahan.."

"Painting your toe nails.. Ah.. Struggling to paint your toe.."

"Bava! Why mince the words. Tell that you were all excited."

"Seeing you struggle?"

"Bava?"

"Okay.. relax."

"That day, with your hair open.. In that langa oni.."

"Malli if you say something stupid, then you will face severe consequences for infinite time."

She warned. He just smiled.

"You were looking so beautiful with that wind blowing your open hair. I couldn't resist or help myself. I had to do something to catch your attention. So I did one thing that came to my mind seeing your actions."

Vennela smiled. Actually grinned.

"You wanted my attention?"

"Yeah.. I wanted all of your attention to myself."

"Wow.. that.."

"Hmm?"

"That is.."

"Ahan?"

"Very selfish of you bava.."

She said and giggled seeing his expression. He first made a sad face like a kid who lost his balloon but then smiled seeing his wife, his maradalu laugh.

"Maybe I am selfish when it comes to you.. Now you are going to rest for sometime. I will bring your juice."

Saying he helped her lay on the bed and was about to move out when he heard her.

"Bava.."

He stopped.

"You did not need to do anything to capture my attention."

He waited.

"Because You already had it.. Always.."

She said and he smiled and moved out leaving her closing her eyes with a satisfied smile adorning her lips.