Jai who was trying hard to get out of Manasa's hold yelled in pain.

"Ahhh!"

Reddy garu, his wife and Poorna chuckled seeing what had happened.

"Vennela?"

He said hurriedly pulling apart from Manasa. Vennela kept looking at him with her reddened eyes and equally reddened face. Jai had this look that he usually gave when he is caught by others romancing with Vennela which only made Vennela Fume more!

"Bava!"

She curled her arm around his and pulled him closer. Jai smiled down looking at her.

"Vennela. Manasa! Manasa.. Vennela!"

Jai introduced. He could see the redness reaching notch as soon as he saw Manasa smiling at him and then at Vennela..

"Adi.. Vennela.."

"Hey.. you are Vennela?"

Manasa jumped in. Jai wanted to bang his head somewhere. Last time he saw, Manasa was this shy silent girl. How come she is suddenly so chirpy he did not understand. At that time he heard Vennela's strained voice.

"Yes. I am Vennela. Vennela Jai Deva Raju!"

Jai was for a moment taken aback at the intensity with which she said her full name. Even he never uses his full name and nor does his father. But suddenly the way she held him and the way she spoke, made him feel so special realizing her jealousy. He smiled.

Vennela who understood his smile, tightened her hold on him.

Manasa for a moment looked shocked. But she smiled again holding Vennela's hands.

"Really! I understood the moment I saw you. When Jai told me about you, I expected you to be someone so special. Now I understand why Jai could not even think of anyone else."

Vennela looked up at Jai who smiled shyly and looked away. Vennela looked at Manasa and smiled wide nodding her head.

"Artham chesuko mundu, chance bale vadukundi le! Before she understood, she used up her chance well"

Jai and Poorna glared at Pratap silencing him. Vennela looked at smiling Manasa and controlled herself. She knew her bava would never leave her. But still..

By then Manasa had pulled Vennela to the parapet leaving other's behind. Jai was cool outside. But inside he was so tensed at what would Manasa tell Vennela. He knew Vennela loved him so much. But still..

"You know Vennela, I met Jai in Milan when I was at the end of my MS. He showed me that life could be beautiful and made me forget that I had to return back home where there is so much bloodshed, my family being center of it, my mother with that dead face, my father with dead senses.. But Jai helped me forget all those. Then when he came here, I felt like he would keep me happy forever."

Now Vennela was literally shaking. She has heard her Atha, Latha say that wherever Jai goes, girl used to follow him like Bee behind honey. And now she was actually seeing that dreamy look in Manasa's eyes. But then she noticed that look vanishing. Vennela frowned.

Manasa smiled. She held Vennela's hands.

"Kani apudiki nuvu thana manasulo unnav ani telusuko leka poyanu. You know he never even saw me in any other way that could suggest otherwise. I am one crazy who understood his genuinity for love. He wanted happiness for this family which could be extended to yours and also both the villages. Jai is such a gentleman"

Vennela smiled understanding Manasa's position. She had been in that place too. She was so afraid for her family that she never wanted to marry and leave her family as she was scared that any moment they might vanish and she could not leave them as such. And blame her parents who were looking for AMERICA SAMBANDHAM for her!

"Vennela!"

Vennela's train of thoughts broke at Manasa's call.

"Ha?"

"Are you worried about whatever I did downstairs sometime back?"

Vennela shrugged showing that she was nonchalant. But Manasa was not stupid. She smiled.

"Don't worry Vennela. Jai is my good friend who gave me my family and life back. And there is an important reason for which I invited you and Jai home tonight."

Vennela frowned. Did she know that today was her birthday?

"Apart from today being your birthday.. There is something else too Vennela."

"Enti adi Manasa? What is it?"

Manasas smiled understanding that Vennela has accepted her. She remembered Jai telling how simple and easy going Vennela was. She saw how true he was today.

"You will know. Now look at your husband looking at us with so much tension."

Vennela and Manasa giggled. They both came back to the family living room where everyone were waiting for them. Manasa helped Vennela walk and once down, Jai held her and made her sit.

"Entamma Manasa! Where did you disappear amma? Jai has been looking around for his wife!"

"Enti Pedanana! He has been hiding her from me for 8 months now. We also have a lot to talk kada?"

Jai looked away and Vennela stifled her giggle looking at her husband being embarrassed.

"Padha amma! Let us get everything ready. Abba Jai.. If you would like, go around with ammayi for sometime and come back."

Jai smiled at the way the elder man was giving them privacy.

"Enti Pratapam! You are still standing there? Come and help with work!"

Pratap garu looked as if he would blast any moment. Poorna just tapped Jai's back and went inside with his father and pulled Pratap along. Jai went outside and helped Vennela walk around the place. They came back to the haystack and were about to move out to the fields.

Vennela walked as she enjoyed the place in night light and also the warmth of her husband's arm around her. Suddenly Jai saw a flash of white and next moment he was in arms of another girl. But this time Vennela saw Jai's genuine smile as he pulled the girl and looked at her.

"Hey? Chaduvu ela vundenti? How is your studies going?"

"I am so happy annaiya! I topped this district this year"

"Good!"

He turned to Vennela and said.

"I told right! One intelligent girl, who is studying with help of Naagireddy garu"

Vennela nodded her head at the girl who smiled back.

"Thanks Annaiya! Come home once Annaiya. Amma Ayya will be happy to see you. And also bring Vadinamma along."

Both smiled as the girl went back inside to work. Jai was happy to see the lives changing for good.

Suddenly Jai felt Vennela's palms on his cheeks. He turned and look at her and smiled. She too smiled proudly.

His eyes questioned her. Unable to take the naughty glance of her husband, Vennela's eyes looked down as her cheeks glowed in rose hue in that moonlight making Jai go crazy. Her lips, that smile. The temptation was too much. He slowly leaned in and his lips touched hers. Vennela was just at the threshold of losing herself in that touch when they heard Poorna's yell.

JAI! VENNELA!

Jai pulled apart and looked down. Vennela refused to look up. But Jai saw how her face was glowing. Smiling at his talent he held her shoulders and walked inside the house. Before going inside..

"Vennela?"

"Enti bava?"

She asked.

"Manasa Em chepindi? What did she tell you?"

Vennela grinned at him. He frowned.

"A lot!"

"Lot what?"

"Why do you care Bava?"

"Vennela?"

He asked changing his tone. But she was Vennela!

"May be she told me about all that you did in Milan for her?"

"Like?"

"Like?"

Now Jai was going mad. He was about to tell something when Manasa came there.

"Jai! Vennela! You both are here? Come inside. There is a surprise."

Jai cursed Manasa's timing making Vennela giggle. Manasa held Jai's hand and pulled him inside and Vennela also walked along in Jai's hold.

Still holding Jai's hands, Manasa looked at him.

"Jai..!"

"There is something you should know"

Jai frowned. At that moment they heard another voice.

"What is happening here?"

All turned. Manasa's family smiled. While Vennela gasped looking at the person. And the person was looking at Vennela with wide eyes making Jai scowl and grit his teeth.