MAMATHALA THALLI.. VODI BAAHUBALI..

Parthavi groaned as her phone kept ringing. Raghunandhu found it very amusing as he saw her hide her head beneath the pillows and get back to sleep with her face down.

"Parthavi.."

He called taking the pillow away. She groaned more and closed her face with the quilt making him chuckle.

"Parthavi.. Your mother is calling and I don't think she would approve if I pick it up.. Shall I?"

Parthavi sat up suddenly with a startle, and looked unfocused for a moment and then snatched the mobile and kept it to her ear.

"Good Morning!"

She said groggily. On the other side she heard giggles and so did he.

"Hello?"

"Sleepyhead! Inka levakunda.. What are you doing.. Still sleeping?"

"What else do you expect?"

"Idiot!"

"Bhoomi!?"

"And at last she recognizes me."

"What the! What are you doing there with Amma's mobile."

"I can borrow my Athaiyya's mobile right? Enti Athaiyya?"

Bhoomi spoke in a loud tone calling for Prabha who replied positive, possibly from kitchen.

"Yeah yeah! Sure ex lover"

Raghunandhu chuckled as he could hear everything clearly making Parthavi glare at him.

"What was that?"

Bhoomi asked and Parthavi choked.

"Nothing. Tell me to what do I owe this pleasure of you calling early in the morning and disturbing my beauty sleep? And What is Vasudhara doing there without going to college?"

"You need to check your memory again Baathu.. I am on study leave as my exams are coming. And we called to wake you up."

"When did I appoint you both as my Alarm clock?"

Again Raghunandhu chuckled and got hit by a pillow.

"Parthavi? Is that Ved beside?"

"Er.. No.. Why did you wake me up with my very nice name?"

"Why are you sleeping still when you should be enjoying with Raghu?"

"He will be sleeping himself Bhoomi.. OUCH!"

She said as the pillow came straight to hit on her face.

"What?"

"Nothing.. Just twisted my hair.. So you were saying?"

"Wake up and go around places with him. Get to know him?"

"Bhoomi! I have much time.."

"Don't! Listen to me.. This time doesnt come back. Just enjoy the time away from family okay?"

"Okay nanamma.."

"Yei.. Chee po!"

"How is Amma Bhoomi?"

"Its only been a day Kanna.."

"I know.. But still.. After almost 4 years, I am being away.."

"I know.. I am here right? Me and that kutty kothi are keeping her busy. You just enjoy and return back with stories to entertain me. And ask Harshu if she and those two pilla kothis liked what I sent for them."

"What was it?"

"Red Velvet cake.."

"FOR ME?"

"Learn to make for yourself. Or even better ask Raghu to learn and make it for you!"

"You evil, vile cruel little.."

"Yeah yeah.. Thank you.. Now dont forget that little lingerie store there, Instore.."

"Shut up Bhoomi.."

"Baathu, dont eat up my bava, bring him safe."

"Po ve Loosu"

Parthavi heard a song in the background that made Bhoomi and Vasudhara squeal and giggle and make Parthavi frown. Without making her wait much, Vasudhara's voice came through her phone irritating her.

https://youtu.be/6NTk-wQU5SE

Nava manmadhu, athi sundaruda.. Nuvu choosina aa ghanudu..

Akka.. Evare atagaadu.. Itte Nee manasunu dochaadu

Parthavi groaned and Raghunandhu laughed mouthing.. ME!

Then Bhoomi's voice came.

Sri Raghavuda.. Raghunandhanuda.. Nuvvu valachina aa priyudu..

Chelli.. Evare atagaadu.. Thulle nee vayasuki jatagaadu

Raghunandhu spread his arms wide and started swaying around mouthing ME ME ME.. that made Parthavi throw a pillow and her travel pouch, that had her toiletries, at him making him chuckle and miss them.

"SHUT UP! I WILL CALL AMMA LATER YOU IDIOTS!"

She yelled.

"THANK YOU!"

They both yelled back and cut the call as Parthavi got down from the bed and chased Raghunandhu who was running for his life.

"Parthavi.. Stop..!"

"You could have got me caught."

"So what.. We are engaged!"

"We are in India! Not in some other place where this is allowed. You are so dead."

"Oye! You are supposed to marry me!"

"While you were supposed to be in your penthouse!"

Raghunandhu had had enough. So he turned and caught her in his arms taking her by surprise.

"Well.."

"LEAVE ME!"

"Good morning sleepyhead!"

In response she only pushed him and stood glaring at him.

"Them calling me and disturbing my sleep was not enough that you had to giggle and get me caught.."

"Hey dragon!"

"Yeah right now I might just become one and burn you down to ashes. Moddhu!"

"Oh come on! You talk like that and expect me to stand like statue? I am human"

"Seriously! You are Pathetic."

"And you are stinking"

"I did not brush! OMG I have to brush! And Bath"

"And you have an hour to get ready"

"For what?"

"A little adventure.. Come on woman get ready!"

"May be you should bath too Mr. I am Bossy!"

"I am freshly bathed. I just need to change my clothes, Ms. I am GroggyInTheMorning"

"Not bad! You are getting good in this nicknaming. And dont try to fool me. I know you haven't bathed Stinkypunk"

"Learning from the master herself! And yeah, I will bath"

"Cheek! Good! Now let me go and bath and so do you."

"Please.."

Scowling she turned and went to brush, bath, etc and etc., while Raghunandhu went to bath and change to his Navy blue shirt, white pant and black belt. His wavy hair was dancing in the air. He took out his mobile and dialed his mother's number.

"Hello Amma"

"Nanna Nandhu.. How is Parthu?"

"Amma! I am your son, calling early in the morning and you ask about her? Seriously?"

"Aapu ra rei! Stop your drama. How is she? She is not used to staying away from her parents kada?"

"Avunu amma, but I think she is managing well."

"How do you know? You have a secret telescope or what? From your penthouse to Prithvi's house?"

Raghunandhu bit his tongue as he realized his blunder.

"I mean, yesterday night, at party she was good and when we dropped her later also she was fine."

"And poddune when you woke her up also she was fine."

"Amma?"

"Orei.. I have Sreenu's number! And Sreenu is very bad at lying to me!"

"Sreenu!"

Raghunandhu groaned in low voice.

"Its okay Nandhu, I know you both and I trust you. I am your cool Amma!"

Raghunandhu chuckled.

"Sorry Amma, yesterday situation was like that. I will explain everything when I come this weekend."

"Okay Nanna. Take care and call Rishi alludu, he said he wanted to tell you about something."

"Okay amma, I will. You take care."

He cut the call and turned to see Parthavi standing there with her mobile in her hand. She looked so cool in her white top and ¾ light blue jeans and her hair let down waving in the cool breeze that was coming from the open french window.

Parthavi was standing there without winking her eyes.

Parthavi forgot the phone call she was supposed to be on before she saw him. She was talking to her mother. Sometime back Parthavi called Prabha.

"Hello Lakshmi Prabhavathy"

"Osei! Cheepurakatta tho naalagu thannulu! How many times I have asked you not to call me by my full name"

"So I can call you Prabhavathy?"

"Yei!"

"Okay okay! Calm down. Cooking done?"

"Its 10 in the morning. What do you think?"

"Okay.. Vanta over and madam is halfway through Lalitha Sahasaranamam."

"Yes! So, how was the party?"

"Good. Met all my friends."

"Tell me something new. You always meet them."

"Amma Prabhavathy.. I met others too. Mainly Sathya"

"Sathya was there?"

"Yeah.."

"How is Vedu?"

"He is his usual self.. Why?"

Parthavi asked curiously. Prabha hesitated and then brushed of the subject.

"Yem ledu. Where is alludu?"

"Ahh.. eerrr.. Mmm.. in his penthouse?"

"Really? Bhoomi.. He is in penthouse anta"

Parthavi bit her tongue and closed her one eye wanting to bang her head somewhere.

"Okay Amma. I am sorry."

"I know Amlu. Just be careful and don't drive him away even before the wedding."

"Please! That man is not ready to even move aside a minute Ma. Ahhh.. Bhoomi can shut her giggling. Now we are going out. Will call you later Ma. Bye.."

Parthavi took the phone off her ear to cut as she walked to the living room and found Raghunandhu standing there looking all breathtaking in his formals. Parthavi never thought a man could look so cool in formals. Yet the example was there in front of her eyes. She forgot her phone.

Raghunandhu smiled.

"Hey"

He said. Parthavi blinked her eyes like coming out of trance.

"Hi"

She said trying to gain her lost voice. Raghunandhu chuckled.

"Ready?"

"Yeah!"

"Lets go then. Padha"

That's when Parthavi frowned.

"Wait.."

Raghunandhu stopped on his tracks.

"Where are we going?"

"To London."

She took a pillow off the couch and hit him.

"Hey! I am not your husband yet. After marriage you can hit me."

"Where are we going?"

"First we are going to my office cafeteria for Breakfast and morning coffee."

He said among the hits. Parthavi calmed down.

"Now that is something I liked to hear. If you were taking me anywhere without those, I would have eaten you alive."

"Oh ho! I cannot go on with the day without eating. How do you think I would expect that off you?"

"Aha my Mr. sensible"

"Thank you my dear Ms. FeralKittens."

"Shut up!"

At that moment they heard a noise outside and both went out. There parthavi saw a gorgeous bike being parked by Sreenu. Parthavi was literally drooling over the bike.

"HYOSUNG ST7!!! AAAHHHH"

Parthavi ran to the bike scaring Sreenu making Raghunandhu laugh.

"Don't mind Sreenu, Parthavi loves the bike tad a bit more than me."

"Oh shut up! I just love the bike."

"Oh meeru kadu anta sir."

Sreenu laughed. Parthavi ignored both and was just caressing and drooling over the bike.

"Mr. I am Very Secretive. Mind telling me about the beauty here?"

"Bhargava's first gift after we bagged our first profit from the business."

"What a gift! Bava has awesome taste."

"It was Nana's wish."

Sreenu's laughing stopped, Raghunandhu's face lost its smile. Parthavi did not react for moment. Then she smiled looking at Sreenu who left from there nodding his head to Parthavi knowing his boss and friend needed this time with this person.

After he moved out, Parthavi held Raghunandhu's collar and pulled him to her.

"Nana's wish.. Hmm.. Wonder why Bava thought to fulfill it"

Raghunandhu held her shoulders.

"I don't know. Ask your bava."

He said in low voice.

"I know my bava well."

"What?"

"He gifted you because he wanted Nana to be happy so that you will be happy. Nana is always there. And Bava is next to Nana in your life. So instead of hanging that long face of yours, smile now. That will make Nana smile too."

Raghunandhu smiled leaning his forehead on her as she adjusted his collar and smiled up at him.

"Now that is like my Moddhu Architect. Come on now. Take me on this beauty here. Else I am driving that on my own which you don't want"

Chuckling Raghunandhu asked her to first lock the house and then both drove off in the bike.

Raghunandhu smiled as he saw Parthavi's hair flying wild through the rear view mirror.

"Hey Ms. Wildhair. Why did you remove your ponytail?"

"I anyway should do my hair again, so why not enjoy fully before bearing the consequence eh Mr. Rider?"

"You are mad. Has anyone told you that?"

"Many! Why ask other. I can tell that myself. Hear it. YOU ARE MARRYING A MAD WOMAN!"

"You hear it too. YOU ARE MARRYING AN EQUALLY MAD MAN"

Seeing their craziness, people on the road gave them, silly looks. Mainly the younger lot were giving them this knowing smile that shut them up chuckling.

"Parthavi, there is no way that you are wearing that T shirt!"

Raghunandhu said sitting near the mirror in the trial area of the shop they had come after a nice light morning breakfast in his office cafeteria. Raghunandhu thanked Sreenu for making the area deserted saving him the embarrassment.

Now he was trying to dissuade her from buying a T shirt that was in this Green shade with brown horizontal stripes. Against his warning, she tried that on her capri pants, that made him groan.

"Parthavi, please"

Parthavi laughed.

"Are you trying to tell me what I should buy and what I should not?"

"No! But seriously, have some mercy on me woman! Those are casuals which you are going to wear and parade in our house in front of our family."

"I wear for myself"

"I know.. But still.. Parthavi, that color doesn't sit well with you.."

Raghunandhu was inches away from wailing.

"Stop! I am not buying that. I was just trying to irritate you."

"That was not funny!"

"Your face was.."

Saying she went inside carrying a blue button down shirt, and then a set of blue capris and pink long top.

"Now those were awesome!"

Raghnandhu said as they came out of the trial area.

"Yo.. they were, but I am going to buy only a set of those white skirt tops and this blue shirt."

"But that pink and blue capris?"

"No! For this month this only. We have a lot to shop and I am not gonna waste everything on casuals"

"Hey that is bad."

"No! I get a chance to drag you back to shopping. Which I hate"

"Never in my life I saw a woman who finished shopping within an hour!"

"Get used to it Mr. Architect."

Chuckling they made way to the billing counter. But Raghunandhu went back and came in few minutes.

"Forgot my mobile"

"Ahh! We need to make habit of hanging on to them"

"Yeah!"

They came out with Parthavi holding the bags in spite of his offer to carry them.

"Where is the Mom and Me shop?"

"Madam.. Last I remember, we are yet to be married."
"Don't get any ideas Mr... I meant for Ishu."

"Ahhh! Okay come.."

Chuckling both went to the shop and bought a red car seat stroller combo after mulling over it a lot.

"Whoa!"

"First choice is always best choice Parthavi."

"I know! But I.. I don't know.. Well, let us just hope they dont have one already."

"They can have it for the second baby.. Or even better, let us have it for ourselves. Future requirements.."

"Shut up!"

Parthavi said. But she could not control the color spreading on her cheeks that made him laugh merrily.

Soon they were out of the mall and Raghunandhu was taking her somewhere he wouldn't say.

"RAGHUNANDHU NARAYANAAAAA"

"Shhh! Quit shouting"

Raghunandhu said depositing the earlier shopping bags in the deposit counter.

"WHY DID YOU BRING ME HERE?"

"Why will I bring you to a lingerie shop?"

"Shut up!"

Raghunadhu chuckled.

"Seriously Parthavi. Bhoomi akka said something about a se.."

"Shh! Will you please shut up!"

"What?"

"I have never gone to these shops without my mother!"

"You expect her to come along after marriage too?"

Parthavi glared at him.

"Get used to it Parthavi. It is going to be like this from here on!"

She pulled him closer blowing an angry breath.

"There is a problem!"

He frowned.

"Enti?"

"Size!"

"What the!"

He looked scandalized. Parthavi looked sheepish.

"Yes! Amma used to buy me things. I never bothered. Sometime before I tried to be bold while shopping.. Which is not the case actually. I hate it and I have never been to shopping on my own. Weren't you listening what I said to your mother while selecting Engagement sarees?"

"All that is okay.. But this.. Size? SERIOUSLY?"

"Shhh! Yes!"

"You.. I.. Very well.."

Raghunandhu called a lady who was there to help and whispered something in her ears which made her giggle.

"Go with her!"

"What?"

"Go!"

"Come madam!"

Saying the lady took her inside and after some half an hour Parthavi came blasting out.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?"

"Bhoomi's idea!"

"I AM SO GONNA FIRE HER BEHIND!"

Raghunandhu laughed.

"Come on Parthavi. She was only helping."

"With THAT? And HOW DID YOU.."

"Will tell you in private. Now.. let us pay for it.."

"I am not paying for THOSE!"

"Okay then! Excuse me, Make the bill under my name.."

"SHUT UP!"

Saying she groaned and walked to the billing counted while laughing he went to get back the bags from where he deposited earlier.

"I am not going shopping with you!"

"No choice Ms. I don't know my size"

"Shut up Mr. I know all about straps and Laces!"

"Only for my Wife.. I mean, my fiance.."

"Urhhh! Infuriating! Irritating.."

"Loving.."

"Yeah.. Loving.. WHAT? NO! YOU ARE FRUSTRATING!"

"You are erupting!"

"THANK YOU"

"Dragon!"

"Moddhu!"

Laughing, he started the bike towards Ishaani Sanjeev's home for the lunch they have been invited.