Shivaprasad's new home in Akkayyapalem was decorated really well with nice big muggu in front of the entrance, plantains on either side and mainly, the happy smiling faces of people present there.

Mainly Vedmohan and Harshita one of Parthu's very close friend were there in the entrance welcoming the guests. Prabhav and Prasiddhi were running around the house while Dhitvi very actively kicked her legs and tried crawling around but was caged by her grandparents much to her chagrin.

"Prasad Mavaiyya, give Dhitvi to me. I will take care."

"Vaddu Ved. She is already crying worse. Bhoomi is with Parthavi checking her make up. She will be down any moment."

"No way Mavaiyya. Bhoomi and Shantha vadina will be busy. Give Dhitvi to me. Harshita's kids and she can play, Sai and Sri will take care of them."

"Sai and Sri? Krishnudu came?"

"Avunu mavaiyya, Krish mavaiyya already here."

"Oh boy! Shakthi! Your Maridi is here and we did not receive him. Before he slays us, let us find him. And You Ved and Harshu, be careful with the kids. Leave them and they will make hell out of this place."

"Don't worry."

Ved gave a thumbs up and ran out with Dhitvi who giggled making him wince by pulling his moustache. Harshu came there.

"Ved! Are you serious? Where did you go? Oh Dhitvi baby!"

She said taking her in her arms.

"I went to bring her woman. She also should play right? Where are Arush and Mitra?"

"In Partha's room looking at her getting painted by make up artist."

Both laughed as both knew how Parthu hated this make up.

"Madam, Please! Konchem steady ga undandi. Sit straight!"

"How much more time? Its been eons since you made me sit here Kala!"

"Bhoomi please make sure Mitra baby doesn't touch the foundation. She already has her face painted in it."

"Arush was the one who painted her face Kala. Seeing all this, I think my daughter is an angel."

Kala laughed as she did the final touch up for Parthavi.

"Too early to say now Bhoomi. She is just 11 months old while these two are one and half."

"That...oreeiii.."

Bhoomi ran to Arush who was having his hands on the lip sticks this time. Bhoomi took them and kept them out of his reach and settled him on her lap.

"Orei.. you are a boy Ra. Why do you want those?"

"Chelli.."

He pointed to Mitra who was clapping her hands and giggling. Bhoomi hit her head. Parthu laughed.

"He is just 5 minutes elder and look at him doting her already and look at her exploiting him.!"

"Madam. Please.. Kuduruga undandi.. Else headpiece will go cross and we have to do everything again."

"Oh please! I am not going to sit for hours again."

"Parthu. Shh! Don't you want Raghu to swoon seeing you?"

"Why all this for that? I will take him on a drive and he can swoon for his heart's content!"

Bhoomi hit her head. Kala laughed. She knew Parthu for years now as she always accompanied Bhoomi to her parlor. But she never thought doing make up to her could be such a chore. But still she enjoyed it.

"Parthu.. Please ma. Sit quiet and let Kala do her job."

"Grrr!"

At that time Mahika who entered there looked at the kids and chuckled.

"What is happening here?"

Bhoomi turned and smiled.

"Randi Mahika Vadina!"

"What is my sister doing? Heard a lot of noise!"

"She hates make up!"

Parthu grunted. Mahi laughed and looked down at Arush who was pulling her saree. She carried him in her arms and gave him a peck.

"Who is this?"

"Na friend koduku Akka."

"Cute! Did he do that to that cutie?"

Bhoomi looked at Mitra who was smiling.

"Yeah!"

"Chelli!"

Arush pointed again to Mitra making Mahi chuckle.

"They are twins"

Parthu explained. Mahi nodded her head.

"Let me take them to the room where all the kids are. Your cousins are looking after them. You ready Parthu?"

"Yes Akka! Save me and tell me that they are calling me down!"

Kala laughed.

"There is no saving Madam. Its done. Now if you just sit straight, I will pin your hair properly."

"HOW MANY MORE PINS? I have a Pin factory in my head already!"

Everyone laughed and Prabha hit her head as she entered.

"Amlu.. Padha ma.. Its time!"

"Ask this Kala to leave me! She is poking me with pins."

"Karma ra ee ammayi tho! Are you done Kala?"

"Done Madam. You can take her."

Prabha made her daughter stand and could feel her tears in her eyes. She put drushti chukka on her cheeks and did Drushti theeyadam with her fingers. It make hell a lot of noise. Prabha could not speak. Parthu pulled Bhoomi, took some kohl from her eyes and put drushti chukka to Prabha making her chuckle.

"Allari pilla! Padha!"

They took her out as Bhoomi carried Mitra and Mahi carried Arush in their arms. Bhoomi cleaned Mitra's face as they went down.

There Durga entered Raghu's room where Bhargava, Rishi and Sreenu were pulling his legs.

"Bammaridi! Inta siggenti?"

"Orei thammudu! Very bad! You are going to give complex to maradalu pilla in being shy!"

"Enti Pedda bammaridi meeru. That is Parthavi we are talking about. Do you think she will be the shy bride here?"

"Chsm! No way.. This fellow is gonna take up that role!"

"Rei anna! Bava!"

Though he had complaining tone, he was smiling which made the other two laugh.

"Why are you both troubling my son?"

"I am your son too Amma!"

"Its our rights Athamma"

Durga shook her head smiling.

"Naa Drushte Thagiledatu undi nanna.. Nandhu! Padha. You should be there down."

Before he could move, Durga put a drushti chukka on his cheek and kissed him pinching his chin making him give his shy smile. Rishi and Bhargava laughed happily as they pushed him out.

Parthavi and Raghunandhu emerged out at the same time from their respective rooms and came face to face. He was wearing a nice light red shirt with black pant while she was wearing a red saree with gold border. He smiled. Controlling the color rising in her neck and cheeks, she raised her eyebrow and smiled. Chuckling he bent down and shook his head. Everyone around had a good laugh.

"Rei Bava! Be a MAN! She is teasing and you bending down. While it should be the other way round!"

Vedmohan hit his head.

"Ved anna.. This is Parthu we are talking about.. Remember?"

"How can one forget that! Enti Thammudu?"

Shantha came there and hit his shoulder with hers. Raghu's ears were as red as their costumes. Parthu chuckled as she walked to the carpeted area where everyone were ready. There she saw her cousins Sainath and Srinath who were standing there along with Bhoomi, Shakthi and Alamelu Atha with her side Kanukalu and sweets. She laughed.

"Aada padichulu madhya meekem pani ra.. What are you doing among the womenfolks?"

Both the boys chuckled.

"Womenfolk are less on your side. So Amma only called us for help."

Parthu raised her brow at another woman who was laughing with Bhoomi.

"What is this Alamelu atha.."

"Don't care for these dramatics kanna. You come here and sit here with Anna and Vadina."

Shaking her head, Parthu went and sat with her parents. Similarly Raghunandhu was made to sit with Bhargava and Mahika who was going to do the ritual for him.

Panthulu, the priest sat in between and the ritual started. First the Hariharan and Prabha garlanded Bhargava and Mahika and they returned the honor. Then Panthulu read the lagna patrika.

"Jarige, Hevilambi naama samvatsara, Magha maasam, 18 va tedhi poddune 8 ghanta nunchi 9:30 ghanta lopu, Mogalturu jilla Nagaraju poutrudu, Ramanarayana Durga la kanishta kumarudu Chiranjeevi Raghunandh Narayanudu ki, Palakuru Shivakesava poutri, Harihara Lakshmi Prabhavathy la kumarthi Sowbhagyavathy Parthavi Ambujakshi tho Vivaham muhurtham nishchayam ayi vunnadi. Andaru sati samedanga, kutumbam tho saha vachi, janta aasirwadam chesi vellalani asistunna,

Mee,

Hariharan Lakshmi Prabhavathy

Bhargava Ranganatha Mahika."

Prabha looked at Durga and frowned.

"Vadinagaru, write your name in the end!"

Durga smiled.

"Vaddandi."

"Shastry garu, along with Hariharan Prabhavathy's name add Durga Ramanarayanan's name too."

Parthavi said and signalled Ved to pass the pen which he did obediently. Narasimha Shastry who knew Parthavi very well looked at Durga once. But Durga had eyes only on Parthavi and her family and so did Raghu's. Parthavi narrowed her eyes Raghu and showed her eyes to Durga. Raghu held his mom's hands and nodded his head. Durga smiled. Parthavi and her family also smiled. Chuckling Shastry changed the lagna patrika and included Durga Ramanarayanan's name too.

Both the family exchanged plates that had thamboolam and the bride and groom attires. They were asked to change.

Bhoomi took her to the room and with the help of Kala, she changed into the pink saree Durga selected for her.

Rishi and Vedmohan helped Raghu wear the pink kurta and Dhoti Prabha selected for him.

AS both came out, they were picture perfect. Smiling both went and sat among their families. Then Shantha came forward and garlanded Parthavi while Sainath garlanded Raghunandhu. This was Bava maridi(brother in law) and Vadina garu(sister in law) honors. Since Parthavi did not have brothers of her own, her cousin Sainath did the honors.

"If you don't mind, I know its not our tradition. But I did for Mahi and Shantha. I will do the same for Parthu also."

Saying Durga gave Raghu a box. It was a surprise as he did not want Parthavi's family to do something in return just because they were doing it. So he asked his mother to not inform them.

Seeing the jewel box, Shivaprasad and Shakthi chuckled making others frown.

"Lakshmi, here is the thing you were behind me since last night."

Saying he passed a jewel box to Prabha who gave it to parthavi smiling.

"Yem Ledu.. In our family, its been a tradition to give gold to our Alludu on engagement. But chain, bracelet we felt can be given for wedding. So we settled for this. Looks like we are much alike in thoughts."

"Great minds think alike Babayi garu."

Bhargava said making everyone laugh again. The couple were pushed to the center and Raghunandhu looked at Parthavi and smiled. She opened the jewel box in her hand saw a nice simple Male's ring with a nice leaf design carved in it in shape of two hearts. Taking the ring she looked at him.

"Maradalu pilla, Ladies first!"

Bhargava said.

"I am also saying the same Bava garu. I put the ring on his finger first"

Parthavi said and Mahika laughed.

"I said you not to! Now get a hang of it. Parthavi is not like me."

"She is better than you."

Mahika gave him a glare. RAghu chuckled shaking his head and forwarded his right hand. Parthavi pushed the ring and sighed when it was perfect fit. Shivaprasad came to her side and whispered in her ear.

"I got his size secretly!"

"That thaati chettu helped you!"

Shiva laughed.

"Guilty."

Raghu held her hand and pushed the ring in her finger which was again a perfect fit. She looked at her ring and saw a very well crafted, leaf design in it very similar to the one she put on his finger. She looked up to see him smiling. Both stood next to each other.

"How did you know my size?"

"I have my talents HR!"

"Bhoomi helped."

"Tsk tsk! I don't take help of others to get something for my wife."

"Wife TO BE"

"WIFE! After all this, I am not letting you go Parthavi."

She felt his hand holding hers secretly. She tried hiding her smile.

"Well, then Architect.. Lets get a point straight. I am not letting you go either."

"Good to know!"

"I am not easy"

"Neither am I"

"You are stubborn as mule."

"I don't see you are any less."

"Then, we will do good!"

"We will do wonderful."

"Nanna Nandhu.. Gusagusalu taruvatha. You can talk to her life long. Now come here and give a nice pose with your family."

Durga called. Raghu's ears went red. Parthavi giggled. With their hands still in each other's, both came forward and stood with their family.

"STOP!"

Everyone looked at Parthavi frowning.

"Matheysh anna, Harshu you too join."

"Oh Mr. Matt D'Melo!"

Raghu called smirking embarrassing the man behind camera.

"Partha.. This is family pic ra.."

"You are no less. Ved and you are family as well. So go get the kids."

Sai and Sri got the kids and Srinath, stood on a table and clicked a nice selfie capturing this moment. 

**LAGNA PATRIKA** (Translation)

This Hevilambi Year(Telugu year), Maagha maasam(Telugu month that comes around March), 18th between 8 and 9:30 in the morning, Mogalturu Nagaraju's grandson and Ramanarayana Durga's younger Son RAghunandh Narayanudu is getting married to grand daughter of Palakuru Shivakesava and Harihara Lakshmi Prabhavathy's Daughter, Parthavi Ambujakshi as decided by the elders. All are requested to come with their better halves and family members to wish and bless the couple.