Amar stopped fighting. He blocked the entrance.

"Please leave her and go. We won't stop you. Don't hurt her." The driver yelled.

"The moment I leave her, this man would kill me." He said pointing at Amar. "I will take her with me and leave her only after putting a good distance between him and me."

Amar looked at Vennela and the man. The man was more frightened than Vennela. He analyzed the situation very carefully. There's no point asking him to go because he was convinced that they would kill him if he releases Vennela. A frightened and cornered man's actions are unpredictable. He carefully scanned the man. He didn't have anything that can be used as a weapon to hurt Vennela.

"Take her with you" said Amar.

Vennela looked at him. 'Has he gone mad?'

The man, who didn't expect this, was equally shocked. "What are you saying?"

"You heard me right. Take her with you. This way the police will not suspect me. Kill her and hide her body" said Amar.

Vennela understood that he was buying time. Anirudh was on the way.

"Are you mad?" asked the man.

"You are professional killer. Aren't you? My brother hired you for killing--"

"No, I am not professional killer. I'm just a student." He loosened his grip on Vennela.

"I married her for her money. All I have to do is to stage an accident for her. Her wealth will be mine" said Amar.

'This idiot can't even create a good story. This story would have been believable in 1960s' thought Vennela.

"Please let me go. I am not who you think I am." The man pleaded.

"It's okay. You can reveal your identity. No one is listening. I made arrangements to hide you in Tamilnadu for a few days. After that I will send you to Sri Lanka illegally. Stay there for 5-6 years--"

"What the hell are you saying?" The man shouted. He was completely frightened.

"YOU BACKSTABBER! I HATE YOU!" Vennela yelled at Amar.

"It's risky to take her outside. Let's kill her right here" said Amar.

The man panicked. He released Vennela. She quickly grabbed the opportunity to hit him in the ribs and push him away. 

Amar rushed forward and shielded Vennela from him. After several minutes of punching, kicking and beating, the man resembled a gigantic slug. "There you are" said Amar. "I've made your ugly face look more beautiful. Thank me once you regain consciousness."

Vennela stood still for a while. And then she too collapsed. Amar tried to help her get up. But she refused his help. With all the energy she could muster, she tried to get up. She stood still for two minutes before sitting down. "I think you are right. I'll follow the doctor's advice and start walking without crutches." Vennela decided. "By the way, the story you told him was dumb."

"But he bought it. He really thinks I wanted him to kill you. It depends on how good of an actor you are." Amar felt smug. "Oh! Why am I so intelligent?"

Vennela smiled. Anirudh stormed inside with ten bodyguards and five policemen. "Rudy, you brought an entire army?" Amar laughed. The police recorded their statement and arrested the men.

"You said this trip will be fun. Is this what you meant by fun?" Anirudh asked Amar. "You two are not allowed to go anywhere without security. Is it clear?"

"You look cute when you're angry. Just like a baby..."

---***---

"Really? You hit them?" Anirudh's eyes were wide.

"Yes. I kicked him and he landed outside the entrance. Then I turned right and kicked the other guy who got stuck to the ceiling. And Vennela was hiding under the table. She yelled, 'Save me Amar, my hero.' When I saved her she thanked me a thousand times." Amar was telling Anirudh the exaggerated version of story.

"You forgot the part where I fell at your feet to thank you" said Vennela. "Liar!"

Anirudh laughed. "Anna, she would never say that. I think it's she who did all the fighting while you hid."

They burst into laughter. Vennela's grandparents rushed in. "I heard you were attacked. Are you alright?" Gayatri hugged her.

"Yes" Vennela answered. "Amar is hurt."

"Just small injuries, grandma" said Amar.

"Take care. We are here to invite you three to our home. Please do come and celebrate the festival with us." Narayana invited them.

"Sorry we can't. Maybe next year." Vennela noticed that Anirudh looked uncomfortable.

"Vadina I think you two should go" said Anirudh.

"Why wouldn't you come? Is anyone rude to you?" Gayatri asked him.

"I don't think I should come after what amma has done." Anirudh muttered. "Prakash uncle may not like it."

"Well, Prakash uncle is not here. Is he? Even if he were, who is he to stop you? It's my home" said Narayana. Anirudh accepted the invitation.

---***---

The next morning, Vennela went to her grandfather's mansion. She hesitated to enter.

"What happened now? All the misunderstandings are cleared. Right?" Amar frowned.

"Yes. But it feels awkward. Sure, I told them I will come. I know everything is fine. But still..."

"I know. The awkwardness won't vanish instantly. It will take some time" said Amar. They went inside and started chatting with everyone. Vennela announced that there won't be any crackers that year.

"No crackers?!" Rishi-Raj gasped dramatically.

"Fine. I'll allow crackers only for five minutes. Be good citizens." Vennela ordered them.

"Okay. Let's give up crackers. But we want entertainment." They demanded.

"Let's have a singing competition" Shruthi suggested.

"How about cooking competition?"

"No. Let's have a short play to entertain our families." Gayatri announced.

"Short play?"

"Yes. I loved plays. I used to go to nearby theater every week. That is where I met your grandfather" said Gayatri.

Everyone gathered around and asked her to narrate the story. "He was a rich kid. I was sitting in the front row. The theater owner asked me to give my seat to your grandfather. I refused. I told him that he should not expect royal treatment because this is independent India."

Narayana chuckled. "She was the only girl I have met who had courage to talk to me like that. I liked her. The next day my parents approached her parents with marriage proposal."

Everyone clapped. "Let's get divided into teams. Grandma and grandpa. Me and Vennela. The kids in third team." Amar suggested. Everyone nodded.

Vennela spied on the other teams.

She returned to Amar. "Amar, my grandparents are playing 21st century Romeo and Juliet. Shruthi is playing Cinderella with Anirudh as Prince Charming and Rishi-Raj as her step-brothers."

"Cinderella had step-sisters."

"Yes. But they refused to wear girl's clothes. So the story has been modified." Vennela narrated the story.

"Interesting. If you are done spying, let's work on our script. We will play Krishna and Radha. Krishna bids goodbye to Radha and leaves for Mathura. He misses Radha. He can't sleep. Radha sings and dances for him at her place. Though he can't hear her, he feels her presence and drifts off to sleep." Amar shared the concept.

"Brilliant! But I can hardly stand for five minutes. How should I dance?"

"Your steps are simple. Mostly sitting position. We can include servants in minor characters. They will support you when you stand." Amar requested four servants, who agreed.

"If that us the case, let them be Gopikas" said Vennela.

The play started that evening. The 21st century Romeo and Juliet play was thought provoking. The lovers defy their parents' orders and take wedding vows in their presence. "Honour and pride are important. Love is more important." Narayana uttered the last dialogues which earned applause.

In the next play, Cinderella danced with Prince Charming wearing glass slippers. Though it lasted only a minute, Shruthi and Anirudh enjoyed every second of it.

Cinderella's step-brothers recognized her. They wanted to stop her from marrying the prince. So they kidnapped and tied up Prince Charming. "I would have married you myself if you weren't head over heels in love with Cinders" said Rishi. "Do you have a sibling whom I could impress and marry?"

Prince Charming glared at them.

"We won't let Cinderella become a princess" said Raj. They laughed evilly.

"Beware, you thugs. Do not touch my beloved." Cinderella arrived wearing cowgirl clothes. She performed few death defying stunts and saved the prince.

"You don't need me to make you a princess. You are already a queen" said Charming.

It was Vennela's turn.

"Do you have to go?" asked Radha.

"It is my destiny Radha. I have to" Krishna cupped her face.

"I understand. I won't stop you. A part of me has always known this would happen. I have been preparing myself for this day. But today, I feel that all my preparation is useless. Nothing can make me accept the inevitable fact that we are getting separated." Radha had tears in her eyes.

"This is not separation. We reside in each other's hearts. We are inseparable" said Krishna. He played her favourite tune on his flute one last time before leaving.

The location quickly changes to Mathura. He tries to sleep. But the memories of his beloved people come back to him. He looks at the moon. "Dear moon. Please give them serenity and strength. Let them be happy."

The other side, a cool breeze fans Radha's face. "He needs us." She starts singing, sitting in front of his idol. The Gopikas join her.

She gently asks him to sleep because he is tired. She dances to assure him that she is happy. Krishna smiles without his knowledge.

"Thank you for staying in my heart forever." He drifts off to sleep. Radha smiles and wipes off a lone tear.

The play ended. Everyone applauded. Rishi-Raj whistled. "Once more" Shruthi clapped.

"You two were excellent. It was such a simple concept. Yet you made it look so beautiful." Gayatri praised them.

"Perfect Vennela. I loved it" said Narayana.

They had dinner and went home.

"I didn't know you are such an excellent actress. Your tears looked real. As if you were really crying." Amar praised her performance.

"It's because I wasn't acting" said Vennela.

Amar stopped what he was doing and looked at her.

"The thought of getting separated from you hurts me very badly. Don't know why. I was never this sensitive." Vennela expressed her feelings.

Amar grinned.

"Stop. Don't get any ideas. We are just friends."

"If you say so" Amar's grin widened.

She turned around and slept. 'Now that I am almost cured, I need to work on my speech and confess my love to him.' She covered her face with the blanket to hide her grin.

---***---