14. what's with these two people..?

Malli was left alone under the rustling of leaves and the pleasant sound of flowing water. He was utterly dumb founded, looking at the direction Aparna went running while lying down. He giggled at himself and "I don't think I can pretend anymore...." he told to himself while getting up and dusting his clothes off the leaves, "especially not when I saw you cry for me." he lips turned into a smirk. He casually walked to his house where he saw his mother waiting for him. "Mother, were you waiting for me?" he asked rushing towards her. Her mother smiled heartily at him, "yes, I'm. Can you get these to Aparna's house? Your grandfather forgot to bring these with him." told him while handing him some empty baskets. He reached out his hand to take those and "what are these for, mother?" he asked. "Brother obulesu asked your father to get him some baskets of fine quality, so your grandfather made these himself. He brought four with him and forgot these five baskets." his mother replied. "Oh! How could he forget five, mother?" he asked curiously. "He was bringing some farming tools, so he must have confused with the weight and went on." she tried to reason. "Ooooo. Okay. I'll get these to him." he walked towards the gate and continued his way. When he came in front of the village heads house, he saw Chandranna going into his house "Chandraa..." he called him. Chandranna looked back at him, "oh Malli, didn't you finish the work at the plantation? It's getting dark." he asked him while looking at the baskets he was holding. Mallikarjuna giggled "no, no, I finished. These are for uncle Obulesu. My grandfather forgot to bring these, so I'm bringing these to their house." he replied him as he approached him. Chandranna nodded "oh, then ..... you are going their house... right?" he asked to confirm once again. Malli nodded. "Can I tag along?" Chandranna asked with beaming eyes unable to hold his excitement of seeing Aparna. Mallikarjuna looked at him and wanted to tease him badly "NO. YOU CAN'T." he said firmly. Beaming eyes instantly lost its power and lips turned down. Mallikarjuna laughed out loudly "you.... really... ." he couldn't stop laughing at him who just went power outage "lets go" he added . Chandranna power supply came back again "wait a minute, I'll inform someone and be right back. Don't go." he talked while rushing into his house and informed a servant there to pass the message to his mother and came back running, "let's go..." he rushed Mallikarjuna. Mallikarjuna chuckled at him, "let's go.." he replied as they walked forward. They got pretty close ever since Mallikarjuna started socializing , and their house being close to each other played a big role. Mostly they definitely passed through each other's house for at least 4 to 6 times a day.

Mallikarjuna asked "Chandra, are you going to get married?" he asked. Chandranna became stiff and stuttered "where did did you hear that from?" he asked him back. "I heard some people talking. So, is that true?" he asked again. Chandranna "it's half truth and half false" he answered ambiguously. Malli looked at him with a distorted expression clearly showing how annoyed he was with his answer..."haa...?" Chandranna as if he understood the entire meaning of his look "it is true that I wanna get married. But I don't know if I can..." he replied with a low voice. Mallikarjuna "why?" Chandranna "I don't know if she likes me or not. So, ..... and I definitely don't want to force her if she doesn't like. She doesn't look like herself if she does anything as per others advise or instruction. But I like her a lot."he replied. Mallikarjuna turned his head towards him and looked at the road again. "What's with these two..... one doesn't know whom she likes, one doesn't know if she likes him or not.... but both are discussing about marrying each other? Unbelievable !!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed internally, let out an awkward chuckle.

While talking they reached Aparna's house, saw grandpa at the gate who looked like he was heading out. "Grandpa...." Malli called him loudly. He went running towards him "grandpa, mother asked me give these to you." he handed over the baskets. Grandpa looked so happy, "Malli, I was about to return to our house for these. Glad you brought it." he pet his shoulder as an appreciation. Chandranna came and stood beside him, "grandpa, hello" he put his hands in namaskar pose, greeted him. "Oh Chandranna, did you both come here together?" he asked looking at both of them. Both nodded. Surappa giggled. "Uncle Surappa, who are those?" Obulesu asked walking through their door. Surappa "Malli and Chandranna. I forgot these and they brought it here." showing him th baskets Mallikarjuna gave him. They both greeted him. Obulesu smiled in return, "come in both of you. Your aunt is preparing some chilli fritters." he invited them into his house. Before they can answer anything Obulesu pushed them forward, "let's go let's go... before they get cold...." he continued to push till the front door, "Aparna, get some water." he called for Aparna.

Chandranna's heart began to pound that he could hear that sound clearly. Mallikarjuna just looked at the door waiting for her to appear and see what kind of expression she makes after seeing him. He was internally excited while maintaining calm face. "Uncle, we can just wash our hands and feet at well. No need to bring them here." Mallikarjuna tried to talk to him. Chandranna supported him. When Obulesu was about to reply Aparna brought a medium sized copper pot with water on her left waist supporting that with her left hand and a small earthen pot in her right hand, to pour the water into it.

Aparna flinched after seeing Mallikarjuna and looked at her father and Chandranna beside him, calmed down and placed the pot on the ground, transferred water form copper pot to earthen pot, "Chandra, here." She handed it to Chandranna looking at him usually. He took that and washed his hands and feet. She then handed him a towel. And she poured another pot of water "Mallikarjuna, yours" handed him the pot looking at the copper pot. Mallikarjuna internally chuckled and took that, washed and got the towel from her... she went towards the well to keep the pots there. Obulesu, Surappa, Mallikarjuna and Chandranna entered the house. "Subhadra" Obulesu called his wife. "Coming dear." she immediately came into the hall from the kitchen and saw Chandranna and Mallikarjuna. They greeted her and she blessed them in return. She asked them about the well being of their family members...