15.can we proceed...?

"Aparna, spread the mat here." Subadhra called for her daughter. By the time her mother finished calling her, Aparna was already coming from the room with a mat, spread it on the floor. All of them sat in the order -- near the kitchen obulesu, Mallikarjuna, Chandranna and lastly Surappa. "Mother, you too have a seat. I'll look after the kitchen and serve them." Aparna forcefully made her mother sit beside her father. Surappa chuckled "Aparna, you too." he asked her to sit beside him. Aparna went to grandpa's side, sitting on her knees "grandpa, I will bring the fritters and fruit juice first. You keep talking till then, but not interesting things okay? We'll talk about them once I join you." replied him with a smile in her eyes, on her lips and giggled. "Hmmmm... come fast then, or I might tell everything before you come...." he teased her back stroking her head. She chuckled. Her father and mother looked at them and smiled thinking that the scenario hasn't changed a bit since her childhood. Chandranna looked at her with gleaming eyes. Mallikarjuna watched her throughout without a single word or single change in his expression "woooahhhh. She's really incredible. It's not been an hour since she was crying at the river and here she's cheerful as always except the slight pink tinge in her eyes." he thought to himself looking at her. She didn't even spare him a glance. He was completely ignored by her.

She went into the kitchen and filled the plates with fresh fritters, raw onions and chunks of lemon. Her mother already prepared sweet lime juice and kept it aside in a pot. She took some brass tumblers and filled them with juice. Placing them on a tray, brought those items to them and placed it at the center. She sat there and served all of them with fritters and juice. "Aparna, come here. We can eat from this plate." grandpa invited her looking at the tray where all the plates were distributed. Aparna chuckled "of course I'm gonna come to you. I added extra in that plate enough for us both." she stood up and sat beside him with a tumbler of juice excitedly. They ate while talking, Obulesu asking Chandranna about their farm and factories, Mallikarjuna about their plantation. Surappa and Obulesu talked about olden days when Obulesu was still young and naughty. Surappa even shared some events involving his father and himself along with other friends of those two. Every one laughed and completed the food. Aparna got up a little earlier than them and put the pots on the ground near the front door. All of them washed their hands and dried their hands with towel. Surappa "Subhadramma, fritters tasted exactly like my wife's!" he exclaimed. Aparna giggled and looked at mother once before answering grandpa "grandpa, that's because she learnt that from grandma." she answered him. Grandpa laughed and looked at Subhadra once smiled at her while nodding his head. Subhadra smiled in return. Surappa "then, should we go?" asked looking at Malli and Chandra. They nodded and greeted Obulesu and his wife. Aparna smiled at Chandranna "come again." she said. Chandranna nodded, "sure." like it's their normal conversation. Mallikarjuna looked at them dryly. Aparna just put her hands together infront of her chest while looking at Malli as if telling him to leave as soon as possible. Malli found that hilarious. Aparna greeted grandpa "grandpa, I'll visit you and grandma again." beaming with smile from ear to ear. Grandpa "okay then...we'll be leaving. Obulesu if you want anything again, tell me." he pet his shoulder. Subhadra and Obulesu greeted Surappa and those three left together.

Same time at Krishna's house

Krishna brought her father water and handed that to him.... fidgeting all over. While washing his feet, Muthyalaiah asked,

"Is there anything you want?"

"Yes, father." She replied feeling restless.

"What's is it?" He asked.

She took a long breath "Karunakar "

Mug in his hand fell down abruptly and almost choked himself from stopping the laughter.

"Okay" her father agreed. She was bewildered.

She didn't think that it would be so easy.

She served him food and had her share of food. They went to sleep. She was so happy that she immediately wanted to share that news with Karunakar. She wanted the sun to rise as early as possible.....she kept rolling around the bed all through the night and fell asleep when morning neared.

..

At Aparna's house..

Not long after Surappa, Mallikarjuna and Chandranna left, Karunakar arrived home, called for his mother. She came with water and towel. "Mother, what's Aparna doing?" he asked. "She's making jasmine flower string. Why?" she answered him. "Oh! Okay." he stopped the conversation there and went to sit on the cot under the tree. After a short while, Aparna "brother, why aren't you coming in? Mother told me that you asked for me. Is there anything you want from me?" She asked him sitting beside him. Karunakar sighed "Aparna, don't think I'm annoying." he requested her. Aparna chuckled, "why would I? " she answered him. "It's good then. Listen carefully. This will be the last time I talk about this." he raised her expectations, she nodded and listened to him attentively, "what do you think of marrying Chandranna?" he asked. She nodded. "Aparna answer using your words." he whined to her. She still nodded. Her brother sighed and asked again only to see her nod. "Then can we proceed further?" he added. She still nodded. He let out a shriek and hopped around her in joy. He wanted to confirm once again "can we really proceed with further arrangements?" he asked her once again. She nodded and buried her face in her palms. Her brother giggled looking at his sister.

He went rushing towards his parents who were sitting on the dining mat where father was having his food while mother served him. "Mother, father..... Aparna agreed to the marriage. She told me that we can proceed with further arrangements." he was overflowing with joy. Obulesu and Subhadra were glad beyond limit. "Subhadra, did you hear that?" asked his wife with an astonished face. "Yes dear. I'm so glad that she agreed. Tomorrow ask the Head Priest for a good moment to inform this to brother murthy and brother Krishnamurthy." She told her husband in excitement and immediately wanted to share the information. Watching those three from her room made Aparna feel glad that they were happy because of the decision she made. But something was pricking from her inside so hard.

Aparna went to sleep.

After some time, before going to sleep, Karunakar went to his father, "Father, I think we should apologize to Murthy uncle family." he told him in a sad voice.