Both the couples are in their own little world, forgetting everything.

"Bunny!" Avi called her name, lovingly.

"Hmm", Maya mumbled.

"Shall we move towards the stage? It's been a long time since we are here", Avi asked her.

"Be like this for some more time, please." She said, snuggling to him more.

"There are still guests, bunny, it won't be nice if the bride and groom are missing", said Avi.

"Hmm."

"What happened?" Avi asked her.

"Mmm, nothing", she said, whining.

"Then, why are you behaving like this?" He asked her.

"Argh, nothing. Now come, why did you stand like a statue? Don't you want to greet the guests?" Saying that, she dragged him to the stage.

"Crazy girl", he muttered to himself.

****************

"Oh! Look who is here, the couple of the day. Finally, you guys showed up. I thought I won't able to see you guys today. Anyway, Where did you guys disappear for a long time?" Arpita said, with a teasing smile.

"Arey, understand Arpita, they are a newly engaged couple, they might be having their own time. What do you say Maya?" Said Yash.

"There is nothing like that Bava. We were just umm, talking. Yeah! We were just talking", Maya said, trying to be confident but ended up stammering.

"Yeah! We can see that, how nicely you are talking", Arpita said, looking at the photos captured by Yash. "Nice pose man, I didn't know you both were this romantic. By the way, what are you both talking seriously with your eyes, hmm?"

"Yeah! Tell us also, even we need some tips. What do you say, Aru?" Yash said, looking at Arpita

"Yeah! Why not?" She said, supporting his words.

Maya just hugged Avi, unable bear their teasing.

"Look, who is speaking? The couple who sneaked and went for a date before their wedding day. And, may I know what you guys were doing in the kitchen before the start of the engagement? Hmm", Avi said, while embracing Maya and making the other couple blush.

"What proof do you have?" Arpita asked him.

"I know you will ask this, that's why I've captured it", Avi said, showing the picture in his mobile.

"Nice pose, akka", Maya said, giggling.

They are having fun, but there is one person who is fuming by looking at a particular couple.

That person went near them deciding to break their moment, coughed a little to gain their attention.

Listening this, four of them looked at the intruder.

Breaking the silence, Yash asked the person, "Do you need anything Chytra?"

"No Anna, I just came to congratulate the couple. Congrats, Avi Anna and Maya vadina, for your engagement", she said, faking a smile.

"Thank you, Chytra", said Avi.

"Umm Anna, if you don't mind, I want to talk to Vadina once in private", Chytra asked him.

"With Maya?" He asked, being unsure.

"Yes", said Chytra.

"Sure", said Avi and gestured Maya to go.

Though he is unsure and getting negative vibes from her, he can't say no, after all, she is her cousin too.

"What does she want to talk with Maya now? That too in private", Asked Yash.

"How would I know? And, why did she come?" Arpita said, scrunching her nose.

"Who knows that? Just hope that she doesn't create any mess", said Yash.

"Hope so. I just don't like her presence around us." Saying that, she just moved from there. Yash and Avi looked at each other and sighed. Yash also moved from there patting Avi's back.

****************

Maya and Chytra moved from there and stood near the stairs.

"What do you want to talk?" Maya said, sternly.

"First of all, congrats on the engagement," Chytra said, sarcastically.

"Thank you!" Maya said, rolling her eyes, observing the sarcasm dripping in her voice.

"I must say, you are really good at trapping boys," Chytra said, smirking.

"What the hell are you speaking?" Maya yelled at her.

"No need to act all innocent. First you trapped my brother, then you left him, as he only has a small job. Now you trapped Avi Anna. Why don't you give me tips? It would help me to woo Arjun?" Said Chytra.

"Are you in your senses? Why would I trap your brother? And, don't you dare take my brother's name with your filthy mouth," Maya said, glaring at her.

"I'm in my full senses only. You are nothing but a bitch who traps boys,"

Before Chytra could continue, she was rewarded with a huge slap.

"How dare you slap me?" Chytra shouted at the person in front of her.

"How dare you utter all that shit about my sister?" Arjun yelled, glaring at her, which sent shivers down her spine.

(Yes, it's Arjun who slapped her)

"When do you not know the whole thing? Why don't you go and ask your so-called innocent brother about the whole story, then you'll get to know who is innocent and who is not? And one more thing-before accusing a person, know what has actually happened. Thank God, me and my sister are safe from your brother and sister duo." Saying that, he just dragged Maya from there, who was numb.

In all this, they've missed a pair of eyes, which are numb as well. Slowly, the person also moved from there.

In Maya's room :

Maya just stood numb, with tears flowing continuously. She couldn't take all the accusations when she was the victim.

Arjun sighed seeing this. He had to divert Maya's mind because she needed to go down as the guests had still not left, and also, it's not good for her health.

"Maya, stop crying please. You have been continuously crying for the past 15 minutes. You'll spoil your health," Arjun requested her.

But she is not in a position to listen to anyone.

"For god's sake! Stop crying. You should be celebrating your engagement, but here you are crying like a mad person. For whom? For that stupid man?" Arjun yelled at her.

On not getting any response from her, he just banged her hand on the nearby table, making her tremble in fear.

He sighed, and kneeled down in front of her and apologised to her, "I'm sorry pumpkin."

Maya looked at him with tears in her eyes and asked, "Why are you saying sorry, Anna?"

"But that guy entered your life because of me only," Arjun said, looking down.

"Are you mad? If not that day, I would have met him some other day as he is our family's relative," Maya yelled at him.

"I shouldn't have taken things lightly when you told me about him. Then today's situation would have been different," Arjun said, feeling guilty.

"Please Anna, don't blame yourself. We never knew that things would turn out this way", Maya said, trying to make him understand.

They were talking when Sravya barged into the room.

"What the hell, Sravya? Who would barge into a room like this? You could have knocked right off," Arjun said, glaring at Sravya.

"You could have locked the room right. And, what are you guys doing here when everyone is down?" Sravya asked them.

"Nothing, Chinnu," said Maya.

"Then, wait, Maya, did you cry?" She asked, looking into her eyes. "Is everything okay? And don't you dare try to lie? Your eyes are saying everything."

Arjun just sighed and said, "We will tell you afterwards. Now, we should move down. Pumpkin, go and wash your face. I'm going now. You come with Sravya."

Maya nodded and went to freshen up a bit. Soon both of them came downstairs.

*****************

Let's see what's going on downstairs.

Avi is coming from the garden, but he seems to be lost somewhere. He came and stood beside his parents, who were talking to some guests.

"Hey, Kanna! Where are you? We have been looking for you," Vani asked her son.

"I got a call amma, so I went to the garden to talk," said Avi.

"Is everything okay? You seem to be disturbed," Shekar asked Avi.

"Everything is good, dad, just office tension, that's it," Avi lied, as he didn't know the actual truth.

"What is this Avinav? I've told you right, no office work for today", Vani said, glaring at him.

"It's important, Amma, that's why I went to talk" said Avi.

"I don't know what you will do? You complete your office work fast and make sure you are free before a week and apply for leave for at least 20 days." Vani warned Avi. She then turned to her husband and said, "And you. If you didn't approve his leave, you know what happens, right?"

"Okay, boss, anything else", Shekar and Avi said together.

"Good. Now, let's move. Everyone is waiting for us. Most of the guests have completed their dinner. We also need to leave it's getting late. Call Veeru and Taara too. Even they didn't have their dinner," said Vani, to which both father and son duo nodded their heads.

But Avi is still lost in his world.

He just took a deep breath to calm down his nerves and moved towards the dining area where the food is being served.

*****************

"Akka, where are you both? We have been waiting for you guys for a long time," Nandan asked them.

"Actually, one of Maya's friends called her to congratulate her, so she went to her room, and I just accompanied her," said Sravya.

Maya looked at her in confusion, while Sravya just blinked her eyes.

"But her mobile is with Vicky," said Nandan.

"She called my mobile," said Sravya.

"But you guys never studied together. How come her friend knows you?" Nandan asked, narrowing his eyes.

Sravya wanted to bang her head somewhere, with his questions.

"She studied with me till her tenth; later she studied 11th and 12th with Sravya. Can we proceed to eat or do you have anymore questions?" Maya said, saving them from his further interrogation.

"Sometimes her brother is so annoying. Who does this much interrogation?" thought Maya.

Her mind reminded her, "Don't forget that he is the future lawyer."

"Yeah! How can I forget that?" Exclaimed Maya.

"Now that you have remembered. So, go and enjoy your day without thinking too much," her heart suggested to her.

"Huff! Finally!" Sravya muttered under her breath.

"Did you say something?" said Nandan.

"Nothing, now let us have dinner. I'm literally famished. By the way, where is everyone?" She asked, while filling her plate.

"Peddamma and pedananna are sending off the guests along with Arjun Anna. Some are wrapping up everything, some are in the garden having their dinner. Do you need more info, Akka? Hmph." Vikram stated dramatically.

"No need, by the way," said Sravya.

"Oh god! Sravya, stop asking stupid questions and eat," said Maya, making her pout.

They are laughing, pulling each other's legs, and enjoying their dinner happily.

"I guess you guys are having lots of fun here. Can we join with you?" Asked Veeru.

"Sure, Anna," said Sravya.

"Those old people are too boring. I thought I'd also get white hair like them if I sat with them for some more time," Taara said, pouting.

"You are so cute, Akka," said Siri.

"I say the same, but she just rolls her eyes at me," said Veeru.

"By the way, Bava?" Siri said, looking at Avi.

"Haa, Siri," said Avi.

"Where are you taking my Akka for the honeymoon?" Siri asked, looking at him mischievously.

Listening to this, Avi and Maya started coughing badly.

"Umm. We haven't decided about it yet," Avi said, slowly.

"Oh ok! How many nieces or nephews do you guys plan to give me?" Siri asked him.

"Wait, what?" Avi said, looking at his younger sister-in-law, shocked.

On the other hand, the remaining ones are looking at her with open mouths.

"Siri, what's your age?" Taara asked.

"I'm turning 16 next month. Why have you asked me now?" Said Siri.

"Because you are not behaving like a 16-year-old kid. God kids these days", Sravya exclaimed.

"For your information, I'm going to get the "right to vote" after two years. So, I'm not a kid, okay? Anyway, Bava, you didn't answer my question," said Siri.

"God! Siri stop embarrassing them with your silly questions," Arjun said, while walking to them, who listened to the stupid conversation going on.

"Yeah! Whatever." Saying that, she just walked out of there to wash her hands.

"Thanks! Arjun, God, it's so embarrassing really," Avi thanked Arjun.

"She is now-a-days watching a lot of daily soaps and Korean dramas. Anyways, Athayya told me to call you guys, as it's getting late," said Arjun.

Avi nodded his head. Soon, all of them left from there, giving privacy to the newly engaged couple.

Keep smiling and take care ❤