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Writer's pov:

"Pondati, this is how Vikram chitthapa called Harshi chitti today!"

People gathered on the stage gasped when Devi pointed to Vikram and Harshitha. That includes their Grandparents, the newlyweds, Devi's parents, and the priest.

Everyone turned to look at Vikram in slow motion as they glanced back and forth from Vikram to Harshitha, who looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"What did she say?" Sakthi asked, walking towards them confused while their grandparents stared at them unblinking.

Fortunately, it looks like not everyone heard Devi's words as some looked confused why the grandparents and the newlyweds are staring at Vikram and Harshitha. Especially at Vikram, whose heart pounded as he imagined multiple scenarios about how he would end up today, and the outcomes aren't good at all!

1.Harsitha, killing him. 'A big no!'

2.Hari and his maama, beating him until he was black and blue. 'Okay, I guess?'

3.His parents, disowning him.

Well, the third one sounds quite better compared to the other two as he would at least crash at his friend Gokul's place until his parents calm down.

Sensing everyone's gaze, Devi shyly hid in his neck and whispered. "Chitpa, this is how you called chiti, right?"

"Traitor!" Vikram whispered under his breath as he stared at the little devil in his arms.

The latter just blinked and grinned at him widely, melting his heart with her innocent face.

"Vikram?" Sakthi asked again, walking up to the stage. When he didn't answer, her eye met Harshitha's for an answer, who stood feet away from him.

Harshitha's eyes flickered nervously from her mother to Vikram, who gulped and gave a bewildered smile to everyone.

"N..nothing athai, she's just saying that I gave my-" He shuttered, nervously licking his parched lips while everyone stared at him.

"Ah phone, Vikram gave me his phone this morning, ma. That's what she said." Harshitha continued for him while her hands balled tight behind her saree pallu in fear as her mother's eyes scrutinized her face.

Still skeptical, Sakthi glanced at her parents. Though her heart urges her to accept her daughter's words, their skeptical expressions suggest that it is a lie.

"Nalla neram mudiya pogutu, ponnu mapilal arunthadi natchatram pakanum! Enaku aatuku phoga naadi aguto na?" The priest spoke, breaking the silence, standing up from the platform.

(The auspicious time is about to end, the groom and bride must see Arundhati star before that!)

During the Hindu wedding, after the Saptapathi ritual, the groom shows the bride the Vashishta and Arundhati the double stars as an example of the ideal couple symbolizing marital happiness and devotion. It is only symbolic. -from google.

Sakthi nodded, helping prathyuksha down while signaling her daughter to follow her with her eyes, who still stood near Vikram.

When Sakthi noticed her daughter was not following her, she shouted. "Harshitha!"

And that's enough to get Harshita moving as she looked at Vikram over her shoulder once and walked away hastily, joining her mother.

Eventually, everyone standing near the stage started walking out while Vikram stood at the same spot with Devi in his arms.

"Why ale you sad chitpa?" Devi asked, palming Vikram's crestfallen face as he stared at his darling's departing figure.

(Why are you sad, chitthapa?)

Taking a deep breath, he gently lowered her to the ground and crouched to her eye level. Her big doe eyes stared back at him without blinking, waiting for him to speak.

Even though he is angry and scared, he would only blame himself for speaking like that in front of a child.

And who would be angry at this little angel!

"Nothing Devi, and please don't tell this to an-" He stopped midway, closing his eyes in frustration.

"Chitpa?"

"Nothing sweetheart!"

Moreover, even if he tells her, she won't understand, and explaining it will lead to more problems.

"Vikram!" Startled, he turned around to see Suganya standing behind him, with a teasing smile on her lips.

"Huh?"

"Heard that my daughter put on a quiet performance on the stage today?" Suganya laughed, extending an arm to Devi, who looked as if she would sleep any minute now.

"Who did you hear it from?" Sighing heavily, Vikram kept his head against his palm.

'That's all he is closed!'

"The whole people came today, knew that!" She exclaimed, suppressing her laughter when Vikram looked at her in horror.

Unable to contain herself at his expression, Suganya burst out laughing while he stared at her sharply.

"Akka you know what? Your daughter also said that you make your husband kneel on the doorstep if he came late from work! I think everyone might like knowing this more!" Vikram sarcastically stated as Suganya huffed, walking away.

Frustrated, he closed his eyes as his head pounded, causing him to clench his teeth.

He looked up when he heard the anklet sound, turning his head in disappointment when he saw that it was Suganya only, who had returned to who knows for what!

"What now?" Vikram sighed when she sat next to him.

"I thought I might help you with the info I gathered outside, but it looks like you don't want that," Suganya smirked when Vikram looked at her eagerly.

"Please Deivame! solluga." Vikram bowed, joining his hands together.

(Please god! tell me)

"Ganesh thatha is searching for your mom-"

Before she could even complete it, he bolted away, not even noticing that his mobile phone has fallen from his pocket.

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"Oh no!" Vikram gasped, stopping on his track when he saw his mother talking to his grandpa.

Before he would take a step, his brother dragged him away, telling him that they need to go to their house to fetch some puja things.

Just as the car started driving away, he saw his mother walking toward his athai.

'Oh shit! Harshi is alone!'

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On Harshitha's side, her mother hasn't let go of her hands since they've come out. For an hour, her mother brought her everywhere she went, even to the restroom!

"Maa, I'm thirsty!" Harshitha whined, trying to pry her maa's fingers off her arms while her mom glared at her for interrupting her talk with a lady.

Huffing, she looked around in search of her cousins, her mood fell when she found no one in sight, not even Vihana. She was now trapped inside a crowd of gossip ladies!

'Where did they all go when she need them?!!'

Her ears perked up in interest as her mother spoke about her proudly to a lady.

For few minutes everything went well, her mom praising her and that aunty praising her son.

And then the questions that make her blood boil started!

She is just 18 for heaven's sake! Just because girls look matured in a saree doesn't mean they are of marriage age and something like that doesn't exist at all!!

One should decide if she/he/they want to get married or not!

"Did your daughter complete her studies? She looks so beautiful! My sister is searching bride for her son." The lady asked, glancing at Harshitha, who looked heavenly in her saree.

'Her nephew would surely like this girl!' The lady thought as she greedily took a look at the necklace on Harshitha's neck.

"That, not for now ka-"

"Sakthi, why are you even answering that question? Harshitha will be my Vikram's bride!" Radha tsked as she sauntered toward them while Harshitha gaped at her aunt, who winked and hugged her sideway once she neared them.

"Sorry, Kamala! I'm not giving up my Harshu for anyone!" Radha declared, causing the lady to walk away as Sakthi looked dazed at her words.

"Radha anni, what are you speaking?" Sakthi wondered, looking at her daughter and then back at her sister-in-law, who grinned at her question.

(anni- sister-in-law)

"What Sakthi? You won't give Harshitha's hand in marriage for our Vikram?" Radha demanded, keeping her hands on her hips dramatically while Harshitha stared at her in shock.

'Wait! Did she hear that clearly? Vikram's mom is asking her hand in marriage!!!' Harshitha gasped, blinking rapidly as her heart raced fastly.

"Anni, Harshitha is still studyi-"

"Don't Sakthi! I thought you might agree but-" Radha wiped her fake tears as Sakthi gaped at her speechless.

"Anni, hear me ou-!"

"Please! Sakthi, don't break my heart even more. I think I'm not that lucky to have my Harshu as my daughter-in-law."

"Radh-"

"It's okay! If you don't want to give her hand in marriage, We're just not lucky, I guess."

"Radha!" Sakthi shouted when she cut off her words again. The moment she tries to speak, Radha cuts her off.

"When did I even say that!" Sakthi demanded, staring at her brother's wife, who kept wiping her eyes with her saree pallu.

"Then?"

"Why would I not agree to this? I have literally seen Vikram growing up to the gentleman he is! And I would be the biggest idiot in the world if I reject Vikram for Harshitha!" Sakthi exclaimed, breathing hard while the other two stood shocked at her speech.

Harshitha gasped as her brain processed her mother's words while Vikram's mom squealed, hugging her tight.

"But not no-"

"Oh shut up Sakthi! Only when Harshitha says so! we'll start the arrangement."

"Anni, we don't need to tell this to everyone for now!" Sakthi requested, softly smiling as Radha hugged Harshitha tightly.

"Of course! She is my daughter-in-law the moment she was born!" Radha whispered, palming Harshitha's blushing cheeks who lowered her lashes shyly.

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to be continued..

Hope you all liked it!

As I said in the prologue, this is a happy book, so I don't want to complicate anything.

I just want everyone, who reads this book to be happy!

This is a comfort book, which will make you laugh, blush and smile!

Hope this chapter brought a smile to your face.

Bye, take care!^_^