“Bava stop!”
Jai who was enjoying the jolly ride with his crazy wife with her hands around him and her front pressed to his back, hit the brakes bringing the bike to halt. He turned to her frowning.
“Enti?”
“Naaku basavanna thotta Maavidikaayalu kavali. I want raw mangoes from Basavanna’s grove!”
“Hey! You serious? We are going to see a doctor and you want mangoes?”
Glaring Vennela got down and started walking to the grove and chose one tree which had so many raw mangoes that were hanging in duos. She looked around and pulled Jai who was walking behind her. She stood with her hands on hib and glared at him and then looked at the mangoes in the higher branch.
“Vennela! Its not good for you at this moment.”
She folded her hands across her front. Jai Sighed and jumped high to pluck the mango but in vain. He was about to jump again when he felt himself being lifted in air and saw down and hit his forehead.
“Vennela! Let me down!”
“Get me the maavidikaaya!”
She said but she put him down immediately. He landed on his feet thanks to his reflexes.
“Vennu! You yourself lift me and now you put me down too? What is going on in that brain of yours?”
He asked glaring.
“Bava! Last time I lifted you I was fine. Now My back is troubling me. But I want Maavidikaaya!”
She said like a baby being stubborn to get a toy. Jai chuckled. His Vennela was a kid at times.
“Kaani Vennela. Its so high.. The branch. Even My first floor height cannot help us.”
Vennela giggled. He was not going to leave this matter for this birth.
“But.. Bava!”
Jai looked around and seeing no one around he bent a little and putting his arms around her thighs from her front lifted her up making her squeal.
“Bava! What are you doing?”
“What you did to me! I am just returning the favor Vennela. Nenu first floor nuvvu first floor. And now, like this you can reach. Ammayi kuda first floor lo unte bagane undi”
He said smiling his naughty smile. She hit his head.
“Who will believe that this responsible and good boy of the house is actually the notorious?”
Jai shook his head.
“Only for Vennela! Now Get the mango. I cannot keep carrying you like this for whole day”
“Won’t you?”
She asked raising her brow for which Jai’s only answer was a smile. Because it was an established fact that Vennela just has to give a signal with her eyes and Jai would do anything. He smiled and lifted her to more height as she reached the mango and plucked it. She looked down smiling wide. He smiled at her smile. Slowly he let her slide down as his hands slid up her body and settled around her waist as she settled on the ground. With mangoes in one hand and other hand on his heart, she stood looking at him while his eyes was already looking deep into her eyes.
Slowly her hand from his heart went to his collar and clutched it in her fist. His eyes smiled along with his lips that curved. This always had a very fluttery effect on Vennela and just like anyother time, she pulled his collar and let her lips meet his. Jai who already expected this was only happy.
The lush mango grove moved in the breeze creating a magical feel around them as they stood locked there. But some bird’s happy noise disturbed them and they moved apart. Vennela stood away and started wiping the mangoes with her pallu while Jai stood looking at her.
“What is there in that mango that you always make me steal them?”
“Basavanna thota kaayalu are really tasty Bava and you know, the mangoes will be tastier when they are stolen. Chinnapudu me and Arjun used to do this a lot. But we would later come to Basavanna and give him back something else as price for the mangoes.”
“You both are crazy you know?”
“Who denied the fact? Amma epudu cheppedi, That I will understand her plight only when I become a mother of a kid like mself”
Jai smiled and Vennela bit her tongue.
“Sorry Bava”
“Enduku?”
“You said right, you don’t want kids now ani. Shobanam roju rathri.”
Jai chuckled.
“Is that why you never spoke about kids? Or never let anyone at home pick the topic?”
Vennela shrugged. Jai held her shoulders and turned her for her eyes to meet his.
“Do you think I don’t like babies?”
“Ledu Bava.. I have seen you with babies in our village. And I see you with Chinna.”
“Then?”
“I just..”
“I wanted us to have some time Vennela. We grew up in different surroundings. I wanted to spend time with you and also Nana, athaiyya babayi everyone. I never knew the feeling of being in such family Vennela. So I wanted to cherish it. And mainly my time with you. Already with family around, I get very less time and now you have taken up business. And if there is baby, we will not have time to know about each other.”
Vennela smiled at Jai.
“Don’t we know each other Bava?”
“Vennela..”
“Who said babies eat up our time? Won’t you be there with me?”
“I know..”
“Bava! Whatever happened in Athaiyya and Mavaiyya life is in the past. Ippdu everything is fine bava. Nothing can happen to us or our family. You are worrying unnecessarily.”
Jai’s eyes widened as she spoke as he never spoke out his feelings about his parent’s staying away. She was right. They both know each other well.
“So, Shall I eat my mangoes?”
Jai chuckled hitting his head.
“One moment you talk so matured. Next moment you become a kid.”
Vennela just bit into her treat and moaned making Jai shake his head.
“Vennela! Padha. Its getting late.”
“Boring man!”
Jai just pulled her to their bike. In between Jai gave Basavanna some money before getting on the bike for the ride towards the town clinic.
Musings 