The colours of love

Mia Famiglia

The day before engagement was hectic. The entire Vallabhaneni and Desatla family arrived in Araku. Boy!if the family is so big, imagine the number of relatives. I did Google Vallabhaneni's, and got to know about them, a little. The thing with their family is that they are far away from the media. They keep their life a secret. Their names are always on news but they seldom make appearance. Mrs.Ishwari makes sure none of it comes into light.

I had set the family at the farm house. As I was walking out of the house i bumped into someone.
" I am sorry," I said without looking up.
"No problem. It's not your mistake if I am women magnet right?"
A women magnet, radiating Flirt vibes, Perfect.
That is when I looked up and saw him, he is women magnet alright. He is one of the handsome person i have seen, except Dev ofcourse. He has dark brown eyes which are small but perfect for his face. A sharp nose and jaw line, smooth hair; Damn the Vallabhaneni men are Greek Gods.
He snapped his fingers and I blinked.
"Finished ogling?" He asked.
I folded my hands and looked at him head to toe, with a straight face.

"I never saw any one, reacting so passively to me! I award you with the Poker face of the year."
I don't know what got over me but I said, "And I award you with the Joker face of the year."
He burst out laughing. "We are going to be good friends, I can feel it."
"Manya," I said extending my hand. That's new, I never introduce myself first.
"Ohh! the aspiring organiser?" he asked.
Aspiring organiser? I smiled and nodded.
"I am Akrish."
"The aspiring musician?" I asked him as we shook our hand.
He smiled and said, "the one and only. I know now, why Maa and Annaya, like you. And mind you impressing them is little difficult."
'Huh! Your brother loved me once' I wanted to say but shut up.
After a while, he broke the silence, "Bad with compliments?"
I smiled.
"Are you done with your work?"
"Not really."
"Okay then, you carry on, I will join Mia famiglia."
"Mia famiglia?"
"My family, it's Italian."
"Cool."
"Okay.." he began but stopped when we heard Mrs.Ishwari shout from the balcony.
"Maan?" She called out.
"Yes, Maa."
"Is Ms.Manya there?"
"Yes we were chatting."
"Oh, Ms.Manya, please stay back for a while, will you?"
"Yes, Mrs.Ishwari."
With that she disappeared.
"So,Maan?" I asked.
"I am Akrish Maan Vallabhaneni. You see mom liked these monosyllabic names and Dad wanted these unique names. That is why we have middle names, Dev and Maan."
I nodded.
Mrs.Ishwari came down and asked me, if she could meet my daughter.
"She is at Leela Aunty's place."
"The lady at catering services?"
I nodded.
"That's nice we will know about the progress in our food tomorrow."
I walked ahead, when she said, " we will use the car, my Co-sisters will be joining us." I nodded thinking I have to come back and get my scooty.
Just in time two women walked down. " Ms.Manya, this is Nyonika and Poorna, Adrith and Akrish's pinnilu, and this is Ms.Manya, the organiser."
I did a namasthe, which they returned.

I knocked the door when we reached Leela Aunty's home. She opened the door invited us in, my daughter who was on the sofa, realised that I was home and jumped from the sofa, I caught her mid-air.
God! She is heavy. I don't know who taught her this thing, but she will surely hurt herself and me too, one day.
"Don't do that!" I said. She giggled, like every single time.

Muffin, looked behind me and shouted, "Gran' ma."
She got off me and ran to Mrs.Ishwari, who bent down and hugged her.

"Now she is so similar to Anna." Mrs.Nyonika said. She then turned to muffin and said," Hey ! I am Nyonika, you can call me Gran N," extending her hands. Though initially hesitant, my daughter, later jumped into her hands."
"Aww!! Aren't you a cute thing, what is your name?" Mrs.Poorna asked.
"It's Adhya, I wanted you guys to meet her. It reminds me of our kid's childhood," Mrs.Ishwari said.
"What a coincidence? I mean she looks like Anna and her name is Adhya," said Mrs.Nyonika.
"Wait, what coincidence?" I asked. I had left my daughter to be loved by her grandmothers, but I had to pipe in this conversation, at that point.
"Oh! Our kids had decided that the first girl in the next generation would be named Adhya, like the 'beginning'," explained Mrs.Poorna.
That shocked me! He did consider Adhya not only his daughter, but also the next generation of Vallabhaneni's. If he really wanted to cheat, he would not have done that right? The promise ring? The house? The photos? There is sure something. If Dev is doing this, there should be a reason right? That is when I realised, I should have talked to him. I should have tried to know the truth. May be he has some reason. With this knew born hope, all I wanted to do was see him, talk to him, before his engagement.
"Ms.Manya, are you okay?" Mrs.Ishwari asked.
When I nodded, she did not look convinced, but did not ask further.

My daughter played with her grandmothers until Mrs.Nyonika got a call. It seems Anna had reached Araku. I messaged Itcha to pick up muffin and we left to the venue.

The three glamorous ladies of Vallabhaneni clan walked into the house. I saw a woman in her twenties get down from a cab, when I was about to get on to the scooty.
Dev came and hugged her, they spoke for a while, before we heard a loud, "Anna diiii." I turned towards the sound to notice a lady who shouted, along with other three men, one of them is Akrish. I am guessing these people are the present generation of Vallabhaneni's. I leaned on the scooty wanting to know more about them especially about the woman who was similar to my daughter.
"Anya," Anna shouted. The sisters hugged each other and stayed that way for a while. The love between the sisters was evident. One of the men walked towards the sisters and tapped on Anya's shoulder.
"I get to hug my sister too," he said.
"Sam," Anna said, hugging him.
"Hey di! How are you?"
Anna looked like she was about to cry,
"I am good, baby brother."
Dev put a hand around Anna's shoulder and patted her. Anna wiped her tears and said, "Now I am becoming a cry baby."
They all smiled.
"Hello, you two? Are you waiting for some auspicious time," Anya asked, the other two men who had not joined the conversation.
The two of them started walking towards others.
"I was just waiting for my turn, you see..." the one who was not Akrish spoke but was cut off when the others chorused, "I love discipline."
With that they burst out laughing.
"Amay," Anna said hugging him.
"Di, I missed you."
"I missed you too."
When they got separated, Anna looked at Akrish.
"Hey, di."
Anna put her hands on her hips.
Akrish raised his hands, " I was just waiting for the tears to end, you know tear strains doesn't match my 'I am cool attitude."
Anna shook her head and opened her hands, Akrish hugged her.
"I love you Maan."
"Why does Maan get 'I love you' when we get 'I missed you'?" Sam asked stomping his leg.
Dev ruffled his hair, laughing.
"I tend to have that effect on women," Akrish answered.
Sam glared Akrish, who just shrugged.
"It's nice to meet all of you, I have missed you all," said Anya.
"I know, all thanks to your engagement Annaya," said Sam.
Anna turned towards Dev and asked, "Do you love her Annaya?"

Till then I was leaning on the scooty, enjoying the conversation going on with a soft smile. With the question, I straightened.

Dev sighed and answered, "I will learn to love her."

I was smiling full blown, he doesn't love her . I guessed right! There was something going on, and I have to find out. I will ask him the first thing in the morning.

"Annaya, you fall in love not learn to love," said Sam.
"Look at that, our baby has learned to speak. I am proud of you my boy. I am proud of you," said Akrish.
"I know but not all of us get a chance of office romance, with the boss do we?" Dev asked eyeing Anna.
He was clearly, steering the topic and he was successful too.
"Di, is it true? Because I don't want to put my first bullet in your boss's head," said Amay.
Anna rolled her eyes and said, " And here I thought I have civilised brothers."
"We are barbaric when it comes to our women," Dev answered. That gave me goosebumps.
"Please, Mish can be barbaric every time," said Anya.
"Let's rephrase it. Mish is barbaric when it comes to you," countered Anna.
"Leave that, I have never seen Maan act barbaric, even after being in relationship with Alya, for about an year," Amay opiniated.
"Listen, I am all about, freedom. Why tie down, that way, I even pity you Annaya, I mean you are bonded for life. I want to be free of attachments, be....."
"Hey Alya, did not see you there," said Sam. With that Akrish towards the direction Sam was looking.
When he realised, he was tricked, he chased Sam. Sam ran inside the house.
Dev walked in behind them, calling their names, while the others chuckled but followed the lead.

I stared at the empty space hoping, I would call the same family, Mia famiglia.

--------'
Translation
Pinnilu- Aunts
Annaya- brother