The silence in the bedroom was absolute, save for the faint, rhythmic hum of the central air conditioning.
Krithika stood frozen in the center of the acoustic sweet spot of the home theater. The breathtaking 8K rendering of Prince Rama and Princess Sita had faded from the massive OLED screen, replaced entirely by that single, illuminated sentence: Will you be my Sita?
She slowly lowered her gaze from the screen to the man kneeling on the dark wood floor.
Siddanth Deva, the undisputed apex predator of world cricket, the multi-billionaire tech mogul who struck terror into the hearts of international bowlers and corporate rivals alike, was looking up at her with an expression of complete, unguarded vulnerability. He held the velvet box open, the flawlessly cut diamond catching the ambient light, sparkling with a brilliant, quiet fire.
For a moment, Krithika couldn't breathe. Her mind completely short-circuited.
Her hands flew up, covering her mouth.
Tears of pure joy welled up in her eyes, spilling over her lashes and tracing rapid paths down her cheeks. She looked at the ring, then at his face—at the calm, warm smile that anchored her entirely to the earth.
She didn't nod gracefully. She didn't offer a composed response.
She let out a wet, breathless sob, dropped to her knees right there on the hardwood floor, and threw her arms around his neck.
"Yes," she practically sobbed into the fabric of his white t-shirt, clutching his shoulders as if he might disappear. "Yes, yes, yes... a thousand times, yes, you idiot."
Siddanth let out a long, heavy exhale, the tension he didn't even realize he was carrying instantly vanishing. He wrapped his free arm tightly around her, burying his face in her shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of her jasmine shampoo. He held her there on the floor of his bedroom, letting the weight of the moment settle over them.
After a long minute, Krithika pulled back slightly, wiping her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand, offering a watery, radiant laugh.
"You're supposed to put the ring on me, Mama's Boy," she sniffled, lightly hitting his chest.
"You tackled me before I could," Siddanth chuckled, his eyes shining with adoration.
He gently took her left hand in his. His hands, calloused from years of gripping a cricket bat and bowling at 150 kmph, were incredibly gentle as he slid the cool, platinum band onto her ring finger. It was a perfect fit. The diamond wasn't ostentatiously large or gaudy; it was an incredibly high-clarity, flawless solitaire, elegant and completely suited to her practical nature.
Krithika stared at her hand, mesmerized by the weight of it.
Siddanth stood up, easily pulling her up with him. He kept her left hand secured in his right.
"Come on," Siddanth smiled, his thumb gently brushing over her knuckles. "Let's go tell our parents and friends."
Krithika paused, looking up at him, the realization suddenly clicking in her brain. She looked at the door, then back to him. "Wait... the dinner. Making sure everyone was on time. Making sure I brought Riya and Kavya..." She narrowed her eyes playfully, though the massive smile never left her face. "Is that why you had me call my friends as well? You planned this whole gathering just for this?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Siddanth grinned, offering a subtle shrug. "I just wanted to celebrate the World Cup."
"Liar," Krithika laughed, leaning in and kissing him softly on the cheek.
"Let's go," Siddanth said, his heart lighter than it had been in years.
He opened the heavy oak door of his bedroom, and hand-in-hand, they walked out into the corridor and approached the top of the wide, teakwood staircase.
Down in the massive, open-plan living room, the atmosphere was chaotic and vibrant. The television was playing the highlights of the World Cup Final on mute. Sameer and Kavya were currently engaged in a heated debate about a recently released Bollywood movie, while Arjun and Feroz were sitting by the window, quietly discussing logistics of new stadium.
Subba Rao and Vikram Deva were deep in a passionate conversation about the new crops, oblivious to the rest of the room. Suma and Sesikala were moving between the kitchen and the dining area, instructing the household staff.
Anjali was slouched on the armrest of the main sofa, aggressively scrolling through her phone.
Siddanth and Krithika walked down the stairs. They reached the bottom landing and stepped into the living room.
Because the room was engaged in various conversations, no one immediately reacted. They were just Siddanth and Krithika walking into the room. Sameer glanced over, raised a hand in acknowledgment, and went right back to arguing with Kavya. Vikram Deva smiled at his son but continued his point about the crops.
They stood there for about ten seconds, entirely unnoticed in their new reality.
Then, Anjali looked up from her phone.
She glanced at Siddanth. Then she glanced at her sister. Her eyes tracked downward, instantly locking onto the fact that Siddanth and Krithika were holding hands in front of both their parents.
Her eagle eyes zoomed in further. She saw the glint of platinum and the brilliant, undeniable sparkle of a diamond catching the light of the chandelier.
Anjali gasped. It wasn't a small gasp. It was a sharp, dramatic intake of air.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
Anjali unleashed a pitch-perfect, ear-piercing scream that instantly shattered every conversation in the room.
Sameer practically jumped over the coffee table in fright. Subba Rao spun around, his eyes wide. Sesikala rushed out of the dining room with a serving spoon in her hand.
"Anju! What happened?!" Suma yelled, her hand flying to her chest.
Anjali didn't answer. She dropped her phone onto the sofa, sprinted across the living room at top speed, and violently tackled Krithika in a massive hug, nearly knocking her sister over.
"Oh my god! Oh my god!" Anjali shrieked, jumping up and down while still latching onto Krithika.
The entire room stared at them in utter, bewildered silence.
"Anjali, have you lost your mind?" Subba Rao demanded, his heart rate slowly returning to normal. "Why are you screaming?"
Anjali pulled back from her sister. With a massive, triumphant grin, she grabbed Krithika's hand and thrust it high into the air, presenting it to the room like a hunting trophy.
"LOOK!" Anjali announced at the top of her lungs.
Every eye in the room zeroed in on Krithika's hand.
For three seconds, the living room of the Deva farmhouse was dead silent.
Then pandemonium broke loose.
"NO WAY!" Sameer roared, his jaw hitting the floor.
Riya and Kavya let out simultaneous, deafening shrieks of joy and sprinted across the room, completely ignoring Siddanth as they tackled Krithika into a massive, three-way group hug, jumping up and down in a circle of pure excitement.
Hearing the commotion, Ronny the golden retriever came barreling down the wooden stairs, barking happily. Thinking it was a game, the seventy-pound dog launched himself right into the middle of the girls' group hug, his tail wagging furiously, adding to the joyous chaos.
Arjun and Feroz immediately walked over to Siddanth. Arjun had a massive, genuine smile on his face. He pulled Siddanth into a tight, brotherly embrace. "It's about time, man. Congratulations."
"Thanks, Arjun," Siddanth smiled.
Feroz shook his hand warmly, patting his shoulder. "Incredibly happy for you both, Sid. Really."
Amidst the chaos, Subba Rao stood near the sofas, blinking rapidly. A wide, deeply emotional smile broke across his weathered face. He wasn't entirely surprised that it had happened, but he was certainly shocked by the abrupt timing.
Six months ago, Siddanth had quietly driven to the Rao household in Begumpet and had a serious conversation with Subba Rao, asking for his blessing. Subba Rao had given it gladly.
Before Subba Rao could step forward to congratulate them, Suma spun around and smacked her husband playfully on the arm.
"You knew?" Suma demanded, her eyes wide with affectionate disbelief. "And you didn't tell me?"
Subba Rao just laughed, patting his wife's shoulder before walking forward, bypassing the jumping girls and the dog, and pulled Siddanth into a firm, proud hug.
"You managed to surprise me, my boy," Subba Rao beamed. "It's the best decision you've ever made."
Sesikala Deva, wiping tears of sheer joy from her eyes, pushed past Sameer and immediately wrapped her arms around Krithika, pulling the younger girl into a fierce, maternal hug.
"Finally," Sesikala scolded affectionately, cupping Krithika's face. "Welcome to the family, Krithika. Properly, this time. Now, wait right here."
She immediately turned and marched into the kitchen. A minute later, she returned carrying a silver plate loaded with Ariselu she had made that morning. "You must sweeten the mouth for good news," she insisted, forcing a piece of the traditional sweet into Siddanth's mouth, and then Krithika's.
Suma approached next, her face glowing with absolute happiness. She hugged her daughter tightly, kissing her cheek, before turning to Siddanth. She placed a gentle, deeply affectionate hand on his cheek. "We are so happy, Siddanth. So very happy."
"THE DEVIL IS OFF THE MARKET!" Sameer suddenly bellowed, throwing his arms around Siddanth from behind, nearly putting him in a headlock. "This requires a party!"
Once the initial wave of explosive congratulations, hugs, and sweets had slightly settled, the group gravitated toward the sofas.
Anjali narrowed her eyes. "Wait a minute," she demanded, raising a hand. "Krithi Akka was up in your room for a while. How did you propose? Spill the details."
Krithika looked at Siddanth, a soft, incredibly fond smile on her lips. "He made something."
Siddanth nodded, walking back upstairs. He returned a minute later holding the sleek, black USB flash drive. He walked over to the massive television in the living room, slipped the drive into the port, picked up the remote, and sat on the armrest next to Krithika.
He hit play.
The living room descended into silence as the animation flared to life.
When the sweeping, cinematic aerial shot of the Kingdom of Mithila appeared, Subba Rao and Vikram Deva immediately leaned forward, captivated by the breathtaking, traditional Vedic grandeur. As Princess Sita was revealed, Suma and Sesikala let out soft gasps, completely taken by the ethereal beauty of the animation.
But as the narrative progressed—as the massive Shiva Dhanush was brought out, and as the kings failed one by one—the entire room became deeply engrossed in the mythological story.
When the young Prince Rama effortlessly lifted and snapped the divine bow, sending a blinding pillar of lightning into the storm clouds, Anjali literally grabbed her hair in awe.
The beautiful cut-scene of the wedding played, with Sita placing the jasmine garland around Rama's neck.
The screen faded to black, followed by the single line of elegant text:
Will you be my Sita?
The entire living room let out a collective exhale.
"Oh, Siddanth," Suma whispered, wiping a fresh tear from her eye. "That was... that was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
"Okay, I'm officially jealous," Riya announced, throwing her hands up. "He animates a masterpiece to propose. Krithika, you hit the jackpot."
Subba Rao looked at Siddanth with a newfound depth of respect. Taking the time to craft a deeply cultural, mythological allegory honoring their heritage showed a level of character that money simply couldn't buy.
"Alright, enough screen time," Sesikala Deva suddenly announced, clapping her hands to break the trance. "The food is getting cold. Everyone to the dining room, right now. We can talk while we eat."
As Siddanth and Krithika walked toward the dining archway, Anjali deliberately slowed her pace, falling in step right beside them. She bumped her shoulder playfully against Siddanth's arm.
"So," Anjali grinned mischievously. "Since it's official now... should I start calling you Bava?"
The Telugu word for brother-in-law carried a specific, playful weight.
A genuine smile broke across Siddanth's face. "Yeah, Anju," he replied, ruffling her hair affectionately. "You can call me Bava."
"Yes!" Anjali pumped her fist victoriously.
The lunch that followed was a magnificent, chaotic affair. The farmhouse dining table was laden with an absolute feast of Hyderabadi mutton biryani, mirchi ka salan, and homemade pickles.
Once the heavy plates were cleared and replaced with small cups of filter coffee, Subba Rao cleared his throat.
"So," Subba Rao began, looking between Siddanth and Krithika. "Have you two given any thought to the timeline?"
Siddanth took a slow sip of his coffee. "After IPL but this year only. We'll leave the exact date to you. Once Sastry garu looks at the almanac and you decide on the muhurtham for the engagement and the wedding, let me know. I'll formally request a leave of absence from the BCCI for that specific window."
Krithika looked at him, her eyebrows raising slightly in pleasant surprise, but she didn't disagree. She nodded in agreement.
"I agree," Vikram nodded. "The sooner the better. But we have to look at Siddanth's cricket schedule. With the IPL starting soon and the international tours, finding a clear window might be tough."
"Don't worry about my schedule, Nanna," Siddanth interjected calmly. "You and Uncle talk to the priest. Let him look at the charts and fix the best possible date for the ceremony. Don't factor in my matches."
"Are you sure?" Subba Rao asked. "The BCCI might not be happy if you miss a major series."
"They will manage," Siddanth replied easily. "Once you both lock in the final date, I will formally write to the BCCI and ask for leave. I will make sure I am completely available at that time, regardless of what tournament is happening."
"That takes a lot of pressure off," Suma sighed in relief. "It takes months to plan a proper Telugu wedding. The caterers, the guest list, the venue..."
"We will handle all of that, Suma," Sesikala reassured her warmly. "We'll split the work. The children shouldn't stress about the details; they should just enjoy this time."
"That is very sensible," Vikram Deva nodded, standing up from the table. "Subba Rao garu, let us go to the study. I have the almanac there. We can call Sastry garu right now."
"Excellent," Subba Rao agreed.
Suma and Sesikala immediately followed their husbands to begin drafting guest lists, leaving the youngsters alone at the massive table.
The moment the adults were out of earshot, Sameer slammed his hands on the table.
"Alright," Sameer announced loudly. "Let's talk about the real logistics. The Bachelor Party. Vegas! Or Ibiza! We fly the NEXUS private jet."
Siddanth shook his head. "We aren't going international. We'll do it right here in Hyderabad."
Sameer stared at him in disbelief. "Hyderabad? Sid, you are the billionaire captain of the Indian team, you just won the World Cup, and you got engaged. We can't just go to a local pub in Jubilee Hills!"
"We aren't going to a pub," Siddanth said. "We'll host it at Arjun's farmhouse on the outskirts of the city. It's private, massive, and secure. Plus, I have to invite my Indian teammates and the entire SRH squad. Moving fifty professional cricketers across international borders for a party is impossible. Doing it here makes sense."
Arjun blinked, processing the information. "Wait. My farmhouse? You're volunteering my property?"
"Yes," Siddanth smiled.
Arjun sighed, pulling out his phone to presumably start making lists. "Fine. I'll have the estate manager prep the grounds and bring in the catering staff. But Sid, I swear, if Virat or Yuvraj breaks my imported pool table, you are buying me a new one."
"Deal," Siddanth laughed.
On the other side of the table, Krithika's friends were launching their own assault.
"We are going to Bali," Kavya announced, pointing a finger at Krithika. "Or a luxury spa in the Swiss Alps."
"We'll figure it out," Krithika laughed, shaking her head at her friends' antics.
Siddanth looked at Krithika from across the table, watching her smile. He leaned back in his chair, a soft, incredibly contented feeling settling over him. Surrounded by the chaos of his friends and the woman who anchored him to the earth, Siddanth Deva felt like he had truly conquered the world.