"Maha."
Her name echoed through the hall in a stern, commanding voice.
The laughter at the dining table slowly faded. Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Rudra stood there.Tall. Calm. Intimidating without trying.His sharp eyes rested directly on Maha.
"How many times should I tell you not to call them by their names?" he asked firmly.
Maha, who had been giggling a second ago, immediately changed her expression. She turned toward Ram and Seetha with innocent doe eyes, silently asking for support.
"She will call us by our names only," Ram said casually, leaning back in his chair. "We don't have any problem with it. What's your problem?"
Seetha nodded in agreement. "Exactly."
Maha's lips curved into a small victorious smile but it disappeared the moment Rudra gave her a sharp glare.
She straightened instantly before the atmosphere could turn serious, another voice entered the scene.
"Annaya garu, meeru ila cheyadam valle adhi ila tayarindhi," Sanjana said as she walked inside.
(Brother, it's because of you she has become like this.)
She came closer to Maha and lightly smacked her head.
"Maa…" Maha complained, rubbing the spot dramatically.
"Haa, maa," Sanjana repeated sarcastically.
Shiva and Lucky exchanged looks and tried hard not to laugh.
"Ayina nuvvu enti ikkada?" Maha asked.
(What are you doing here?)
"Tomorrow we have to perform a pooja at the temple," Sanjana explained. "I came to inform Seetha. All of you must come."
The younger trio froze.Shiva cleared his throat. "Athaya, actually… I have some important work tomorrow."
Lucky quickly added, "Ha athaya, even I have college work."
"I don't want excuses," Raghu said strictly. "All of you are coming."
Maha dramatically placed her hand on her chest. "Daddy, you know what these two ladies will do if we go to the temple. They will make us do 108 rounds around the temple saying it will bring good fortune."
Shiva and Lucky nodded energetically.
Ram chuckled. "They are doing it for your well-being. Try to understand them."
"Adhi kadha—" Maha started.
"All of you are coming to the temple. That's it."
Rudra's voice cut through her words like a final decision.There was no arguing after that.
Seetha clapped her hands lightly. "Enough discussion. Rudra, finish your breakfast."
Yes.
He is our hero.
Rudra.
The Temple
The next morning, the temple courtyard was crowded and lively. The sound of bells echoed in the air, mixed with devotional chants.As soon as Rudra stepped inside, heads began turning.
Girls nearby openly stared at him.
"Look at him… so handsome."
"I want a husband like him."
"He's not just handsome, he's hot."
"If I see him every day at the temple, I'll start coming daily."
Each word stabbed Maha's patience,her jaw tightened,her fingers curled.
No.
It wasn't anger.
It was jealousy.
Her jealousy reached its peak.
Shiva leaned toward Lucky. "I think they don't know about our Maha," he whispered.
Lucky covered her mouth to hide her laughter. "I think they are finished today."
Both waited eagerly.Maha marched toward the group without warning, she pinched one girl sharply on the arm.The girl screamed.
"Hey! Why did you pinch me?" she shouted, rubbing her arm.
Maha crossed her arms calmly. "I thought you were dreaming. So I woke you up."
"I'm not dreaming! What's your problem?"
"Oh?" Maha tilted her head. "Then why are you talking about my bava like that?".The girls looked stunned.
"Remember one thing," Maha said clearly. "He is mine."
One of them smirked. "Even if he is your bava, that doesn't mean he loves you."
Another added boldly, "He's not even looking at you though you're his maradhalu."
A third girl said shyly, glancing at Rudra, "Who knows… he might fall in love with me."
"Eww," Shiva and Lucky muttered together from a distance.
Maha stepped closer, her eyes blazing with confidence.
"You're right," she said calmly. "He's not my husband yet."
The girls exchanged looks.
"But I will make him fall in love with me," she continued. "And if I see any of you drooling over my bava again, I will pluck your eyes out and play games with them. Mind it."
The girls quickly walked away.Shiva and Lucky burst into laughter.Maha returned to her family as if nothing had happened.
After the pooja was completed, she stood quietly, admiring Rudra from a distance.Seetha nudged her elbow.
"Chusindi chalu. Malli bava ki dishti theeyamani nanne aduguthav."
(Enough staring. Later you'll ask me to remove the evil eye from him.)
Maha blushed deeply and walked away shyly.Everyone knew she loved rudra ,even rudra knew but he ignored it not because he hated her.He simply thought she was still childish,too innocent,too immature and he knew how possessive she was.
How boldly she claimed him as hers.Maybe that seriousness in her love made him cautious.
The Car Ride
While returning home, the elders went in one car.Shiva drove the second car, with Lucky, Maha, and Rudra.Maha sat quietly in the back seat.The temple visit, the jealousy, the emotions everything drained her within minutes, she dozed off.When Shiva stopped the car at a roadside stall, Maha slowly opened her eyes.
She realized she had been sleeping while hugging Lucky's shoulder tightly.
Lucky smiled. "Did you sleep well?"
"Hmmm," Maha nodded sleepily.
Lucky glanced at Rudra, who was now driving.
"You know," Lucky teased softly, "you sleep peacefully only when you hug your favorite person."
Maha's eyes widened,she looked at Shiva, who was watching both her and Rudra through the mirror with a mischievous smile.Lucky giggled and maha frowned.
"Nothing!" Lucky said quickly. "I meant me."
Maha relaxed and hugged her again.Rudra's calm voice interrupted them. "First eat something. Then you can continue sleeping."
After eating, they resumed their journey maha pretended to sleep again but this time, her thoughts were restless.
Days Later
Days passed normally filled with teasing,laughter,small fights,secret glances,silent admiration.
One morning
"Maa! Daddy! Come fast!" Maha called excitedly.
Sanjana and Raghu came toward her.
Raghu placed his hand on her head. "Write your exam well. I want my champ to get good marks, okay?"
Sanjana kissed her forehead gently. "All the best, maa."
Maha smiled brightly. "Okay maa, daddy. Bye! I'm going."
She left happily.
They watched her leave with pride but somewhere in the flow of normal life…fate was silently preparing something else.
Nobody knew what storm was waiting for them.
Nobody knew how everything was about to change.