Maa matalo madhyalo, sudden ga ayana vacharu. Ventane andharam silent aipoyam. Room motham oka gatti silence padipoindi.

(In the middle of our conversation, he suddenly appeared. Instantly, we all fell silent. A heavy pause settled over the room.)

Nanna chethulu kalipi,
"Namaskaram andi," annaru.

(Nanna folded his hands and greeted him.)

Panthulugaru chinna navvu navvuthu,
"Haa haa, Varun gaaru... antha kulasa ae na?" annaru.

(The priest smiled lightly and asked, "All good, Varun?")

"Ha," ani nanna atu vaipu chupinchi,
"Atu maa maridi unnaru. Kasepu kurchondi. Bojanam avagane vastham," annaru.

(Nanna replied, "My brother-in-law is there. Please sit for a while. I'll come after lunch.")

Panthulugaru nod chesaru. Atha mama ni pilavadaniki vellaru, mama ayanani andharu kurchunna chotiki tiskellaru.

(The priest nodded. Atha went to call Mama, and Mama guided him to the seating area.)

Nenu deep breath tiskoni, tala ethi chusa.

(I lifted my face, steadying myself.)

"Arvind gaaru... first of all, sorry," ani mellaga anna.
"Mi mundhu ila ee topic tiskoni intha gattiga maatladuthunnanduku."

("Arvind... first of all, I'm sorry for bringing this up here and speaking so firmly in front of you.")

"Idhi nenu chala rojula nunchi anukuntunna vishyam. Mi tho okasari matladali ani naku anpinchindi mundhe."

("This is something I've been thinking about for a long time, and I always knew I'd have to talk to you about it.")

Arvind bojanam complete chesi, calm ga na vaipu chusadu.
"Haa Devika... cheppu. Parvaledu."

(He finished his meal and said calmly, "It's okay, Devika. Tell me.")

"Naaku mitho problem kaadu andi," ani continue chesa.
"Kaani... naaku present vere country ki shift avvali ani ledu."

("I don't have any problem with you. But right now, I don't want to shift to another country.")

Appude nanna gattiga matladaru.
"Ammu! Inka chinna pillala maatladaku. Inni years nunchi chepthunna maata idhe—malli ilane antava?"

(Nanna cut in sharply, scolding me.)

Nenu ayana kallallo chusi,
"Nanna, meeru chepparu, sare. Mari nenu cheppindhi?"

(I met his eyes and asked, "You said what you wanted. What about what I said?")

Malli Arvind vaipu tirigi,
"Naaku maa nanna ni okkalne vadili raavali ani ledu andi. Adhe main point."

("I don't want to leave my father alone and go. That's my main point.")

"Ala ani na kosam evarini rammane adagadali ani kuda naaku ledu."

("And I don't want to force anyone to come for my sake either.")

"Koncham time ivvandi. Koncham set cheskoniyandi nannu na mind ni"

("Please give me some time. Let me think.")

"nenu mee amma ki cheppanu already. Aavida andharam kalisi vundam annaru."

("I even spoke this to your mother. She wants all of us to stay together.")

Paiga maku atu bhimavaram lo ammamma ki illu vundi akadki vacheyandi ani kuda annaru

"Kaani ma nanna emo... ibandhi avuthundi antunnaru. Ala ani nenu ayanani thappu anatledu."

("But my father feels it will be difficult. I'm not saying he's wrong.")

"Nenu emi adagatledu. Meeru Italy elli konni years ayyayi. Nenu Dubai nunchi vachi ee business petti just two years ae avthundi. Ippudu dhanini vadili raavali ani ledu. Ala ani mimalni ikadki vacheyandi ani adagali ani kuda ledu"

("I'm not demanding anything. You've been in Italy for years. I came back from Dubai and started this business just two years ago. I can't leave it right now.")

Malli oka saari deep breath tiskoni anna.
"Koncham time ivvandi. Idhi meeku tiring anipisthe, meeru voddu anukoni vellipovacchu. Nenu em anukonu."

("Give me some time. If this feels tiring, you're free to say no. I won't feel bad.")

"AMMU!" ani nanna aricharu.

(He shouted my name.)

Nenu freeze aipoya. Aa tone naku telusu.

(I froze. I knew that tone.)

Lechi nilabadi anna,
"Naadhi aipoyindi. Nenu cheppali anukunnadhi kuda aipoyindi. Meeru alochinchukondi inka."

("I've said what I wanted to say. Now it's up to you to think.")

Arvind mellaga matladadu.
"Sare, oka nimisham. Hand wash chesukoni ra—nenu matladuthanu"

("Okay, one minute. Go wash your hands. I'll speak.")

Nenu hand wash chesi bayata nilabaddanu, chethulu cross chesi. Kopam inka taggale—Arvind meeda kaadu, nanna gattiga arichinanduku.

(I stood there after washing my hands, arms folded, anger still burning—more at my father than anything else.)

Arvind vachi, mellaga naa shoulders touch chesi, chair pull chesadu.
"Kasepu kurcho."

(He came over, lightly touched my shoulders, pulled out a chair, and asked me to sit.)

"Naaku maa mother ee vishyam gurinchi chepparu, Devika," annadu.

("My mother told me about this," he said.)

"Naaku ela ayina okay ne. Nenu Italy ki vellindi three years ayyindi. Inka rendu savachralu unnayi."

("For me, either way is okay. I've been in Italy for three years. Two more years are left.")

"Meeru naatho vachi undadam aina, leda adi ayyina tharvatha nenu raavadam aina—renditiki naaku problem ledu."

("Either you come and stay with me, or I come back after that—I'm okay with both.")

Appude nanna malli matladaru.
"Babu, thanu ilane untundi. Nenu cheppi maaruusthe le. Nuvvu ivi anni alochinchaku."

(Nanna dismissed it, saying I'd change if pushed.)

Aa maata vintune naa kopam malli perigindi—endukante nenu cheppindhi inka ayaniki cheraledu.

(My anger spiked again—because my words still hadn't reached him.)

Arvind calm ga, kaani firm ga annadu.
"Uncle, edhi aina kani... thanu idhi alochisthundi kada. Naa vaipu nunchi clarity unte, thanaki koncham tension thagguthundi kada?"

("Uncle, she's thinking about this seriously. If she knows where I stand, won't it reduce her tension a little?")

Aa okka nimisham lo naku kopam koncham thaggindi.

(For a moment, I felt myself calm.)

Appude mama vacharu.
"Bhava... panthulugaru pilusthunnaru."

(Just then Mama came in and said the priest was calling.)

"Haa haa, vasthunna," ani nanna na vaipu oka kopamaina look icharu.

(Nanna replied, shooting me an angry look.)

Nenu kuda adhe look return ichanu.

(I returned it, equally sharp.)

Side nunchi Arvind silent ga oka tissue lo chuttina sweet na vaipu jaripadu.
"Thintava?" ani whisper chesadu.

(From the side, Arvind quietly slid a tissue-wrapped sweet toward me and whispered, "Will you eat?")

Adi na kosam save chesadu.

(He had saved it for me.)

Nenu adi tiskoni chinna smile ichanu, tinna—naa kopam nemmadiga karigipoyindi.

(I took it, smiled softly, and ate it—feeling my anger slowly melt away.)

"Aina ya andi..."
Panthulu gaaru nanna ni choodagane navvuthu annaru,
"Mee maatalu aipoyaya leda?"
(The priest smiled and asked my father if their conversation was over.)

Nanna navvi annaru,
"Haa haa panthulu gaaru, avi eppatiki avavu lendi. Mundu ee pani chooddam."
(Yes, priest garu, such conversations never really end. Let's first focus on this work.)

Tarvatha panthulu gaaru nanna vaipu choosi adigaru,
"Ayithe meeku ee sambandham sammathamena?"
(So, are you okay with this alliance?)

Nanna chinna navvutho,
"Haa andi, maaku istame," ani chepparu.
(Yes, we like it.)

Tarvatha Arvind valla nanna vaipu tirigi,
"Mee vaipu kuda sammathamena?" ani adigaru.
(And are you also agreeable from your side?)

Aayana kuda navvuthu, "Haa,andi maku kuda" ani annaru.
(He also said yes.)

Panthulu gaaru santoshanga annaru,
"Sare ayithe muhurtham pettukune mundu katna kanukulu gurinchi kuda matladukondi."
(Alright then, before fixing the auspicious date, you should also discuss dowry and financial matters.)

Appude Prasanna aunty matalu madhyalo kaliparu.
"Katnalu emi avasaram ledu andi. Pettedani gurinchi matladali ante cheddam."
(There is no need for dowry. If needed, we can only discuss arrangements.)

"Pelli ammai intlo jaragali kabatti, engagement Bheemavaram lo petkundam," ani chepparu.
(Since the wedding should happen at the bride's house, let's arrange the engagement in Bheemavaram.)

Nanna kuda oppukuntu, bhaavam tho annaru,
"Haa andi, nenu kuda adhe cheppali anukunna."
(Yes, I was thinking the same.)

"Ma avida kuda Bheemavaram lone puttindi."
(My wife was also born in Bheemavaram.)

"Aame unte, modatiga akade jaragali ani korukuntundi."
(If she were alive, she would have wanted it to happen there first.)

"Nenu kuda adhe ankunna "
(That's what I want too.)

Panthulu gaaru malli annaru,
"Katnam ivvatam mana acharam. Ento kontha ivvatam mana sampradayam."
(Giving dowry is part of our tradition; giving at least something is our custom.)

Appude Prasanna aunty malli madhyalo vacharu.
Naa thala venaka cheyyi petti, prematho,
(She placed her hand gently on the back of my head with affection.)

"Ledu lendi, katnam emi avasaram ledu."
(No, there is absolutely no need for dowry.)

"Devika ma intiki mahalakshmi la vasthe chaalu."
(It is enough if Devika comes to our home like a goddess of prosperity.)

Arvind kuda ventane maatla teesukunnadu.
"Panthulu gaaru, appatlo ammayini pelli chesi pampithe badhyathaga anukoni dabbu ichevaru."
(Earlier, people felt responsible to give money when sending a daughter after marriage.)

"Ippudu alanti alochanalu levu kadha."
(Now, such thinking no longer exists.)

"paiga Rendu vaipula financial stability unnapudu, aa dabbu pelli lo petkunte chaalu."
(When both families are financially stable, it's better to spend that money on the wedding itself.)

Naa vaipu choosi, chinna navvutho inkoka maata add chesadu,
(Looking at me, he smiled and added softly.)

"Naaku Devika chaalu."
(Above all, Devika herself is enough for me.)

"Aame tho paatu katnam kinda thana kutumbham vasthe adhe chaalu."

(If her family comes along with her as 'dowry', that is more than enough.)

"Adhe chaalu maaku," ani Arvind ala andhari mundhu anesarki,
(That alone is enough for us,)
thanu ento naaku ardham ayindhi anipinchindi.
Nenu chesukoboye vyakthi edo naa oohalone kaakunda, nijangane manchi manishi ani anipinchindi.

Ilopu panthulugaru,
"Mee iddhariki edaithe final anipisthe adhe final andi, ayithe," annaru.
(Whatever feels final to both of you—that itself will be considered final.)

Nenu eyes koncham lift chesi Arvind ni chusi chinna smile icha.

Appude Prasanna aunty, Arvind vaipu tirigi gattiga,
"Pedhodu cheppindi correct ae andi. Idhi edo pelli ki mundhu chepthunnam ani kaakunda, andhari mundhu nijamga manaspurthiga chepthunnaanu," annaru.
(What the elders said is absolutely right. I'm not saying this just because it's before the wedding—I'm saying this sincerely, from my heart, in front of everyone.)

"Devika naaku kodaluga maa inti Lakshmi la vasthe chaalu. Thana nunchi nenu emi aashinchanu."
(If Devika comes as my daughter-in-law like the Lakshmi of our house, that is enough for me. I don't expect anything from her.)

"Thanani kallara perigatam chusaka, naaku 'atha' ga adikaaram chupiyali ani ledu."
(After seeing her grow up with my own eyes, I don't feel the need to show authority as a mother-in-law.)

"Oka amma la, thanani naa sontha kuthuru la chuskovali ani undi," annaru.
(I want to look after her like a mother, as my own daughter.)

Ani ala Arvind cheyyi teesukoni vachi, naa chethullo pettaru.

Arvind naa eduruga nilabadi, head nod chesthu, calm ga smile ichadu.
Aa smile lo thana dimple bayataki vachela anthe.

Nenu debbaki emotional, excited—anni okesaariga naa face lo kanipinchayi.

Appudu thanu naa ear daggara lean ayyi,
"Enduku, chavulu rabbit chavulu la erraga aipoyaayi?" annadu.
(Why have your ears turned red like a rabbit's ears?)

Ilopu maa atha adhi vinesi,
"Siggu padthundhi ayithe," ani gattiga andhari mundhu annadi.
(So, she's feeling shy, is she?)

Inka ala andharu okesaariga gattiga navvaru.
(Everyone burst out laughing together.)