ma ammama first claps kotatam start chesidi. anthe inka ala panthulugaru cheppagane andharu happy ayyi claps kottesaru. nanna emo inka na cheyi gattiga patkuni unnaru. enduko aina ala patkunesarki athanu kuda edo na laga alochisthunnademo ani anipinchindi.

(My grandmother was the first one to start clapping. As soon as the priest announced it, everyone happily joined in with applause. My father was still holding my hand tightly. Somehow, in that very touch, I felt like he too was thinking something just like me.)

ilopu arvind valla nanna na vayupu chusi, "mari inka athayya mavayya ani pilichesey devika papa" annaru. andharu navvulu tho aa Mata anesarki kastha smile chinna smile icharu. nenu kuda chinnaga navvi, "haa mavayya thappakunda" anna.

(Meanwhile, Arvind's father looked at me and said, "So now you should start calling us aunt and uncle, Devika papa." Everyone smiled hearing that. I too smiled softly and replied, "Yes, uncle, definitely.")

atu nunchi ma atha, itu nunchi ma ammamamma... asala iddaru agakunda nannu atapatisthane vunnaru. navvulu, saradalu madhya ala aa roju gadchipoyindi.
(From one side my aunt, from the other my grandmother—both were teasing playfully. With all that laughter and fun, the day just passed by.)

aa roju rathri arvind edo pani undi ani bayataki vellipoyadu. muhurtham petagane prasanna athayya, chinnu mariyu valla family ma intlone ne undipoyaru, mamulga muhurtham arrangements chuskotaniki.
(That night, Arvind left saying he had some work. Once the muhurtham was fixed, Prasanna aunty, Chinnu, and Arvind's sister stayed back at our house as usual to take care of the arrangements.)

na room lo aa roju chinnu nenu iddaram podukunnam.
nakanna 2 years chinnadi ayina, asala manishi baga kalisipoindi. nenu em matladina ventane ardam cheskuntunadhi.

(That night, Chinnu and I slept in my room. Though she is two years younger than me, she understands people very well. Whatever I say, she grasps it instantly.)
arvind vellipothunappudu nenu oka chinna smile icha. kani lopala mathram, nenu ekkuva matladanemo ani oka teliyani alochana. dani paina aa tharvatha em conversation lekapoyesariki, inka curiosity perigipoyindi—thanu em anukuntunnado ani.
(When Arvind was leaving, I gave him a small smile. But inside, a strange thought came—maybe I spoke too much. And since there was no conversation after that, my curiosity only grew about what he might be thinking.)

inni rojulu naku thanani chudagane ela anipinchindo naku telusu. kani thanu mathram oksari kuda ila ani matladaledu. nene avakasam ivvaledemo, leka avakasam raledemo ani oka alochana.
(I know how I felt whenever I saw him all these days. But he never spoke about his feelings even once. I wondered if I never gave him a chance—or if there was never an opportunity.)

ee alochanallo na mind antha munigipoyindi. ilopu chinnu bangles pattukoni vachi, nenu bed meeda book patkoni kurchunte, "vadhina... ela intha simple dress lo kuda antha keka unnav?" annadi.
(My mind was lost in those thoughts when Chinnu walked in holding bangles. I was sitting on the bed with a book when she said, "Vadhina, how do you look so stunning even in such a simple dress?")

nenu navvuthu, "sudden ga enduku ee question? mundu adi cheppu" anna. chinnu bangles teesi, earrings teeyadaniki vachi, "entha bagunnavo telusa? asala entha cute unnavo telusa? ma anna ni intha expressive ga nenu eppudu chudaledu telusa?" annadi.

(I smiled and asked, "Why this sudden question? Tell me that first." While removing the bangles and reaching for my earrings, Chinnu said, "Do you know how beautiful you look? How cute you are? I've never seen my brother this expressive, you know.")

nenu ventane book moosesa, "expressive aa? asala mi anna nannu sari ga chusada aina?" anna.
(I immediately closed my book and asked, "Expressive? Did your brother even properly look at me?")

chinnu navvuthu, "vadhina, em matladuthunnav? vaadi face lo smile chudatame goppa.alantidi vadu expressions anni pedthane vunnadu. vadu ninne chustha ne vunnadu. nenu chusina prathi sari, thanu ninne chusthu unnadu" annadi.
(Chinnu laughed and said, "Vadhina, what are you saying? Even seeing a smile on his face is rare. He's not like that usually. After seeing you, it was different. At first glance, it was excitement, nervousness, happiness—all together. He couldn't stop looking at you. Every time I noticed, he was only looking at you.")

anthe... nenu emi cheppalekapoya. mounamga blush aipoya.
(That's it... I couldn't say anything. I just silently blushed.)

inka chinnu "fresh ayyi vastha" annadhi. nenu "haa sare, velli ra... manam matladukundham" anna. ilopu nenu na book lopala pettesi night dress marchukunna — hehe.
(Chinnu said she'd freshen up and come back. I told her okay, go ahead, we'll talk. Meanwhile, I kept my book aside and changed into my night dress — hehe.)

ippudu varaku comfort gurinchi matrame alochinche danini. kani enduko, thanu sudden ga vachi chusthe manchiga kanapadali ani oka thought vachindi. normal ga nenu eskune night dresses ela untay ante — tshirt ki pant ki asal sambandham undadhu. okati ma anna di aythe, inkoti nanna di. ala eskunta nenu.
(Till now, I only cared about comfort. But suddenly I thought — what if she comes and sees me, I should look decent. Normally, my night dresses never match — one shirt is my brother's, the pants are my father's.)

ala chusthe pakka beggar sister oo leka beggar ae anukuntaru ani na nammakam. anduke thanu fresh ayyi vachelopu marcheskunna — black tshirt, kinda white dots unna pants.
(If someone sees me like that, they'll surely think I'm some beggar sister — that's my belief. So before she returned, I changed into a black t-shirt with white dotted pants.)

ilopu chinnu vachindi. nenu anna, "chinnu, niku na tho kalisi podkotam okay na? leka nenu kinda bontha eskoni podkona?"
(Chinnu came back. I asked her if she's used to sleeping with me or if I should sleep on the floor.)

chinnu annadhi, "ayyo vadhina, naku em problem ledu. aina nenu nitho matladuthu podkundham ani vacha. nainamma podkunta annaru, 'ni daggara nenu podkunta' ani cheppi vacha. ala em ankoku nuvvu."
(She said, "Oh vadhina, I have no problem at all. I actually came to sleep while talking to you. Grandma said she'll sleep, so I told her I'll be with you. Don't think anything else.")

nenu "haa ala aythe parledule" anna. inka thanu bed corner lo podkundi, nenu itu side podkunna.
(I said okay then. She slept on one corner of the bed, and I lay on the other side.)

ala casual ga adiga nenu, "mi family ki nenu nachana?" athayya ante naku mundhu alavatu ayyaru kabatti avidaki istam ani ardam aindi. kani mi family lo vere vaallu kuda vacharu kadha, vallaki nachana nenu?"
(Casually, I asked her, "Did your family like me?" I already knew athayya liked me since we got familiar. But others were there too — did they like me?")

chinnu navvuthu annadhi, "vadhina, nenu ninnu vadhina ani deniki pilusthunna ankuntunav? nainamma ne cheppindhi. miru annaya ni pampinchadaniki vellinapudu, andharni kurchopetti matladindi. ma intlo nainamma maate final."
(Chinnu laughed and said, "Why do you think I'm calling you vadhina? Grandma herself said it. When you went to send my brother, she made everyone sit and spoke. In our house, grandma's word is final.")

"paiga nainamma ki evaraina nachatam chala rare. alantidi ninnu chudagane nachindi ante — nuvvu special vadhina," annadhi.
(And on top of that, grandma rarely likes anyone. If she liked you at first sight, that means you're special.)

nenu navvi, "aythe ponele" anna.
(I smiled and said, then it's okay.)

nenu inka ala matladuthu sleep...
asala ventane nidra potam lo poti pedthe first vastha nenu pakka.
inka ala podkunipoya.
(I sleep just like that... if there's a competition for falling asleep fast, I'll definitely come first. And I fell asleep immediately.)
nanna "good night" ani cheppi, forehead meeda kiss chesinattu gurthuvundi.
(I remember Nanna saying "good night" and kissing my forehead.)
madyalo anthe...
inka "repu naa engagement" anna alochana tho podkunna.
(That's it... I fell asleep thinking, "Tomorrow is my engagement.")

~mrng 5 aindi ankunta.
naku telsu nanna lepestharu antha thondhrga ani.
Ankuntu evaro door kodthe thidham ani lecha
(It was 5 in the morning. I knew Nanna would wake me up early. Thinking this I went to open door after hearing someone knocking )
enduku ante telsuga... nannalu ela untaro.
edaina vishayam unte, ardharathri aina lepi kurchopedtharu.
(You know how fathers are... if there's something important, they'll wake you up even at midnight.)
nenu koncham head lepi, Chinnu lechindemo ani chusa.
(I lifted my head slightly to check if Chinnu was awake.)
naa meeda kaalu esi,
inka mathuga podukoni undhi.
(She had her leg on me and was still sleeping deeply.)
inka nemmadiga,
nene thani kaalu oka pakka petti door open chesa.
(Slowly, I moved her leg aside and opened the door.)
eyes rub cheskuntu,
door teeyagane...
(Rubbing my eyes, the moment I opened the door—)
Arvind light violet t-shirt, kindha normal pant ankunta...
mundhu nilchoni unnadu.
(Arvind was standing right in front of me, wearing a light violet t-shirt and probably track pants.)
nenu thanani chusina ventane...
door moosesanu ayya.
(The moment I saw him, I slammed the door shut.