Jannu’s POV:

“Cheppu… aa pilla evaro cheppu. Ledha ivvala naa chethilo chasthav.”

(Tell me who that girl is… or you’re dead in my hands today.)

I threatened, my eyes locked onto his.

He visibly stiffened, fear flickering across his face.

“Eh pilla, Jannu… ala evaru leru,” he said, avoiding my gaze.

(What girl, Jannu… there’s no one like that.)

“Ohh… nijama? Nammala?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

(Oh really? Should I believe that?)

He nodded like an innocent little kid, and that just annoyed me more.

“Kathalu padaku… nee kathalu anni chusthune unna roju,” I said, glaring at him.

(Don’t spin stories… I’ve been watching all your dramas.)

“Arey, evaru leru, Jannu. Thanu naa just friend anthe,” he replied.

(Hey, there’s no one. She’s just my friend, that’s it.)

“Just friend, huh?” I stepped closer, pointing a finger at his chest.

“Appudu aa ‘just friend’ evaro cheppu… evari kosam nuvvu intini marchipoyi, baitaane untunnavo cheppu.”

(Then tell me who that ‘just friend’ is… for whom you’re forgetting your home and staying out all the time.)

He gulped, his confidence cracking.

“Adi… Jannu… her name is Divya…Divya Goud.”

“Nice name,” I said casually, folding my arms.

“Continue.”

“Okay… I met her on Shivratri… we just became friends like that,” he explained, as if it was nothing.

Before he could finish, I marched straight to him and started hitting his back and head repeatedly.

“Oyee, Jannu! Enduku koduthunnave? Cheppa kada nuvvu adigindi!” he yelled, trying to escape.

(Hey Jannu! Why are you hitting me? I told you what you asked!)

“Nee bondha cheppav ra!” I snapped, hitting him again.

(You call that telling the truth?!)

“Nijam cheppu ante edho katha alli chepthav… nijam chepthava, ledha naa chethilo sasthava?”

(When I ask for the truth, you spin stories… will you tell the truth or die in my hands?)

“Aapave! Aapave! Cheptha, cheptha!” he pleaded.

(Stop! Stop! I’ll tell, I’ll tell!)

I huffed and stepped back, giving him a chance.

“So… thana peru Divya… thanani Shivratri appudu—”

“Ha, aa sodhi anni already cheppav. Vere emaina cheppu,” I cut him off.

(Yeah, you already told that story. Tell me something else.)

He glared at me for a second before continuing.

“So… we slowly became close. She’s very silent, Jannu… and sooo innocent,” he said softly, a small smile forming on his lips.

“Paapam… nee gurinchi telika ninu thagulkundhi. I pity her, Shivu,” I said, faking sympathy.

(Poor girl… she got stuck with you without knowing who you are. I pity her, Shivu.)

“Avunu, paapam maa annaya kuda… nee lanti gaayali ni ela baristhunnado,” he smirked.

(Yeah, poor my brother too… how he’s tolerating a hurricane like you.)

“Enti? Malla cheppu… malla cheppu!” I snapped, hovering over him again, ready to hit.

“Jannu, overaction cheyakunda mundhu vinnu,” he said calmly.

(Jannu, stop overacting and listen first.)

I narrowed my eyes… but nodded anyway.

"So… after Maha Shivaratri, I met her at the temple,” he said, his voice soft, eyes already lost in a different world.

“She was looking… so beautiful in a half saree.”

I rolled my eyes dramatically and snapped my fingers right in front of his face.

“Hello? Earth to lover boy.”

He didn’t even blink.

“So that day… it suddenly started raining. She was getting drenched… completely soaked,” he continued, smiling like an idiot.

“I took off my jacket and wrapped it around her.”

“Emo anukunna kani nuvvu kuda gentleman eh,” I said, suppressing a smile.

(I thought something else about you, but wow… you’re actually a gentleman.)

He shot me a smug look and continued like he was narrating a movie.

“After I dropped her home, she invited me inside. Her mom… god, her mom is so welcoming, Jannu. That’s when I found out her father passed away when she was young… and she’s a single child.”

His tone softened.

“After that… we started talking daily. Meeting often. I got to know her more…”

He paused, his smile fading into something deeper.

“She’s an introvert… very silent. No friends… no one close. Jannu… she’s so lonely.”

I stopped teasing.

“I can’t even imagine being in her place,” he continued quietly.

“I have family… I have you… I have everything. But she… she has no one.”

There was something raw in his voice now.

“That day, I promised myself… I’ll give her a beautiful family. Not out of pity… never that. I genuinely feel for her. I genuinely like her.”

I just watched him. This wasn’t the Shiva I usually knew.

“At first, I tried to avoid her. I thought it was just infatuation…” he chuckled softly.

“But slowly… I realized… it’s love, Jannu.”

He looked straight at me now.

“I didn’t plan to fall for her… but somewhere along the way, she became my favorite feeling.”

“I fell for her, Jannu. Madly… deeply.”

“For that girl… I’m ready to be on my knees for a lifetime… if it means she’ll stay with me.”

That was it.

I ran to him and hugged him tightly, my eyes filling up without warning.

“Shivu… I never thought you’d love someone like this,” I whispered.

“I’m really happy for you.”

He smiled, hugging me back.

“Final ga na best friend kuda committed anamata… maa Shiva kuda pedhodu aypoyadu,” I teased, pulling away.

(So finally, even my best friend is committed… looks like our Shiva has grown up.)

He immediately folded his arms, offended.

“Pedhodu aypoyadu enti? Nenu already pedhodine… cheppalante nikanna pedhodini.”

(What do you mean I’ve grown up? I’m already mature… actually more than you.)

“Yeah yeah… just one month bro,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Sarey kani… ni pilla ni naku eppudu introduce chesthav?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

(Okay fine… but when are you introducing your girl to me?)

He smirked, already drifting back into his dream world.

“Thondarlo…” he whispered.

(Soon…)

“Okay fine… you carry on. Go, chat with your girl,” I said, waving my hand.

And just like that, I walked out of his room…

leaving behind one love-struck idiot…

I literally ran straight to Rudra the moment I got the chance.

“Bava!” I called, almost crashing into him.

He caught my wrist just in time, pulling me closer with a small frown.

“Em ayindi? Ila parigettukuntu vastunnav?”

(What happened? Why are you running like this?)

I looked around dramatically and leaned closer like I was about to reveal the biggest secret ever.

“Na daggara oka pedda breaking news undi…” I whispered.

(I have some big breaking news…)

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

“nuvu news channels kuda start  chesava ippudu?”

(Oh, did you start a news channel now?)

“Shhh! Vinuu first,” I smacked his arm lightly.

He sighed but pulled me closer by my waist anyway.

“Sarey cheppu… enti aa news?”

(Fine, tell me… what’s the news?)

I grinned like a kid.

“Mana Shiva…mana shiva  love lo padadu!!”

(Our Shiva… has fallen in love!)

He blinked once.

Twice.

Then...

“Adhi impossible,” he said flatly.

“Ayyo nijamey!” I hit his shoulder again.

(Hey, it’s true!)

“Shiva aa?” he asked, still not believing.

(Shiva? Really?)

“Haaan! And the way he’s talking about her…” I clasped my hands dramatically.

“Full cinema hero la chepthundu!”

(Yes! And the way he talks about her… he’s like a full-on movie hero!)

Rudra chuckled softly, his grip around my waist tightening a little.

Then I leaned even closer, lowering my voice.

“He said… ‘I didn’t plan to fall for her… but she became my favorite feeling’ anta…”

(He said… “I didn’t plan to fall for her,

but she became my favorite feeling”…)

Rudra’s expression changed slightly—softening.

“Hmm…” he hummed.

“And guess what?” I continued, eyes sparkling.

“He wants to give her a family… because she’s all alone…”

For a second, even Rudra went quiet.

“Baaga deep ga padipoyadu anukunta thamudu garu…” he said slowly.

(Looks like he’s fallen really deeply…)

“Exactly!” I nodded aggressively.

Rudra’s POV:

“Final ga ni doubt clear ayyaya, chinnulu?” I asked, gently rubbing my nose against hers.

(So finally, are all your doubts cleared, little one?)

She nodded immediately, her eyes sparkling.

“Yes yes! All cleared… and I’m very, very happy for Shivvu!” she said, literally bouncing with excitement.

I chuckled, shaking my head.

“Ok ok… my little energy ball,” I said, smiling at her chaos.

“Now let’s focus on our love.”

Before she could react, I suddenly lifted her onto my shoulder.



“Aahh! Bava, em chesthunav? Vadhulu!” she squealed, hitting my back lightly.

(Hey! What are you doing? Put me down!)

I smirked, giving her a playful smack on her ass

“Noru muskoni padha… mana gadhiki,” I said, walking ahead like I owned the moment.

(Keep quiet and come… to our room.)

“Nuvvu podhuna chesindhi nenu inka marchipoleh…” I added teasingly.

(I still haven’t forgotten what you did in the morning…)

“Vadhulu nannu!” she protested, struggling and hitting my back again.

(Leave me!)

I laughed under my breath and gave her another light smack.

“Stay silent…” I murmured, tightening my hold just a little....not hurting, just enough to make her stop squirming.

And just like that…

I carried my noisy, stubborn girl straight into my room...

her protests are slowly turning into soft laughter……while my mind was already planning how to make her pay for teasing me earlier.

"I pulled her straight to the bed and tossed her onto it."

“Bava, em chesthunav?” she asked timidly.

(Bava, what are you doing?)

“Abba, em acting Jannu… nice, very nice,” I said, rolling my eyes.

(Wow, what acting, Jannu… nice, very nice.)

“Podhuna nannu anthala tease chesi… ippudu em teliyani ammayila acting chesthunav,” I said, hovering over her.

(You teased me so much in the morning… and now you’re acting like you don’t know anything.)

She looked away and whispered shyly,

“Adhi just fun eh…”

(That was just for fun…)

“Idhi kuda naaku fun eh,” I said, placing a kiss on her jaw.

(This is also fun for me.)

Continuation in next chapter

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