Aparna after leaving from grandpa's house, she dashed to Oormila's house "Oormilaaaa..." called her as she reached her home. Oormila came out her scream, "what are you shouting for again?" Oormila asked normally. As soon as Aparna saw Oormila she walked towards her in few steps and took her hand, " aunt Kamala, we are going to Krishna's house. We'll be late today." walked to the front gate as she said those words making sure Kamala heard those. Oormila "Miss Aparna. I don't remember telling you that I will not be coming with you. Release my hand we can walk normally. Don't drag me like you drag a Buffalo when it doesn't obey you" as she walked according to Aparna pace reluctantly. Aparna "Oormila , we need to go faster and I've lot of things to tell you both. Don't mind my hand."hehe told excitedly. Oormila resigned to her fate letting herself dragged by Aparna. Krishna was cleaning the front yard. She noticed them and walked towards them. "Aparna, Oormila... at this time.?" she thought. "Krishnaaaaa save me." Oormila called out Krishna. Krishna couldn't contain her laugh ,"Aparna leave her hand she can walk normally, right?" laughed at both of them. Without listening to Krishna, Aparna took Krishna's hand with the other hand and went to the cot under the tree. Krishna let herself be dragged around meanwhile exchanging glances with Oormila asking why she's doing that. Oormila just shook her head sideways. Aparna released their hands near the cot asking them to sit down.
Aparna stood infront of them. "What's happening Aparna? " Oormila asked her. Aparna looked at both of them "Oormilaaaa, krishnaaa," called them by stretching their names as far as possible. Krishna and Oormila looked at each other before looking at Aparna. Aparna told about young man and his father, as she was telling them her eyes moistened. Krishna and Oormila listened to her till the end without a sound from their throats. She told them about the incident happened at grandpa's house too. Their eyes moistened as they listened to Aparna. "It's good that he talked again. Aunt Prabhavathi must have felt exhilarated from hearing his son's voice after almost three months. " Krishna told sniffling back her tears. Oormila looked at Krishna and "I'm really glad for him. Aparna you must really happy for then right?" asked as she looked at Aparna. "Mmm. I'm really really really happy for them. I couldn't express this at their home but when I saw Mallikarjuna as he called his mother and Aunt Prabhavathi when she called him Malli,,... I almost burst to tears. Glad I could control it there." She sat on the cot with those two holding each other's hands and they're happy for those.
Form that day.. Aparna visited grandpa's house from time to time but did not hang around the young man all the day. Young man started working even more diligently, brought new orders for his business, discussed with grandpa to expand the plantation with the money they brought from their hometown and increase the number of types of flowering plants. He really is workaholic man and his business insights were on spot. He soon became talk of the village with his intelligence, beautiful voice and his polite behavior when he addressed anyone. Villagers were shocked when they first saw him talking so naturally and got used gradually as he approached them.
Aparna's house..
Obulesu "Subhadra, what do you think of marrying Aparna to village heads younger brother's son?" Subhadra anticipated that as they were considering Aparna to get married for a while. Many matchmakers approached them with fine young men from prestigious families for Aparna from when she was still 15 years old, but Obulesu rejected them saying Aparna will be married when she is 19 or older. So now she's that age they started looking for groom a while back. Subhadra " I'm okay with anyone as long as Aparna approves." She said firmly. Obulesu "they are from good family and we know them very well. Aparna also knows him. I think she will agree to that." replied his wife. Subadhra "then we should discuss it with Karunakar first and then Aparna" told her husband. Obulesu nodded. Karunakar came home and rested for a while. "Karunakara, your father is asking for you. He is in the yard." Subhadra informed Karunakar. He went and greeted his father. "Karunakar what do you think of Chandranna?" Obulesu asked him as soon as he came. Karunakar was taken aback at the sudden questioned and maintained himself "Father, are you talking about village heads younger brother son?" Obulesu nodded. "He's a nice man. Respects elders. He helps his father to take care of his father's factory. He also once told me he would like build oil mill as we don't have one in our village. He also oversees their 200 acres of farm lands." Karunakar told him about everything he knew. Obulesu looked a little satisfied and "what do you think about marriage between him and our Aparna?" Karunakar shocked. It's not like he doesn't want his sister to marry. Many villagers asked him about his sisters marriage. "I think his mother and father are nice people. And his younger brother is still young and goes to school. I think it's good to marry them to each other after we confirm it with mother and Aparna." Obulesu smiled a little and " I already discussed it with your mother and Aparna is the only one left. Try talking to her when she comes from Krishna's house." Karunakar nodded.
While they were still discussing about Aparna, Aparna came home and called for her mother. Karunakar "Aparna, come here." called for her from the yard. Aparna went to him and saw her father too. "Father, brother, do you need me for something?" Aparna asked looking at her brother. Father looked and nodded at Karunakar as left them alone. Aparna "brother, what happened? " she asked casually as she looked at her father's back. Karunakar took in deep breath and " Aparna, what do you think of Chandranna?" he asked. Aparna "Chandranna, he's good. He talks to me gently and their parents are good to me too.?" crossed her arms ,tilted her head a little continued "but why are you asking about him all of a sudden?" she asked looking perplexed. Karunakar looked at his innocent sister and sighed a little, "listen Aparna, we are thinking that you will be a great match and he likes you, you also told me good things about their family. Do you agree to marry him?" asked putting both of his hands on to his sisters shoulders. Aparna looked at his brother with an indescribable face. She almost felt week at knees and composed herself in front of her brother. "Aparna what do you think?" Karunakar asked looking at her expectantly. Aparna didn't know what to answer. She just nodded and left the place. Looking at his ambiguous reaction from his sister, he thought about talking to her again regarding this and until then he should not tell their parents. Aparna came in dispirited. Subhadra called her "Aparna, food is ready, wash your hands and feet. I'll serve the food". Aparna nodded and left them. Subhadra and obulesu looked at each other for her daughter behavior and looked at Karunakar who came behind her. "How did it go?" Obulesu asked excitedly. Karunakar shook his head sideways. Obulesu sighed. Subhadra " no problem we can talk to her one more time. If she doesn't like him, let's look for another one." told as she looked at her dispirited husband and clueless son. "Okay okay.... come fast I'll serve the food." She added gesturing him to come and sit beside his father.
They four had their food together. Aprna became her usual self after slapping her face with water for more than four times. They chatted about other things as they ate. But idea about marriage didn't come out of their mouths even though it was at the tip of their tongues.