While returning on the second day, it was raining heavily and still we managed to travel back from the training center. We used various means of transport for those 20 Kms. But then ultimately we reached back safe. I dropped her at her room and then started walking from there.

“Prudhvi…”

“Ya Vennela.”

“Thank you.”

“For what Vennela?”

“You really made me smile a lot these two days.”

“Actually, I am selfish Vennela.”

“Selfish?”

“Yes Vennela. I made you smile because I like your smile and to look at you smiling, I did all that.”

I did not know whether I conveyed her perfectly or not but I liked the way she smiled at me when I said that.

Our relation started getting better and better each time we had conversation but then the no of times we interact or converse are very less. I never dare to ask her that I wanna talk her. I just wait for the time to come and when it comes try to make the best of it.

(Two days later)

I just had lunch and returned to the desk. Vennela was sitting at her station and was working very seriously.

“Hey, you dint go for lunch yet?”

“No Prudhvi. Lots of work pending.”

“So you are sacrificing lunch today?”

“Not like that. I will go after few minutes.”

“It’s already 02:30 Vennela. When will you go?”

“I just need to finish this and send mail to the Analytics team.”

“Vennela. The world is not going to end if you send it after 30 mins. Just go for lunch, come back and then you can continue your work.”

“Hmm. I will. I will”

As I was talking to her, I am receiving call from Nandini.

“Go for Lunch first Vennela. Go.” – I just said those lines to her and attended Nandini’s call.

“Hello Nandini.”

“Prudhvi.”

“Yes Nandini. Tell me.”

“Where are you?”

“Just now had lunch and came back to station.”

“Okay. I have to speak regarding Shreya.”

“Ya tell me Nandini.”

“It is becoming a real mess up at her house regarding Preetham.”

“What happened Nandini?”

“Her father came to know that she went to Preetham home town.”

“What is he saying?”

“He dint talk to her yet. But then she is worried that he will arrange for some marriage very soon.”

“Hmm. I knew this would definitely happen.”

“I told her during the academy days itself to make this out clear and talk to her dad.”

“Even I told her the same thing many times. She never listened. And she is not even caring any of us. She is completely into him.”

“Don’t worry Nandini. I will talk to her.”

“Yes that’s why I called you. She is coming to your office for the next two days. So, you can meet her there.”

“Really? When?”

“This Thursday and Friday she will be there.”

“Okay sure Nandini. Will talk to her and will let you know.”

(The next day)

The first thing I did the next day is to call to Shreya. I tried calling her three times but then she dint answer the call. And then I have texted her.

“Shreya. Call me back.”

She called me back at around 6 in the evening and then I dint pick it up.

“Hi Prudhvi. I came to your location today. Sorry couldn’t meet you up. Tomorrow evening definitely we will catch up.”

I replied to her message.

“Tomorrow we should meet for sure Shreya. I have to talk to you.”

(Next day)

The next day, the only thing that was running in my mind is that I have to meet Shreya and talk to her. As it is Friday, I was working seriously on a N2N backup which is my regular task every Friday. It is creating issues as two of the 8 nodes are not responding to the requests. It usually used to get completed by 05:00 PM. But then today it took almost one hour extra and still it is not completed. As I was working with the issue, Shreya started calling me.

“Hey Shreya. Go to the top floor and wait in the open cafeteria. I will come there in few minutes.”

“Okay.”

While I was walking to meet Shreya, I saw Vennela sitting and working very seriously. I couldn’t talk to her anything as Shreya is waiting for me there.

“Hey Shreya. How are you?”

“Hey Prudhvi. I am fine. How about you?”

“I am super as always. So, how is life going? No calls, no messages. Busy busy?”

“Nothing like that Prudhvi. Just work that’s it.”

“Okay. So, what else?”

“You have to speak out Prudhvi. You said you have to talk to me something?”

“Yes.”

“What’s that Prudhvi?”

“How is dad?”

“Ya he is fine.”

“I heard that something is going on.”

“What Prudhvi?”

“Shreya. Let me come straight to the point.”

“Did you talk to your dad regarding Preetham?”

She is not responding to my questions and just remaining silent.

“Shreya. Talk to me. I called you to talk regarding this.”

“No. We dint speak on that.”

“What are you planning?”

“Preetham is waiting for his onsite opportunity. Once it is confirmed we planned to talk this in our home.”

“What if your dad looks out matches before that?”

“I will not accept.”

“Then you have to let him know now itself so that he will not run into that and will start thinking on this.”

“He won’t accept this Prudhvi.”

“Why do you think so?”

“How do you think he will accept this Prudhvi?”

“Do you know that he won’t accept?”

“Yes I know.”

“You should first of all talk to him and then come a conclusion Shreya. Just like that you cannot decide for yourself.”

“So you mean I don’t have right to decide things in my life?”

“No I am not saying that way. But then you have to talk to him and then make your plans.”

Discussion between me and Shreya went on for almost 1 hour. Finally I made her understand that she should first talk to her father before deciding something. She nodded her head but then I am not sure how she is going to actually behave. I dint go too far as I am afraid what kind of decisions she may take and what if she may say that who am I to involve in her decisions. I just told her what I felt as a friend. And as the time is almost 08:45, I asked her to leave as the last cab to her location is at 09:00 PM.

I went with her till the cab and when the cab left, I returned back to my station. I directly came to my station without even looking at Vennela’s desk as I was sure that she may leave by that time.

After reaching the station, I saw the status of N2N backup. It got completed successfully. I then immediately shared the reports to my team lead and had shut down the system.

I took the bag and was about to start. I saw Vennela still sitting at her desk and working. And none of their team members were there.

“Hey Vennela. Still working? Its 09:10.”

“Ya Prudhvi. Closing some issues.”

“When will you start?”

“In just 15 mins I will start.”

“None of your team members are also there. Is that okay? How will you go back?”

“I will go back Prudhvi. Don’t worry. You just start.”

I thought of asking that I want to stay back so that we both will start. But then she will definitely not agree because she doesn’t like if I do things like this for her.

“Hey Prudhvi. Why did you stay back late?”

“I met one of my academy friends and so it became late.”

“Okay.”

I said okay and then waved my hands at her. I walked till the Stilt floor but then something is dragging me back. I was not at all able to move from there leaving her all alone.

(10:17 PM)

I was waiting for her outside. When I saw her walking out of the building, I went near to her.

“Hi Vennela.”

“Hey Prudhvi. One hour back you have started. What are you doing here?”

“Shall I tell the truth?”

“Hmmm.”

“If I say I will stay, you won’t allow me. And I cannot leave you alone and go in this late night.”

“Hmmm. Really you are…”

“Ya. I am?”

“Nothing.”

“Hey Vennela. How are you planning to go now?”

“We will catch up some auto.”

“All auto’s also went back home Vennela. They are not workaholic like you.”

She dint smile for the joke which I tried to crack because she is already much tired.

“Hey Vennela. Shall we walk?”

“What? 3 Km’s? No way.”

“I am not forcing you. I am just asking you as we don’t have any chance now.”

She started thinking and after 2 mins she put her step forward.

Seeing that, I shouted out loud.

“Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing Vennela. For the first time I am walking with you. Daily I go by walk in this route enjoying the greenery. And today you joined in my walk and so felt very much happy”

I thought I will speak so much to her. But then as usual words dint flow out. I just spoke very little. But I was enjoying walking with her. After reaching out, I dropped her till her room and returned to hostel.

While I was walking to hostel, I got some lines in that happiness and shared them with her through message.

@ “The route that used to be dark every day, seemed so bright. The breeze that used to be hot seemed so cold. The walk I used to get tired made me feel wonderful. The moon that was dull is shining bright. Every step I walked, asked me for another. Every minute I spent, asked me for another. When I looked around for the reason for all these, all I saw is your SMILE.” – Mr. Venky Bond