Anand groggily turned over, eyes half-closed, and mumbled, “Priya, answer the call.”

“Don’t disturb me!” she grumbled, pulling the pillow over her head to muffle the sound.

Sighing, he reached for the phone, irritation bubbling under his drowsiness. “Hello, Anand speaking,” he muttered, barely awake.

The voice on the other end roared through the speaker, startling him awake. “You donkey! Monkey! Pig! You absolute, brainless, moronic pussy cat!”

Anand bolted upright, wide-eyed. “Jagathi?” he gasped, voice squeaking with panic as he suddenly sat up straight, completely alert now.

“God! Jagathi, I’m your elder brother! Show some respect,” Anand groaned, rubbing his temple as the tirade on the other end continued. “Morning! It’s barely morning, and you’re already calling me all kinds of animals. Is that fair?”

“Those animals are better than you, you idiot! What are you doing, sitting there like a dumb rock while Dad arranges this alliance?” Jagathi fired back, her words coming fast and sharp. “They’re coming tomorrow, Anand! I don’t even know who these brainless people are, but you better stop this, or I swear, it’ll be the last day of peace for you!”

Anand sighed, leaning back against the headboard and calling her by her nickname, “Lucky, Dad didn’t tell me a thing. Besides, what’s wrong with meeting them? Who knows, you might even like—”

“Oh, Hello!, don’t you dare start preaching the Bhagavad Gita to me!*” she snapped, cutting him off. “I’m not in the mood for any of your philosophy. I don’t care what you, your wife, or Vinodh and his wife are planning. All I know is, you’re going to stop this alliance, or I’ll ruin everything myself!” With that, she hung up, leaving the line buzzing.

Anand stared at the phone, his jaw dropping in disbelief. Priya, who had been listening with mild amusement from under her pillow, peeked out as Anand raised his hands skyward in mock prayer.

“Bhagavan, what kind of sister did you give me? She’s literally demanding me to ruin her marriage prospects!” he exclaimed, flopping back onto the bed. “If Dad or Chachu finds out I’m sabotaging an alliance, they’ll both hunt me down with their licensed guns! God save me.”

Priya chuckled, shaking her head. “Looks like you’re in for a long day, Mr. Husband.”

Anand groaned again, “I need a miracle, not a long day!”

The doorbell rang. Priya got down from the bed, stretching slightly. “I’ll check who it is,” she said, walking toward the door.

Anand stretched his arms lazily and sat up straight, yawning. “Probably Dad and Laxman Uncle. They must’ve come back from Mysore,” he guessed, running a hand through his dishevelled hair.

Srinivas and Laxman were brothers and partners, running a successful children’s magazine that featured stories, articles, and novels dedicated to young readers. They had been attending a press conference in Mysore and were supposed to return to Vijayanagaram today. Anand figured they might drop by with updates from the event.

As Priya reached the door, she glanced back at Anand. “If it’s them, you better be ready for an interrogation about Jagathi’s latest drama.”

Anand groaned, rubbing his face. “Don’t remind me… I’m not mentally prepared for round two yet.”

Priya walked through the living room and opened the door with a warm smile, welcoming Srinivas and Laxman inside. The two brothers stepped in, visibly tired from their journey, and sank into the couch, loosening their ties and shrugging off their coats. Priya excused herself briefly, heading toward the kitchen.

When she returned with two glasses of water, she handed them to the men, who gratefully accepted. Laxman leaned back, taking a sip before speaking. “Priya, me and Srinivas Bhai are heading to Ramapuram. We need to catch the bus to get there on time.”

Priya raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Bus station? Uncle, you both have two Benz cars at home. Why are you taking a bus to Ramapuram?”

Srinivas, who had been quietly observing, smiled at his daughter-in-law’s concern. “Priya, what’s the use of taking a luxurious car to a small village?” he asked, his tone calm but firm. “In Krishnapuram, we don’t need such things. It’s my philosophy—use only what’s necessary. A car like that would stick out like a sore thumb there. We have to live according to the needs of the place.”

Priya shook her head slightly, smiling at his simplicity. “uncle (father in law), you never change, do you? Always the same philosophy, no matter where you go.”

Srinivas, her father in law chuckled softly, “Some things don’t need to change, Priya.”

Laxman glanced around, a bit puzzled. “Where are Vinodh, Charani, and their little rascal, Tarun?” he asked, scanning the garden as if expecting them to pop up from behind the trees.

Priya, who was about to respond, paused for a moment as her phone vibrated. She quickly glanced at the message from Charani: “Di, Jagathi called us early this morning and told us to meet her i. That’s why Vinodh, our silly boy Tarun, and I are heading Krishnapuram

A knowing smile crept onto Priya’s face as she put her phone away. Realizing the opportunity to playfully deflect Laxman’s curiosity, she chuckled softly and turned to him with a playful sparkle in her eyes. “Oh, Tarun was crying non-stop last night, saying he missed Jagathi and wanted to see her. So early this morning, they went to Krishnapuram.”

Laxman raised an eyebrow, though his face softened into a grin. “Ah, that boy! He’s always attached to Jagathi, isn’t he?”

Just then, a small, sleepy voice interrupted them. “Mumma…” It was Tanuja, Anand’s little daughter, wandering toward them with her eyes half-closed, rubbing them with her tiny fists.

Before she could stumble, Anand swooped in, picking her up effortlessly. “Careful, sweetheart,” he whispered, holding her close. Instinctively, she wrapped her small arms around his neck and nestled her head against his shoulder, her voice muffled with sleep as she murmured, “Papa…”

Anand smiled down at her, his heart swelling with warmth. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Good morning, my little one.”

She blinked her sleepy eyes open, offering a soft “Morning” in reply. Then, as her gaze wandered past her father, she spotted her grandfathers—Srinivas and Laxman—sitting and watching her with affectionate smiles.

Suddenly fully awake, she squirmed in her father’s arms, wriggling free. “Grandpa!” she shouted, as she jumped down from Anand’s hold and ran straight into Laxman’s lap, hugging him tightly around the waist. “I missed you, Grandpa!”

Laxman chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. “And I missed you too, my little Tanuja,” he said, his eyes twinkling. He glanced over at Srinivas, who was watching with a smile of his own.

She turned to Srinivas, planting a sweet kiss on his cheek. “I miss you, Grandpa.”

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with warmth. “I miss you too, my dear.” Turning to Vinodh and Priya, he added, “We’re going to be late for the bus if we don’t hurry.”

With a playful nudge, Laxman joined Srinivas, and they headed to their respective rooms to get ready.

Priya glanced at Anand, raising an eyebrow. “What should we do now?”

“What else can we do?” Anand replied with a smirk. “If we don’t get moving, Jagathi will unleash her drama again—‘Only Vinodh Bhai and Charani Bhabi care about me; you both don’t give me any attention!’ I can’t bear that.”

Priya laughed, shaking her head. “You’re right. Let’s make a move to Krishnapuram with Dad and Laxman Chachu before we get caught in her theatrics.”

“Has you say, Boss!” Anand replied, saluting her mockingly.

“Really? Are we going to Krishnapuram? Wow!” Tanju exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she clapped her hands in delight. “This is going to be the best day ever!”

••••

Srinivas and Laxman rejoined them, looking dapper in their traditional outfit, surprised to see all of them

“Almost!” Priya said as she fastened her dupatta. “Just waiting on Tanju.”

Tanju grinned as she twirled around, showing off her outfit. “Ta-da! Ready!”