They build 2 huts for themselves and Naayaka sulochana, in the place they could manage. Devasena looked around smiling as she still could not get over this new found freedom, while Amarendra just entered their new home smiling.
"Deva!
"Amarendra! Where did you go?
"You were sleeping and I could not disturb you as you get very little sleep these days.
Devasena smiled as she gave stood with a towel for him as he washed his legs and hands. Coming inside again he disrobed himself and brought out a bag and a small pouch. Devasena frowned as she took them from him. She opened the big bag first as she had an inkling as to what it was and she was not disappointed as she saw the ripe black plums and her face glowed with the smile that reflected on her husband's face too.
She tasted one and moaned as they tasted perfect. She passed him one too but shaking his head he took her half eaten one making her chuckle as a pink hue spread on her cheeks.
But then he eagerly looked at the pouch in her hand waiting for her to open it. Looking at his enthusiasm she opened the pouch to see a small but cute east stead. She looked up at him frowning.
"The fruit of my earnings for past two days Deva. I worked in a goldsmith's place in the village right?
Devasena's eyes brimmed. He contained the tears shaking his head. Tucking her hair behind her ears, he slowly adorned her ears with the steads and kissed them.
"What are you doing?
"Dolling up my wife
He gave his usual answer making her chuckle.
"Yeah yeah! Now come let's have food
"You cooked?
"Hey! I can cook
Amarendra chuckled.
"Not that Deva. At this stage..
"I am pregnant! Not invalid!
"Can I ever win an arguement with you Deva?
"I don't see it happening in near future Maharaja
They both turned to see Naayaka entering holding Sulochana safely.
"I am not a Maharaja
"Oh you are! I still remember what you told on the day next to your wedding.
"Naayaka! Those plans...
"Can still come useful
"No! With Amma..
"If she sees the truth?
"ENOUGH! Do you remember that I know nothing of this?
Both men chuckled.
"Rani Devasena! Shall we go to Kunthalam?
Amarendra looked at her as he wanted her to answer this same question he had for past 2 days.
"I can be a queen of my birth place Naayaka. But if I come there, then I would not do justice to my husband's decision. So no! But you can go.
"No Rani Devasena! We are not leaving you two here!
"We are not kids and Sulochana. You are also nearing your..
She stopped looking at the determination in their eyes and shook her head.
"Fine! Shall we have dinner?
"That's why we came here. And Sulochana brought her famous Chinthakaya pachadi
Devasena's face brightened and both women got busy leaving behind the men with open mouths.
"These two!
"Difficult Maharaja!
"Can I ever persuade you to address me by my name?
"Hmm.. No!
"Very well then. Lets join them before they themself finish off everything they cooked.
Chuckling both went inside and set their dining on the rocks nearby as they loved eating outside enjoying the nature and wind and the moon.
Devasena made ball of the pappannam and placed them on Amarendra's palm he forwarded to her.
But as he was about to eat, a bunch of kids came running to him with their miniature toy daggers she had made for them to play with and the miniature catapult he made for them.
"Ayya!
"Ayya!
"Ayya!
The kids blabbered sitting around them. Amarendra and Devasena could see that the kids have ran away from their mothers and food. Smiling Amarendra fed them the food as he listened to all of them patiently and so did Devasena.
The mothers of the kids who had come running behind them with the food were quite taken by this.
Devasena looked at the utensil that had no more food and was about to get up to put it for washing as this was last amount of rice left for the day which Amarendra brought for them yesterday by breaking stones in the nearby quarry.
But before she could get up, she felt a morsel of food to her mouth. She looked up to see one of the mother of the kid nodding her head. She turned to Amarendra and saw that he was being offered food by another mother. Smiling both ate as the village women fed them the food they brought for their kids.
Yet again, these village people proved that they were better family for them.
"Ammi!
She looked up to see Arzoo looking at her with question in her eyes. Devasena smiled.
"Entamma?
"Where have you drifted to?
"Me
Both ladies turned to Amarendra. One chuckled while other glared.
"Amarendra!
"Isn't it the truth?
He asked raising his brow in challenge. She could never hide herself from him as her pinkening face showed him clearly.
"Abbu! Bad. Why do you always trouble Ammi?
"Now what is the kick in obeying her Arzoo. The perks of troubling and fighting are in the making up part!
"Amarendra!
Devasena admonished him for speaking nonsense in front of kids.
"What!?
"Shameless
"Ammi! Abbu! Enough! Now go and rest
"NO
Both said in unison making everyone frown at them.
"We have something important to do
"Enti Nana?
"Baahudeshwarudu aalyam Nanna! Me and your mother are going there to start the Dahana Pandaga
"I am coming with you too!
"Me too!
Jumped in Avantika.
"Nenu Ammi!
But Devasena looked at Arzoo who stood silent.
"Why are you silent?
"Because the silent kid always gets preference may be?
Amarendra and Devasena chukled.
"Now I understand why Aslam calls you toofan!
"Ammi!
Arzoo growled making Aslam chuckle while Mahendra was merrily laughing.
"Naayaka! Take care of everyone here!
"Let me come..
"No Naayaka. Kids are with us. That's enough. You and Mama stay back here.
"Baahu.. Its not safe
"Nothing more can happen to us Mama!
And that one phrase shut everyone.
Amarendra took Devasena inside and draped her saree that would suit horse riding not miding her protests.
"Amarendra! 50 yellu vachayi kaani.. You..
He gave her a cute smile.
"Remember we are yet to celebrate our first marriage anniversary
"But our marriage anniversary..
"I know it was 4 full moons back. But..
He gave her wink that still had the impact on her.
"You and your shameless ways never change
"Uhumm
Amarendra walked out coolly not minding the teasing glaces of Naayaka, Kattappa and kids while Devasena walked along glaring, scowling and frowning at him.
Sultan and Saira squealed happily looking at their new friends who mounted on them with such ease.
Dheera sighed as Mahendra mounted on him but snorted looking at Vibhi who snorted back boringly showing her disinterest in him as Avantika mounted on her which amused them much.
Amarendra and devasena looked at each other remembering Baadshah and Veera who used to do the same and chuckled. But then..
"Arey meri Toofan! Let me mount in peace.
"Fine Khan saab then don't jump down calling me for your pagdi
Saying moved to Mahira and mounted. But as soon as Aslam mounted on Bahaadur and took a few steps, he sneezed and looked at Arzoo scowling who was happily giggling. Understanding his plight, Bahaadur took him to Mahira and Arzoo who were glaring at them.
"Pagdi!
He forwarded his hand. Arzoo turned her head away.
"Sorry my Jahnnum! Give me the pagdi now before I sneeze everything out of me
Glaring she gave him his pagdi which he wore on his head and covered his face with its tail.
This made everyone there chuckle and make these two look away embarrassed.
"Rei anna! If you are done..
"Enough Thammudu! You first stand away from Avantika.
"I am not the one who calls her Toofan and Jahnnum!
"Hey! Will you call me that?
"No no!
"Sher bana billi!
Amarendra and Devasena laughed out loud looking at the kids' behavior and took off with their horses. The kids got alert and rushed behind them.
And as usual, they had a shortcut that led them to forest area were the temple was, the north of Maahishmati.
Ensuring the safety of their horses, all six of them entered the temple. The Sivalingam made of Neelakantham remained the same all these years.
Before Devasena could take the torch and light the place in front of Parameswarudu, Amarendra stopped her. He went inside to the Maheshwari sannadhi and came out with a few things in his hand. He made her stand in front of the lord.
Just like all those years back, he adorned her wrist with the bangles of the goddess. He turned her to face the lord and then slowly brought a yellow thread with a turmeric tied in it in front of her. Her eyes brimmed as he tied it around her neck. At that moment, there was breeze that disturbed everything there making the vilva flowers on the god fly and fall on them. The kids looked at awe as these two rejoined as man and wife in front of the lord after all these years.
Then he adorned her forehead with the Kunkuma that was the blessing of the goddess.
Putting his finger beneath her chin, he raised her face for her eyes to meet his. He smiled at her.
"Now you are daughter in law of Maahishmati
Saying he took the torch from Mahendra's hand and gave it to Devasena who lit the fireplace in front of the lord marking the start of the Dahana Pandaga. The fire lit up the whole place marking the coming days that were going to be as bright as this. She looked at the fire which glowed like the same fire that danced 25 years earlier. Amarendra remembered the fire all those years back that he thought had consumed his family. Mahendra saw the eyes of the man just they way he saw 6 days back when he lit his court with wife. All the three pair of eyes looked at the fire thinking of the same thing that would happen tomorrow.
The kids prayed and moved out leaving these two behind. Devasena held Amarendra back. She looked up at him as her hand touched the yellow thread he tied.
"After all these years..
"Everything is going to be alright Deva!
"I never thought I would see this day again Amarendra
"Me too deva! I know how you feel. Because I feel the same too.
He said as he kissed her forehead. Devasena's hand, made way to his robes and fisted above his heart. Amarendra smiled realizing how he always liked this. Because this was the way he understood what she felt for him. This was her expression. He put his hand on hers above his heart as his other hand went around her shoulder gathering her in his arms which she only did happily placing her head on his shoulder.
Suddenly they heard some throat clearings and looked up to see the kids looking everywhere. Chuckling they move a little apart. But still his arm was around her while her hand was in his.
"Ammi! Shall we go?
Aslam called. Both nodded. Started taking steps when they arzoo.
"Vaise.. We saw nothing!
Both looking at her raising their brow for which she raised hers back making them chuckle and shake their heads. Mahendra hit Avantika's shoulder with his smirking. She swatted him glaring.
"Ahem! Thammudu!
Mahendra growled.
"Wait until I get my chance Anna
Saying they moved out to Amarendra and Devasena who were enjoying themselves looking at their kids' banter.
There Bhalla still stood in front of the mirror when he saw his father's reflection there.
"Emayindi Bhalla?
"Old wounds are reopening Nana
Bijjala looked at him frowning. He turned to him.
"What happened Nana?
"Tomorrow is Dahana Pandaga starting
Bhalla scoffed.
"The festival that should be done by the daughter in law who is no more?
"You are forgetting Devasena
"I can never forget her Nana. But you are forgetting that the moment she steps here, she would be in shackles again.
"Bhalla..
"Enough!
Saying he dismissed his father who looked at him with an emotion he did not understand. Pity!
Amarendra and Devasena dismounted from Sultan and Saira and gave them treats and kids followed the suite.
The night had fallen as they reached the caves again and now they were waiting for their dinner when they saw a shadow there. Amarendra and Devasena turned to the entrance of the cave from where the shadow originated stood up immediately. Devasena held Amarendra's hand who gripped her's tightly in support.
"Amarendra?
He just looked at her as they walked to the owners of the shadow.
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