11 Dec 2005

3 months later,

SSR was going to start his new film 'Vikramarkudu' and for that they held a Muhurat at Annapurna studios. Jr NTR and Prabhas were the chief guests.

SSR was busy welcoming guests while his wife Rama garu was running up and down looking into the arrangements. Sweety was on a call with her mother.

S: I am fine amma...they're all taking good care of me...mmm...no worries at all...No no you don't have to come over to cook for me... no no I am not eating outside...listen... I'm having home cooked food everyday at Rajamouli garu's place...blah blah blah...

A little while later,

SSR was greeting his guests when he felt a weight behind him. He instantly knew who it was.

SSR: Don't put your weight on me ra ! I will break !!

D: Piggyback me raj!! Plssss!! The last time I got carried was by peddananna, when I was 12 years. He broke his back after that he stopped carrying me. 😞

SSR: Naturally. He's not lord Hanuman to lift a mountain with ease. Poor man.

D: Raj ! Don't make fun of me. I am paapam no carry me it's so fun!

He flailed his arms.

SSR: (mv: Paapam ah you are a paapi ra ! Ohhh this fella has planned to break my back too... have to escape somehow...) Huh.. uh..see there your bangaram.. ask her to carry you..

Rama garu approached them all smiles.

D: Bangaram !!!

He moved from SSR and jumped on the petite lady looping his hands around her neck.

Ra: When did you come ra?? Come, have something to eat...

D: Just now. No I don't want. Carry me !!

Ra: What ?? Are you mayookha to carry ?? Go get married. Your wife will carry you every day then.

D: Chi bangaram you are so naughty talking in double language I am feeling shy...

He covered his face with her pallu.

Ra: Avva! (Cupping her mouth in shock) I am seriously asking you to get married and you are making jokes out of it ?

D made a boring face.

SSR: Why that reaction ? You don't want marriage ??

D: I do want but not at this point in time. I want to achieve big in this industry, make amma and nanna proud and enjoy with my friends. When I decide it's enough and want to settle down then I'll think about marriage.

SSR: Rama, heard that ? That means we will have to baby sit him for another decade.

Ra: 😧😧

D: Raj, you're so smart! Ummaah..I love you !! Now carry me !!

SSR: Huh..uh... oh Tarak(jr.Ntr)has come let me go and greet him see you later. Rama, take him in.

And SSR disappeared. D looked at Rama garu hopefully.

D: Bangaram...

Ra: Huh..mmm... oh mayookha is crying I got to go see you around...

She too escaped. D felt bad as there was no one to carry him. He felt a strong pat on his back and turned. It was the film's hero, Ravi Teja garu. They hugged and engaged in a casual banter.

Meanwhile,

S: See there mayookha, flowers... nice beautiful flowers...

S was carrying Mayookha and playing with little girl was also happy to be with S.

Ra: Is she troubling you ?? I'll take her...

S: No Rama garu I'm fine...

Ra: She is fussy and usually doesn't gel with new people however she is sticking to you which is surprising. The only person apart from her nanna who can control her is Prabhas.

S: Oh I c...

S smiled but she forgot the person Prabhas whom she got introduced to 3 months ago at her maiden film launch. Poor girl didn't know then that guy would be an integral part of her.😜
Speaking of the devil, D came there with SSR to see Mayookha. Upon seeing the kid, D waved and flashed a wide grin.
S saw him approaching them and recalled having seen the tall frame and scruffy guy at the event of her film and mistaking him to be a cleaner.

S mv: This cleaner cum actor cum rowdy guy is here too ?? Oh he's a big wig na, he'll be everywhere I guess. What do I do now ? Just be normal Sweety...

D who had a tad bit experience than her in the industry and close friend of SSR knew she was the heroine of this film. Unlike her, he had a very sharp memory and instantly smiled at her. S returned the smile. Mayookha gave a drooly smile and flailed her arms wanting to be carried by him. D took her in his arms and she stuck to him like fevicol forgetting S.

He continued playing with her while S was talking to SSR and Rama garu. When Mayookha began crying for milk, Rama garu took her leaving the three alone. D looked away while S took out her phone to play snake xenzia. The messiah of Pranushka fans, SSR, sensed the awkwardness between DS and he inadvertently became cupid.

SSR: Haven't you both been introduced to each other ?

D: Huh... yes Raj at Mahanandi...

But before he could complete the sentence SSR came forward.

SSR: Sweety, this is Prabhas. Prabhas, meet Sweety. Say 'hi' to each other.

D was nervous and S was reserved. To honour SSR's words, they greeted each other but in a formal way by joining their palms.

D: Namaskaram. 🙏🏼

S: Namaskaram. 🙏🏼

SSR frowned.

SSR: Oh what's with the two of you ? Talk and mingle with everyone as if there is no tomorrow but with each other behaving like people from black and white era. Come on shake hands!

D smiled and stretched his hand forward but S was reluctant and SSR sensed it.

SSR: Don't worry ma, he's a nice fella not like his appearance.

S: Huh... no no not that Raj garu...errr...

Not wanting to offend D who had his palm extended and to respect SSR,
S hesitantly forwarded her palm.

SSR: Oh this shy girl...

He held her by her wrist and placed her palm on D's.

SSR: What are you waiting for ? Hold ra !

He ordered D who held her hand immediately.

SSR: Now shake!

D was very gentle and held her hand as if holding on to a delicate flower and went very slow.

SSR: No hurry. Take your time. I can postpone the Muhurat to another day.

DS smiled sheepishly at him
sensing the sarcasm and shook hands rapidly.

SSR: Slowly, slowly, you're not pumping the street side water pump are you ?

And they returned to the robotic handshake.

SSR: Uff ! These kids! Never mind..

He then held both their wrists and guided them to shake hands at the right pace.

SSR: See, this is how you have to shake hands ok ?

Little did the innocent man know then that the good deed he did would turn his black hair to grey in future. At that time the priest rang the bell indicating an auspicious sign. Rama garu called out to her husband.

Ra: Evandi, prayers have begun... come soon...

SSR left and DS too broke the handshake but her dangling gold bracelet was hooked to his watch not allowing them to separate.

S: Oh no...

S panicked and tried to pull her hand away but her bracelet refused to leave his watch.

D: It's ok, relax I'll remove it.

D tried to but couldn't and they had to be there for the pooja. In desperation, S unhooked her bracelet letting it dangle to his watch.

S: It's ok. You can return it to me later.

She ran away. D stood there with the bracelet tangled to his watch trying to untangle it but was unable to. Giving up, he too left to attend the pooja. Soon the event kick started with Rama garu and SSR performing the pooja. Everyone gathered at the spot. D was talking to Tarak (jr.NTR) and Ravi Teja garu.
SSR instructed her on the scene to enact. She and Ravi Teja garu got ready infront of the camera.

SSR: Darling come...

SSR called him to switch on the camera.

D: Me ? Raj I'm too young for that.... let some one older and experienced to...

But who was to listen? SSR held his hand and pulled him to the camera.

SSR: You are my lucky charm only you should switch on the camera.

D couldn't refuse.Praying in his heart that the shoot should go well and movie to be a hit, D switched on the camera. SSR said 'action' and Jr.NTR clapped the clapboard. The short scene required Ravi Teja garu to mouth a dialogue and draw patterns on S's palm for which she had to blush. Soon after SSR said 'cut' all laughed.

They returned to their respective spots.

D: You did well.

S: Thank you.

D: Erm... your bracelet, I'm sorry I tried but it's firmly tangled with my watch. Pls keep this with you.

He gave her his expensive watch.

S: No that's alright. There is no hurry. You can pass it to me some other time.

D: Are you sure ?

S: Yes yes very sure.

D: Ok then.

Irregardless of what DS had in their minds, his watch and her bracelet found their match in each other and decided never to part. The event came to an end and DS, still strangers, went on their respective ways.

😜😁