9."Kakinada"

As I navigated through the streets, Anu's curiosity piqued, and she turned to me with a questioning look. "Now tell me, who is that man named Athreya, and how did you know about him?"

I flashed a reassuring smile at Anu, silently crafting a tale to appease her curiosity. "Oh, nothing much," I replied casually. "I came across an advertisement for his detective agency, and it sparked my interest. Seeing him today, I decided to test his capabilities. You never know when you might need the services of a skilled detective in the future."

Anu seemed intrigued by my explanation, but she wasn't quite convinced. "And what about the coffee?" she pressed further, her curiosity still lingering.

I chuckled softly, weaving another thread into my impromptu narrative. "Ah, the coffee," I replied, feigning nonchalance. "Well, I figured a detective must always be on his toes, and what better way to stay alert than with a cup of coffee? Just a small gesture, you know."

"And what about the movie?" Anu inquired, her voice filled with curiosity.

I glanced back at her, maintaining my focus on the road ahead. "That's also just a guess," I replied casually, shrugging my shoulders.

Feeling her arms wrap around me from behind as I maneuvered the bike, Anu leaned in close and confessed, "But, to tell you the truth, Krishna, for a moment, I was scared when you suddenly called his name."

I chuckled softly, gently squeezing her hand as it rested on mine. "Why would you be scared? You know it's impossible for me to hurt you or anyone I love. I never would."

Anu's next words caught me off guard. "So, you love me?" she asked, her tone soft and vulnerable.

Stunned by her question, I paused for a moment, carefully considering my response. Opting to play it cool, I replied, "Of course, I love you. We've been friends since childhood."

Anu fell silent, her words barely audible as she murmured, "That's not what I meant."

Pretending not to hear her, I glanced back over my shoulder and asked, "Did you say something, Anu?"

Quick to brush off the moment, Anu shook her head. "Nothing," she muttered, averting her gaze.

With a knowing smile, I continued driving, the gentle hum of the engine filling the air as we made our way towards Anu's house.

After a leisurely stroll, we finally arrived at Anu's house. Parking the bike, we made our way to the entrance, where we opened the door and stepped inside. Viswanath uncle was seated on the sofa, engrossed in a book. Upon noticing our arrival, he greeted us warmly, saying, "Welcome home."

With a grin, I responded, "Right on time."

Viswanath uncle chuckled in agreement, replying, "Yes, yes, right on time."

Anu, observing our exchange, couldn't help but smile at the banter. She excused herself to her room, emerging shortly after in casual attire, ready to lend a hand in the kitchen alongside her mother.

Meanwhile, I settled down next to Viswanath uncle on the sofa, and we engaged in conversation about various topics. The cozy atmosphere of the living room, coupled with the soothing ambiance of the house, made for a pleasant evening.

As Anu disappeared into the kitchen to assist her mother, the aroma of home-cooked meals began to waft through the air, teasing our senses and whetting our appetites. The sound of utensils clinking and the faint murmur of conversation from the kitchen only added to the homely atmosphere.

After dinner was prepared, we gathered around the dining table, and Anu and Aunt Lakshmi began serving the delicious meal. Midway through our meal, Anu brought up the topic of her friend's wedding in Kakinada.

"Krishna, there's a wedding coming up in Kakinada, and I was hoping you could come with me," she said with a hopeful expression.

"Of course, but how do you plan on getting there?" I inquired, curious about the logistics.

Before Anu could respond, Viswanath uncle interjected, questioning, "What do you mean, 'of course'? Don't you have work to attend to?"

I reassured him, saying, "I can manage."

Turning back to Anu, I asked, "So, Anu, how do you propose we travel?"

"By car," she replied simply.

I was taken aback by her response. "But Anu, Kakinada is 492 kilometers away. That's an 8 or 9-hour drive," I pointed out, concerned about the long journey.

Anu insisted, "I know, but I want to visit other places along the way."

Realizing her determination, I suggested, "Alright then, perhaps we can also stop by Guntur, which is 253 kilometers away from Kakinada."

Anu immediately dismissed the idea, saying, "We're not going there."

Concerned about the consequences, I reminded her, "But if we don't go and Raji finds out, she might be kill me. Plus, we won't stay there for long."

Despite my reasoning, Anu remained adamant, refusing to budge. It took considerable effort and persuasion to eventually convince her.

As Anu and I conversed, Viswanath uncle observed us silently, but then he suddenly spoke up. "Ah, now I remember. My friend Gayatri from Kakinada called me this morning. She mentioned that her son will be coming to stay with us next month."

Anu looked at me with a hint of concern in her eyes, silently seeking my support. I nodded in agreement. Before I could say anything, Aunt Lakshmi intervened, asking, "What do you mean he's going to live with us?"

Viswanath uncle remained composed as he explained, "He's found a job at Krishna's company, so he'll be moving here."

Aunt Lakshmi persisted, "But why does he need to live here?"

I chimed in, echoing her concerns. "Yes, Uncle. Aunt is right. It's not appropriate for him to stay here, especially with a young girl in the house."

The situation was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, and I hoped Viswanath uncle would reconsider his decision.

Hearing this, Viswanath uncle posed a question to me, "Why? Don't you also stay here sometimes?"

I was momentarily taken aback, but Aunt Lakshmi swiftly interjected, "That's different. We've known Krishna since he was just a little kid."

Viswanath uncle pondered for a moment before asking, "Then what should I do?"

I assured him, "You don't have to worry. I can handle his living arrangements."

After some contemplation, Viswanath uncle proposed, "Okay, but at least you can pick him up for me since you're going to Kakinada. He can come back with you to Hyderabad."

Feeling a bit cornered, I deflected, "Why are you asking me? Who am I to decide? Ask your daughter about it."

Viswanath uncle turned to Anu and pleaded, "Anu, please."

Anu glanced at me for a moment, but I remained silent, leaving the decision to her. Eventually, Anu spoke up, "Okay, but on one condition: he is not staying with us."

Viswanath uncle eagerly agreed, "Yes, yes, he is not staying with us. Didn't Krishna say he'll handle everything?" Anu nodded in affirmation.

After our dinner, Anu and I settled comfortably in the garden. Anu suddenly asked, "Krishna, do you want to eat ice cream?"

"Ya, why not," I replied with a smile. Anu nodded and got up to fetch the ice cream from the kitchen. Returning with two cones, she handed one to me and settled beside me.

As we indulged in the creamy treat and engaged in conversation, time seemed to slip away. The cool breeze and the company of each other made the moment truly delightful.

As the evening progressed, it was time for me to bid farewell to Anu and her family. Saying our goodbyes, I made my way back home. Upon reaching, I found my parents seated on the sofa, engrossed in a TV show.

"So, how was the movie? Did you enjoy yourself?" my father inquired as he noticed me entering.

Taking a seat beside them, I replied, "Ya, it was a good movie, and we had a great time."

Hearing this, my father paused, seemingly about to say something, but my mother swiftly interjected, "Krishna, do you know who we met today?"

Curious, I asked, "Who?"

With a hint of excitement, my mother continued, "This evening, your father, Bheeshma, and I went to buy vegetables. Bheeshma mentioned knowing a good place where we could find fresh produce. He led us to a vegetable store, and as your father and I were selecting vegetables, we noticed him talking to a girl. When we inquired, he admitted that he liked her. Finally, your brother has found someone he likes."

Surprised, I exclaimed, "Wow, you're talking about Chaitra?"

My mother's tone shifted slightly as she responded, "Krishna, why didn't you tell me about this? When did you find out?"

Hearing this, I explained, "I know her because I was with Bheeshma when he first met her. He introduced himself as ACP."

My father, taken aback, repeated, "He introduced himself as ACP?"

I confirmed, "Yes, there's any problem?"

My father reassured, "No," but my mother interjected, "Yes, there is a problem. How can he lie that he is ACP?"

I quickly responded, "Don't worry about it. Chaitra already knows he is lying, but please don't tell him. He doesn't know that Chaitra knows he is lying to her."

Relieved, my mother said, "Okay, now tell me, is this girl a good partner for Bheeshma?"

Confidently, I replied, "She's not just a good partner, but the best partner for Bheeshma."

My mother smiled and nodded, "That's good."

Then I asked my mother, "Ma, where is Bheeshma?"

She replied, "He's in his room reading a book."

Taken aback, I exclaimed, "Ma, did you just say Bheeshma is reading a book?"

She confirmed, "Yes, he's reading a book."

In disbelief, I stood up. My mother, noticing my reaction, asked, "Krishna, where are you going?"

I chuckled, "I'm going to the garden to see which direction the sun rises today, because my dear brother is reading a book today."

My father joined in with laughter, while my mother insisted, "Sit down. It's already night. You can't see the sun, and my Bheeshma is an intelligent boy."

Perplexed by the revelation, I sat up and inquired, "But why is he reading books?"

My mother explained, "I didn't know Chaitra had given him books about agriculture and farming, and he's been reading them since we came back."

Surprised once again, I stood up, prompting my mother to ask, "Where are you going now?"

With curiosity piqued, I replied, "To Bheeshma's room. I want to see what he's doing." With determination in my step, I made my way to Bheeshma's room, eager to unravel the mystery behind his sudden interest in agriculture and farming.

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