Something more: Mirchi fanfic [2/5]
Something more
Something more [2/5]
![](https://sudhakuruganti.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Mirchi-1024x683.jpg)
Part 2/5
Author’s note: The second in a five part fanfic based on an alternate universe version of Jai and Vennela from the Telugu movie Mirchi. In ths universe, Jai and Vennela are part of the same extended, joint family. The rest of the plot remains the same, this story focuses more on Jai and Vennela and their relationship.
I own nothing β all characters belong to their respective owners and I make no money off this. (Please donβt sue me.)
On with the fic! Read Part 1 before you start.
Part 2βDuty
The next day dawned bright and clear, and Vennela was still no closer to a plan to get her Bava to come visit.
All she knew was that he had to come see Deva mamaβbut how? None of the emotional tactics she had in mind would work, she had tried plenty of times to get Bava to admit that he wanted to come home, but it had never resulted in an actual visit. And asking him to bring atha for a visit because Vennela missed her aunt was no use. It had just resulted in an invitation for Vennela to come visit them in Hyderabad, instead.
No, this called for a new tactic.After all, as Adi mama kept telling her, βIf you want something to happen, you need a proper plan. You canβt just sit on your hands and hope for it to happen, you need to make it happen.β
Time to take page out of her younger mamaβs book: if Bava wouldnβt come home and Deva mama wouldnβt invite him, Vennela had to make Bava think it was his decision to come visit.
Nodding her head, Vennela smiled. Sheβd gotten rid of all those men whoβd come home for an arranged marriage with her, couldnβt she figure out how to get her Bava home?
βWow, that smile spells disaster.β
With a laugh, Vennela turned to face her friend, Nandini. As the Telugu teacher to grades three to five at the school, Nandiniβs schedule often intersected with Vennelaβs day. As the only two teachers in the school from the same age group, Nandini and Vennela had become fast friends.
Now, Nandini linked her arm through with Vennelaβs arm as they walked to the teacherβs lounge. βAlright, time to tell the truth. I know whatβs behind that mischievous smile! What are we up to today?β
Vennela laughed, wiggling their arms together as they entered the room. βI donβt have anything planned! Youβre just too suspicious.β Dumping her purse and a load of notebooks on a table, Vennela sat down.
Raising her eyebrow, Nandini did the same. βHmm, letβs just see! I think you have something in mind, you just donβt want to tell me!β
βOhhh, up to mischief already, you two?β Mrs. Murthy said with an indulgent smile, nodding at their greetings as she looked up from her seat at the table next to them. βStill the same, eh, Vennela? Always the back bencher, up to no good?β The older woman shook her head as she looked at Nandini, her glasses sliding down her nose as she took a sip of her morning tea.
Mrs. Murthyβs glasses chain glinted in the early morning sunlight as she tilted her head, and Vennela sighed. She knew the stories that would follow. As one of her teachers in the eighth grade, Mrs. Murthy had an annoyingly perfect memory for all of Vennelaβs youthful pranks.
βI remember when she locked the principal in the bathroomβpoor Mr. Satyanand, he kept knocking on the doorβthe only reason we knew he was in there was because Jai opened the door.β Mrs. Murthy sighed, her eyes far away. βSuch a good boy! So nice to see him doing so wellβArchitect of the Year!β
Vennela stopped herself from her rolling her own eyes with effort. This was the problem with working at the same school where she had once studied. The teachers had long memories, and to them, she would never be Vennela Kanaparthi, colleagueβshe was forever and always naughty Vennu, the troublemaker.
It was nice that Bava was remembered so fondly, though.
Which gave her a thought. And the beginning of a plan.
Now, all she needed to do was make sure the principal thought it was all his idea.
Sure enough, when the man walked in twenty minutes later, Vennela had a plan to put it all in motion.
As Mr. Satyananad did his rounds of the room, greeting everyone and wishing them a good morning, Vennela waited until he was at the table next to hers, his back to them. She waited until there was a gap in the conversation between the princi and the other teacher before turning to Nandini.
βYou know, one of my B.Ed. classmates was telling me, the chief guest for her schoolβs annual day was a famous actor who had studied there. They asked him to come for the ceremony, and he was a great guest! The function had the most number of attendees in history!β
βUm, okay,β Nandini said, looking a little puzzled at the new topic of conversation. βSo who was the actor who attendeββ
βAnd it brought so much fame to the school, that their ex-student was such a famous person!β
βOkay, so which school is thisββ
βIt increased admissions for the next year, as well!β Vennela went on, ignoring her friendβs increasingly puzzled glances. βEveryone agreed, it was a great idea from the principal of the school.β
βSounds interesting, Vennela,β came Mr. Satyanandβs voice as he broke into their conversation. βTell me more about this annual day function.β
And that was when Vennela knew her plan was a success. Smiling widely, she started to explain.
~
![Mirchi fanfiction](https://sudhakuruganti.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/WA2.png)
As Jai took out his phone to check his messages, it buzzed again. An email.
βI am pleased to invite you as the Chief Guest to Bala Mandir High School, Rentachintala, for this yearβs Annual Day celebrations on July 7, 2017. I hope you will come and speak a few inspiring words for our students. Itβs a very proud moment for us that one of our ex-students is the Emerging Architect of the Year.β
Frowning, Jai read the words on his phone screen with increasing confusion. Chief guest? Him?
βMy god, what a scary face.β
Startled, Jai looked up, only to see his friendβs face inches from his own as Vikram read the email off his phone, as well.
βSo youβre going as a chief guest?β Vikram said as he settled into the empty seat across from Jai. βNot bad, youβre moving up in the world ra, bava!β
βI was invited to be chief guest,β Jai corrected, as he moved his half empty coffee mug out of the way of his friendβs fidgety hands. βI donβt think Iβll actually go.β
βWhaaat?β Vikram said, stretching the word out in disbelief. βWhy not?β
βForget that,β Jai said, putting his phone down and looking at his watch. βTell me why youβre late again.β
βWork, man.β Vikram sighed dramatically. βThe boss was being a pain and wouldnβt let me leave early.β He looked around the table, picking at the coffee cups and paper bags on the surface. βWhat did you order, bava? Iβm starving.β
In the beginning of their friendhsip, Jai had been surprised at Vikram’s inclination of calling him ‘bava’ – brother-in-law – instead of ‘dude’, or ‘buddy’, like others, but it had quickly become clear that it was a habit of his. To Vikram, close friends were ‘bava’, and no one was as close as Jai.
Picking up Jaiβs sandwich now, Vikram took a huge bite. βAlso, I cabbed over, so youβre dropping me home, ra.β
Jai sighed and glared at his long-time friend. βTwelve years and you havenβt changed.β
Grinning around a mouthful of Jaiβs sandwich, Vikram said, βHey, order me another one, na? We still have half an hour before the movie, donβt we?β
As they drove home after the movie, Vikram said, apropos of nothing, βSo why donβt you want to go be the chief guest at your old school?β
Jai said nothing, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, in time to the beat of the music.
To those who didnβt know him well, Vikram seemed like a flighty kind of guy, always joking and talking incessantly, but there was a sharp mind and a strong memory beneath all those smiles, like he had proved just now.
βItβs not so much the school as it the place,β Jai finally said with a sigh. βI donβt know if I can just go back there for some school function, as if nothing had happened.β
He slanted a look in Vikramβs direction, to see his friend looking uncharacteristically serious.
βI know what you mean,β Vikram said, and that was that.
Because it was. As one of his oldest friendsβas the first friend he had made in collegeβVikram had known Jai from the days when he had been homesick and wishing he hadnβt applied to an engineering college so far away from Hyderabad, even if he had wanted to get away from his mother and her refusal to go back home to Rentachintala.
The only son of a widower, Vikram had had his own issues, and as two lonely boys far from home, Jai and Vikram had bonded quickly. Their friendship had lasted ten years, and in that time, they had had plenty of experience in dealing with each other’s emotional wounds when it came to their single parent households.
Vikram knew all about conversational dead-ends, born of pain that one didnβt want to discuss, even with oneβs best friends.
Now, as Jai pulled up in front of his house, Vikram fixed steady eyes on his best friend. He also dropped the ‘bava’ from his speech, a sure sign that he was serious.
βLook, Jai, Iβm not saying you have to go. But now that you have the excuseβwhy donβt you? This way, thereβs no pressure on you or Auntyβyouβre going for a school function and not to actually meet anyone. You can stay or leave as early as you like. And Aunty doesnβt even need to accompany you if she doesnβt want to go.β
βYes, but,β Jai sighed, and stared out of the windshield into the darkness of the night, unable to meet his friendβs eyes. βWhat if I go…and he doesnβt like me? Or even want to meet me?β
No need to tell Vikram who he was.
βYouβre being stupid, ra,β Vikram pronounced, pushing his glasses up his nose with a frown. βTake it from meβif you have a chance to meet your missing parent, you grab it with both hands.β
He blinked, staring hard at Jai. βAnd whatβs all this nonsenseβof course, he wants to meet you – and of course, heβll like you. Whatβs not to like? Youβre awesome!β He coughed, quickly pulling on a smile to diffuse the heavy emotion in the air. βSadly, not as great as a living legend like me, but then we canβt all be perfection personified.β
Rolling his eyes, Jai got out of his car, slamming the door on Vikram as he drew breath to go on. βCome on, idiot. Uncle will be wondering why we arenβt back yet.β
In a few minutes, Vikramβs father was seating Jai at the sofa, asking him if he wanted tea.
βNo thanks, Uncle, itβs getting pretty late, and I should be going. I just had to make sure this idiot reached home safelyβsorry to wake you up!β
βRei, bava, enta maata!β (βSuch sharp words, bava!β)
βGo home, Jai,β Mr. Ravella said, waving a hand with a paternal smile. βIβm sure your mother is waiting for you to return.β
With a wave and a smile of his own, Jai bid Vikram and his dad goodbye. As he turned away, Vikram was already joking with father, trading his customary quips at the older manβs expense. Mr. Ravella had told Jai once, that Vikramβs mother had been similarly quick witted, and that in those moments, Vikram reminded him almost painfully of his lost wife.
As Jai drove back home, his best friendβs words came back to him: βOf course, he wants to see you.β
Vikram was right. He had an opportunity to meet his father againβafter years.
Would he be able to live with himself if he didnβt take it now?
~
βSo, youβre coming?β
Even after her bava’s WhatsApp message that he would be attending the schoolβs annual day function, she still couldnβt believe it.
βV, tell me the truthβyou didnβt have something to do with this, did you?β
βMe? How could I, Bava? The principal saw you on tv with your award. Plus, heβs Deva mamaβs old classmate, so itβs ob why he invited you.β
βOk.β
βSo when are you coming over? Iβve just sent you the WhatsApp location, you can just set that in your Google maps and drive down easily.β
βIf I come, Iβll drive down the week before. Donβt tell mama and atha yet, though. I havenβt yet decided for sure.β
βWhaaaaaat?β
Vennela mashed the buttons on her screen so hard she almost lost her message, but she didnβt care. After all her work, Bava was thinking of not coming?
Sheβd practically had to beg the princi to invite Bava to the annual day. Even her mention of the architecture award hadnβt been enough to sway the old goatβin the end, it had been the fact that Jai was Devraajβs son that had swung the balance in his favour.
And now, after all that begging, he wasnβt going to come?
βBavaaaa, come onn! You have to come, please!β
βIβll TRY, Vennu. Pls.β
Vennela stopped bugging him at that. From experience, she knew when Bava started responding to her WhatsApp texts with short forms, he was getting annoyed.
βOk. Goodnight, Bava.β
Connecting her phone to the charger, Vennela collapsed back onto her bed with a sigh. Ugh. What was wrong with Bava? It was like he didnβt even want to come visit.
Pouting unhappily, Vennela realised that she had to let it go. She had done all she could, if Bava was going to come visit, he would. There was nothing more she could do.
~
βAn invitation to Rentachintala?β
βYes, Amma.β
βI see.β
His mother said nothing else, but Jai saw the look on her faceβthe pursed lips and the downcast eyes. He saw how carefully his mother didnβt look at him, how she visibly stopped herself from saying anything in response.
She turned away, busying herself in tidying up the table after their dinner. Heβd finally plucked up the courage to tell his mother about the invitation to Rentachintala, choosing to do it over dinner.
βButβRentachintala?β she said, staring at him with wide eyes. βWho would invite you thereβand why?β
Jai heard the words she didnβt say, the fear in her heart that he would leave her, and return to his fatherβs sideβleaving her all alone.
βAmma, the school called me as chief guest,β he said now, laying a hand on her arm, forcing her to face him and sit down again. βItβs the least I can do to attend the function. Thereβs no nice way to refuse. Itβs my duty as a student. Heβs my old principal…and itβs nice of them to remember me and recognise me this way.β
Jai spread his hands helplessly. βAnd I admit it, I want to see everyone again. I want to see Vennu, and atha, mama, babai and pinniβand yes, I want to see my father, as well!β
His mother looked up at him with sad eyes, and Jai said again, βI want to see Nanna. Please.β He caught her hand in his, and squeezed. βI promise Iβll come back. I promise Iβll return home to you. But please, I have to do this.β
βAlright, Jai,β his mother said, sighing. βI have no right to keep you away, not any more. Go visit. As long as you donβt forget about meβIβll be fine.β
That had been last week. Now, as the date for his journey drew nearer, his mother hid her anxiety by shopping for gifts for all his family.
βThis saree is for Lakshmi vadina,β she said, packing a pink saree in a box. βAnd this peach coloured half-saree is for Vennela. It doesnβt look too pink, does it? It’s not too matchy-matchy? They are mother-daughter, though, so it should be fine, right?β
βOh, and this jewelry set is also for Vennela. And this remote-controlled car is for Chinna. Make sure you put in a set of batteries for it! And here, take this T-shirt for Nagulluβhe should be about your age by now!β
βAmma!β Jai said, bemused at all the preparations. βJust because Iβm driving down, it doesnβt mean you have a free hand to fill the car with so much luggage! Iβll only be there for a week!β
βJust because itβs a week, it doesnβt mean Iβll be sending you empty handed!β his mother said, glaring at him. βYouβre going there after so many years, you need to do things properly!β
Bowing to his motherβs wishes, Jai said no more, and let her continue with her preparations.
Finally, the day of his journey dawned bright and clear. Setting the destination in his GPS, Jai set off for Rentachintalaβfor home, and for his father.
This was going to be fun. He hadnβt told Vennela he was finally coming to visit. How would she finally react when they met again, after fifteen years?
He was looking forward to finding out.
It took only a few hours for him, driving at his usual speed, before Jai was nearing the border to Rentachintala.
It took him a while to realise that he was driving slower, the closer he got. On the surface, he might have been excited to visit his relativesβand his father!βagain, but the closer he got to his destination, the more his anxiety flared up.
He wasnβt expected. His relatives wouldnβt turn him away, but surely they would be taken aback by his sudden visit. And most important of all, how would his father react?
As he followed the GPSβs directions to his fatherβs house, Jai nibbled at his thumbnail. Just ten more minutes, if the GPS was correct. Ten more minutes, and he would be standing in his old house, surrounded by his family, with his fatherβ¦
His thoughts came to a sudden halt at the sight of a man, waving his car down.
~
βUgh, Amma! How could you arrange a marriage match for me without telling me!β
βWhat?β Her mother gave her a smack on the back of her head. βWhat do you mean, without telling you? I gave birth to you without telling you, sent you to the best schools and colleges without you asking me, and now, I need your permission to do whatβs best for you?β She caught Vennelaβs ear and pulled, hard. βSit quietly and get dressedβnone of your antics now!β
Sticking her tongue out, Vennela agreed to be treated like a doll, and silently got dressed in all the finery her mother, her atha and her pinni could imagine. Finally, when they had pinned the last pleat of her half-saree into place and tucked the last flower into her hair, Vennela stood.
βAmma, Iβm going to go to the temple to pray before the groom comes home to meet me. If he comes home before I do, tell him to practise a song so he can sing for meβIβm very fond of music!β
βMad girl!β
Dodging her motherβs swat, Vennela ran for the door. Searching for her moment, she grabbed the keys to Nagallu bavaβs two-wheeler. The man himself was helping Satti put up flower garlands all around the room, talking all the while.
βCome on,β she told him, pointing to the door. He shook his head, his eyes going to her relatives as they laughed and joked at the dining table. It was obvious Nagullu was staring at Adi mama in fear.
βCome on,β she insisted, catching the stool he stood on and giving it a shake. Finally, with threats and glares, she got Nagullu to sit behind her on his scooter, as they took off for the only access road to Deva mamaβs house.
Five minutes later, they were parked right in the way of any oncoming car. No way would they miss the idiot groom when he finally arrived. They were all the same, these potential grooms. Just because she was from a village, they thought she would be a naive little girl, ready to follow her husband in everything, like a little Vennela doll they had purchased.
Heh. She had driven away five of those idiots so far. Today would make it six.
As a grey compact car drove down the road, she pushed Nagullu to flag it down. Looked like the idiot was here.
As he stepped out of the car, Vennela had to admit this new idiot was easy on the eyes. But something about him seemed so familiarβ¦
Nagullu was already spinning his story when it all finally clicked for Vennela.
βBava?β she cried, taking a step forward. βBava, youβre really here!β
Her bava whipped off his sunglasses, and his smile was bright. βVennu, is that you?β He caught her as she came forward, his hands going almost naturally around hers. βWow, you look even better than your photographs!β
βHold on, hold on!β Nagullu leapt forward, knocking their joined hands aside. βWhatβs all this about photographs? Vennu, you know this prospective bridegroom?β
βBridegroom?β Jai said, looking at both of them in confusion. βWait, who are you? Vennu, who is this?β
In the middle of their conversation, a car drew to a halt, and a young man got out. βHey, whatβs all this? Why have you stopped this car in the middle of the road? I have a very important appointment to get to, and you people are making me late!β
βYouβre going to Deva garuβs house to see a girl, right?β Vennela said, snapping at the idiot for interrupting her. Couldn’t he see she was busy? And completely uninterested? βWell, sorry to tell you, city boy, but you need to go back home. The girl you were going to see has eloped with her bava. Bye!β
Pulling her bemused bava along, Vennela got into his car. βCome on, Iβll show you the rest of the way home!β
As her bava started the car, Vennela rolled the window down, and tossed a set of keys to Nagullu.
βHere, bring the scooter homeβand make sure this idiot goes back! Iβm going off with Bava!β
And with a final wave, they were gone.
![](https://sudhakuruganti.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/author-fanfic-pin2.jpg)
![](https://sudhakuruganti.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Mirchi.jpg)
21 Comments
Meenu
HAhahaha… That was awesome meeting for Prince charming and my moonshine!
SS Kuruganti
Haha, glad you liked! π So finally, Vennela’s plan was successful! π
Mjm
After long tym u updated π it’s really sweet!!
SS Kuruganti
Yes, sorry about the wait! But, glad you liked! π Stay tuned for more!
aaradhaya1688
Awesome update girl
So veenu made a super plan to meet her bava haan
Waiting for jai to meet his nana and also the romance to start bw our 2 cuties….
SS Kuruganti
Thank you! π Yes, Vennela is smart! π
The story should start moving along soon – stay tuned! π
Sakura
This is too good!!! Loved both chapters!
You have a really beautiful style!!
So Finally Jai is going Home! Vennela has managed to do it! Waiting eagerly for the next chapter!
SS Kuruganti
Thank you! Glad you liked this series. π Yes, Jai is finally homeβ¦now itβs time for him to fall for Vennela! π Stay tuned for more, hope to have the next chapter up this weekend! π
Aaradhaya1688
When are u updating been more than 10 days π
SS Kuruganti
Hey, so sorry! π
Had some health issues that kept me from continuing this – or even replying to comments.
Now that I’m back, hope to get back to this and complete it soon! π
Anonymous
R u going to continue this story
SS Kuruganti
Hi! Yes, definitely going to continue – sorry for the delay, had a few health issues that crept up and kept me from completing this. π
Hope to get back to this soon!
Anonymous
Pls continue
SS Kuruganti
I definitely will! π
Was away for a while due to other circumstances, but I hope to complete this soon!
Anonymous
This is awesome ,r u going to continue π It’s been a long time since the last update
SS Kuruganti
Hey, so sorry for the delay on this! – I know I’ve said this a lot! :/
Been caught up with health issues + work + family stuff… which are finally cleared. I hope to have the next chapter up by Aug 14! π
Thanks so much for sticking with this fic for so long!
Anonymous
U promised an update todayπWill it be up
Anonymous
Did u discontinue this story finally πPls confirm
SS Kuruganti
No, not discontinued – just had to take a long break. π
I’m sorry for the long wait – won’t promise I’ll have it up this weekend since I don’t want to break any more promises! :/ But will definitely try.
Divya J
Hey please update the story it’s so interesting
sudhakuruganti
Hey, sorry for the delay, Divya. Thanks for the interest! I’m currently working on my own books. Hopefully I can pick this up again and finish it soon! π