The luxury air-conditioned Volvo bus groaned as it shifted gears, climbing the steep, winding road of Koh-i-Tur hill in Hyderabad.
Inside the bus, Krithika's extended family occupied the plush seats, chatting loudly over the hum of the engine. The won adjusted their silk sarees and checked their jewelry. The n looked out the windows, pointing at the passing scenery.
Krithika sat near the front window. She looked at her father, Subba Rao. He sat in the aisle seat, staring straight ahead, a calm, unbothered smile on his face. Her mother, Suma, sat beside him, holding a large silver tray covered with a yellow cloth.
The bus navigated the heavy morning traffic, slowly making its way toward the old city. Krithika looked out the large tinted window. The streets were an absolute ss.
"Look at that line, Anna," Krithika's Babai called out from the row behind her father. He leaned over the seat, pointing a frantic finger out the window.
They were passing a State Bank of India branch. A massive, restless crowd snaked out of the bank doors, wrapping entirely around the street corner. People were arguing with the security guards. Just down the road, a petrol bunk was completely blocked by vehicles. Drivers were honking aggressively, waving pink and yellow paper notes at the exasperated attendants.
"The whole city has gone mad," Babai complained loudly. "My neighbor stood in line from four in the morning just to deposit his old five-hundred and thousand-rupee notes. He only got four thousand rupees back. Four thousand! How is a man supposed to run a household?"
"It is a crisis for the common man," Krithika's Pinni agreed, leaning into the aisle. She clutched her handbag tightly. "Every single ATM we passed is displaying a 'No Cash' sign."
Babai shook his head, his brow furrowed in deep concern. "I am telling you again, Anna. Look at the situation outside. And your future son-in-law decided to book Falaknuma Palace today? The Nizam's actual palace? Do you know what that costs for one single morning? It is in lakhs."
"He managed the booking, Tammudu (younger brother)," Subba Rao replied without turning around. "Do not worry about it."
"How can I not worry?" Babai argued, his voice rising in panic. "If he is just a software employee in a managent company, he must have taken personal loans from a bank to show off to our family. Starting a new marriage with a mountain of debt is a very bad sign. Especially now! What if the palace caterers refuse to take old cash? We don't have change. Will we have to wash dishes in the palace kitchen?"
Krithika covered her mouth, desperately trying to suppress a laugh. Anjali nudged her in the ribs, grinning widely.
"Everything is paid for digitally," Subba Rao said calmly. "You just focus on the engagent."
Krithika's aunt, her Pinni, leaned into the aisle from the other side. "But still. Kukatpally rent, EMIs, and now a palace booking? You should have told them to book a simple function hall in Aerpet or Secunderabad. A normal lunch buffet is enough. We are simple people. We don't need all this show."
"We have reached," Subba Rao announced simply.
The bus passed through the towering, ornate iron gates and ca to a halt in the designated VIP parking area.
Right behind the bus, two sleek, expensive SUVs pulled into the adjacent parking spots. Saer, Feroz, and Arjun stepped out of the first car. Krithika's best friends, Riya and Kavya, erged from the second. They had chosen to drive themselves to avoid the crowded family bus and to help coordinate the logistics.
The pneumatic doors of the bus hissed open. The relatives stepped out onto the paved driveway. Riya and Kavya imdiately walked over to Krithika, hugging her.
"You ready for the reveal?" Riya whispered, grinning.
"My Babai is going to have a heart attack," Krithika whispered back.
The relatives looked up at the palace. The sheer scale of the architecture, the sweeping marble staircases, and the manicured gardens left them montarily speechless. Private security guards in sharp black suits stood at the entrances, observing them quietly.
"Everybody, form a line," Subba Rao instructed, acting as the head of the family. "Do not scatter. Walk together. The groom's family is waiting inside."
Krithika walked beside Anjali, flanked by Riya and Kavya. Saer, Feroz, and Arjun walked a few paces behind, talking quietly among themselves.
"Arjun set up the caraman," Anjali whispered to Krithika.
"Behave," Krithika warned her sister, though she was smiling.
The family walked up the wide marble steps. They entered the grand foyer of the palace. A man holding a professional video cara stood near a marble pillar. His lens was pointed directly at the entrance doors, focused entirely on the faces of Krithika's relatives as they walked in.
The relatives walked past the foyer and entered the main Durbar Hall. The hall featured incredibly high ceilings, massive crystal chandeliers, and polished wooden floors. A traditional seating arrangent covered the center of the room. Thick carpets and white mattresses were spread on the floor, surrounded by heavy flower decorations of jasmine and marigold.
The groom's family stood near the mattresses, waiting to welco them.
Krithika's Babai walked at the front of the group alongside Subba Rao. He scanned the room to find the software boy. He saw Vikram Deva and Sesikala standing at the front. They looked wealthy, dressed in premium handwoven clothes.
His eyes moved past them. They landed on a tall, broad-shouldered young man standing slightly to the side. Saer, Feroz, and Arjun smoothly walked past the relatives and went to stand right next to him.
The young man wore a simple, light blue linen shirt and dark trousers.
The young man turned his head. He offered a polite, respectful smile to the arriving guests.
Krithika's Babai stopped walking.
He froze completely. He blinked. He took off his spectacles, wiped the lenses on his shirt, and put them back on. He stared at the young man.
The caraman stepped sideways, capturing the exact mont Krithika's Babai's jaw dropped open.
"Anna," Babai whispered. His voice shook. He grabbed Subba Rao's arm with a vice-like grip. "Anna. Look."
"I am looking," Subba Rao said calmly.
"Anna, that is Siddanth Deva," Babai said, his voice rising in panic. "The Indian cricketer. He is standing exactly where the groom's family is standing. Did we enter the wrong hall? Is there a VIP function happening here?"
Krithika's Pinni walked up beside them. She looked at Siddanth. Her eyes widened to the size of saucers. She dropped her handbag on the marble floor. The loud thud echoed in the silent hall.
"What is he doing here?" Pinni gasped. "Are we interrupting an event?"
Subba Rao turned to his brother and sister-in-law. "We are not interrupting. He is the groom."
The entire Rao family stopped walking. Twenty people stood frozen in the middle of the Durbar Hall. The silence stretched for ten seconds. Nobody moved. Riya, Kavya, and Anjali had to bite their lips to stop from laughing out loud.
"Groom?" Babai choked out, his voice cracking. "You said he works in a company!"
"He does," Subba Rao replied. "He owns it."
"You said he earns enough to pay his bills!" Pinni accused Krithika, pointing a shaking finger at her niece. "You told he manages his finances!"
"He does, Pinni," Krithika smiled innocently.
Siddanth noticed the commotion and the shock. He decided to break the ice. He walked forward, crossing the hall. He approached Subba Rao and bent down, touching his feet for blessings. Subba Rao smiled and placed a hand on his head.
Siddanth then turned to Krithika's Babai. He bent down and touched his feet as well.
"Namaskaram, Mamayya," Siddanth said respectfully. "Welco."
Babai stumbled backward half a step. The captain of the Indian Test cricket team, a billionaire, had just touched his feet and called him Mamayya. He looked at Siddanth, then at Krithika, then back at Siddanth.
"Namaskaram, Babu," Babai managed to stamr. He looked at his brother. "Anna, you gave a heart attack. You let us complain about the palace costs all morning."
"I wanted to see your reaction," Subba Rao laughed. "Now co, let us sit. The auspicious ti is approaching."
The shock slowly morphed into an overwhelming, chaotic excitent. Krithika's cousins stared at Siddanth with open mouths. Her aunts whispered frantically to each other. Arjun instructed the caraman to stop recording. He had captured enough blackmail material.
The two families settled on the floor mats. The n sat on one side, the won on the other. Siddanth sat cross-legged next to his father. Krithika sat opposite him, next to her mother. Saer, Feroz, Riya, and Kavya took seats slightly behind the imdiate family, watching the rituals unfold.
A senior priest entered the hall, accompanied by two assistants. They wore traditional white dhotis. They carried brass plates, rolled palm leaves, and panchapatras filled with water.
They sat at the head of the arrangent, between the two families.
"We will begin the Nischitartham," the head priest announced. His voice was loud and clear in the hall.
He initiated the Ganapati pooja. He chanted mantras in Sanskrit, purifying the space with water. He instructed both fathers, Vikram Deva and Subba Rao, to co forward and sit facing each other.
"This ceremony fixes the alliance," the priest said. "Before witnesses, the elders, and the gods, both families will formally agree to this union."
The priest unrolled a sheet of yellow paper. It was the Lagna Patrika, the formal engagent docunt written entirely in Telugu. He picked up a pen.
He turned to Vikram Deva. "What is your Gotram?"
"Bharadwaja Gotram," Vikram answered firmly.
The priest wrote it down. He turned to Subba Rao. "And yours?"
"Koundinya Gotram," Subba Rao replied.
The priest nodded and wrote it down. "I will now read the lineage," the priest announced to the hall. He looked at the paper and read aloud.
"In the presence of elders, it is hereby agreed that Siddanth, the grandson of Sri Ram Deva, and the son of Sri Vikram Deva and Srimati Sesikala of Bharadwaja Gotram, shall marry Krithika, the granddaughter of Sri Venkata Rao, and the daughter of Sri Subba Rao and Srimati Suma of Koundinya Gotram."
The priest paused, looking at both fathers. "Do both families agree to this alliance?"
"We agree," Vikram Deva said loudly.
"We agree," Subba Rao echoed.
The priest nodded. He wrote the final details on the Lagna Patrika. He then looked at the astrological charts placed on the mat before him.
"Based on the Janma Kundalis and the planetary alignnts," the priest announced, "the auspicious ti, the Muhurtham for the Vivaham, is fixed. The marriage shall take place on the third day of December. Does everyone accept this date?"
"Accepted," the elders from both sides said simultaneously.
The priest placed the Lagna Patrika on a silver plate along with betel leaves, betel nuts, and a coconut. He handed the plate to Vikram Deva. Vikram took the plate and handed it to Subba Rao. Subba Rao accepted it with both hands. This signified the formal acceptance of the groom's proposal.
"Now, the exchange of Thamboolam and the new clothes," the priest instructed.
Sesikala stood up. She picked up a large, ornate brass plate. It contained a heavy silk saree, a piece of sandalwood, turric roots, kumkum, and fresh fruits. She walked over to Suma. Suma stood up and accepted the plate. They smiled at each other.
Suma then turned and handed a similar brass plate to Sesikala. This plate contained a folded silk kurta and dhoti for Siddanth.
"The bride and groom shall now change into the clothes gifted by the new families," the priest directed.
Krithika stood up. Her mother, sister, and her two best friends, Riya and Kavya, escorted her out of the hall to a private dressing room in the palace. Siddanth also stood up, taking the plate from his mother, and walked to a different room, accompanied by Arjun, Saer, and Feroz.
The families used the break to talk. Krithika's Babai finally gathered his courage. He moved across the mat and sat next to Vikram Deva.
"Vikram garu," Babai started. "When my brother said your son works in computers, I thought he writes code in a cubicle. How did these two even et?"
Vikram laughed. "They t a long ti ago. After 2011 World Cup. They kept it a secret from all of us for a very long ti."
Fifteen minutes later, the heavy wooden doors opened.
Siddanth walked in first. He wore the deep maroon handwoven silk kurta. The fabric was rich, with subtle gold threading along the collar. He paired it with a cream pyjama.
A mont later, Krithika entered. She wore the dark maroon handwoven silk saree. She looked stunning. The heavy gold border caught the light from the chandeliers.
They walked to the center of the arrangent and sat opposite each other on the mats.
The priest placed a small brass bowl filled with wet, yellow turric rice in the center.
"The elders will now bless the couple," the priest said. "Take the Akshinthalu and shower them on the couple's heads."
Vikram and Sesikala stepped forward first. They took a small pinch of the yellow rice and sprinkled it gently on Siddanth's head, then on Krithika's head, offering quiet blessings. Subba Rao and Suma followed, repeating the gentle gesture.
Then, the uncles and aunts ford a line. Everyone took turns dropping a few grains of rice.
Then, the kids ran up. Aryan and Tarun, Siddanth's young nephews, arrived at the front of the line.
"Our turn!" Aryan announced.
Instead of taking a small pinch, Aryan plunged both his hands into the brass bowl. He grabbed a massive, overflowing handful of wet yellow rice. Tarun did the exact sa thing.
"Wait, boys," Siddanth warned, seeing their hands.
It was too late. Aryan and Tarun threw the massive handfuls of rice directly at Siddanth and Krithika. The rice didn't land gently on their heads. It hit Siddanth squarely in the face. It hit Krithika's nose and shoulders. Yellow turric powder exploded into the air.
Siddanth burst out laughing, spitting a grain of rice out of his mouth. Krithika tried to shield her face with her hands, laughing uncontrollably.
"What are you doing, you monkeys!" Sesikala shouted, rushing forward and grabbing the boys by their arms. "You sprinkle it! You don't throw it like stones!"
"We gave them extra blessings, Nainamma," Aryan argued defensively.
"Go sit down," Vikram laughed, steering the kids away from the bowl before they could grab more.
Siddanth wiped the yellow powder off his forehead. Krithika wiped her nose, looking at him.
"You look very blessed," she joked.
"You have rice on your face," he pointed out.
"Now," the priest announced, ignoring the chaos. "The rings."
Arjun stepped forward and handed Siddanth a small velvet box. Anjali handed Krithika a similar box.
Siddanth opened his box. He took out the custom diamond ring. He looked across the mat at Krithika. He reached out and took her left hand. His calloused fingers held her palm gently. He slid the ring onto her ring finger.
The room clapped loudly.
Krithika opened her box. She took out a solid platinum band. She took his left hand. She pushed the ring over his knuckle. It slid perfectly into place.
The clapping grew louder.
"The Nischitartham is complete," the priest declared, raising his hands. "May the gods bless the journey to the Vivaham."
Siddanth and Krithika stood up. They touched the feet of the priest, then the feet of all four parents.
The formal ceremony ended. The tension dissolved entirely. The families imdiately broke into loud, overlapping conversations, mingling freely.
"Okay, everyone, please stand together!" a loud voice interrupted.
The caraman stepped into the center of the hall, adjusting his heavy flashgun. "We need formal photos. Sir, Madam, please stand here."
Siddanth and Krithika stood side by side near the flower decorations.
"Smile sir," the caraman instructed.
Siddanth offered a polite smile. The cara flashed.
"Okay, look at each other," the caraman ordered.
They turned their heads and looked at each other. The cara flashed.
"Okay, sir, hold her hand and look at the cara."
Siddanth took her hand. The cara flashed.
"Sir, put your hand on her waist and smile."
Siddanth obliged. The cara flashed.
"Sir, look down at the floor and smile like you are thinking of sothing happy."
Siddanth looked at the caraman, his smile faltering slightly. He perford the awkward pose. The cara flashed.
"Madam, look at him. Sir, look at the cara."
The cara flashed again.
"I think those are enough," Siddanth said, dropping his pose. His cheeks felt stiff.
"Just one more sir," the caraman pleaded, holding the cara up. "Just one more."
Siddanth stood still. The caraman took the shot. And then another. And another. He rapid-fired ten flashes in five seconds from different angles.
Siddanth let out a heavy sigh. He was used to sports photographers taking action shots from fifty yards away, not wedding photographers micromanaging his posture from five feet away.
"Take her photos," Siddanth told the caraman abruptly. "My cheeks are hurting."
He unlinked his arm from Krithika's, stepped entirely out of the fra, and walked over to where Arjun, Saer, and Feroz were standing, highly amused by his misery.
Krithika burst into laughter. Anjali imdiately ran into the fra.
"He gave up!" Anjali cheered. "Co on, photographer anna, take our photos!"
Riya and Kavya joined them, and the caraman happily obliged, taking dozens of photos of Krithika, her sister, and her best friends.
"Friends only photo!" Saer shouted.
Saer, Feroz, and Arjun walked over to the stage. They pulled Siddanth back into the fra. Saer threw his arm over Siddanth's shoulder, pointing at him and laughing for the cara. Feroz stood next to Arjun. Riya and Kavya stood beside Anjali. The caraman took several photos of the core group.
After a few minutes, the elders called for group photos. Siddanth reluctantly returned to the stage. They took pictures with the parents, then a massive group photo with all the cousins, uncles, and aunts from both sides, with Saer and Feroz standing in the back row. The flashbulbs finally stopped.
"Lunch is served," Vikram Deva announced loudly to the room. "Everyone, please proceed to the dining hall."
The guests moved through the palace corridors toward the famous 101-seater dining hall of the Falaknuma Palace.
The dining table was one of the longest in the world, stretching endlessly across the opulent room. Heavy wooden chairs lined both sides.
However, despite the royal setting, Siddanth had requested a traditional serving thod.
They sat at the massive table. The waiters, dressed in traditional attire, placed fresh, green banana leaves in front of every single guest on top of the polished wood.
"Start with the sweets," Subba Rao instructed the servers.
The servers walked down the line carrying steel buckets. They placed a piece of Bobbatlu and a Mysore Pak on every leaf. Then ca the steaming hot white rice. The servers poured thick, yellow dal over the rice, followed by a generous spoonful of pure, lted ghee.
"The ghee slls excellent," Krithika's Babai noted, sitting next to Siddanth. He mixed the rice and dal with his right hand. He took a bite. His eyes closed in satisfaction."Tastes very nice."
"Try the Gutti Vankaya, Mamayya," Siddanth suggested, pointing to the stuffed eggplant curry.
The groom's side playfully forced the bride's relatives to eat more than their capacity. Vikram Deva stood up from his chair and walked around the long table.
"Serve more Biryani here!" Vikram ordered a waiter as he stood behind Krithika's namama.
"No, no, Vikram garu, I am full," the namama protested, holding his hand over his leaf.
"You haven't eaten anything," Vikram argued, lifting the uncle's hand and forcing the waiter to serve a massive portion of mutton biryani. "Eat, eat."
The dining hall echoed with laughter and the sounds of a proper feast. They finished the al with Double Ka etha and traditional filter coffee.
After lunch, the guests moved back to the main halls. It was ti to leave.
Before departing, Siddanth and Krithika stood near the exit doors to hand out the return gifts.
Usually, in Telugu engagents, the return gift consisted of a cloth bag containing a coconut, betel leaves, betel nuts, and a small box of sweets.
Siddanth handed the first bag to Krithika's Babai. The bag was unusually heavy.
"What is this, Babu? It is very heavy," Babai asked.
"Just a small gift, Mamayya," Siddanth smiled.
Babai looked inside the bag. He pulled out a sleek, rectangular white box. He opened it. Inside rested a brand-new Nexus Laptop. Beneath it was a Nexus Tablet. And beside that was the flagship Nexus Apex smartphone.
Babai stared at the electronics. He looked at his wife. She opened her bag and found the exact sa items.
The murmurs started down the line. Every single relative from Krithika's side found the sa premium Nexus products in their return gift bags. It was a corporate flex delivered with traditional hospitality.
"Siddanth, this is too much," Subba Rao said, seeing the gifts. "You did not have to do this."
"It is from my company, Mamayya. Consider it a family discount," Siddanth joked.
As the relatives gathered near the exit, holding their heavy bags, Vikram Deva clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. Subba Rao stood next to him.
"Listen to carefully, everyone," Vikram announced. His tone was serious. "Today was a wonderful day. But I have a strict request."
Subba Rao nodded. "We are asking all of you to respect their privacy. Do not post any photos of Krithika online. Do not put them on Facebook, do not put them on Instagram."
Vikram looked directly at the teenagers and kids. "I am especially telling the youth. No photos of the bride on social dia. Siddanth is a public figure. If her photo goes viral, the dia will disturb her daily life. We want to keep her out of the news until the wedding."
"We understand, Anna," Krithika's Peddamma agreed.
"And if anyone does post," Arjun muttered quietly in the background, "VEDA will delete it before it gets three likes."
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