Tulasi mokka daggara modalina prema

# Chapter 1

## A House That Forgot How to Be a Home

The afternoon sun was slowly softening when an auto stopped in front of a small house in **Madanapalle**, a quiet town surrounded by fields and small hills.

The house wasn't big.

Just a small, old, middle-class home.

A tiny front yard.

A faded blue gate.

A single bike parked beside the wall.

And near the entrance stood a **Tulasi plant** in a clay pot.

The plant looked almost dead.

Its leaves had dried, and the soil looked as if nobody had watered it in a long time.

The auto driver placed the luggage down.

The door opened.

A man stepped out.

**Sathvik.**

Twenty-eight years old.

Tall.

Around six feet.

Broad shoulders.

Wheatish skin.

Sharp jaw.

Deep black eyes that looked tired all the time.

His face was handsome, but there was something distant about him… something lonely.

A thin beard covered his face.

His white shirt sleeves were folded to his elbows.

The sacred wedding thread on his wrist still looked new.

He worked as a **civil engineer** in a construction company in Madanapalle. After his parents died twelve years ago in an accident, he had worked day and night, taking small jobs, giving tuition to children, and studying with his own earnings.

Everything he had today…

He built alone.

No family.

No relatives nearby.

Just this house.

And silence.

He took the luggage from the auto without saying anything.

Then he looked at the woman sitting inside.

**Ananya.**

His wife.

Married yesterday.

A complete stranger.

She slowly stepped out of the auto.

Her green saree moved softly in the breeze.

Her long black hair was braided and decorated with a few jasmine flowers left from the wedding.

She was beautiful.

Not because of makeup.

Not because of jewelry.

But because there was something soft and warm about her.

Big expressive eyes.

Fair skin.

A small nose.

Pink lips.

A tiny black bindi.

Her mangalsutra rested against her neck.

The fresh sindoor in her hairline reminded her that she now belonged to a different home.

Her eyes slowly lifted and looked at the house.

This…

was her home now.

Her heart beat nervously.

Sathvik picked up the luggage.

Without looking at her, he said,

**"Lopalaki raa."**

*(Come inside.)*

His voice was calm.

But distant.

Ananya quietly nodded.

She removed her sandals outside.

He did the same.

Together, they entered the house.

…

Silence.

The house felt strangely empty.

The hall was small.

One old sofa.

A wooden table.

A television that looked years old.

A clock on the wall.

A few framed photos.

And her eyes stopped there.

A photo.

A smiling couple.

A man and a woman.

Sathvik's parents.

Garlands hung around the frame.

Ananya's heart softened.

Twelve years.

He had been alone for twelve years.

No wonder the house looked lonely.

No wonder the Tulasi plant was dying.

No wonder he looked tired.

Sathvik noticed her looking at the photo.

His eyes darkened for a second.

Then he looked away.

He picked up the luggage again.

**"Room ikkada."**

*(The room is here.)*

He walked ahead.

She followed.

The room was simple.

A double cot.

A wooden cupboard.

A study table filled with books and files.

Engineering books.

Construction plans.

A laptop.

A small shelf.

And one thing caught her attention.

Near the bed stood another photo.

His parents.

Without realizing it, she smiled softly.

He kept their photo near him.

Even after all these years.

Sathvik put the luggage down.

**"Nuvvu nee vishayalu arrange chesuko."**

*(Arrange your things.)*

She nodded.

He stood awkwardly.

He didn't know what to say.

What should a husband say?

How should he behave?

He had never imagined marriage.

Never imagined another person living in his room.

Everything felt strange.

After a few seconds, he spoke.

**"Kitchen akkada undi. Neellu kavali ante teesuko."**

*(The kitchen is there. If you want water, take it.)*

His tone sounded harsh.

Cold.

Almost rude.

Ananya looked at him.

She could see it.

He wasn't angry.

He was uncomfortable.

So she simply nodded.

**"Sare."**

*(Okay.)*

He didn't say anything more.

He turned and left.

…

Ananya slowly opened her suitcase.

She arranged her sarees.

Her books.

Her bangles.

A small framed photo of her mother and brother.

She placed it carefully on the table.

Her eyes became moist.

This was the first day she had slept away from them.

She missed them already.

Just then…

She heard noises from outside.

She stepped out.

Sathvik was standing near the Tulasi plant.

A bottle of water in his hand.

He slowly poured water into the dry soil.

Ananya blinked.

For someone who looked so cold…

He remembered to water a dying plant.

He stared at the Tulasi silently.

Then whispered,

**"Nenu malli marchipoya..."**

*(I forgot again…)*

She heard it.

Forgot?

Did he always forget?

Did his mother take care of this plant before?

A strange sadness filled her heart.

He turned.

Their eyes met.

For a few seconds neither spoke.

Then he looked away.

**"Aakali vesthunda?"**

*(Are you hungry?)*

She nodded lightly.

**"Konchem."**

*(A little.)*

He looked uncomfortable again.

**"Naku vanta raadu."**

*(I don't know cooking.)*

Ananya's eyes widened.

He scratched his neck awkwardly.

**"Bayata tintanu."**

*(I eat outside.)*

Silence.

Then for the first time…

She smiled.

A small smile.

**"Naaku vanta vachhu."**

*(I know cooking.)*

He looked at her.

She pointed toward the kitchen.

**"Nenu chesthanu."**

*(I'll make something.)*

Immediately he frowned.

**"Avsaram ledu."**

*(No need.)*

**"Parledhu."**

*(It's okay.)*

**"Cheppanu kada, avsaram ledu."**

*(I said it's not necessary.)*

His voice came out harsher than intended.

The smile disappeared from her face.

She looked down.

He immediately realized.

Again.

Too harsh.

Just like always.

He sighed.

**"Nenu… ala matladadaniki alavatu."**

*(I… am used to speaking like that.)*

She slowly looked at him.

**"Nenu kopam tho cheppaledu."**

*(I didn't say it in anger.)*

For the first time…

His voice softened.

Ananya gave a small nod.

Then she smiled again.

**"Parledhu."**

*(It's okay.)*

He stared at her.

She forgave him that easily?

Strange.

Very strange.

After a few seconds she asked softly,

**"Intlo em unnayi?"**

*(What groceries are there in the house?)*

He blinked.

Then said,

**"Naaku teliyadu."**

*(I don't know.)*

This time…

She almost laughed.

He looked confused.

**"Meeru intlo em unnayo kuda teliyada?"**

*(You don't even know what is in your own house?)*

He looked embarrassed.

**"Nijam ga teliyadu."**

*(I really don't know.)*

A tiny laugh escaped her lips.

The sound filled the house.

For the first time in twelve years…

The house heard laughter.

And something inside Sathvik's chest felt strange.

Warm.

He didn't understand it.

Ananya walked toward the kitchen.

A few minutes later—

**"Sathvik garu!"**

He looked up.

It was the first time she called his name.

**"Ikkada randi."**

*(Come here.)*

He went.

She looked helpless.

**"Gas ela on cheyali?"**

*(How do I turn on the gas?)*

He stared.

Then she stared.

A second later…

Both looked away awkwardly.

Neither knew what to do.

Finally she burst into laughter.

He looked at her in disbelief.

She covered her mouth.

**"Nenu vanta chesthanu ani cheppanu… kani gas vere untundi anukoledu."**

*(I said I could cook… but I didn't expect this type of stove.)*

Unexpectedly…

The corner of his lips lifted.

A tiny smile.

His first smile in the chapter.

Ananya froze.

He looked different when he smiled.

Younger.

Softer.

Human.

He quickly looked away.

But she had already seen it.

And unknowingly…

She smiled too.

Outside…

The evening breeze touched the dying Tulasi plant.

For the first time in many years…

That lonely house didn't feel completely empty anymore.