all the pictures credit goes to the owners 

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Location: Hyderabad

𝑨 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏

The morning in the Reddy mansion was as calm as a temple courtyard. The scent of sambrani drifted through the long hallways, blending with the fragrance of incense sticks placed before the ancestral shrine. Birds chirped outside, their melodies entering through the open, sheer curtains.

In the center of the grand mansion, a young girl moved from room to room, humming to herself. Her half-saree brushed softly against her ankles, and every step she took made her silver anklets jingle, tiny bells echoing through the house like gentle laughter.

Her presence made the mansion feel alive.

That was Nitya Reddy.

Still adjusting flowers, she paused to admire her work when suddenly..

A deep, rough, half-sleepy voice thundered through the mansion, vibrating through the very walls.

"AMMULU!"

Nitya froze. Her heart skipped. Her fingers trembled.

She knew that voice. Everyone in the mansion knew that voice.

Rudra Suryadev Reddy.

The name itself carried weight. Calm as a silent storm, cold as winter steel, and feared even when half-asleep.

Nitya swallowed hard and ran toward his room, her anklets ringing faster with every step.

She reached his large wooden door, which was slightly ajar, the room dim with early-morning shadows. Carefully, almost on tiptoe, she pushed it wider. Inside, Rudra lay on his stomach, his bare back glistening faintly under the morning light.

Nitya's voice came out in a whisper, trembling, soft.

"Bava..."

Rudra didn't move at first. Then his fingers curled over the bedsheet, and he turned his head slightly, opening one eye—sharp, intimidating, yet somehow gentle only for her.

His voice was thick with sleep and dominance.

"Where were you, Ammulu...?"

She stiffened.

He pushed himself up a bit, his gaze locking onto her.

"Neeku telsu kadaa... nenu lechina ventane..." He paused, looking directly into her soul. "...nee mohame chudali ani."

(You know it, right… the moment I wake up…”
“…the first thing I want to see is your face.”)

Nitya's breath hitched.

Then his voice hardened.

"Mari... endhukku intha late ga vachav... ha?"

(“Then… why did you come so late… huh?”)

She stepped back instinctively, clutching her half-saree pallu.

"S-sorry Bava... pooja chesthunna... flowers arrange chesthunna..."

(“S-sorry Bava… I was doing the pooja… arranging the flowers…” )

He narrowed his eyes.

"Naa kanna pooja mukhyama? Naa kanna puvvulu ekkuva avasaram? Hmm?"

(“Is the pooja more important than me? Are those flowers more necessary than me? Hmm?”)

She shook her head quickly, scared yet wanting to please him.

"Ledu Bava... emi kadu... I—I came as soon as I heard..."

(“No Bava… nothing like that… I—I came as soon as I heard…”)

Rudra let out a small, humorless smirk.

"Heard? Ammulu... Naa voice vinapadaka mundhe... naa daggara ki ravali ani teledha neeeku."

(“Heard? Ammulu… before even hearing my voice… don’t you know you’re supposed to come to me?”)

Her cheeks turned red in embarrassment, and she looked down.

Slowly, Rudra stretched out his hand.

"Raa ikkadiki."

(“Come here.”)

Nitya hesitated.

His voice dropped dangerously low.

"Nitya... nenu rendu sarlu cheppanu."

(“Nitya… I don’t say things twice.”)

She stepped forward.

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word count: 450 Words