Bucchinaidu Kandriga (బుచ్చి నాయుడు కండ్రిగ)

‘I love you.’

‘Tell me once again.’

‘I love you.’ ‘I have waited for you to tell me this for so long...’

‘Just to hear you say this, I wanted to be your shadow. And live with you as my breath.’

‘But just to hear you say these words, today I am orphaned and left with nothing at all.’

‘Ten months is enough to know if a child in a mother’s womb is male or female.’

‘But it took me four years to know, what was in your heart.’

‘You did not make a mistake, Sandhya. It was me.’

‘Because to know whether a girl loves you or not, it may take an hour, a day, a week, a month or even just a year.’

‘But I have been a fool to pursue you for four years!’

‘I am not the only mad fool. You will find many youngsters like this in Vizag’s Jagadamba centre or at Vijaywada’s Benz circle...

at Hyderabad’s Abids or in Guntur’s Zinna Tower centre. Not just one, but so many in Andhra...’

When I shouted, you would have seen my anger.

But for me, I can see my past.

My name is Balu.

My town is called Bhuchinaidu Kandriga, the East street.

It has given me so many memories.

Do you see that house? That is Swapna’s house.

It has given me many experiences.

The house opposite to it is mine.

Where I experienced many feelings.

If you have to know my past,

we need to go back a few years.

Swapna?

Hey, Swapna?!

Where are you?

Hey, Swapna!

What, you just had your bath?

When do you want to go to college?

We will miss the bus.

I am done. Give me five minutes to get ready.

Such a headache every day with this girl!

Yes, please put some sense into her.

Till then she won’t understand.

Learn something from them

First, give me my breakfast. It’s getting late for my bus.

Move! Move!

You should have hurried before.

Till midnight, she watches some cassette in her deck.

And gets up after the sun is already high in the sky!

Don’t know when she will brush her teeth,

take a bath and go to college!

This girl has lost all fear or reverence.

Mother, come fast!

Mother!

Ah! Why can’t you hurry up before this?

Here, eat.

Eat slowly!

I have to blame your father for this.

Go on!

Sir.

Tell him!

Sir...

Why are you mumbling?

Sire, it’s... -Shut it!

Sire, I believe they can’t find their son since yesterday.

What happened?

We don’t know, sire.

Have you guys fought?

Nothing like that, sire.

You don’t know what happened to him and neither did you fight with him.

Then where did he go?

Don’t know, sire.

okay. Go. I’ll call you later.

Ok, sire.

You, feed the grass to the cows and this to cattle.

Ok, sire.

Hey! Tell me!

This guy! No matter how much I hit him he says he cannot forget my daughter, brother-in-law!

What do I do with him?!

Your parents are crying because they can’t find you.

And you are saying you cannot forget that girl.

What’s this?

I want her. I want that girl.

I will forget her! I will forget!

You have to! You have to forget her!!

I will forget!

If you ever look at her again, I will kill you!

I will forget!

Hey!

Ma, my pant’s button has broken off.

Why do you tell me now, when it’s time for your bus?!

Where’s it? -Here.

Wait, I will stitch it.

Hey, give Hari your measurements, I will him to stitch you some pants.

Hey, leave it! You are another.

For a loose button, you want to stitch him new clothes?

Hey, you come here! Let me stitch it.

Give it to me.

Very nice.

Hey! It’s getting late for college!

Hey! Wait, you are getting late for college! No! No! It’s fine, I will hold it up with a belt.

Hey, be careful. It may slip off!

Hey, haven’t you guys gone to the bus yet?

Why do we have to go every day? Why can’t you go?

You are talking too much. It won’t be nice, I am telling you.

What will you do, girl?

Hey, Padma, let’s go. Come on.

You wait a second. Let me deal with this.

What will you do?

Swapna...

I have always liked her a lot since childhood.

I feel I can stand however long, just looking at her.

I feel like I can just keep listening to her talk forever.

I don’t know why but I am scared to talk to her.

‘As soon as I saw you, my feet beg to follow you, my dear.’

‘My heart keeps asking me, when will our story of togetherness start?’

Darling, my heart can’t be still.’

‘It makes me run towards you.’

‘When you are in front of me, my heart feels this unknown joy.’

When my eyes see you around, I celebrate my dreams coming true.’

‘It feels like the combination of God’s wish and a dream coming true.’

‘The ecstasy and happiness I feel are my own.’

‘My darling, my heart cannot stay still.’

‘It makes me run towards you.’

‘The second I don’t see you, my heart can’t stop worrying’

‘I can’t think of anything else. Don’t want magic this is.’

‘I mistake you for everyone else.’

‘This mistake has become a habit now.’

‘If you look in all the four directions. In every corner of the world.’

‘I see only you, my love.’

It feels like the combination of God’s wish and a dream coming true.’

‘The ecstasy and happiness I feel are my own.’

‘Darling, my heart can’t be still.’

‘It makes me run towards you.’

Just because it’s such discomfort, we get up early in the morning.

Otherwise, why do we need such trouble in such cold weather?

My stomach feels really bad.

Won’t it, then. If you eat little, then it will feel good.

But if you eat a lot, then what will happen?

I will hit you with this pot!

Just shut up and come.

Enough! Let’s go.

How far has your love story come?

Hey, will you only stare at her? Won’t you say anything?

I want to. But I am not able to.

That is what is called fear.

Hey, Chandram.

Will that pot be enough for you? Or should I call the fire brigade?

Why? Why don’t you come and wash me instead?

I have become a joke to everyone.

Hey, come on.

We shouldn’t have brought him along. It’s our fault!

Four.

One, two, three, four.

Swapna.

What’s it?

That Balu looks at you weirdly. What’s the story?

What are you saying?

Yes, I think he loves you.

Hey, no! What do you mean he loves me?

He is scared just looking at me.

Fear? Or love?

Hey! You are talking too much. I am warning you.

What she is saying is correct.

I have been observing this for the last couple of days.

He’s acting a bit weird.

If you want, wait and see. He will make an excuse to come here just to see you.

What is it, Balu?

Didn’t I tell you? Look, he’s here.

What do you want?

Mom asked me to get curry leaves.

It is in the backyard. Go, pluck a few leaves.

We are here.

I came for the curry leaves.

I never said you are here for Swapna.

Go. Go, pluck some leaves.

Hey, did you see?

I mean, did you pluck the leaves?

Go. Go. Go.

What do you say, now?

From that moment, Swapna started thinking about me.

Do think she found out?

Not sure.

The way that Padma spoke, was weird.

Is it?

Hey, when I am so tensed, how can you just say, ‘not sure’ ‘is it’?!

Then what?

You have been in love with her since childhood.

You never tell her that.

At least they have come to know. Be happy.

Swapna is here. Swapna is here.

Hey, Chandra. Mom said she gave something to you to stitch. Is it done?

Not yet, Swapna. I will give it to you this evening.

Why did you give it to him?

There is a tailor near my house who would have done the job faster.

Hey, girl. Why are you trying to destroy my business? Get lost!

Why is he like this?

You only ask him. He will tell you.

Hey!

nothing. Nothing!

Hey, don’t delay anymore.

If you are scared to tell her, write a love letter!

Ma?!

Ma?!

Where do I put this?

Go put it inside.

Why so late?

Daughter asked me to get her a cassette.

I was delayed trying to get it.