The Friendzoned Husband

Chapter 20 - Janaki's advice to Vennela

Amar was feeling nervous. He has been thinking if he should tell the truth to Vennela since the temple incident. It has been three days but he couldn't decide what to do. He went to Janaki's room that morning and touched her feet to take her blessings.

"Why? Do you need pocket money?" asked Janaki. Amar used to do that during his childhood before requesting for money and chocolates.

"I'm too old for that, darling" said Amar, sitting on the floor at her feet.

"But you will always be the same talkative, naughty kid to me. What is it that's bothering you? I know that look on your face. You are not able to make a decision. Aren't you?" Janaki understood his internal conflict.

"How do you know?" asked Amar.

"I've been your grandmother for 28 years." She replied.

"But I'm just 27."

"I've been taking care of you since you were in your mother's womb. That makes it 28 years," said Janaki.

Amar smiled weakly. "Grandma. How would you feel if grandpa hid something from you? Something you deserve to know."

"Your grandpa would never do that. He used to tell me everything. He used to ask me to punish him if the truth displeases me. You shouldn't hide anything from your spouse." Janaki told him.

"What if the truth hurts?" Amar asked her.

"It hurts more if the truth is revealed by other sources. Don't hide anything from Vennela. I don't know what truth you are talking about, but go and tell her if she deserves to know it." Janaki gave her opinion. Amar nodded and left. He was ready to tell her about Lasya.

He saw Vennela in the backyard preparing his favourite sweet, Putarekulu. "Good morning Amar. Grandma taught me how to make them. Like I said, I'm a quick learner. Now taste them." She offered him some.

"Do you remember telling me not to hide anything from you three days ago? Well, -um-, you see, there's something I didn't tell you. You deserve to know this. I hope you will understand why I did this." Amar lowered his head not able to look into her eyes. He desperately hoped she would forgive him.

"Are you talking about your occasional drinking adventures when you were sixteen?" asked Vennela.

"How do you know this?" Amar, who wasn't expecting this, was mildly surprised.

"Grandma told me day before yesterday." She answered. "I don't think you've done anything wrong. There's nothing to feel guilty about. Most people start drinking when they are in their teens. I know that you have given up. I don't support drinking, but I don't mind if someone drinks occasionally within limit, without damaging the liver."

"No Vennela. Occasional drinking can be harmful too. I vowed not to touch alcohol again. I lost my parents because of their drinking habit" said Amar. 

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know." Vennela was surprised to hear this.

He completely forgot why he was there and started telling her the story of his parents' death. "My parents were wonderful people. Everything about them was perfect. Except for one thing. They couldn't give up the drinking habit they've picked up due to stress in their work. I was curious. So, I had my first drink on my sixteenth birthday. It felt good. I felt as if I've grown up. I used to steal a bottle from my father's room once in a month and party with my friends." He paused for a while.

"You don't have to continue if it's painful." Vennela squeezed his hand.

"No. I will tell you everything. When nanna found out about this, he wasn't angry like all other fathers. He told me to wait till I was eighteen. I was relieved at not being punished. But one day nanna got drunk at a party. While driving back home their car crashed with a truck, killing my mother instantly. When I reached the hospital, he signaled the doctors to allow me inside ICU. He asked me to forgive him for killing amma. And then he died." He explained how he lost his parents when he was sixteen.