The news spread through the suite much faster than anyone expected.
Nagaraju's mother was still overwhelmed by the announcement.
She immediately said,
"I should tell your brothers."
Before Nagaraju could stop her, she had already walked out toward the other suite.
---
A few minutes later, she knocked on the door.
The younger uncle opened it.
"Amma? Come in."
She entered with an excited smile.
"I have wonderful news!"
Both brothers and their wives looked at her curiously.
"What happened?"
She could hardly contain her happiness.
"Nagaraju has won the grand prize in the Dubai Shopping Festival raffle."
Everyone smiled.
"Oh! What did he win?"
She proudly answered,
"An apartment."
"For a moment, the room became completely silent."
"An apartment?"
The elder uncle repeated in disbelief.
"In Palm Jumeirah."
The two brothers looked at each other in complete surprise.
The younger uncle let out a long whistle.
"What unbelievable luck!"
The elder uncle shook his head with a smile.
"I've heard about such prizes..."
"But I never imagined someone from our own family would actually win one."
Both brothers genuinely congratulated him in their hearts.
But their wives reacted differently.
The younger aunt forced a smile.
"That's... wonderful."
The elder aunt also smiled politely.
"What a lucky draw."
Their mother happily returned to Nagaraju's suite, leaving the four of them behind.
---
As soon as she left, the room fell quiet.
The younger aunt was the first to speak.
"Why didn't Anna come and tell us himself?"
Her husband looked at her.
"He probably wanted to gather his thoughts first."
"He received the news only a little while ago."
She nodded, but a small feeling of disappointment remained.
The elder aunt quietly sat down on the sofa.
An apartment.
Not a gold coin.
Not a car.
An apartment worth millions.
She found herself thinking about it again and again.
That night, both couples found it difficult to sleep.
The younger aunt slowly walked around the room.
"Can you believe it?"
"Out of so many people..."
"...he won the jackpot."
Her husband smiled helplessly.
"It was a lucky draw."
"But it's worth millions," she replied.
"How could our family not get anything while Anna wins something so valuable?"
The younger uncle sighed.
"What can we do?"
"It's his luck."
In the other suite, the elder aunt had similar thoughts.
She looked at her husband.
"Life is strange."
"We all entered raffles."
"But fate chose your brother."
The elder uncle smiled gently.
"We should be happy for him."
"He didn't take anything from us."
"He simply happened to win."
She nodded slowly.
"I know."
"I'm not angry..."
"I suppose I'm just... a little jealous."
Her husband laughed softly.
"That's an honest feeling."
"But don't let it become bitterness."
"We came here to spend time together as a family."
"Let's not spoil that because fortune smiled on someone else."
She smiled faintly.
"You're right."
Meanwhile, in Nagaraju's suite, nobody imagined that the news had already become the main topic of discussion in the other rooms.
For Nagaraju, the apartment was still difficult to believe.
For his brothers, it was extraordinary luck.
And for their wives...
It was impossible not to wonder how fate had chosen one name from among countless others.
I'd be happy to continue.
That evening, the entire family gathered in the hotel restaurant for dinner.
The atmosphere was warm, but everyone knew there was one topic on everyone's mind.
As the food was served, Nagaraju looked at both of his brothers.
"I was going to tell you myself," he said with a smile.
"But Amma reached before me."
Everyone laughed softly.
The elder uncle chuckled.
"She was too excited to keep it a secret."
Their mother smiled innocently.
"I couldn't stop myself."
"It was such wonderful news."
Nagaraju nodded.
"I know."
"I just needed a little time to believe it myself."
"I never imagined we would win something like this."
The elder uncle raised his glass of juice.
"Congratulations, Anna."
"Not everyone gets this lucky."
Nagaraju smiled.
"Thank you."
The younger uncle also congratulated him.
"Congratulations."
But although the words were right, there was a slight stiffness in his voice.
He tried to hide it.
For a while, everyone continued eating.
Then the younger uncle spoke again.
"You've always been lucky."
The words sounded casual.
But there was something underneath them.
He continued with a small smile.
"Successful films."
"Successful television serials."
"A successful game by Akshata."
"And now..."
"A Palm Jumeirah apartment."
"Looks like luck keeps following you."
The table became slightly quiet.
Nagaraju simply smiled.
"I think hard work has helped too."
The younger uncle gave a faint laugh.
"Perhaps."
"Still..."
"Some people seem to receive more from fate than others."
Before the atmosphere could become uncomfortable, his wife gently placed her hand on his arm.
She immediately smiled at everyone.
"What he means is that we're all amazed."
She looked toward Nagaraju.
"Honestly, Anna, anyone would be surprised."
"Winning such a prize is something people only dream about."
She turned to her husband with a playful smile.
"Instead of feeling jealous, why don't you ask your brother to teach us how to be so lucky?"
The table burst into laughter.
Even the younger uncle smiled awkwardly.
"I suppose you're right."
"I was only teasing."
The elder aunt also joined in.
"At least now we'll always have a reason to visit Dubai."
Everyone laughed once more.
The small moment of tension disappeared.
Akshata quietly observed everything.
She noticed the brief flicker of envy in her other relatives eyes.
She also noticed how gracefully her younger aunt had changed the subject before it became unpleasant.
Her father, meanwhile, never boasted.
He never mentioned the apartment's value.
He simply thanked everyone for their wishes and continued eating as though nothing extraordinary had happened.
Watching him, Akshata smiled to herself.
True success, she thought, was not only measured by what a person gained...
But by how calmly they carried it.
The next morning, Nagaraju's mobile phone rang once again.
It was the Dubai Shopping Festival organizing team.
"Good morning, Mr. Nagaraju."
"We would like to schedule your appointment to complete the prize verification formalities."
"You are requested to bring your passport, the winning raffle details, and a valid identification document."
"After verification, you will be invited to the official prize presentation ceremony."
Nagaraju thanked them and noted down the time and address.
After ending the call, he looked at his family.
"It seems this is real after all."
His wife smiled.
"Yesterday it still felt like a dream."
His mother folded her hands thankfully.
"God has truly blessed our family."
Akshata quietly smiled but remained silent.
She already knew this day would come.
After breakfast, Nagaraju and Akshata left together.
His wife suggested accompanying them, but Nagaraju smiled.
"It won't take very long."
"We'll finish the paperwork and come back."
A taxi dropped them at the organizers' office.
Inside, several other prize winners were also waiting.
Some had won gold.
Others had won cash prizes or luxury cars.
After a short wait, Nagaraju's name was called.
A representative welcomed him warmly.
"Congratulations once again, Mr. Nagaraju."
The staff carefully verified his passport, raffle details, and identity.
Every document was checked thoroughly.
After everything matched, the representative smiled.
"All verification formalities have been completed successfully."
He then placed a folder on the table.
"These documents confirm your grand prize."
"You have won an apartment in Palm Jumeirah."
Nagaraju slowly opened the folder.
Even after reading the words himself, it still felt unbelievable.
He looked at Akshata, who stood quietly beside him.
She smiled proudly.
The representative continued,
"The apartment transfer process will be handled in accordance with the developer's procedures."
"Our legal team will coordinate with you regarding the remaining documentation."
"You are also invited to attend the official prize presentation ceremony, where the keys and commemorative certificate will be presented."
Nagaraju nodded.
"Thank you."
After signing the required documents and receiving copies for his records, he shook hands with the organizers.
As they stepped outside the building, he let out a long breath.
"I still can't believe this."
Akshata looked at him with a gentle smile.
"Sometimes life surprises us when we least expect it, Appa."
He laughed.
"I suppose it does."
Father and daughter then returned to the hotel.
The moment they entered, everyone stood up eagerly.
"What happened?"
"Was everything confirmed?"
Nagaraju smiled and held up the official folder.
"Yes."
"It's all genuine."
"The formalities are complete."
"We've also been invited to the official prize ceremony."
For a few moments, everyone simply stared at the folder.
It was no longer just a lucky phone call.
The dream had become reality.