One week passed to Avneil’s alliance and after that Avni and Neil did not talk. Avni wanted to talk to Neil but she was feeling shy and on the other side, Neil was busy with his office work and did not miss Avni.
One day, Neil met Ashish in the cafe.
Neil: when will you sign the papers?
Ashish: on your wedding day.
Neil looked at him.
Ashish: at the time of the farewell, I will give the papers in gift wrap with Avni’s luggage.
Neil: what if you double-cross me?
Ashish: I am a father of a daughter I can’t even think of double-crossing you.
Neil was looking at him.
Ashish: by the way, when will you take Avni for the dinner?
Neil frowns.
Ashish: remember Neil, you just don’t have to marry her, she should be your first priority. I can’t see tears in my daughter’s eyes. If I got to know that she is not happy with you then you will face the worst of me.
Neil was looking at him.
Neil: If you love her so much then why did you make her deal?
Ashish: mind your language, Neil. I did not make her deal, I am investing in your business for her happiness.
Neil looked away. Neil looked at Ashish.
Neil: I will fulfil all responsibilities of a good husband.
Ashish: good for you.
They looked at each other.
One random day, Avni went to buy the gift for her parent’s anniversary. She entered the mall and looked around she moved forward and her phone rang. She takes out her phone from her bag and saw Neil’s number. She was surprised to see Neil’s number and was nervous also. Avni bit her lower lip and picked the call after some seconds.
Avni: hello.
Neil: Hi, how are you?
Avni: fine. How are you?
Neil: good, where are you?
Avni looked at the mall.
Avni: ac, actually, I came outside for some work.
Neil: to the Royal mall?
Avni was surprised.
Avni: h, how do you know?
Neil: magic.
Avni frowns.
Neil: by the way, you are looking beautiful in this red dress.
Avni was amazed to hear that. She looked at herself then she looked here and there.
Avni: h, how do you know?
Neil: because I am standing behind you.
Avni turned and looked for Neil then she saw him and was surprised to see Neil who smiled to see her. Neil showed her the phone and cuts the call he came to her. Avni keeps the phone down.
Neil: Hi.
Avni looked down.
Avni: hi. You? Here?
Neil: Actually, I was free today so I thought to take you to dinner soooo I went to your home and got to know that you came here for shopping and I came here.
Avni was looking at him she was amazed that how suddenly he came.
Avni: if you called me then I would not come here.
Neil: I wanted to give you a surprise but I got the surprise there.
Avni smiled.
Neil: but it’s good. I also have to buy some shirts so now we both will do the shopping together and then have dinner. What say?
Avni: ok.
Neil smiled.
Neil: come.
Avni nods and they go. Avni was going to the escalator. Avni was smiling. Neil looked at her and smirked.
Neil in mind: I have to make Avni happy she is the key to my dream project. Once we get married then everything will be in my hand. I am sorry, Avni. I don’t love you, I am just doing it for my project only.
They reached the escalator, Avni looked at Neil who signed with his hand and said, come.
Avneil was standing in the shop and Avni looked at Neil because he was looking here and there. Neil looked at her.
Neil: what?
Avni shook her head.
Avni: then choose the shirts for me.
Avni: me?
Neil: yes, you and who.
Neil leans to her.
Neil: I want to wear the clothes selected by you after all we are going to get married.
Avni looked down, Neil smiled.
Neil: come on. Do it fast, then we have to go for dinner.
Avni nods. They go and Avni saw the shirts for Neil and Neil looked at his watch and huffs. Avni showed one shirt to him.
Avni: see this.
Neil holds her hand and Avni’s heartbeat stopped for a second she looked at Neil and she was breathing heavily. Neil keeps the shirt on him.
Neil whispered huskily: how is it looking?
Avni said with much difficulty: Ni, nice.
Neil: then I will definitely buy it.
Neil and Avni were looking at each other suddenly Neil snatched the shirt from her, Avni flinched she looked at Neil who was looking at the shirt.
Neil: perfect.
Neil looked at Avni. Avni looked down. She keeps the hair strand behind her ear.
Neil: Now select the other shirts.
Avni nods. Avni selects some shirts for Neil then Neil paid for the shirts and Avni goes to the jewellery shop where she bought the bracelet for Neela maa. Avni keeps the packet in her bag to hide it from her parents then they went to buy a watch for Ashish.
Avni and Neil were sitting in the restaurant. Avni was looking down. Neil was looking here and there both were feeling awkward. A waiter comes and keeps the order on the table.
Neil: thank you.
The waiter goes. Neil signed Avni to start.
Neil: start.
Avni nods by looking down. They took the food on their plates, Avni hesitates to eat she stirs the spoon and took the small amount and ate. She was eating slowly. Neil looked at her.
Neil: Avni.
Avni looked at him.
Neil: I know, I am not giving you the time which you deserve. You must have some expectations from me, from our relationship and I will fulfil them. It’s just that I am busy with my work and my dream project and running after that. You know everything about it. Don’t think that I am not interested in this relationship.
Avni: I understand, you don’t need to give any clarification. You take your time. You focus on your work we can postpone the wedding.
Neil was shocked.
Neil shouts: no, no.
Avni was surprised.
Neil: I, I mean you don’t need to do that. Avni, my project is not started yet. It will take years to complete and I can’t wait for that much for our wedding. Once, I start the work on the project, I will get busy with that and will not get the time to meet you so it’s good that we get married now so we will be together and it is the first project of my life so I need you at my side. I need your support.
Avni looked down, she was feeling blessed that she got a life partner like Neil but she doesn’t know that Neil is doing this for his project. Neil huffs.
Neil in mind: no, I will not let any obstacle come in the way of me and my project. I can’t let it stop at any cost. I have to arrange this wedding as soon as possible.
Avni looked at him. Neil smiled to see her.
Avni: I am happy that you get the investor.
Neil smiled.
Neil: I am too.
Avni smiled.
They have dinner. After that, Neil dropped Avni at her home. Neil stopped the car and they get down from the car.
Avni: bye.
Neil smiled slightly.
Niel: bye and good night.
Avni: good night.
Avni turns to go.
Neil: Avni, one minute.
Avni turns to him. Neil goes to the car and comes back. Neil gives a packet to Avni. Avni was looking at him.
Neil: this is for you.
Avni was looking at the packet she looked at Neil who signed take it. Avni took the bag.
Avni: thank you.
Neil smiled.
Avni: and thank you for the dinner.
Neil: you’re welcome.
Avni wished him good night and Neil also wished her the night. Neela maa was looking at them from the window she smiled to see Avni’s happiness which was reflecting on her face but she was confused to see Neil. Avni comes inside and Neil smiled. Neela maa frowns. She thinks and goes to Avni who came inside. Avni runs to her and hugged her. Neela maa smiled.
Avni: mamma, I am so happy today Neil came behind me to the mall and took me for the dinner.
Neela maa smiled and kissed her hair. Avni breaks the hug.
Avni: I can’t explain how happy I am. We went for dinner first time. It is like a dream for me. I am so happy.
Neela maa cupped her face with one hand,
Nm: your happiness is reflecting from your face. I am so happy for you.
Avni smiled.
Avni came into the room she sat and take out the gift from the bag and saw the box. It was a bracelet. Avni touched it.
Avni: beautiful.
Avni was very happy.
Avni was laying on the bed and thinking about Neil.
Avni: Neil is so busy but still he took out the time to meet me. Indeed, I am very lucky. Avni, you were taking stress for no reason; Neil is happy by this alliance it’s just that he can’t express it. He doesn’t know how to express his love. But, the way, he behaved today, I witnessed another version of him, my breath stopped when he held my hand. I felt like he is another person he behaved differently and why not he? He was my boss in the office and now my fiancé so it’s obvious that his behaviour will be different, he will behave according to the situation. He took me for dinner, he bought me the gift.
Avni stopped and sat.
Avni: oh no, he gave me the gift but I did not give him anything.
Avni hits her head.
Avni: you are an idiot. He did so much for and you did nothing, just said thank you. Stupid.
Avni lay and was upset she thought about Neil and smiled.
Avni: Neil is so cute and sweet.
Avni blushed. On one side, Avni was dreaming about her future with Neil and on the other side, Neil was sitting by keeping the head to the bed and dreaming about his future as a well-known builder. Neil smiled.