ARRANGED MARRIAGE

CHAPTER 23

Neil held avni’s face in his palm and slowly rubbed his face on hers.the color of hadi wasn’t enough to hide the red hue spread over avni’s cheek.neil was slowly processing towards avni’s lips they heared someone knocking the door.they both came into reality.it was riya outside.

Riya:avni..come outside .everyone is asking for you.

Avni:neil I think we should gonow.

Neil:(half heartly)ok..fine.come lets go.

They opened the door and went outside leaving a burning abeer behind.

Abeer:till how long will you protect her neil?how long??i wont leave you avni,not until I get what I want.the moment you rejected my proposal u did the biggest mistake of your life. And every mistake need punishment.just wait and watch avni..

Saying this he too left from there.

Outside everyone were sitting together.servants wre arranging lunch.elders were discussing about upcoming functions where youngsters were chatting happily.thats when abeer came there.neil saw this before and sat beside avni.aman,dd,sunehri sat together in a three seater while ali and riya sat together.only place left was a chair placed opposite to avneil.seeing abeer aman called him and asked to join them. Hearing abeers name avni became uncomfortable whih was noticed by neil and riya.abeer sat opposite avneil.they started talking

Aman:hey what were you doing there ?

Abeer:nothing yaar.

Ali:what happened to your shirt bro? How haldi fell on you?

Abeer :(stammeringly) no.. No.. It.. Is.. Me.. I..

Riya:what happened abeer??

Abeer:nothing..

All:ok.

all the while abeers gaze was fixed on avni.avni snuggled more to neil for avoiding abeers piercing gaze.sensing avni’s condition neil allowed her to snuggle more.now avni was itting more on him.neil wounded his hand protectively around avni by her waist occasionally rubbing her waist as if to relax her.this all wasn’t hidden from others,but they shrugged it off,some thinking as they were romancing while some feeling relaxed.it was then dadi came there.seeing avneil this much closed make her a bit uncomfortable.

Dadi:come on children food is ready.

Riya:ok dadi..you go we will be there.

Dadi:don’t be late.

Avni noticed the slight change in dad’s expression and she parted a bit away from neil.but neil didn’t let her and nodded a no.avni just smiled a bit.

Neil:come lets go.

He stood up and held out his hand to avni and she happily took it.all moved towards the dining area.all seated but unfortunately abeer sat beside avni on her left while neil on right.

Neil:avni you sit here.i will sit there.

Dadi:let it be neil..

Neil:ok..

Avni was now very mch uncomfortable.abeer brushed his legs on avni’s.startled avni held neil’s hand suddenly and her eyes started tearing.neil looked to abeer’s side and saw this.neil slowly put his left hand around avni’s waist and pulled her a bit close to him away from abeer.seeing this abeer was red as burning coal.

Swetha:tillu..why are you eating alone.make her eat too.

Neela:yeah avni..feed neil too..

Riya:yeah..you don’t know..sharing increases love.

Avneil blushed.first neil took a morsel in his hand and feed avni from his face and then avni too feed him.they both finished their food feeding each other.after food it was time for leaving.everyone started bidding good bye.neil came to avni.

Neil:avni..you have exam right .go home and study well.dont take too much stress.

Avni:yes neil..and thank you.

Neil:keep this thank you till our marriage.i will tak that in my way.

Neil whispered in avni’s ears .

Avni:but neil how will you take my thank you after some days.we will forget about this .

Neil:oh my tubelight…what will I do to you!!

Asked neil smiling at ajooba standing infront of him.

Avni:neil..i m not tube light.

Neil:yeah I know…

Avni:ok bye neil..see u soon.

Neil:see you..and miss me.. Soon everyone left from there.on reaching homeall went and freshen up. Night avni stayed inside the room remebering all things happened today.a small smile was playing on her lips.that is when neil called her.she hastly picked up her phone.

Avni:hii..

Neil:wow…u picked my call in single ring.missing me??

Avni:why would I miss you?

Neil:what??you didn’t miss me?

Avni:neil…we only met some hours ago.you are talking like as if we haven’t met for long.

Neil:every single minute feels like an year without seeing you

Avni:hoo neil..how is that even possible?

Neil:this is..this is the reason why I call you tubelight.

Avni:ok then I will hang the phone up.

Neil:nooo…

Avni:then stop calling me tube light.

Neil:tube light??who is tube light?who called you tubelight?where is tubelight??

Avni:neillll…..ok bye.dont talk to me.

With that she cut the call.she was now really angry.angry not on him,but on herself.she was feeling really bad for not responding to neil on the way he does to her.but neil was obvious to what is going with avni.he thought that sh got angry bcoz of him.he was feeling really guilty.
Avni was fast asleep when she heared some one opening the door of her balcony.she was really afraid.she thought it was abeer and feared more.she didn’t move from the bed.suddenly she felt like that person moving towards her and lied down beside he.she was about to scream but the person hugged her from behind and mumbled a sorry in her ears.

Really sad for people who is suffering due to flood in kerala. I hope their life become normal soon.
May god bless them..