Chapter 41:
The Mehta house had shown where people were enjoying the company of their friends. The Khanna family came there and the Mehta family welcomes them.
Nm: please sit.
They smiled and sit. Neil was feeling awkward because only ladies were there. He was looking here and there. Ladies come to meet him he talks to them and sits.
Sonia brought Avni there and Neil smiles to see her.
Every time she amazed him with her looks. Avni looks up and saw Neil and again looks down now she feels nervous when she looks at him because he looks at her with affection and Avni feels conscious and she doesn't understand why she feels so.
The Khanna family meets her and made her sit.
A girl was applying Heena on Avni's hand and Avni was feeling Neil's gaze on her. She looks up and saw Neil is looking at her she instantly looks away. Avni again looks at him and Neil's eyes were sticked on her and she again looks down. She was feeling her throat dry.
Avni: Bhabhi, water.
Sonia was also applying Heena on her hand and other ladies were also busy with that.
Sonia: oops sorry Avni I should not apply it now. Wait.
Sonia looks around.
Sonia: where is Madhvi Tai?
She comes there while looking at her hands and smiling.
Sonia: Madhvi Tai, please bring water for Avni.
She looks at Avni and makes a pout. Avni frowns. Neil smiles to see Madhvi she shows her hand and all makes a face.
Madhvi: I applied it as tomorrow is Avni's wedding and I also wanted to apply it and make part of it.
Avni: aww.
Neil smiles.
Sonia: where is the other staff?
Avni: there were two events today so I send my staff there and very few are here.
Sonia: and those are busy outside.
She signs and Neela maa understands and nods.
Some guests were there but were old so Sonia doesn't want to ask them.
Sonia: ab.
Avni: it's ok, bhabhi. Chill.
Sonia looks at her.
Neil: where will I get water? I bring it.
Nm: no how can yo...u?
She was hesitated.
Shweta: Array why not? They will tie in the relationship of the marriage tomorrow after that he has to do it so why not now. Let him do that. Neil, go.
Neil nods and Sonia goes with him and they come. Neil tried to make Avni drink water she looks at all and signs Neil. He signs drink it. Avni looks at the families they look at their hands but the guest's eyes were sticked on them. Avni shook her head.
Neil: pio.
Avni looks at him she turns her face and Neil made her drink water and Avni coughs. Avni tried to wipe her mouth with the back of her hand. Neil takes out his hanky and wipes that. Their eyes lock. They heard the chuckles and got embarrassed. Neil moves back and Avni looks down. Neil drinks the water from the same glass in awkwardness and after drinking that Neil realised that. He looks at Avni and smiles sheepishly.
Shweta: Tillu, you sit with Avni now it is your turn.
Avni widens her eyes. Neil was also shocked.
Neil: what?
Shweta: yes. Today is your Heena's function.
Neil: but the girl's applied it.
Avni nods.
Nm: yes but the groom also applied it.
Neil: no, I don't want to apply it. It is so awkward.
Shweta: Tillu.
Neil: no mom and that's final.
Shweta: you say him, Avni.
Avni: ab mummy he is right it will look so odd. He will feel embarrassed.
Neil: yes.
Shweta makes a face.
Shweta: lo, I thought you will ask him but you are taking his side.
Sonia: Abhi se Pati ke rang main rang rahi hai Avni.
Avni looks at her. Neil smiles.
Shweta: sit Tillu. Don't worry we will not make a design on your hands.
Neil: no design.
Shweta: oookkkk.
Neil sits.
Avni whispers.
Avni: can I print my hand's design on your hand?
Neil frown. Avni looks at her hands and shows them to him and acted that she will keep her hands on his hand. Avni shows her hands to him and moves her fingers. Neil gives her a look but he saw something and smirks.
Neil: but there is one problem. My name is written on your hand so your name should be on my hand. No?
Avni looks at him. Neil smirks and Avni looks away. Neil backfired her. Neil asked the girl to write Avni's name so she write that only. Neil took his hand in front of her face and Avni saw her name. Avni's face turned red. Neil smiles.
The function was over.
At the time of the night, Neil smiles to see his hand and on the other side, Avni was sitting on her bed and looking at her hand. She looks around the room and sighs. She thinks and goes.
Avni comes out of her room and was looking at the corridor she was going by touching the walls and stopped to see the pictures she caresses them and smiles. There was one picture of her childhood where Ashish was kissing her cheek by taking her in his arms.
Avni heard the voice, "papa" and turns her face she saw that a girl of three, four years old is running then she turns her face to the other side where Ashish was sitting on his knees and the girl goes to him he captures her in his arms. Avni smiles but it vanished and Avni looks here and there. Avni looks at the pictures and goes.
Avni was going downstairs by touching the rail and recalls that she and Riya slide it still their teenage. Avni saw the dining area and goes there she touched the chairs and table and recall her good time when Avni and Riya almost daily fight on the dining table. Avni turns and goes to the living area and looks around. Avni recalls how she, Ashish, Riya and Arav plays carrom and fight and Ashish spoils the game and winked at Avni she smiles.
Avni saw the pictures and goes there. She smiles to see them and she goes to the garden area and recalls that they all played there and played with Ashish when he was watering plants and made them wet they enjoyed it a lot. Avni imagined that Ashish is pointing the pipe at her she keeps the hand in front of her face and closed her eyes. She opened her eyes and looks there but no one was there then she realised it was her imagination. Avni sighs and her eyes were wet.
Avni: tomorrow I will go from here and still it is not making any difference to him.
Avni gaps.
Avni was going back to her room by looking at the home and cherishing her good memories. Avni stopped outside Ashish's room and saw he is standing. Avni moves to him slowly and saw Riya's picture in his hand. Avni stopped at her place and look at Ashish emotionally. Avni takes her steps back and goes from there. Neela maa was standing at the door she saw Avni going and comes to the room she saw Ashish is holding Avni and Riya's picture but Avni only saw Riya and went. Ashish saw her and hang the picture on the wall and goes.
Later, Avni was laying on the lap of the Neela maa and she was caressing her hair and kissing her forehead. Avni smiles.
Nm: Avni, tomorrow you are going to enter into a new phase of life where you will get new relations and you have to earn their love and trust and that will be possible by giving trust and love. Avni, remember all days are not the same sometimes the situation will be in your favour and sometimes against you so you have to deal with every problem with patience and have to become Neil's and family's strength. Hmm.
Avni nods.
Avni: I will try to cope up with their expectations.
Nm: I know my daughter she will earn her in-laws trust and love. She will become everyone's favourite.
Avni smiles.
Soon, Avni sleeps and all were sitting around her and adoring her. Arnav caresses her hair and smiles.
Neela maa whispers: ok, now let's go and let her sleep.
Aman: some more time, please.
Neela maa pets his cheek.
Nm: meet her in the morning right now let her sleep.
They nod and go by looking at Avni.
The door opened and someone entered the room and looked at Avni. It was Ashish he sits and forwards his hand to caress her hair and looks at her. He caresses her hair and someone was looking at her it was Neela maa she wipes her tears. Avni smiles in sleep.
In the time of the morning, Neil was sitting on the bed by keeping the cushion on his lap and thinking something.
Neil's point of view:
Today is my wedding and I will tie in the knot of marriage. From today my life will not be only of mine but someone else will be part of it. My responsibilities will increase. Her safety, her happiness, her comfort will be my responsibility and I will try my level best to give her a happy life. My life is going to change from now I have to think about her also before taking any decision. She will have right on my everything and me. I have to share my room, my life with her. Tonight is our...
Neil thinks. Neil keeps the pillow aside and sits properly.
Neil's point of view ends.
Neil: Tonight is our first night but we both need time to understand each other more. I will give her time. It is an arranged marriage and there are many things to learn about each other we have to take it slowly we...
Something strikes his mind.
Neil: I have to talk to the doctor about her treatment.
Neil thinks.
On the other side, Avni was thinking about her life. She was shocked and got nervous.
Avni: first night.
Avni squeezed her eyes and shook her head.
Avni: no Neil is not like other men. He will understand me and give me time to understand him.
Avni nods.
Avni: yes.
Avni closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Avni opens her eyes.
Avni: are we doing right? What will happen when his family will get to know the truth. They will shatter. Should I tell them? But Neil has stopped me.
Avni thinks.
Avni: is it not betrayal?
Avni thinks about something.