That day Avni and Neil got pretty late for breakfast. Even though their family had finished their breakfast, they decided to join them on the table with an extra mug of tea.

Avni - "Bebe, papa. Sorry we got late.."

Bebe (with a twinkle in her old eyes)- "Koi na puttar, iss umar mein late nahi hoge to kab hoge?!". (No worries.. If you will not be late in this age then when?)

 Saying this the creases around her eyes increased that betrayed her attempt at stifling her laughter. Avni went red in the face but Neil ignored it and focused on serving himself and Avni food instead. He knew that living in a joint family comprising of all adults, this leg-pulling is not going to end anytime soon! They were the focus of the family and hence such jibes were to be common.

Prakash (clearing his throat) - "So beta hope you guys had a good sleep last night. Bebe and I wanted to talk to you about something.." (child...)

At this both AvNeil put their spoons down and looked expectantly at their dad. 

Prakash (looking at Bebe) - "Bebe, ab aap hi bol do na.."(you only tell)

Bebe - "Sunny.. tujhse kuch nahi hoga. Ek bachhe ka baap ban gaya. Ab bhi sharmata hai!"(.. you cant do anything. you are the father of a son now.. but are still embarassed!)

"So beta, Neil - Avni, we want to tell you something and to give you something. Actually beta, na mat karna because all investment has been made already into the planning!" (child..do not refuse as..)

"We know that jo bhi hua, nahi hona chahiye tha. But in a way it is good as it brought our family closer and brought Avni closer into our lives. Some uncomfortable secrets became visible to all that helped solve a lot of misunderstandings. Now beta, all I want to say is ki both of you need a break to enjoy some lone time! I know you love living with us in a joint family and therefore a long break is not possible. But still I wanted to gift you children a honeymoon package to send you off to have some relaxation time!" (.. whatever happpened should not have ..)

Neil - "Bebe, thanks a lot ki aap hamare baare mein itna sochte ho. Par Bebe, mera kaam thoda busy chal raha hai.. And waise bhi we do not need to.." (thanks that you think so much about us.. but Bebe, I am busy with work)

Prakash (uncharacteristically cutting Neil in between ) - "Arre Neil. Yar tu apni hi sochta hai, Avni ki bhi to soch liya kar! She deserves a break and a honeymoon as well. Main to abhi tak apna aur Shweta ji ka honeymoon yaad karta hoon" (..you just think about yourself.. think about Avni as well.. .. I still recall my and Shweta's honeymoon!)

Bebe - "Bas bas! Uska naam lene ki zaroorat nahi hai. Achcha hai wo apni maa ke yahan chali gayi kuch din. Sunny let me relax without her mention till then!" (Stop. Do not mention Shweta's name. Good she left to be with her mom for some days. ..)

Avni - "Neil, sab thik hi keh rahe hain.. Maan jao na.." (Neil. all are correct, pls agree)

At this Neil looked at Avni and realized she wanted it. It had never occurred him to ask her view on this before and that made him a little ashamed. He smiled and held Bebe's hand and said - "Bebe.. Aap ne gift diya hai to how can we refuse!" (..since you have gifted)

Bebe patted his hand away and chuckled - "Hatt! Jab dekho buttering !" (leave the buttering!)

Prakash - "great then! All is decided Neil. You guys are going to Coonoor, to tea plantations! "

He then smiled at seeing Avni open-mouthed - "Yes beta! Neil mentioned to us one day that a tea plantation is where you wanted to go while you were leaving this city and us.. We want you to go there but happily now and with your husband"

At this Avni could not control her emotions any longer. She got up and hugged Bebe and then dad. She could not believe her good luck after having seen so much in life. This is the first time in her life apart from Neela ma and Nanno / Ali that she was seeing people without agenda and with unadulterated love for her!

Neil and everyone else smiled at seeing Avni so happy. 

Prakash - "So Neil, I will email you the tickets. From Coimbatore airport, you will rent a car and then you both will drive to Coonoor. All bookings have been made!"

Neil (genuinely smiling) - "Thanks dad. (and then looking at Avni) Let me wrap up my work at office today and then we can leave tomorrow. Will you do the packing for both of us? Keep a light jacket  and a shawl as Coonoor might be a bit cold at this time of the year."

Avni nodded happily. This was going to be one of the best trips of her life. Before this wherever she had gone had a reason behind her visit. This was the first time she was traveling for pure fun! She quickly finished her breakfast and then left for shopping for the trip with Maddy bua and Kareena. Neil left for office soon afterwards..

Bebe was sitting in the living room when the landline phone rang and she picked it up. It was Ali on the other side. 

Ali - "Namaste Bebe! Avni hai kya? She is not picking up her mobile phone" (Is Avni there?)

Bebe (laughing) - "Beta wo shopping gayi hai. And koi aisi waisi shopping nahi, she went shopping for her honeymoon! Isiliye shayad zyada busy hai! We just decided to gift them a honeymoon!" (She has left for Shopping.. And not mere shopping, she is purchasing stuff for her honeymoon..)

Ali suddenly felt very weird. He quickly thanked Bebe and kept the phone. But then he sat down at the couch in his room and pulled his hair slightly. Then he got up taking deep angry breathes and started practicing kick-boxing on this punching bag. Somehow he was imagining Neil's face on it. Avni had met him 4-5 times in the hospital since Neil had brought her back. But she had not come to his cafe even once after that. Whenever Ali asked she used to say she is busy. He wondered what she is busy with and felt more anger rising inside him. Ali had been her loyal friend, he had longed for her since she left after being shot by Dayawanti. Ali had flirted with other girls but had not been able to give anyone else the same space as what Avni occupied in his heart. Now he felt a gaping hole in his heart!

His Avni was leaving her, maybe this is how their friendship starts unfolding! By now Ali was crying tears of anger. He could not let Avni go. And the only person responsible for her behavior was Neil. Ali punched his bag more as he thought of Neil. He had stopped considering Neil his friend long back, ever since Neil had married Avni and Avni had refused to divorce him.

Ali now looked quite different from the friend Avni had. He was jealous and he was angry. Ali tried thinking positive but now many months of pent up frustration was coming out. It was almost like he was a real life Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Now his Hyde was coming out and he could not control it.. Ali cursed Neil one last time before focusing on the punching bag again.

After an hour of thinking, Ali called Prakash.

Ali (in a very sweet voice) - "Hi uncle. Actually I wanted to thank you. Nanno told me you had sent your office helpers to the hospital to assist her all the time. That was really nice of you."

Prakash who was a kind and simple man got happy at this- "Ali beta! It was really the least I could do. Ab kaise ho tum beta. Avni told us that you have recovered well.." (how are you now son?)

Ali - "Haan uncle. Much better. Abhi hi Bebe se baat hui uncle and she told me Avni and Neil are going on honeymoon, as a gift from you guys. Uncle I also want to contribute. Can I help with the arrangements here please.." (yes.. just now talked to bebe that Avni and...)

Prakash (warming more to Ali ) - "Sure Ali! After all Avni is your very good friend. I will forward you what I have planned and you can then manage the logistics or changes around it!"

Ali was smirking with happiness now. He could never hurt his Avni. But he needed to get her out of Neil's clutches. And he could not promise about not hurting Neil a little! His eyes gleamed with the plan he had been making over the last one hour and finally he felt content. Avni was going to be his, very soon....