The ladies who are talking to each other about avni, came near neela.
Dayawanti & Gayatri is also sitting there with neela.

Lady 1 name is Jaya. And Lady 2 name is Manju.

Neela hugged Manju.

Neela: Hello Manju, how are you? Meeting you after a very long time.

Manju: I am fine neela. I just saw you sitting here so came to meet you.

Neela: Come sit na. And here meet my mother in law, Dayawanti Mehta.
And she is my best friend Gayatri Kapoor.
And she is Manju kumar.

Manju: Hello aunty. Hi Mrs Kapoor.

Dayawanti: Hello beta..

Gayatri: You can call me Gayatri.

Manju: Ya sure. And here meet my friend Jaya kapadia.
Her husband is a famous business man.

Neela: Oh hi, Jaya ji.

Jaya: Hello everyone.

They all sat there chit chatting..
And seeing a good chance, Manju started talking about avni.

Manju: By the way, I saw your daughter sitting there neela.
She is looking so pretty, I saw her last two years back.

Neela: Thanks for the compliment Manju😊
{It is not only a compliment neela aunty, try to understand. Here being a writer also I am warning you🤦🤷}

Manju: And you know what even Jaya have a son of almost avni's age. He just completed his studies. And he is really talented as well as handsome.

Neela: Oh is that so.

Manju: Haan. You should see her son. He & avni will look great together. You know what I am trying to say, right?

Dayawanti: Really, can I see his picture.

Jaya: Ya sure. Here I have a picture of my son.
She shows them a picture. He was not very good but ok ok.
But definitely not matching avni's level.

Neela: I understand Manju but avni is still studying. And now we haven't thought about anything like this.

Jaya: See neela, we are not in any hurry to get them married now. But if you like my son then we can atleast get them engaged.

Manju: Exactly, and after he makes his career then we can get them married.

Dayawanti: Waise he is a nice boy. I like him but i will just talk to my son & then we will let you know.

Neela: But maa.. ..

Ashish: No need to talk maa..

All of them turned & saw Ashish & aman standing there. Both are angry.

Manju: Are it's good that you also came here Mr mehta. See your mother really liked jaya's son. And we are thinking about your daughter.. ..

Ashish: My daughter, exactly. She is my daughter & here everyone is deciding something about my daughter without even asking me & my daughter also.

Dayawanti: We didn't decided anything yet ashish. I already told them that I will let them know after talking to you.

Ashish: There is nothing to talk about maa. Avni is just 19. She just started going to college now. And you are talking about her marriage. I don't want to bound her in any relationship at this young age.

Manju: But Mr Mehta, atleast think about it. Acche rishte roz nhi aate..

Ashish: First my daughter will complete her studies. And when she will become independent na, then isse bhi acche rishte roz aayenge meri beti ke liye.

Jaya feels insulted.
Jaya: Mr mehta. Beti walon ko itna ghuroor nahi hona chahiye😤

Ashish: For me both my son & daughter are equal. And they both are my pride.
So I am sorry but you both can leave.

Both Manju & Jaya left from there.

Aman: Dadi aap aese kaise kar sakti hain?

Dayawanti: What wrong I did? Avni meri bhi koi lagti hai. Agar koi accha rishta aaya aur mujhe pasand aa hi gya to isme wrong kya hai? And I didn't fixed anything. But you both have to cut my words in front of others.

Ashish: I am sorry to cut your words maa. I didn't wanted to disrespect you. But its just that I don't want this topic from now onwards. From now no one will talk about avni's marriage & all, atleast jab tak uski studies complete nahi ho jati. That's it..
He left from there..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Half hour later..
Everyone is dancing now.
But they have to change there partners with every changing song.

Avni, Jaanvi & aman was standing at a corner.

Avni: Bhai, go & dance na.

Aman: Oye main akele kaise dance karun. Everyone is dancing with their partners or friend. But i don't have any of them.

Jaanvi: Its ok aman bhaiya. You can also dance with your sister.

Avni: Haan right. Go Jaanvi..

Jaanvi: Oh hello, I said your sister.

Avni: So what, you are also like his sister na. Then go..

Jaanvi: Okk, I am going. But what will you do standing here?

Avni: I will.. ..
But before she could complete Rahul again came there.

Rahul: Hi avni.

Avni: You here? I mean hello Rahul.
Actually I was just surprised to see you here.

Rahul: It's ok. Even Jaanvi was very surprised seeing me. And ya my dad is also a business man. That's why I am here.

Avni: Oh..

Aman: What are you guys talking, Haan? And you are.. .. sorry I am forgetting your name.. you are Jaanvi's friend right?

Rahul: Hello, my name is Rahul.

Aman: Oh yes Rahul. Sorry woh I just..

Rahul: It's ok.
By the way I was just asking that, Jaanvi will you dance with me?

Jaanvi (in mind): Wow, now only this was remaining. Now I also have to dance with him. Aghhhh..

Jaanvi: But Rahul actually aman bhaiya already asked me to dance with him. So.. ..

Aman: Its ok jaanvi, if you want then you can dance with him. Not a big deal.

Jaanvi: No bhaiya, you asked me to dance & I will not obey you.. that's really impossible. And even avni don't want to dance then..

But avni smiled mischievously😏
Avni: No it's ok jaan. You can dance with Rahul. And I don't have any problem in dancing with bhai.
Atleast I can do this much for my bestie..😜

Rahul: Come on Jaanvi, when avni is herself saying that she don't have any problem in dancing with her brother then why are you behaving so weird?

Jaanvi unwillingly goes to dance with Rahul..
And avni dances with aman.
There was dim lighting on the dance floor. While dancing both aman & avni was cracking jokes & laughing. The song changes. Everyone's partners changed. Avni also danced with some random person. Then song changes again & again. But when the song changes 4th time, & avni's partner changed. It was a very romantic song & she started feeling very uncomfortable. The person's face is not visible as there was dim lighting. But he is smiling while dancing with her. Avni tried to go out from the dance floor, but the person pulled her back & again started dancing with her.
Suddenly in some disco light avni saw his face & gets shocked😨

Avni: Rudra..
He just smiled.

Rudra: Hey beautiful. Aren't you enjoying the dance with me? Or you are not happy seeing me here?

Suddenly something struck in avni's mind.
Avni (thinking): Oh god, how can I forget this. Every business man is present here in this party with their family. And Rahul told us that Rudra's father is also a business man. So ofcourse he is also invited in the party. If I remembered this before, then I definitely didn't came here.
Now again I have to face him, after college now here also.
Ok, relax avni. Just be strong. You can do it. If in college then you can tolerate him here also..

Rudra: What are you thinking beautiful?

Avni: Nothing.. I.. I am just tired after dancing so much. So I should leave now.

Rudra: What's the hurry beautiful. We just started dancing now & you are leaving like this.

Avni: No.. actually. I was..

But aman already saw them.
Aman: He is the same boy, avni told me rudra. Ya right, but what is he doing here? And that too dancing with avni? And she seems to be tensed & uncomfortable. I have to go there.
He just excused himself from the girl with whom he was dancing with..

While avni was just searching for an excuse to run away from rudra, just then aman came there.

Aman: Hello rudra. Can I take my sister for a dance.

Rudra not wants to let avni go but as he is her brother so he is helpless now..

Rudra: Ya sure.
He just smiles forcefully & left from there.

Avni took a breath of relief & hugged aman.

Avni: Thank god bhai, you came at the right time & saved me. He was just not letting me go & I was searching for an excuse.

Aman (smiles): Your brother is always there to protect you champ☺️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rudra is sitting near bar drinking alcohol.

Rudra: Avni.. avni.. you know I was never interested in this business & all. And I never gone to any business party before. But since I met you & I got to know that you are also coming in this party. So I just came here for you. But here you are running away from me. Wait a minute, is she scared from me? No why would she be scared? My personality is not at all scary. In the beginning when we met, she talked to me normally but these days she is avoiding any conversation with me. But why?
He just kept thinking while drinking..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the dance, ashish & Raman are talking to each other standing at a side. When someone called ashish from behind. Ashish turned and smiles seeing the person standing behind him & hugged him.

Ashish: After 18 years Navneet, it's a very long time🤠

{He is Navneet Khurana. If you all remember i already gave his introduction before.}

Navneet: So good to see you after so many years ashish. But you are still the same & emotional just like before.

Ashish broke the hug.
Ashish: Come lets meet everyone.

Navneet touched dayawanti's feet & took her blessings.

Dayawanti: How are you Navneet beta?

Navneet: I am good aunty. Aapki bohot yaad aayi mujhe.

Dayawanti: Humein bhi tumhari yaad aayi beta..

Neela: Kaise hai aap bhai sahab?

Navneet: Main accha huin neela. Ragini bhi tumhe bohot miss karti hai..

Neela: Aapko unhe bhi sath lana chahiye tha na bhai sahab.

Navneet (smiles): Aap sab jald hi milenge un dono se.

Dayawanti: Ab toh tumhara beta bhi bada ho gaya hoga na Navneet? Hum sab ne kitna kuch miss kar diya.

Navneet: Kya kar sakte hain aunty. Hamare work commitment ki wajah se hamein shift hona pada.

Ashish: Aur Navneet yeh hai Raman Kapoor, my closest friend. We are also like family. And raman, he is Navneet my childhood friend, but now we are meeting after 18 years. And they are Raman's family.

Raman & Navneet also shakes hand with each other.

Navneet: Nice to meet you Raman..

Raman: Same here..

Ashish: Accha Navneet aao main tumhe apne bacchon se milwata huin.

Aman came and took blessings from Navneet.

Ashish: Yeh aman hai.. yaad hai ki nahi tumhe??

Navneet: 7 saal ka tha jab last time maine ise dekha tha. Bohot naughty tha bachpan mein

Avni also took his blessings..

Ashish: Aur yeh.. ..

Navneet: Avni..

Ashish: Tumhe yaad hai iska naam? Sirf 1 saal ki thi avni us time..

Navneet: Toh kya hua ashish. Woh meri bhi beti jaisi hai..
Navneet puts his hand on avni's head & smiles.

Its dinner time now.
Everyone is having their dinner. Raman, Ashish & Navneet were sitting together. Ladies group are also sitting together. And avni, aman & Jaanvi sat together.
They are talking slowly while eating their dinner, so that no one can listen their conversation.

Jaanvi: Ashish uncle is so happy na, after all he met his longg lost friend.

Avni: But why I don't remember him?

Aman: Coz you were just one year old then champ. I remember him a little, he used to give me so many chocolates. And I also played with his son. He was 2 years younger than me. But after your first birthday, he left to Canada with his family. And now i am seeing him.

Avni: Oh accha..

Aman: By the way, in this topic I forgot that rudra was also here.

Jaanvi: Whatt.. but what is he doing here?

Avni explains her everything.

Jaanvi: How dare he?

Aman: Only I know how I controlled myself that time otherwise I would have breaked his bones. So that he won't be able to dance with anyone in his life. But i don't want to create any scene in party.
He said very angrily after all no brother can see his sister with someone who is making her uncomfortable.

Avni: I know bhai.. but I think it's better to just avoid him rather than fighting with him.

Jaanvi: Avni is right bhaiya, calm down. He never did anything like this in the college. I think he must be drunk in party that's why..

Avni: Ok just leave this topic now. We are not in our home.
And bhai, now don't make this angry face, it doesn't suits you at all.

Aman (smiles): I know you was scared, but now smiling just for us. So that we don't get worried.

Avni: Ok jab apko pata hi hai, to dil se thoda smile kar do. plzz
She said making a cute face.

And both Jaanvi & aman smiles seeing her..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they are leaving.

Rahul: Hey avni, Jaanvi.

Jaanvi: Not again..😭

Rahul: Did you said anything?

Jaanvi: You are still here.

Rahul: Ya just going. Thought to say goodbye to all of you.

Jaanvi (irritated): How sweet of you Rahul.😟

Rahul: Ok then bye everyone. And see you both in college tomorrow.

Avni: Bye..

Jaanvi: Ya bye😌

Aman: Chalo let's go now..

*******

So how's it fam?
I know this story becomes very boring now. But trust me, interesting parts will come very soon.

And this Navneet khurana will bring an interesting twist in the story.
So stay tuned😉

Do share your views..

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Much Love
Alia😘