Sometimes your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.

Neil went straight to his room after arriving at the Khanna Mansion. He sat down, resting his hands on his forehead, after throwing his pillow on the bed. Avni's words echoed in his ears.

His focus was drawn back to today's scene highlighting Advay and Avni together. She was surprised to see them all. He remembered her talking in the car yesterday about telling her family about her and Advay.

Neil: I may have told Avni that I wouldn't bother her, but my mind is making me wonder if she was ready to tell her family about Advay and her, then why did she appear hesitant to introduce him today?
His brows creased together.
Was she lying about dating Advay to drive me away? Because if that's what she did, she has nothing to do with me and clearly doesn't want me.
Why are you having trouble understanding Neil when Avni is making it clear to you? She wants nothing to do with you. He thought to himself.
His gaze fell on the frame kept in the corner, which showed him, his family, and Tina when the family decided to plan their wedding and engagement date. He held the frame in his palm and looked at the cheerful people in the picture.
No Neil no. You need to stop right now. You cannot be a devdas and sulk.
It's not the end of the world, Neil. Time will heal everything. It has to. You had a hope that did not come true. Many people have to deal with the heartbreaking realities of breakups and one-sided feelings. The same thing happened to you, and it's time to move forward.
If not for yourself then you can try for Tina the girl you thought you liked she deserves your attention which you are totally ignoring lately. I think sometimes we should quit fighting to change things and trust our destiny.

*

Avni was changing channels while sitting in the hall, but in reality, her thoughts were still fixed on what Neil had said.

Tina: "Hey, ladies, what's up?" she said as she arrived.

Neela: Thank God you finally came. I thought you would take so long to change your clothes. She shook her head, smiling.

Tina: Come on, Neela ma, I take forever to dress up, but who takes so long to change? she replied, sitting next to Avni.

Neela/Avni: you. Both said with an amusing smile while Tina looked at both of them for few seconds with a frown..

Tina: Do I? She began to wonder, but then shook her head and turned to Neela. You told me to come here, Neela ma. Is it something urgent?

Neela: Come with me, she said, pulling Tina up. Avni chal.

Tina: What's going on? she asked, gazing at Neela who was walking ahead and Avni who was walking beside her.

Avni: You will know in a bit now keep walking. She said patting her arm, making Tina curious

Tina's movements halted as she entered Neela's room, taking in what she saw in front of her.

Neela and Avni smiled when they saw her reaction.

Neela: Like it, she said softly, as they watched Tina approach the bed.

Tina: , Neela ma? All of this? She asked, noting two sets of diamonds with different designs, many designer sarees, and a lengha choli. "Why have you got all of this out? "Even though she knew Neela had gotten this for her, she couldn't help but ask.

Neela: It's all about you. As I already said, you are just like a daughter to me, and how could I not give her anything.

Tina's eyes welled up slightly as she hugged Neela..

Tina: Neela ma. Even though I am grateful for everything you have done for me, I don't believe I can take all of this. With all of this, Avni has more rights.

Avni: Tinaaa. What is mine has been yours. These are yours which you fully deserve.

Tina is Neela. Although I am not your biological mother, I have held your hand since you were a small girl and always have considered you just like my daughter. I've never differentiated between you and Avni. You are the one who is going to get engaged and will shortly marry, so you deserve all of these things. When Avni decides to get married, she will receive the same amount of love as you. Understand. She said while placing her hand on top of Tina's.

Avni: Haan, unless you still don't want it, I don't mind keeping all of these. It will save me time with future shopping trips, she added, winking at Tina.

Tina: Nooo. Neela ma has given it to me, and I'm sorry I can't share this and Neil with you. She said this playfully while hugging Neela sideways.

Avni's smile faded when Tina said that, and she remembered Neila's look from earlier on. Her heart still ached from remembering how devastated he sounded before leaving. Looking down, she kept her emotions under control and glanced up with a smile on her face.

Tina: Neela mom. Is it necessary for me to change myself after being engaged? She asked hesitantly while looking at both Avni and Neela.

Neela: Who told you this? She asked with a questioning smile.

Tina: a married person in my team. She was saying that once you get engaged you have to start preparing to change yourself. Especially after you get married and adapt to the life the way your in laws prefer. She did that.

Neela: Tina. I won't say it's entirely false because some in-laws prefer their daughter-in-law to adapt to their lifestyle, but you are fortunate to have such loving in-laws who will not only support you, but love you as their own and allow you to live your life as you have always done. So, there is no need to change yourself and the same goes for you too. Okay. She said to which Tina nodded as she breathed a sigh of relief.

Tina: By the way, Avi, could you please phone the makeup artist first thing tomorrow morning to confirm if she is coming at the same time?

Avni: Don't worry. I will take care of it, she said.

Neela: The decorators will arrive early tomorrow so that they can finish before the engagement function starts. Neela spoke while looking at Avni and Tina.

*

Later on, at night while the elders were fast asleep 3 souls were awake.

Avni: Please God. I hope everything goes well tomorrow. Please do something to make Neil fall in love with Tina and forget about me. Please give me some more strength. She said to herself as she gazed out the window.

*

Neil tossed and turned. He was in his bed, but sleep avoided him.

Neil: Tomorrow, Tina and I will get engaged. I am not sure how long it will take, but I will do my best to start over with her. For her and our family. A new chapter will begin.

•

Tina: Gosh. I can't believe this. Tomorrow, Neil and I will be finally engaged. We will be fiancé and fiancée. Neil, tomorrow is going to be the greatest day of our life. She remarked, beaming cheerfully.

The Next day.

Avni called the makeup artist as promised and informed Tina, who sighed with relief.

Neil excused himself from going out to get something.

After sometime Avni walked into Tina's bedroom while carrying few things

Avni: Tinaaa, your outfit is here, she said, placing it on the bed along with the matching jewellery. She looked at Tina, who was seated on the couch with a face mask on and cucumber covering both of her eyes.

Tina: Thanks Avi darling. Why don't you join me?

Avni: No time for that, it's already 12 p.m. And Shweta aunty has instructed me of decorating the plate for the engagement rings, along with helping Ma and Papa with their clothes. And with other engagement related things.

Tina: Avi, now that you're handling everything, I'm happy and at ease as I know that you won't make a mistake, she remarked, removing the cucumbers from her eyes.

Avni smiled and turned to leave when she startled for a second as Neil was few steps away from her.

Neil: I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you, he explained. Giving her a little smile.

He walked past Avni before she could reply, heading to Tina, who had already stood up at seeing him.

Tina: Neil. You here? Couldn't wait to see me before the engagement, she teased, to which Neil gave a small chuckle.

Neil: Actually. I wanted to get you something. He showed a small box.

Both Tina and Avni were surprised.

As Tina opened it, she was in love with the Pandora bracelet shining in front of her.

Tina: Neil, this is lovely, thank you. She said, swiftly heading in for a hug.

Neil stopped for a moment, then slowly raised his hands and gave her a hug in return. While Avni frowned and gazed at his retreating back

Tina: Neil, this wasn't needed. But is there a special reason behind this gift? She asked once Neil had moved away.

Neil: Think of it as a new start. He said this while staring at Tina, despite the fact that he knew he was only implying it to himself.

Avni: Has Neil seriously decided to start fresh? She thought to herself.

" Why do you believe he will continue wait for you after what happened in the last few days, especially yesterday? You do not want him to be any closer to you. That's what he's doing," her inner self responded.

Tina: This new start is going to be the best, she said.

Neil: I'll meet you in the evening. He smiled slightly as he said goodbye.

Tina: Bye. She replied with a huge smile on her face. Neil nodded and walked away.

As Neil walked towards Avni who was still standing near the door gave her a slight nod before exiting the room.

Avni turned to see him walking away when she felt Tina hug her from the back.

Tina: Gosh, Avi. You know, for a while, I thought Neil seemed strange, but when he came to give me this gift, I realised it was just my overthinking. I'm guessing that was all due to work pressure.

Avni: Why didn't you say you felt this way?

Tina: Trust me, I did, but you were also working every day, and I couldn't add any more baggage on you. I had planned to share with you if things remained the same for a little longer, but everything seems to be fine. Sometimes our brain causes us to think about too much, she continued, shaking her head. Avni gave a weak smile.

Avni: I'll get going now.

Tina nodded happily as she stared at the bracelet Neil gave.

Looking at the clock on the wall, she grinned as she looked at the bracelet..

Tina: only a few more hours to become your fiancée, Neil. she whispered, giving a little peck to the bracelet.

***
Hey guys. Here is the next chapter from me and NeilAvni_love
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