For Avni the last couple of days had gone by fast. She had so much work waiting for her when she resumed office,that getting up to speed had taken up the entire week. Mr Sinha's book was already the talk of the town . The sales had been going up constantly. She had suggested that they do some book tours to increase the sales even more . Her idea was not only approved but she was put in charge of planning the whole thing after discussing Mr Sinha's availability. To top it all , she had to read  two new books by two aspiring writers and give her verdict on them . For others this wasn't always a pleasant job ; you never know what you have to read and the editing for new writers was always too much work , but Avni didn't mind the added work as long as it helped someone achieve his or her dream. Being an aspiring writer herself she identified with them at some point.

   Just like her work , her friendship with her old crush and new boss was moving ahead too. Since the day she got back to work , Aarav had made sure that he met her everyday. What she admired about him was that he was unapologetic and fearless. He didn't care if the gossip mills in the office had a new story to spin . He was also very aware of the fact that nobody would dare say anything directly to him or Avni but there was no way he could stop people from talking. Most importantly he didn't care .He was doing nothing wrong and he didn't let anybody to tell him otherwise. He would often meet up with Avni for lunch or sometimes for coffee if he was busy. There were times Avni didn't like the unwanted attention of her co-workers but she didn't mind having a friend at work either.

  Their almost regular lunch dates culminated in both of them knowing a lot about each other. Avni now knew all about the years Aarav had been away from social media . During their daily conversations she had also deciphered that Aarav knew her pretty well in college unlike her previous misconception. But unlike her he wasn't a social media stalker. What impressed her was he knew about her writings , so much so that he persisted that she should write again for their publication.

Aarav was simple yet sophisticated , easy going yet strong minded ,respectful ,humble  ,caring and a complete gentleman....just liked she had always imagined him to be. Yet somehow her butterflies were settling down at an unsettling rate. Her heart which fluttered at his smile previously ,didn't leap out her chest anymore at his charming smile. He still made her smile by his humour but there were times when her mind wandered away in between their talks. The awkward silences still made their presence felt at times , though much less than they initially did. Then there were times she would smile out of context on seeing Neil replying 'lame ' to the pj she sent him hours ago or just by remembering something funny Neil had said.

Neil had become so occupied with meetings and pending work that he they hardly met except the occasional passing by each other on their way to or from work. The poor guy had postponed so much work for her that now he hardly had time to breath. She almost felt guilty for his overworked self. More than that she missed him ,yes she was actually able to admit that to herself after a going through a lot of denial.  She missed arguing with him ,she missed laughing at him and with him ,she missed being with him. She missed annoying him too ,so much so that she had resorted to sending him poorly constructed jokes to which he replied whenever he found a little time.

                   ---------------------------

Dusk had fallen by the time Avni returned home from work. As she tiredly pulled her reluctant legs towards her apartment ,the sight of Neil's closed doors reminded her of how much she missed him and how she had grown to accept the fact that she missed him for no reason at all . Smiling at her own matured thoughts she turned towards her own door ,that's when she heard him.

" Avni !! Thank God ,I caught you in time ." The words sounded as out of breath as the person speaking them. Neil bent down breathing heavily as he reached Avni.

" You could have taken the elevator instead of 7 flights of stairs superman !!"

" What !! I always take the stairs , you should try it sometimes too " he retorted back after regaining his normal breathing.

" No thanks. I don't want to be like that every evening " she said pointing her finger at his sweaty self .

" That's because I ran up the stairs to reach you . I saw you getting in the elevator , I waved at you but you closed the door before I could get in. "

" Really ? Oh ! I didn't see you. Still you could have just knocked on my door instead of trying to act like the Flash you know. "

" True !! " he said cocking his head  . " Anyways now that we are here..... I need your help. "

" Help ?? Another family visit ?" she raised her eyebrows.

" It's my work actually. "

" Work ?? " she looked surprised.

" Umm yeah. You remember how I had introduced you as my girlfriend to a clingy colleague of mine ? " he tried to jog her memory.

" Oh yes....what was her name....Sam...no...Shi.."

" Shaina. So apparently hot gossips spreads like wildfire in offices...which I didn't know .... obviously. Also that when news travels from one person to the other ,it morphs ."

"Meaning ?? " she asked .

" Meaning......now the whole office thinks we are engaged and you are officially my fiance " he let it out in one breath.

" So ?" Avni's unexpected calm ,not freaked out reply left him astonished.

" That was not the reaction I expected !! Anyways, so I'm signing a big deal in two days with Mehra and Sons and .." .Before he could say further Avni barged in with her inquisitiveness.

" What crime did the famous Mehras commit now ??" she asked perplexed.

" What ?? No !! They want my law firm to represent their company , you know to deal with their paperwork and to represent their employees in case of conflict.  "

" Oh....like that. Ok continue."

" Thank you. So as I was saying ...Mr Mehra ,the founder and Chairman of the company is hosting his anniversary party tonight. " He looked at Avni who was still looked profoundly confused about her role in the whole situation. " He has invited me to come and insisted that I bring along my fiance as well. "

" O.... You want me to accompany you to the party and put in a good word for you....cool....let's go. " She smiled confidently. Playing the part of his would be life partner didn't scare her anymore , it had become a part and parcel of who she was.

" No words would be fine too " he smiled half a smile " and do you have something to wear in black or gold....that's the theme. "

" I have t shirts and kurtis ." She knew that's not the answer he was looking for but answering directly wasn't exactly their style.

" We need to go shopping then.....fast " he said quickly glancing at his watch.

" Shopping ? Did I hear shopping " Meera's shrieking voice ringed in their ears." Can I come along ?" . Her question was directed at her friend who answered in an affirmative 'sure'.

" What ?? Why ?? No no....two girls will take the whole day. I'm just taking one....that's Avni. " Neil freaked out even at the thought of two girls shopping together ,his last experience with Avni and his mom had been very informative.

" I'll help her make a quick decision..... please let me come ....I had an awful day at work " Meera begged . " Oh and I will help her get ready in time " she added batting her eyelids.

" This arguing is surely not helping in moving forward  . Fine.  You can come......but no delays.... alright ?" He narrowed his eyes at them.

Twenty minutes and a car drive later the 3 musketeers had reached their destination ; a famous couture store.

Without wasting any more time Meera dragged Avni to find the perfect little outfit . After making Neil wait impatiently for another couple of minutes both the girls emerged with one black dress each.

" Done ?? " he asked as he saw the two of them walk towards him.

" Mmm.... We zeroed down to two dresses" Meera smiled nervously.

" Fine. Let's take both then " he said getting up from his chair.

" Great !! " Meera happily agreed.

" No. Why should we buy two when I only need one "  Avni objected.

" Whatever you want but decide fast. " Neil sat back down.

" We can't. We can't agree upon one......but you can decide. Let's do that .Come Avni. " Before Neil could even say the word 'No' ,Meera had disappeared with Avni into the trial room.

Neil went back to checking his emails on his phone . He looked up from his screen when he heard someone clearing their throat deliberately. His wide eyes and slack jawed expression was exactly what Meera was hoping for. Avni stood in front of him motionless in the short tube dress that reached just above her mid thighs.

  Neil tried hard to look away but his eyes weren't in the agreement with his courteous brain.He sat there speechless ,his eyes still dazed. Meera adored the whole scenario from the sidelines.

Neil found himself at loss of coherent words. While he tried hard to simmer down his dazed look, he noticed Avni struggling to even meet his eyes. Her hands still clutching on to the lower edge of her short dress caught his attention. Her discomfort didn't go unnoticed either.

" We will take the one Avni chose " he declared making both the girls stare at him in amazement.

" What ? How ? How do you even know that I chose this one ?" Meera looked puzzled. A moment ago the man was having a hard time blinking and now he rejected the dress he had left him speechless; she could never understand what transpired in the silence between the two ever. " Idiots !! " she mumbled frustrated at her friends.

Avni was more than happy to let go off that dress. If it wasn't for Meera's  insistence that the dress suited her more ,she wouldn't have worn it at all.

                     -----------------------

After returning home ,both of them rushed to their respective apartments to get ready in time for the party. As promised Meera went in to help Avni with hair and makeup.

Inside Avni's apartment :

" Ouch . Those pins hurt Meera !! " Avni complained as Meera fixed her hair into a sleeker side bun with the help of hair pins.

" Shhh...quiet.  "

" Why did I let you do this ? " She complained again as the pins pulled on to her scalp.

" Don't you want to compliment him ?? You should look the part you are playing . Everyone should be in awe of the hot and happening couple and for that my friend you need my help. " Meera took the last hairpin from between her teeth and fixed the side bun ,letting just two curly twigs of hair escape it. " Done. "

" Finally . Neil must be waiting. He had messaged that he is waiting at his place ." Avni grabbed her gold clutch and phone in a hurry and rushed to get out.

" Wait wait wait " Meera called from behind.

" What now ?"

" No flats. You are going to wear these." In her hands Meera held a pair of black stilettos.

" No no no.....they are so painful to wear " Avni complained.

" I know. It's just for a few hours. It will make you match him in stature " Meera tempted. " Besides it goes with the dress. Please. "

" Fine. Just give them. I'm late as it is . Can't keep him waiting forever. " Unwillingly Avni surrendered herself to the painful experience.

                     ----------------------

Neil's Apartment :

Neil paced his living room waiting for Avni . Sometimes he would check his watch and other times he would check his tie in the full length living room mirror. His white shirt was perfectly tucked in and his black suit was perfectly ironed. He loosened and realigned his black tie infront of the mirror for the umpteenth time ,when he heard the door open ,followed by footsteps approaching him from behind.

   Without turning around ,still holding on the the knot of his tie he moved a little to his left ,to see Avni emerge on the right side of his mirror image. Their reflections complimented each other in the best possible way ; he to the left ,she to the right ,him leading from the front ,her supporting from behind.  She stood there in silence for a bit as he looked at the perfect synergy of images. She looked like vision in  black with the off-shoulder fit and flare dress. He couldn't think of a better picture of himself than the one he was envisioning right that moment. He took every detail of her  through the glass infront ,as did she.  The awkwardness that had engulfed her at the store had been replaced by a enticing smile. He could feel the slowing down of his own heartbeats as she smiled .She  smiled again through the mirror ,this time accompanied by a thumbs up for him and his attire .

Her little gesture drew him out of the mirror into the real world waiting for him in black. " Shall we ? " she asked still smiling.

" Yeah " he smiled back. He got his keys from the table before leading the way out .

"You look beautiful " he uttered as they stepped inside the elevator . ' Perfect ' was the word he had in mind but it didn't make it out of his lips.

" Thanks . You didn't like the other dress either right ?" She had been dying to ask him this since the couture shop ,but asking it infront of Meera would have pissed her off some more.

" No. That dress...." he cleared his throat " .....would have made a lot of heads turn. "

" That's why you rejected that ?"

" No. I said no because you were clearly uncomfortable.You didn't like it ,so I didn't like it for you . "

"How did you ??" His understanding of her state of mind bemused her .

" I know you well enough Miss fake fiance. " He flicked her nose as the elevator door slid open .

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