Avni looked at the TV, trying to focus on the news she yawned again
She gasped when she saw an old college friend on the news being arrested for burglary
She grabbed her phone and called up Neil without thinking
"Neil do you remember Arana, she got arrested for robbing a house"
Neil laughed "Is that what you called me for"
"Yeah but arent you shocked"
"Eh, it doesnt surprise me"

"What, really I always thought she was lovely"
"Well you always see the good in people"
Then he paused "But you could never see it in me"
"I did Neil, I still do, its just hard"
"Its okay Avni, I get it, I would be the same"
Avni sighed "I want so badly to believe you, but I struggle, and if I came back then what if it happens again"
"It wouldnt, I swear to you, we could get out of this place and start afresh"

Being caught up with past memories with Neil had made Avni miss him even more than she did usually
"Id like that"
Neil stood up "Really, because we can leave now"
"I have somethings to sort out but soon"
"What changed your mind " he asked
Avni shrugged, before remembering he couldn't see her
"I guess the time away let me think and the least I can do is trust you"

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

It was two weeks later when Avni waved at Zafar, he bent down hugging her
"Stay in contact okay"
Avni nodded "thank you for all you have done for me, I will never forget it"
Zafar smiled "Dont thank me, its embarassing, youve picked the right guy, now go and be happy please"
Avni wiped away a tear "Ill really miss you"
Zafar squeezed her hand "ill miss you to"
He stretched out his hand to Neil
"Take good care of her yeah"
Neil shook his hand "Always, it was good meeting you"

Avni sat in the car and took a deep breath
Neil looked over at her
"One last time, are you sure"
Avni nodded "I trust you Neil, and I want to try again"
Neil started the car and as they drove away they both silently promised to never look back on the past but ahead to the future
Neil looked over at Avni an hour into the journey to see she had fallen asleep
Neil adjusted the heating in the car and continued to drive
Avni stretched as much as she could with the seatbelt on and smiled over at Neil

"How long was I out for"
"Well were here so, you tell me"
Avni blushed "Home sweet home hm"
Neil nodded "It is now you're here"
Avni laughed and got out of the car, she stopped in her tracks as she looked up at the house
Neil rubbed her back as she cried
"Do you not like it"
Avni shook her head "I love it, I cant believe you remembered"
"How could I forget your dream house"
She laughed "Because I told you my dream house when I was about nine or ten"
Neil shrugged "Every moment with you has been special, I try my very best to remember each and every moment"

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

Avni looked at a sleeping Neil from the door
She wondered how long he had this house ready
Maybe she would never know, there was a lot of things she didnt know, she believed Neil didnt cheat the second time round, but the first she was still unsure about and clearly so was he.
Neil had hurt her in ways she had never imagined she could be hurt, but now as she watched him sleeping she couldnt help but recall how good he had been to her

She put her fingers through his hair as she sat next to him, he looked so calm and serene while sleeping
She went to pull her hand back when he grabbed her wrist
"Dont stop, it feels nice" his voice was throaty
"I thought you were asleep"
"I was" he smiled, his eyes still closed
Neil tugged her down next to him and lazily pulled her closer
"What are you doing"
"Going to sleep" he replied
"I can see that, but this isnt my room"

Neil smiled against her shoulder "Lets relive college memories and call it a sleepover"
"My father would kill you if we were still in college"
She froze, realising what she had said
"Sorry, I wasnt thinking"
"Its okay, I always said id take a bullet for you"
"Youre so soppy"
"Only for you hot stuff"
"Ew dont ever call me that again" she shuddered
"Youre so fussy" he replied

"Clearly not that fussy or I wouldnt have picked you"
Neil turned her around and climbed on top of her "I dont remember you having much of a choice"
"Then you remember wrongly"
Avni tried to move but Neil held her arms to the bed
"Its been a long time since ive been able to just look at you, just let me take you in"
He let go of one of her arms and she covered her face, blushing "Neil please"
Neil moved her arm away "Avni please" he mimicked "dont shy away from me"

Neil pressed a kiss to her forehead before lying next to her
"Goodnight Avni"
"Night Neil"
It wasnt long before they both fell asleep peacefully, both finally where they were meant to be, at home.

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

The next evening Avni sat at the table after unpacking her clothes and ate her dinner
Neil had just came in with some food shopping and put it away
Avni called out to him "dinner is in here"
Neil sat next to Avni and ate his food silently
Neil looked over at Avni's hand as she stood up
"You put your rings back on"
Avni looked down at her hand and smiled "Yeah, fresh start and all"
Neil grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm "You have no idea how happy that makes me"

It was a few hours later, Avni and Neil stood in the garden, looking at the stars
"You really think you can love me again"
"I never stopped, youre an easy man to love, an easy man to want so I dont blame Riya for wanting you, although it hurts that she betrayed me and that you did to, its made me realise how much I love you and want to fight for you" she replied, looking into his eyes
"Its done the same for me, you are all I will ever want"
It seemed for now the past was put behind them and Avni and Neil would truly have their fresh start

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

3 Years Later-

Neil span Avni around, dipping her he smiled down at her
She spotted Riya walking into her fathers birthday party and pulled herself up
Neil spotted Riya and looked over at Avni, the last three years had been better than anything they had ever shared, but he was still fearful he could lose her
"She means nothing, ignore her"
Avni pulled away and made her way over to Riya

Avni knew the only way she could ever be in peace was to forgive, even if the one she forgave wasnt deserving of it
"Riya"
She looked up, her skin paling
"Look, im not here to start a fight, I just want you to know that I forgive you for what you did, I know you will never tell us the truth so maybe Neil cheated, maybe he didnt but none of that matters because thats the past, I honestly hope you find love and never learn what it feels like to lose it the way I did, I hope you never have to question if you're good enough or what you did that was so wrong to make your man go to someone else, I hope youre treated like a princess and I hope you heal, because I get to hurt someone else you must hurt yourself and one day, maybe not anytime soon, I hope you smile and youre truly happy"
Riya froze as Avni hugged her, she slowly brought her arms up, hugging her back

It had been a long time since anyone has accepted Riya, yet here Avni was, forgiving her when she didnt deserve it
Avni pulled away and turned to a shocked Neil
"I am so proud of you for that"
"Just shut up and kiss me"
Neil smirked and pressed his lips to hers, she tugged him closer and pushed her hands into his hair
He was breathless when Avni pulled back "what was that for" he tried to regain his breath
"Just showing the world youre mine" and with that she walked away, swaying her hips
Neil chuckled "That I am Avni, you little tease"

Hello, I just want to thank all of you for your opinions, reads, votes, comments etc
I know this was a hard story to read and thats why I made sure not to let anyone know if Neil ever did cheat
I know a lot of you want different things, so just like Avni will never know, she has to make her own assumptions and now so do you, I feel this was the best way to end it so I didnt dissapoint any readers

Now im sure youre wondering why write about someone cheating on someone they love.
It was due to a similar thing happening to someone very close to me, love isnt perfect, its hard at the best of times but getting through things like this is what makes love more worthwhile
So to the person I know who went through it and to anyone else, I am sorry and I hope you learn to love yourself the way you should be loved
Not everything can be solved, sometimes to much has happened for something to be fixed but everyone deserves love, even those who make mistakes and I hope my story sent that message

Again, thank you, I love you all!