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Hola Peeps!!! Long time right? Well, no apologies this time!

Coz too much had been going on in my life in the past month. I even lost my job as the company forced me to start working from office at this time. I had to resign due to safety issues and guess what?

After 2 weeks, the company shut down!!! That feeling of losing out on the only thing that occupied my time was ridiculous!

But now, its possible that I get lot of time to devote to writing... So Let's get started for #AvNeil Romance!!

Honestly, the subtle progress in arranged marriages are so beautiful.. The tiny footsteps to each other's hearts... Chalo!!!!

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Tara : Avni!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I just scream !!?

Avni(shutting her ears): You are already doing that dumbo!

Tara: Oh yes. You are right. But I won't stop! Avu!! I am so happy!!

Avni: Calm down! Shaant..Shaaant!!(Calm..calm) Sit down here.

Tara(sat next to her and looked at her): Yep?

Avni: Tara.. Listen to me. Our relatives will visit each other's houses na baba? Only after that anything can get fixed.

Tara: All those are formalities babe! Ab kya galat ho sakta hai? (Now, what can go wrong?)

Avni: May or may not. I don't want to rush things. You know what happened with Srikanth right?

Tara: I understand Avu. But Neil is the only person whom you accepted with whole heart.

Avni(recollected his giggling face and smiled): Haan...

Tara(smiled): Tum uske khayal se hi muskura rahi ho Avni.. (You are smiling even at his thoughts)

Avni(looked at her): Par mujhe dar lagta hai yaar. Shaadi ke mamle hote hi aise hai. Kab judthe hai kab tootthe hai, pata hi nahi chalta. Hone do sab kuch fixed. (I am scared. All these things related to marriages are like this only. They can break or get fixed with so much ease. So, let everything get fixed).

Tara: Everything will be fine Avni. My heart says so.

###### Khanna Mansion ######

Whispers filled the hall as Neil's relatives astonishingly looked at the Mehta family. Neela along with Ashish's entire family sat on the chairs and sofas mingling with everyone present.

Maddy Bua(whispered to Swetha in the kitchen): Swetha Bhabhi..What's happening?

Swetha(fumbled through her phone opening the matrimony profile of Avni): I don't know Maddy. I really don't know. I am trying to get some insight into this.

Prakash(walked into the kitchen): Swetha ji! Guests are here and instead of keeping them engaged what are you all doing here?

Maddy: Bhaiyya. Did you see a muslim lady amongst them? Neelaji introduced her as Avni's maternal grandmother. But as far as bhabhi knows, Neelaji's parents are dead and she only has a brother living abroad with his family.

Prakash: We will discuss that later. Right now, all of them are our guests. Its our duty to treat them well. Rest, we will see later. C'mon.

Swetha(held his hands): I really feel something is wrong Prakash ji. We can't compromise in Tillu's case.

Prakash(sternly): What did I say now? I won't tolerate people being mistreated in my house. So, come with me.

###### In the Hall ######

Bebe(Prakash's mother): Where do you live Fatima Ji?

Fatima/Nanno(Avni's grandmother): I live a few kilometers away from Pune with Ali. He is my late brother's grand son. He lost his family to an accident when he was a child. Since then, he lives with me. Ali is very close to Avni too.

Bebe(smiled): Acha. So what does he do?

Ali(came and touched her feet): I run a cafe and Nanno helps me with the work too.

Bebe(blessed him): Jeete raho beta.. (Live long son).

Ashish: We'll then take your leave Prakash ji. You all can decide on a date and come to Pune too.

Prakash: Sure sure. I will give you a call.

They bid a bye and returned to Pune leaving behind the Khanna family with a number of unanswered questions. Swetha started going in detail through Avni's matrimony profile.

"Our family includes me -Ashish Mehta, my wife -Neela Mehta, my daughter - Avni Mehta and son Aman Mehta. My children are born from my late wife Ayesha Haider."

Swetha got the shock of her life and ran to Prakash and showed him this.

Swetha: How did I miss this line!? How could I make this mistake?

Prakash: Oh! In that case, Fatima ji is Ayesha's - I mean the mother of Avni's biological mother.

Maddy: She is having muslim roots then!

Swetha: Yes! Half Hindu. Half Muslim. Mixed birth. She is Neela's step daughter. They should have gone for a muslim boy then.

Prakash: Why? Her religion is clearly mentioned as Hindu in the profile.

Swetha( irritated): Unke mention karne se kya hota hai? Khoon se to musalman bhi huyi na...!? (What difference does that make? She is a muslim too by blood).

Maddy: Bhabhi is right. This can cause a lot of problems. Log kya kahenge? Ki arranged marriage hokar bhi acchi ladki nahi dhoond paye? (What will people say? We couldn't find a nice girl even when it was an arranged marriage?)

Bebe(sighed): How can we say she is not nice? Her birth is not her fault. And neither have they hidden anything from us. We have missed this information from the profile.

Swetha: Bebe! Galti chahe kisi ki bhi ho, ye shaadi nahi ho sakti.. (Mistake can be of anyone. This marriage can't happen).

Prakash: What? On what basis?

Maddy: For all clear reasons. Her family background is so complicated. It's not good.

Prakash: What's not good? Loving and marrying a girl from another religion? Having a child with her? Remarrying after his wife's death?

Neerav(Neil's brother): They did not hide anything from us too. She is clearly following Hinduism. Given that her background is such, she might actually be respecting every god and religion. Isn't that amazing Mom?

Swetha(angrily): Do not come up with your lecture on open mindedness and crap. Do that in your college. Not here.

Bebe: Why are you shouting on Niru? Dekho Swetha, I understand what you are saying. In that case, we should not have proceeded on this. At this stage if we reject a girl pointing on her birth, that would be very mean.

Swetha: We cannot let this marriage happen just because we came to know things later.

Bebe: Yes. So what can you do? You should take Tillu's opinion.

Swetha: Why? He will do what his mom says.

Neerav: Stop that non sense Mom! He is already doing that. He came on leave, met the girl of your choice, started accepting her..and boom! Here you go with another wish! You should think about your son too.

Maddy: You are saying as if Bhabhi is his enemy. She is his mother.

Neerav: Bhai is a human being bua. He can't be a puppet. And I am pretty sure he won't be. Pyar karne laga hai wo Avni se.. (He has started to love Avni).

Prakash(smiled): Did he tell you?

Neerav: He need not say anything. You ask him about her and watch his face. You'll have all your answers.

Swetha: Kuch bhi!

Neerav: Mom! Rejecting a proposal on this basis is utter stupidity and you can try talking to your son. I had taken Avni bhabhi's number from her family and had shared it with Bhai. They would have started talking by now.

Swetha: Do not call her your Bhabhi!

Neerav(walked away): For me, she is.

###### Mehta Mansion ######

Avni tried to call Tara and found her engaged on another call. Avni sighed and continued browsing instagram. Just then, a message popped up on her whatsapp.

Unknown number: Hi. Good evening.

Avni: Hi. Who's this?

Neil: It's me Neil.

Avni: Hello! How are you?

Neil: I'm Good. Neerav got your number from your Mom and gave me.

Avni: 😊Good. I was anyway going to ask for your number. These people may forget and we may end up talking directly on engagement.

Neil: 🤣Possible. Inko kuch padi nahi hai😂

Avni: Had your dinner?

Neil: Nah. Going out for that. You?

Avni: Just had.

No reply. Tick. Tick.

Avni(mentally): Where did he go? Must have gone to have food.

Neil: I'm back. Had a chicken roll. What was for dinner?

Avni: Roti and matar kuruma.

Neil: Tumhe pasand hai? (You like it?)

Avni: Uhmm.. I don't hate it. I am not that particular about food. I can adjust on anything except a few which I hate.

Neil: For example?

Avni: Karela.. (Bitter Gourd) 🤮

Neil: I like them😂

Avni: Chee! How do you even eat those?

Neil: 😆😆 And?

Avni: And Brinjal! Ghosh I hate them and their slippery texture.

Neil: I agree. But still I try to eat.

Avni: I'm sorry I don't even try!

Neil: Haha..! I am not much into you know under ground vegetables. Yam, Potato, Beetroot etc. Especially yam🤢

Avni: OMG! I love them all..

Neil: Haha! Are you a morning person?

Avni: Nop. I am a complete night person. I can sit till late night. But getting up early and all is a nightmare for me. Tum?

Neil: I always stick to sleeping on time. It's not healthy otherwise.

Avni: Yes. I am trying to correct my sleeping habits slowly.

Neil: What do you do till late night?

Avni: Many things. I may listen to music or..

Neil: Watch movies...

Avni: Not really. That rarely happens at night. Mostly I would have got an interesting book to read and may not get sleep without completing it. So...

Neil: Books!??

Avni: Yep😬

Neil: Avni Yaar! We are opposites! 😳

Avni: 😂 I know right! Completely! But then opposites attract..

It was just after she pressed the send button that she realised what had she sent and she bit her tongue.

Avni(in mind): What did you say Avni? Kya soch raha hoga tere bare me.. (What he must be thinking about you?)

Neil suppressed his laughter because he was so sure that Avni didn't think before sending this.

Neil(smiled playfully): 😜 So you do agree that I have attracted you..

Avni: Arey! That was a slip. I just meant it as a common line used.

Neil: Matlab I am not attractive to you.

Avni: No. Not like that.

Neil(laughed): Then?

Avni: Stop it ya Neil! Kyun taang kheench rahe ho? ( Why are you pulling my legs?)

Neil: 😂😂 Bas maza aa raha tha.. (It was fun).

Avni: Waise, why did you say 'yes'?

Neil(smiled and thought): Why not Avni? You are a complete package. You are brilliant in academics, you run a music class, you want to study further, you look pretty good too. You are a very independent, career oriented person. You are confident enough to do things by your own. And the way you talked, you were so bold.

Avni(smiled): That was too much tareef! Thanks anyway. I thought you got offended. I was a bit rash in the begining.

Neil: Not at all. I found it very courageous. You had your own points and you were clear with it. I didn't want any 'touch-me-not' or dependent type girls. They won't get along with me kyunki I keep pulling legs and they can't handle it.

Avni: Hmm. Matlab you like people who put across their points no matter what.

Neil: Yes. It's like you need not agree with everything that I say. You need to have opinions. Aisi ladkiyan pasand hai mujhe (I like such girls). Bold is sexy..

Avni(laughed since he made a similar slip): You mean to say I am sexy?

Neil(squeezed his eyes shut): Yaar. Slip mere se bhi ho sakta hai.. (The slip can happen with me too).

Avni:Acha?Matlab I am not sexy. Ohkay.

Neil: Avni! 😒

Avni: 😂😂 Yeah? You just told everything by yourself😅.

Neil(smiled): Well. I don't deny that compliment.

Avni(smiled): I am taking it then.

Neil: Better😇. Why did you say 'yes'?

Avni(thought about the whole 6 month long debate that she had with her family): I was so done with meeting random people every week. I thought you were a teek taak ladka and I said yes so that I can get out of this mess. 🤪 Nothing special otherwise.

Neil(laughed): 😂😂😂Acha beta!! 😂 I thought I can hear some good things about me and here you go!

Avni: 🤣 Not so soon boy!

Neil: Why do I feel like there's something more to it?

Avni(smiled): You are right. Kabhi fursat se bataungi.. (Will tell you in detail some other time)

Neil(smiled): Sure. So, I may sleep in some time.

Avni: Yep. Go on. I have time.

Neil: It's already 1.5 hours ahead of UAE ! 🙄

Avni: But it's too early for me. Goodnight now..

Neil: Goodnight. Step by step, try to sleep early. This can cost your health. I want to spend my whole life with you. Remember that.

Avni(felt overwhelmed): I know. I will keep that in mind.

Neil: Kya? That you should sleep early?

Avni: No. That I have someone who wants to spend his life with me...

Neil: Hamesha.. (Always)

While Avni and Neil were slowly falling into the phase, the Mehta and Khanna families were caught in serious discussions over the phone.

###### Khanna Mansion ######

Neela: But Swetha ji. We had already put up the details on the profile.

Swetha: Yes. But I don't wish for this marriage to happen now.

Neela(had tears): You should have checked the profile thoroughly. How can I stop Nanno and Ali from attending the marriage? It's their right.

Swetha: You should. Or else, this won't happen.

Prakash(came listening to the conversation and snatched the phone from Swetha angrily): Neela ji. Please relax. I will have to talk to Neil about this. We'll discuss the rest of the things later. Swetha ki baaton ko dil pe mat leejiye.. (Don't be hurt by Swetha's words). She is worried about those people who are there with us only to taunt. Neil aur Avni khush hai, to ye shaadi hokar rahegi (If Neil and Avni are happy, then this marriage will surely happen).

Neela: Ji. Namaste..

Prakash glared at Swetha fuming over her.

Prakash: We had decided upon talking to Neil. Then, what was this all about?

Swetha: I will take decisions for my son. He will agree with me.

Prakash: He is not a school going kid. He is grown up enough that we are getting him married. He can take his own decisions.

Swetha: We have raised him. He should listen to us too.

Prakash: If I had listened to my mother 28 years ago, you would not have been here to spit fire like this. Yaad rakhna.. (remember that).

Swetha(had tears): Prakash ji..

Prakash(calmed down and kept his hands on her shoulders): I didn't want to hurt you Swetha ji. But have you thought about the amount of pain through which you put Neela ji now?

Swetha(downcasted her eyes): That was not my intention..

Bebe(came there): But you did that. Dekho Swetha. Your demands are unreasonable. Nanno and Ali are Avni's family. We cannot stop them from attending this marriage.

Prakash: Absolutely. You dail up Neil now. We'll take his opinion and go by that. You have to agree on that. Promise?

Swetha(calmed down and wiped her tears): Ji. But he always agrees to me.

Bebe(caressed her hairs): Sunny also listens to me always. But did he marry you as per my wish?

Swetha(nodded): No..

Bebe: But I have accepted you right?

Swetha: That situation was different Bebe. I was engaged to Prakash ji's friend and he passed away a day before our marriage. I was in trauma and Prakash ji married me going against you. But here, it is just a plain simple arranged marriage.

Bebe: Zidd mat karo Swetha. Emotions kabhi simple nahi hote. Neil agar Avni ko chahta hai to hum me se koi kuch bhi kahe, wo nahi manega. (Don't be so stubborn. Emotions are never simple. If Neil loves Avni, he won't agree to any of us).

Swetha (nodded and mentally said): I will explain him. He can't love anyone just like that.

Prakash rang up Neil and put the call on speaker.

Neil: Yes Dad. Tell me.

Prakash: Seedhi si baat hai. Dhyan se sun na. (It's a straight forward thing. Listen carefully).

Neil: Yes. Go on.

Prakash: Avni is not Neela's biological daughter. She is from Ashish's late wife Ayesha Haider who was a muslim.

Bebe: Ayesha's mother Fatima Banu along with Avni's.. say cousin- Ali lives at short distance away from Pune. They had also come to our house and that's when we realised that Avni has muslim roots.

Swetha: Thus she is the step daughter of Neela. She is the daughter of a muslim woman too. Our family is a reputed one and people will mock us if we get you married to a girl with mixed heritage.

Neil: Did they hide this from us?

Prakash: No. These details are in the profile. We missed to notice it.

Neil: Did you like her family keeping aside these facts? Mom?

Swetha: Tillu! I can't keep aside these facts.

Neil: I'm just asking. Are they fine otherwise?

Swetha: Yes.

Neil: No other clashes Dad?

Prakash: Not at all beta. Bebe?

Bebe: I don't have any issue. But Swetha is your mother and she has worries.

Neil: Kyun? Avni's own mother has passed away. It's painful for her. Why should we make a fuss out of it? She is a Hindu and that's why this proposal came to us. That part also is clear. So what's the big deal?

Neerav(came in): But Mom wants Nanno and Ali to not attend the marriage. She wants them to break all ties with their muslim roots and then this marriage "MAY" happen. Even then, there is no sureity.

Swetha: NIRU!

Neerav: What? Did I say wrong?

Swetha: Tillu. I said all those things because I was worried. I am sorry. I will apologise to them for the hurt I caused them. But, let's look for some other proposals.

Neil: Avni is not responsible for all those things that you point out Mom.

Swetha: For godsake, it is an arranged marriage Tillu! We can call off the rishta just the same way we fixed it. Had it been a love marriage, we could have thought about compromises.

Neil's heart thudded with the thought of not having Avni in his life. He looked at her profile picture where she was seen smiling her pretty smile. Her deep kohled eyes and trendy nose ring. He needs to see this smile everyday. Their previous day's conversation played through his mind.

" I have someone who wants to spend his life with me"

"Hamesha.."

Swetha: Tillu! Are you hearing me?

Neil: Then consider this as a love marriage Mom.

Bebe and all others smiled.

Neerav: Told you!

Swetha(couldn't believe her ears): Matlab? (Means?)

Neil: Matlab I am not going to let her go due to these stupid reasons.

"Duniya idhar se udhar bhi ho jaye..Shaadi main Avni se hi karunga. Aur kisi se nahi.."

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How was it?

Ignore the mistakes if any!

Feedback pleaaaseee!!

Love
Megha😘