Amongst the glimmering lights and the soulful background music, she entered into the huge mansion called 'Khanna house'.The blinding shine of glamour and the defeaning sound of social laughter shook her will to enter inside for a moment.But a friendly hand on her back and a tug on her shouder made her formidable again.Ali gave her the much needed push.

Her eyes immediately scanned the room for a familiar face.But before she could find the person she was looking for ,Ali spotted Richa.Richa was standing along with Tanya and Bebe and a third person Avni didn't recognise. She greeted Bebe with a huge smile.Bebe blessed her and gave her a hug before introducing her to Neil's Parents.

'' Shweta, Prakash... Isse milo.Yeh humari Neil ki friend hai"

" Neil ki friend.Main kaise nai mili isse kabhi " Shweta enquired.

" Jaise toh tu uski saari friends ko janti hai...baat karti hai.Ye Avni hai...doctor hai...wohi jisne meri help ki thi hospital mein "

" Oh Richa ki friend.Han ab Richa ki friend toh Tillu ki friend hogi hi.Hello ji.Main Tillu ki mom Shweta"

" Tillu?" Avni looked confused.

" Oh mera matlab Neil.Pyaar se main usse Tillu bulati hoon"

" Oh.acha.Namaste Aunty ji"

" Beta isse apna hi ghar samjho.Party enjoy karo.Aur kisi bhi cheez ki jarurat ho toh bejhijhak batana.After all you took such good care of my Bebe.She praises you a lot " Prakash stroked her hairs in a fatherly gesture.His gesture left a sense of longing in her eyes.

'' Han han make yourselves comfortable" Shweta said lovingly.

''Dekha Bebe aakhir meri choice Richa ki wajah se aapko itni achi doctor mil gayi''

''  Han Bhai sab tera hi kamal hai.Ab chalke dusre guests se bhi mil le?''

Bebe went away to talk to her relatives and friends, leaving Avni in the company of her friends.

" Avni ye lehenga toh bahut pretty hai yaar.Kab liya tune? " Richa started admiring Avni's dress.

'' Han yaar Avni.You never showed it to us.But this colour suits you so much." Tanya added.

'' Wo aaj hi liya '' it was difficult to lie to her two besties.

Avni tried to avoid further answering the questions in order to prevent any slip ups.

''Teri nayi family toh bahut pyaari hai yaar Richa'' with this question Avni tried to change the tide of conversation.Richa started by agreeing to her and went on to describe each of Neil's family members and how they were with her.Avni felt relieved as the attention was shifted from her sun kissed dress.

Soon Richa was surrounded by family friends  brought by Shweta.She introduced Richa to everyone as Prakash's friend's daughter who works in fashion.She left the big announcement for later in the evening.

Avni stealthily walked away from the unwanted crowd.She could spot Ali talking to a group of people whom she assumed to be businessmen.He always found his crowd unlike her who always left like the odd man out.

In sea of people she was unable to find a quiet corner for herself. After quite some searching she was able to find the maid and get the directions to the upstairs guest washroom. After coming out from the washroom she found the place she was searching for.The large round balcony had the quietude that she longed.Her legs moved on their own accord and didn't stop till they reached their destination.It was raining outside.The humming soft drippings of the rain had drowned under the loud sounds of laughter and mirth.She extended one arm out to feel the tranquility brought about by the  sound of raindrops tapping against the earth's surface.With shut eyes she breathed in the earthy fresh smell of the first rains, one that leaves a sense of longing and nostalgia

Neil was trying his best to get away from all his clients and unexpected guests who were flocking him everytime he attempted an escape.His eyes were on the look out of that one face that had disappeared from his sight after giving him one glimpse of herself wearing  his gift. His eyes had followed her when she made her way up the stairs.So without wasting a moment more he proceeded to find her, only to be stopped by his mother.

" Kahan ja rha hai Tillu?"

" Mom sabke saamne Tillu mat bulaya karo " embarrassed he looked around him to see if anyone had heard him.

"Par tu ja kahan rha hai?"

"To my room.I'll back in 5 mins" he hurried upstairs before he could be stopped again.

Unbestknown to him shweta had her mind set on one thing only.

                             ***~***

Finally his eyes were at peace, for the soothing sight infront of him.A sense of calmness prevailed just by the sight of her.She looked like a dream, in a translucent yellow lehenga with magenta pink top, eyes closed shut, both arms extended with raindrops dancing off her palms.Serene was the view presented to him.He could feel the sensations she felt.How he didn't know that.He face had emotions merging into each other...like beads of different colours sewn together,  like a palette of colour splashed together. It took him some time to gulp down this view and start speaking again.

''Ahem.Why are you hiding here?"

Avni was surprised to hear his voice.She looked as if someone had woken her up from a beautiful dream.

" Not hiding.I felt out of place there.I don't belong there"

" Badi boring ho yaar tum"  he knowingly tried to instigate her just to change her mood.

" Aur tum bade interesting ho.Then why are you here?"

" I came looking for you"

" What? How did you even know?"

" I... I saw you while coming out of my room " he averted his eyes to avoid getting caught by hers.

''The thing is I know how to have fun'' he continued.

" Acha? I don't think so Tillu'' 

She said it so subtlety that at first Neil didn't catch it.Then it sank in.

''What did you say?"

" Tillu ''

''Shhh.Don't say it out loud''

'' Ok so just say you were wrong about me and I do know how to have fun "

" No you don't" he chuckled looking at the rains

'' I do " 

In a matter of second Neil's face was splashed with the cold rain water.Shocked he looked in the direction it came from and found her laughing her heart out at his shocked expression.Her laughter subsided as he reciprocated her actions.

The splashing of rain drops and the game of getting each other drenched continued for quite sometime till both of them were left gasping for breath.The way they brought out the child in one another was remarkable.She had not enjoyed herself or the rains this much in quiet sometime.The invaluable innocent smile on her face, left Neil's heart in a sweet mess.Her smile left a warm fuzzy.feeling inside him.How he wished the smile never left the her adorable face .Her face which now had a thin film of water lining it.It glistened even more in the after effect.

   Her lips...her pink lips which he had never noticed so keenly before, her ever enchanting eyes being the culprit  behind this ignorance.Her lips looked luscious,pink and delectable with the few drops of dew sticking to them.He had this sudden urge to remove the ones sticking to her lower lips.

   One sneeze from Avni and a little self- consciousness from her side is all it took for Neil to realise he was staring at her making her uncomfortable.The cold winds rustling against her wet clothes made her shiver.Neil had a tough time looking away.

'' Lets get you dried or else you will fall ill.The guest bathroom is just at the end of the corridor''

 Avni agreed readily ,nodding her head.First step she took  towards the corridor made her slip on the wet floor, only to be caught from behind by Neil.He held her firmly with both hands on her shoulders. His hand held her strongly from behind.Titled at an backward angle her face stayed just below his.His hairs were dripping wet, with water drops settling as dew drops on her face.She lost herself in the depths of his eyes yet again.She felt like a prisoner everytime she looked into them.The raindrops jumped off the railings and sprinkled on them like fragrant water.The strong awareness of each other 's presence was unnerving.

 In the hall below, Richa was busy giving away fashion tips to a bunch of ladies surrounding her.Shweta called her from behind. With drink in her hand Richa turned to the direction of the voice, only to dash with Ali and spill the entire drink on his expensive new shirt.

''I'm so sorry"

" Its okay.Mujhe aage dekh ke chalna chahiye tha" He said trying to get the drink off his shirt with some tissues.

" Let me help you '' Richa offered her assistance.

" Nai thik hai''

'' please let me help.Come with me to the washroom.I can help remove this " she insisted.

Ali agreed seeing her guilt ridden face.

Richa helped Ali to the guest bathroom.On reaching there she helped him clean it.In her efforts to remove the stain she didn't notice when the bathroom room closed shut in the wind.

It took a flashing smile from the heavenly clouds to pull them out from their dreamy state.He straightened her up and held her right hand tightly in his and lead her out.

to be continued...