Chapter 16:

It was a fine evening, the sun was shining and a soft breeze was playing with the plants and trees.

A cafe has shown and chamko cafe was written on the board. Avni entered the cafe and her hair was flying, she was carrying a bag, a pair of eyes were looking at her and locked at her. Avni stops and looks around she was finding someone then she saw the person whom she was finding she looked there for a few seconds then she moved to that place and stopped near a table. The second person who showed it was Neil he looked at her and got up. There was an awkward silence they look here and there then at each other and look away.

Neil sighs and signs sit.

Neil: sit.

Avni looks at him and nods. Avni sits, Neil looks at her.

Avni: why are you standing? Are you waiting for an invitation?

Neil smiles he thought that no matter what the situation is, she will not leave to taunt him. Neil sits and again they feel awkward.

Neil clears his throat. Avni looks at him.

Neil: so?

Neil signs what with hands.

Neil: why you called me here?

Avni thinks then she looks at him.

Avni: to talk about Aman and Kareena.

Neil nods by looking away.

Avni keeps the arms on the table.

Avni: can't you talk to your aunt? Asked her to not do this, they love each other.

Neil: what do you think, Avni? I did not try. I tried a lot but she didn't listen she said that she is doing this for Kareena.

Avni: but she is giving her pain by doing this, it will traumatise her and what if they take some wrong step, then?

Neil: I know that but what do I do? I talked to uncle also, but she being stubborn did not listen to him also. Even Kareena has stopped talking to her but she being her, did not get affected.

Avni: Why she is like this? Why she is doing this to her only daughter. Doesn't she love her?

Neil: she loves her a lot but she is saying that she is doing this for her betterment, for the security of her future. I am not getting her point.

Avni: but I am getting it. She wants to use us. In the future, if Aman and Kareena will have any problem in their relationship then she will use us, you and me as a weapon.

Neil: how?

Avni: ab... aa. Yes. Let's suppose if, in the future, Aman raise hand on Kareena and...

Neil: then I will kill him.

Avni looks at him.

Avni: o hello, my brother is not like this. I said let's suppose.

Neil looks away as he did not want to argue.

Neil: ok, sorry.

Avni: Better. OK so suppooose.

Neil looks at her as she stretched the word suppose.

Avni: Aman raise hand on Kareena or she goes back to her mother's home for any reason then your beloved aunt will ask you to throw me out of the home to teach a lesson to Aman. Just like a typical illiterate person.

Neil: I am not like those bastards who are the puppet of their mother and aunt's hand. I always stand with the right.

Avni: that I don't know but I told you what is her planning. I saw many cases like this, that's why I understood her strategy.

Neil thinks.

Neil: hmm, I agree.

They look at each other.

Neil: then now?

Avni thinks. Neil looks worried as he wants to say something.

Neil: ab, can I say something?

Avni nods. Neil said in a low.

Neil: www... what's the problem with marrying me?

Avni shocked.

Neil: I mean, I.

Avni: I don't want to marry. Neither you nor anyone else.

Neil gets hurt which was visible on his face. He looks down.

Avni: but.

Neil looks at her.

Avni: we don't have any other option. We have to do it for Aman and Kareena.

Neil: means, means you are ready for our alliance.

Avni looks at him.

Avni: I have thought something.

Neil frowns.

Neil: what?

Avni looks at him for some time and Neil waits for her answer.

Avni: contract marriage.

Neil shocked. Avni looks at him.

Avni: we will do a contract marriage of one year and when Aman and Kareena will get married we will end the contract.

Neil looked angry.

Neil: look Avni, I don't know about you but for me, marriage is a lifetime commitment. Marriage is not a game that we will play with it and after some time we will break our sand house and will move to our ways. A marriage not only happen between two people, it connects two families and by doing a contract marriage I can not hurt two families, I can not play with the emotions of my family. They have many dreams regarding my marriage and married life I can not break their dreams by breaking our marriage just after one year of it. Marriage is a responsibility and if we will get married then I will fulfil my all responsibilities towards you. I will give you all rights on me and will try to give you everything which will be in my hands. If we will get married then it will be a normal marriage, not a contracted one. I don't know about you, but I don't have any problem marrying you. I am ready for it and will try my best to make it successful, to make this journey beautiful.

Avni was looking at him. The first time, she doesn't have an answer she also believes in this but she had some fears that's why she wanted to do a contract marriage.

Avni: I know this. And I agree with you but.

Neil: but what?

Avni looks at him.

Avni: I have a past.

Neil frowns.

Avni: I had an accident and in that accident...

Avni told her something but not the entire truth. Neil was listening to her.

Avni: and I have a fear that in future maybe I will not be able to fulfil your family's wish.

Neil shocked.

Avni: you know what I mean?

Neil looks at her, Avni waits for his reply.

Neil: can you give me your reposts?

Avni frowns.

Avni: why?

Neil: what do you mean to why? I am a doctor.

Avni shocked.

Avni: what?

Neil: yaa.

Avni: are you serious?

Neil: yaa.

Avni: no, you are kidding me.

Neil: no why would I? I am serious.

Avni: really?

Neil: Avni!

Avni: but how can a mad be a doctor.

Neil shocked.

Neil: what?

Avni looks at him.

Neil: I am a qualified doctor and owner of a hospital.

Avni: hospital or mental asylum?

Neil glared at her.

Avni: but you work with Bhai?

Neil: yaa. I help dad in his business.

Avni: oh, strange.

Neil: why are you so shocked?

Avni: nothing, I am just surprised. You don't look like a doctor.

Neil: why? Do Doctors have antlers?

Avni looks at him they smile.

Neil: ok, so you have the reports?

Avni: yes, I brought them.

Neil: show me.

Avni nods and takes out a file from the beg, she gives that to Neil he reads the file and, Avni was looking at him and there were many questions in her eyes.