Hey people, so I'm still working on figuring out which places Avneil will visit in Rome and Venice and what all they'll do, so here's another filler chapter meanwhile. Hope its not too bad!also disclaimer- I don't speak Italian, I only used google translate for the few phrases I have used in this chapter!

So avni and neel landed in Rome fairly early in the morning and made their way to the taxi stand. Neil handed the address to their taxi driver who was a very pleasant gentleman who spoke English also with a thick Italian accent. After some small talk avni settled at staring at her phone where she had her list of to do things and was figuring out the plan for the day. She was still absorbed in her phone when they got dropped off and neil paid the driver and picked up their suitcase.

Neil- Avni, chalo lets go.

Avni- absent mindedly- haan and then suddenly she looked up and stopped short. Her eyes widened and she looked at neil- ye kya hai?

Neil- huh? Hotel hai..

Avni- voh toh mujhe bhi dikh raha hai- but please tell me this is NOT the place u've booked!

Neil- it is! Kyun kya hua? He asked her genuinely puzzled

Avni- neil, humara lucky draw sirf flight tickets ke liye tha

Neil- ok, but tum kya kehna chah rahi ho?

Avni- yahi ki, this is a fricking 5 star hotel neil! Whats wrong with you? She said in a very annoyed tone

Neil- genuinely confused now- so...isn't that a good thing?

Avni-wh..what? kya karu mai tumhara- she said holding her head in her hands

Neil-avni, mujhe seriously samajh main nahi araha hai ki kya problem hai, but lets go get checked in and then talk

Avni- that's the problem- we cant check in here! This place is too pricey!

Neil- oh..so that's what ur worried about! Its ok avni. Chalo. He said trying to pull her along

Avni- yanked her hand away from his grip and said- no way neil. We cannot stay here. Are u mad? We are on a budget neil. We cant afford this place

Neil- avni, it's a holiday. Its ok to splurge. Just come in and we'll talk inside he said now getting a little frustrated at her

Avni- are u not getting my point?We're not going inside. She said her voice rising

Neil- Avni, don't create a scene ya, just come.

Avni- what? Galti tumhaari, and I am creating a scene! Really?

Neil- avni enough! Ye kya natak hai...hum holiday par aaye hai aur tum jhagad rahi ho mujhse

Avni- mujhe koi shauk nahi hai...but tumhaari harkatein aisi hai..what am I supposed to do?

Neil-kya harkat? Maine humaare liye ek acchi hotel book ki hai...hows that wrong?

Avni- sirf acchi nahi BAHUT zyaada hi acchi, 5 star hai ye!

Neil- so what? He asked her loudly- avni yaar tum kisi cheez se khush kyun nahi hoti ho? Problem kya hai? Normal log 5 star hotel main rahne se khush hote hai!

Avni- haan agar bill koi aur bhar raha ho! She said sarcastically.

As they stood there on the middle of the road arguing, an elderly man walked up to them and asked them- Turisti?

Avneil broke off their argument to look at him and suddenly looked embarrassed that they had been caught fighting in the middle of the road.

Avni- Si (yes)

Man- where you from?

Neil- India

Man- Bene bene!(good good) And you two together?

Avni- si(yes)...he's my husband..uh how do you say it...oh ya marito (Italian for husband)

Man- Ah! Tu parli Italian? (you speak Italian)

Avni- un pono ( a little)...she said sheepishly

Man- parli bene l'italiano! (you speak well) You reached or leaving- he said eyeing their suitcase

Avni- just reached

Man- laughed-

Avni- what happened?

Man- you two just landed and you are already like true Italian couple!

Avneil looked at him confused

Man- in Italy when people fighting means they love each other! My wife- she tell me I love you also as if she say I kill you! And he continued to laugh

Avneil just blushed with embarrassment.

Man—smiled warmly at them and said- you two make love, no war! God bless! He said and walked away chuckling

Once he left avneil just looked at each other, an awkward silence in the air.

Neel- Avni look there's a sandwich shop there, you wanted to try a Panini na. lets go grab a bite first and then we'll talk- he said trying to diffuse the tension.

Avni- nodded and picked up her handbag and the suitcase handle wheeling it along with her on the cobblestone roads

They sat down in the quaint little café- sitting side by side eating their paninis

Avni- mmm....oh my! This is SO good!

Neil watched as she devoured her Panini. Suddenly as she was already halfway through it and munching away her mouth full she noticed neil eyeing her and she was suddenly conscious. She looked down and munched harder, wiped her mouth and looked back at him sheepishly. Sorry vo...

Neil- just chuckled at her- bahut zyada hi bhook lagi hai tumhe!

Avni- just flushed and smiled-haan

Neil- no wonder! when you're hungry you get angry!

Avni- sighed and said ya but this time its not just the hunger talking- neil- I know that this hotel will be amazing, its 5 star. But honestly I am worried about our finances. We are in Italy yaar...not India. We're spending in Euros now, not rupees. We gotta watch our expenses. Our trip has just started.

Neil- I know avni, but whats so wrong about a 5 star.

Avni- nothing ,except it doesn't fit in our budget! Just coz we're on holiday doesn't mean...

Neil- cut her off- budget ko side main rakho yaar! He exclaimed. And its not just a holiday, its our honeymoon! The first one was...well it was not like this. I want to make this one special and romantic for you!

Avni just melted hearing his explanation. She couldn't contain the amount of love she felt for him just then.

She grabbed him close and kissed him square on the lips.

Neil was not expecting that at all. He took a minute to recover from this sudden attack from avni before he felt her nibbling at his lips forcing him to respond. After a thorough smooch when they broke apart neil looked dazed and avni just gave him a naughty grin

Neil- what was that?

Avni- that was romance! She winked at him...she turned more serious and held his hands and said-Neil, I love that you booked a 5 star just so this honeymoon could be special for me. But you forgot something important

Neil- looked at her quizzically

Avni –neil you don't need to splurge on exorbidant stuff to make me feel special. I feel that way every time I'm with you. And to make this trip romantic- well, I've already demonstrated how that's to be done! She said naughtily

Neil's face broke into a wide grin! Vaah meri sherni...btw let me remind you, what you just did was full on PDA which you normally do not approve of.

Avni- correction- I don't approve of it in India- but we're in Rome! She said cheekily.

Then she nodded her head to indicate to a young couple who were kissing a few feet away from them- and when in rome, do as the romans do! She winked at him

Neil just laughed and quickly pecked her lips again.

Neil- but seriously avni, I want to do this for you..for us!

Avni- hmm...ok fine lets compromise. We'll stay for two nights but the rest of the time we'll book something cheaper on AirBNB ok?

Neil- as you say wifey! He said shaking his head at his ultra practical and pragmatic better half. She didn't care for lavish things at all...she always preferred simplicity! And honestly he loved that about her but sometimes like today he wanted to spoil her and pamper her coz she deserves it- he thought to himself.

Avni- vaise, I'm really sorry Neil

Neil- kyun?

Avni- voh meri vajah sain humaari honeymoon ki shuruat hi ladai se ho gayi she said sadly

Neil- koi nahi...bade bade deshon main aisi choti choti baatein hoti rahti hai! He said tapping her nose affectionately. Aur vaise bhi uss uncle ne kaha tha na..jhagda karna Italian style of romance hai!

Avni- hmm- she said wrapping an arm around his waist. Ab chalo! We have LOADS to see today! And she jumped up and pulled him up with her. They picked up their bags to check in to the hotel. As they walked neil said- vaise wifey, now that you've given your stamp of approval for PDA, be prepared! He whispered in her ear huskily and in response to that she flushed pink and a shiver of excitement ran down her spine!