26th morning

430am:

Neel- Avni, wake up baby.

Avni- Neel, nahi 2 min ya, please and she pulled the comforter over her head

Neel- shook his head at her with fondness and pulled the comforter back down and gave her a peck on the cheek- baby utho na please.

Avni was not really a morning person. It was a task to get her to wake up on most days. And these days since the weather was colder she used to complain about how unnatural it is to wake up early when one should be cuddled up in the warm bed. But neel loved these little quirks about her. HE was happy to see her open up and pull a few tantrums. In the initial days of their married life and with one drama after another- things were always tense and she was always very mature and responsible at the time. But it was only recently that they had really settled into their married life and now that all the drama was done, she was starting to show her true colors! And neel was glad that she was comfortable enough with him now that she could do these things.

Avni was showing no signs of waking up. So neel finally used his ultimate weapon.

He got up and switched of the fan. And 1 minute later Avni was awake.

She could not sleep until the fan was on full speed even on a cold day. She would use extra blankets if required but she would not turn down the fan speed. And the minute the fan was turned off she would wake up!

She got out of bed with a glare at neel.

He just smiled at her!

Finally she was ready and at 5am they headed out to take their hike. They drove to the meeting point. There were about 20 other people there. They were split into 5 teams and along with avni and neil there was one guy called kabir and a girl called Diya on their team. Kabir looked like he was the silent types. After a polite handshake he did not say a word. But Diya was mega flirty. She took one look at neil and was eyeing him like candy. Avni immediately noticed how shamelessly she was flirting with her husband. Avni tried to calm down because she felt that maybe it was because she hadn't figured out that they were married. Avnis mangalsutra was well hidden inside the shirt she had worn and she wasn't wearing sindoor for a hike!

Neel in the beginning was a little uncomfortable with how forward diya was. Instead of a handshake she had hugged him as if they had known each other for ages! He quickly broke the hug but when he glanced at avnis reaction and noticed that she was getting jealous .He loved seeing her get jealous and annoyed because he could see her love behind it all.

Once they began the hike- kabir had set the pace for their group. Avni followed him, neel was right behind her and diya was behind him. Avni noticed that diya kept falling behind and neel being a gentleman would stop and wait for her. Once she would catch up she spoke in a sickeningly sweet tone , flirting with her husband. But avni didn't want to be rude and say anything to her. What was pissing her off was that neel didn't do anything. He didn't look bothered by how flirty this girl was being. She knew he was very polite but she still expected him to be a little bit more formal so that the girl would get the hint that he was not interested in her. But here maamla was fully opposite. He was helping her up giving her a hand in the tough portions. More than halfway through the hike there was a particularly difficult portion up a rock. Neel had glanced at avni who was very surefooted and made her way up the rock by finding handholds on the rock. HE was so proud that his girl was independent and had great presence of mind too. Avni was a bag of contradictions. In her daily life she was clumsy as hell and would always be knocking into things or tripping and falling. But on a hike she was being very cautious and very confident in her strides. Every little thing about her made Neel smile. Neel went up next and then as diya was climbing up, she was struggling a bit. So he gave her some instructions. But diya was still not following them and she was just about to slip but neel held her hand and pulled her up. In the process she had landed on top of him and the girl was really enjoying the moment while it lasted. Neel could not push her off him so he had to wait for her to get off and the girl was taking her sweet time. Avni looked back and saw the scene and she was really worked up now. But she knew she cant create a scene so she just took deep breaths to calm herself down. But her mood was really starting to sour. Finally neel and diya were up on their feet and they all took a small break before the last stretch . They sat down sipping water. Neel took a bar of chocolate that he had brought to boost his energy levels and took a bite. There was some chocolate at the side of his lips. Diya noticed this and instead of just mentioning it to him she decided to wipe it off herself. Her fingers were lingering longer than necessary and now neel was also very uncomfortable. Avni was so upset that her eyes were tearing up and she just quickly turned away, wiped her tears away roughly and started walking up again. Neel knew he had let things go too far and that his wife was very upset but he was lost as to how to tackle the situation. Finally they had reached the top. The view was amazing and it was a great to watch it after a long hike. The weather was great too. Neel was hoping to catch a quick word with avni so that he could calm her down but she was now avoiding him. He knew he had to apologise but she was not even making eye contact with him. With a heavy heart neel decided to let it go and talk to her once they reached the bottom. The way down was quicker than up. Diya kept trying to make small talk with neel and he was trying to be as curt as possible, But avni was so pissed that she had quickened due to all the adrenaline rush. She was leading the group now and was several paces ahead of them. Suddenly as she was walking with all the rage she slipped and fell down and she slid down a few rocks. Avni was panicking , but a few metres later she found a handhold and stopped falling. She managed to pull herself back up but she had grazed her sides and hands in the process. Neel who had seen this from above was terrified. He had run down shouting her name but by the time he reached her, she had thankfully found her footing and was getting up. He helped her dust herself off and examined her for any wounds, but avni just dusted his hand off and told him in a monotone voice- I'm fine and started walking ahead. Neel was very upset, he wanted to give her a good shaking asking her to be more careful. He shuddered to think if anything worse had happened. But he couldn't create a scene so he just walked back down.

Neel couldn't be happier when they were done with the hike because he really had to talk to avni and also check her out for any injuries. He knew that when Avni was upset she just closed herself off. As they were about to walk to the parking spot, diya walked up to him and thanked him for helping her out in the climb. She gave him a hug and the nerve of the girl she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and passed him a piece of paper with her phone number. And she had walked away before neel could even react. He turned back to avni hoping she had not seen this exchange but bviously today was not his lucky day- avni had seen it all and now she just had a blank expression on her face. This was the worst thing to happen. Neel had been around her long enough to know the grades of her expression. When she was upset her expressions would change from stern with a clenched jaw to tears and finally the worst was the blank expression. He quickly jogged upto her as she sat in the passenger side. HE got into the car and immediately asked

Avni. Tum thik to ho na. Zyada chot toh nahi lagi. Haat dikhao.

Avni- didn't say a word and just pushed his hand away

Neel- (by now he was also upset)- Yelled at avni- bahut hogaya. Ek toh itni careless ho ki gir gayi aur upar se ab attitde dikha rahi ho. Dekhne do kahan chot lagi hai. As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he was too harsh and he was already regretting it. But surely avni could see that it was his fear and concern that had come out as anger

But avni was not in the mood to be her usual understanding self. As soon as she heard him yell at her, her expressions changed. She quickly got off and ran out, flagged an auto and was off.

Neel had run behind her but she had taken off in the auto. So he quickly got back in the car and drove back home.

When Neel got home he ran upto his room but he was shocked to find avni was not there. Now Neel was scared, HE knew that Avni could be impulsive when upset .

Avni meanwhile had gone to neela ma's house. Ma was out of station but she had a spare key so she let herself in. She just collapsed on the sofa and wept. All the frustration, followed by hurt that she was controlling just came out. She was physically hurt as well from the little fall and right now she wasn't thinking straight. As she remembered the kiss that diya gave him as she left, she was furious. After crying for 10 minutes straight she had calmed down a little bit. She was so upset that neel had not pushed away the girls advances. Just because he is a gentleman doesn't mean he will allow the girl to flirt with him in front of his wife. He knew that she was upset yet he didn't say anything and the final straw was yelling at her in the car. Avni was very possessive about him. She knew in the back of her mind that she was probably over reacting a little but right now she was just upset. This was supposed to be a happy day, their little adventure, a chance to spend some time together.

As she sat there , she heard the door bell ring. She walked up and opened the door and was shocked to see neil on the other side. She didn't expect to him to already be here.

Neel- as soon as he saw avni his heart broke. Her eyes were red, tear tracks down her face, she looked miserable, she was all sweaty and grimy. But he just took one long stride in and gave her a long hug. He whispered- sorry baby, mujhe chillana nahi chahiye that tum par. I was really worried about you isliye muh se nikal gaya. Sorry.

Avni hadn't reacted yet. She was itching to hug him back but she was still upset about everything.

Neel released her and then looked at the grazes on her hands. It wasn't very deep but it was covered in mud and he knew that in a few hours she would be sore. So he told her. Chalo please lets get you cleaned up. Tum chalo- take a shower and come, then we'll put some antiseptic on these wounds. Ok. Come

Avni- was too tired to argue. She just walked up to her room and went in to shower. Neel laid out clothes for her and also a first aid kit. Thankfully he had some spare clothes in neela ma's house too. So he quickly took a shower in the other bathroom and changed. He went back to avnis room and waited for her to step out.

A few minutes later Avni walked out wrapped in a fluffy towel. Her hair was dripping wet. Her eyes were still red .

To neel everytime he saw her like this all the breath was sucked away. She was the most beautiful woman on the planet. He was gazing at her in a trance

Avni- change karna hai mujhe

Neel- was stillstaring at her.

Avni- little louder- Neel mujhe change karna hai.

Neel- heard her this time- haan toh karo na.

Avni- tum bahaar jao.

Neel- knew she was still upset, so to avoid any further argument he went out.

5 minutes later he walked back in and saw her sitting on the bed with her wet hair dripping.

HE walked up to her and towel dried her hair.

Then he pulled her hands- applied some antiseptic on her fresh cuts with a cotton ball. It was tinging but avni was so upset that she just flinched a little but didn't say a word.

Neel- couldn't take the silence any more. Avni plese yaar- baat karo mujhse, don't shut off like this. I know ki tum upset ho. Please lets talk and sort this out na. I cant tolerate your silent treatment.

Avni- still no response.

Neel knew that avni took her time to process the words in her head. So he just pulled her into himself, hugging her and both of them sat in silence for a few minutes.

Avni instantly felt better in his embrace. But she was still trying to process her emotions. She knew that she was overeating a little but she couldn't help it. She was possessive about neel. She did not like this feeling of jealousy and she was even more upset if neel yelled at her. She knew that he didn't mean it and he was only concerned. After a long pause- she finally said- sorry maine over-react kiya.

Neel immediately cupped her face and said- nahi baby, its not ur fault. It was mine. I know tum us ladki ke behavior ko dekh ke upset ho gayi. I should have said something to her. Sorry

Avni- haan but tum thode zyaada hi polite ho. tum use kuch nahi kehte mujhe pata tha

Neel- haan but kahna chahiye tha. She was getting too clingy and I know it was upsetting you, I didn't want to be rude or create a scene, but whats the point. Abhi meri wifey itni upset hai. And you know I hate seeing you like this. Sorry baby. Please mujhe maaf kardo

Avni- couldn't stay mad at him for too long- but she was not completely over it- she would be ok in a few hours- its ok. Chodo.

Neel- although he was glad that his wife had forgiven him, he knew that her mood wsnt fully better. It had been a long tiring climb and she was drained. Plus she was hurt. So he decided to cheer her up

Accha chalo niche chalte hai.

Avni- haan tum chalo. Mein aati hoon. YE towel sukhana hai or mere kpdon ko washing machine me bhi daalna hai

Neel- ok jaldi aao. He gave her a peck on the forehead before getting up and walking down.

HE quickly ordered a large pizza with all her fav toppings and looked in the fridge and thankfully there was a tub of icecream there. Next he decided that he'd set up the cushions and blankets in the living room so that they could watch a movie. He found the dvd her current favorite movie- Zindagi na milegi dobara and set it up. Avni was down in a few minutes.

Neel- come here baby- I know tum abhi bhi poori tarah se ok nahi ho. but I have the perfect plan to cheer you up. Tumhari fav movie and maine lunch order kiya hai. Thodi der me aajayega.

Avni- just wordlessly joined her husband to watch the movie. Neel wrapped his hands around her as they were watching the movie. He knew that she would come around fully soon.

Half an hour later he noticed that she had a hint of a smile on her face as she watched the movie. The doorbell rang and the pizza guy was there. As soon as he walked in with the pizza he saw her eyes brighten up a little. When he opened it up she gave him a proper smile as she saw that it was all her fav toppings. She was very hungry, so she straightaway picked up the first slice and started eating it.

Neel- knew that after pizza there was only one last step before she would fully snap out of her bad mood.

Avni had gorged on the pizza as she watched the movie and now she was half lying on his chest, her legs sprawled out in front of her. HE knew that her mood was better because now she was hugging him back and was unconsciously drawing patterns on his chest as she was staring at the screen in front of her.

A few minutes later neel paused the movie and said gimme 2 mnutes.

He came back with the tub of her fav butterscotch icecream and 2 cups and spoons.

And he got the reaction he was waiting for. His smile had widened. As soon as sat beside her, she grabbed the tub and spoon and dug in. after the first spoon, she suddenly looked at him. Her eyes were now twinkling with mischief. She took both the cups also, scooped in some icecream into both, pushed it to him and said ye lo tumhara and then then turned back to the TV, playing the movie back and happily digging into the icecream directly from the tub.

Neel just shook his head at her childishness and knew his mission was complete. She was back to being his avni now. No longer sad, she had snapped out fully!

Once he had finished his 2 cups he scooted close to her to grab a bite from the tub, but she turned away. HE looked at her with an adorable pout and she was done for

Avni-groaning- Neel nahi yaar- you cant do this everytime - you know ki main ye wala expression dekh ke pigal jaati hoon.

Neel- eyes twinkling- I know, faster than ice cream! Abhi do, nahi toh icecream bhi tunhaari tarah pigal jayegi! And he grabbed it out of her hands to help himself to a few spoons.

Avni just settled herself back on him, into the previous position, again watching the movie. And neel also just wrapped one arm around her, while one hand was playing with her hair softly. A few minutes later he looked down and the sight made his heart swell. She had been lulled into almost a complete sleep. Just as he bent down to peck her forehead, she turned and mumbled into him- I love you and she was out after that.

Neel laid her down slowly, pecked her forehead, discarded the pizza box, icecream tub etc and came back and lay down beside her on the living room floor next to the her on the cushions.

They woke up a couple of hours later and cleaned up the place and went back home to spend a peaceful evening before they went back to their work next day.

When they got home, suddenly avni said sadly- Neel humne aaj koi photo liya hi nahi scrapbook me daalne ke liye.

Neel- hands her his phone which had a few pics of her that he had taken without her knowledge before they had begun the hike and a few selfies of himself on the hike too. Avni was stunned into silence.

Neel- I know perfect nahi hai,but atleast we have a few pics!

Avni- gave him a hug and said- sorry baby- main itna overreact nahi karti toh we could have taken nicer pics to add to our scrapbook

Neel- wait a minute- what did you just say?

Avni- sorry, main itna over...

Neel- voh nahi, uske pahle

Avni- uske pahle kya?

Neel- you said sorry BABY!

Avni- (blushed) na..nahi maine aisa kuch nahi kaha. Tumaahre kaan baj rahe hain

Neel- laughed- nahi I know it- tumne kaha BABY. Vaah, aaj toh chamatkar hogaya. Avni Ayesha ke muh se baby!!

Avni- hit him lightly on the shoulder and said...btw its not only avni Ayesha...its avni Ayesha neil khanna.

Neil- pulled her closer and said...yes and always remember that wifey. Chahe koi aur mujhse kitna bhi flirt kare, ur the only one for me!

And they hugged, smiles on both their faces.

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