It had been 6 month since avneil had been married... it was an arranged marriage for them but fell in love at first sight 

Like a normal day

It was 9:30am, prakash and neil had left for their respective work while avni was with shweta and bebe since she had a day off from work.

Bebe and shweta were in the hall while avni went to clean up Neil's desk in their bedroom

Once done she came down to see bebe making shweta write few things

Avni: what r u both discussing about she said sitting next to shweta and looked at the things written on the list

Bebe: puttar we r making a list of sweets and snacks to make and also things to give to needful kids as we do it every year

Avni:that's nice but is their a special occasion for this.

Shweta:ye lo..  the whole world knows what is coming up but tilli is unaware she said while avni gave a confused look

Avni:what am I unaware about

Shweta: beta we r getting things ready for diwali as its tomorrow and so many things have to be done 

Avni: ohh..suddenly her eyes widened a little and looked towards shweta and bebe who were going through the list

Avni: diwali she whispered and then gulped.

Bebe:avni we added few fireworks do u want to add any that u like...avni came out of her thoughts and smiled slightly

Avni: n...no bebe.. I dont have any fav fireworks

Shweta:ok then bebe shall we go shopping and get this for the kids

Bebe:haan chalo...avni puttar u coming?

Avni: uhh no bebe u both go I'll stay back to finish of some office work.

Shweta: ok

It had been 2 hours since shweta and bebe had gone for shopping while avni was wondering about Diwali

She always watched her family celebrating Diwali from far as they enjoyed with the fireworks while she had fear of fireworks since childhood.

Her family tried to get rid of that fear by showing how nothing happens with fireworks but she just wasnt able to overcome and decided to stay away from it.
.
Suddenly her phone rang and she picked it up to see it show neela name...she answered the call

Avni:hi maa

Neela: hi bacha...she said frowning noticing avni not sounding right

Avni: hows everyone?

Neela: first u tell me what's wrong with u? Is everything ok there ?

Avni: haan all is ok but?

Neela: but what avni? Speak up na bacha .

Avni:maa diwali is coming up and..and u know my fear of fireworks right

Neela: haan but what about that.

Avni: woh neil and the rest of the family r unaware about this...neela sighed

Neela: dont tell me that u haven't told them about your fear

Avni:no.. it just slipped out of my mind...when shweta ma and bebe were talking about fireworks I wanted to tell them but on the other side they were really happy and this is my first Diwali with them with neil.

Neela: avni...bacha I agree that this is your first Diwali but they wont be upset if u tell about your fear... one day they will know about it so it's best if u tell them.

Avni:I dont know maa I mean.

Neela:look bacha.. I know where u r coming from... but u need to tell neil at least.. u haven't done any crime that u r hiding do tell him ok 

Avni:ok I will try to

Neela:bacha..but she couldn't complete

Avni:maa I will tell neil at my own time.. but please u dont say anything to him ok.

Neela:ok

Once speaking to neela avni thought she will talk to Neil about this at night

Later on after dinner.. avni stood in front of the dressing table thinking she will tell neil about her fear of fireworks and then she will be at peace

She suddenly came out of her thoughts when she felt cold hands around her waist... as she looked up she saw neil who was rubbing his nose on her cheeks... she took a deep breath  when she felt him place few kisses on the side of her neck pulling her more closer

Neil: what running in this head of yours he asked placing his chin on her shoulder and looked at through the mirror

Avni: neil woh... I had forgotten to tell u something and that is ke... before she could answer neil phone rang...

He moved away and cut the call and walked back to avni

Neil: haan so what were u saying

Avni: I was saying that since childhood I...but again his phone rang.

Neil looked at the caller id

Neil: wifey I got to answer this.. just Give me few mins and I'll be back as it's an important client

Avni: ok she said smiling

Neil answered the call wheras avni went to change

Once she came out she saw neil was still on the phone while checking something on his laptop 

She went and sat on the bed waiting for him...but slowly her eyes started to give up on her

30 mins later neil finished and looked up to see avni sleeping...he smiled and got up and made her sleep properly without disturbing her sleep and went on the other side of the bed... he placed a kiss on her head and closed his eyes while placing his hand on her stomach.

Next morning avni woke up with a smile when she realised  it is Diwali and she wasnt able to tell neil last night

She decided to get ready and thought she will tell neil about this once he is getting ready for work

30 mins later avni came out and walked to the dressing table and brushed her hair and put sindhoor on her forehead and magalsutra around her neck with some bangles and light Make up

Once she was ready she woke neil up... as she was waking him up neil pulled her caging her in his arm

Neil: good morning wifey

Avni: morning now leave me and get ready for work

Neil:I would like staying like this for sometime

Avni:neilllll leave me come on hurry up and get ready.. I also need to tell u something which I wasnt able to do last night.

Neil: haan toh u can tell me now

Avni:no go otherwise I'm not going to tell u

Neil: avniii

Avni: go...neil pouted and went to get ready.

Once he came out he saw avni arranging his bag.

Neil: wifey... what did u want to tell me he asked  while brushing his hair.. 

Avni closed his laptop bag and looked towards him

Avni: neil .. woh the thing is today is Diwali and but she couldn't compete 

Neil:u know I'm so happy... this is actually our first Diwali.. us celebrating it together... its just a new feeling and I cant wait to make memories of our first Diwali he said happily while avni looked at him.

Avni (in her head) how could i tell him when he is looking so excited as this is  our 1st festival together since we got married and me telling about my fear will just ruin his excitement.. but then how will I tell him about me fear.... I should do something where his Diwali wont get spoilt and I dont have to tell him about my fear at this time

Neil:avniii.. he called out tapping her shoulder seen her lost

Avni: huh?

Neil: what happened? What u thinking about? 

Avni:woh nothing there is too much work today na so was just thinking about that.

Neil:dw.. chalo let's go down

Avni nodded as they headed down they saw bebe, shweta and prakash at the dining table.... they Said good morning to them and sat down

Bebe: neil come early today as its Diwali

Neil: dont worry bebe I will be here on time

Shweta:this diwali is special for all of us now as its avni first Diwali with us she said looking at avni who smiled nervously and looked down....wheras neil squeezed her hand thinking about that.

After breakfast when prakash and neil left avni was thinking how will she avoid this Diwali in a way where the family dont get disappointed and finally she got an idea

She walked to the kitchen to see bebe and shweta getting ready

Avni: this isn't fair

Shweta and bebe looked at avni and then at each other

Bebe:what isnt fair

Avni:u both r making sweets and leaving me out

Shweta : then u come and help too

Avni:nooo.. u both makes sweets every year but now it's my time so I'll make all the dishes that is on the list and will also add few more dishes from my side

Bebe:but puttar this will take so long

Avni:I dont mind bebe... i love making food for others so this is nothing.

Shweta:beta tilli dw we will help

Avni:nope u both go and let me do this chalo go now she said ordering them cutely

Shweta:ok fine but dont make too many dishes u will get tired

Avni just smiled when they left

Avni: I'm sorry.. I know u all r excited but my fear is coming in the way she said sadly

Time went quick it was  6pm and avni was still in the kitchen 

Shweta came in all ready and told avni to get ready

Avni:maa few more dishes r left

Shweta:beta this much is enough chalo go now

Avni:maa please few more only.. for my sake please she said in a cute way

Shweta: ok fine but go and change at least

Avni nodded while shweta watched her go and chuckled

Avni had gotten ready and also kept neil Sherwani ready.

She then went back to the kitchen and at that time neil came and bebe sent him to get ready straight away

After a while

Neil came down in his sherwani and went out to see his family their while few local kids came and were playing with fireworks with prakash 

Neil:mom where is avni

Shweta: she is in the kitchen tillu ... she said wanted to make some things for the kids too so since afternoon she has been making something now and then.

Neil: I'll just go and see on her

Shweta and bebe nodded and they went back to watching prakash doing fireworks with few kids

Avni was in the kitchen as she stood near the gas...

Neil:avniii

Avni stood straight as she heard neil voice and pretend to stir the already cooked halwa

Neil :wifey what u r doing here still

Avni:woh I was just making few more sweet dish for the kids to take to their house

Neil: well u have made enough now chalo

Avni:nahi neil.. I mean u go na I will come after making few more dishes

Neil: Avni.. I respect how u have decided to make all this for the kids but look u have made enough which will last them for a long time he said showing all the sweet dishes

Avni:haan but let me finish making this till then u can go out

Neil:avni.. just come na u can do this later and send it of to the kids tomorrow

Avni:ne..

Neil:I swear to god If u dont come then I'll take u

Avni:neil please na

Neil:kya please... this is our first Diwali and u r spending it in the kitchen... now chalo 

Avni didnt move

Neil:fine now I will pick u up and take u he said about to lift her

Avni:Neill please dont take me I'm scared of fireworks she blurted out while neil stood in his place registering avnis words

After few secs he stands straight and looks at her

Neil: what did u say?

Avni: that.. I'm.. im scared of fireworks.. I'm sorry I know I should have told u before but it had slipped out of my mind and I was trying to tell u this last night and this morning too but wasnt able to as u was just too excited as this is our first Diwali and I didnt want your excitement to get ruined ..

Neil looked at avni as she spoke

He walked toward her and cupped her face

Neil: u should have told me even if I was excited about it..but y r u scared of fireworks.

Avni: just have been scared  since I was young .. I dont know how I got the fear of it but it just never went...everyone tried but no luck

Neil: come with me

Avni: where?

Neil: outside to celebrate Diwali with everyone

Avni:neil I.. I'm sorry I cant

Neil:just come

Avni: neil please

Neil:u trust me right.

Avni sighed and then nodded

Neil: then just come with me he said holding her hand

As they were nearly outside avni hold tighted on his hand while she stopped walking seen the fireworks.

Neil: nothing will happen trust me.

Shweta and bebe saw avneil coming but they also noticed avni looking tensed

Bebe: what happened puttar she asked avni

Neil: bebe...mom...avni is scared of fireworks 

Bebe and shweta were surprised and looked at each other

Shweta: what ? Tilli is this true? .

Bebe:y didn't u tell us about this puttar. .

Avni: woh bebe.. actually I just...

Neil: we can talk about all this later but for now avni chalo .

Avni: neil I'll wait here u go na.

Neil:no u r coming chalo he said taking her to where prakash and few kids were.

Prakash:, avni, neil come  light up few fireworks

Neil: sure dad.

Avni: neil please she said when she felt him bring her closer

Neil didnt listen and moved her forward... he made her stand in front of him and wrapped his one hand around her waist while his other hand was wrapped around hers which was holding the punk stick

As they lowered down he was able to feel avni shake in his arm

At this time the metha family had come and saw this scene.

Avni tries to push herself more onto Neil to get much away from the firework as their hand reached near it to light it with the punk stick avni closed her eyes while her hand were shaking making  neil tightened his grip.

As they lighte the firework from a distance she had her eyes tightly closed and swiftly turned and hugged neil tightly as he made them stand up

Neil: avni look nothing is happening.. see... u even lighted the firework

Avni: I dont want to look she said and also tried to avoid the sounds 

Few secs when it was done prakash came with sparklers.

Neil:avni look here hold the sparkler.. see even the kids r playing with it look he said...

Avni slowly turned her face to watch them but didnt say anything

Neil took the sparkler of prakash and placed avni hand around the stick while she watched him.

Neil looked around when he saw the metha family.... he gestured ashish to come who nodded and held avni as neil moved away.

Neil: avni just look at me ok

Avni nervously nodded.. while ashish made her hold the sparkler and prakash came to light it

Avni was able to hear the sound the sparkler making yet she didnt dare to move her eyes from neil face.

Neil smiled as he watched her standing with the sparkler... he knew it wont be easy to get rid of her fear and they will have to take baby step each time..

Neil walked towards avni and held her hand which was holding the sparkler and placed his hand on her wrist while she moved her gaze down to see that it was nearly done... but before it was close to the end of the stick she threw it on the floor thinking it will get close to her hand.

Neil: wifey I know it's not going to be easy for u to get rid of your fear but will we do this together... I promise to help u.. no matter how many years it takes but i will definitely help u he said as he cupped her cheeks

Neela held dayawanti hand with what Neil said and smiled with joy

Avni:I'm sorry for spoiling your Diwali like this she said with tears in her eyes and hugged him while Neil smiled

Neil: u didnt.. this was the best Diwali and we r going to enjoy like this even more I promise u.besides in the future I will tell our kids about our first Diwali he said making avni and the other chuckle

Avni: I love u .

Neil:I love u too wifey ...

Bebe: chalo let's go in till then and get some snacks and then continue with firework she said to the elder leaving avneil there for sometime

he felt avni clutch the back of his sherwani when they heard fireworks and knew this will probably take a long time..but he is determined to make her fear go away.

Avni: thank u for understanding Neil... I dont know if this will work but just tolerate me

Neil:I'm doing that right now he said jokingly while avni chukled and hugged him tightly  

 Divyanshi220504  here u go baby.. I dont know If this is how u wanted it to be but I gave it a try and I hope u like it love u loads 

A bday treat for u all

Lots of love

Sonali