Chapter 1 : When they met!

There was shimmering light in the skies! Moon was shining brightly through the window! She was never ready but today is her first day at Khanna mansion!

She was feeling restless, no it's not because of the new place it's because 12 years ago she used to play on these very grounds with him and now she doesn't even know how to look into his eyes anymore!

She has done nothing wrong but still, she feels very strange!

She is 21 and her name is Avni Gupta! She used to be friends with NK as known as Neil Khanna but that was in the past! But time doesn't end relationships, does it?

She clearly remembers how he used to be, how he smiled at her!

But now his name is creating havoc within her, she is not as strong as she thought herself to be! 

Today she has somehow managed to escape facing him but she can't do that for eternity! Coming here was a mistake after all! She doesn't want to think more but the moonlit is taking her to the flashbacks!

12 years ago!~~~(FlashBack Starts)

"Avni, Avni... wait!" A voice overwhelmed with shortness of breath had just spoken!

"he he , you can't catch me, he he he.." Avni giggled wholeheartedly! Then suddenly she bumped into something strong!

"Yes, but I can catch you!" Said Neil, simply catching her both arms and looked at Alin who was chasing the little Avni of 9 years!

Alin was a little bit afraid at the tone Neil spoke, but then later upon he caught that Neil was just acting! 

Meanwhile, Avni looked up at the boy she collided with. Her big eyes and his dark browns met! She doesn't know why but she feels restless when he is present! This never happens with Alin though! 

But with Neil... Something makes her nervous and she does funny stuff like starts stammering or trip and fall here and there cause she was not paying enough attention!

Hmm, or is it because she accidentally eavesdropped her mother saying to Neil's mother that they are going to create an alliance by making Neil and Avni married in the future if everything is right! And nothing could get weirder when he was also beside her while she was eavesdropping the whole incident! This was yesterday afternoon! Avni aged 9 could not understand the idea of marriage but she certainly felt funny when she looked at the expressions of Neil. He was getting all red! Neil was 13 and not so naive like Avni!

He too didn't comprehend the idea of marriage but certainly comprehended his own mind which has a growing passion for that little chirpy Avni Gupta! She is just too cute to resist! But the next following words from her mouth disappointed him! Severely!

"But I don't wanna get married!" Said Avni looking at Neil with her big orbs!

Neil who did not know how to react just grabbed her tiny shoulders with his hands and grumbled, "Never say that again, you are gonna be my bride. No matter what so put that in your mind!" His voice was sharp and cold! Which made Avni afraid and that's why she is feeling awkward today! 

After that whole incident, this bumping into his arms is the first time they met! 1 whole day! Neil just came back from his school! Today was the last exam of this semester! Finally, he can play with all of the baccha party and Avni!

"Neil, Aap aa gaye! Wow!" Avni spoke and Neil left her hand while reaching out to his pocket and fetched the dairy milk out! Avni screamed with happiness "Mere liye? Thank you sooo much! You are the best!" Making Neil smile instantly with her chirpiness! And they played and played until the summer break was over!

They kept meeting until they were engrossed in their studies. Guptas and Khannas are family friends. Now Avni is 21 and for higher education, she has shifted to Delhi to the Khanna mansion as it's like her 2nd home. However, she has not been here for the last 6 years. 

Due to various reasons, they couldn't meet!

At least that's how he tried to show her but in truth, he was avoiding her!

Now she understands the definitions of marriage as well! 

But tonight, Avni is feeling very strange because 7 years ago when they met he said something! They made few promises together! 

"Avni stop overthinking, I am sure he has forgotten everything, he doesn't remember that promise to marry you! It's just a silly mistake by two amateur kids!"

Yes, teen kids! He was 18 and she was 14!

"That was embarrassing, to be honest! Now when I think this I feel I was the stupid one am sure he doesn't even remember me let alone that marriage idea, he must be having a gf by now, or had back then that's why he must have stopped contacting me!"

The thought of Neil's gf pricked her heart intensely! She knew why but she didn't want to admit even to herself that she was in love with a man whom she hadn't met in 6 years! 

But how can she ignore him? He was her everything, her whole world. Much bigger than their childhood playful deed!

"Good, it's 2 am! And I still can't sleep!" She chided on herself. Then after some more time while talking to herself she finally was able to doze off! 

The next morning she woke up with red eyes due to lack of sleep! At the dining table that didn't go unnoticed by the man who caused those red eyes! 

He is staring at her! She is gorgeous and tired! What a weirdly beautiful combo!

After the breakfast, Avni was leaving in a hurry because she didn't know how to face Neil due to her never-ending shyness! But Neil is Neil! Nobody escapes from him! Even the hallway spacing had become a nuisance for Avni now! 

"Ye mansion itna bada kyun hain God! Yaha insaan aasani se bhag bhi nahi sakta" She cribbed in her mind!

"Avni!" His summoning came through!

She skipped a beat! Looked at him, his strong manly face made her weak quite instantly! After struggling a bit she gathered strength to move her lips and said, "Ji, kaise hain aap?" Put a meek smile.

"I am fine, so did you recognize me ?" Neil asked with a straight face.

"Haann ji????!!! Kiya???? J j z zaroor!!! Aap Neil ho na? Aapko kyun nahi pehchanungi? Main aap sabko pehchanti hu!" Controlling her laborious breaths, she blabbered with confusion and another weak smile! 

How can she forget him? How can someone forget a bond which they shared!

"Tum jis speed se uth kar jaa rahi thi isse laga ke mujhe pehchana nahi tumhe! Khair! Tum kal aayi ho right? Then mujhse milne kyun nahin aayi?" Neil replied this time his jaw getting hard! 

He was a bit angry inside because she didn't even come to meet him yesterday while he rushed from the office just to see her! But by the time she had already slept. That was 10 pm only! Couldn't she wait for a little? Little did he know she was not sleeping!

"Main kaise aapse milne aati? Aap toh office mein thhey, aur aab mulakat ho gayi na! Aunty ne mujhe 9 baje hi dinner karke sone ko bhej diya tha. Toh woh main..." Avni tried to avoid eye contact looking down, fidgeting with her white stole! She then just moved her eyes hearing Neil's Daadi talking with the servant in the kitchen! 

Next, to her utter shock, She found herself bumping into Neil's rockhard chest with a swift motion! She looked at him with horror!

"Yeh... Ye k k kiya kar rahe ho aap ? Cho choriye mujhe!" She stuttered badly. Her heartbeat was rising up with a turbo speed!

"Drop this innocent act, tum sabse mili ho, even Alin se! 

Tum kal subha aayi ho, Alin was out and he came back at noon and you didn't sleep at noon just so that you can meet him aur mere liye tum thoda raat ko nahin jaag sakti thi?" He said with an angry tone!

"Main koi acting nahin kar rahi hoon, Waise Aapko kaise pata ye sab? Aap meri jasusi kar rahe ho kiya? Meri marzi main jisse milu na milu, aap mujhe choriye! Ye kaisa tarika hain, koi dekh lega! Please choriye mujhe..." She got angry at one moment and then again got afraid. His body fragrance captivated her nostrils!

Inhaling that addictive scent, Avni finally looked inside his piercing dark brown eyes! And kept looking, "Cho...riyeee...mu...jhe.. " And her words got lost inside his eyes!

"Why are you behaving like this Avni? Tum mujhse door jane ki kaushish kyun kar rahi ho? firstly you didn't even bother to wait for me, 2ndly even today you were avoiding me, kept avoiding me until I had to confront you. Now 3, you are trying so hard to go away from me why? Why Avni? This is not how we were supposed to meet after all these years!! I thought you would be happy after seeing me! Mujhe laga ke hum bachpan k dost hain, itna toh hoga na after all we ..." Neil stopped abruptly, realizing he is revealing all of those hidden feelings. 

He who is known for his introvert and reserved personality is shocked by his own acts and words! Why is this mere girl affecting him this badly! He suddenly loosened his grip on her arms!

She is looking like an angel in white! She has grown into a fine woman! Beautiful skin! Her kohl eyes! Her distinct fragrance! He used to smell her hair while they played together! Same aroma! Every time he gets intoxicated with that smell! 

What the hell Neil, get a grasp at yourself! This girl doesn't even remember anything and here you are thinking all this! Don't you really remember anything Avni? All you are worried about getting away from me?

With thoughts storming his brains, he looked at Avni who was standing there still shocked.

"Neil!" She gasped, " I am sorry! Mujhe aapse kal milna chahiye tha , wo actually kal situation aisi thi ke main aapse mil nahi paai..Actually aunty ko kaise mana karti main? Aur waise bhi aab toh mulakat ho hi gayi hain naa Neil... Lekin aap please mujhe maaf kardo kal ke liye. Mujhe laga ke aap busy honge so raat ko main aapko khamkha mein disturb karungi..Office mein thak jaate honge naa..I don't know your routine and... khair jaane dijiye! 

Aap... Aap kaise hain Neil?"

Yeah, she doesn't remember anything! Look how calmly she just said sorry and said we have met so it doesn't matter! How will she know that just to see her one glance what have I done! 

I sat in front of the computer the whole day, yesterday just to see her one glance through the Khanna CCTV. 

I thought she would hug me tightly after seeing me! For her welfare, I had to distance myself from her!  But how can she forget...

"It's... ahem it's ok Avni! Yeah, I gotta go! Work! Bye!" With that, he took off like a wind, leaving a shattered & highly confused Avni behind! She was still trying to gather information about what just happened now!

He didn't even reply how was he! Well, he must be in a hurry! Now she too should arrange herself as classes will be starting from tomorrow!

One person who witnessed all these things from far away was none other than Savitri - Neil's Grandmother. She saw Neil pulling Avni close to him and talking. While Avni looking all confused and struggling to rid herself of his grip! 

Savitri immediately guessed something was cooking in between Neil and Avni! She wished that it was something good because the main reason for Avni moving here was the marriage of Neil & Avni! 

She knows that her grandson very much likes Avni! They just don't know about Avni's feelings though. Both Gupta and Khanna families want Neil and Avni to gell with each other well so that, life after marriage becomes easier for them!

Avni who is a girl full of life is the only one who can make Neil's boring life colorful! And Neil is that balance that Avni needs in her life! They have known each other since childhood so this should not have been a problem plus they were good friends as well! 

Pondering over Savitri entered Avni's room who was arranging her stuff! "Avni betey.."

Avni turned around with a bright smile, "dadima! Aap! Mujhe bula liya hota, main aa jati aapke paas!"

"Koi baat nahin bete hum aa gaye, kiya kar rahe hain aap? Classes ki taiyari?"Daadi said with her warm smile.

"Ji daadima, kaal se full swing mein classes shuru ho jayenge so sab arrange kar ke rakh rahi hoon.." Avni smiled back.

"Very good bete, aap ek baat bataiye aapko yaha koi takleef toh nahi ho rahi hain? Wo Neil se mili aap abhitak ke nahin?" Daadi asked deliberately!

"Aap log mujhse itna pyaar karte ho so mujhe takleef kis baat ki? Baas mummy papa ki yaad aa rahi hain bohot! :( Par aunty uncle itne acche hain mujhe mere new mom dad mil gaye hain un mein!" She paused briefly and added, "Aur woh Neil! Haan aaj hi mili hoon unse! Ek baat bataiye daadima, wo hamesha aise gusse mein rehte hain kiya? Chotey theyy tab bhi angry aab bhi angry, itne saalo mein Neil Khanna waise ke waise hi hain!" Avni laughed trying to hide her nervousness as Savitri curved her lips mysteriously!

******

So here comes the very first chapter... How's it?

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