The night grows darker and chilly with each second as Aaron and I stand near the railing of the terrace and stare at the city lights.

I can't help but think how much better it would have been if I was with Avni right now. Everything just feels good with her.

I know exactly why Aaron took me here as soon as his father stepped away. I don't initiate the conversation because I am hoping I am wrong.

Avni's father doesn't test me probably because I am his friend's son but Aaron is very attentive. I do love the fact that he doesn't trust anyone just like that and is looking after his sister even when she doesn't like to be at his home.

Aaron is a little intimidating, it's the way he looks at a person knowing well he is the right one there. That's his quality. I wouldn't be intimidated by him if I didn't lie but I have and I am apprehensive about it.

"If your friend has communicated with you I am sure you know what I want to ask," Aaron says as he keeps looking straight ahead.

"I do." I nod.

"Then why don't you answer?" He turns to look at me. "Or should I question you?"

We stand in front of each other and we look in the eyes as he waits for my response. It's not that I don't want to admit my mistake, I am just afraid I have to lie again.

"Let me make it easier for you." He puts his hands in his pockets. "My question was supposed to be why did you lie about you both sharing each other's past."

"I know." I nod as I put my hands in my pockets.

"Can you answer that without lying?" He asks.

"I can't." I let out a breath. "I know you want an answer but I can't talk about it. Avni knows I lied, it's not like I am misleading her."

He studies me for a moment and then he nods.

"You know my first instinct when I saw you today was to throw my fist across your face." He says. "I didn't do that because I didn't want Avni to get angry."

"I wouldn't blame you for it, you are her brother so maybe I get that," I say. "But this is the matter between me and Avni. Trust me when I say we have our reasons."

He looks at me for a moment and then he turns and stares ahead.

"I'll tell you something." He says slowly. "How things happened from my point of view. I hope you have some time for me?"

"Yeah, sure." I shrug.

"Avni went through a horrible break up and she was with our parents after that." He begins and I listen to him suddenly getting curious.

"Two months after that my father told me that they got an alliance from your family." He glances at me. "I was not happy with it because marriage was not what she needed to fix things in her life. Dad said she doesn't have to get married immediately, she will get enough time to get to know you."

"One of the points he mentioned was that Avni has just shifted back to India and you are a great choice because you'll settle there with her where she'll be close to my parents." He pauses for a moment almost as if contemplating if he should proceed.

"She... had distanced herself from us so he saw that as an opportunity to get her back to them." He says quietly.

It's hard to restrain myself from asking - Why?

"I spoke to Avni myself before she came to talk with you and I clearly remember she mentioned that she will get to know you first and that she is not stupid to marry anyone just like that." He says and he half-smiles at the memory.

"It's not like I doubt my father's decision, I just wanted to make sure Avni knows what she is getting herself into." He looks at me. "You know marriage is a commitment and I wanted her to focus on herself rather than a relationship."

"I get that." I nod agreeing with him.

That's exactly what my point was, to focus on myself rather than a relationship.

"All of a sudden I hear that Avni who said wants to get to know you agreed to marry you." He studies as he continues. "Then I meet you just to hear from you that you had fallen in love with her at first sight."

There's a moment of silence and I feel like an idiot for saying that. I didn't care when I said that and I feel like I'm starting to realize how big of a deal real love is.

"Then we get to know you are shifting to New York City." He says breaking the silence. "It was very shocking because Avni was very excited to shift to India. Do you know that?"

"I don't," I say.

"I tried to make her understand but she didn't want to understand." He shakes his head. "And then during your marriage, I was waiting to see that happiness on her face but she didn't have that- the emotions nothing."

"She was happy," I say with a frown.

I remember we were happy and maybe it wasn't for our marriage but we had a good time during our wedding. We were so excited about our first kiss.

"Maybe." He shrugs. "I would believe that if I didn't have doubts from the beginning."

I realized it before and I realize it now, it's going to be tough to get Aaron to believe us. I don't even want to know what he will do if he gets to know about the Contract Marriage. It's not like I have forced Avni but I know the outcome won't be good for both of us if this comes out.

"Avni might not like me or my wife but that doesn't change the fact that I'm her elder brother and I'm always going to look after her." He says quietly.

I look at him wondering if it's been tough for him to accept the fact his sister doesn't like his wife.

"After what DD said I thought everything and the only conclusion I ended up with is if you blackmailed her to marry you."

"I would never do that." I frown.

"I know." He smiles as he keeps his hand on my shoulder. "You would probably receive punches from me if I didn't see the love written all over your face for her."

I freeze a little and I try to tell myself that's what I am supposed to prove to him and that's a good thing but I feel nervous about it.

"You lied to me when you said you fell in love with her at first sight, didn't you?" He asks.

"I did," I admit it.

He nods. "Why have you both been lying?"

"That's between us," I say. "I just want to tell you I'm not going to hurt her, I would be hurting myself then."

"I am not going to be good if you do." He says. "Thank you for getting her tonight."

"You are welcome," I say then I smile. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." He grins. "I apologize for not getting you a gift."

"Oh, that's alright." I chuckle.

"Your wife took it pretty seriously." He says amused.

"She's amazing," I say and my smile seems to just get wider.

"Looks like you guys are too deep in love." He half-smiles. "It's surprising."

It feels weird to be talking to him about it but I can tell that he's genuinely happy about it which scares me a little.

"Honestly, we don't know what's going on," I say slowly. "We are just... living it."

"You never know what's going on." He says. "You are just living it until one day you realize what you are living for."

"That's how it happens." He smiles thinking about something. "Whatever you are living today turns into your reason for living tomorrow."

"Anyway." He shakes his head. "Let's go before your wife starts complaining I took you from her."

We chuckle as we turn around and walk down the stairs.

I feel sort of at peace for clearing things up with him. I also can't wipe the smile off my face thinking about how Avni gives me the importance in her life.

Aaron walks to Nora in the kitchen and I look around for Avni when Alice walks over to me.

"Hey." She says. "Do you have a minute?"

"Uh, yeah," I say wondering what she wants to say.

I haven't really interacted with Alice as much as I have with Aaron and Lee so I'm not sure what she has to say.

"I wanted to apologize if I offended you the other day." She says embarrassed. "By saying that you married Avni for her beauty."

"Right." I nod.

"You really got offended, didn't you?" She asks feeling mortified.

"I mean you shouldn't have said it that way," I say. "Avni is much more than good looks."

"I don't know." She says quietly. "Avni... she hasn't been exactly good to me."

"I have no idea about any of it, Alice," I say seeing her sad. "You should talk with her."

"She doesn't want to." She shrugs. "Anyway, I'm happy to see her happy with you."

"I don't think I have seen her smiling, ever." She says amused.

"We are always arguing, arguing, and arguing." She rolls her eyes. "So, it's good to see some change. I love the way she's totally whipped."

I smile as I realize that Avni does care about me even if it's not love.

"I'm lucky to have her." I smile.

"You are whipped too!" She laughs.

"Neil?" I turn to look as Avni walks over to me and Alice stops laughing.

Avni glances at Alice and she looks at me for a moment. Alice walks away from us and I look at Avni feeling so many emotions hit me at once.

I put my arms around her and press my lips against hers feeling glad to have her back in my arms.

"What did Alice say?" She asks slowly as she looks into my eyes.

"She apologized for offending me on the first day by saying I am marrying you for your beauty," I say.

"And?"

"And that she's happy to see you happy." I grin. "She also mentioned we are totally whipped."

Her eyes soften a little then she glances at Alice before she leans in to hug me.

"Thank you for getting me here." She says. "I feel like I have let go of a little pressure by talking with my mother."

"Our argument was worth it." I grin at her as we pull away.

"Everything we do is worth it." She smiles.

She reaches up to kiss me on the lips before she drags her lips to my ear. "Hurry up, we gotta do number 10 tonight."

I tighten my arm around her feeling turned on by her hushed voice. She pulls away and smiles at me satisfied.

"They will bang each other right now if no one interrupts."

We turn to look at Lee and he looks at us with an amused look on his face.

"Hello?" He asks. "There are people around if you pay attention."

"Shut up, Lee." Avni rolls her eyes as she grabs my hand. "Let's go."

"Seriously, Aaron?" Lee looks at him. "Now you don't remember that we have 17 year old at home?"

"We weren't the ones describing to Alice what a one-night-stand kiss tasted like," Avni says.

"You were describing it?" Aaron frowns. "Seriously?"

"Well, Alice said she'll make sure that before she kisses someone he has chocolate all over his mouth." Lee laughs.

"Stop glaring at me," Alice frowns at Aaron. "I had to shut his mouth."

"Lee-"

"Anyway." Lee interrupts Aaron. "Anyone up for skydiving plans next weekend?"

"We are not coming," Aaron says.

"Right. You have a pregnant wife." Lee chuckles. "What about you guys?"

"I am coming if Neil comes." Avni looks up at me.

"Well, I will come if you want to go." I grin at her.

"Ah, man! He's just so in love with you." Lee says.

Avni holds my gaze for a moment, I wish I could read what's in her mind.

"Aaron, don't start with your questions." Avni looks at him then she looks at Lee. "But he hasn't exactly told me he loves me."

I know she's indicating back to the night when she asked me that question.

"Actions speak louder than words, Avni." Lee rolls his eyes.

"Whatever." Avni frowns. "We are leaving."

She hugs her parents before she walks to Lee and I shake hands with Aaron and her father.

"Thank you for getting her." Her mother smiles at me. "Call me when you get free, I want to talk."

"Sure. Thank you." I nod.

Aaron and Lee walk us out to the car and Aaron nods at me as we drive out of the gates.

"Drive as fast as you can," Avni instructs me.

I chuckle. "We have all night."

"But I can't wait." She shakes her head. "Your smell is driving me a little crazy."

I chuckle as I reach out and hold her hand in mine then I bring it up to my lips and kiss her knuckles. I can feel the impatience between us as I drive us home.

I roll down the windows to let some air in and cool away the heat between us but it doesn't work. The heat between our bodies seems to just grow as the minutes pass and we steal glances at each other.

I reach out and undo the buttons of my shirt as I let out a breath. I am sighing in relief by the time I drive in through the gates and park the car.

I pull the door open for Avni and she puts her arms around my neck and begins to kiss me hard. I wrap my arms around her waist as I kiss her back and walk us to the porch.

"I feel like we are horny teenagers." She laughs and I chuckle.

She reaches out to take my jacket and she drops it on the porch steps as I pin her against the wall next to the door. I can hear the sounds of our lips as we kiss loudly.

She pulls back when she runs out of breath. I kiss her cheek then I press my lips against her forehead.

We lock our eyes for a moment and it suddenly feels so intimate.

"You are beautiful," I whisper as I touch her face with the tip of my fingers.

She gives me a hazy smile that squeezes my heart a little.

I lean in and brush my lips against her ears before I lean lower and kiss her neck. She grips my arm in anticipation and she moans as I kiss her collarbone.

I suck on her skin as I tug on her sleeve craving to get more access.

"Neil." She moans softly as I continue to kiss her on the neck.

I pull back and move to the other side of her neck as my hand moves down her hips to her thighs and I pull her leg over my hips pulling her closer to me.

I can feel her body tense against mine as I proceed to kiss her skin. It's always a turn-on hearing her moans. I pull back to look at her and the pleasure on her face is enough to drive me crazy.

I grip her waist and she keeps her hand on my cheek as we meet halfway to kiss. We are locking our lips against each other and I anticipate another long kiss when a pair of headlights drop right on us before we hear a horn.

Avni and I look at each other with a frown and I turn around to look what is happening when I hear my mother's voice.

"What is Tillu doing outside?"