"Have a look at the photo once, she's beautiful." Alia settled beside me as she kept the envelope on the table.

"Come on, Alia, now you don't act like Bebe and Mom." I roll my eyes. "They both have acted stubborn and got alliance, I'll also act stubborn and not see the photo."

"Neil, please." Mom stood beside me. "We are not going to force you just have a look at it."

I blow out a breath. "Fine, you all go outside, leave me alone for some time I'll take a look at the photo."

"But there's no harm in seeing in front of us," Alia declared as she removed the photo and kept it in front of me.

My heart skipped a beat as my eyes gazed at the girl. Damn her eyes are something indescribable! Seeing her smiley face I find my own lips twitching up in a smile.

"I assure you, it's 'Yes' from Neil's side." Alia slapped my arm as she laughed.

"Neil?" Mom raised her eyebrows at me with a teasing smile which somewhere I find sweet.

"I want some time with myself please." I bow my head afraid that they'll see my flustered state, god knows for what reason I have started blushing?!

After a session of cackling everyone left, Alia was forcefully dragged by my mom. I know she was hell interested to tease the hell out of me.

Dad sat beside me as he took the photo from my hand. "Neil, marriage is not done for fun. There are certain responsibilities you should handle. It's simply twisted, you'll have arguments, happiness, sadness all in one."

"If you are ready for the marriage, don't just be excited to behave like a husband, try to comprehend what changes your life will get."

"I truly want you to marry but not when you don't know the perfect meaning of marriage. I'll not tolerate it if you behave like shit with your wife."

"A girl craves one thing, Respect. If you can respect her, then yes, you are ready to be husband."

"Respect doesn't mean keep to her safe physically but mentally too. Respect can be shown in easy ways, accept her advice when she is right, make her happy because she deserves to be happy."

"Help her with her work even when she doesn't need your help. Let her help you, she'll feel happy that you somewhere trust her that's why you are letting her help you. Listen to her instead of constantly speaking. If she doesn't want to speak let the silence speak."

"Arguments happen, but when they happen make sure to clear them on time. Don't wait for her to solve it, keep your manly ego aside and talk with her, you solve the matters."

"If you are prepared for all this then, I'm permitting you to marry. You have today's night think about it, if you are sure you can do all this then we are giving 'Yes' as an answer to Neela Parikh." Giving a soft squeeze on my shoulder he got up to leave.

"Dad, Photo." I promptly add before he departs from the room.

Smiling softly he handed me the picture, I find my cheeks heating up. Amazing, just today I got to know I can blush as well. Since I have already embarrassed myself I decide to ask a question.

"Her name?" I trace the picture fixing my gaze on Dad's face.

"Avni Parikh." He smiled at me. "You sound like a desperate person!"

Lowering my gaze I laugh with him. Dad went away after asking me to think about it.

Avni Parikh!

Keeping a hand beneath my head I stare at Avni's picture. It's strange a week ago I wasn't even willing to see her photo but when I saw it I can't stop myself from seeing it again and again. She's not kind of the most beautiful girl in the world she's kind of the most adorable girl in the world.

At night I saw her photo, thought about it, gave my answer as 'Yes' to Dad. Then the next day I went to the office to find her coming out of the interview room. Do you think that sight was simple for me? Absolutely not, because that was breathtaking!

She came out and started speaking with a girl then she marched towards the waiting area completely not aware of my gaze on her.

Though the conversation I had with her was kind of foolish and amusing, I am sure somewhere she thought of me as a pervert. It's simply unacceptable she didn't see my picture.

A week has passed by and we have given 'Yes' as an answer to Avni's mother yet there is no reply from their side. However, I got to know her mother wants us to talk before engagement that possibly means something positive is on the way.

I dial her number with all the enthusiasm I have. Honestly, she is not easy to deal with. DD has selected her and she is going to join our company from tomorrow.

Do you know there is a kind of mystery here? DD isn't aware that Avni can be my wife and so he is being bossy types with her, haha!

Avni doesn't know that her boss can be her husband, you know why? Because she is least bothered to take a look at my picture.

That day when she and her friend left from office, Avni turned back to look at me, and the way she swings her bag an envelope fell from her bag. Before she could realize her friend dragged her out. When I took the envelope I look at the address which is ours, I chuckle slowly when I realize she has not even opened it. That is why she didn't know who I am.

After taking deep breaths I press the call button since Avni's mother said Mom we should first talk on call and decide to meet somewhere, so I got her number.

When she doesn't receive it after two calls, I decide to call one last time because it's 10:30 in the night she might be sleeping.

"When a person doesn't receive the call it simply means they are busy so you should wait until they call you back." I hear her gritted tone and I find myself gasping in fear.

"I am sorry!" I exhale deeply, a smile settled on my lips when I hear her voice. Somewhat her voice is sweet.

"Never mind, you are Neil right?" She queried.

"Yeah, thank god that you at least have my number." I chuckle because she didn't even bother to see my picture so it's surprising she has my number.

"Your number was discreetly saved by my mother so yeah I have your number." She responded and I imagine her face having an irritated look.

"Have you seen me, Avni?" I arch an eyebrow as if she's seeing me as I play with my cushion, ain't I being too girly-girly?

"Uh.." She carried a moment. "Yeah, I got your envelope."

"I know that, did you see my picture?" I hold back my laughter.

"I didn't know you are a hero, sorry but I have not. I have seen all the Bollywood heroes' pictures but never saw yours." She almost giggled in the middle of her conversation. "Are you playing some goon's role or maybe some shopkeeper's role in any of the picture? Just let me know which picture and I'll make sure to watch it."

"God!" I laugh out loud, my sharp ears didn't leave a chance to miss the sound of her slow giggles.

"Anyway, let's be serious." I shake my head to stop laughing. "Are you sure you want to marry?"

After a little silence from her side, I hear her seizing a heavy breath. "In life, we never know what's right for us unless we take a step. Sometimes, we think this is the best decision of our life then it turns out to be the worst. Sometimes, we think this is the worst decision of our life then it turns out to be the best. Frankly, I am not ready for this marriage."

Instead of interrupting her, I thought to stay silent maybe she wants to say something more.

"My mother, she believes that you are best for me. She kind of has a soft corner for you, my mother doesn't say just like that when she says she means it. And because she believes in this relation, I want to give this a chance. If I take a step I'll know if it's right for me or not but if I don't give this a chance maybe I'll have that in my heart I didn't listen to my mother."

I smile to myself, she does have a point. Her mother believes in this relation, so Avni is giving it chance and I'll do everything to make Avni believe in this relation.

"Don't take me wrong, I don't want to meet you." She uttered and I could sense a little uncertainty in her voice.

"It's fine," I answer without thinking twice, just for two reasons.

1. I want to be a mystery until our engagement.

2. We are going to meet daily now in the office.

"You won't ask why?" Her voice came out as a surprise, well I do want to know why she doesn't want to meet me.

"Why?" I keep my doubt short.

"I want us to be comfortable in conversation with each other first, meeting will be too much for me. I have a weird habit of not talking to strangers, I mean don't take me wrong but you are kind of a stranger to me." I nod after hearing her, but does this give a reasonable answer as to why we should not meet?

"I am violent." When she doesn't hear anything from my side, she uttered out. "If you look at me with dreamy eyes, I swear I'll not be able to control my hands and legs." I couldn't control the laugh that left my mouth.

"I am sorry," I answer stifling my laughter.

"Hey, I'm serious." She retorted in a serious tone. "And maybe one day you'll go home with a broken nose, bruised on hands and legs then your parents will call my mother and complain about it and I don't have any interest to get scolding from my mother."

"You don't even know me and you assumed I'll look at you with dreamy eyes?" I couldn't stop asking her.

"Actually even if you are being nice to me I'll not think twice before smacking you. Ask me why." She demanded.

"Why?" I roll my eyes as a silly smile settled on my lips.

"Because you accepted this proposal!" She gritted her teeth. "I wanted you to reject my proposal so I had wantedly send my Halloween picture yet you selected me?"

"There wasn't any Halloween picture of yours." I shrug being nothing but honest. "You are dressed in simple Kurti and jeans." I glance at her photo which is in my hand.

"Hell, Neela maa changed the photo, I guess." She squeaked irritated.

"Calm down, girl. It's fine, maybe I would have accepted your proposal in that look as well because you are adorable." I cruse myself as soon as these words leave my mouth, she is definitely going to kill me.

"Stop being cheesy!" She mumbled after a pause. "Good that we are on call or else you know I would have punched you hard."

"Since you have no control over your hands and legs and I somewhat don't have control to admire your beauty let's not meet and know each other through phone conversation." I give a cheeky smile to myself as the fun beings here. On the day of engagement, a bomb is going to drop on this Violent Lady.

"Ugh!" Her voice appeared mad. "Don't be cheesy, man!"

"I'm just being honest." I muffle my laughter.

"Before I decide to block you, cut the call." Her voice is soft yet hazardous.

"Good night, Avni." I smile and wait for her to reply but when I didn't get her reply I disconnect the call before she decides to block my number.

I smile caressing her photo, she's so cute and beautiful that is why she is adorable. Seconds later my phone beeped demanding my attention.

A pinch of red crashed on my cheeks as I feel my cheeks heating up. Gosh, Avni is something!

I look down and shake my head smiling to myself. It was Our first good night with each other.

━━━━━━━━━━━━ ★ ━━━━━━━━━━━━

So, how was it?

To be honest, this was never in my mind to write about the past. Now, it somewhat feels nice to me, I mean pausing the present and looking into the past is something weird yet good, right?

How many are missing other characters which were in the present? Like Niam, Navya, Zar, Myra, Eva, Aayan, etc.

Anyway, as you all know in the last chapter I had asked how many need the past story long and how many need it short. I have finally come to the conclusion after seeing your response.

11 people commented for long.
0 people commented for short.

So, we are going with a long one.

Thank you for responding as without your support it would have been impossible to decide it.

I'm not able to update on the given days, I apologize for it. Maybe this entire month I'll not be able to update regularly because I have my exams on my way. However, when I can I'll update.

Thank you for all the love in the last chapter.

Do vote, comment, and share with your friends.

Thank y'all.