Everyone cheers as we both exchange our rings. I shriek a little when Avni pokes her nail in my palm while slipping the ring in my finger.

Starting she was stunned but I think now she has made up her mind to trouble me.

"Thanks for the mark," I exclaim as I trace her nail mark on my palm and show her, she simply rolls eyes and looks away making me chuckle.

After people get satisfied with seeing our faces they head to eat dinner. I am sure many of the evil gazes were on Avni because no doubt she's looking damn gorgeous. Maybe I should cue Avni's mom to do something about the evil eyes on her daughter or Avni may suffer for no reason.

"Neil, Avni, go have something, you both must be really tired." Mom smiled at us as she offered a soft smile to Avni.

"I speculated all of the food is for guests." Avni puffed out heavily. "Thank god at least you remember we are also sitting here with available stomachs."

"Haha. I think we all are aware of the fact that more than half of the guests come to eat food so without delay Bebe wanted them to fill their stomachs." Mom laughed with Avni, well, thank god, that they are bonding up well.

"Hello, Avni." Alia came out of nowhere. "Alia here." She cheered showing her teeth while I roll my eyes at her idiocy.

"Oh, hey!" Avni smiled at her. "Nice to meet you," Avni added before glancing at me with a questioning gaze.

"She's my cousin." I wave my hand between me and Alia.

"Well, that means she is my cousin, too." Avni stood up balancing her gown. "Hello, cousin." She laughed before hugging her. Mom raised an impressed eyebrow while internally I'm feeling proud as hell for no reason.

"Oh my god, you are so sweet." Alia kept her hand on her chest as she expressed it dramatically.

"Yeah, I am." Avni nodded. "I'm a chocolate lover." Both laughed throwing their heads back.

Mom gets down the stairs after notifying me to take Avni to have dinner. Alia and Avni seem too happy with each other as they gossip about their favorite ice cream flavors. Well, I love ice cream too but Avni never gossiped about it to me or asked my favorite flavors. Hey, am I jealous of Alia? Hell no, Avni's mine after all there's nothing to be jealous of, I guess.

I get up to ask Avni to come with me but seems like we are not going to escape from here effortlessly as DD, Foziya, and Sara climb the stairs.

"Avni, if you are anticipating me to respect you because your my boss's fiancee then you are wrong," Sara announced as she stood beside Alia.

"Well, there is nothing special about being the fiancee of our boss because that he is in office." Avni glanced at me shortly.

"Really? You work in his office?" Alia queried surprised. "You never said me, Neil. Oh, but then I think that was your thing so you didn't say." She laughed between sentences while I glare at her recalling our previous conversation connected to this topic.

"Gosh, I and DD had a great time playing this game with you and Sara." Foziya giggled as she and DD share High Five.

"I hope I can address you as Sister-in-law now?" DD arched an eyebrow at Avni with a chuckle.

"Well, you can if you stop making fun of me." Avni huffed as she threw a glare in my direction.

Since I'm standing just next to her I couldn't miss the noise her stomach is creating out of starvation.

"I don't get what you guys are saying." Alia gazed at each of us with a confused expression.

"Sara, you were saying something?" I try to rotate the topic because if Alia gets to know I and Avni never met or Avni didn't see my picture then everyone will be aware of this news.

"But I--" Alia was cut off by Sara's surprised voice.

"Yeah, since Avni said you are boss in office so I can address you as CM!" She clapped. "I can't believe Mr. Khanna is Neil, Boss is CM." She jumped on her spot.

"Sara, calm down girl. People will leave you in an insane asylum." Foziah rolled her eyes as she kept her hand on Sara's shoulder.

"Yeah, I just got excited after realizing I can address him as CM." She cleared her throat as she looked at me.

"What's CM?" I arch an eyebrow when Avni gives Sara a serious glare which she ignored effortlessly.

"Of course it's not Chief Minister." Avni intruded with a slow fake chuckle.

"Neither it is Class Monitor!" Sara exclaimed adjusting her gaze on Avni.

"Then what is it?" I question her while Alia, DD, and Foziah nod in approval.

"What is it, Sara?" Foziah looked at her. "Is it Cute something?"

The slight movement in Avni's figure made me look in her direction, she swiftly stomped Sara's leg.

"Ah," Sara hissed as she glances at Avni with a pout. "It is Chubby Monster." She voiced out.

"He isn't chubby neither he is a monster." Alia scrunched her nose as she stared at my face.

"Is it?" Sara tilted to look at her. "Then maybe it is Chocolate Man?"

"Sara, by now you should realize your lie is audible to all of us." DD gave her a pointy look while Foziah rolled her eyes at her sister's stupidity.

"I hope you all aren't dumb?" Sara arched an eyebrow. "When I'm clearly lying it means I don't wanna share what's the full form of CM according to me and Avni, that's our secret." She huffed keeping her hands on her hips.

Avni blew out air from her mouth as her stomach made some weird starvation screeches.

"Fine, fine." I interrupt when Alia and Foziah try to say something. "We are hungry, so see you later all." Grabbing Avni's hand I move down the stage.

In the background, I hear Sara and Foziah's argument. Avni's grip on my hand tightens when the wind blows.

"You okay?" I spin when she doesn't walk.

"I am fine, I'm fine." She uttered blinking her eyes. "Just something went in my eyes."

"Let's go." She added after rubbing her eyes feeling better.

"I was kind of expecting we'll have a romantic moment when I'll blow in your eyes." I quote jokingly as we walk towards a table.

"My mother said me I shouldn't do what people expect." She responded settling on the table.

"Nice." I smile feeling impressed by her answer.

✧✧✧

I and Avni share a heartfelt laugh when we burp together.

"So what's the full form of CM?" I arch an eyebrow at her as I devour in the taste of dessert.

"It's Centimeter, didn't you read that in school days?" She rolled her eyes. "I think, Sara has made it clear that's our secret and I would appreciate it if you'll let this secret be secret between the friends."

"Okay! Okay! Calm down." I give her a nervous smile when she clenches the fork tightly. I mean you never know she may poke me with it.

"That's better." Smiling at me she dabbed the tissue on her lips.

"So? What did you think about the marriage?" Leaning back on my chair, I fold my arms.

A few minutes ago, Bebe and Papa came with my to-be-mother-in-law and asked us to think about the marriage.

"You know I feel it's unnecessary to drag this." She fixed her gaze on my face. "I think we should go with the flow. There's no way I'm gonna chat with you and know you, I'm not interested in that process."

She sighed momentarily looking away from me then her eyes lift to meet mine. "You are getting what I mean?"

"I do get it." I nod as I lean on her side. "I'm not backing off from going with the flow, it's just will you be comfortable? You know changes are not as easy as we think."

"Listen, Neil, don't take me wrong. For a moment let's keep everything aside and be open to each other. It's our lives so I think at this point we should be open to each other." She started fidgeting with her fingers. "You may be sweet but for some time let's be selfish." I arch an eyebrow bewildered by her sentence.

"I mean, you are worried about I'll be comfortable or not and it does sound sweet but I want you to think about yourself, there may be changes in your life as well. Will you be comfortable with me being in your room? In your life?" I attempt to conceal my smile after listening to her because indirectly she's worrying about me.

"Okay then, let's be selfish. You think about yours and I'll think about mine. Take as much as time you want." I gently keep my hand on hers which is resting on the table.

She shuts her eyes inhaling and exhaling softly she thinks about something. Promptly I close my eyes trying to think about myself. One thing I am sure of is that she'll bring happiness to my life and that one reason is enough to say yes to marriage in the coming week.

I feel Avni keeping her other hand on our hands, warmth spread all over my body making me clasp her hand which is beneath mine. Exhaling with a soft smile, I declared, "I am ready for the marriage."

My eyes open in a snap when I realize that 'I am ready for the marriage' was not only said by me but we both said it in unison.

The first thing we did was stare at each other, then laugh out loud.

"This deserves a celebration." She smiled at me as she took a Brownie Bite from her plate and extended her hand in my direction. Leaning a little forward I take a bite of it, her fingertips lightly brush over my lips.

Taking the half-eaten Brownie Bite from her hand I put it in her mouth, she smiled at me after swallowing it. Since my right hand is holding hers I had to use my left hand to feed her.

"My Bebe says when two people share the food love increases between them." My cheeks heat up lightly while I look away not wanting to look like an idiot.

"Neela maa says the same," Avni added when I look at her a soft smile adorns her lips. "But tell you something, who wants love to grow between them only they share the food not everyone."

Her words had some unique spark, she indirectly meant that she wants love to grow between us.

"Then maybe we both should share the food daily?" I arch an eyebrow at her with a teasing smile.

"Yeah maybe, lemme think about it as well." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"Sure." I smile at her, I don't know what else to say. It's going so simple, I never thought she'll be so free at first face to face conversation with me.

She swiftly withdrew her hand from mine, I take back my hand and fist it tightly not willing to let her warmth go away from my hand.

"Besides, I would appreciate it if you do not announce in the office about our relationship because I don't want someone to think I'm getting special treatment." She stared into my eyes with seriousness in her tone.

"I apologize but I don't wanna hide from the world what is mine." I stare into her eyes saying each word clearly, not wanting to make her feel like I am not respecting her decision I quickly add, "I understand your view but that's not how life goes, hiding things. There's nothing wrong in letting everyone know you are mine and I'm yours. I would never give you special treatment in the office, you already have a special place in my life. You can do everything on your own and it wouldn't take me seconds to prove everyone wrong."

After whatever I said the only thing I got as an answer from her was silence. I want to ask her to reply because her silence is doing nothing but making me restless yet I preferred to stay silent trying to give her time to speculate.

She blows out a breath. "Neil, you know I like the way you face everything instead of backing off."

My heart fluttered when she gave me her astonishing smile.

"I would always prefer to face my problems myself or I would just go away from them not giving importance to it. I have just ignored the 'special treatment' comments which I got from the office but if it means you are with me to face it then I'm ready." Tucking her hair strands behind her ears she looked at me with a soft smile, knowing that I'm the reason behind that smile made me go crazy with happiness. It's taking my everything to not get up and jump out of happiness.

"Hey, don't go in dreamland." She snapped her fingers in front of me. "I'm being sweet to you because you are being sweet with me but that doesn't mean I'm not mad at you for hiding from me that you are Neil. I'll take revenge for it, Mister."

"It's not my fault, you were careless, you lost my photo. Take this as a lesson to never be careless." The corner of my lips twitched up a little seeing her huffing.

"You should be thankful to me for keeping this a secret okay?" I give her a pointed look. "Just a word to Alia, and everyone present here will be aware of this Mystery game."

"You know what? I hate you!" She gritted her teeth, glaring at me she got up to leave.

"Well don't expect a 'Same to you' from me." My phrases halted her steps while my lips curve in a small smile.

She inclined her head to look at me over her shoulder, the soft look in her eyes made my small smile glow. Rolling her eyes she walked away from there.

Laughing to myself I shift my gaze on my hand which was in hers minutes ago.

"How did the conversation go? She looked angry." DD kept a chair next to me and sat on it as his gaze followed at Avni's retiring figure.

"It went very fine." I smile recalling our conversation which was nothing but sweet.

"Thank god it went fine." DD breathed out heavily as he ate Brownie Bites.

"DD, there's a difference between Fine and Very fine." I slap his arm lightly. "Just like in school days there used to be a difference between Good and Very good."

"Okay, okay. I got it. Thank god it went very fine." He chuckled at me when he attempts to slap my hand in a funny way I quickly raised my hand in the air.

"Don't touch it." I glare at him. "That's my special hand." I can't just let anyone touch my hand when I can still feel her warmth on it.

He looked amazed and stared at my hand blankly. "Would you mind telling me the reason?"

"No!" I shake my head and keep my hand back in my lap.

"If you don't mind, then tell me." He looked on curious to know my answer.

"No, I mean, I mind saying you the reason. So I don't want to say it to you." I shrug knowing well he is going to make fun of me.

"I think, you have gone mad after talking with Avni Bhabi. Your mind is attached to her because you are behaving nothing but weirdly. When I say this I'm serious!" He exclaimed giving me a bizarre look.

I look away from him and stay silent because whatever he is saying isn't a lie, my mind is indeed glued on her.

Sometimes, a few small gestures mean so much. I don't care if I'm acting foolish now because all I'm trying to do is nurture each of our moments.

When a journey starts we should be excited about it because it simply doubles our happiness with simple reasons.

These moments would look simple now but when it will turn into memories we will know it's true importance.

There's no doubt we all don't give importance to people and things when they are with us and when we will lose them we will suddenly realize their true value in our life. I just don't want to make this mistake, I want to cherish all of these moments to live them in the present and future.

Let's sprinkle some sweetness in the life of to-be-wife which will automatically spread sweetness in my life.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ★ ━━━━━━━━━━━

So, how was it?

Okay, I just got a message from one of my readers today and there is a suggestion from her side about which even I have thought once.

The suggestion is - To give small scenes of the present amidst the past.

Though I feel it's not that easy to write about present and past simultaneously I think to the readers who are missing the present characters it would be a great time for them.

I just want you all to leave your views, inline comments, please.

• How many want small scenes of the present amidst the past?

• How many want only the past to continue?

I would consider all the views before taking the decision and you all have a long time to think because probably I'm not gonna update till I complete my entire syllabus.

Thank you for all the love in the last chapter.

Do vote, comment, and share your views.

Thank y'all.