MARRIAGE.

It is not as simple as it appears.

A fact all of us know is none of the relationships are easy to deal with. Being a child is not easy because each child tries to be the best for their parents, we face challenges to make our parents happy. Admit it, though we study for our future we do want to make our parents proud of our doing.

Just like that relationship of a parent, sibling, a friend is not simple. Each one of us makes efforts to make the other one happy even if it is not required. Each one of us tries to understand the other one which sometimes is not manageable.

Marriage is one of the complicated relationships. Here we get into an entirely new family, new people, who were one time called strangers and now named as in-laws.

Within a day I was changed from Ms to Mrs. That day everything changed, I got an extra family, extra love, extra responsibilities. I was never a fan of being the best daughter-in-law, I always wanted to be the best person. Best for myself and that is how we can be best for others.

Be good to yourself, you can be good to others.

I have learned to be selfish for my happiness. Not that for my happiness I give pain to others but I am not used to sacrificing my happiness from the time my parents passed away.

Come on, we get one life so let's live it for ourselves. If we are happy for ourselves then maybe we can give that happiness to our loved ones, let's sprinkle our happiness.

Sometimes, just try to smile in public places. Arrogant people may ignore it but that will bring a sense of softness in them. Happy people may smile back at you. Sad people may give you a fake smile but for sure that will make their day.

Life changes within a blink of your eye, one moment you have everything, and another moment you don't have anything. We should learn to adapt to these changes.

My life was changed the first time when I lost my parents. Then it changed again after my marriage. The first time it changed I got Neela maa now it changed I got a new family.

In the past one month, my equation with my in-laws has been good till now, none of them treat me low nor give me any special treatment everything is just fine.

Now, my morning starts with me in Neil's arms. We both sleep in the corners of the bed but somehow I end up in his arms when I wake up. It is good he is not aware of it because I wake up before him.

When I go down after taking the shower I'm welcomed by a warm smile from my mother-in-law in the kitchen. Then she serves me and Bebe coffee that's the only time where we three chit-chat without others being around. Alia is either busy with studying or her phone sitting on the dining table.

Then I make coffee for Neil and go to our room. I had been using Neil's room from the time I entered his room but Neil made me practice using ours. Now, his everything is ours, my everything is ours. His office is ours, his car is ours, his card is ours.

Waking him up is the adorable and irritating task I do. Adorable because he looks damn cute in sleeping as he snores softly. Irritating because he never gets up quickly! Somehow irritation takes power over my adoration and I end up shouting at him. What surprises me is even after I shout he gets up with a smile as he sleepily greets me - Good morning, Avni.

Neil and I have been understanding towards each other. We don't usually behave as typical husband-wife we are more friendly husband-wife. Sometimes I do overreact but he is irritating as well.

We are used to fighting with each other for silly reasons, it will start with "I'll drive today" in the morning while going to the office to "I'll use the washroom first" in the evening after we return from the office.

We have an unsaid rule between each other that we don't fight in front of others though friends are an exception and include Alia in it. Our fights are only in-room or in Neil's office, our fights are never serious they are as silly as us.

For others, we are the most perfect couple with understanding being the title to our relationship.

Don't get the wrong idea, we are really understanding towards each other when it comes to a serious matter. That is why we are still in a relationship or else I would have run to file a divorce, haha.

Neil is kind of more protective than the possessive husband. He avoids fights and considers my opinions as well. Whenever men overhaul their gazes on me he simply holds my hand a sign of letting others know I'm already his.

From what I have known him for one month is that he uses his actions more than words.

It's been our routine to go office together and while coming he takes me to the juice bar so we drink Apple juice and spend a few minutes with each other.

I still remember the day I entered the office after a week of our marriage. That day I got some enemies in Khanna Corporations. Many were already aware though they weren't invited while for a few it was a shock.

"Hello everyone, may I have your attention, please. It's a moment of proudness for me to announce that I'm no more available to the pretty girls out there. Meet my wife Mrs. Avni Neil Khanna."

This is how he had introduced me, with proudness in his tone but I didn't miss his flirtatious words I'm no more available to the pretty girls out there. And once we were in his office we had an unreasonable fight over it to which he replied - I meant that I'm not available to the pretty girls out there because I have got the prettiest girl as my wife who is pure by heart.

I had warned myself not to melt at his words but with the smile and sincerity, he spoke it was hard to not do so.

"Avni, can I get your attention please?" I raise my head from the laptop to look at Foziah.

"You have a presentation next week how much are you prepared for it?" She looked on resting her hands on my table.

"I...I have to start it."

"Great! Do one thing send me the details I'll give that project to someone else you are going to take the other project which you are going to present to Mr. Rayan Malhotra's enterprises, okay?"

"Okay, sure." I nod shifting my attention back to the laptop screen.

"Send me the details soon." She spoke before turning around to walk back to her office.

"Mrs. Khanna." My fingers halt on the keyboard as I hear Neil's voice. I twist my body to look at him the way he called me so softly and the smile on his face says it's more of a personal than professional.

"Yes, Mr. Khanna?" Foziah looked at him crossing her arms around her chest.

"Uh, I need Mrs. Khanna in my office." He looked at me and I looked away while all my colleagues have fixed their gazes on me.

"I apologize, Mr. Khanna, as of now she's having important work I'll send her after she completes it." Foziah put forward her professional self suppressing the need to pass a teasing comment to us which she usually does when we are alone.

Neil just nodded his head and walked away not before sparing a glance at me. I feel unpleasant for him a little because even after being boss he can't rule in the Marketing department as Foziah is the manager here and even if he puts forward an "It's professional" lie I scold him because all of them can easily catch his lie. The most important thing, not all bosses have a personal meeting with their employees so when he calls me it's easy to recognize he is calling his wife, not his employee.

Quickly sending the details to Foziah I walk to her office. After she asks me to come in I walk inside.

"I just send you the details."

"Okay, kindly go and meet your husband before he curses me." She raised her head from the files to look at me.

"Can I ask you something?" I lock the door and sit on the seat in front of her. We both usually have this private conversation when I don't have lots of work.

"Anything." Keeping the file away she gave me the attention.

"You know now that I have married Neil it's in the back of my head that I should fall in love with him. How will I know if I have fallen in love with him or not?" I chew my bottom lip as I look at her with the hope that she'll clear my doubts.

"That's a difficult question because girl you have to fall in love with your husband." She leaned on the table, "I realized my love for Asad when he was away from me for 2 damn months! Do you miss Neil?"

"How can I miss him?" I roll my eyes at her, "We are always together only during working hours we are away and it's not like during work also I keep dreaming about him."

"Right! During working hours also he keeps coming to see you." She chuckled, I still remember the day when Sara had mentioned she saw Neil staring at me while I was working God knows who all might have seen it!

"Have you guys got physical?" She whispered leaning towards me as if someone's hearing us.

"Of course not!" I throw a glare at her to which she raised her hands in the air as if surrendering.

"I think, I'll ask Asad about it." I declare as I reach for my phone to ask him when he is free.

"Wrong decision." She snatched my phone, "Asad is going to get you hundreds of love quotes from google. Sara is also going to do the same, remember they both are partners in all of this!"

"Then whom am I going to ask?"

"Yourself." She confessed, "What you feel matters. What you crave matters. When you start feeling complete with Neil that's when you have fallen in love. Not every love story is the same just like that, not every love is the same.

You don't know there are different types of love, possessive love, sacrificing love, insufficient love, needy love, selfless love, and so many types. Which love are you searching for?"

"Protective love!" The words leave out of my mouth as my mind drift back to the protective side of Neil, "Someone who would hold my hand amidst anything and everything."

"There you go!" She smiled at me.

"Anyway, you should probably go meet him before he plans to come up again." Foziah chuckled before shifting her attention to work.

✧✧✧

"Come in." After hearing his reply I open the door. Knowing well it's me he closed his laptop and looked up passing a polite smile to me.

"Tired?" I take a seat in front of him.

He hummed in response as he rubbed his face with his hands. My eyes drop on his half-bare arms.

"Why did you call me?" I look at him curiously, there are times when he calls me and the reason is just like that.

"Turn around and look at the table." He mumbled with a sigh. I turn around to look at two cups of melted ice creams. The corner of my lips lifts in a smile.

"Aww." I stretch my hand to pinch his nose as his lower lip hung low like a small child. Ice cream date and Neil are kind of enemies with each other. Whenever he plans for an ice cream date some or the other thing happens.

"You don't plan the date at a good time." I laugh at his sad expression.

"I got free after a meeting and you said in the morning you don't have a lot of work so I thought it's a good time." He pouted looking at the melted ice creams and I couldn't help but smile at him.

"Never mind, today instead of the juice bar we will go on an ice cream date." Getting up from the seat I walk to him, "You should bond up with ice cream so I'll let go of my favorite juice today."

His shoulders relax a bit when I massage them. "Besides, my presentation has been canceled. Foziah wants me to present in the meeting with Mr. Malhotra." He just hums in response I lean in to see him closing his eyes as he relaxes.

Minutes later, suddenly he holds my hands which are on his shoulders. Gently he tugs me down so that my hands rest on his chest and my cheek pressed against his.

My breathing gets abnormal as he tilted his head so that his lips are near my ear, "I like your presence around me, Mrs. Khanna." He whispers in a deep... husky voice?

My lips part as I try to form some words but words succumb in my throat when he slowly drags his lips from my ear to cheek. Then he loosens his grip on my hands compelling me to stand straight.

Will I sound desperate if I say I was expecting him to give a quick kiss on my cheek?

"Thanks for the massage." He got up from his seat and turned to look at me. Surprisingly, he hugs me tightly formulating me to take two steps back.

"What's wrong with you today?" I hug him back.

"I don't know. I just felt like hugging you. You are my peace after all." I am supposed to raise a challenging question but all I'm doing is blushing like an idiot.

"Okay, Neil, stop your extra cheesy words and let me go." I struggle to get out of the hug, he holds me for a few seconds then lets me go.

"See you in the evening." He mumbles as he leaned towards me granting a hasty kiss on my cheek, "Okay?"

I nod as I bite inside of my cheeks to control the rosiness on my cheek, he chuckled and tapped my cheek before getting back to his seat.

My husband has decided to fulfill his wife's cravings.

You may assume it for an ice cream date or a cheek kiss. Depends on the thinking, duh!

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How was it?

Pardon me, I just think I lost my writing skills. 😕

A great news I got is my exams are postponed and I'm suffering from headache due to it because till they announce new dates I'll probably forget everything I have studied then I'll have to sit again for hours and read the business and economic theory!

Thank you for all the love in the last chapter.

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Thank y'all.