It was the time of day, the sun was shining over the houses and birds were sitting on the trees and the terrace of the houses.

In the Mehta house, Avni was standing in the living area and she was looking at Neela maa who was looking at Avni.

Avni: Woh, mamma...

Nm: Kya hai yeh bacha. Kuch din main tumhara Roka hai itna kaam para hai aur tum bahar chali gai.

Avni frowned and then she understood the situation. Avni signed. Avni looked at Neela maa.

Avni: Woh, mamma, main bore ho rahi thi to socha thora bahar walk kar aun.

Nm: Bacha, yeh village hai. Mumbai nahi.

Avni made a face.

Nm: Bacha, yahan dogs hote hain, kal bhi Meera bata rahi thi ke us ke piche lag gaye the.

Avni: ok, ainda dihan rahega.

Neela maa made a face but then she smiled to see Avni's sad expression.

Nm: Acha chalo ab apne room main jaa kar aram kar lo. Aaj sham ko shopping chalna hai.

Avni: sham ko?

Nm: hmm, waise to abhi jane ka program tha but tum thi nahi aur as usual network issue to is liye sham ko.

Avni: Shopping kyun?

Nm: Roke ki shopping nahi karni.

Avni was confused.

Avni: Shopping aur yahan?

Nm: Han kyun yahan log kapre nahi pehante.

Avni made a face.

Avni: Mera woh matlab nahi tha.

Neela maa smiled.

Nm: I know, just kidding. Pass main hi city hai wahan jaenge wahan mall bhi hai.

Avni got excited.

Avni: really?

Neil maa nodded.

Avni: Wow.

Neela maa smiled.

Nm: Ab jaa kar rest kar lo sham ko chalna hai.

Avni nodded and she smiled.

In the time of evening, the birds were hovering in the sky. Neil was coming out with his friends and he frowned to see Shweta standing near the car and she looked worried.

Neil: Mom?

Shweta looked at him.

Neil: Kya howa?

Shweta: Dekh na, Tillu, tere Dad ko, woh bahar gaye hain aur driver ko bhi apne sath le gaye.

Neil: to kya howa? Aap ko koi kaam tha?

Shweta: Han na, tere Roke ke liye shopping karne pass wale city jana tha.

Neil: Oh.

Shweta: Han. Ab Mehtas ka driver bhi aaj leave per hai us ki tabiyat theek nahi hai.

Neil thinks.

Ali: To kya howa aap ko to driving aati hai.

Shweta grinned her teeth and she hit Ali's arm.

Ali: Ouch.

Shweta: Driving to aati hai lekin mujhe Road ka pata thori hai.

Vidyut: map use karen na.

Neil nodded.

Shweta: aray han yeh to mujhe yaad hi nahi aya. Main jati hun Avni bhi chal rahi hai.

Neil got alert.

Shweta: Avni drive kar legi.

Shweta was about to go.

Neil: Ab, Mom.

Shweta stopped and she turned to Neil.

Shweta: Kya hai, Tillu, pehle hi bohat dair ho gai hai.

Neil: nahi woh main keh raha tha ke main sath chalun kya.

Everyone was shocked and his friends looked at each other.

Shweta: tu sath chale ga? Woh bhi shopping per?

Neil: Nahi, woh City yahan se dadh (one and half hours) se do ghante ki duri per hai. Aap logon ko aate, aate raat ho jaye gi. Ase main kisi ka sath hona zarori hai. Bus isi liye kaha maine.

Shweta: han yeh bhi hai.

But then the bell rang in her mind. She looked at Neil.

Shweta: Tu is liye chal raha hai yaa baat kuch aur hai.

Neil was stunned.

Neil: Nahi bus isi liye aur kya waja ho sakti hai.

Shweta was nodding her head and Neil looked away.

Shweta: Paka.

Neil nodded while looking away. Shweta chuckled.

Shweta: Ab band kar apni notanki. Chal.

Neil got excited but he controlled. Neil and Shweta were going.

Neil said while walking: Chaliye. Sirf aap ke sath chal raha hum shopping karne nahi aane wala.

Shweta: acha baba theek hai.

They smiled and Neil's friends were looking at him astoundingly.

Ali: Yaar, Vidyut.

Vidyut was looking at Neil who was going.

Vidyut: Hmm.

Ali was also looking at Neil.

Ali: Hum abhi bahar jaa rahe the na?

Vidyut: Jaa to rahe the lekin ab pata nahi.

Ali sings: Kya se kya hogaya dekhte dekhte, Bewafa hogaye...

Vidyut and Ali looked at each other sadly.

Ali: apna Neil na gaya hath se.

Vidyut nodded.

Vidyut: Kya yeh wahi Neil jo shadi word se bhi bhaghta tha.

Ali made a crying face while nodding.

Ali: Han dost yeh wahi Neil hai. Aao mil kar rote hain.

They hugged each other and cried.

On the other side, Neil and Shweta came to the Mehta house where Neela maa, and Avni were standing near the car. They saw Neil with Shweta. Avni understood that he came to drive the car. Neil greeted them.

Shweta: chalen?

Nm: Driver?

Shweta: Tillu.

Neil was shocked and Avni was stunned because Shweta called Neil Tillu and Driver both. Neil looked at Avni who suppressed her lips. Neela maa was also trying to control her smile.

Neil in mind: yeh mom meri image kharab kar ke rahengi.

Nm: Shweta Ji, aap ne mere damad ko driver bana diya.

Avni and Neil both felt a shiver in their body to hear the word damad.

Shweta: Ab aap ka damad khud hi free ki service dene ke liye tiyar hai to main kya karun.

They chuckled. Avni and Neil smiled while looking down.

Nm: Chalen?

Shweta: Ji, Chaliye.

Neil: Main car le kar aata hun.

Neil was about to turn but Avni showed him the keys. Neil smiled and took the key while sighing Avni to sit in the front seat. Avni shook her head and Neil made a face. Neil turned and took a step to the car. Avni felt bad. She moved to the other side of the car back side.

Shweta also comes there. Avni opened the car door.

Shweta: Avni.

Avni looked at Shweta.

Shweta: Beta, tum agaye betho.

Neil got happy. Shweta smiled to see Avni who looked down and moved to the side. Shweta came to Avni's place and Avni moved to the front side. Avni and Neil looked at each other. They smiled then they got in the car.

They go shopping and Neil also came with them. They selected a dress for Avni. Avni goes to change and Neil was waiting for her. Avni came out and Neil was stunned to see Avni. Neil turned to Avni. Avni saw Neil and she felt shy because of Neil's gaze. Avni kept her hair behind her ear. Neil smiled.

Shweta and Neela maa came to Avni and talked to her about the dress and touched Avni's dress and arm while talking. Avni looked at Neil who signed Avni awesome. Avni smiled while looking down. Neil smiled. They bought dresses and went to the other shop. Avni rubbed her throat and she gulped. Neil saw that and he instantly went from there and came back with a bottle of water. Neil gave a bottle to Avni and Avni smiled. The mothers saw that and they smiled then they turned their faces to show that they didn't see them. They also had pizza.

Soon, the daylight was converted to night and they came out of the mall. Neil was carrying shopping bags. Neil kept them in the backseat as per the ladies' order. They went back.

Soon, the days passed and the day of Roka came. The Khanna family came to the Mehta house and the Mehta family welcomed them.

Neil took their blessings. They asked them to come. Neil was standing with his friends and Ashish and Prakash were sitting together. The ladies were sitting except Neela maa. Neela maa brought Avni.

Neil and others looked at Avni. Neil smiled to see Avni and others also smiled. Avni saw Neil and then she looked down in shyness. Neil smiled.

Avni and Neil were sitting on the couch and Shweta and Neela maa did the rituals after that, Shweta gave the ring to Neil and Avni forwarded her hand. Neil slides the ring into Avni's finger and everyone clapped then Neela maa gave ring to Avni and Neil forwarded his hand. Everyone clapped. Avni slides the ring.

They looked at each other and smiled. The great-grandmothers got up and hugged each other.

Bee Ji: Mubarakan, mubarkan, samdhan ji.

Bari Dadi: Tujhe bhi bohat, bohat badhai ho.

Everyone smiled. The gents hugged and the ladies hugged each other.

Shweta asked Avni and Neil to take blessings. They nodded. Neil signed Avni to come. Avni nodded. They got up and goes to their great-grandmothers who give them blessings and kissed their foreheads. Avni and Neil took blessings from all. Neil's friends Congratulates Neil by hugging him and they also wished Avni who smiled and said thank you. They clicked the pictures. Both families clicked a group picture where Avni and Neil were sitting and great-grandmothers were sitting and others were standing behind. Avni and Neil looked at each other and they smiled.

It was the time of night, Avni was standing on the terrace and she was smiling by looking at her ring. Avni caressed her ring and thinks. Avni smiled. Someone was coming from behind and Avni was unaware of that. The person captured her in his arms and Avni was shocked. Avni flinched and she shivered. Avni tried to move but the person tightened his grip.

The person whispered in Avni's ear: Ssshhhh... It's me, Neil.

Avni was shocked and Neil smiled.

Avni: Neil?

Neil: Hmm.

It was the first time that Neil had hugged her that's why Avni was shocked.

Neil: I am sad today.

Avni frowned.

Avni: Why? Aaj to khushi ka din hai to phir sad kyun ho?

Neil: Khushi ka din to hai aur main khush bhi tha lekin yeh soch kar sad ho gaya ke kal hum yahan se jaa rahe hain.

Avni smiled.

Neil: You know, main yahan nahi aana chahta tha.

Avni: what? Main bhi yahan nahi aana chahti thi.

Neil smiled.

Neil: Lekin ab main yahan se jana nahi chahta.

Avni: kyun?

Neil remained silent.

Avni: Neil.

Neil kept his forehead on Avni's shoulder. Avni looked at her shoulder.

Avni: Neil.

Avni turned to Neil. Neil was looking down. Avni cupped Neil's face and she lift Neil's face.

Avni: Neil?

Avni saw Neil's wet eyelashes.

Avni: Neil? Neil, look at me.

Neil looked at Avni and Avni was shocked to see Neil's red and teary eyes.

Avni: Neil? What happened?

Neil gulped and then he looked away.

Avni: Neil, jab tak tum batao ge nahi ke kya howa hai mujhe kaise pata chalega ke konsi cheeze tumhe pareshan kar rahi hai.

Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Kal hum yahan se chale jaenge aur phir pata nahi kab milna ho. Kaise rahunga main tum se mile bina.

Avni was confused at first but then she understood what Neil means. Avni smiled.

Avni: Itni si baat. Tum ne to mujhe dara hi diya tha.

Neil looked away. Avni smiled.

Avni pulled Neil's cheek: aww, my cute Neilu.

Neil made a sad face.

Avni: aww. Itna sensitive larka maine aaj tak nahi dekha.

Neil: Pehle nahi tha lekin ab ho gaya hon tum se milne ke bad.

Avni was stunned. Neil was looking at Avni emotionally. Neil hugged her and Avni was surprised to see this side of Neil. Avni caressed Neil's back.

Avni: Neil, it's ok.

Neil: Ek pal ke liye bhi nahi reh sakta tumhare bina.

Avni was surprised. Neil sighed.

Neil: Kuch hi dino main tum meri life ka ek important hissa ban gai ho, Avni. Tum se dur rehne ke khayal se hi dar lagta hai. Kanp jata hun main. Nahi. Nahi reh sakta main tumhare bina. Ek pal bhi nahi.

Avni was surprised and Neil was scaring her.

Avni: Hum milenge na Mumbai jaa kar. Hum ek hi city main to rehte hain.

Neil gulped and he thinks. Neil broke the hug and he was looking down. Neil looked at Avni and gulped.

Neil: Main tumhe kuch batana chahta hun.

Avni frowned.

Neil: Shayad yeh baat mujhe tumhe pehle hi bata deni chahiye thi. Pata nahi kaise mere mind se nikal gaya.

Avni: kya baat hai, Neil?

Neil looked at Avni then Neil turned and moved away. Neil's behavior was scaring her. Avni thought maybe Neil has some past. Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil: Avni, tum to janti ho ke main ek police officer hun aur police officer ki job bohat tough hoti hai. Kabhi bhi, kisi bhi time humain duty per bula liya jata hai aur apni jaan ki parwah kiye baghair humain apni duty anjam deni hoti hai. Kai baar to raat ke time bhi jana parta hai. Mom aksar raat, raat bhar mere liye jagti rehti hain. Meri fikar main lagi rehti hain. Avni, shayad tumhe bhi yeh sab face karna pare. Asi situations ko face karna pare jahan tumhe kai din tak mere bare kuch pata nahi hoga ke main kahan hun. Zinda bhi hun yaa…

Neil stopped. and Avni was shocked.

Neil: yaa, yaa nahi.

Avni was shocked.

Neil: Main janta hun ke mujhe tumhe yeh sab pehle hi bata dena chahiye tha.

Avni was slowly coming to him.

Neil: lekin, lekin pata nahi kaise mere diamgh se hi nikal gaya… Avni, agar tum chaho to… to…

Neil closed his eyes.

Neil: yeh rishta…

Neil was not able to say further. Neil licked his lips and then suppressed them. Avni kept her hand on Neil’s shoulder who opened his eyes and looked at his shoulder then Neil turned to Avni. Avni was looking at him sadly. Neil was not able to match eyes with Avni so he looked down.

Avni: Neil, tum kya aaj mujhe heart attack dilwane ka irada kar ke aye ho.

Neil was shocked.

Neil: Avni, I am serious.

Avni: I am also serious.

Neil was looking at Avni.

Avni: tumhe kya lagta hai, Neil ke mujhe tumhari police job ke bare main kuch nahi pata. Maine ase hi bina soche samjhe is rishte ke liye han kar di. Obviously, not. Neil, maine bohat soch smajh kar, tumhe parakhne ke bad yeh decision liya hai. Main janti hun ke ek police officer hona koi asan task nahi hai aur ek honest police officer hona to us se bhi tough hai. Mummy Ji ne bataya tha ke kaise tum adhi raat ko apni duty sar anjam dene ke liye ready rehte ho. Chahe sardiyun ki raat ho yah garmiyun ki  dopehar, Neil Khanna kabhi apne farz se peeche nahi hatata.

Neil was looking at Avni.

Avni: aur tumhe pata hai tumhari isi baat ne mujhe impress kiya. Main to fan ho gai tumhari.

Neil smiled. Neil remembered what he was about to say.

Neil in mind: Thank God, maine apna sentence complete nahi kiya. Idiot, kya karne jaa raha tha. Stupid.

Avni was looking at Neil.

Avni: kahan kho gaye?

Neil looked at Avni. He smiled and shocked his head.

Neil: kahin nahi.

Avni: don’t worry, Neil, maine tumhe tumhare pros and cons ke sath accept kiya hai. Mujhe andaza hai tumhari hectic life ka aur tumhari duty ka bhi. Relationship koi bhi ho waqt hamesha ek sa nahi rehta. Ups and downs are part of life aur hum mil kar har situation ka samna kar lenge.

Neil smiled and cupped Avni’s face.

Neil: so to hai. Thank you, Avni, thank you for understanding me.

Avni smiled.

Avni: ab main nahi samjhun gi to kon samjhega hmm.

Neil smiled.

Neil: yeh bhi hai.

They smiled.

Neil: betho. Beth kar baat karte hain.

Avni nodded. They go to sit and talked for some time. They looked at each other and smiled.

The next morning, the sun was shining over the fields and roads. In the Khanna house, Neil was busy in packing his bag. Neil kept his shirt in the beg and something strikes his mind. Neil took his phone from the bed and he stood properly. Neil dialed a number and kept his phone at his ear.

On the other side, Avni was standing in the living area and others were also present there. The bags were kept there. Avni's phone rang. She saw Neil's number. Avni looked at the family and she received the call and she goes to the side. Avni kept her phone at her ear.

Avni: Hello.

Neil got alert.

Neil: Hello, Avni.

Avni: Han bolo, Neil.

Neil: Kya hum abhi mil sakte hain?

Avni: Abhi?

Neil: Han, terrace per.

Avni thinks.

Neil: Sirf panch minute ke liye.

Avni was in dilemma.

Avni: Acha, theek hai main aati hun.

Neil got happy.

Neil: ok, thank you.

Neil was smiling and he cut the call. Neil sighed happily. Avni was looking at her phone and she bit her lips while thinking.

Neil was waiting for Avni on the terrace. Avni came to the terrace and looked back on the stairs then she looked at Neil and came to him.

Avni talked in a low voice: Kya baat hai, Neil, mujhe is time kyun bulaya. Pata hai, kitni mushkil se sab se chup kar, nazare bacha kar ayi hun.

Neil: Sorry and thanks for coming.

Avni smiled but she was nervous.

Avni: ab batao kyun bulaya mujhe?

Neil: Kuch nahi bus jane se pehle tum se milne chahta tha. Bus is liye.

Avni was looking at Neil. She smiled.  Neil sighed.

Neil: Ab se ase mil nahi paenge. Bohat miss karunga in moments ko.

Neil looked at the terrace.

Neil: is terrace ko.

Avni smiled and she looked at Neil who also looked at her. Avni looked around.

Avni: hmm. Yeh to hai.

Neil smiled. Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: ab main jaun.

Neil: itni jaldi.

Avni: Tum ne panch minute kaha tha.

Neil made a face and Avni smiled.

Avni: Actually, sab niche hain aur kisi bhi time mujhe dhundhte yahan aa sakte hain.

Neil: to kya howa ab to hum officially engaged hain.

Avni smiled.

Avni: to yahan kyun bulaya. Sab ke samne milne aate.

Neil leaned towards Avni.

Neil: Mujhe koi farak nahi parta. Bus phir tum tamatar ki tarha laal mat ho jana. Sab ke samne utha kar bhi le jaa sakta hun.

Avni blushed.

Neil: Abhi se sharma gai.

Avni looked at Neil and pushed him.

Avni: Asa kuch nahi hai.

Avni looked away to hide her blush. Neil was looking at Avni. Avni looked at Neil and she was stunned to see Neil who was looking at Avni with love and Avni got nervous. Neil took steps toward Avni and Avni took steps back. Avni collided with the wall but Neil instantly took steps and kept his hand on the wall at Avni's head side. Avni looked back then she looked at Neil who was looking at Avni lovingly. Avni was getting nervous.

On the other side, Neela maa turned around and she was looking for Avni.

Nm: Avni kahan gai?

Everyone looked at her.

DM: Abhi to yahin thi.

Nm: Han.

Ashish: Shayad apne room main gai ho.

Nm: Main dekh kar aati hun.

Everyone nodded and Neela maa goes.

On the other side, Avneil was looking at each other. Neil intervened his hand in Avni's hand and took them up. Neil kissed Avni's hand and Avni blushed. Neil smiled and touches their intervened hands to the wall. Avni looked at Neil who looked at her lips. Neil looked at Avni's eyes and then he looked at Avni's lips. Neil leaned towards Avni who closed her eyes. Neil was about to claim Avni's lips.