Starting a book with "A century" of votes in its First Chapter itself is no short of an honour. Thank you so much guys! Let's see If we can make it to "Double Century" or not.

Blessed to have readers who are acceptable to new concepts and plots. 🤗

Here's the much awaited Avni's version of their first meet.

P.S. This particular part is jumping in and out from the Past, you'll understand as yo'll read. Still "Italics" is the Past.

Have a Happy Read.!!

"22nd Feb"

Dear Diary,

I never knew the first fumbling step to my new journey in a new city under a new horizon could bring success, content and happiness to my life. Probably, I never gave chance to life to surprise me or probably I was too scared to even feel happy about myself. Cause it has been forever since I was genuinely happy.

I'm talking about the result of the Interview which turned out to be in my favour. And now I'm the new Assistant Marketing Manager from the subunit of Khanna Industries, which is a giant shark in the ocean of trade.

I was hurtling behind my generously spoiled, overenthusiastic 4-year-old who god knows when took off to cafeteria - which was just a door away from the lounge of the giant corporate building - after her meticulous eye-tour of aquariums. Knowing the sweet tooth she has, I was sure she was following her overdeveloped osmic sense and the fragrances that meant sweets, chocolates, cupcakes, pancakes or simply ice-cream.

But before I could reach Aahana, a dainty woman in pencil skirt from HR department grabbed my attention just at the threshold of cafeteria. While the woman continued to inform me about my selection and joining for the job, along with a set of instructions to be followed while working for Khannas, I pinned my half focus and a side glance on my daughter who happened to have a casual chat with an unknown back-facing stranger near the dessert counter.

The first parenting lesson I'd learned way earlier in my life as a mother was, to never chain your child with a list of do's and dont's. Let her set free to explore the world on her own, through her own tiny eyes, and let her learn things through her own little understanding while keeping a cautious and keen eye on her activities only to interfere when needed.

And I can't be more proud with the way my Angel is flourishing herself. She is already a well-behaved and polite kid, harbouring more maturity than the age and size of her kinds.

However, soon I saw her crossing her arms across her petite frame with incessant tapping of her forefoot on the tiled floor. The tell-tale stance of her little swag that she carries off with effortless charm. That was certainly a red-flag for me to intervene to avoid a possible ruckus or the tantrum-show.

Nodding uninterestedly at the information thrown at my face with jet speed, hurriedly collecting my joining letter from the skirt clad to-be-colleague, I excused myself and darted towards Aahana.

Before assuming anything, I knelt down in front of her to get myself acquainted with the details of her conversation with the stranger who stood confused behind my back.

As accurately predicted by me, the story involved one of Aahana's weaknesses - cupcakes. And I can't help but sympathise with the poor man who had to bear her nuisance apart from offering his dessert to her. My lil one can be so intimidating sometimes.

I spun on my heels and barely began apologising to the unknown yet kind man, only to choke on my own words. My equilibrium shifted off-centre as I felt to be hit by certain static energy emanating from the strong aura around his captivating personality.

Something changed at that exact moment. Something that I was unaware to be existing right inside me. Something, I can't even name.

But the feeling was too strong to be either missed or ignored.

My eyes drank in the handsomeness standing right in front of me, draped in a buttoned-up sky-blue dress shirt that was folded until his elbow, paired with a formal suit's grey trouser. His hand flexed in an attempt to brush over his brownish curly hairs, only to end up stretching the seams of his shirt where his bicep bobbed. His curious chocolaty brown eyes, veiled behind the safety of his long lashes, were lost in some deep analysis, reflecting as some sort of confusion and realisation.

Nevertheless, coming back to the remnants of the still-intact senses of mine, I continued with the conversation that went quite awkwardly, with him offering the cupcake back to Aahana, which only made my lil girl happier than ever.

The full-proof plan that my brain was spinning about making an excuse and sprinting as far as possible from this insanely gorgeous acquaintance of mere minutes, remained a plan in my head itself when he oh-so generously offered his table for us to share. The lunch hour rush in the cafeteria was palpable as not a single seat remained empty except for the ones offered to me and Aahana, which I took hesitantly.

A mere chance encounter or was it all fated? Written, staged, planned and directed by the Supreme Power sitting behind that brightly shining sky.

~Avni

***

Even though I had closed and kept aside my diary in order to catch up on some rest and sleep, I couldn't stop my thoughts from travelling back to the unknown stranger.

I can vividly remember our first proper conversation that followed after a heavy awkward silence, which was thankfully initiated by him.

"Are you new here? I mean I had never seen you before." Resting his elbows on the table he began hesitantly, occupying a seat opposite to me on a round table, while Aahana sat in the space between us.

"Oh yes, In fact, I came for Interview and just got my joining letter. Seems like I'll be working here from tomorrow."

"Great! Congratulations! Which department?"

"Marketing. 1st floor. Are you working in the same department?" I don't even know why I was sharing so many details with him and more than that, what amused me was my own prying on more of his details.

"Ah, no! I.. I'm.. Production.. I'm in the Production department, 3rd floor."

He seemed a bit reluctant in sharing his work details, which came to me as a realisation that I might be overstepping the boundaries so I kept myself occupied with the packed lunch box I was carrying, while Aahana was happily hogging on her favourite cupcake, oblivious to the tension in the surrounding.

"Neil Khanna here," he introduced himself after some time.

"Avni.. Avni Pareikh."

"Glad to meet you, Mrs Pareikh. You can directly tell me if you face any problem here."

"Uh-uh. A little correction, Miss Pareikh."

I expected him to frown in confusion considering the complicated history of my life and so my name, which I was just not ready to share with him, but to my extreme surprise, I found him oozing out his tension and relaxing with a hint of a smile on his lips. He left me confused, instead.

I would have scrutinized more of his misfitted expressions had it not been for Neela Maa's call who was anxious about my interview and was praying for it from miles away, sitting in another city.

Standing few feet away, with my phone tucked under my ears, I can't help but occasionally glance back at the lunch table that has occupied the most gorgeous reason for my new found restlessness. While NeelaMaa was dancing in the happiness of my new job, I contemplated on telling her about Neil.

When my gaze flew back again in the same direction, I found Neil leaning sideways to let his ears reach Aahana's face that met him midways in the space between their chairs. They share some conspiratory glances with some sly smiles, looking towards the dessert counter where they met sometimes ago, and soon burst out laughing in unison.

Both of their heads - covered with similar-looking, naturally-highlighted lustrous brown curls with only difference in their lengths - bounced up and down under the wave of hilarity as their shoulders shake from side to side. I won't be surprised if I found Aahana plotting to grab the whole dessert section.

Something transpired between the grinning duo and they fist-bumped in a friendly manner before Aahana began talking animatedly. My heart melted to a state of liquid as my eyes pooled with few tears of happiness.

I had never seen my doll so happy and at ease with any new unknown person before. This has to be the first time. Neela Maa's words remained a haze in my memory as the interesting scene captured my full attention.

After hastily finishing the call, as I joined them, I noticed the distinct change in their demeanour as they both sobered up shifting in their chairs, adopting more or less similar posture. I eyed my daughter suspiciously only to get her toothy animated grin, while Neil kept sipping his coffee casually.

"Mumma, any message for me from GrandMa?" Aahana asked with her natural enthusiasm.

"She said she will talk to you tomorrow to wish you for your first day at Day-care. Shall we leave now?"

"Yessss Mumma. Bye Mr Handsome"

"Byee Princess.
See you around, Miss Pareikh."

"Byee, Mr Khanna."

I'd be lying if I say I wasn't surprised with the pleasantries my otherwise reticent daughter shared with him in the very first meeting. They went along with each other very well. Probably, my daughter beat me up in making her first friend in this new city.

Giving up on the umpteenth attempt to freed myself with his plaguing thoughts, I sat up and start filling the next fresh page of my diary, as the only way of finding solace.

Dear Diary,

The first proper day of my forthcoming self-depended life went eventful in more than one way.

Just when I was convinced that my substandard ordinary life can't bemuses me any further, It made me stand in front of a man who was capable of leaving a strong imprint on my heart, stirring my emotions in more possible ways than I can ever explain.

Having faced the brunt of a meaningless and loveless marriage of almost a year, the incessant fluttering of my heart by a mere glimpse of a man was not even the last thing I was seeking now.

But when has this heart learnt to listen, it had only fluttered and fluttered hard every time his eyes met mine.

'Neil Khanna' the name has become a permanent occupant in my thoughts, and to say the least, I was looking forward to all my tomorrow's with a little hope dancing in my eyes.

Is this how fate wants my life's second inning to proceed?

Is this how a cheerful Spring looks like after a harsh winter?

Is this the beginning of my heart's Awaited Spring?

~Avni

______________________________________

So, how do you find it? Good, bad, very bad?

As you can see both AvNeil are already attracted to each other but is this love yet? No! It will take time to develop a deep connection to be termed as LOVE. So, what do u think is Next? 😉😉

Don't forget to drop down ur thoughts on this one.!