" Avni iss baar koi bahana nehi chalega taiyar ho jao wo log bas aate hi honge " Neela said to her stubborn daughter, who was least interested what she was saying.

" Mom please not again. I already told you thousand of times I'm not ready for marriage. " Neela sighed. She sat in front of Avni and held her hands.

" Beta hum tumhari jabardasti shadi nehi karwa rehe hain bas ek baar ladke se mil toh lo agar pasand nehi aaya toh mana kar dena " Avni thought for a moment and said okay. She already decided she will say no.  Neela was happy that finally Avni agreed.

" Wear this saree "  Neela handed Avni a saree and Avni stare at that saree like she never seen it before.

" I aur saree " Avni said in disbelief.

" Han tum aaj yehi pehenogi "

***

  Ashish and Neela welcome the guests. They all seated and starts a normal chat.

Ashish - toh Neil tum Hindi ke professor ho

Neil nodded adjusting his specs. He is very shy and introvert. He only speaks in pure Hindi.

Ashish - yeh toh bahut achhi baat hai warna aaj kal ke bachche toh.... ( He stopped thinking about his daughter and sighed )

Sweta - Avni kahan hai bulayena use

Neela - ji

   Neela came to Avni's room to bring her down but she gasped when she saw Avni.

Neela - yeh kya kar rehi ho Avni abhi tak taiyar kyun nehi hui

   Avni was only in her blouse and petticoat and the Saree was laying on floor.

Avni - mom, you know I don't know how to wear a saree but still I tried. It's too long. Can we cut it to half ?

Neela sighed.

Neela - come I will help you

    Neela took the saree from the floor and helped her to wearing it. She looked at her daughter from head to toe and smiled.

Neela - you are looking beautiful

Avni - really ?

Neela nodded and kissed on her forehead.

Avni - but it's not comfortable mom. I'm wouldn't be able to walk properly with this saree.

Neela - you can do it, Avni and take small steps, okay ?

Avni - okay ( sighed )

***

With a lot of struggle Avni manage to walk in the saree and came to the leaving room. Neil wasn't looking at her because of his shyness. His gaze was on his shoes.

Sweta - beta aao mere pass betho

Avni looked at her mother questionably. Neela signaled her to do what Sweta said. Avni smiled forcefully at Sweta and sat beside her. She had not notice Neil yet.

   After about 10 minutes she started getting bored. She wasn't interested in elders talk. She frowned and started looking hear and there. Then her eyes fell on Neil. He was wearing a formal full sleeve shirt, which was tugged inside his pant. He had button up all his shift's button. His hair was sticky and he was wearing a specs of thick glass.

Avni in mind - this type of creature still do exists in this century. Look at his dressing style. He need a major makeover. There is no way I'll marry him.

Sweta - Neil aur Avni apas thoda baat karle aur ek dusre ko samajhle toh thik hoga

Neela - Han kyun nehi...Avni beta Neil ko garden main leke jao

   Avni opened her mouth to say something but Neela glared at her making her stop. She stood up and started walking towards the garden and Neil was following her like a puppy.

***

  It's been 15 minutes Avneil were in garden but no one said a single word. They were just standing there like statues and looked at opposite side. Neil wanted to talk to her but didn't know how to start a conversation. He never had a girlfriend nor took someone on date. He never interested in all that.

Avni cleared her throat and thought to broke the silence.

Avni - what do you do ?

Neil - ji hum Hindi ke adhyapak hain

Avni -  kya tum college main bhi ase hi jate ho aur hamesha ase hi baat karte ho

Neil - ji. Hume hamare bastron main abang ise paridhan karne ke sheili main koi truti anubodh nehi hoti.

Avni - what ? Sidhe sidhe Hindi main bolo

Neil - humne aapko Hindi main hi uttar diya tha hum shadev shuddh Hindi main hi bartalab karte hain.

Avni - simple Hindi main bolo jese mujhe samajh main aaye

Neil - hamara kehne ka tatparya yeh tha ki hume ase hi rehna pasand hai... hum paschyat sanskriti main ruchi nehi nehi rakhte...

Avni - okay...... it's your choice par agar tum apne aap ko badloge nehi neyi soch ko apnaoge nehi toh aage kese padhoge zamane ke sath

Neil - hume vartaman  ki soch abang chintadhara se kisi bhi prakar ki apatti nehi hai...har byakti ko neyi soch ko gharan karna chahiye parantu hume hamare sanskriti ko bhi bhulna nehi chahiye.....

    Their conversation go on for a long time. Avni was asking him questions continuously. She was really surprised by his answers. He was very shy and simple person but not a narrow minded. He accepts the new generation thoughts but with our culture. He respects women. He believes in gender equality. He changed Avni's point of view towards him after their conversation. Avni was really impressed by his thoughts.

After 6 month

~ Avni's pov ~

    It's been 6 month of our first meet and a lot of things has changed. Neil completely changed my point of view. Before I always gave important to look but not anymore. Character is  more important than anything. Now I know the value of our culture and ethics.

    After knowing him I said yes and after one month we got engaged. Yes he is my fiance now and after one week he will my husband.

" Avni ji " I came out my thoughts and looked at Neil. We are in a park as Neil wanted to discuss something with me. He is changed too and of course I  am the reason ( giggled ). He don't use that same specs anymore. I changed his specs's frame into a new stylist one. I changed his hair style too. But he still dress up in the same way he used to and I don't have any problem with it. I love the way he is.

" Hmm "

" Wo.. hamari maa ne aapse aapki rai janne ke liye kaha hai " he said while looking down. His cheeks  were heated up. He was blushing. What made him blush all of sudden ?

" Kis bare main "

" Wo...wo...wo..." He was nervous.

" Bolo "

" Wo....madhuchandra ke bishye main " he wasn't looking at me and was blushing like a new bride.

" Madhu...kya " I have learnt a lot of heavy Hindi words but every time he surprised me with a new word.

" Madhuchandra "

" Wait let me Google it " I don't think even Google knows this much Hindi.

" Honeymoon " He said before could Google it.

    Did he really said ' honeymoon ' ? No, that can't be possible. He never dare to touch my hand. It's me who took the first step and hugged him. It was worth to see his reaction when I hugged him first time. Everytime I initiated the first step. We still haven't our first kiss yet. I only kissed on his cheek but he have not kiss me yet ( frowned ).

" Maa ne kaha sirf isiliye honeymoon main jana chahate ho " I asked folding my arms over my chest.

" Nehi...wo...wo..hum.." I frowned and turned to other side.

" Avni ji...." I didn't turned. I also have some expectations from him.

   I felt his hands on my shoulder turning me around. I didn't look at him.

" Avni ji aap toh hume janti hain..... Humare liye yeh sab bahut hi neya hai...par iska tatparya yeh nehi hai ki hume madhuchandra  main koi ruchi nehi hai...hum bhi aapke sath akanth main samay byatit karna chahate hain " I looked at him. He never express his feelings but his eyes always does. I smiled.

   I removed his hands from my shoulder and placed on my waist. Then I wrapped my hand around his neck.

" So you are interested in our honeymoon " I whispered. He again starting blushing. " Awww...you are too cute " I tip toed and kissed on his cheek.

    When I tried to move back he didn't let me and held me more tightly. I looked at him with confusion. He started leaning towards me. My breath hitched when he was a inch apart from me. I could feel his breathing. He leaned more closer and kissed near my lips. I closed my eyes digging my nails on his shoulder. This was the first time he kiss kiss. The kiss was soft and feathery. I wanted to feel his lips on mine. But at least he kissed me. Have patience Avni, far way to go.

______________________________________

How it was ?

I'll update the next part on next Sunday.

Next update - Ashiana

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♥️
SR