It was the time of the night, the moon was shining over the Rathore mansion and it peeped into Aditya’s room from the window. Avni and Aditya were standing in the room at a good distance. Avni was feeling awkward. Aditya was looking at Avni.

Aditya: come, sit.

Avni nodded by looking down. Avni and Aditya went to the couch and they sat there. Both were silent and were looking here and there. Aditya looked at Avni and then he looked here and there. Avni also did the same.

Aditya in mind: Adi, why are you sitting silently? Say something, talk to her. you asked her to stay so easily now talk to her.

Avni in mind: If he didn't have to talk, why did he stop me? Avni, this is the right chance to give the letter to Aditya.

Avni was about to say something but Aditya talked first.

Aditya: How do you like our house?

It was a sudden question for Avni. Avni got disappointed but she smiled.

Avni: it’s nice, actually, beautiful.

Aditya smiled.

Aditya: and room?

Avni looked at the room. Aditya looked at the room and then he looked at Avni.

Avni said while looking at the room: the room is also nice.

Aditya: if you need any changes then tell me. I will renovate the door as per your wish.

Avni smiled.

Avni: no, your room is very nice. There is no need for any change.

Aditya smiled.

Aditya: ok. By the way, you are unique. All my married friends say that after marriage their room has been completely changed. Everything from paint to curtains.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Their wives must have done that. But in this room, from the paint to the curtains, everything is perfect. Your choice is very good.

Aditya said while looking at Avni: that’s true.

Aditya smiled. Avni looked at Aditya and she blushed. Avni smiled by looking down and Aditya enjoyed her blush. Avni remembered something.

Avni: can I ask you a question, please?

Aditya nodded yes.

Aditya: yes, ask.

Avni: when you don’t like Kheer then why did you eat it?  

Aditya smiled and he lowered his gaze. Aditya sighed and looked at Avni. Aditya smiled and nodded.

Aditya: you said right, I didn’t like Kheer. Didn’t… past tense. But now, I like it. In fact, love it. Actually, I didn’t want to hurt you by refusing it. And if I would have refused to eat it then what would be my image in your eyes. I want to be a hero in your eyes, not zero.

Avni looked at Aditya surprisingly. Avni smiled.

Aditya: but when I had it then honestly I really liked that. It was delicious. I want to eat more.

Avni smiled.

Aditya: really. If you don’t trust me then ask Arjun.

Avni: no need to ask him. I trust you but do you trust me?

Aditya frowned. Avni was looking at Aditya who smiled.

Aditya: I trust you blindly.

Avni was astonished to hear that.

Aditya: I am not only saying it. I mean it.

Avni was just staring at Aditya who smiled. Avni thought to give him a letter. Avni looked at her side and noticed that she left her bag in the living area.

Avni closed her eyes and she said in her mind: oh no.

Avni got disappointed and she looked upset.

Avni in mind: the letter is in my bag and I left my bag in the living area. This was the best chance but, Avni, you missed it.

Aditya saw Avni is lost. Aditya frowned.

Aditya: what happened, Avni, you are looking tense. Is everything alright? Do you want to say something to me?

Avni looked at Aditya who was looking at her.

Avni: ab, aa, n, no, I remembered something about today’s meeting. I forgot to discuss one thing but it’s ok, I will talk to my team tomorrow.

Aditya made a face and then he sighed.

Aditya: Avni, you scared me. You have become this much worried about such a small thing?

Avni smiled. Aditya shook his head while smiling.

Aditya: by the way, whenever, you want to say something to me; just say that without any hesitation. You can say anything to me.

Avni smiled and then she thinks. Aditya again found her lost.

Aditya: Avniii…

Avni looked at Aditya.

Aditya: just relax. Don’t think too much about today’s meeting. Everything will be alright.

Avni smiled.

Avni: aa, ab, can we go downstairs?

Aditya smiled.

Aditya: ok.

They smiled. Both got up and went to the living area. Both families were sitting in the living area and they smiled to see Avni and Aditya together.

Ambika: array, Adi, your important phone call has ended.

Avni and Aditya looked down and smiled because they felt shy.

Adi: Yes, Grandma, it ended.

Ambika: good. By the way, the person with whom you have important work, will not have to make important phone calls from next month.

Aditya and Avni frowned.

Aditya: means?

Ambika: means, we have fixed your marriage date. Your marriage is next month.

Aditya was surprised and Avni was shocked. Avni felt like Ambika has pulled the ground from under her feet. Aditya got happy and excited but when he saw Avni’s pale face, his smile faded.

Aditya thinks and he thought to talk to Avni. Aditya talked slowly to Avni and they were standing at some distance from the family.

Aditya: Avni, what happened? Are you not happy with this decision? Don't you want to get married now?

Avni was looking at Aditya.

Aditya: If you don’t want to get married now then it’s ok, we can postpone this wedding. Don’t worry, I will not take your name. I will take it upon myself.  

Avni shook her head looking down.

Avni: no, Aditya, nothing is like that. Actually, suddenly, I heard about the wedding news so I got surprised. Nothing else is there.

Aditya was looking at him and Avni tried to convince him.

Avni: really. I am saying true. Ab, we came to meet Grandma but here they decided our wedding date so, it was shocking for me.

Aditya: Are you sure?

Avni: yeah, I am ok with it.

Aditya: we can postpone the date.

Avni shook her head and smiled of course a fake one.

Avni: no, I am ok with it.

Aditya: ok. Actually, you are right, this news is actually shocking.

Avni smiled and Aditya smiled to see her. Avni thinks.

Arjun: you know, Bhai, the functions will start one week before the wedding.

Aditya smiled and he looked at Avni who was lost. Aditya thinks.

Aditya looked at the family and he smiled.

Aditya: come, Avni.

Avni came out of her thoughts.

Avni: hmm?

Aditya: I said come.

Avni nodded and Aditya frowned. Avni smiled and Aditya smiled to see Avni. They moved the family.

Aditya said while coming: by the way, you guys suddenly took this decision?

The Chauhan family’s smile faded. They looked at each other.

Ambika: why? Don’t you want it now?

Aditya: no, nothing is like that. I am just asking.

Everyone smiled.

Ambika: Ab, we thought that now you are much busy with your important call so, we thought to bring that important person to our home as soon as possible.

Avni looked down because she felt that she is betraying Aditya and Aditya blushed. Aditya looked at Avni and he felt that Avni is not happy. Aditya thinks.

Ambika: Anjana, feed them sweets.

Anjana smiled and nodded. Everyone fed them sweets and they took blessings from them. Arjun fed the whole piece to Aditya and everyone smiled.

Later, Avni was sitting on the bed in her room and she was worried. Avni was finding the letter in her bag but it was missing. Avni kept her hair behind her ear.

Avni: Where did it go? I kept that in it.

Avni tried to find it and she took out all the things on the bed and again checked but no use. Avni caught her head.

Person: what are you finding?

Avni looked up.

Person: are you finding it?

Avni turned her face and she was shocked to see her grandmother and to her another shock, the letter was in her grandmother’s hand. Avni got up and her grandmother came to her. Indravati opened the letter and showed it to Avni who was shocked.

Indravati: what is this, Avni?

Avni looked down.

Indravati: I am asking you something.

Avni: Grandma, woh…

Indravati: what, woh? Hmm, what, woh? When I prohibited you that you will not tell the truth to them then why you didn’t listen to me? Why did you do that?

Avni looked at Indravati.

Avni: Grandma, Aditya is a nice guy. He will understand me and my past.

Indravati looked away.

Avni: Grandma, We are going to tie in a knot of marriage and this relationship is based on love and trust. Then how can I lie to him? He has the complete right to know about my past.

Indravati: Avni, listen to me carefully you will not tell about your past to anyone, not even to Aditya. Past is passed so forget it and live in the present and think about your future.

Avni was about to say but Indravati stopped her showing her hand.

Indravati: I don’t want to hear anything. I told you so, it’s final. Now you have to obey me.

Avni was looking at Indravati who tore the letter and Avni was shocked. Avni looked at Indravati who was looking at her. Indravati turned and goes. Indravati took the pieces of paper with her. Avni was looking at her with tearful eyes.

On the other side, Aditya was sitting on the bed in his room and he was lost in deep thought. Aditya was disturbed because of Avni’s behavior and he was thinking about what is bothering Avni. Arjun came to him. Arjun sat on the bed and Aditya saw him and then Aditya looked down.

Arjun: Bhai, what are you thinking?

Aditya: Arjun, don’t you think that Avni is worried about something. something, something is disturbing her. Today, when the date of our wedding got fixed, the color of her face flew away. Her smile just vanished.

Arjun nodded.

Arjun: yes, Bhai, you are saying right. I also noticed that.

Aditya looked down.

Arjun: maybe, the date of the wedding got fixed suddenly. I mean, they just came to meet us and Grandma fixes the wedding date. We also didn’t know about it.

Aditya nodded and he held his lips.

Aditya: don’t know why I feel that Avni wants to say something but she is not able to say that.

Arjun: if it is the thing then talk to her. Simple.

Adi: Man, I tried to talk to her but she said that the wedding date has been fixed suddenly so she is surprised.

Arjun: hmm, it can be possible. And, Bhai, don’t you think that everything is happening so fast. I mean, it's been a few days since the engagement, and the talks of the wedding have started, anyone will be shocked.

Aditya: Your point is valid. I hope everything is as you are saying.

They smiled.

On the other side, Avni was sitting on the bed and she was lost in her thoughts. She was upset because her grandma had torn the letter but Avni was more upset by thinking that she hurt Aditya today.

Avni: Today, Aditya must have felt bad. He was so happy when the date of our marriage got fixed but I ruined everything. What he was thinking about me... I don’t have any problem. I am happy that Aditya has come into my life but I want to tell him the truth. I don’t want to start our relationship with a lie. I can’t cheat him. It is a betrayal. Hiding about your past from your life partner is a betrayal to him.

Avni thinks and her phone rings. Avni looked at the phone and she was just looking at it.