It was the time of morning, the sun was shining in the sky over the Rathore mansion and the curtains of Avni and Aditya’s room were flying because of the soft breeze of the morning. Avni was standing in her room and was blushing hard. She was blushing like that just hearing the mere name of honeymoon what will happen when they will go for it.

Avni was rubbing her palm and was blushing. She heard the knock on the door. Avni’s heartbeat increased to hear the knock because she knew that it is someone else from the family, not Aditya.

Avni’s mind gave her signals why will Aditya knock on the door of his room. It must be someone else.

Avni turned and got a minor shock to see Anjana, Ambika, and Aditya. Aditya was looking at her leaning to the door and it gave a goosebump to Avni because Aditya was giving her a naughty look. Avni turned her face. Aditya chuckled silently.

Anjana and Ambika came into the room and a small box of jewelry was in Ambika’s hand and a large box was in Ambika’s hand. Aditya was standing at the door and looking at them.

Anjana: hmm, you came here without giving any reply.

Avni lowered her gaze in shyness.

Ambika: you didn’t even wait for your gift.

Avni looked at Ambika and noticed the gifts in their hands. Anjana and Ambika smiled and Aditya was looking at them leaning at the door.

Anjana opened the box and Avni saw two bangles. Anjana held the bangles in her hands and smiled to remember something. Avni looked at Anjana.

Anjana: You know, Avni, these are our ancestral bangles. These were given to me by Maa Ji when I came into this home as a daughter-in-law.

Avni smiled and Aditya came to them slowly.

Anjana: and her mother-in-law gave her when she came as a daughter-in-law of this house.

Avni and Aditya looked at Ambika who got lost in her memories and a soft smile was on her face.

Ambika said while making Avni wear the bangles in both hands: and now, I am giving them to you.

Avni felt like a shiver has run through her body. Avni had never thought that she will experience such emotions after her marriage. Aditya and Ambika smiled.

Aditya: Mom, you should have given her these bangles yesterday.

Everyone looked at Aditya.

Anjana: why?

Aditya: these bangles are looking beautiful in her hands.

Avni blushed and others smiled.

Aditya: and the Chauhans also see that her in-laws are treating her like a princess.

Anjana widened her eyes and amazement and Avni also looked at Aditya. Anjana showed her hand to Aditya who smiled.

Anjana: I will beat you if you tease my daughter.

Avni felt overwhelmed to see the loving nature of her in-laws. Aditya smiled. Ambika opened the box and Avni saw a necklace and then she looked at Ambika.

Ambika: when I cooked food the first time after my wedding then my husband’s grandmother gave this necklace to me as a gift and today you have cook food for the first time after your wedding so I am giving you this.

Avni shook her head.

Avni: no, what is the need of all this. This is my home what is a big deal in it if I have cooked food. It is my duty as a daughter-in-law of this house.

Aditya smiled.

Avni: these things are yours. Please, keep them to yourself.

Anjana and Ambika smiled. Anjana held Avni’s shoulder.

Anjana: this is tradition and we can’t run from it. And, sweetheart, these gifts are not gifts. These are the blessings of the elders so don’t say no to them.

Avni looked at Aditya who nodded.

Ambika: leave it, Anjana. This necklace and these bangles are old fashion why Avni will accept them.

Avni was shocked.

Ambika: she must want new and modern jewelry. The mistake is ours, we should not have brought them here.

Avni shook her head and held the jewelry box. Everyone looked at Avni.

Avni: no, Grandma, nothing is like that. This necklace is beautiful. I love old jewelry. There is no comparison between old and new jewelry. Old jewelry is so beautiful and pure. I love them.

Avni looked at Ambika who looked away.

Avni: really. My grandmother had a necklace, I always had my eye on it. I really loved that necklace. And now Grandma gifted me that necklace at our wedding. I love old jewelry.

Ambika: ok, ok, ok. Relax. Calm down. I was kidding.

Avni looked at Ambika innocently. Aditya felt aww and Ambika smiled.

Anjana: aww.

Anjana hugged Avni.

Anjana: My baby.

Aditya smiled and Avni wiped her tears.

Anjana: Maa Ji was just kidding.

Anjana kissed Avni’s hair and broke the hug.

Anjana: Aww, my baby. I have never seen a sensitive girl like you ever.

Avni looked down. Aditya smiled to see Avni.

Ambika: Adi, what are you looking at? Make Avni wear this necklace.

Avni and Aditya were surprised and they looked at each other.

Anjana kept her hand on Aditya’s shoulder and was smiling. Aditya looked at Anjana and smiled.

Ambika: come.

Aditya nodded and Anjana asked Avni to turn. Avni turned and Aditya took the necklace. Avni made her hair to the side and Aditya could see Avni’s back. Aditya gulped and looked away. Aditya looked at Avni and put the necklace on Avni’s neck and Avni turned. Anjana set Avni’s hair and Aditya saw the necklace in Avni’s neck.

Ambika: Adi.

Everyone looked at Ambika.

Ambika: how is she looking?

Aditya looked at Avni who also looked at Aditya and then she lowered her gaze. Aditya smiled.

Aditya: Beautiful.

Anjana and Ambika smiled.

Anjana: indeed.

Everyone smiled and Avni blushed.

Anjana: ok, now we should go. You two enjoy your quality time.

Aditya smiled and Avni didn’t dare to look up. Anjana and Ambika nodded to each other and they went after keeping the boxes on the bed. Aditya and Avni were looking at them and then they looked at each other. Avni instantly avoided eye contact and Aditya sighed to see her.

Avni was about to turn.

Aditya: so what you have thought?

Avni looked at Aditya.

Avni: about what?

Aditya took a step to Avni who looked here and there.

Aditya: about our honeymoon.

Avni felt awkward and her lips started to tremble. Aditya enjoyed Avni’s condition.

Aditya: what you have thought about it?

Avni: I, I, I didn’t have thought about it.

Aditya leaned to Avni and Avni fumed to see him. Their faces were very close to each other.

Aditya: then think about it.

Aditya gave a flying kiss to her and Avni looked down because of awkwardness. Aditya smiled and kissed Avni’s cheek. Avni’s breath stopped and her eyes popped out. Aditya looked at Avni.

Aditya whispered: I love this blushing Avni. My blushing queen.

Avni lowered her gaze.  She was feeling difficulty holding her breath which was uneven now. She was liking Aditya’s close but she was getting nervous at the same time too. Aditya smiled to see Avni and moved away. Aditya turned and went to the bed. Avni looked at him. Aditya sat on the bed and Avni was looking at him. Avni turned and ran to the washroom and Aditya chuckled to see her.

Aditya: oh, God, this girl.

Aditya smiled.

It was daytime, Avni was keeping the jewelry in the box and Aditya entered the room carrying a laptop in his hands. Aditya stopped to see Avni and smiled and then he came to Avni and sat beside her on the bed. Avni smiled to see him and resumed her work.

Aditya: Avni, what are you doing?

Avni smiled.

Avni: the jewelry that Mom and Grandma gave me and others also I am keeping them in the boxes. I didn't get the time to arrange them. Now, I was free so I thought to keep them in the boxes safely.

Aditya smiled. Avni closed the box.

Aditya: now you are done?

Avni: ab.

Avni looked at the boxes.

Avni: yeah, almost. 

Avni asked while looking at Aditya: Why?

Aditya: I want to discuss something important.

Avni noticed the laptop in Aditya’s hand. She had seen that earlier also but she didn’t have any idea that Aditya brought it to her to discuss things.

Avni: ok, just give me two minutes. I keep these boxes in the locker and then I give them to Mama to keep them in the safe.

Aditya smiled.

Aditya: you are really different from other girls. 

Avni frowned.

Avni: how?

Aditya: mostly girls refuse to give their jewelry to their mother-in-law because they think that their mother-in-law will steal their jewelry but you are going to give your jewelry to your mother-in-law.

Avni smiled.

Avni: people have made a misconception about the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. It is about our thinking. If both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law accept each other then they can live like mother and daughter but unfortunately, they don't do this.

Aditya: but you did this.

Avni: My mother-in-law is so sweet and caring that I didn't find any need to do anything. She made everything easy for me.

Aditya smiled and he remembered the work for he came.

Aditya: oh I forgot about the work for I came here. Avni, keep them in the locker quickly, I have some work with you.

Avni smiled and nodded. Avni took the jewelry boxes and went to the closet and then she came back and sat on the bed. 

Avni: hmm.

Avni set her saree.

Avni: Now say what you want to say.

Aditya got excited.

Aditya: Avni, which is your favorite destination?

Avni: destination?

Aditya nodded.

Aditya: some place where want to go and love to go.

Avni smiled.

Avni: I like Hill Stations.

Aditya repeated: Hill stations.

Avni nodded.

Avni: yes, but why you are asking?

Aditya: hmm.

Aditya looked at Avni.

Aditya: for our honeymoon.

Avni was stunned and felt awkward.

Aditya: Avni, see I know that you need time but we can go to visit the places and there we will get the time to know each other. 

Avni thought.

Aditya: We need some alone time. Some quality time. After some days we will get busy with our office work then we will not get this chance. Right now we have the chance so we should avail it.

Avni thought and nodded.

Avni: You are right, Aditya.

Aditya nodded.

Aditya: Yes. ok then now tell me where you want to go.

Avni smiled.

Avni: where you take me.

Aditya: if I have the choice then I would like to take you to Goa.

Avni was surprised.

Aditya: where you, me, beaches and ro…

Aditya winked and Avni widened her eyes. Avni looked down and felt shy. Aditya smiled.

Aditya pulled Avni’s cheek: Oh God, I just love these blushing cheeks.

Avni was melting in shyness.

Aditya: so, say, will you come with me to Goa for our honeymoon?

Avni didn’t dare to look up.

Aditya: By the way, the hill station is also a good choice. In the cold weather of the hill station, we both will be close to each other and...

Aditya leaned toward Avni who was red like a tomato.

Aditya: We will get cozy with each other in the cold weather of Hill Station.

Aditya looked at Avni’s hand and held it. Avni looked at the hands and then she looked at Aditya.

Aditya said while looking at the hand: And maybe, we…

Aditya looked at Avni who was looking at him. Avni didn’t understand what Aditya means. Aditya caressed Avni’s hand with his thumb. Avni felt a shiver in her body.

Aditya: become one.

Avni felt shy. Aditya looked at Avni lovingly. They heard the knock on the door. Avni looked up and Aditya turned his face. They were surprised to see Gaurav with Anjana.

Aditya: Mom, Dad, you? Please, come inside.

Anjana and Gaurav smiled and they looked at each other. They came inside. Avni and Aditya got up and Avni and Aditya moved and Avni came to stand with Aditya.

Aditya: Dad, did you have some work? You should have called me.

Avni looked at Aditya. Anjana looked at Gaurav and smiled.

Avni: Mom, Dad, why you are standing please sit.

Aditya: yes, sit.

Gaurav: no, my children, it’s ok. We are ok.

Gaurav sighed.

Gaurav: we came to give you this.

An envelope was in Gaurav’s hand and he passed it to Aditya who was confused. Aditya took the envelope and turned it.

Aditya: what is this?

Anjana: see it yourself.

Avni and Aditya looked at Anjana and then they looked at each other. They looked at the envelope and Aditya opened it. They were surprised to see the tickets.

Aditya: tickets to the Maldives?

Anjana: yes, a honeymoon trip.

Aditya was surprised and Avni felt shy. Aditya smiled and looked at Avni who was looking down. Aditya sighed.

Gaurav sighed.

Gaurav: the time that you two have spent with each other, that was snatched from you because of me.

Aditya made a face and Avni shook her head.

Gaurav: so, this is a small gesture of apology from me.

Aditya: what, Dad…

Aditya hugged his father. Avni and Anjana smiled.

Aditya: nothing is like that, Dad. Why are you thinking like that?

Gaurav smiled.

Gaurav: Go and enjoy your quality time.

They broke the hug.

Anjana: it is a one-week package. Is it enough for you two or you want more time?

This time Aditya and Avni, both felt shy.

Anjana and Gaurav smiled. Aditya remembered something.

Aditya: ab, Dad, actually, Avni (Avni looked at Aditya) likes Hi...

Avni got surprised. She held Aditya’s sleeves in a way that Anjana and Gaurav doesn’t notice it. Aditya looked at his sleeves and then he looked at Avni who shook her head slightly. Aditya was surprised and confused. Avni smiled and looked at Anjana and Gaurav.

Avni: thank you, Mom, Dad. Thank you for this surprise.

They smiled and Gaurav kept his hand on Avni’s head. Aditya looked at them.

Gaurav: anything for my children.

They smiled.

Gaurav: and if this Adi troubles you there, just make a call to me, I will see him. ok?

Avni smiled and Aditya made a face and then he smiled to see his family smiling.

Gaurav looked at Anjana and signed her let’s go.

Gaurav: let’s go.

Anjana nodded and they went. Aditya and Avni looked at each other.

Aditya: Avni, why you didn't let me talk to Dad?

Avni: Aditya, are you mad? How lovingly they have planned this for us and you were going to refuse it.

Aditya: these are tickets to Maldives and you love hill stations.

Avni: so what? We have a whole life to visit the place. We can go to Hill station some other time. This time, we go to the Maldives. And you love beaches and I also like beaches. So, it will be a good trip.

Aditya smiled.

Aditya: ok, we will go to Maldives. OK?

Avni smiled and said, ok. They smiled.