I really miss what we almost had

Tina: By the way, where were you last night? When I came to meet you, Shweta Aunty told me that you had texted saying you would be spending the night at a friend's place.
Do I know him? I mean I don't want to sound like those intrusive girlfriends who always keep track on their boyfriends. Just asking. She gave a reluctant smile while fiddling with her bracelet.

Neil took a little long glance over Tina before replying to her.

Neil: I was with Avni. His expression was dead serious

Tina gave Neil a quick glance before rolling her eyes. "And doing what? cheating on me with my bestie?" she snorted a laugh shaking her head. Neil stared at her for few seconds then looked away. He heaved a breath his jaw clenched.

The door burst open, causing Shweta to come to a halt as she found Neil and Tina sitting on the bed.

Shweta: Tina. Glad you came here; time is running out. We need to leave right now so that Neil Sherwani and both of your ring selections can be completed on time. So, let's get moving. You two can talk for as long as you wish in the car. Puri zindagi milen gi baath karne ki.

Tina: Is Neela Ma ready? She asked getting up.

Shweta: Haan. She's waiting outside Chalo. She said this while taking Tina with her.

Neil grabbed his phone and car keys; he had no idea that Tina would be joining them until Shweta mentioned.

"Of course she will come, after all the ring selection must be done by you both," his inner self replied.

Neil: As the engagement date is approaching, I feel more suffocated. He spoke to himself.

"Neil hurry up" shweta said loudly from downstairs.

Without wasting anytime Neil headed down.

When he arrived outside, he found Neela standing with Tina and Shweta. He took Neela's blessings, with a warm smile.

Neela: Let's leave now. Tina. Beta, you go with Neil, and I and Shweta will arrive in another automobile. Tina grinned as Neela said this, while Neil felt uneasy.

Neil: We can all go in the same car if there are four of us, he replied casually, hoping to see a familiar figure join them; but there was no sign of her.

Shweta: Well, we thought we'd give you two some privacy, so hop in the car and we'll see you in the mall, at which she and Neela chuckled and walked to the car behind them, where the driver was already waiting.

Tina: Let's go, Mr America. She replied with a wide smile.

Neil took a long, deep breath and opened the passenger door for Tina.

Tina: Thank you, Mr America; you are such a gentleman. She remarked with a wide smile, and Neil offered a slight nod with a tight smile plastered across his lips.

He closed the door, walked to his side, and entered. He started the engine and drove out of the gate, followed by the car behind him.

Tina: Neil, you know how much I am looking forward to our engagement...I can't believe we will be engaged tomorrow. There will be so much to do, but the first thing I'd like to do is capture our first moment together when we make each other wear the ring.
We will...But she was unable to continue as her phone began to ring. Giving Neil a sorry look, as she answered it, he felt some relief pass over him.

*

Avni sat in her room, her laptop open with a blank page on the screen, papers tossed on the table as she gazed at it.

It took Avni a while to persuade Neela and Tina to let her stay at home to finish some office work because she had a day off. As they wanted her to join them for the ring selection

"How long will you continue to avoid him?" her inner self replied.

Avni: I am not avoiding anyone, okay. She snapped to a quiet room.

"Yeah, yeah that is why you avoided going to the mall so you don't have to face Neil."

Avni: Stop. Just stop. She spoke loudly, pushing her hair back and resting her forehead on the table.

Looking up, she sighed deeply as she walked towards the window, allowing the breeze to pass through her hair.

Even deep inside, she knew it was true. She couldn't agree to go to the mall with them after whatever happened, especially after yesterday.
Thinking about the kiss caused goosebumps to appear on her arms, which she slowly rubbed away. How could she approach him like that?
Especially the way she behaved with him in the car. She remembered Advay messaging her earlier about Neil leaving his place and Neela coming to inform her about the ring selections.
As much as she enjoyed his attention, she knew she had no rights because it would make things more awkward. His feelings for Tina and her were clear, and she couldn't back away.

Avni: I know I can't avoid you forever. But for as long as I can, I'll choose to avoid you, hoping that your affections for me will fade.

*

Shweta had given Neil sherwani in the mall in order for him to get an appropriate fit. While this was going on, they decided to get the rings by measuring each other's sizes.

Tina smiled as she admired the rings. She turned to gaze at Neil, who was looking at rings.
Her mind wandered back to when Neil stated he was with Avni. At first, she made a face, but a faint smile developed after a few seconds of thinking about his move.

Tina: Neil, na. He believed he could trick me by pretending he was with Avni only to make me jealous, and now he's picking out a ring for me for our engagement. Neil, you are so sweet. She thought to herself, chuckling faintly.

Neela: Tina. Come on, Beta, choose a gorgeous ring for Neil. Make sure it's one of the greatest.

Tina: Don't worry I will know I would choose the best. But I think Avni would have made things easier if she had been present.

Neela: You have the same choice, though. It is up to you to make a decision on this.

Meanwhile shweta was helping Neil choose the ring.

Shweta: Come on tillu. At least choose one.

Rubbing his forehead Neil answered with little irritation "Mom, I don't know."

Shweta: Neil. We have come for your and Tina's engagement ring. Show some interest, at the very least. Choose the ring you believe will best suit your love. Sweta whispered reprimanding.

Neil's stance straightened when Shweta mentioned 'Love'. Avni's face appeared before him. His gaze wandered around the displays in front of him until they landed on a lovely ring. His fingers delicately took it out and his lips curved a smile which Sweta noticed and she instantly know it is it.

Shweta: See. That wasn't hard, she replied, smiling as she grabbed Neil's ring and handed it to a staff to pack.

Neil's smile faded as he out came from that brief moment. His smile faded as he shifted his gaze. He swallowed a large lump as his throat grew heavy.

Tina, how much is this ring? She asked the staff members.

Neela: Do you like it?

Tina: Haan. It's beautiful. She murmured, looking at Neela briefly.

Neela: Bhaiya, pack this please.

Tina: But Neela ma...she couldn't continue because Neela interrupted her.

Neela: Tina. You are like my daughter. So don't say anything now. It's my daughter's engagement function shopping, and I'll make sure she gets the best. Tina felt a broad smile on her face. She hugged Neela closely, surprising her for a moment, before Neela reciprocated the hug with a loving smile on her face.

Once they collected the rings, they went back to sherwani store where the owner told Neil to try it on.

Tina: I'm going to wait outside because I want to see Neil's outfit on the engagement day itself. She smiled at Neela and Shweta, giving Neil a wink that made him feel a little uncomfortable.

*

Back at the Metha house, Avni was preparing herself some coffee when her phone rang. Turning the hob low, she picked up her phone off the counter and saw Advay calling.

Avni: Advay? Is everything okay? She asked with a frown.

Advay. Well for now all is good but....he said leaving his sentence hanging.

Avni: Please tell me this is not something to be concerned about. She said with a worried but hopeful expression.

Advay: Well, how about I tell you in person? Then we'll know, you see. He said, forcing a laugh, to which Avni did not respond.

Avni: Advay. She said sternly.

Advay: I'll be by your house in a few minutes. Please meet me outside. He stated.

Avni shut her eyes, took a deep breath. The way Advay spoke She could tell there is something surely happened to concern about.

As Avni stepped out of the main gate, she noticed a car approaching and stopping after a few seconds. Taking a few steps, she approached Advay, who had gotten out of the car.

Advay: Hey. It feels like we've seen each other after a long time. He replied with a nervous smile.

Avni: Advay. What did you do? She said taking small deep breath.

Advay looked at Avni. Taking few steps back he took a long deep breath.

Advay: i told Neil about me being bisexual and also about Leo and me. He said in one go.

Avni glanced at Advay for a few seconds, processing what he had just told her.

Hey guys sorry for the late update by the stiches in my eye made it very sore for even to use my phone properly. Lukily I have been given drops to help lessen the soreness.

Next chapter will surely be updated by tommrow or thursday.

Thanks to those who commented and voted for the previous chapter  we loved reading them