It was the time of day, the cars were floating on the roads. Avni and Neil entered the jewelry shop where all the staff was busy with the customer. Neil and Avni looked around and they turned. Neil was looking for the owner of the shop because Shweta talked to him. Neil looked at Avni and then he thought.

Neil whispered to Avni while looking at the people: ab, yahan koi drama shuru mat kar dena. Jo ring pasand aye le lena, yeh humare family jeweler hain so, please yahan bargaining kare mat beth jana aur waise bhi larki ki ring larke wale lete hain aur lake ki larki wale. So, chup chap ring select karna bina paison ke bare main soche.

Avni: then I have to pay for your ring?

Neil: oh please, I will buy my own ring. You don't need to worry about it. I am the Neil Khanna, meri har cheeze main ek class hoti hai.

Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil: So, I will choose my ring which will be elegant and classic. Understood.

Avni: but, you will remove it after a few hours of our fake engagement then what's the need for that?

Neil didn't like the word fake engagement. He got hurt and angry too.

Neil: main ring few hours ke liye pehnu ya one hour ke liye yah phir usi time remove kar dun us se tumhe fark nahi parna chahiye.

Neil looked away and said: that is none of your concern.

Avni remained silent. Neil saw the man and he got relief. Neil turned to Avni.

Neil: come.

Neil moved and Avni saw that. Avni went behind Neil. Neil and Avni went to the man.

Neil: Uncle.

The man looked at Neil and smiled.

Man: Neiiilll. I was waiting for you.

Neil smiled and he shook hands with him.

Neil: how are you?

Man: I am fine. How are you?

Neil: good. Ab, this is Avni.

Avni greeted him. The man liked Avni and he also greeted her.

Man: Come.

Neil nodded and he signed Avni come. They went to the counter.

Man: Ashok, yeh Mr Prakash Khanna ke bete hain.

Avni looked at the man and something clicked in her mind that to make their own identity, a person has to work hard. Neil is the son of one of the richest businessmen in the country and number one in his city still Neil does not have his own identity. He is still the son of Prakash Khanna.

Ashok nodded and the man kept his hand on Neil's shoulder.

Man: ok?

Neil smiled and shook hands with the men.

Neil: Thank you, uncle.

The man smiled.

Man: take care.

Neil smiled and the man went. Avni was lost in her thoughts.

Avni and Neil were sitting in the jeweler's shop. The jeweler kept the rings on the counter. Neil signed Avni to see. Avni looked at Neil and then she looked at the rings. Neil also looked for a ring for him. Neil tried the ring. Avni picked up a simple ring and she tried it. Neil looked at the ring then he looked at Avni. Neil made a face then he looked away. Neil looked at the rings and Avni looked at him then she looked down. Avni removed her ring and she gave it back to the man. Avni looked out of the shop from the glass. Avni saw what Neil was doing. Neil liked a ring and he asked for Avni's hand. Avni gave her hand to Neil who slid the ring into Avni's hand and both felt a shiver in their body. Avni looked at Neil who also raised his eyes and then his head. They looked into the eyes of each other and got lost in the deep ocean eyes of each other. They forget about their surroundings and drown in the moment. Avni broke the eye contact and she looked down and Neil also came back to the real world when Avni broke the eye contact. They felt embarrassed so, they looked down, here and there. Avni took her hand back and Neil looked at the hands. Avni removed the ring and Neil saw that. Neil felt something in his heart. Avni kept the ring on the counter. Neil cleared his throat and he also removed his ring. Neil looked at the man and gave the ring to the man.

Neil: pack these rings.

The man nodded and he packed the rings. Neil paid for the rings and he took the packet.

Neil: let's go.

Avni nodded and they went.

Avni and Neil got in the car and drove from there.

On the way, Avni was hesitating and she wanted to say something. Avni clenched her bag and Neil saw that then he looked at Avni and after that, Neil concentrated on the road.

Neil: say, what do you want to say?

Avni looked at Neil and she was stunned at how Neil got to know. Avni thought.

Avni: ab, I know that the rings are expensive and I can't pay for my ring but I will get a little bit of relief.

Avni opened the zip of the bag. Avni took out the money from the bag.

Avni: if you take this money.

Neil didn't look at her.

Avni: please.

Neil looked at Avni and then he looked at the money. Neil sighed and stopped the car. Avni got worried and Neil looked at Avni. Neil took the money from Avni. Avni got happy and she smiled.

Avni: Thank you.

Neil was surprised to see Avni smiling and he wondered what she was made of. Neil took out the wallet from his pocket and he kept money in his wallet and again kept the wallet in the pocket. A car stopped outside the home. Neil sighed and looked at Avni who was wearing her bag. Neil took a shopping bag from the back seat and he passed that to Avni.

Avni: thank you and bye.

Avni got down from the car and she went. Neil was looking at her and then he moved his car backward. Avni stopped at the door and she turned. Avni saw Neil's car moving back. Neil went. Avni thought and then she turned and opened the door. Avni entered the home and she saw Dayawanti Mehta was seeing a saree and was happy. Avni saw the table was filled with the gifts. The Khanna family sent the gifts for them. Avni looked at her grandmother and she went to her room.

It was the time of night and Neil was thinking about Avni and some quick flashes of their shopping then he recalled Avni's words.

Flashback:

1. Avni: my self-respect doesn't allow me to put the burden of my expenses on someone else.

2. Avni: centuries, trends, modernism, these all things are for you rich people, not for the middle and lower class people.

3. Avni: you have your own car, bike even bikes, branded shoes, expensive helmets, and whatnot but a middle-class struggler even thinks twice and thrice before travelling in the bus. You will never understand.

4. Neil: but you are not that much poor. You belong to a good family.

5. Avni: hmm, but, kuch logon ke yahan beti hona ek paap hai.

6. Avni: I saved them from my pocket money and have earned them from different ways to buy the books.

7. Avni: you and I, we both know ke tum yeh engagement ka sirf drama kar rahe ho apne guilt ko kam karne ke liye. Ek baar college khatam ho jaye ga to tum yeh engagement bhi tor doge.

8. Avni: if you were serious then you would not asked to hide about our engagement from the people. You don't want to disclose it because you are not serious about it.

9. Avni: but, I am happy, at least, I can complete my studies so, thank you. Thank you for your favor.

Flashback ends.

Neil was thinking.

Neil: favor?

Neil thought.

Neil: is age main bhi Avni kitna maturely shochti hai. Kya sach main halat insan ko waqt ko waqt se pehle hi bara kar dete hain?

Neil thought.

The next day, Avni was sitting in her room in front of the dressing table all ready. Avni saw herself in the mirror and she thought.

Avni's point of view:

Aaj meri engagement hai mujhe khush hona chahiye aur main khush hun lekin is liye nahi kyun ke aaj meri engagement hai balke is liye ke ab main college phir se ja paungi. Han, agar meri life aur girls ki tarha normal hoti to shayad main aaj is engagement ke liye excited hoti lekin meri zindagi ka maqsad shadi nahi balke azadi hai aur woh main le kar rahun gi... aur us ke liye mujhe bohat mehnat karni hai aur ek maqam hasil karna hai... Thank you, Neil, mere raste se kante hatane ke liye. Thank you.

Avni saw herself in the mirror.

The Mehta house was decorated simply and the Khanna family was sitting on the couch. Neil was getting frustrated and was feeling suffocated. Neil held the collar of his shirt and it was irritating him.

Neil: Tch.

Neil turned his face and he was surprised to see there. Neela Maa was bringing Avni who was looking down. Neil was lost to see her but soon, he got his senses and felt embarrassed. Neil thought while his gaze was low.

Neil whispered: Idiot, usay ghor kyun raha tha?

Neil was looking down. Neela Maa made Avni sit with Neil who looked at Avni. Neil lowered his gaze. The Khanna family smiled to see Avni. They started the ritual. Shweta gave gifts to Avni who accepted the gift with a soft smile on her face. Shweta gave her blessings and Neela maa gave gifts to Neil who also passed a smile to her. Everyone gave them blessings. Dayawanti Mehta also acted but everyone knew the truth. Neil looked at her and Avni too. Neil looked at Avni who lowered her eyes and then Neil looked at Dayawanti Mehta and smiled fakely.

The rings were kept on the plate which was decorated with the roses. Neela maa gave the ring to Avni who put it on Neil's finger.

Everyone clapped and then Shweta gave the ring to Neil who asked for Avni's hand and Avni gave her hand to him. Neil held Avni's hand and Avni shivered. Neil looked at Avni because Neil also felt a shiver in her body. Neil put the ring on Avni's finger.

Everyone clapped.

They fed sweets to Avni and Neil and each other. Neil looked at Avni who felt that and she looked at Neil. Avni smiled and Neil also passed a smile then Avni turned her face. Neil also lowered his face and looked around.

Later, Neil was sitting on the bed in his room and was looking at the ring, and in the Mehta house, Avni was sitting on the bed in her room and she was also looking at the ring. They thought and removed the ring. Neil was sitting by holding the ring.

Neil: tera role is story main yahi tak ka tha, ab bus.

Neil smiled.

On the other side, Avni kept the ring in the box and looked at it.

Avni: bohat sambhal kar rakhna parega isay, Avni, kyun k ek din isay is ke asli malik ko lautana hai. Tera koi haq nahi hai is per.

Avni sighed and kept the ring in the cupboard safely.

Avni and Neil rested on the bed and they thought about their life. Avni was excited because she would go to college tomorrow.

It was the morning time, the birds were sitting on the trees and today, the Sun came to shower its love in the winter. Avni was standing in her room and she was very happy. Avni took her bag and wore it. She heard a door bell but she was less interested. Avni kept a diary in her bag and she heard her mother call her.

Nm: Avni, Neil aya hai tujhe college le jane ke liye.

Avni stopped keeping the book in her bag. Avni was shocked.

Avni: Neil?

Avni thought.

Avni: Why Neil has come at this time of the morning?

Avni was confused. She thought.

Avni came to the living area where Neil was sitting with Dayawanti Mehta and Ashish.

DM: lo, Avni bhi agai.

Neil was relieved. Neil got up.

DM: Kitna waqt lagati ho. Neil kab se betha hai.

Neil: koi baat nahi, Dadi Ji.

Avni looked at Neil. Dayawanti Mehta smiled. Neil went to Avni who was looking at him and then Neil took out a phone from his pocket. Avni saw that.

Neil: ab, this is for you.

Avni was surprised. Dayawanti Mehta and Ashish didn't like that.

Neil: you don't have a phone so, I thought of buying you one if I or my family wants to talk to you then we can contact you. Sim is inserted in it and numbers of our family members are also saved in it... Hmm.

Avni looked at her father and grandmother. Neil felt that and then he turned. Dayawanti Mehta and Ashish smiled.

Ashish: le lo, beta, sahi keh raha hai, Neil.

Avni looked down and took the phone.

Avni: Thank you.

Neil smiled. Avni kept the phone in her bag and clenched the stripes. Neil was shocked to see Avni's empty fingers. Neil felt hurt. Avni also noticed Neil's finger but she was not much affected. Neil looked at Avni who was looking down. Neil lowered his gaze and gulped. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: ab, can we move?

Avni nodded.

Avni: Bye, Mamma.

Nm: Bye.

Dayawanti Mehta and Ashish: Bye, beta.

Avni and Neil looked at them and they replied to them then Neil looked at Neela maa and he smiled.

Neil: Bye.

Neela maa smiled and replied to him. Avni and Neil went. They got in the car. Neil started the car and they went.

Avni and Neil were on the way.

Avni: mujhe bus stop ke pass utar dena main bus main aa jaungi.

Neil frowned.

Neil: kyun? Hum dono ko college hi to jana hai to sath chalte hain.

Avni: agar hum sath gaye to sab students is baat ka bohat issue banaenge, bohat uchalen ge aur unhe shak bhi ho sakta hai. Mujhe un ki baton se koi fark nahi parta but tum nahi chahte ke unhe humari fake engagement ke bare main pata chale so...

Neil was shocked to hear the word fake engagement.

Avni: Mujhe bus stop tak drop kar do. Main chali jaugi.

Neil nodded though he didn't want that but he always gets speechless in front of Avni because she always keeps the facts and logic in front of him.

Avni: stop.

Neil; lekin abhi to bus stop bhi nahi aya.

Avni: Wahan koi dekh sakta hai.

Neil looked at her.

Avni: Bye.

Avni got down from the car and she went. Neil was looking at her. Neil thought and again he looked at Avni.

Avni reached college and she was passing by the lawn area. Her classmates were surprised to see her and Avni was feeling awkward because of their gazes. Two girls were giving her a dirty look because they thought now Avni was not coming then they could get the first position but water had been splashed on their dreams. Avni was passing by the corridor.

Person: Avni, Avni.

Avni heard that and she stopped. Avni turned and she saw Sunehri coming by running. Sunehri came to her.

Sunehri: Hi.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Hi.

Sunehri: Good to see you back.

Avni smiled. Neil was passing by there and he turned his face. Neil saw Avni and he stopped.

Avni: Thank you.

Sunehri: Tumhare dad ne tumhe aane ki permission de di?

Avni: Yeah, mere in-laws chahte hain ke main agaye parhun.

Neil smiled.

Sunehri: aray han, tumhari to engagement honi thi na. Ho gai?

Avni looked down and nodded. Neil was looking at Avni, he also lowered his head and then he again looked at Avni.

Sunehri: Usi 40-year-old uncle se?

Avni looked at her and she shook her head.

Sunehri: phir?

Avni and Neil were shocked.

Neil in mind: Kahin Avni isay sach na bata de.

Avni: ek college student se.

Neil was shocked. Sunehri was surprised.

Sunheri: what?

Avni nodded.

Sunehri: Lekin hum ne to suna tha... anyways, naam kya hai us ka? Humare college ka hai.

Avni and Neil were shocked.

Avni: nahi, woh. is city main. nahi parhta. Ju, just engagement ke liye. aya tha.

Neil was relieved.

Sunehri: oh, acha, naam kya hai?

Neil got angry. Avni was shocked.

Neil in mind: yeh chatterbox sawal karna band karegi?

Avni: Na, Naam? Naaam.

Avni thought. Neil was looking at Avni.

Avni: Ne...

Neil was shocked.

Avni: Ne. av...Neav. Neav. Us ka naam Neav hai.

Neil was shocked.

Neil in mind: Neav?

Sunehri: oh. Is main itna sochne wali kya baat thi? Sharma rahi thi kya?

Avni smiled slightly.

Avni: ab class main chalen? Late ho raha hai.

Sunehri: han.

Avni smiled and she turned. Juhi came there and she was shocked to see Avni and got angry.

Juhi: to yeh behan ji phir se aa gai?

Avni and Sunehri looked at her. Neil got angry.

Avni: Chalo, Sunehri.

Avni went with Sunehri and Neil came to Juhi who was shocked to see him angry. Juhi smiled.

Juhi: Hi, handsome.

Neil: Go to hell with your Hi.

Juhi was shocked.

Juhi: Neil?

Neil: listen to me carefully, Juhi, stay away from Avni.

Juhi was shocked.

Neil: alreay, tum us ka bohat nuksan kar chuki ho. Ab aur nahi. Dur raho, us se.

Juhi was shocked.

Neil: Agar is baar maine tumhe Avni ke against plotting karte ya usay pareshan karte dekha to mujhse bura koi nahi hoga. Got it. Bhulna mat is baat ko.

Juhi was shocked and Neil glared at her. Neil was going and Juhi was looking at him.

Neil came to the class and he saw Avni sitting on her seat and she was studying a book. Neil was happy to see her and he shook his head while smiling.

Neil: bookworm.

Neil smiled.

KK: hey, buddy.

Neil smiled to see his friends and he went to them. They met and the professor came. They sat on the seats. Avni was carefully listening to the lecture and was happy. Neil saw her and faced her back. Neil felt a peace in his heart. Soon, the lecture ended and Avni was keeping her books in the bag and Neil went with his friends but not before looking at Avni. Avni also got up and she went to the library and Neil and his friends saw her going to the library.

KK: hum Avni ko follow kyun kar rahe hain?

Neil: Juhi.

Vidyut: Juhi?

Neil nodded and thought.

Neil and friends were sitting in the canteen.

KK: oh.

Neil: yeah, humain Juhi per nazar rakhni paregi. Aur Avni per bhi.

Vidyut: don't worry, hum hain tere sath.

KK: lekin yeh sab kab tak?

Neil: pata nahi.

Vidyut and KK looked at each other and then they looked at Neil. They thought.

Later, Neil was sitting at the window and his friends were standing. Two girls also joined them and they stood near Neil and Neil's leg was touching the leg of the girl. Neil is not a playboy but, Girls finds excuses to come near these three, especially Neil. Avni was passing by them and she stopped to see Neil. Neil was smiling, he turned his face and was surprised to see Avni. Avni looked down and she passed from there. Neil was looking at her. KK called him and he looked at him. Neil smiled.

Avni was not at all affected by that incident. Her life's motive was clear and she wants to work hard for that. Avni came to her class and she sat. Avni started reading the book.

Days passed like this, and Avni and Neil were happy in their life. Both never talked in college and also didn't meet after college. The Khanna family went to meet Avni sometimes. Avni was happy in her life. The Khanna family and Neil gave her space and Juhi was also handled by Neil and the gang. She didn't get any chance to do anything. They prepared for the exams and gave exams. The new semester started and Avni was excited. Everything was going well but then the weather turned its direction.

One day, the students were sitting in the classroom and the lecture was going on. Neil was busy using his phone in the backseat and Avni was sitting on the front seat and she was listening to the lecture with full concentration. The principal came into the classroom and everyone looked at him.

Principle: sorry to disturb you, sir, but a new student has joined our college and he came from another city, XYZ, you all must be aware of our college's branch there.

Everyone was getting bored except Avni. Neil looked at his phone and scrolled it down.

Principle: Sir, I will take your two minutes. Hope, you don't mind.

Sir: of course, not, sir, you continue.

The Principal smiled and he turned to the students.

Principal: Hello, students, how are you?

Students said in a faint voice: Hellooo.

Principal: I will take your two minutes.

Neil whispered: five minutes have passed but his two minutes are not passing.

Vidyut chuckled. Neil shook his head and again he looked at his phone.

Principal: Today, a new classmate is going to join you.

The principal looked at the side.

Principal: where did he go?

The principal looked at the door.

Principal: hey, young man, come in.

A boy came inside. He was tall and of course handsome. His hair was curled and were perfectly suiting his looks. He smiled to see the class. Everyone smiled and whispered to see his hair and some girls found him cute. Neil looked at him and Avni too looked at the boy. Avni was looking at the boy.