It was daytime, the sun was shining over the college’s building where the students were busy with their activities. Some were in the library, some were in the garden, some were in the classroom and some were in the canteen but two people were standing somewhere else and those people were Avni and Neil.

Avni and Neil were standing in an open area. Avni looked around and it was a terrace. Avni was confused and Neil was smiling. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: here. We will study here?

Avni was surprised.

Avni: Here?

Neil: yes.

Avni was looking straight.

Avni: But yahan aana to prohibited hai na.

Neil: hai lekin Neil Khanna ko sab allowed hai.

Neil smiled and Avni was looking at him.

Neil: ab chalo.

Avni looked at the terrace.

Avni: Lekin hum bethen ge kahan?

Neil looked around.

Neil: Aray han yeh to hai.

Neil looked around and they thought. Neil smiled.

Neil: Tum yahan ruko main abhi aya.

Avni: Kahan?

Neil: Do minute ruko to.

Avni was looking at him. Neil turned and went. Neil came back and a mat was in his hands. Avni was surprised. Neil came to Avni and smiled.

Neil: hmm. Hum is per bethen ge.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Yeh kahan se mili?

Neil: Auditorium se.

They smiled.

Neil: come.

Neil went to the wall and opened the mat. Avni smiled and came to him. Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: Tum niche betho ge?

Neil: Han, kyun? Main niche beth nahi sakta kya?

Avni: Nahi, beth sakte ho lekin.

Neil: Lekin kya?

Avni shook her head.

Avni: Kuch nahi. Shuru Karen?

Neil nodded. They removed their shoes and sat on the mat. They opened the book and the notebook.

Neil: Thank God, ab koi class nahi hai. Hum aram se parh sakte hain.

Avni smiled. Avni looked at the book and Neil also looked there. Avni and Neil discussed and Avni cleared Neil’s doubt. Avni was giving a lecture to Neil, she was clearing Neil’s doubts and Neil was looking at the notebook. The wind blew and Avni’s hair flew. Avni’s hair flew on Neil’s face. Neil closed his eyes and then he looked at Avni and got lost in admiring his love. Neil was looking at Avni. Avni looked at Neil and found him lost. Avni called Neil’s name.

Avni: Neil.

No effect.

Avni: Neil. Neil?

Neil came out of his thoughts and looked at Avni.

Avni: Kya howa? smajh aya?

Neil looked down.

Neil in mind: Ab kya kahu ke main to tum main kho gaya tha. Kuch suna hi nahi. Agar yeh kaha ke maine suna hi nahi to yeh lady don to mujhe kacha chaba jaye gi. Bohat strict hai parhai ke mamle main.

Avni frowned to see Neil.

Avni: Neil.

Neil looked at Avni.

Avni: Kya soch rahe ho? Smajh aya?

Neil thought and squeezed his eyes. Neil pinched his eyes.

Neil: ab, han. Thora smajh aya hai. Please ek baar aur repeat karna.

Avni: OK.

Avni repeated the topic. Neil tried the sum and he solved it. Neil smiled.

Neil: itna easy tha yeh? Main to kal se solve kar, kar ke pagal ho gaya tha.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Tum is main minus nahi de rahe the. Is liye nahi ho raha tha?

Neil: Oh.

Avni smiled.

Neil: Thanks, Avni.

Avni: No need. Isi bahane meri bhi revision ho gai.

They smiled.

Avni: Agar kabhi bhi koi bhi cheese smajh naa arahi ho to mujhse puch lena. Tum to ghar bhi aa sakte ho. Hum group study kar sakte hain.

Neil was surprised to hear that Avni invited him to her home. Neil smiled.

Neil: Invite kar rahi ho?

Avni was surprised and she realized what she said. Avni felt awkward.

Neil: Waise yeh bhi sahi hai. Ab mujhe kon mana karega. After all, damad hun un ka.

Avni felt shy and Neil looked at Avni. Neil smiled and enjoyed Avni’s blush.

Some days passed and Avni and Neil worked hard. They study in the college and Neil daily asks for Avni’s help. They daily went to the terrace and studied there. One day, the students were sitting in the classroom where Avni and Neil were also present.

Lecture: So you have to submit your project on the 18th of January in teams and have to give a presentation on it.

Avni and Neil thought and they looked at each other.

Student: Sir, you will make the team or we can choose our team members?

Student 2: How many students will be in one team?

Lecturer: Relax, everyone. I am telling you everything. So only two students will be in one team and the team member… Two students sitting together will be in a team.

Avni and Neil were surprised. They looked at each other. Neil smiled and Avni lowered her gaze. Ali and Juhi were looking at Avni and Neil. Juhi thought.

Lecture: Take this project seriously, its marks will be added to your exam so be serious. OK now come and register your name here so there will be no problem on the day of the presentation.

The students went to the lecturer in team and then Avni and Neil also went. After, Avni and Neil, other students went. Avni and Neil came back to the seat and sat.

Neil: Avni, we have to work hard. We have to win.

Avni nodded.

Avni: We will try our best.

Neil smiled.

Neil: And we will win because we are together.

Avni smiled and Neil smiled to see Avni. Juhi was looking at them.

Juhi in mind: I will not let this Avni win.

Juhi glared at Avni and then she thought.

Avni and Neil were sitting in the classroom alone.

Neil: So, Avni, what do you think? What should we do?

Avni: Neil, our model should be different. It should be unique. I think we should…

Avni talked and Neil also gave his suggestion. They discussed the project and Neil closed the book. They sighed and smiled to see each other.

Some days passed and Avni and Neil made their project. Neil was standing in his room and was talking on the phone.

Neil: To phir presentation ka ab kya Karen?

Avni: Mere pass to laptop yaa computer nahi hai.

Neil: Mere pass to hai na.

Avni: Tum bana lo ge presentation?

Neil: Mushkil hai. Main kabhi banai hi nahi hai.

Avni: To ab?

Neil: tum mere ghar ajao. Yahan sath main mil kar banate hain.

Avni: Khanna Mansion?

Neil: Yeah.

Avni thought.

Neil: Yaa phir main wahan ajaun.

Avni: tum hi ajao.

Neil: Theek hai. To phir panch (5) baje?

Avni: Yeah. Yeah.

Neil: OK. Main panch (5) baje pohanch jaunga.

Avni: OK.

Neil: Bye.

Avni: Bye.

Avni cut the call and thought.

Avni: Maine bol to diya hai Neil ko aane ka lekin Papa aur Dadi?

Avni thought.

It was the time of the evening, the people were busy with your activities. The sun was shining over the Mehta house where Avni was sitting on the bed in her room. Avni looked around and she was looking nervous.

Avni: Neil bethe ga kahan? Bahar living room main dadi parhne nahi denge woh apni baton main lagi rahenge aur is room ka to fan bhi theek se nahi chalta. Neil bethe kahan? Woh to disturb hi hota rahe ga.

Avni thought. Avni was lost in thinking and her phone rang. Avni came out of her thoughts and she looked at the phone. Avni saw Neil’s number and she thought. Avni picked up her room and received the call.

Avni: Hello.

Neil was standing at the main door and a bag was on his shoulder.

Neil: Hello, yeah, Avni. Avni, main bahar main door per khara hun please zara aana.

Avni frowned.

Neil: Mujhe dar hai ke Dadi na ajaen. Bohat dar lagta hai mujhe un se. chorti hi nahi hain.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Dadi door kholne nahi aati. Anyways main aati hun.

Neil: OK. Jaldi aao.

Avni: OK.

Avni cut the call and kept her phone on the bed. Avni got up and she went out. Avni saw her grandmother sitting on the couch. Avni was shocked. Avni thought and she lowered her gaze. Avni passed by there and Dayawanti Mehta saw her.

DM: Kahan jaa rahi hai?

Avni looked at Dayawanti Mehta.

Avni: Woh, bahar, bahar Ne. Neil khara hai.

DM: Neil?

Avni nodded.

DM: Tumhe kaise pata?

Avni: Woh Neil ne call ki thi.

Dayawanti Mehta mimicked Avni: Call ki thi. Aaj kal bare par nikal aye hain tere.

Avni lowered her gaze because she didn’t like Dayawanti Mehta’s tone.

On the other side, Neil was standing at the main door.

Neil: Yeh Avni abhi tak ayi kyun nahi.

Neil made a face.

Neil: Kya karun? Doorbell bajao?

Neil thought.

Neil: Avni ko call karta hun.

Neil dialed Avni’s number and Avni’s phone was ringing in the room.

Neil: Yeh Avni call kyun nahi attend kar rahi… tch.

The call disconnected. Neil sighed.

Neil: doorbell hi bajani pare gi.

Neil thought and rang the doorbell. Avni and Dayawanti Mehta heard the doorbell.

DM: Ab khari kya hai. Jaa aur darwaza khol.

Avni nodded and she went to open the door. Neil saw Avni.

Neil: Kya yaar, it…

Avni kept her finger on her lips and Neil stopped. Avni signed at her back. Neil looked behind Avni but he didn’t see anyone.

Avni whispered: Dadi.

Neil whispered: Dadi?

Avni nodded and Neil sighed sadly. Avni smiled. Avni gave a way to Neil who came inside and then Avni closed the door. They moved forward. Neil saw Dayawanti Mehta. Neela Maa came there. Neil smiled fakely to see Dayawanti Mehta and greeted her. Neil smiled to see Neela Maa and Neil greeted her.

Daywanti Mehta: Aao, aao. Aao, beta, betho.

Neil came forward and took blessings from Dayawanti Mehta.

Dm: Jeete raho. Kaise ho, Beta?

Neil: Main acha hun, Dadi, aap kaisi hain?

DM: Main bhi achi hun.

Neil saw Neela Maa and he moved to take blessings from her.

Neil: Kaisi hain aap, Neela Maa?

Avni smiled to see them.

Nm: Main theek hun. Tum kaise ho?

Neil: Main bhi theek hun.

They smiled.

Dayawanti Mehta: Aao, betho, beta.

Neil looked at her and then he looked at Avni who widened her eyes and looked at Neil and then she looked at Dayawani Mehta. Avni again looked at Neil who was looking at her. Avni smiled to see Neil’s expressions and Avni suppressed her lips to control her smile. Neil made a face. Neela Maa saw Avni and Neil and she smiled. Neil looked at Dayawanti Mehta.

Neil: Ab, Dadi. actually, main yahan group study karne aya tha.

Dayawanti Mehta didn’t understand what Neil said but she said, acha. Acha.

Neil: Ji. So agar aap ki aur Neela Maa ki permission ho to kya hum Avni ke room main jaa kar apna kaam kar sakte hain.

Dayawanti Mehta didn’t like it. Avni and Neela Maa were looking at Dayawanti Mehta who smiled fakely.

Dm: Bilkul. Kyun nahi. Bilkul jaa sakte ho. Tum to humare damad ho. Yeh ghar tumhara bhi hai. Jahan mann kare jaa sakte ho. Avni.

Avni looked at Dayawanti Mehta.

DM: Neil bete ko jo bhi chahiye ho us… kya kehte hain gro… kya tha woh…

Avni lowered her gaze.

Avni: Group study.

Dm: Han wahi. Neil bete ko jis cheez ki bhi zarorat hai group stu… dy ke liye. Usay de dena.

Neil made a face and Avni looked down. Avni nodded.

Nm: Ab tum dono room main jao main tum dono ke liye kuch khane ko bejhti hun.

Neil: Aray, nahi, nahi, Neela Maa. Aap kuch mat kijiye.

Neela Maa was about to say.

Neil: Actually maine pizza order kar diya hai. Hum sab ke liye so aap koi stress mat lijiye.

Neela Maa made a face.

Nm: Lagta hai tumhe apni Neela Maa ke hath ka khana pasand nahi aya.

Neil shook his head.

DM: tu khana banati hi asa hai. Besuwad. Kis ka mann kare ga khane ka…

Neil and Avni didn’t like her statement.

DM: humari to majboori hai sab majboor thori na hain.

Neil and Avni got angry. Neela Maa looked down and Neil felt bad to see her. Neil smiled.

Neil: Neela Maa to world ka best khana banati hain. Ek Maa ka khana to kabhi kharab ho hi nahi sakta. Kyun ke Maa to apne bachon ke liye dil se khana banati hai to woh kharab kaise ho sakta hai.

Neela Maa looked at Neil emotionally. Avni was looking at Neil and she faced his back. Avni looked at her mother and her eyes got moist.

Neil: Maine to is liye pizza order kiya kyun ke main meri Neela Maa ko kitchen main garmi main kaam karte nahi dekhna chahta. Main to chahta hun ke meri Neela Maa bus Queen ki raaj Karen.

Neela Maa smiled and Avni also smiled. Dayawanti Mehta got angry.

Neil: Maine to soch liya hai ke shadi ke bad aap humare sath humare ghar main rahengi.

Avni and Neela Maa were surprised. Dayawanti Mehta was shocked.

Neil: Aur agar aap ne mana kiya na to main yahan ghar jamai ban kar aa jaunga. Seriously.

Neela Maa chuckled and Neil also chuckled. Avni smiled and a tear fell from her eye. Avni wiped that.

Dayawanti Mehta got angry.

Neela Maa said while wiping her tears: ab bus zyada makhan lagane ki zarorat nahi hai. Tum dono room main jaa kar parhai karo.

Avni and Neil smiled. Avni wiped her tears and sighed. Neil saw that and he felt bad.

Neela Maa: Avni.

Neela Maa sighed and Avni nodded. Avni came to Neil.

Avni: Come.

Neil nodded. Avni and Neil moved forward.

Avni whispered: Sorry door kholne main time lag gaya woh dadi ne rok liya tha.

Neil whispered: Yaar ajeeb hai tumhari Dadi. Tum log inhe bardasht kaise karte ho?

Avni smiled and they went from there. Avni and Neil came to the room and Neil moved to the bed. Avni closed the door. Neil sat on the bed and sighed.

Neil: Yaar, tum log rehte kaise ho in ke sath.

Avni smiled and came to the bed.

Avni: Adat ho gai hai.

Neil made a face and shook his head.

Neil: She is a headache.

Avni remained silent for a moment.

Avni: Presentation banana shuru Karen?

Neil nodded. Neil got up and sat on the head side of the bed. Avni went to the other side of the bed and sat. Neil took out his laptop from his bag and Avni picked up a book which was kept on the bed. Avni opened the notes. They discussed and started making the presentation. One hour passed, Neil’s phone rang and Avni and Neil looked at the phone. Neil smiled.

Neil: It’s Pizza time.

Avni smiled.

Neil: Main bahar jaa raha hun tum Neela Maa ko yahan le kar aao. Aaj hum Neela Maa ke sath time spend karenge.

Avni looked on. Neil smiled and picked up the phone. Neil went and Avni was looking at Neil. Avni smiled.

Avni was bringing Neela Maa to the room by side-hugging her.

Nm: Main kya karungi tum dono ke beech.

Avni: Enjoy.

Nm: Bacha, tum dono enjoy karo. Tum dono sath main waqt bitao.

Avni: Neil apni Neela Maa ke sath time spend karna chahta hai.

Nm: Bacha, bohat ajeeb lagega.

Avni: Kuch nahi hoga.

Nm: Bacha.

Avni: Ssshhhh…

Avni went behind Neela Maa and pushed her: chaliye. chaliye. chaliye, chaliye, chaliye, chaliye, chaliye…

Nm: Avni.

Avni ran slowly by pushing Neela Maa.

Avni and Neela Maa were sitting on the bed. Neela Maa got up and to see her, Avni also got up.

Nm: Main jaa rahi hun.

Avni and Neela Maa were standing near the bed and Neela Maa was about to go but Avni held her arms.

Avni: Hargis nahi.

Nm: Bacha, tum dono betho mujhe jane do. Main kya enjoy karungi jab mujhe chain hi nahi aye ga.

Avni: Aa jaye ga. Aap bethiye.

Avni made Neela Maa sit and then she sat beside her. Neela Maa was looking worried. Neil came there.

Neil: Tan Taran, here is the pizza. Aaa

Neil showed the box and opened it. Neil licked his lips and Avni and Neela Maa smiled.

Neil: Now, it’s party time.

They smiled. Neil came and went to the other side of the bed. Neil sat. Avni, Neil, and Neela Maa enjoyed the Pizza. Neil talked to Neela Maa and Avni smiled to see them. Neela Maa was smiling and laughing. Avni got emotional and was happy to see her mother laughing. Avni looked at Neil and smiled with moist eyes.

Later, Avni and Neil resumed the work and they made the presentation. They sighed and Neil shut the laptop.

Neil: Thuk gaye.

Avni smiled. Neil looked at Avni and shook his head. Neil sighed and then they smiled.

Some days passed, and Avni and Neil made the model of the project and they practiced for the presentation and the day of the presentation came. Avni and Neil were standing in the classroom and their model was kept on the table with other models. Neil was practicing.

Neil: Sahi hai?

Avni nodded and said, hmm.

Neil: mujhe thori nervousness ho rahi hai. Thori dair fresh air main ho kar aaen.

Avni saw Neil nervous.

Avni: yeah model?

Neil: sab ke to yahan rakhe hain. Yahi rehne do.

Avni: But…

Neil: main KK aur Vidyut ko keh deta hun dihan rakhne ke liye.

Avni nodded and looked at the model. Avni didn't want to go by leaving the model there  Avni and Neil went from there. Juhi came into the classroom and she looked at the models. Juhi came there and she picked up Avni and Neil’s model. Juhi was looking at the model and she smirked. Juhi left it and it fell on the floor. The model broke and Juhi made an evil pout. Juhi saw the USB and she knew that it was Neil’s USB. Juhi picked it up and looked at it with an evil eye.

Juhi: Ab Avni aur Neil presentation kaise denge. Poor they.

Juhi smiled and she looked at the USB angrily.

Juhi: Neil ne mujhe thukra kar us Avni the behanji ko chuna na. He has to pay for that. He has to pay for that. He has too…

Juhi looked at the USB angrily. Juhi looked around and then she went from there.

On the other side, Avni and Neil were walking into the lawn. Neil looked at Avni and then he looked at Avni’s hand. Neil thought and then Neil looked at Avni. Neil turned his face straight and he held Avni’s hand who looked at the hands and then she looked at Neil. Neil felt Avni’s gaze but he didn’t look at Avni for a few minutes. Avni looked down and then she turned her face. Avni looked straight. Neil looked at Avni and smiled. They walked there.

Soon, Avni and Neil entered the room while smiling and as soon as they looked at the model, they were shocked to see the broken model on the floor. Avni and Neil were looking at the model shockingly.