🎬🎬🎬

It's a Thursday morning, and everyone is seated at the breakfast table. Neil looks up from his plate and says, "Mom, the food is delicious."

Shweta responds with a soft chuckle, "why, thank you."

"What is it? I know you very well," Bebe smiles, a smirk visible on her face.

"What?" Neil cracks a nervous laugh. "It's nothing."

"But actually–"

Neil's father laughs, and shares a knowing grin with Shweta and Bebe.

Regardless, Neil continues, "I wanted to share something with you all. It's been a while but I wanted to be certain before telling you."

Shweta nods, indicating that she is actively listening.

"I'm in a relationship with Avni." He says this while biting his lower lip and frowns at the lack of response from his family, who appear to be eating casually. "Did you hear what I said? I said that I am dating Avni. She is my girlfriend." Exasperated, he lets out a low rumble.

"Is that all there is to it?" Shweta puzzledly lifts her brow.

"We were well aware," Bebe adds as she takes a sip of orange juice.

Neil's brain short circuits at this point. How did they find out if he never told them? Was it Avni's mother? But she had simply indulged him in a conversation in which she told him it was time he told his family. Which appeared to take forever due to what had occurred previously, but he felt now to be the appropriate time.

"It's not like anything's ever hidden," Prakash mutters in a playful tone. "You aren't the only detective in this house."

Shweta grins while eating another morsel from her plate. "You were obvious enough since the day we had lunch together."

"Well, one thing I'm sure of," Bebe says solemnly, "That girl... Avni! She's an excellent actor. If it hadn't been for you, her act would've paid off."

"You can bet on it." Shweta chuckles, passing a funny glance to Prakash. "Good thing, he's a cop then."

Neil scoffs, rolling his eyes, but soon succumbs to the joke and laughs with them.

"So, do you approve?"

"Approve what?"

"Our relationship!"

"Do parents even have any say these days?" Shweta squints her eyes at Neil.

"Mom! I'm serious."

"Introduce her properly next time. Then we'll tell you." Bebe teases.

"Bebe..." Neil's voice has a drawl to it. "She's in pain."

"You're not?" Shweta huffs in disbelief.

"She's more." He argues.

"Wow! Notice how quickly you're making excuses."

Prakash chuckles and gets up from his seat, drawing attention to himself. "You guys continue. I'm headed to the office."

"Wait! I'll come with you, Dad."

"Where to, Mister? Don't you have days off?"

"Yeah, drop him off at Avni's place. Where else?" Shweta says, her eyes narrowed. "It's where he spends the majority of his free time."

Neil has the audacity to blush, which surprises everyone a little. "Because I'm hurt and all," he says, and follows after his father.

Shweta begins taking plates from the table after their car pulls away and both Shweta and Bebe finish their dinner.

"I'm conflicted, Bebe."

"Why? What's the matter?"

She stops momentarily in thought. "I mean... Avni, she's a good person. From how we've seen, she's lovely and sensible. Neil looks happy, he seems to like her a lot. But is that reciprocated? All of this makes me worry if she's the right one for Neil."

Bebe lets out a sigh. "Your worries are valid. But they both have been through a lot. Especially, Avni. When she greeted us with smiles at the hospital, she was in a lot of pain, and I couldn't help but think how difficult it must have been for her."

Shweta hums, a glum smile on her face. "They used to be such a happy family. But they have been through a lot, Krisha and Avni. I hope there is only happiness for them going forward." She takes a deep breath. "Right, they are adults. They should do what they believe is good for them."

"Yeah, but we can still tease Neil if they ever want to take a further step."

Shweta turns to stare at her mother-in-law, only mischief in their eyes.

🎬🎬🎬

Avni manages to close the bedroom door behind her before staggering along on crutches to move forward. She almost loses her balance when her eyes catch a figure hurriedly walking towards her. A familiar laugh can now be heard in the background. And before she can flee (which she can't), a pair of arms engulf her frame, knocking one of her crutches from her grip.

"Don't trouble my sister. Get out!" Ali commands, though his voice is fond as he stares at them.

When Neil passes him a glance, he sees him smiling. "Don't trouble your sister's boyfriend anymore. Get. In. Your. Room." He speaks up, loud and clear.

A laugh bubbles out of Avni just in time. "Shut up." She smacks his shoulder. "You two are sometimes intolerable."

Neil scoffs, pulling away from Avni as Ali offers her the crutch. Neil's grip on Avni's waist remains firm as she adjusts, grinning at them.

"Do you want to sit?" Neil inquires, and Avni nods.

"You're not going to be able to assist her anyhow, Neil." Ali huffs, which gets him a look.

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, you have a splint on."

Avni shakes her head, trying hard not to smile.

Ali disappears into the kitchen once they're securely settled on the sofa to allow them to converse alone.

"I missed you," Neil says with a smile.

"You saw me yesterday!" Avni lets out a laugh.

"So, I can't even miss my girlfriend?"

"I never said that." Avni bites her bottom lip, ignoring his gaze. "But you're becoming far too clingy these days."

"Oh really?" Neil quirks a brow. "Well, then, have fun missing me since I'm running low on free days."

That makes Avni's eyes turn to him, a little deflated. "Three days more, right?"

"Yeah, only three." Neil nods casually. "I'm considering spending time with my coworkers. I'd like some better welcoming company."

Avni scoffs, staring at him in disbelief. "Yeah, me too." She crosses her arms across her chest too swiftly and carelessly. "Ah–" She inhales sharply, wincing as the ache in her abdomen registers.

"Fuck, be careful." Neil mutters as he advances, prying her hands away, before holding one of them in his own. "Oh, does it hurt badly?" He asks when Avni gasps softly, eyes closed. "Avni..." he coaxes. Neil feels a terrible pang in his chest as she flutters them open, seeing tears on her waterline.

"I'm okay," she responds slowly, taking a breath.

"I'm sorry," Neil mumbles as he leans in to kiss her on the forehead.

"Why are you sorry?"

"I, just am." He murmurs quietly, drawing his hand away from hers to brush the stands behind her ears that are clouding her face. He places a delicate kiss on her left cheek, then another on her right, and finally one on her red-tinted nose.

Neil pulls away to stare at her. Her gaze is soft, a tinge of blush on her cheeks and happiness in her faint smile. It makes his heart race, a surge of warmth washing over him, because god, he wants to see her like this all the time, bright and shining, flushing and red (only if it's caused by him), but without the pain she is going through.

Neil's about to lean in–

"Can you guys not makeout here?"

Neil tsks, feigning a glare. "I think I can tolerate Piya more than you."

"Well, that's because she's Avni's friend, unlike me. I'm her brother. I don't want to see it." He makes a funny expression and walks over to the tiny table, where he places a tray of freshly cut fruits.

"Look away then," Neil urges, causing Ali to groan and scurry away to a room, the door closing with a snap.

"Your brother's annoying," he comments.

"You are annoying." Avni squints her eyes at him. "He's caring and lovely an–" she pauses mid-sentence, and Neil may have noticed the abrupt realisation on her face as her gaze unfocuses. So, he pulls her in a half hug. It's gentle and comforting, squeezing the minor concerns away.

Sometimes, Avni wonders how a simple gesture as such could make her feel like everything's alright or certainly will be. But maybe it has nothing to do with it, more so with the person. Perhaps it all has to do with Neil.

And she realises that the sweet kisses and loving hugs do not make her jittery anymore; rather, they calm her, alleviating her mental bundles of uncertainty and fear.

"Neil..." she mutters, pulling away to look him in the eyes. She caresses his face with her index and thumb, trailing along and Neil sighs, welcoming the touch that he breathes. "I love you," is what rings in the air between them. Then she kisses him, open-mouthed, swallowing the sharp inhale from him that evolves to a reverberating low hum gradually.

🎬🎬🎬

It's an odd feeling when you walk along a path that has a familiar touch, close to home, almost home 'cause it highlights deep scars born from people.

Today, Avni feels it. It's strange, because she can't comprehend whether it's nostalgia or utter grief.

It's been a long time. Twelve years. Yet, the wound is there, covered with a band aid.

"Are you okay?"

Avni sighs, sparing him a defeated glare. "It's the third time you're asking me that," she mutters, "and we've been walking for only ten minutes?"

"Eleven,"

"Whatever," she says as she flails her left hand around, taking in the view. "It's been three months, Neil. Stop worrying."

Where their hands are joined, Neil gives a firm squeeze, smiling when he notices Avni's lips curl up. He looks at her silhouette. Her long, gleaming hair falls in gentle waves just above her waist, and she is dressed in an olive-green split A-line dress with white sneakers.

When the beam of a passing street light momentarily shadows them, he welcomes a surge of butterflies. It's inevitable. Her face is a sparkle, glittering under his gaze, enticing him to pull and kiss, but he resists.

There's a soft gasp as she faces front taking a moment before turning to look at him. "I remember there used to be a park here," she says, pointing a little further away, her voice small as she glances down at her feet. "I liked slides but I enjoyed swings more."

"Was there a reason?"

"Maybe," she shrugs. "I believe it was the sensation of being in motion, swinging backwards and forwards, the to and fro, the journey." She smiles, her teeth peeking out a little. "It's like I never cared for the beginnings, never cared for the endings. I just liked the feeling of being alive, the wind caressing my face and the unknown rush of adrenaline."

"I'm sure, young Avni was a dreamer." Neil grins, a soft look on his face. "After all, it's only because of her that you are here, living, wise and beautiful in everything you are. She was your pillar of strength," he leans in, pecking her nose. "But you are her ego. Don't forget that."

Avni lets out a chuckle, shaking her head.

She sometimes wonders, how did she get so lucky? Why out of all the people in the world, did he choose her? Was there a reason? Would she know anytime soon? Because it feels lively to be cared for, to be understood and loved. And she has a few questions, but she thinks those can wait. After all, there's all the time in the world, right?

Neil proposes they take a break after a few minutes. When Avni says she can walk just fine, Neil iterates that he is tired. So, she gives in, knowing her efforts will all be futile.

"You can be stubborn sometimes," she says, frowning at him.

Neil makes sure she's comfortable on the large sitting rock before answering, "you're rubbing off on me, that's why."

Avni gawks at him in disbelief. He looks so hot, so dashing in those washed-out denim pants and white tee that it takes away all the bubbles of huffs in her. Instead, she wishes they were in a private space so she could make some use of these damn urges.

"I'm thinking I should simply call your mother and tell her you're being a bother," she replies after a moment.

Neil gapes. From his perspective, she looks ravishing enough, her lips painted a bold red and an angry flush on the tip of her nose.

"I'm thinking that maybe I should tell your mom that you're being unreasonable and cute," he retorts, not wanting to back down.

"I'm gon–" she pauses, the words registering a moment later. She ducks her head down, blushing and murmuring a quiet 'idiot'.

Neil smiles smugly, nudging closer, which is impossible considering he is joined at her hip. He makes her look at him with his hand under her chin, noticing the shy bubble she is in as she hesitates to lock eyes. But even then, he presses close and kisses her, trailing her bottom lip with his tongue. It's pillowy, smooth as the silken sheets, invoking a rush of blood all the way down and igniting a simmering fire.

When he nips at her lips, Avni whines, her hands on his strong toned chest. Neil grips her sides, caressing and moving upwards, second by second, which makes a shiver run down her spine.

"Neil...we're ou–" She pauses, feeling his fingers on her nape, brushing with whisper touches. She flutters her eyes shut when he continues, before pulling away from the kiss. He moves to place a kiss under her ear then, nibbling on it which makes her hold back a moan.

"Happy Birthday, baby." He whispers softly, and before Avni knows she's glancing down at a lovely necklace around her neck. The small circular pendant, studded with a jewel glimmer in the light. It's simple, but looks beautiful. Avni can't help but gush out a chuckle. "You gave me flowers in the morning, a meal cooked by you in the afternoon, and now this necklace. What are your plans, Neil Khanna?"

Neil wiggles his brows. "I have something for the night too. But you'd have to wait."

Avni barks out a laugh, smacking his chest lightly. "Stop it. Your mind's always in the gutter," she says. "And it's too much, your presence is a gift enough." She smiles faintly, her eyes glimmering, similar to the night sky.

"If it's for you, nothing is ever too much," Neil mumbles softly. "And I'm celebrating your birthday with you for the first time so, let me enjoy and pamper you with all my love."

Avni breathes out a content sigh, nodding in agreement. "Sure, I don't mind. But thank you." Neil offers her a small smile.

"You mentioned visiting Dehradun once. How was it?" Avni asks after a while.

Neil hums. "I think it was fun. I don't recall much." Then he clasps his hand, eyes flashing in zest. "Oh, right? How can I forget!"

"What?"

"Remember I told you about a girl? Who said she wants to be a spy? We played marbles then toy gun, be–"

"Yeah!" Avni nods, eyes lighting up in recognition. "What about her? Don't tell me you met her."

Neil bites his lip, trying to hold back a smile.

"No way!" Avni beams at him. "Really?"

Neil nods. "Yeah, I saw her. She looks a bit different now, but she's still beautiful and yeah like I told you - she's a bit dominating too. Anyway, at first when we talked a few times, I couldn't understand these deep feelings, but then slowly as we met more, I began to understand her."

Avni chuckles, an awkward edge to her tone. "It's almost as if you are professing your love or something."

"I am." Neil nods. "God, she's so beautiful. Do you want to meet her?" He takes her hand and observes the tense swirl in her eyes. She hesitates, "maybe."

"Okay, then." He breathes deeply and stares at her. "See?"

"See w-what?"

"Her reflection in my eyes." He mumbles, and Avni is stunned, blinking innocently at him. She takes a moment before she smacks his arm. "You're teasing me!"

Neil laughs, "gotcha!"

Avni pouts. "I hate you."

"No, you don't."

"I do."

"No." He laughs. "But on a serious note, I remember her smile now, she had pigtails on, with bunny bears studded clips. She was wearing a baby blue frock, standing at the beach where we just visited."

It's the slow response time. Avni stares, too deep down the lane but there's mirth in his smile. She opens her mouth, then closes, then opens again. "Did you perhaps meet her h-here?"

"What do you think, Avni? Why have I been so excited to come here? Don't you wanna make a guess?"

"H-How...?"

Neil smiles, his teeth shining. "Back when you were in the hospital unconscious, your mom and I engaged in a conversation here and there. She told me a lot about you, Abhay, and Ali. She mentioned a few things, including the fact that your hometown is here. I was curious, so I asked her more. There were a few pictures in her mobile which she showed, most of them were of your teenage years." He sees Avni's eyes water, so he strokes her cheeks with his thumb as he continues, "Only one was of a time when you were four, and it was video. You were playing around the beach, showing sea shells towards the camera." He sighs, a breathy exhale. "It felt familiar, but I wouldn't have known if your mom would not have mentioned it."

"She told me that she had seen me when I was younger, that's why our families know each other. Apparently, your mother owned a small beach house. It was closed down so Dad pulled a few strings to gain her contact information, cue the holiday, our meeting, our destiny." He softly pats her cheek. "Cue, us, founding each other again, and falling in love, right here, just where it all began."

"God, I–" she pulls him in a tight hug, a bit of a jumble of words. She rests her chin on his shoulder, closing her eyes and feeling the warmth seep in. "I'm–wow, I can't believe this."

Neil chuckles, drawing his hands over her back. "Well, I can. It's vague but it's there in my memory."

"Never go anywhere, please." She whispers, "You're the one for me, okay?" She says like it's an order, but only he hears the plea hidden in it. "This feels so corny but I'm so happy." She hums, "Now that I remember, we did own a beach house. It was my grandfather's and that's why Mom never gave it away. Wait..." she pulls away to look at him. "Could she still, have it?"

Neil hums in thought. "Why don't you ask her?"

"Right, I will call her tomorrow, first thing in the morning."

Neil watches the beautiful grin spreading on her lips. He decides, this is it. You're the one for me, too. "So glad you said it, because I don't want you to go anywhere too." As he says it, he pulls her by the nape in a sweet kiss. Neil can feel Avni's grin on his lips. He coaxes, out of familiarity and need, and she eagerly allows him in for a taste. The fire spreads through as they melt into each other, savouring each other, pressing closer and inhaling in each other's scents, musky wood and jasmine.

When Neil pulls away, its only to say,

"I love you, Avni."

"I love you, Neil," Avni responds with a smile that Neil has grown to love.

And they kiss more and more till they are out of breath and panting for oxygen. The moon becomes a witness of two lovers under the night sky, a twinkle of love in their eyes and a loving warmth in their smiles.

"Your lipstick has faded."

"It suits you more."

Neil blushes, smiling hard.

The ride to the room is exciting; Avni's eyes expand comically because Neil has her scooped in his arms. Initially, he had even kissed mid-walk, which led to Avni scolding him with a warning.

He pushes the door open with his leg, and Avni closes it after they enter. Neil laughs at that. "Someone is eager," he murmurs in a deep voice. Avni is convinced that it was possible to evaporate the moment Neil drops her on the bed gently before hovering over her.

When Avni pulls him in for a kiss, her hands wrap around him, from the back and then trailing downwards to his hips. She halts as she hears a sound from his back pocket. Neil laughs as he straightens up, stretching weirdly to retrieve whatever it is, and it causes a creasing wrapper sound. "It's chocolate," he says to ease the confusion on her face.

"Chocolate what?" She inquires, covering the giggle with the back of her palm.

"Flavor-" he shuts his eyes, "wait, not that-I mean, literal chocolate flavor chocolate." Then he takes it out, a small confectionary wrapped in a yellow package. When Neil opens it, it's already melted and the look on his face makes Avni roll to the side, cackling.

"I'm n-not eating that," she remarks in between interrupted huffs.

Neil groans, putting it aside in the tray on the bed table before he's lowering down beside Avni. He smiles as he turns to face her. She's smiling as well, and she's as beautiful as ever. "I'm glad we came here," she says quietly, shifting so that she is directly looking at him. "I still can't believe that I wanted to be a spy." She scrunches her nose. "But I guess, a part of me can live that while being an actress," she hums, breaking out in a chuckle. "I guess I'll need Mom to take me down the memory lane as well."

Avni feels a shiver run down her spine as Neil flashes a golden band in front of her eyes, mere centimeters between them. "Avni Raichand, would you grant me the honour of having you as my wife?" He mumbles, his eyes glistening as he stares, an emotion larger than life running through them. "Will you let me stand by your side as your partner and husband?" He takes a deep breath as he elevates Avni's left hand with one of his own. "I've never been so certain of my feelings for someone. You make loving you so simple and heartfelt. I want to treasure you. I want to be by your side when you wake up with your hair tangled and your clothes wrinkled. I want to spend a lifetime with you, happy, sorrowful, and whatever may come our way."

He watches the first drop of tear slip through her eyes, followed by another from the other eye. She breathes out a soft uneven gasp before she's throwing herself on him. It comes out as a choked sob when she tries to mumble so, Neil simply wraps his free hand around her back. "Ssh, baby...I'm here." It's all enough in the end, a simple touch, to make it better.

Avni sighs and shakes her head as she nuzzles deeper into the crook of his neck, dampening his skin and shirt slightly. When she pulls away after a good minute, there's a sad smile on Neil's face.

"I didn't want to make you cry today," he mutters.

Confused on how to assure him, Avni cups his face and presses a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'm so happy, Neil," she says quietly. "You m-make me so happy. I love you; I love you so much." She shivers as she leans in, tasting her tears as she kisses him, soft and delicate.

"A-Avni..." he whispers in between the kiss, and a moment later, he feels the absence of her lips.

"I don't know if you know but m-my heart is swooping, nervous and I–" he lets out a chuckle, "I'm waiting."

It's like Avni totally forgets the memo, and when the realisation dawns on her, she's almost babbling incoherent words before, "I'll be damned if I say no." She breathes out and glances at his thumb and index that are holding the ring. "Put it on, come on." She says, shivers, and Neil's takes a deep breath before he's doing what he's been waiting for.

"I feel like I'm the happiest man on this planet," he gushes, making her laugh to his stupid joke.

"Yeah–" She stops, looking down at her ring finger and noticing an itch around it. She touches it, pressing on it and when she notices a familiar texture, she's glancing up and glaring at Neil, who's already up and climbing down the bed. "What the fuck!" She says out loud. "Neil, I'm going to kill you."

Then, she's running down, chasing Neil around the hotel room, all but frustrated at the man who spoke so tenderly of love in the name of pranking her with a ring made of chocolate wrapper.

She should have noticed. But, after all, the uneven design was eye-catching enough that she dismissed the thought as unworthy since the gesture gained precedence in her heart.

Avni grabs the edge of Neil's shirt as he tries to squirm and run away, laughing and yanking himself off her. Finally, he is pushed against the couch, his lover's blazing eyes looking him down with the notion of you're dead.

"Why would you do that!" She presses her hands firmly against his chest. "I hate you," she huffs out.

"Not what you said a while ago," Neil winks.

She gapes at him. "Oh my God, the audacity–I'm leaving." She tries to rise from above him, but a strong hand pulls her back, staggering her back on his lap.

"See," he says, holding up a velvet box to her eyes, "I have the ring here."

Still suspicious, Avni tries not to let her eyes soften. When the box reveals a silver ring, obviously fake, similar to the previous one, she scoffs before pressing her tongue on the inside of her cheek.

"It's the effort that counts okay." Neil smiles, half nervous, half joking.

"Sleep on the couch." She says, before she pulls away and starts walking towards the bedroom.

"Wait–" Neil follows after her. "You're already throwing me out and we aren't even married."

Without putting up a fight, Neil enters in, closing the door after him. Avni startles when Neil suddenly wraps his arms around her from behind, kissing her nape. "I wasn't messing around when I said all that." Her body shudders when he kisses the way up her ear, softly nibbling on it. "Loving you is my truth, Avni," he says quietly. "I know it's hasn't been long since we've been together, but I swear it feels like an eternity. I think of you all the time. And I can only imagine a future with you. God! I never thought love could ever be this strong, this beautiful, this daring. You make me dream of a future where we're bonded by the blessings of everyone, living officially as husband and wife." He breathes out a shaky exhale. "It scares me a little but it excites me more. The prospect of having you as mine is enticing."

Avni glances down at the way Neil's right-hand trails from her waist to her left hand. Her eyes go wide in shock, happiness and love all the same time when he slides a blue diamond ring, before he's turning her around and kissing her softly.

"I believe you're my destined, Avni."

Avni almost whines in the kiss, too deep in thought to process everything - the proposal, the sincere affection in his words and the thrill of the time ahead. Her heartbeat accelerates, thinking of a future with Neil, a man she is in love with. It's almost unbelievable to her, the concept that there lies no fear in her mind when she thinks about it. And she really does wonder if their chance meetings were only coincidences. Could it be? Though it's difficult to grasp it if she goes back in time, because Neil became a police officer because of her? T-That's far too much and it sounds something straight out of a romance novel.

So she thinks maybe, it is time to rip the bandaid off. It's been on for far too long.

She pulls away to stare at him. "Neil..."

"Hm?" Neil's preoccupied, gaze still on her lips, almost brushing against hers.

Avni thinks he wants to kiss some more. She tries not to smile.

"I want to go to Paris for our honeymoon."

"Huh?" He laughs, his eyes rising to meet hers. "Already got plans?"

"And I want to have a private wedding."

"Okay–"

"But I'm not planning to marry anytime soon. We're only getting engaged."

"What–you sly woman–fine."

Avni giggles. "But first, I'd like you to fulfill a birthday wish of mine."

|××××××|

Hi! Do you know we have completed
1,00,000+ words with this epilogue?
Crazy, right? I couldn't believe it too.

💫 This marks the end of Destined 💫

It was a beautiful journey and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.🤗

🌷🌷🌷

Thank you so much for all the love you've showered on this fanfic.

I appreciate all the comments, votes and genuine feedbacks.
More so I love that you guys shared what this fic made you feel.

It surprises me a little but I'm honoured, truly.

🌷🌷🌷

I will be posting the Q/A session interview tomorrow – the characters will answer every question you asked.

If anyone still wants to put in questions,
please do before 8 April 11:59 PM (Midnight).

I will come back with Bonus episodes soon
(but restrain asking me to update, I will post on my own accord.)

Again, thank you ❤️
Hope to see you guys soon :)