In the car....

There was silence in the car. But even that silence was comforting. Both of them wanted to talk, but were unable to speak.

After driving for hardly 5 minutes, Neil stopped the car. Avni was confused. Neil gestured her to come outside.

Neil: I thought tumhe bhook lagi hogi
(I thought you must be hungry.)

Avni smiled a bit and nodded.

Avni: Ek minute.
She removed the heavy dupatta and kept it in the car. Now,she was in her plain red saree. Neil was mesmerized to see her looking so beautiful that too just in a plain saree.

Avni: Chalein...(let's go)

Neil: Yeah.

It was a small roadside dhaba. Neil felt a little  awkward to bring her to a dhaba instead of a restaurant.

Neil: I'm sorry. I couldn't take you anywhere else. Actually, I'm not carrying much cash right now. So this is the only place I could afford.

Avni: Please, aap sorry mat kahiye.(don't say sorry). Its completely fine. You're my husband now, I'll be happy with  whatever you'll provide me.
She said sincerely. He smiled.

Neil: You know, you're very different from other girls. Agar, tumhari jagah koi aur hoti to Ab tak mujhe chod kar chali gayi hoti.
(If anyone else had been at your place, she would've left me till now)

Avni: I know I'm different.
She said raising her imaginary collar.

Soon the food arrived. It was simple dal and chapatti with salad. Neil got a call from police station so he excused himself.

He came after 5 minutes and was shocked to see the food untouched.

Neil: Avni, why didn't you eat?

Avni: How can I eat before you?

Neil: Really! You still believe in all these things?

Avni: No, its not that I'm orthodox or something. Its just that I've always seen my mum wait for my dad at the dinner table. Being a good wife its my duty to ensure that my husband takes his meals on time. If I'll wait for you at dinner then obviously you'll have to take dinner on time. I'm sure you won't be interested in keeping me hungry....Right?

Neil couldn't help but a smile crept up his lips. He nodded his head twice.

Neil: Yes, after all I don't want my beautiful wife to wait for long and get dark circles.

Avni blushed hearing that.

Neil: After all I don't want people to say that I've married  a ghost!!

Avni's mouth formed an 'O'. Neil started laughing holding his stomach. Avni looked down, tears formed in her eyes. Her already pale face became more pale all of a sudden.

Neil noticed this and stopped laughing. He lifted her chin up, so that she can face her.

Neil: I'm sorry.

Avni: No, you don't need to be. Its just that my bhai used to tease me this way. I don't know why the past two days made him so different. Why he became so bitter that he didn't even see my face once today.

Neil wiped away her tears and made her eat food from his hands. He had feeded her half of her food when she realized that he didn't even take a bite. She started feeding him. As she was done feeding him with her hands, she noticed that he's lost somewhere. She thought to ask him but decided to ask it in the car.

They went to the tap situated at the corner of the dhaba to wash their hands.
They walked to their car. Neil was still lost. He was about to sit in the car when Avni held his hand.

He turned around confused.

Avni: Please tell me what's bothering you?

Neil: Thankyou!

Avni: Why?
She asked puzzled.

Neil:  For making me laugh after years. For making me feel good and wanted. You know my parents died when I was very young. We did not live here. We lived in Delhi. My parents had very progressive thinking. They loved me a lot. But one day they both met with an accident and left me alone. I was brought here by my Chacha-Chachi. They promised in front of our whole relatives that they'll do my upbringing and love me. They were just behind my property. They did it all for money. They behaved well with me initially. But after my dadi's demise, they started showing their true colours. Chachi would never love me and always taunt me about how much burden I was on them. Chacha used to come home drunk every night and beat me. They were very cruel. They are still cruel but now that I'm an ACP they've stopped the physical torture on me. They emotionally manipulate me, blackmail me so that I do things according to their wishes.
I had forgotten what happiness meant. Thankyou for making me laugh, feeding me with your hands and accepting me as your husband. You are the only family I have. Sorry.... I didn't even ask you, will you be my family?

His tears were now flowing freely. He looked at her with hope filled eyes. Her eyes were also glassy.

Avni:  I'll be glad to be a part of your family. We'll make our own little world and eventually a small happy family.

She was relieved to find him smiling. She wiped the traces of tears with her fingers. They sat in the car and went off to the place which was hell for Neil and was now going to be a hell for her too....

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