The next day, everyone gathered at the Khanna house. It was a Sunday, and the reason they gathered around was to have a talk about AvNeil's marriage. But ofcourse, both of them didn't know about it at all.

Prakash opened the door and smiled wildly seeing the Mehtas at the doorstep. "Come in, come in." He said enthusiastically as both Nandini and Avni stepped forward to hug him.

Then they moved towards bebe to have her blessings and then Shweta hugged the life out of them in excitement. "Where is Neil?" Avni asked, roaming her eyes around and then finding him nowhere.

"Aaj Sunday hai Avni. You know him." Shweta replied and shook her head. Avni clicked her tongue realising Neil would be still asleep because it's Sunday. He would sleep an hour more than usual at the weekends because, he needs rest after a whole tiring day. "Acha I'll go get him." Avni said and jumped on her feet and sauntered upwards to their room.

As she stood at the doorstep, she heaved a long sigh, suddenly realising that she's about to step into this room after almost a year. Considering her six months being in the prison and the afterwards rift they both had. She surely missed the room so much, and a part of her was filled with excitement but the other filled with a sudden nervousness.

Engulfing herself up, she slowly pushed the door open. It was still the same as it was before. She could see no big change in the room. The same guitar bookshelf, their pictures adorned on the walls, the cupboard and everything was same. And then her eyes caught Neil who was sleeping peacefully, on his stomach, practically spread out on the bed. She hid her laughter seeing him like that.

Avni then walked towards the vanity. Every product that she has used were there, still. Her bangles, her kajal, her sindoor. Every freaking thing, looking as new as ever, no dust particles engulfing them. Then she opened the cupboard, his one first and feeling a small warmth crawl throughout her body seeing his clothes, the casuals, his office wear, the waist coats. She ran her hands through his blue shirt, the one she loves so much.

Neil had always kept her alive in his heart even when she was not with him at the moment. And the feeling was not possible describe, realising how lucky she was to get him in her life.

Avni sat beside him, slowly caressed his soft hairs. He had highlighted them again recently as her eyes caught the dark brown strands in between the black ones.

"Neil get up." She softly pushed him, in an attempt to break his sleep. But of course, he didn't budge. "Neil, please na get up.." She whined, pushing him a little more forcefully now. "Abee yaar.." He groaned and turned his head, a frown on his forehead and small pout on his lips. Avni giggled sweetly and pecked his forehead and as soon as he sensed her touch, he opened his eyes in a jolt.

"Mein sapna tho nahi dekh rahe hai ne," He whispered and earning another giggle from her. "Nahi, now get up...." She poked him a few times, pulling him up. "But how... you here..." He asked, his sleep still not leaving his system as he started blabbering nonsense.

"Not just me. Everybody's downstairs and is waiting for us.So, wake up Tillu and get ready, jaldiii..." She said in a haste and held him up. But his eyes were closing and opening. He held her hand and pulled her towards him and he slided a little down to the mattress so he could keep his head on her shoulder. "Stay like this for a few minutes." He whispered softly.

(That scene when Avni and Neil met at the holi party after the leap >>>>😭)

"Why are you so tired? You're not usually this sleepy and you wake up at one call." Avni asked, a little worried now seeing him falling asleep yet again. She then vaguely remembered how he slept in her arms a few days back, and he looked tired as well. "Had a rough week." He said meekly still not wanting to wake up.

"You didn't tell me." She said in an upset tone, realising he didn't share his days with her. "I'm sorry, you know na, I was too caught up with it. Drug smuggling has been reported in Bandra, I've been behind it for this whole week." He said, as he slowly rose from her shoulder and leaned against the headboard.

"Did you get any hold on it?" Avni asked a bit while. "Yes, we were able to collect evidences but were meagre, there's a whole gang behind it. We have made sketches of the supposed persons from the evidences given by the witnesses. Other than that, nothing. The deadline is nearing." He sighed.

"I'm sure you'll catch them before the deadline. Or, do you want me to help you?" Avni asked as a matter of fact, genuinely wanting to help him like she always did. But her words weren't exactly pleasing for Neil as he folded his hands in front of her, almost begging. "No thanks."

"But.. I love helping you with cases." She said and pouted a bit. "Avni we've had this talk before. You won't interfere, I've had enough heart attacks by you getting involved into my cases, so now, no. I just want you to be safe, let me handle it, okay?" He said softly, trying to make her understand what he was insinuating.

"Okay." She pouted again. "God! Don't make that face..." He groaned feeling the blood rush through him as he leaned closer. "No! Go and freshen up first." She demanded and pushed him away. He shook his head, took his towel from the cupboard and headed out to the washroom.

Avni sauntered her eyes around, trying to find anything to do while he was in the washroom to avoid her boredom. She had forgotten to take her phone from downstairs. She then found Neil's phone on the side table on charging. She took it and smiled seeing their photo, ( the one Nandini had taken when they were in Udaipur, when she just pecked his lips and tried to run away) as his lockscreen wallpaper. She then swiped it find it was locked.

"Neil! What is your password?" She shouted to him. "Uh? What?" Came his reply back. "Your phone's password." She shouted again. "Your birthday Avni.." His reply made her insides do a flip. He literally had her birthday as his password. She felt so loved by him, he had always loved her from his heart, from the beginning.

She typed the password with red cheeks, and they turned even more red as she found herself as his wallpaper once again. She had never seen this picture before and realized that Neil had taken it without her knowing. She was wearing her bluish saree and white top and was smiling to something.

When did he take that?

Avni then decided to open his gallery. She was yet again surprised to see a folder just for her, titled wifey. There were another bunch of candids of hers. She scrolled through them, finding those beautiful and his photography skills were quite impressive and brilliant

Avni looked up from the phone when she heard a click of the door. Neil came outside after taking his bath, having only wearing his pants. He was drying his hair using the towel roughly and opened his wardrobe, looking out for his shirts.

She walked over to him with his phone and stood beside him,"You really have a great photography skill," She raised her eyebrow and looked at him. He watched his phone as she showed it to him and smirked, "I know. You awake my photography skills, because you know what? You're so pretty, it takes my heart on fire." He shamelessly flirted as he plucked her nose as he always does, chuckled finding her red cheeks back, and resumed his work.

Avni suddenly pushed him slightly from the wardrobe and got herself in his place making him bewitched as he watched her find a shirt for him. He watched her closely, she was clad in a blue kurti styled by a denim shrug and denim jeans and her silver jewellery. In his eyes, she will always be the most beautiful girl in the world.

He slided his hands through her waist, pushing himself closer to her as he buried his face in her neck. He felt her gasp slowly, her body stiffened under his touch. No matter how much they're closer now, she'd always be affected by his touch and he knew, somethings between them wouldn't change.

"N-Neil, you're.. You're making my dress wet," She whispered as she felt the water droplets from his beard falling on her neck and those on his chest wet her back. She'd be lying if she didn't like this, she wanted him, close to her.

And he did exactly what she wished for, he held her closer and hugged her even more tighter. Even with ragged breaths due to the proximity they shared, she managed to find a matte red shirt with yellowish golden prints on them. "Wear this." She told him as she turned around.

He took it from her and straightened, wearing the shirt and Avni stared at him as he buttoned himself up. She then watched as he moved towards the vanity to ready his hair. "Can I do your hair?" Avni asked, as a sudden wish to touch touch coiled through her. "You don't have to ask, baby." Neil replied and swiftly held her waist and made her sit on the vanity.

Avni happily took the hair dryer and turned it on, blow drying his hair with complete concentration and he watched her in awe with a small smile dangling on his lips. She then set his hair with her fingers like he always did and said a small, "Done." as she smiled at him.

"I love you." Neil said and kissed her red cheeks. Avni got down from the vanity and together they both went downstairs.

Neil wished them all a good morning and got seated with the youngsters. Ashish looked at Prakash, who looked at Shweta, who looked at bebe, who looked at Neela who was looking at Ashish. "Err.. is this a staring chain?" Aman asked, as he found the elders doing something that was so weird, the way they were looking made him remind the good bad days of school where he studied about food chain.

Finally bebe took the matter and said. "We have gathered here for discussing a very important matter as of now." Bebe said and looked at Shweta who continued.

"So, what are your opinion about the marriage? It's your decision." Shweta asked to Avneil seated right infront of her. They both were really happy with the news that they'd be getting married again...but this time with the right rituals with the right aims, right marriage.

"Neil be happy if he could marry her right now." Bebe shook her head at Neil's eagerness from his facethat she could read from his eyes. Neil gave her grin which said you know me bebe.

"We want both of you to get married again. With the right rituals. As Avni and Neil. We want you both to start a new life." Neela said admiringly as she stared at her daughter and son, both of them nodding in agreement and tightening the hold on each other's hands without nobody knowing.

"Okay then! We will do every rituals. Staring from ladkhi dekhna to shaadi." Bebe announced happily and all the other clapped in glee while Avni and Neil smiled a little, but jumping inside with utter happiness.

They were going to get married!

The family then called the priest who declared that 28th may was the most auspicious day he could find as of now, which was exactly three months away. Ofcourse Neil whined about it

"Ma may? That's three months away?" He asked in horror and Avni facepalmed herself in embarassment. "Don't be so desperate tillu, three months will go in a beat. No worries. We need three months atleast to plan engagement, haldi, other ceremonies and all. " Shweta said to him.

"It's the first time I'm hearing something wise coming out from your wife's mouth Prakash." Bebe whispered to her son sitting next to her who snickered. "Apne kuch kaha bebe?" Shweta asked, eyeing her suspiciously. Bebe nodded a no immediately like a child.

They then decided to have the bride seeing ceremony soon. "Also what about we having an engagement after party in Christian wedding themed?" Shweta suggested in pure excitement. Avni suddenly stiffened so did Neil. All the flashes of their wedding anniversary printed on their mind like it happened yesterday. Avni held Neil's hand tightly as she watched his expression change. She knew he was undergoing through emotions.

"That's great Shweta!" Bebe praised her and then again turned to Prakash, "What did you feed her today? She's usually not this intelligent." Bebe snickered and Prakash bit his cheeks to stop the laugh. "Apne phirse kuch kaha bebe?" Shweta asked, again suspicious. Bebe again nodded a no.

"Acha I have a suggestion." Neela spoke with great enthusiasm."When I was in college, I had attended a South Indian wedding of one of my friends, more like Kerala-style wedding. They celebrate engagement, haldi, Mehandi and Sangeet like us. But the bride seeing ceremony and wedding is utterly different. Shall we have a kerala style wedding for them both?" She asked with hopeful eyes.

"What are the changes?" Shweta asked with excitement. "The bride seeing ceremony goes like, the bride would meet the groom for the first time by serving him and the family a cup of tea, as if giving them all a warm welcome and giving an invitation to become the family. Then the elders would send them for a private conversation while they get synced up. I guess that's really great and impressive."

( A/n: I don't know if the bride seeing ceremony is exactly like this is other places so please pardon me if I have written some stupid stuff and mistakes:)) )

"The wedding is even more elegant and classy. The bride would be dressed up in a nice red colour saree, which is the one I have seen often, and the groom in a kurta or shirt and mundu. There is no veil. The bride would walk towards her groom with a thalee accompanied by her family. Then the father would do the Kanyadaan by placing the bride's hand in the grooms and the rest, same. How about we have a kerala style wedding?" Neela concluded, hoping everybody to agree with her wish.

"Why not?! It sounds really great and will be a variety. We're doing it!" Bebe announced and everybody clapped in agreement.

The bride seeing ceremony was fixed for the next week. And one after another, they were fixing the dates and plans to be done for the big day. Avni and Neil looked at each other, an understanding warm smile on their lips. They could not wait to get married.

•°.○.°.○.°•

It was the day. The bride seeing ceremony. Avni was clad in a beautiful green Dhawani (half saree) accompanied by minimal makeup and golden jewelleries. Her beautiful hair was now curled (which was actually her natural one, before she straightened it. ), and were puffed braided on either side, and her rest of the hair was adorned with mullapoo

( Mullapoo or Malli poo is a chain made of jasmine flowers which is placed on the head )

She was pacing to and fro, being utterly nervous, while looking at the time frequently. "Avni relax. They'll not eat you up." Nandini shook her head and sat there, making Sarah wear her beautiful pink fluffy frock.

"Right. Besides it's Neil, no worries." Rhea supported in a chill tone as she munched on her chips. "And you look beautiful Ammu, isn't that enough confidence?" Hansika encouraged.

Avni breathed in and out to calm herself. The beep of the door bought her back to her senses and her eyes widened. She blinked twice and then she was dragged by Aman and Manik who appeared out of nowhere to the Kitchen.

"Kitni Sundar lag rahi hai, dekho bhabhi. Kisi ke nazar na lage." Diksha said as soon as she saw Avni. Neela looked admiringly at her daughter, who looked really beautiful and breathtaking.

"You ladies are still discussing? Hurry up, they've reached." Ketan informed as he walked in, in a hurry and then walked out hastily. "They did? Oh lord!" Hetal gasped and they all walked out. "Wait, I shouldn't be coming?" Avni asked in confusion while the others slapped themselves. "You're only coming there when called, okay? With this tray of tea. " Neela beckoned at the cups of filled with tea placed on the tray and then shook her head while laughing and went out with the other ladies.

The Khannas got down from the car, and Ashish welcomed them inside warmly. Neil was clad in a beautiful Kurta, with matching pants. His eyes were impatiently waiting for her. After a little bit of chit chat bebe called for Avni to come.

Neil waited patiently as he heard the mesmerizing sound of her payal, and looked for her eagerly. She wasn't for making him wait too much as she came from the kitchen, looking a drop dead gorgeous that she took his breath away. The fresh smell of the jasmine as she neared was making him weak on his knees. She looked like a goddess. Neil felt as if he's in a dream land. His eyes were fixated on her as he took the tea she offered, as he found himself getting indulged in that crimson hue on her cheeks.

Avni then walked back to stand with Nandini and Rhea, while the others clapped in glee. They discussed further about marriage and other. But neither Avni nor Neil couldn't focus. Avni was blushing profusely as she felt his stare on her.

"Acha how about we let them talk privately?" Ashish suggested and everybody nodded. Bebe patted Neil's thighs, sensing his excitement as he got up and followed Avni to her room. As soon as they got in, he closed the door and grabbed her waist, turning her swiftly and pulling her towards himself. "Do you plan to burn my heart to ashes? Oh my god Avni, look at you.." He whispered huskily, examining her face and holding her closer, finding her breath getting ragged yet again.

"Do I look that good?" Avni asked I'm shyness. "Good? Really? I don't have words Avni, you're... you're just so beautiful I don't know how to portray your beauty in words." He said again and kissed her red cheeks, and then her nose adorned with her golden nose ring.

"We're gonna get married." Neil then whispered after a moment of silence aa he touched his forehead with hers tenderly and fervently. Avni nodded, feeling her eyes clouding with tears. He then suddenly went on his knees, held her hand and said, "So tell me Ms. Ayesha? Are you ready to become my wife? As Mrs. Avni Neil Khanna, once again?"

Avni chuckled through tears and beat his shoulder slightly. "Dramebaaz, utho." She said and made him stand up. "I love you Neil." She whispered, looking into his eyes. "I love you too baby." He told her back.

And just like that, their story had begun.

•°.○.°.○.°•

A/n::I'm done with my boards, yay! But that doesn't mean updates would be frequent. I'm also trying to publish more stories and all. So this was a long update as of now and I hope all of you enjoyed every bit of it. I have tried my level best to make it look beautiful.

Also about the Kerala style wedding, I am a South Indian and I have always pictured AvNeil in a South Indian marriage, so I would like to write about it in my book. Since I have much knowledge about South Indian marriage that North, It'd be a lesser herculean task for me. Hope all of you would enjoy too :))

Anyways, here's a little aesthetic of AvNeil's bride seeing ritual.