AVANTHI
✨

I was taken into his room which was decorated with roses, Jasmine and various scented candles. The huge king sized bed had rose petals, candles decorated along with a picture of mine and Neil's printed and stuck onto a pair of white teddy bears hugging each other. The long white curtains and the floating candles placed in small vessels at every corner of the room, they had not left a single corner untouched. The room screamed romance and even a blind man could say it's a setup for a first night.

I suddenly felt Prarthana's chin on my shoulder saying 'Looks like someone is already dreaming about how and when to do what...Ahhhhemmm lucky Neil!!!' she burst out laughing when Mukta Vanni glared at Prarthana saying 'Pattuuuu!!!' to which she pouted saying 'I was just teasing her na Shizuka Vanni...It's her first big night after all!!!' saying she clapped her hands like a kid while I looked elsewhere when Mukta Vanni raised her eyebrow again making Prarthana leave the room silently. Mukta Vanni held my hand and made me sit on the bed saying

'Your sister Pakku is banned from climbing stairs, so I'm here. Ignore Prarthana... she is a innocent child. Her childlike jokes makes our lives beautiful. At times she goes overboard, don't mind her...okay?' she asked and I smiled saying

'I know Vanni... She's also my cousin!' and we both chuckled. Slowly everything went silent again when Mukta Vanni held my hand saying 'I know how you both got married... And just because Neil seems to be smitten by you, doesn't mean you should also have the same emotions in the same pace. You were in a relationship with a guy for so many years and I know how it feels when someone ditches you for someone else. I have been there done that. My marriage to your Omkar Anna was not normal either. Before me, he was known as a demon!!!' she said and I snapped my head in her direction playing that word 'Demon???' on my tongue again.

Even I call Neil a Demon. The Asmodeus to be precise!!!

'We got into an accidental wedding post which we tried to hide it from the whole world. No it wasn't easy...it wasn't easy staying away from each other!!!' she said leaving me speechless. Our pains and fears were different yet similar. We took time but eventually figured out a way to accept each other and I became the Demon's Secret Wife!!!' she said with a wink and I smiled.

'I know it's not easy but it's not tough either. Just be vocal. If you don't like something address it to him or us. We are your family now. If you are not comfortable or happy with something, say it openly rather than suffer or live through it. One thing Om and I learnt was there is no point in hiding anything with each other although it's upto you whether you want to address it to the world. So...simple...if you are not comfortable with something, speak up. Neil I'm sure would understand. Okay???' she asked holding my chin and I nodded.

'And remember...I may stay in the bungalow in the next compound but I'm just a shout out away from you. You have Pakku but you will always have me and the entire family too' she said and I nodded. Suddenly she kept a small box in my hand which was wrapped in a gift wrapping paper and I looked at her when she smiled saying 'An old friend of yours gave this to me. She was skeptical about coming here but she wanted you to know... she's ALSO there for you!!!' Vanni said and I quickly opened the box and it had a small box full of jeera (cumin) peppermint in it. I smiled as my eyes filled with tears. It contained so many childhood memories within as I put a pinch of them in my mouth with tears rolling down my cheeks as I whispered 'Sanskriti???' and Mukta Vanni smiled and nodded.

I noticed it also had a small note along with the steel box, so I opened and started reading it,

Ava... I know you like the pink ones better than all other colors but life isn't only about a pink..it's about a little yellow, little green, little white, little orange...it's a mix that life throws at you and you should learn to adapt yourself. I know you will.

Just want you to know...I'm here with you... always!!!

Love you...

Yours
Sannu

Reading 'Sannu' brought so many memories alive. I bit my lower lip and burst into tears. When Mukta Vanni hugged me saying 'Eyyyy Mulgi (girl)...Shhhh ye...ekade ye (come here)...Shhhhuuu...Kaay Karat Aahes (what are you doing)...Devaaaa (god)...Bala(child)....Shhhhh...' saying she tried to console me by pulling me into a warm hug and then cupped my face saying

'Look here...You don't need to fear anything... anyone. Just calm down and relax... whatever I'm preaching you here...your Omkar Anna is preaching your husband too!!! Don't worry... everything will be fine. It's a first night not a war!!! And darling... remember...you can always say a 'No' okay???' and I nodded.

She smiled and closed the door walking out of the room.

I wiped my face and took a mouthful of jeera peppermint in my mouth looking outside the room towards the moon shining brightly in the sky. If only you knew Mukta Vanni...I am never going to 'say' a 'No!!!'...rather he's just going to always 'get' only 'NEVER' from me.

I looked at the decorated room and smirked.Well....The game has just begun.

✨

Suddenly I heard the knob of the door twist and the room filled with the similar known woody fragrance.

He was here!!!

I heard the footsteps approaching me. I still didn't move and kept looking outside the window gazing at the moon and the stars. He slowly kept his watch on the dressing table and removed his Sherwani jacket placing it on the chair. I could see all of this through my peripheral vision but I did not respond. He looked at the room and the decoration and suddenly cleared his throat. I did not even move an inch. I was still annoyed by his lewd comment he passed during the homecoming ritual. My blood was still boiling at the thought of being his wife, having a normal marital life with him was a joke.

The joke which was on him!!!

Suddenly I felt him approaching me and my body stiffened.

'Come on Ava...You are better than this!!! Remember you have slapped him twice, punched him a couple of times and at a recent event kicked his balls too!!! You can handle him if he manhandles you!!!'

Standing next to me first thing he said left me shocked. He looked at the sky and whispered

'Avanthi...I...I wanted to apologise to you for what I blabbered during the homecoming ritual!!!' and only I knew how my expressions remained unchanged while I was shocked.

Neil Nayak...and apologizing...Wow!!!

'I just tried to answer something witty trying to stop my cousins and my sister in law's from teasing and annoying us which although worked but backfired too as I saw you....you were uncomfortable. I just...I just want you to know that this marriage is a fresh beginning to our many beginnings and I want to give in my very best to make it work. You must know that I'll never touch you without your permission. I'll never make you uncomfortable with my touch and you will always be my priority in this wedding...in life. So please make yourself comfortable and never hesitate to speak your thoughts loud and clear.' he said it all leaving me stupified.

'I think you must... change. You can change here and I...I will go to the washroom. I have to take a shower. I'll take atleast 20 mins!!!' he said as he walked towards his closet, picking his essentials walking into the washroom while here I was left...

Thinking

Irritated

Angry

Strike that...Fuming!!!

If he thinks it's all going to be so easy peasy for Mr Neil Nayak then he seems to be living on some other planet...it's time to bring him back to planet earth!!!

It's time to make his feet touch the ground!!!

It's time to make him feel the heat!!!

I smirked!!!

✨

After executing my plan, I silently sat on the red king chair placed by the side of the window and smiled at my artwork as I sat popping some jeera peppermint. Entertainment with your favorite snack is always fun. Thank you Sanskriti. This is yummy. And thank you Nayaks for the wonderful equipments for executing my plan. This is fun.

That's when suddenly I heard the bathroom shower switch off as I awaited my spectator to walk out of his washroom to visualise the treat I've made ready for him. I'm sure he's not ready for the surprise but I love it when there is a shock element to an idea. That's what elevates a successful business pitch. I chuckled evilly waiting for him. Can't wait to see his reaction.

He walked out of the washroom coughing and crying screaming

'Oh my god...what is that smell and where is that smo-...Oh my god!!! What the hell???' and then he looked at me while I was sitting in the middle of that room that was right now burning into ashes.

'Avanthi....what the hell??? Shit!!!' he screamed trying his level best to jump through the fire to reach me. The curtains of the room, the bed and the decorative clothing had all caught fire...okay... caught fire or was put on fire...don't ask but seeing him coughing, trembling in fear and trying to reach me was fun.

The fire that burnt me all these years had now entered his life and I promise this time he won't be able to escape it. He invited this in his life and this fire is only going to burn him down to hell.

He ran back into the bathroom brought a few buckets of water trying to extinguish the fire as he struggled and kept repeating the action to put it off but little did he know this was just the beginning.

He somehow managed to reach me and offered his hand to me so I could come out of the fire circle but instead of giving him my hand, I rather smirked and sat there comfortably on that chair munching on my jeera peppermint while he screamed and begged calling my name again and again.

'Avanthi please... please give me your hand... please don't do this... Ava please....'

He was shouting, crying, begging and pleading. Ahhhhh such peace to my burning soul. I smirked and looked at him as I was slowly took the loose end of my saree and tried to take it closer to the fire flames when Neil looked at me in horror as he screamed

'Avanthi...No... please...No!!!'

But I smirked and lit the loose end of my saree on fire when Neil jumped and grabbed my saree making me remove the loose end of my saree throwing it away and before I could even utter another word he pulled me into a bone crushing hug and I...froze.

It's like although the entire room was burning into flames his one action made my body feel nothing. I went numb. His thick bearded face took a dip into the crook of my neck as his arms circled around my bare waist as his beastly body plastered itself onto my body like his life was dependent upon me. My throat went dry and suddenly I was scared of everything.

I who had lit this room on fire without even thinking of consequences was now scared just because this man was squeezing the hell out of me. His large hands rested on my bare back thanks to the backless blouse and my genius plan of burning the saree down to induce fear in him backfired and give him a glimpse of the extent I could go just to destroy him.

But here his one hug had made me melt down like fire on ice. I could feel wet tears on my bare shoulders as he rubbed and kissed my neckline whispering

'Ava .. you okay na...you are fine na Ava...God you scared me ..you scared me Ava...you scared me baby....' and again there were abrupt quick kisses mixed with tears showered all over my neck and jaws and my legs weakened. I didn't hug him back but his grip on my body which was strong was the only reason why I didn't collapse on the floor.

Suddenly the room door burst out and we noticed Omkar Anna, Kedar Bhavaji and Rudra Bhavaji rush into the room with fire extinguisher while Mukta Vanni and Sanskriti stood there with thick blankets.

'Are you guys okay???' we heard Kedar Bhavaji as he pulled me and Neil along with him when Mukta Vanni and Sanskriti covered me with blankets. Suddenly I saw Sharada aunty at the door and before we could say anything she pulled us both into a tight hug saying

'Thank god...you both are fine...thank god!!!'. Sharada aunty hugged us both bit suddenly Neil pulled both his mom and me into a tight embrace and I feel Neil squeezing me into his huge chest.

This wasn't going to end this way.

I wanted to scare him but not like this. I wanted him to know that if he crosses his limits I can go to any extent to protect myself and destroy him but this looked completely off track because here he was scared, worried and in tears...

Not because of me... but for me...

For my safety...

I wanted to runaway from him but ended up in his arms on the very first night of our marriage.

Look at the irony!!! Wow!!!