Chapter 03:

It was the time of night, the moon was shining in the sky and the roads were flowing with the vehicles. In the villa, everyone was present at the door. Avni and Vidyut were standing by hugging each other. Neil was sadly looking at them. Avni and Vidyut broke the hug.

Avni: what a pleasant surprise.

Vidyut smiled and Riya came to him. Vidyut smiled to see her.

Vidyut: hey, miss bride.

They smiled. Vidyut and Riya hugged and they broke the hug. Riya hit his arm.

Riya: Idiot, you are coming now.

Vidyut: I came on time even earlier and you are blaming me. Wah.

They smiled. Riya turned and she saw everyone.

Riya: aray, why you all are standing there? Come, he is our friend Vidyut Pandit.

Avni intervened her arm in Vidyut’s arm.

Avni: A very special friend.

Neil was shocked. He was looking at the intervened arms of Avni and Vidyut.

Karan: oh.

They came except Neil.

Riya: Vidyut, he is Karan.

Karan met Vidyut,

Vidyut: how are you, man?

Karan: good, how are you?

Vidyut: good.

Riya introduced them and Neil came to them slowly.

Riya: and he is Neil, Karan’s cousin brother, and best friend.

Vidyut forward his hand.

Vidyut: hi.

They shook hands. Neil smiled fakely.

Neil: Hi.

Vidyut smiled. They took their hands back.

Avni: Vidyut, you should come earlier, today we went to the beach and we enjoyed ourselves a lot there.

Vidyut smiled and Neil gulped by looking down and then he looked away.

Vidyut: we will again go there. Now, I have come, now we will have a lot of fun.

Avni and Riya hooted and Neil was surprised to see their excitement.

Avni: oh, we planned shopping tomorrow and you have to join us.

Vidyut: I am in.

They smiled and did Hi-Fi. Neil was zero percent liking that, and he was confused also that why he is not liking it because he is not a jealous person then why is he feeling like that? Neil looked at Avni who was smiling to see Vidyut. Neil felt bad.

Later, everyone gathered for dinner and Neil came there late. Neil looked up and the thing he saw that pricked his heart. Neil saw that Vidyut and Avni are sitting together and they are talking and smiling. Neil looked down and then he looked away. Neil came and he got a chair in front of Avni. Avni saw him and she ignored him.

Karan: Neil, you got late.

Neil: yeah, I was talking to Dad.

 Karan: oh, how is Nanu now?

Neil shook his head.

Neil: no improvement.

Everyone got sad and the Mehta family felt bad. Neil smiled to cheer up them.

Neil: I talked to Dadu also and he asked me to send him pictures and videos of every function, especially Karan’s haldi and he asked us to pour the haldi on him.

They smiled.

Neil: Karan, now you are gone.

Neil rubbed his hands and others smiled.

Neil: but for now let’s have dinner.

They chuckled. Everyone was having dinner and Avni saw that Neil had a small quantity of food and he is eating slowly. Tension was clearly shown on his face.

Avni in mind: he is irritating but he loves his family a lot.

Avni smiled to see Neil.

Later, Neil was sitting on the bed and he was seeing the picture of today’s visit to the beach. Neil smiled to see the pictures and then he saw the flashes that Avni and Vidyut hugged each other and Avni was happy to meet him. Neil thinks.

Neil: are they in a relationship? The way, Vidyut was looking at Avni and Avni’s happiness was saying that something is between them… but, Riya said that he is their friend.

Neil thinks.

Neil: But, Avni said that he is a very special friend. Special?

Nein paused for a while.

Neil: but she also said, a friend… Neil. Why will she tell you about her relationship status? Maybe, they didn’t make it official till now… but why I am getting affected by it? Why I felt hurt?

Neil ran his hand through his hair while closing his eyes and he said: what is happening to me?

Neil caught his hair and sighed then Neil opened his eyes and he sighed. Neil thinks and he saw Avni’s solo picture in the hat. Neil caressed it. Neil thinks.

The next day, they went shopping at the mall. Neil came to the gent’s section and where he searched for the shirt. Neil turned his face and he saw Avni and Vidyut there. Neil was shocked to see them. Avni was helping Vidyut to buy shirts and Neil got hurt seeing it. Neil looked away. Neil looked at them and he again looked away. Neil was about to go but Jay came there and Neil smiled to see him. They did the shopping. Avni saw Neil but she ignored him and goes with Vidyut. Neil was looking at her.

Later, Neil was standing outside the shop and the girls were busy selecting dresses. Neil was there for them. Neil turned his face and he saw a beautiful pendant. Neil liked the pendant and to see it, Avni’s think and her image came into his mind and in front of him. Neil was surprised that why Avni’s thought came to his mind. Neil looked away because he don’t want to think about it but the pendant was attracting him so he again looked at it but again he turned his face. The girls came out and they talked then they were going. Neil looked at the pendant and then he goes.

Later, the elders were busy with discussion and the youngsters were busy with their enjoyment. They were sitting in the living area.

Kareena: Avni Di?

Avni: hmm.

Kareena: are you and Vidyut bhai in a relationship?

Neil got alert and looked at Avni who was stunned. Vidyut looked at Avni in fact, everyone’s eyes were on Avni. Avni looked at Vidyut and others. Riya was smiling. Suddenly, Avni start laughing and everyone was confused except Riya. Avni tried to control her laugh and she was panting. Avni coughed and she took a breath.

Avni: Kareena, we are just friends, nothing else.

Neil was relieved. He felt like to dance and jump in happiness. Neil’s face lit up.

Kareena: Really?

Avni smiled and nodded.

Sonia: but you both look close to each other.

Avni: because we are childhood friends.

Vidyut looked down and he looked hurt.

Sonia: oh and we thought…

Avni: That we are in a relationship. Right?

Sonia: yeah.

Avni smiled.

Avni: well, the mistake is not yours. Many people misunderstood us even in our college time, our batch mates thought that we are in a relationship. But in reality, nothing is like that. We are just friends.

Avni looked at Vidyut.

Avni: right, Vidyut.

Vidyut looked at Avni and he smiled slightly or I say, a fake smile.

Vidyut: right.

Avni smiled but she felt strange. Neil also felt that Vidyut looks low. Neil thinks.

Later, the moon was shining over the Villa. A swimming pool was also there and the moonlight was reflecting on it. The view was looking beautiful. Inside, the Villa, Neil was sitting at the edge of the bed holding a pendant in his hand.

It was the same pendant that he liked. Neil couldn’t stop himself from buying this pendant. Neil held the pendant in the palm of his second hand and he was smiling by seeing the pendant.

Neil: I don’t know, what it is. It is love or attraction but something is between us. I know, you don’t like me but what do I do? My heart is not in my hand. My feelings are not in my control.

Neil smiled.

Neil: today, when you said that Vidyut is your friend and nothing else is between you, I can’t explain in words how happy I was. I felt like to dance.

Neil smiled.

Neil: Till now, I was thinking that maybe, something is between you and Vidyut because of this reason, I thought to hold back myself but now when you have cleared that misunderstanding so now I will try to earn your love but before that, I will earn your friendship.

Neil smiled.

Neil: now wait and watch, Miss Avni Mehta, what this Neil Khanna will do.

Neil smiled.

The sun rises, Neil was going to his gang but Ketan called him. Neil stopped and he turned.

Neil: Yes, uncle.

Ketan: come here.

Neil nodded and he goes. Neil got busy in a discussion with Ketan and Ashish. They were sitting on the couch.

Neil: Ok, uncle, I will go.

Ketan: are you sure, you can go?

Neil: yeah, yeah, don’t worry, I will handle it.

Ketan and Ashish smiled.

Ketan: thank you, beta.

Neil smiled.

Neil: uncle…

They smiled.

Neil: I am going now.

Neil and the others smiled. Neil goes and Ashish was looking at him.

Ashish: Neil is a nice guy.

Ketan: hmm.

They smiled and Ashish thinks.

Almost the whole day, Neil was out and when he came back, he looked tired. Neil sat on the couch and sighed. The boys were sitting there. A maid came and she gave water to him.

Neil: Thank You.

Neil drank water.

Jay: the work is done?

Neil sighed and kept the glass on the bed.

Neil: yeah, I talked to the wedding planner. They will handle everything and I also saw the venue. Now, Karan and Riya select the theme then they will start the preparation. Tomorrow, they will come.

Karan: Ok, you look tired, go to your room and have some rest.

Neil nodded and he looked around.

Neil: where is everyone?

Karan: Mami took the girls with her for packing the gifts.

Neil smiled.

Neil: Kareena?

Jay: she is also with them.

Karan: Neil, don’t take much stress. Everything will be managed. I know, Dadu and Mamu gave you responsibility and you are doing your best. Everything will go well.

Neil smiled.

Neil: you don’t take stress, it is your wedding, you just enjoy and left the rest at me.

They smiled.

The next day, the girls decided to go parlor. Neil decided to drop them so, he was standing in the living area and waiting for the ladies. Avni came there and Neil saw her. Avni was in a casual dress. She saw Neil and then she was going to the couch.

Neil: where are the others?

Avni looked at him.

Avni: I don’t know.

Neil: you are not going to the parlor?

Avni: No.

Neil was stunned. Neela maa came there with Avni.

Nm: She and Parlor? Avni and the parlor have no relation at all. In fact, Avni is allergic to the parlor.

Neil smiled and Avni made a face.

Avni: Mamma, you know, I don’t like the parlor and all. These all things are fake and cause damage to the skin.

Neil smiled.

Neil murmured: and you don’t need that too.

Neela maa and Avni looked at him.

Avni: What?

Neil got conscious.

Avni: did you say something?

Neil: ab. Aa..No, nothing, I said where did these girls leave?

Avni: oh.

Neil: yeah.

Nm: I am going to check.

Neil: no, aunty, it’s ok. They will come, you don’t worry.

They smiled and Avni goes to the couch and she sat. Avni start using her phone and Neela maa shook her head. Neil and Neela maa smiled to see each other.

Later, the girls went parlor and Neil went with them. The girls went inside and Neil stayed in the car. Neil took out his phone and scrolled down his phone and suddenly something stroke his mind and he opened his social media account and he searched for Avni’s account. Neil got it in Riya’s account and he saw Avni’s picture. Some were solo and some were with friends and family. Some were quotes. Neil smiled to see Avni’s picture.

Neil: beautiful.

Neil smiled.

The day passed like this and the girls came back after almost five hours. Neil was sitting in the driving seat. The girls got in the car.

Neil: you all came so earlier.

Neil saw time in his watch.

Neil: Just five hours. Only five hours.

Riya was sitting in the backseat.

Riya: oh come on, Neil, our services are still left we came earlier because of you. She will come home tomorrow.

Neil was stunned.

Neil: what?

Riya: yeah. We came earlier for you.

Neil: really? Thank you so much, Riya, you are so kind.

Kareena: Bhai.

Neil looked away. Neil starts the car and they go.

The next day, everyone was busy with preparation and decoration. Because it was Kareena’s birthday and she was sad that she will not celebrate her birthday. Neil can’t see her upset so he organized a small party for her. The girls made Kareena busy and the boys decorated the living area. The decorations were complete and everyone went to get ready. Neil came back after changing and he checked the preparations. Neil sighed and smiled to see it. Neil turned his face and he was surprised to see there.

Avni was coming downstairs and she kept her hair behind her hair. Neil was just looking at her. Neil blinked his eyes to assure that she is in real or his imagination. Neil smiled.

Neil: Beautiful.

Neil smiled. Avni saw Neil and she looked away. Neil smiled.

Later, Karan got Kareena there and they switched on the light. Kareena was surprised to see the decorations.

Everyone shouted together: happy birthday.

Kareen got happy and excited. Neil smiled to see her. Kareena saw him and she ran to him. Kareena hugged Neil. Avni was surprised to see that and others smiled. Kareena cried and Neil frowned.

Neil: Kareena.

Kareena: Thank you, bhai.

Kareena broke the hug.

Kareena: I know, you did all this. You are my best brother.

Neil smiled and he cupped Kareena’s face.

Neil: today is your special day so wipe these tears. My sister looks good while smiling, not crying.

Everyone got emotional and Kareena hugged Neil.

Kareena: I love you.

Neil smiled and kissed her hair.

Neil: I love you more.

Everyone smiled and Avni was stunned. Avni thinks.

Avni in mind: Neil is not that bad. He is good at heart. He knows how to respect elders and how to treat youngsters… did I misunderstand him?  Have I made the wrong image of his?

Neil’s eyes fell on Avni who passed a smile to him and Neil also smiled.