Chapter 97:

At the time of the night, the Khanna mansion was decorated for the Anniversary party of Avneil. Both families were present there. Guests had also arrived. All were enjoying the company of their friends and were gossiping about something.

Neil and Avni entered the party by holding hands with each other and all clapped for them.

Both families smiled to see them. People came to them and wished them they give them gifts. Avneil went to the family and took the blessings of Neela maa and hugged her.

Nm: wish you both a very happy anniversary.

Avneil: thank you, mamma/ Neela maa.

Ashish also wished them when they took his blessings. After that, other family members wished them.

Arav: Bua, happy anniversary.

He gives her a bouquet. Avni smiled. She bends and kissed his cheek.

Avni: thank you.

Neil: only wished to Bua what about me?

Arav bit his tongue.

Arav: sorry, I forgot about it. Sorry Gorilla uncle.

Neil makes a face. Avni suppressed her lips. Others also smiled. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Am I looking like Gorilla?

Arav looked at Avni. All were smiling. Arav shook his head. Neil picked him up and kissed his cheek.

Neil: good boy.

Prakash: Maddy did not come?

Shweta murmurs: that's the reason all are smiling.

Neela maa smiled and Maddy came.

Shweta murmurs: think about the devil and the devil is her.

Neil and Avni looked at her.

Maddy: did you say something, Bhabhi?

Shweta: n, nothing. Yes, I said, welcome Maddy Jiji.

Maddy: oh.

Maddy looked at Avni and Neil.

Maddy: Happy anniversary.

Avneil: thank you, Bua.

She gives them the gift.

Avneil were standing near the round table and a cake was kept in front of them. Neil picked the knife and gave that to Avni then he holds her hand and they cut the cake. All clapped. Avneil looked at each other and feed the cake. They smiled then they fed the cake to the family and came back to the table. Avni's eyes fall on a lady who was carrying a toddler baby. Avni got emotional. Neil looked at Avni while smiling and his smile faded by seeing Avni, he followed Avni's gaze and saw the baby then he looked at Avni. Neil keeps the hand on Avni's shoulder she looked at Neil. Neil nods, Avni nods by looking down she looked at the baby.

After marrying Neil, Avni had become more expressive, the girl who smartly hid her pain with her smile, she got caught by Neil. She also got emotional in front of him on small things too. The girl who didn't like to shed tears, breaks down in front of Neil maybe that's why husband-wife called the support system of each other.

Avni was standing with Sonia, Aman and Kareena.

Sonia: Avni, what did Neil give you as an anniversary gift.

Avni makes a face.

Avni: nothing.

Kareena: what?

Aman: and you?

Avni: why did I give him a gift when he did not give me a gift.

Aman smiled.

Kareena: correct.

Avni nods. They were talking and Neil looked at Avni he saw the pain behind her smile. Neil came there and clears his throat. Avni and all looked at him. Neil set his bow and smiled. He set on his knees and Avni was surprised. Neil forwards his hand.

Neil: Can I have the pleasure to dance with you.

Avni smiled, she gave her hand and other cheers for them. Neil took Avni to the centre and they intervene hand in hand. Avni's second hand was on Neil's shoulder who keeps his hand on Avni's waist.

Song: Dil diyan gallan.

Avni danced on the song, they were looking at the eyes of each other. Neil twirls her and they hold the hands of each other and came close to each other then Neil turns Avni and her back was touching Neil's body. Neil leaves her one hand and keeps Avni's hair at the side. Avni feels a shiver in her body. Slowly Neil takes out a diamond necklace from his pocket and put on Avni's Neck. Avni touched her neck and looked at it but can't see the necklace.

Avni turns to Neil who was smiling. All clapped for them. Both families were happy. Neela maa and Shweta prays for them. Avneil were looking at each other. Avni blushed. They looked at the family. Shweta signed perfect. Neil smiled.

Shweta and Bebe were standing and talking about something. A lady came to them. It was the same lady who saw Avneil outside the hospital.

Lady: Harleen, I didn't expect it from you.

Bebe: what happened, Sareeta Ji, what did I do? Is something missing?

Sareeta: Avni is going to give good news and you people did not even do the celebration.

Bebe and Shweta were confused. Bebe smiled fakely.

Bebe: what are you talking about, I didn't understand.

Sareeta: no need to hide. I saw Avni and Neil coming out from maternity hospital.

Shweta and Bebe frown.

Sareeta: Avni is pregnant, right? It is the first baby of the house and you people did not even celebrate it. When my Parvati got pregnant we distributed gifts and sweets to the friends and gave gold coins to our closed one relatives with branded saree. We also sent the gift for you.

Bebe: you are right, Sareeta Ji, but you must be mistaken you had seen someone else. Avni is not pregnant.

Sareeta: what are you saying, Harleen, how can I do a mistake in recognising our Neil.

Bebe and Shweta looked at each other.

Shweta: Neil is a doctor, maybe he went for some work.

Sareeta: and Avni?

Shweta: ab, aa.

Sareeta: seems like they didn't tell you.

Bebe and Shweta looked at her.

Sareeta: Is everything fine? I mean, is Avniii...

She stopped.

Shweta: no, no, everything is fine.

Sareeta nods.

Sareeta: ok, if you are saying. Maybe, they are not telling you. You know, the kids of today.

Bebe: Neil and Avni are not like others.

Sareeta: ok, let's see. I wish, Avni gives you good news soon.

They smiled. She went. Bebe and Shweta looked at each other.

Bebe: what she was saying?

Shweta: I have no idea.

Bebe and Shweta think.

A lady came to them and they smiled fakely to see her and they talk to her.

Avni and Neil were having dinner with the family. Avni wants to talk with Neil but didn't get the chance. All were enjoying themselves together.

Soon, the party ends. Avni was standing in front of the dressing table. She was removing her earrings and her eyes fall on the necklace she touched that and smiled. Neil was coming by pulling his T-shirt's sleeves up and he stopped at the door to see Avni. He smiled to see her and closed the door. Avni saw him in the mirror and kept the earrings on the dressing table. Neil came to her and cleared his throat. Avni smiled and stood up.

Avni: why you are not taking medicine for a throat infection.

Neil frowns. Avni removed her second earring and looked at Neil she smiled. Neil makes a face.

Neil: May God never give an unromantic wife like you to anyone.

Avni smiled.

Avni: don't worry, I am a single piece in this world.

Neil gives her a look. Avni smiled. Neil shook his head then he smiled. Avni kept earing on the table. Neil hugged her from behind.

Neil: by the way, what did you think that I forgot your gift.

Avni: no, I knew that you must have bought something for me but I was wondering that why you did not give me the gift till now.

Neil smiled.

Neil: I thought to give you a surprise but everything was planned already so I thought to give you a gift at the party as I knew that you will not ask for the gift.

Avni: really?

Neil nods.

Neil: umm, hmm.

Avni: and why did you think that?

Neil: because I know my wifey, she gives more value to the emotions than materialistic things.

Avni smiled.

Neil: by the way, where is my gift?

Avni: I gave you my precious time what else do you want.

Neil: really?

Avni: Yes.

Avni was smiling.

Neil: Avni yaar, please don't irritate me.

Avni: seriously, Neil. I did not buy any gift for you.

Neil: fine then. I know how to get a gift from you.

Avni raises her eyebrows. Neil turns her to him. He cups her face and kissed her. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: I got my gift and now I will punish you for not bringing a gift for me.

Avni was looking at him. Neil was about to pick her up.

Avni: s, s, s, stop.

Avni signed him relax. She takes out a box from the drawer of the dressing table and turns to Neil.

Avni: hmm.

Avni looked at him.

Avni: here is your gift.

Neil makes a sad face.

Neil: ssss! My bad. I thought I will do whatever I want on the name of punishment but.

Avni was smiling. Neil smiled, he forwards his hand to take the box but Avni takes her hand back. Neil makes a face and Avni gave him the gift. Neil opens the gift excitedly and Avni was looking at him by folding her arms and keeping the hand on her lips. Neil opened the cap of the box and he flinched when a Gorilla popped out. Neil got scared. Avni laughed. Neil looked at her then he looked at the Gorilla which was on the floor. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Avni ki Bachi.

Avni runs. Neil ran after her. Avni was wearing a gown so it was difficult for her to run for her. Neil holds her arm and they fall on the bed. Avni's hair was on her face they were panting. Neil keeps away the hair from Avni's face. They were looking at each other.

Neil: now where will you go?

Avni was looking at him and was smiling. They looked at the eyes of each other. Neil looked at Avni's lips then at her eyes. Neil again looked at the lips of Avni he leans to her and Avni closed her eyes. Neil looked at her and gives her a naughty smile. Neil starts tickling Avni who laughed.

Avni: Ne, Neil, Neil stop. Ne, Neil. P, ple, please.

Neil was smiling.

Neil: why, hmm? Do pranks, hmm. Will you do it again, hmm?

Avni was laughing and requesting him. Neil leaves her. Avni was panting. They looked at each other. Neil moves to the side and they sat. Avni got up she went to the cupboard and came back with a gift.

Avni: hmm.

Neil: now what is in it?

Avni: your gift.

Neil: another prank?

Avni smiled.

Avni: no, this is a gift. Our precious thing is caged in it.

Neil frowns. Avni looked at him. Neil smiled and Avni passed the gift to him. Neil opened the gift and was surprised to see it. Neil was looking at the gift and Avni was looking at him.