Neil woke up to her soft snores as she soundly slept on his chest with her hair splattered over his chest, some falling on his face!

Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he looked at her & it was probably the first time that he had seen her so peaceful after their marriage. The last time he had seen her so ecstatic was when she had defeated him in a debate competition in high school.

The woman was a mess. A hurricane in his otherwise calm life. And, he had always loved a good thunderstorm!

He kissed the top of her forehead as an involuntary smile found place on his face. He slowly massaged her scalp as he snuggled with her a little more.

The woman did not understand the concept of filters & boundaries. She loved too much, felt too much, grieved too much & was hurt a little too much! Neil knew for a fact that she was too pure & too sensitive, but he also knew that she was a bit too negative too! She could be harsh at times when she thought that her shield was breaking & was a little too quick to push people away. However, Neil could also affirm the fact that he had full intentions to stay & wasn't going to let her push him away.

He understood that it was tough for her to let people in & provided their history of being loggerheads ever since they knew each other didn't really help. He knew that it was going to be tough to crack her walls but he had always been sport for a good challenge. He enjoyed teasing her, it gave him a high nothing or nobody else could. And, for some really weird reason, he had developed this constant urge to take care of her, to make sure that she was happy. He wanted her to be happy with him & he was ready to work for that. It was not like he was madly in love with her yet, but he was sure that he definitely was on that track!

Shayad usko waqt lagega mujhe accept krne mein, humein accept krne mein, par main toh puri zindagi lekar hi aaya tha, usse dene ko!

May be he could try his luck to have his happily ever after!

[* Maybe it will take time for her to accept me, to accept us, but I had come with my entire life to give her, anyways! *]

________________

Just as he had promised, Neil had forwarded Neela's reports to his friends back in London, and at the moment he was driving to her place with Avni sitting besides him on the passenger seat. Reaching there, Neil parked the car in the driveway & they moved inside the house only to find Neela sitting on the sofa in the living room while she was reading a book. 

Avni rushed to hug her while Neil followed behind in slow steps with a small smile on his face. Neela smiled as she hugged her back & gestured Neil to join them too. He gladly obliged & hugged Neela from one side while Avni held her from the other. 

A - How are you, Maa? - she asked after pulling back from hug & sitting beside her. 

Ne - I am good, Avni. I feel much better now! - she said as she looked at her while Avni just smiled at her. 

A - I missed you! - she hugged her again as she scooted closer to her while Neil just watched them. 

They chatted for a while about the general things & Neil left no chance to pull Avni's leg whilst Neela teamed up with him, making her stare at them with a long grumpy face. After a while, when Neela tried to get up in order to prepare some snacks for them, Neil insisted her to sit & allow him to go & prepare tea & some snacks. After a while of persuasion, she finally gave in while he grinned at her before moving to the kitchen. Avni tried her best to stop her heart from fluttering the way it did but failed anyways! 

Ne - Avni, sweetheart, now tell me are you happy? Hm? - she asked slowly as she caressed Avni's face. 

A - Yes, Maa! I am happy. - she smiled genuinely. Mom & Dad are great, they always look out for me. And- -she tried to find the correct words to say further.

Ne - And? - she encouraged.

A - And, Neil is a nice man, Maa! - she sighed. He is....caring & patient & considerate & thoughtful. He..he is everything...I never had. He always makes sure that he never cross the line even when we're arguing, & once when he thought that he had hurt me, he apologized so sincerely that I could feel my heart melting!  His way of showing concern is making sure that I am well fed. He just keeps pestering me to eat something or the other every now & then! - she chuckled as she remembered when he had brought so much food on the terrace. And, unlike others, his anger is not disruptive, Maa! You know, he cooks when he is angry & not goes around shouting at others or throwing things in his wake. He remembers small details about me & I know that he never makes it obvious or show it, but he keeps making sure that I am comfortable at all times. And, you know, sometimes he over-explains the situation because he knows that I tend to overthink everything. - she couldn't help but smile a little. Maa, you know me, its not like I don't feel anything or don't want to acknowledge his efforts, but...it's just difficult, it's scary how easily he can make me feel things that I had always ran away from. I don't know how to handle all this. - she looked at her innocently while her mother just caressed her hair with a small smile on her face.  

To put it briefly, Neela was pleasantly shocked that Avni had spoken so much in a single conversation. To her dismay, her daughter had always struggled at expressing her emotions & wasn't much of a talker. So, to see her talking about Neil with so much passion & admiration in her eyes was surprising for Neela. She had always known that Neil was the right man for Avni but she couldn't have fathomed that he'd break through her walls in such small amount of time. Her heart was finally at peace now. 

Ne - It's alright, Avni. It's okay to be scared. Take your time, Beta. But, don't run away from love when its coming your way, okay? - she spoke slowly when Avni just looked at her while blinking her eyes making her chuckle. Everything is going to be okay! I always knew that Neil is the kind of man you'll fall in love with! - she smiled at her.

A - We don't love each other, Maa! - she averted eyes as she felt her cheeks heating up. 

Ne - Yet! - she gave her a knowing smile while Avni just shook her head. 

They talked for while before Neil made his presence felt as he brought tea for all of them. He had cooked upma for Neela & sandwiches for himself & Avni as he had figured that they were her favourite snack to munch upon. Conversation flew easily as they finished the food & Avni didn't really had any memory of being this elated in a long long time. 

N - So, Aunty, I was saying- -he was cut in mid-sentence when Neela spoke. 

Ne - Neil? 

N - Ji? 

Ne - Please, call me Maa? - she asked hopefully making him look at her & then at Avni who was already looking at him. Avni blinked her eyes at him making him smile a little & then he looked back at Neela. 

N - Maa, I was saying why don't you  come stay with us for a while? Mom would be really happy to see you! Please come? - he asked making Avni look at him with surprise & some other emotion which she herself couldn't figure out.  

Neela denied his humble request politely but just as his mother, Neil could be persuasive too when he wanted to. Ultimately, she had to give in his demands & Avni just couldn't wipe the smile off her face that Neil had given her. 

The guy was doing things to her. And, she could only resist this much!

_______________

Shweta was more than joyful when Neela came to their house for staying. The two friends chirped as Shweta helped Avni to arrange Neela's stuff in the guest bedroom. Neil was watching a show while lying on the bed when Avni came inside the room. She cleared her throat in order to gain his attention but it was a futile attempt. Sighing, she walked up to him & sat besides him which made him look at her. 

Neil paused the show & took his earbuds off as he sat up cross-legged opposite to her. He raised his eye brows in order to ask what she was doing there. Avni wanted to say something, she had almost opened her mouth but then closed it back & shook her head while fiddling with her dress. Neil just kept looking at her with furrowed brows as his hands inadvertently brushed a lock of her long wavy hair behind her ear & his thumb then rested on her cheek, rubbing it on her skin in random patterns. 

N - What happened, Mehta? You want to eat something? Hazelnut Brownie order kardun? - now that made her laugh while he just looked at her innocently. 

A - I am not hungry! - she shook her head. I, uh, just brought something for you! - she bit the insides of her lower lips slightly.

N - A present? - he asked as he his eyes twinkled in surprise when she nodded in answer while blinking her eyes. 

Avni took out a small black box from her handbag & handed it over to him. Neil grinned at her as he opened the box to find a custom made  black coloured pen with a golden nib & a golden clip. He noticed that his name was inscribed at the clip of the pen in a beautiful calligraphy print, and the brand was Neil's favourite. He rubbed his thumb over his name & grinned as he looked up at Avni.

N - Thanks, Mehta. This is so cool. I'll use this! - he announced still grinning at her. 

Avni just smiled back and blinked her eyes at him. Neil could sense that something was going on in her mind & she was struggling to let it out. But he could not understand what it was. He had thought that she would be happy now that Neela Aun--Maa was here but she looked worked up for some reason. 

N - Is there something more, Tweety? You wanna say something? - he asked as he placed the box on the nightstand. 

A - Yes. I, um, I wanted to thank you. And, I wanted to apologize for that day, you know! - she fiddled with her dress a little more out of nervousness. Why was this so tough! 

N - Oh-kay! So...do it, Tweety! - he chirped a little too innocently. 

A - Yeah, I...I'm trying. - she spoke while he stifled a laugh. Um, so...I'm really grateful for uh, I owe you for- - he couldn't control it anymore & broke out in fits of laughter while her eyes snapped up to him realising that he was just teasing her. Will you please stop being a prude, Khanna? - she gritted her teeth in annoyance. 

N - I can't with you! - he laughed more.

Avni huffed in disbelief as she got up from the bed & started to walk towards the bathroom when he yanked her back, making her fall on the bed beneath him. 

A - Let go. I want to take a shower! - she almost wiggled under his grip.

N - Hm? - he smirked. How about I help you with that & may be you can thank me for that too, huh Tweety? Good idea, no? - he was lying on top of her now. 

A - I need to help Mom with dinner. - she blinked as her fingers held his collar. 

Before Neil could counter, there was a knock at the door which made both of them jump a little in surprise. 

"Avni, sweetheart! Could you help me order some groceries, please? I don't know how to use this app." - came Shweta's voice. 

Wrong timing, Mom! - Neil groaned while it was Avni's turn to laugh! 

A - Coming, Mom! - she shouted as she pushed him back & scurried towards the door. 

However, before she could make it out of the room, Neil had reached up to her & pulled her back by tugging her wrist. Her hands landed on his shoulders as she tried to steady herself while he firmly held her by her waist. 

N - You don't have to thank me for anything. Just, just don't push me away, okay? Allow me to stay! Will you? - he spoke with vulnerability evident in his voice. Avni couldn't form coherent words when his fingers were caressing her waist in slow gentle motions, so she just ended up nodding to make sure he knew that her answer was affirmative. Also, you don't have to apologize, let's just forget about that argument, hm? - she nodded again with a small smile on her face this time. 

________________

A/N : I know its a short story but since its a hate-to-love slow burn, I couldn't finish it in 4/5 shots. The next chapter will be the last for sure. Thankyou for sticking in till here. 

Regards, 

Nerdy Turtle! 🐢