III. ACCEPTANCE

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Here are the beautiful aesthetics by a talented sweetheart, Shravaneek15. It melted my heart when she offered to do it!

The chapter might be confusing as hell. But it's the most crucial chapter of the book! I tried making things as clear as possible. I hope it's not as confusing as I think it is!

Longest chapter ahead!!!

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16. Ending confusion.


Avni Kashyap stood by her father's side as the pooja finished, and it was time for rings.

"Avni, forward your hand," Her mother whispered, encouraging her. That was the first time he touched her sliding the ring into her finger. His first touch was something that she would remember for a lifetime, even when she wasn't fully ready to move on.

The perfectly cut diamond is embedded in gold with an intricate pattern. It was beautiful.

It was her turn, and Avni sucked in a deep breath. She would be his half-wife from that moment, and she forced her mind to act. Her heart was still reluctant and hopeful for a miracle.

Avni smiled brightly, recalling the day of their engagement as Piya and Ishaan exchanged rings.

Their engagement was a fun affair. Piya didn't easily slide the ring into Ishaan's finger. Poor guy blushed to plead her to do it in front of relatives. She noticed Ishaan's playful threatening glare directed towards Piya and smiled heartily.

"Meet my sweetheart, the one and only Avni Siddharth Malhotra," Piya introduced her to Ishaan after the engagement.

Ishaan was about to shake hands with her, but Avni hesitated. She was never comfortable with new people's touch.

Ishaan instantly withdrew, understanding her uncertainty without making it a scene, and smiled. That moment Avni realized Ishaan was a gentleman perfect for Piya.

Ishaan is a muscular and 5'10" man with tanned skin. He had a dimple that became more apparent when he smiled.

Avni was extremely happy for her friend, who is more like a sister. She could see the spark in Piya's eyes when her eyes met his, and she seemed so in love.

"Siddharth is the best, though!"

Avni's eyes shone, praising Siddharth in her head.

"I've heard a lot about you. Piya talks about you at least once a day, and I've been very eager to meet you," Ishaan spoke.

Avni smiled, responding, "I'm sure Piya exaggerated." She has always been shy around new people.

"Let's have our dinner! I'm starving," Piya filled in the awkward silence after a few minutes.

"Ah, Man! Ellen is such a badass. She scares the hell out of people," Ishaan exclaimed as they spoke about talk shows while eating.

Avni felt slightly uncomfortable with curse words, but she was back to normal before anyone noticed.

"I like Jimmy Fallon more. Stephen Colbert is my favorite, though. Specifically, the one with Michelle Obama," Avni babbled, getting comfortable.

"You guys carry on," Ishaan excused himself to meet a few of his friends.

"What do you feel?" Piya grilled Avni excitedly.

"Just an average guy. A 4 out of 10 maybe..." Avni's mouth twisted in disapproval.

"Please tell me you're joking," Piya implored hopefully.

"I am, Hon! He's amazing and a perfect match for you," Avni giggled, letting her breathe.

The night had been long and beautiful. Avni lay on the bed, twisting and turning, unable to sleep.

She strolled to a nearby shelf and picked out her wedding album. Witnessing Piya and Ishaan's engagement excited her, and she craved to relive her memories.

Avni quickly skipped a few initial photographs and landed into engagement pictures.

Avni was dressed in a mustard-colored saree and Siddharth in a white shirt during the function.

She looked her best, with almost five people working hard on her hair, saree draping, and minimal makeup. She laughed, recalling.

Siddharth's full photo came into view as she turned the page. He looked extremely handsome that day in a white shirt and grey trousers. The small Tilak on his forehead added to his charm.

Avni smiled, running her fingers over the ring on his right hand. It suited him as if it was designed for him. There was nothing special about the ring as her parents weren't wealthy, but he handles it with utmost care even today. She has noticed him smiling and kissing it.

The wedding was super intimate with hundred people, just as she desired.

Avni got dressed in a bright maroon lehenga intricately embroidered with golden and silver thread work. Diamonds, Emeralds, and sapphires were stuck to it, freaking her out then. She has never worn such expensive dresses till that day.

Jewelry is not even something describable. It cost a fortune. Avni tried keeping the look as simple as possible, but it still was a lot.

Siddharth got ready in a beautiful cream-colored Dhoti. The traditional and personable appearance added to his striking personality.

They looked great together. She was too gloomy to notice how perfectly they complemented each other.

Avni was lost admiring his dark chocolate brown eyes and long lashes that drew her attention. She ran her fingers over the picture, examining them closely. His eyes had a spark, and she blushed as the photograph stared at her.

Avni always felt awkward staring at someone's pictures, but she surprisingly felt calm and peaceful that day.

The trance was broken by a ring on her phone.

"Hello," Avni answered without checking the caller.

"Hey, Baby," Siddharth spoke, munching biscuits she baked for him before leaving.

"Siddharth," Avni exclaimed, feeling happy.

"Haven't slept yet?" He asked, checking the time on his wristwatch. It's past 1 am. Avni usually sleeps early.

"Why did you call if you thought I slept?" Avni giggled, knowing the answer. She wanted to hear it from him.

"You sleep tight, gorgeous. A phone ring can never disturb," Siddharth chuckled.

Nope! This is not done. Avni wanted to hear that he missed her.

"Not always," Avni defended herself.

"Says my lady who snuggled against my chest while I carried her to bed," Siddharth teased.

Avni blushed to recall. She always snuggled into him, caring the least about her surroundings in sleep. She cares about nothing while she's fast asleep, which is every time she sleeps.

Siddharth didn't want to admit that he missed her terribly. Avni would feel horrible and probably return. He pestered her to go sensing Piya is important to her, and he didn't wish to ruin it.

It has become challenging to focus on his work, too, but he somehow managed. He returned late at night as he couldn't sleep and woke up early in the morning, leading the almost mechanical life he was once used to.

The notes Avni left for him, and the few text messages she sent occasionally kept him going.

"What are you doing?" Siddharth asked after a long silence.

"I... I..." Avni stuttered, unable to come up with something. She couldn't tell him that she was admiring his chocolate brown eyes.

"Just checking my phone," She lied.

"And you?" Avni asked, diverting the topic.

"Gazing at the stars," Siddharth smiled. She is the one who taught him the art of finding peace from staring at the sky.

And they continued talking almost all night.

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"Avni, Wake up," Piya yelled into her ears while she snuggled more into the comforter.

"Go away," Avni mumbled in frustration, covering her ears with the pillow.

"Do you know the time, sweetheart?" Piya giggled.

"6 in the morning?" Avni murmured, sitting and rubbing her eyes.

"Would you believe me if I said 11 am?"

"What?" Avni gasped with her eyes wide open. She quickly checked her phone to realize the time.

"No worries. Freshen up, and we can have lunch together," Piya said, folding the comforter and picking a dress for her.

"When did you come?" Avni asked, grabbing a towel.

"An hour before. I was helping Aunty in the kitchen."

"Sahil is here, finally! That idiot wants to meet you more than me," Piya laughed, disclosing the reason for her arrival.

"Oh my goodness! I can't wait to meet him," Avni squealed in delight. She has been waiting for so long to talk to him.

"When are we seeing him?" Avni queried.

"He's in Pune. Let's have lunch and start. You guys can talk before I finish my last-minute shopping and join," Piya informed.

Pune is an hour away from their village.

--

"Hey girls, How are you?" Sahil exclaimed, walking to her. He's always been there for her and is more like a brother.

"Never better," Piya giggled, giving him a side hug.

"I'm all good," Avni chirped as he glanced at her.

"I'll finish my shopping while you guys chat a bit." Piya excused herself.

"Tell me. How's life?" Sahil grilled for answers. He knew everything about her love story and remained strong support in her tough times.

"My head might blast soon from too many questions. I am digging for answers, but none seem convincing," Avni sighed.

"Let's talk about Siddharth, first. How's he treating you?" Sahil began. If his friend needed him, he was ready to sort out her issues.

"Siddharth is charming, kind-hearted, and caring. He cares about everything without ever showcasing it."

"Go on," Sahil urged her to tell more.

"I feel like a princess while he's beside me. He fulfills every wish of mine without me having to utter a word. I feel so special every time he looks at me. I am so blinded to not feel anything for him till now. He's a dream guy for any girl."

"How do you feel about him, Avni? I know you're very picky. Is he your dream guy type before you loved Santosh?" Sahil questioned in a stern tone.

"Absolutely. I can't wish for anything more in life with him beside me. But I feel horrible, Sahil."

"Why?" Sahil urged. He is the one friend who read her mind thoroughly. He knew everything from her happiness to her insecurities.

"The day I agreed to the marriage, I didn't sign up for the task lying in front of me now. I never intended to fall in love with him. I wanted to be a good friend to my husband and finish off this loveless married life the way most couples do, as you suggested. I expected an average guy but Siddharth turned out to be amazing."

"I thought not having Santosh wouldn't force me to stop loving him. But, having Siddharth, a gentleman in every sense of the word, is forcing me to forget and move on," She continued.

"You wish to love him?" Sahil smiled.

"I wish to fall irrevocably in love with him. The kind of love that you feel from the very bottom of your heart and churns your stomach... The love that gleams in your eyes when you glance at that special someone. I wish to give him that love which outshines my love for everyone else in this world. I desire to worship him in a way."

"Why?"

"He deserves it for accepting me the way I am without ever trying to mold me to his liking," Avni was in tears by then. Her voice came out in whispers.

"What's holding you back then?"

"I feel guilty. I feel like a cheater full of selfishness. I loved Santosh most ardently. But I didn't choose to remain single for a lifetime and married Siddharth. There was a time I wished to fall in love with Santosh the way I now wish to love Siddharth. This is the time when I don't even know what I feel for him anymore. I care for him and wish for his happiness, though. Didn't I love him enough? True love never fades, right?"

"Is this what's stopping you from taking a step ahead? Is it all?"

"Yes! I should love myself first to fall in love all over again. I need confidence that I deserve Siddharth. I can't love him, presuming he deserves better. And I can't love myself feeling like a cheater."

By the time Avni finished, Sahil had broken into a bright smile.

"I pretty much hate myself. And you're smiling at me?" Avni whined.

"I know the solution to your problem, Cutie-pie," Sahil pretended to raise his collar that's not there.

"Uh-huh?" Avni urged him to talk.

"I've never seen a person love someone the way you loved Santosh. Never." Sahil began.

"You gifted him a cake on his birthday after one month of wholesome research. Just to surprise him and bring a smile to his face. You cut your outings and saved money for that expensive ice cream cake. The gift might mean nothing to him, but I knew how important it was to you.

You bore everything he had to say and still didn't utter a word. He called your feelings bullshit, and you kept quiet even when you could defend yourself, knocking some sense into his head. Why? You didn't intend to hurt him.

I bugged you to call him even after he blocked you. You called him twenty times every day for 441 days without missing a day, my dear! I was shocked by the intensity of your love.

Before you argue that you disturbed him, let me tell you it's not called disturbance. It was your way of showing you wouldn't leave him during the toughest of situations.

The disturbance is calling from a different number every day or stalking him on social media, making his life hell. He doesn't even realize you called unless he thinks of you and checks.

If you forgot, let me remind you. He thought you were 'Good' even after all those calls. Had it been any other girl, he would've probably taken the call and scolded her. Even he realized what you had for him is love, and you're a genuine person.

You were fucking ready to cancel your marriage to Siddharth till the last moment, even after knowing Santosh had nothing and Siddharth had everything when it came to money.

He was very harsh to you. You still don't hate him after all this. You always saw things from his point of view and backed him in every word he uttered against you.

You fought for your togetherness cause he would be happy with that. You left him after he changed cause he couldn't be happy with you anymore. His happiness was the whole fucking matter.

About being single, I have a very different view. You never even looked at a guy throughout the five years you had feelings for him. You chose to marry only because you felt responsible and wished to keep your parents happy.

I haven't met a girl who did half as much. If that wasn't love, I don't know what is.

And I haven't met a more beautiful, strong girl like you."

"Coming to true love never fades, I don't know who told you that. It's a matter of time. Life keeps changing.

You love your parents the most in your childhood. Later it changes to the spouse. Then it might be your kids.

Does that mean you stopped loving your parents from the moment you fell in love with your spouse? No

It means you don't have the opportunity of feeling your love towards them. The situations don't often arise to realize the intensity of your love towards your parents after marriage.

The same is the case with Santosh. You still love him, but you don't have the situation to feel it anymore. I bet you would still try helping him out in his most challenging times," Sahil explained.

"Then what about Siddharth?" Avni asked.

"It takes two hands to clap. Similarly, the love you wish to feel is what only Siddharth can give you.

The kind of love you wish to realize cannot be one-sided. You loved Santosh to the greatest extent possible without his help. It needs his efforts from there on to bind you two together, which fortunately wasn't there," Sahil exclaimed.

"Fortunately?" Avni frowned.

"Yeah. Siddharth is your man, while Santosh is a passing cloud. You don't practice driving with a new car, da! Santosh is that old car type material for practice," Sahil laughed.

"What?" Avni blurted out in shock.

"Yeah. See it this way. You became a better person after falling in love with Santosh. You became patient, tolerating, and so much more. Accept it and move on with Siddharth. It's also good for Santosh that way. He will find someone right for himself," Sahil smiled.

"I feel so better realizing I'm not a cheater like I'm imagining in my head." Avni let out a sigh of relief.

The thought that she loved Santosh, she was able to move on only because he didn't love her back convinced her that she wasn't the wrong girl. Avni smiled as a heavy burden had been removed off her chest!

It's time to walk with Siddharth and embrace her happiness with him. Time to close the chapter of Santosh and move on with Siddharth!

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Double Thank you for reading❕❗

Do comment guys! I will not be able to take this story forward anymore if you choose to remain quiet❗❗❗❗

What do you feel❓

Confusing? Doesn't make any sense? Understood? Anything! Just say anything!🙈

That's pretty much Avni's feelings and Sahil's help❕😁

Don't everyone deserve a friend like Sahil❓🤩🤩

Now that the thing holding her back is dealt with, she would move on. Happy❓

Are we ready for a beautiful journey of Avni and Siddharth's togetherness❓

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