Hello everyone,

In case you guys still remember this story please do read this last chapter 😊

I know it's almost one year late update but I didn't want to leave this incomplete as this story is close to my heart.

Others who've forgotten this story, I suggest u to binge read it from the beginning 😅 I'm sure u guys would like it and ur time won't go waste...

So without much a do, here's the last chapter... BTW don't forget to hit like and comment 😊 I love your in line comments so please do ❤

Part 13

As agreed, Avni drove half way and Neil the other half. The drive was fun and lively with Shwetha's cute English banter and of course baby sitting the princess of Khanna family, Parthavi.

Soon, they reached Brussels and carried on with visiting the tourist spots and also shopping some exotic chocolates as Shwetha desired to buy. Neela was happy that finally her Avni was blessed with a complete family that loved her unconditionally.

Avni and Neil enjoyed their time during the trip, occasionally not missing out on their romance when their parents took care of Parthavi. AvNeil were happy and contended with how life bestowed them with so much happiness and love.

By evening, while shopping around in one of the flea markets, Neil held Avni's wrist and dragged her along with him leaving Avni bewildered at her dear man's sudden gesture. He lead her to a secluded corner and insisted her on keeping her eyes shut and Avni agreed without much drama.

He carefully placed an uncut diamond pendant chain on her neck and clasped the hook. Then he held her arms and said that the diamond had their initials "A,N,P" inscribed in such way that it was seen only through a magnifying glass. He confessed that he could have given her a diamond pendent with the names visible but he wanted the diamond to be special and unique that was just between the two of them and for none to know or to see. Avni was elated at Neil's thoughts and had happy tears in her eyes as she hugged him tight and whispered I love you...

"By the way Neil, when did you get this customised? It'd take long time I believe? " Avni asked as she touched the pendant lovingly.

"I'd called up the handmade jewelry mart here last night and compelled them to get it done by today... I'd to pay them extra but baby, I'd purchase the whole world for you...this is nothing!" Neil said with his signature smirk.

"Uff... Such a drama king you are Neil" Avni smacked his bicep playfully but also kissed the same place with love the next moment. Neil embraced her in his arms and pecked her forehead.

It was almost 8pm when the entire family was done roaming and shopping. Since they had quite a heavy lunch, none wanted to have dinner early so they decided to drive back to Amsterdam and have something light at home instead.

Parthavi slept off in the car due to exhaustion and so were Neela, Shwetha and Prakash. AvNeil glanced at their family sleeping peacefully and their hearts swelled with peace.

They reached home by 11 in the night, but nobody had the strength to either cook or to eat due to the tiredness of roaming so much the whole day so everyone bid Good night and called a day as they headed towards their rooms.

Avni placed Parthavi in her crib that was placed next to their bed. While she was placing her, she cooed and cried a bit but Avni shushed her to sleep tactfully.

Neil came out of the closet after changing into his night clothes and told Avni to go change and he'd look after Parthavi. Avni nodded and tip toed into their closet trying not to disturb her daughter's slumber.

Neil sat next to the crib and tapped Parthavi's belly lovingly so she could sleep well. He had a satisfied smile on his face for being blessed to be a father to his beautiful daughter and a life partner to his Avni. Somewhere in the corner of his heart, he may have had the thought of not being wedded to Avni but he didn't care much though because without a legal marriage also he had everything he wished for, much more than any married man could have. Perhaps, he still awaited that Avni would change her stance on her No marriage belief but chances seemed feeble.

As he was immersed in these thoughts, Avni walked out wearing her cute night pants and shirt, hair clipped up in a messy bun with her fringes adorning her forehead making her look cute and hot at same time though she was in her most simplest look.

"Neil... It's nothing that you haven't seen. Stop staring na..." Avni whined as she sprawled herself on the bed.

Neil walked back to his side while smirking "Baby I have seen may be a few thousands of times but you're now a yummy mommy! How can I not stare!"

Neil pulled his dear lady closer to him and peppered feathery kisses while all Avni could do was blush and smile. She wanted nothing else in life, her man, her daughter, her mom, his parents were all with her and happy! She couldn't have asked for more...

**************

"Ma'am... Please one byte..."

"Ma'am... Ma'am please turn around once..."

"Ma'am... Just one question..."

"Ma'am... Congratulations on the big win"

The paparazzi were running behind a swiftly walking Avni who had a stoic face as she paced towards her car while her security tried hard to control the flood of reporters and media.

Avni gave a deaf ear to all of them and walked swiftly...

"Ma'm aapne aaj tak shadi nahi ki hai na? Par aapke do do bache hai?"

A male voice from the group of reporters made Avni stop in her tracks. Her face was red and she took off her shades as she turned to face whoever asked her the question.

"Mein wapis India 10 saal baad aayi hu... You know what? even after a decade, unfortunately I see my country in the same place where it was 10 years ago. Utni hi ghatiya soch, utna hi judgemental hona, utna hi haq rakhna ki koi bhi kisi ke bhi personal life par question kar sake! Hairani ki baat toh yeh hai ki aaj him sab yaha pe Global women empowerment ke conference mei aaye hai And you are asking me such a personal question with such audacity as if it's your birth right to poke your nose into my personal life and personal choices! Where's the respect towards a woman's choices when you speak and write big big words about empowering women?

To answer your dumb, idiotic,senseless question Yes! A big yes! I'm not married but I do have two wonderful children and a very supportive, loving life partner and a family who respects my decisions in life and are happy about it. Nobody I repeat NOBODY has the right to question me or Neil about our personal life other than our family. I hope I've answered your TRP raising question and made myself clear!" Avni glared her eyes in anger, stomped her feet and got into the car.

Avni was awarded the Global icon for women empowerment in Mumbai that day. She had hesitantly agreed to visit India as she couldn't deny a government conference. It had been 10 years since Avni and Neil had shifted to Amsterdam and lived their life on their terms happily with their close knit family. Neil had secured a high post in one of the leading investigative firm that associated with the Amsterdam police department and Avni had expanded her Neela ma's business in Amsterdam,Belgium and other neighborhood countries becoming one of the best woman entrepreneur. She was even featured in the Forbes list and even Neil had been doing great with his career. Their family of three had become four when Avni had given birth to another baby girl, Meher who was turning 4 year old in two days.

As Avni got into the car, her head spun with thoughts of how AvNeil had left their country 10 years back and how their life had drastically changed since then. Her stance and fear of marriage had considerably reduced and she no longer despised marriage but she was of the opinion that there was no need of marriage between her and Neil. She didn't want to get married to Neil just because now she had kids with him or because she doesn't hate marriage now.

Her life was anyways complete, so she didn't feel the need to just for the sake of the society put an official stamp on their relationship with marriage.

While she was lost in these thoughts and because the question from the reporter had triggered her mind, she seemed a bit disturbed. She came out of her trance when her mobile rang and the caller name brought a soft smile on her face.

"Avni... Baby you're okay?" Neil asked with concern because obviously he had seen his lady don on the TV, bashing the reporter.

"Yes I'm Neil. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine sweetheart but I know that you're not fine"

"Neil... Do you feel we should get married?" Avni asked out of the blue.

"Avni... Why are you asking this now?"

"Answer me Neil... Do you feel at least sometimes that you'd be more happier if we were married? Do you want to get married like other men? Do you feel marriage is still important for us? Do you feel we are incomplete without marriage? Do you..."

"Ssshhhh Avni.... No baba... I don't feel any of whatever you're saying now. May be 10 years back I'd wanted to get married to you but now I feel complete with you, me, Parthavi and Meher. You 3 girls complete me like none can. Doesn't matter we are married or not... Hum toh aaj bhi utna hi pyar karte hai ek dusre ko... Aur utna hi lad jagadte hai right? Haha so chill... Yeh sab batein mat soch na..." Neil said and he knew how to comfort his Avni very well as by now listening to Neil, she had cleared off her mind and was smiling ear to ear mentally thanking God for blessing her with a man like Neil.

"Thank you Neil..." Avni mumbled as she wiped her tiny tears that escaped her eyes.

"For what?"

"For everything..."

"Then my love, you need to thank me properly. Not like this..." Neil smirked and Avni knew what he was referring to.

"Uff Neil... Always one track mind! Ab jao look after Meher I'll reach soon"

**********

It was a beautiful cold winter evening at the AvNeil mansion in Amsterdam when both Avni and Neil sat in their tulips garden sipping their hot coffee.

"Mummaaaa, daddy...." Parthavi who was 29 year old now walked upto them and followed behind her was Meher who was 24 year old.

"Parthavi... Bolo beta. What's up?" Neil asked keeping away his now empty coffee cup while Avni still sipped her coffee and eyed her daughters.

"Dad, I wanted to talk to you both..." Parthavi said.

"Dad me too, Dii I'll say first" Meher quipped.

"No Meher, I came first"

"Diii, I'm younger so me first..."

"Uff kitna drama karte ho dono... Hehe chalo come sit here both" Avni said adjusting her spectacles.

"You've grown up so big and still fight like kids..." Avni mumbled while her daughters sat in front.

"Ab koi toh bolo..." Neil said.

"Dad, I want to get married" "Dad I want to move out"

Both Meher and Parthavi said at once like a chorus and AvNeil giggled.

"Hahaha...you both! Meher you tell first..." Neil said while Meher stuck her tongue out and teased her sister.

"Dad, mom... My posting in London is for one year. And Arhaan also has his music shows lined up in London for the next one year. So we were thinking it'll be good if we both live in together there..." Meher said casually.

"Oh not a bad idea... Hai na?" Neil said looking at Avni.

"Hmm so after one year what plans do you have?" Avni questioned.

"We'll be back here mom... Tab ka tab dekhte hai" Meher said with a smile.

"Are you sure about moving in with him beta?" Avni asked

"Yes mom, sure. Aapki beti hu... Whatever I do, I'll be sure of what I want" Meher said confidently.

"Then okay... Go ahead. But we'll miss you baby..." Avni said.

"Awe I'll miss you all mom..." Meher said hugging her mom.

"Parthu... Tell now. You want to get married?" Neil asked taking her palm in his.

"Yes dad... We all know David from 7 years, I've known him well. He loves me more than I can think of dad... aapko bhi pata hai na. He proposed to me yesterday mumma... I'm sure of him, I'm sure we'll lead a happy married life" Parthavi said.

"My baby girl has grown so big... Come here..." Neil called her to take her in a huge bear hug.

"I'm happy for you beta..." He stroked her back up and down.

"Parthu... But wedding will be done both styles ok? A white wedding and a big fat Indian wedding... Humari toh shadi nai huyi but I'll make sure aapki shadi mei koi kami na ho..." Avni said caressing her daughter's face.

"Thank you so much mumma... You're the best! Love you"

"Aur mei best nai hu?" Neil fake pouted and all burst into laughter.

"Haha dad you're the bestest if that's even a word!" Meher said hugging her dad.

That was how AvNeil lead a progressive life, they raised their daughters so well, gave them their right to decide for themselves be it a small decision or a life changing decision, they stood like a rock solid support to them and loved them unconditionally. AvNeil though remained unmarried were happy in their life as they wished.

They became a true example for the society that it's how people lead their lives with love and not just by binding themselves into the societal norms. Indeed their Life was Beautiful the way it was.

To everyone who read and supported this story and my writing since the beginning, Thanks a ton!! Love love love and respect to all of you...

Hope you all liked the story as much as I enjoyed writing it... Though I know most of you'll were awaiting AvNeil's wedding at some point in the story but this was all about an unconventional couple who lead their life on their terms so it had to end this way...

Thanks again,

Until next time,

Love,

Avni