For the farce, your mine FF- PART 8 on page 16 - Page 5

Tears gently streamed down her face as Avni watched Neel, once again, take her side against his mom. Usually it was an everyday saas-bahu fight. Except this time, it was different. It was about Shweta besmirching her character and linking her to Ali.

"Yass, me wants to know ji, yeh late raat se anna, with another man. Yeh kya hai ji. Shirif khaandan se toh ladkiyan yeh nahi karti. Whats is toh happening ji, Shweta enquired.

"Bass mom, maine kya bas. Yeh kaise keh sakti hai aap. Ikk auraat ki izzat kaise...what I mean to say mom. Mujhe Ananya pe pura bhaarson hain. I trust her, Neel retorted, standing infront of Avni to save her from the wrath of his mother.

"Lekin, tillu. Tum bhi toh puri raat jaag ke iski wait karte hon. Yeh ladki nah toh mere pyare tillu ki beauty sleeps toh nahi cchori. Yeh dark dark circle toh dekh rahe hon nah tum. Disgustings, I tell you, Shweta snapped.

Wait what did Shweta say? Avni looked at Neel falter. He waited up at night for her? She didn't know that. Well he was always up when she came back from the caf, but Neel had always told Avni that he was staying up late to get some paper work done for his job the next day.

"Mom, I told you I'm up late for work. Aap ko aadat nahi hain na. Because I used to live by myself. Aur main believe nahi karte ki Ananya ke charitra pe daag hai. In fact, yeh toh Ali ke paas mujh liye hi jaati hain. Maine ek bohot baade case wrap up and finish kiye hain. So DD keh rahe tha ki Ali aur Ananya mere liye ek party throw kar rahe hain. Right, Ananya? Neel looked back to see Ananya watching him intently, he repeated his last sentence to finally get Avni to nod.

After a bit more back and forth and Shweta finally getting excited for the party and apologizing to Avni, Neel held on to Avni's hand and led her up to their room.

Ananya was speechless. What her father could never do for her mother, this man in front of her had just done for her. He had defended her and her honour in front of his own mother. Even if it was a fake marriage. Even if Neel hated her for everything she had done to him. He didn't let his mother question her character, once again.

She would never dream of having an affair with Ali. Not that she believed in this marriage. It was only a marriage for a specific amount of time. Until she got justice for her Ayesha maa. But that didn't mean she didn't adhere to her vow of staying faithful to Neel. She hadn't ever even thought of another man in that way. Not that she loved Neel. Avni did not believe in love. She just...respected him. And out of respect, wouldn't do anything to harm him or his respect.

Wiping her tears, Avni recounted Neel's story of the party planning.

"Party? Avni asked.

"Ha, woh tohh... Otherwise mom wouldn't have let the incident go. Tum chinta na karo, Avni. I'll get someone to set the party up, Neel replied.

"Nahi, main planning karti hoon, I can get Ali to help too, Avni insisted.

"Lekin-" Neel hesitated. Avni could feel he was struggling to get something out. Did he not want her to plan the event? Or did he not want Ali to plan the

"I can do it myself. So Shweta maa phir se parashaan nahi karengi, Avni smiled timidly.

Neel hesitated, but he shook his head before replying, "Yea, sure. Tumhe koi takleef toh nahi hogi na.

"Mujhe? Takleef? Nahi toh, Avni replied as she got on the bed and watched Neel take the couch, as the gentleman he was. He was doing so much for her. She would have too much difficulty throwing her husband a party. Fake husband, she corrected herself. event? Maybe he just didn't want to deal with his mother again.

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I'm still sick but sort of had some inspiration today. Sorry if its bad. I'm on all kinds of medicine so I don't know to an full extent what I'm writing.

Also don't mind my grammar/spelling errors. And please tell me if I got any of the hindi dialogue words wrong. Hindi isn't my first, or frankly speaking even second language. So if something sounds iffy, please tell me so I can fix it.