A little thing called FIRST LOVE ft.Avneil

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Riyali Roka

In the quiet serenity of their bedroom, Swetha meticulously applied her makeup while Prakash sat nearby, patiently waiting for her to finish.
"Neil should have been here. He will miss the Roka," Swetha lamented, her voice tinged with disappointment.
"It's okay, Swetha. He said he would come tomorrow and look into the marriage preparations. These things happen sometimes," Prakash reassured her, his tone gentle and comforting.
Swetha's expression softened, but a trace of sadness lingered.
"Even Bebe and Kareena will miss this occasion," she added, her voice filled with longing.
Prakash reached out to squeeze her hand reassuringly.
"They'll be here by next Saturday. Don't worry," he said, his words infused with a sense of calm assurance.

Flashback:
Mehta house:

In the cozy confines of their home, Avni's suggestion hung in the air, casting a tender glow over the room.
"Mom, Riya loves him and they want to marry. Why don't we plan their marriage?" Avni's voice was soft, filled with hope and excitement.
Neela's eyes glistened with emotion as she listened to her daughter's words.
"I'm very happy for her, Avu," she replied, her voice trembling with pride.
"You both have grown up so well, so fast. When your father passed away, I didn't know how I would manage. I was lost, afraid to face reality. But your Dadi helped me tremendously. She looked after you both while I was at work. I'm forever grateful to her. And now, Riya has found love and wants to marry. I'm so happy, bacha."Avni's heart swelled with love and admiration for her mother.
"We're lucky to have a mother like you—strong, independent, and beautiful," she said, her voice filled with affection.
Riya, unable to contain her excitement, interjected eagerly. "Avu, do you like him?"Avni's response was immediate and heartfelt.
"Yes, he's a great man. Mom, call his mom and fix the date," she urged.
Riya's face lit up with joy at her sister's approval.Neela, determined to take action, asked Riya if she had Swetha's number.
Riya nodded and dialed her soon-to-be mother-in-law's number."Hello, Mom," Riya greeted Swetha warmly.
"Hello, Riya. How are you?" Swetha's voice was filled with warmth.
"I'm great, Mom. How are you and Dad?" Riya inquired.
"We're good," Swetha replied.Riya then handed the phone to Neela, who introduced herself. "Hello, Swetha ji. I'm Riya's mother, Neela.""Ji, Neela ji. How are you?" Swetha responded politely.
"I'm good. How are you?" Neela asked in return.
"I'm fine," Swetha replied.
Neela wasted no time getting to the point.
"I wanted to talk to you about Ali and Riya's marriage," she began.Swetha's enthusiasm matched Neela's.
"Even I wanted to talk to you about it," she admitted.Neela proposed fixing the date for this Sunday. Swetha had an idea.
"Let's call the pandit and fix the date. We can also do the Roka that day," she suggested."Definitely," Neela agreed, her excitement palpable.
The two mothers discussed the rituals and logistics before ending the call.Swetha wasted no time in sharing the news with everyone.
Ali's joy knew no bounds.
Swetha then called Neil, putting the phone on speaker.
"Hello, Mom," Neil greeted her."Tillu, when are you coming home?" Swetha asked eagerly.But Neil's response was unexpected.
"Mom, I can't come on Monday. Remember Karthik from Kolkata?" he began.
"Yes," Swetha replied.
"We met this morning, and he invited me to his home. His marriage is on Sunday, and he insisted I stay. So, I'll have to stay for another week," Neil explained.
"But..." Swetha's voice trailed off, disappointment evident.
"I'm sorry, Mom," Neil apologized sincerely.Swetha's disappointment was palpable.
"This Sunday, we're planning Ali's Roka," she informed him.
"What?" Neil's surprise was evident.
"I should have asked you before fixing everything," Swetha admitted.
"It's okay, Mom. I'll come next Monday and help with the marriage preparations. I won't ditch this time," Neil promised.
"Okay," Swetha replied softly, cutting the call.
She then informed Bebe about the Roka date. Despite Kareena's exam, they would participate in the remaining rituals after the Roka.

FlashBack ends.

The Mehta house was adorned with vibrant decorations, setting the perfect ambiance for Riya's Roka ceremony. Avni had decided to take the day off from work to fully immerse herself in her sister's special day, but she found herself caught up in some urgent work and remained in her room while the festivities unfolded downstairs. Meanwhile, Riya and Avni shared a quiet moment together in Avni's room.

Downstairs, Swetha greeted Neela with warmth and respect as they settled onto the sofa. "Namaste, Neela ji," Swetha greeted her hostess.
"Namaste, Swetha ji. Please, have a seat," Neela responded graciously, gesturing to the sofa opposite her.Swetha introduced Prakash, who exchanged greetings with Neela.
"Your house is very beautiful. I love it," Swetha remarked, admiring the decor.
Neela smiled gratefully. "Everything in this house is Avni's choice. She is the one behind everything," she revealed proudly.
"I've heard a lot about her from Riya," Swetha commented, her admiration evident.
Neela called out to Riya, who responded from upstairs. "Haa maa," Riya replied, indicating that she would be down shortly.
Riya descended the stairs wearing a resplendent purple lehenga, captivating everyone with her beauty. She greeted the Khannas warmly before settling onto the sofa beside her mother.Neela inquired about Avni's whereabouts, prompting Riya to explain that she was on a client call.

Neela's response was stern, but Swetha intervened to ease the tension, reassuring her that Avni would join them soon.As they engaged in conversation, Avni finally entered the hall, dressed in a lovely baby pink salwar kameez. She sought blessings from Swetha and Prakash before joining the gathering.

The Roka ceremony commenced, with Riya and Ali seated together. Family members and guests took turns blessing the couple and presenting them with gifts. Avni approached Riya, enveloping her in a tight hug and expressing her love. Riya reciprocated the affection, affirming their bond.Neela then instructed Riya and Ali to seek blessings from her father and Dadi. After fixing dates for the engagement and wedding, the Khannas bid farewell and departed for their mansion.

In the car, with Ali at the wheel and Prakash in the front seat, Swetha couldn't contain her thoughts."Anyways, I respect Neela ji a lot. She brought up both of them very well. She is strong, independent, and very lovely. Avni looks exactly like Neela ji and behaves like Neela ji. I feel like we should arrange Avni's marriage; it's our responsibility," Swetha expressed, her words flowing incessantly.Prakash listened attentively, allowing Swetha to speak her mind. However, when the topic shifted to Avni's marriage, Prakash felt compelled to share his perspective."Swetha, if you don't mind, can I say something?" Prakash interjected gently."Sure," Swetha replied, receptive to his input.

"Khanna Industries was started by my papa. He is a very strong and stubborn person. After my dad passed away I took over the khanna industries. At that moment the company was in a very well state, earning great but still, I had to face a lot of issues. There are people around us who will make us feel worthless, We have to fight a lot in this society, Swetha. But I'm very proud that Avni made big things at a very young age. I'm so proud of her. She has to be an inspiration to this whole world, Swetha. She will choose a great man who will value her. We just need to understand her decision and make her happy while accepting the decision she made." Prakash proceeded to share his insights about the challenges he had faced after taking over Khanna Industries and the importance of supporting Avni's decisions.

"You're correct. " His words resonated with Swetha, and she acknowledged his wisdom with a simple agreement.

Precap : Avni's struggle