Avneil FF

Chapter 18

I've been wanting to write some more of the regular conflicts in a married couple's life for my next couple of chapters...unfortunately its not quite shaped up how I wanted it to. But I'm just gonna put it up anyway. Maybe I'll just edit it later if I figure out how to make it better.

Another month had gone by. Avni had a new project that she was helming and neel was busy with a rather complicated case at work. Both of them were overworked and stressed out and even though they were trying to give time to each other it was proving to be a difficult task. They couldn't help but carry their work stress and tension back home and especially over the last 2 weeks both of them had been dealing with each others frayed tempers. One or the other would blow their fuse over something petty and they were having arguments all the time over small things...if you asked them both of them wouldn't even remember exactly what it is they were arguing over. Sometimes it was just misplaced things in the room, or forgetting to switch on/off the geyser...basically anything and everything! 2 weeks back neel had gone completely off the radar for 3 days for his investigation and avni's worry turned into fury and when neel had returned. Initially he had apologised but then his work stress came out as anger and he yelled at her for not understanding his professional demands. Avni was very hurt by his insinuation and they had been having a cold war of sorts for the past 1 week to avoid any further arguments. They would act normal in front of the family as they did not want to drag them in the midst of it. But behind closed doors they were really having a tough time communicating with each other. When left to their own devices both of them were longing for each other's presence and touch but when they faced each other suddenly their ego would become bigger and they would hesitate to make the first move. Despite all their issues they still cared deeply for each other ofcourse and their little actions would speak louder than the words they were not ableto say to each other. Like Avni would still message him her whereabouts without fail because she knew that he would worry even if he did not say so, she would still keep his breakfast ready for him in the morning or atleast pack something so that he did not go hungry. Neel for his part would also keep track of her. One of the days last week Avni had an important presentation and she had woken up late so when she got ready in a hurry she had left her laptop at home and only realised it halfway to the office. Just as she was fretting about having to turn back in all the traffic to fetch it, she got a call from shweta informing her that he would bring it to her. Neel had simply dropped it off with the security at her office and asked him to deliver it to avni but that little gesture had warmed her heart. He had wordlessly left painkillers on the bedside table when she came home with a headache 3 nights back. But they both were stubborn about not wanting to apologise first.

Avni and neel finally had some respite from their hectic work because the weekend was finally coming up.

Avni and neel sat there having dinner with the family quiety, when shweta asked-

Shweta- tillu, tum donon kal avni ki office get-together ke liye kitne baje nikloge?

Both avni and neil looked up at shweta confused

Avni- mummyji aapko kaise pata ki kal get-together hai?

Shweta- arey tumne hi toh humaare family whatsapp group main post kiya tha-

Avni- kya? She grabbed her phone and realised that she had sent it by mistake to the wrong group.

Avni- voh sorry mom, galat group me bhej diya maine

Shweta- haan thik hai,usme kaunsi badi baat hai. but anyway tum donon kitne baje jaa rahe ho?

Neil- donon kyu? Uski office get-togther hai na...main kyun jaaonga

Shweta- arey kyunki invitation may likha hai ki spouse ko saath main le ke aana hai, haina avni?

Avni- vo...voh haan, matlab informal lunch hai