AVNEIL.SHORT STORY - Chapter 1: Chapter 1
You are reading AVNEIL.SHORT STORY, Chapter 1: Chapter 1. Read more chapters of AVNEIL.SHORT STORY.
The silence in the Khanna mansion was louder than any argument.
Avni Mehta—no, Avni Khanna now—stood at the entrance of her new home, clutching the edge of her red silk dupatta. Her bangles clinked nervously as she looked around the grand hall, its marble floors gleaming like mirrors, its walls adorned with paintings that probably cost more than her entire family home.
This wasn’t just a house. It was a palace. And now… it was hers too.
But it didn’t feel like home.
She glanced sideways at Neil, her husband. He didn’t look at her. In fact, he hadn’t looked at her once since the ceremony ended. He was still in his sherwani, his jaw sharp, eyes stormy, walking two steps ahead of her like she was a shadow he couldn’t shake off fast enough.
“You’ll be staying in the guest room,” Neil said coldly, his voice echoing in the grand hall as he handed his phone to the butler and loosened his collar.
Avni swallowed hard. “Ji... okay.”
He finally turned to face her. His gaze was icy, expression unreadable.
“Don’t pretend to be obedient now,” he said. “You got what you wanted—Khanna surname, this mansion, the media attention. Enjoy it. Just don’t expect anything from me.”
Her lips trembled, but she nodded. “I didn’t want—”
“I don’t care what you wanted,” Neil snapped, cutting her off. “You tricked my family into this marriage. Just stay out of my way, and we’ll get along fine.”
She flinched like he’d slapped her. The way he looked at her—like she was dirt—hurt more than any words.
“Beta?” a soft voice interrupted from behind them.
Bebe stood at the stairs, her eyes kind as they flicked between Neil and Avni. “It’s late. Take your bride to the room, hmm? She must be tired.”
Neil didn’t answer. He gave Avni a sharp look and walked away. Bebe came closer and gently touched Avni’s arm.
“Don’t mind him, puttar. His heart is full of thorns, but you… you just keep watering it. One day it will bloom.”
Avni’s eyes welled up. Bebe’s kindness was a balm she didn’t expect tonight.
“I’ll try, Bebe,” she whispered.
Later, in the guest room Neil had assigned her, Avni sat on the edge of the king-sized bed, staring at the unused side. The silence wrapped around her like a blanket of loneliness.
Somewhere, Neil was in his own room. Angry. Cold. Alone.
And so was she.
Avni Mehta—no, Avni Khanna now—stood at the entrance of her new home, clutching the edge of her red silk dupatta. Her bangles clinked nervously as she looked around the grand hall, its marble floors gleaming like mirrors, its walls adorned with paintings that probably cost more than her entire family home.
This wasn’t just a house. It was a palace. And now… it was hers too.
But it didn’t feel like home.
She glanced sideways at Neil, her husband. He didn’t look at her. In fact, he hadn’t looked at her once since the ceremony ended. He was still in his sherwani, his jaw sharp, eyes stormy, walking two steps ahead of her like she was a shadow he couldn’t shake off fast enough.
“You’ll be staying in the guest room,” Neil said coldly, his voice echoing in the grand hall as he handed his phone to the butler and loosened his collar.
Avni swallowed hard. “Ji... okay.”
He finally turned to face her. His gaze was icy, expression unreadable.
“Don’t pretend to be obedient now,” he said. “You got what you wanted—Khanna surname, this mansion, the media attention. Enjoy it. Just don’t expect anything from me.”
Her lips trembled, but she nodded. “I didn’t want—”
“I don’t care what you wanted,” Neil snapped, cutting her off. “You tricked my family into this marriage. Just stay out of my way, and we’ll get along fine.”
She flinched like he’d slapped her. The way he looked at her—like she was dirt—hurt more than any words.
“Beta?” a soft voice interrupted from behind them.
Bebe stood at the stairs, her eyes kind as they flicked between Neil and Avni. “It’s late. Take your bride to the room, hmm? She must be tired.”
Neil didn’t answer. He gave Avni a sharp look and walked away. Bebe came closer and gently touched Avni’s arm.
“Don’t mind him, puttar. His heart is full of thorns, but you… you just keep watering it. One day it will bloom.”
Avni’s eyes welled up. Bebe’s kindness was a balm she didn’t expect tonight.
“I’ll try, Bebe,” she whispered.
Later, in the guest room Neil had assigned her, Avni sat on the edge of the king-sized bed, staring at the unused side. The silence wrapped around her like a blanket of loneliness.
Somewhere, Neil was in his own room. Angry. Cold. Alone.
And so was she.
End of AVNEIL.SHORT STORY Chapter 1. Continue reading Chapter 2 or return to AVNEIL.SHORT STORY book page.