Neil had connected his lips with Avni for possibly just five seconds. But during those five seconds, things had changed around them. It was as if the universe had shifted to align itself around. Sun shone behind the connected lips. Breeze picked up and leaves flew across the street. 

And then Neil broke their lips apart, and they realised these things were possibly not happening externally but internally. There was a storm raging inside. Both of them were too lost to say anything for some minutes. And therefore, they said nothing but just leaned their foreheads together and stood like that. IT seemed like hours had passed. Of course it was just a few minutes. But all their moments together flashed and they were too lost for words.

After sometime, Neil stood straight looking at Avni whose eyes were still closed, basking in the warmth of love. Neil wordlessly took her hand and she opened her eyes.

Avni had not seen love in NEil's eyes till now. She had seen respect, understanding, affection and friendship. But not true love, not even when he was smitten by her. This was something else, she realised with a tremor as she continued looking into his eyes. 

NEil's pupils were dilated just a little and his eyeballs had turned from brown into a tad shade of darker brown. He was looking into her like he was trying to find what was written in her eyes, and he could not sense anything around himself. He had a completely devoted, believing look. And lastly, he was so so vulnerable, as if in case she hurts him ever so slightly, he will break into a thousand pieces. Avni realised she was peeping into Neil's very soul.. And in that moment she realised how important actually she is to him..

Avni wanted to stand there forever. But she felt Neil's hand in hers and then both of them turned and walked quietly towards the apartment which was around the corner now. They entered the lift quietly and went up and into the room. The window overlooking the sea was open and entire room was fresh and breezy. 

Avni realised everything was dancing around her. Her spirits were lifted as though she had taken some drug. She was out of her body and could feel how it felt to be floating. She wondered even in that condition if she had taken a higher pain killer dose and if it is a side effect. Surely this feeling cannot be due to hormones! Avni realised she was high in love.

She walked up to the window, and since their hands were joined Neil also walked till it with her. She then stood facing the sea and her breeze started messing with her hair. But she did nothing to set it right. Neil did. He tucked her hair behind her ears and stood behind her, hugging her from the back side. Avni held up her hands and folded them around NEil's hands that were clasped around her stomach. Both their eyes were closed.