Avni turned towards Neil after he had finished helping her. It was weird how some days ago they didn't know each other. For now it seemed they had known each other forever.

"Thanks Neil "

In response Neil just smiled as he said -"i have not felt such peace since a long time now avni. Thanks for coming in my life"

And then Neil couldn't help adding playfully -"even though you caused an accident to enter my life". Avni elbowed him back. A physical retaliation to the verbal jibe he had thrown her way!

As Avni's elbow connected Neil's stomach he bent down in pain. Avni thought he was pretending but when he stayed bent she got concerned and started to check upon him -"Neil. Neil. I'm sorry. Are you OK Baby?"

Neil immediately stood up grinning as if he had a spring in his body. Avni -"oh my God Neil. So you were pretending"

Neil -"lets focus more on what you called me - baby!"

Avni -"yeah. It suits you who acts like a baby!"

Neil grinned more -"no way. That's not what you meant. I read the concern in your voice"

Avni mocked him playfully -"oh. So officer Neil khanna now has concern-o-meter installed inside him!"

Neil looked like he wasn't going yo to let go but then suddenly a phone ring broke their fight. It was Neil's phone but Avni leapt forward to get it.

Neil -"arre arre. It's my call madam!"

Avni -"nahi I gave your number for my personal usage. As my phone is destroyed since our accident.."

Neil -"wah. And when was my princess going to tell me that"

Avni looked at him shushing him -"Neil....! I M taking this call"

She picked it up and listened to the person on the other side. Neil went about fixing something else in the room but he caught her conversation and came back and sat beside her.

Avni was talking to her contact in the bank. This was about auction of the Mehta mansion!

Avni -"OK. What did you say the bid is going to start it? And how much does she owe the creditors? "

"OK. So what is your estimate of how much the upper strike will go up to? Hmm...so you estimate it will be sold for not more than fifteen crores"

She talked a bit more and then said -"i will be There tomorrow. That mansion will belong to me!"

Neil looked at her amused -"boy! Is my girl not terrorizing!"

Avni looked at him, all serious now-"Neil. That mansion is important to me. Even if I have to sell everything to buy it, I will do that!"

Neil smiled softly now and held her face -"baby. It won't come to that. That mansion will be yours. It's my promise"

Avni thought about the childhood memories she had in dayawantis house. They seemed like haunting memories of a past best forgotten. But somehow she had realized that even if her dad had abandoned her, she wanted to stay connected with him. And this was her way to do so..she needed that house.

Neil -"auction Kal Hai na?"(Auction is tomorrow right?)

Avni -"Haan Neil. But I'll have to go to plan it our Neil. "(Yes..)

She then started getting up but Neil pulled her down again to sit with him. He then held her close and said -"Avni. Mujh pe chodd do ye sab. I'll take care of getting the mansion for you. I don't think you should get directly involved. I don't want dayawanti to know your truth yet. Till we are more prepared to face her"( Leave all this to me...)

It made sense to avni. But the logistics was still fuzzy to her -"Neil but I've to arrange the money".

Neil -"it is arranged!"

Avni looked at him questioningly. Neil took a mock bow and said -"i have never been my rich father's son and blown money. Let me drop him a message asking him for some money to spend on my aiyaashi! Even he will start thinking me as normal then!"(Aiyaashi =spending lavishly for fun)

Avni was a bit surprised. No she could not take such a big credit from Neil -"Neil. Nahi! Please I cannot take that much money from you"(nahi =no)

Neil -"and you're not taking it avni! What is mine is yours and what is yours is mine. So your bungalow is mine. Wow I am so rich!"

Avni knew he had started kidding again. It was impossible to control when neil was childish and when serious. But she knew what he meant. And she appreciated it.

Avni suddenly bent and kissed Neil on the cheek.

Neil looked smartly and said -"alright alright. Will all the girls pls stop falling over me!"

And irritation again showed up in Avni's eyes as she next threw a pillow at her joker.