at 11.55am neil had finally succeeded into completing two of his files and headed to the washroom 

Meanwhile shweta grabbed her phone and called neil...when he didn't answer first she tried again but after few rings it would go to voicemail 

Shweta: bebe he is not answering she said turning to her 

Bebe: try again  he will answer at some point she said ignoring  all the noises coming from the background 

Shweta nodded and continues to call neil 

Back at the condo neil came out of the washroom drying his face with a towel 

Shweta continued to call neil numerous times but since it had been on vibration mode he hadn't noticed until he walked over his desk to see his phone screen flashing 

Neil: mom calling this late he said checking the time to see it 12am 

As soon as he answered he heard crying in the background while shweta mumbled something 

Neil: mom?...mom? What happened? And what's all that sound in the background he asked frowning 

There was a pause at first before shweta spoke 

Shweta: neil...av...neil avnii...beta avni....accident she said crying not able to speak properly 

Neil froze for a sec he felt as if his heart stopped beating for a sec 

Neil: avni ? Is avni OK? Y did you say accident too ?mom tell me for god sake he said in one go 

Shweta: just come to the city hospital asap beta pleaseee...come as soon as you can

Neil: I'm coming...just tell me that avni is fine he said grabbing his keys and headed out 

Shweta:  get here soon neil and see for yourself she said 

Neil ended the call and ran to his jeep his heart was beating fast...eyes filled up with tears but he had to be strong and not over think 

Nothing can happened to his avni he thought in his head as he drove off 

All sat at the hospital lost in their world...there was no tears in anyones eyes ...not a single smile on their face being in the same place where they had seen lifless body of their beloved ashish and Ayesha covered in white sheet...they recall that with great diffculty... they had to come to terms with this and for the sake of the kids they had to be strong...yes they were happy and moved on but memories of that night was still there which they knew would never go.. and now here they were back at the same place for avni 

Neil came rushing in and thats when both metha and khanna family  looked at him. Wheras his friend's looked at him with a sad expresssion and then looked down 

Bebe: neil you came quickly...wasnt you out of town she asked frowning but neil ignored that as for him it was important to know how avni was 

Neil: what....what happened to avni he asked...he was hoping it was not something serious and looked at everyone and then his mum who he asked 

Shweta: neill...woh..avni...beta she. She said fumbiling as her eyes filled up 

Neil: speak up mom...he said trying to keep his voice strong but somehwhere it was fading as helplessness was clearly heard in his tone 

Neil felt a hand on his shoulder.

Neil: avni he said turning around but there was no avni but neela standing in front of him. 

Neela: we dont know what....what to tell you and how... it feels like life has been unfair with us... i dont know what hope to give you because the one who gave everone a hope is...we never knew that even avni will also .....she stopped not able to continue and turned her face the other way 

Neil: neela ma he whispered....he didnt know what to say...everyone was silent and his mind was blank 

dayawanti: neil...dont you want to see your bestfriend  she said slowly walking to him 

Neil: i do dadi i do...and i want to take her home with me 

Dayawanti smiled sadly

Dayawanti: she is in that room neil...go and see for the last time as your bestfriend she said pointing towards the room 

Neil looked ahead and recalled the time ashish and ayesha body was kept there and now dayawanti showing the same room making his heart pain slowly...

Neil: this cant be true he said quietly but everone still heard him 

Shweta: go beta...see her and then we will tell you what happened so that you have some courage to listen she said patting his arm 

With great difficulty neil walked into the room where his family and metha family told avni was...taking small steps he saw a body on the stretcher which was covered with a white cloth

Taking small steps he continued walking slowly

As he reached closer with shaking hands he moved it to remove the sheets while his vision was slightly getting blurry due to the tears...as he removed the blanket he froze and took few steps back 

Avni was laying on the stretcher....there was a bruise on her forhead while her face contained no emotions

Neil: avni he whispered not able to believe what he was seeing he felt his breath getting heavier 

Taking a step closer he closed his eyes and opemed it again to see only avni 

Neil: av...avni...avniiiii..are you listening to me?? ..avniii He said cupping her cheeks with both his hands 

Neil eyes were getting blurry but he patted avni cheeks nonstop  trying to tell her to wake up 

Neil: are you listening to me or not?... y are you always so stubborn avni...you have no rights to go like this...everyone outside are numb...there is no emotions because you have taken it all...you  useto say you are a fighter then what stopped you this time...couldnt you fightback for everyone? For us? For me he said dropping on to his knees as he stared at her with tears rolling down his face 

Taking hold of her hand he held it between both his hand not bothering to wipe his tears 

Neil: i need you avni...i need you...without you life would be empty...i realised.late but all i know is that i love you chatterbox...i love you...not as a friend but more than that...if you can hear me then please get up please avniiii...for the friendship we shared since so many years...for eachother...for me...but please get up  he said resting his head on the bed still holding her hands as he cotninued sobbing 

' finally you confessed"

Neil opened his eyes hearing the voice and looked up to see avni eyes closed 

Neil: avnii he whispered as he looked at her 

He saw her suddenly open her eyes slowly and for a second he felt like his heart started to beat normally 

Neil: avnii..you...you but he couldnt form words to.speak...was he imaging things 

Avni: instead of writing in the letter you could have said things directly to me she said sitting up with her one hand clasped between his...

Neil sat straight staring at avni...he wasnt sure if he was imagning avni speaking to him or was she for real talking to him 

Seeing his expresipns changing from frown to confusion she squezzed his hand making him look at it and then back at her 

Avni: im here...with you she said slightly smiling while her eyes welled up 

Neil let out a short breath that he was holding on to and moved his hands to cup both her cheeks 

Avni placed her hands on top of his which were resting on her cheeks while both stared at each other...he moved and hugged her tightly which she returned...

Avni: im upset with one thing neil she said after a while 

Neil who was calm having her in his embrace broke the hug and sat down 

Neil: about what? he said in a low voice 

Avni: you leaving like that?...y did you leave?...y didnt you wait for me and tell me your feelings when you knew about mine ?

Neil: i did plan to tell you at the condo when we celbrated your birthday there but you fell asleep and the next morning i got called in for duty so i thought i would surprise you at the orphanage but i got surprised seeing you and sahil and how you said yes to him ...i was confused on what to do...our moments kept playing in our head and then came the old moments where you sacrificed our friendship so that me and mithali stay together....so i felt i should allow you to be with the person that makes you happy...i couldnt tell you in person so thats.y i wrote a letter and left and now i know how you must have taken that decision years ago when you decided to stay in london after ayesha aunty and ashish unlce death and at the moment writing a letter must have been the best option because you knowing we wouldnt have allowed you to go like that i knew you wouldnt have allowed me to go...i promise i would always be with you as a friend because for me your happiness matters

Neil took avni hand and held it the same way like before 

Avni: im actually having a doubt on how you became a police officer.

Neil: excuse me...im one of the best officer along with vidyut 

Avni: yeah right...i dont know about vidyut but with  you im confused...you solve many cases but you couldn't solve this biggest case in your life 

Neil: how can whatever is happening betweeen us is a case

Avni: chalo your brain is slowly getting on working mode again

Neil: avniiiiii

Avni: what avni....everyone knows who i love..who is in my heart but you...you felt i love sahil 

Neil: i felt my place was slowly slipping in your life...maybe due to all the mistakes i made sahil may have made a better place than me he said looking lost...but avni's slap on his arm got him back to the present 

Avni: your brain doesnt seem to be working i guess neil...

Neil: i did what i felt right after seeing and hearing you both at the orphanage 

Avni: and you believed that after having feelings for you for so many years ir would fly away with just one conversation that you heard 

Neil: then? he asked in a low voice he somehwere felt he knew the answer but he wanted to hear it from avni..if she loved him still then what was the orphange scene about 

Avni smiled as she moved forward and caressed his cheeks 

And cuttt you have reached to the end of the chapter kripa karke dont strees your head to much..

Precap du ke nahi? Nahhhh i think the promo i gave before is ok

Thank you to those who keep waiting give the same love and support through your comments and love

Its soon time to say good bye to unconditional love book 2