The next day at the khanna mansion

Neil descended the stairs wearing a suit and carrying his sling. He set it down on the couch and proceeded to the breakfast table, where his family was seated.

He had a hard time falling asleep last night. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to get Avni's thoughts out of his head, especially after hearing how openly Avni spoke with Advay as though they had known each other for years.

With a "good morning," he greeted his family and took a seat.

Prakash: Neil. You mentioned earlier that you wouldn't be in the office today, I thought.

Shweta handed Neil a cup of coffee, which he accepted and set down on the table after taking a tiny sip.

Neil: That was the aim, dad, but then it occurred to me that I should also do the job I have left before it becomes unmanageable. He said, his lips pressed into a tight smile.

Prakash: True. But i know you're capable of finishing things on time. You can take a day of if you want. He said looking at neil with a proud smile.

Neil smiled at his dad. Looking down at his plate the smile faded a little.

Neil: Taking a day off was my plan, dad. Since most of the job is done, I thought I would spend some time with my friend, but it appears that she is busy with her new friend, her so called "boyfriend" that she recently met. The best thing to do is concentrate on work so that all of this can stay out of my system. I'm not sure why, but I absolutely despise the idea that Avni would give this Advay person more attention. He thought in his head.

Shweta: NEIl! she called out loudly making him come back to present and look up to see his family staring at him with a frown on their forheads.

Bebe: What happened puttar? You seemed in a deep thought. Sab theek hai na Neil?

Neil smiled apologetically. He held bebe hand who was sitting next to him and looked at his parents.

Neil: I'm sorry. I drifted away regarding work. You was saying something mom?

Shweta: See Prakash ji. This is what happens when you talk about work.

Prakash: Shweta ji forget all that and say what you wanted to tell Neil.

Shweta nodded but there was a shy smile on her face.

Bebe: lo ek dinner date par jaa rahien hai and Madam Madonna is acting like a newly wedded bride who is going on her first date. she said chuckiling.

Prakash was about to giggle but instantly stopped when Shweta glared at him.

Neil: Dinner date? He asked confusion written on his face.

Shweta: Haan woh Prakash ji planned that we go out for dinner as it's been long since we went out. But you can join us if you want we have no issues. We asked bebe but she denied.

Neil: No, mom. Don't worry, you two need some alone time, and this is your and Dad's dinner date. Smiling generally he said.

After some light talk Neil and Prakash left for office. Shweta went to see if Neela had a saree that she can wear for dinner while Bebe went with Dayawanti for a walk.

Time went quick and it was 5pm

Avni had left for work to collect her ID and other requirements stuff before she starts working officially. She was introduced to all the staffs who were warm and welcoming.

Entering the house she was able to smell the delicious kheer that was been made in the kitchen.

She decided to freshen up later and go and see if the kheer was ready.

When entering the kitchen, she noticed Dayawanti and Bebe seated at the small table there while Neela was serving them Kheer. The smell filled her senses and made her stomach grumble.

Avni: One bowl for me too. Avni said as she came and placed herself on the chair near the counter.

Neela: Here you go bacha.

Avni: Thank you.

Bebe: How was office environment puttar?

Avni: It waa good bebe. Everyone is very friendly . I can't wait to start working. She said with a huge smile on her face.

After taking a spoonful of kheer and blowing on it, she put it in her mouth and tasted the incredible flavour that filled her mouth.

Avni: By the way where is Shweta aunty? She asked before placing another spoonful of kheer in her mouth.

Neela: She and Prakash ji went for a dinner date.

She was saying it will taken an hour to reach there.

Avni: Dinner date haan. she said playfully.

Bebe: Avni, you should have seen her face. She blushed as if she had just gotten married and was going somewhere for the first time. She said making Avni giggle.

Dayawanti: Harleen. You never leaves a chance to tease Shweta. She said looking at her friend.

Bebe: You don't get such chances often my friend. She said lifting both her eyebrows up and down.

Dayawanti: You will never change.

Bebe: She is a unique piece so i will obviously take an advantage of that.

Avni watched as bebe and Dayawanti jumped from one topic to another. As she was enjoying her kheer Neela walked over to her.

Neela: Avni beta go and give kheer to Neil.

Avni slighlty coughed as she looked at Neela.

Avni: Neil? Maa bebe can take it when she goes back to Khanna mansion right. She said in a low tone as she looked at bebe who was busy talking to Dayawanti.

Neela: Come on bacha. It's not nice to give cold kheer to Neil bacha.

Avni: What are microwaves for?. She said shrugging her shoulders slightly.

Neela: Avniiii.

Avni: ugh fine I'll tell Tina to go and give it as I'm sure you must have made some for Shekar unlce. She said hoping to get out of this.

Neela: Shekar bhaisaab is at work and Tina isn't back yet. Now stop complaining. Finish your kheer then go

Avni slowly nodded.

Neela: Bebe will you and Neil have dinner with us?

Bebe: we would have Neela but Shweta had made food before leaving. She said and then got back to taking to Dayawanti.

Avni let out a sigh of comfort. Neil Khanna himself cannot tell when he will have his next mood swings, so she decided it was better to avoid him after the way he left yesterday. However, Neela has now put her in another tense situation by asking her to go give Neil some kheer. This was causing her hands to sweat continuously knowing very well their friendship had drastically changed since they returned from the club

Avni: It's ok Avni. All you have to do is give Neil the kheer and leave from there. See it's that simple. She tried to convince herself in her head.

5 mins later avni stood outside the Khanna mansion. She was praying that somehow bebe leaves learly today but her and Dayawanti were still busy talking.

Avni I know you can handle this, Avni. Either one of two things will happen. Neil would either be completely normal or show his typical mood swings. As planned, say hello to him, offer him the kheer, and then leave, saying that Maa needs help. Look at how simple it is. She said to herself.

Taking few steps she reached near to main door to see it ajar.

Avni: Neil is so careless...he gives me lectures about safety but doesn't apply it on himself she mumbled to herself.

Entering inside she took small steps. The house looked perfect now that it was complete.

Her eyes wandered around to loacate that one person she was here for. When she spotted him.

His back was facing towards her and by his attire she can tell he hadn't freshend up.

I took a sneaky peek as he fuss with his suit hanging around the chair. When he turned I couldn't resist and my traitor eyes fell on his chest. Hollyshit. He is the epitome of perfection. Before a gasp could come out my dry mouth I swallowed it down hard.

The spot that peeking out of his two undone button. Hollymolly. His shirt is sticky in all the right places. He has got a nice physic I must say. I gulped down some dry air feeling ridiculously hot from inside.

Avni pull yourself back. My inner self scolded. You can't stare at Neil like some hormonal teenagers you know right? She added. And she is right. I shouldn't.
I can't let him know beneath the surface. Before I get more distracted by such a scorching sight I immediately looked up and my heart leaped at the sight of his intense gaze watching me. I hope he didn't see me checking him out. Did he? Please someone put me in grave. I licked my lips out of nervousness, my hands clammy. And then I realised He look tired much.

Avni: Are you okay?' when I recalled I saw him rubbing his hand over his forehead few times in this little time I have arrived, so I thought to ask him.

Neil: Sinus. Was his short reply. And I instantly remembered him once mentioning it during our chatting days, that he has sinus issue. He had told It gets worse sometimes.

Avni: I can boil water, if you want to take vapour. I got concerned, hurried to walk into their kitchen. He takes vapour. It subsides the pain. I remembered.

Neil: How do you know I take vapour? His eyes slit, his tenacious gaze on me made me feel on edge. Crap. No no no.

Neil: Oh yeah how can I forget, Of course Tina must have told you right? He scoffed and my heart fell at his miffed tone. As if he didn't want me to know it from Tina but from him. I think he is a little hurt.

I swallowed parallely I am in relief he didn't catch me.

Avni: Yeah she did. I spoke through a humongous lump in my throat, my chest wavered I fiddled with a hanging thread from my shrug. I am nervous,nervous like a hell. Nervous been caught by him.
A palpable tension surrounding us we can feel it.

So I took the best move at the moment. I walked away. I felt clarity came back to me as soon as I put distance between us.

I couldn't bring myself to look at him for a while after that. I can't keep lying all the time looking into his eyes. Those eyes_they have an abiding effect of longing in them. I can't keep faking my emotions all the time.

I haphazardly took a medium size stainless steel bowl from the sink, filled it half with water then put the woven on. My hands little shaky. I need to ask Neil if he has steam inhalation capsules. They are the best for subsiding sinus pain.

Avni: Do you have steam inhalation cap... My sentence was left incomplete and breath caught my throat when my eyes flickered upwards in his fervent one. I instantly blinked away because my heart will explode. I heard him breathing heavily as if asking me to look at him.

I didn't realize when he moved this close to me. By such an unceremonious movement it caused our chest collided. He made me startled. My eyes flew upward again a small gasp left my lips watching him this close staring at me this deep. I lost my speaking ability, my body transfixed at the spot when I felt his arm around my waist and another one supporting the sink in a very manly like stance, trapping me.

Our breathing mingled. I am frozen at the spot. The mixer of sweat and musky cologne is too much for my senses. His throat jumped, his eyes fixed on me. As if his penetrating gaze can look into my soul.
And I am a mush melting under his spell.
He held me captive.

Neil - the hand I was keeping on the sink slowly very delicately it moved upwards as if it had its own mind, it pushed a few tendrils away her forehead. I was so much in the urge to smoothen out that cute frown in between her forehead, but dropped the idea immediately not to freak her out.
Such an action of mine caused her to blink a few times, electricity sparked through every cell of my body watching her grow woozy by my touch. It's a feeling like I am floating in a bubble. I would never get over this feeling about how my chest has went berserk when my fingers brushed over her tender skin. That vanilla scent is too much for my brain.
Never seen her from this close, what a pair of mesmerizing eyes she has got. I drank in her flawlessness.
She held me captive. Time stopped.

Mujhko itna bataaye koyi

Kaise tujh se dil na lagaaye koyi

The spell broke and my eyes blinked coming back into the harsh reality. Whatever this is going on should be stopped. Now.

Avni: Neil? Let me go. I tried to drop his grip off me but instead of freeing me he pulled me closer with an abrupt grasp. My mouth blew out a shocking squeal I almost collided to his chest. What is wrong with him? My eyes grew big followed by a very annoyed frown. What does he think he is doing?

Avni: Neil. let. me. go. My voice came out as a warning, loud.

Neil: No. He replied with a very raspy voice. It seems like he is in some daze.

Avni: What's wrong with you? I gasped slightly pushing him on his chest. Breaking off whatever state he is in. Tried to put some sense in his head.

Neil -And the spell broke and I instantly freaked out, regretted my actions. I pulled my hands away and made a space between us. Shit.

Neil: I am so sorry. I said, my tone was apologetic. My gaze frightful witnessing a very irritated Avni.

What the hell I just did? Instantly My eyes are big in realisation the grave of a mistake I just made. My hand on my mouth in shock.

Avni: You should be. Clenching those words in between her teeth she responded to me with a very agitated tone before she moved away. I couldn't make myself stopping her. My words are lost I felt constricted in my chest.

For one last time shooting me a glare with her those dagger like gaze she strode out of the spot leaving me standing there mortified, regretful. I stared after her longingly at my door.

God what I was even thinking? Did I make her uncomfortable? Definitely I did.

Neil: I am so sorry Avni. I mumbled dragging my hand through my hair. And my headache is back.
I huffed a sigh of disbelief for my own actions. This is not me. I am never the kind of person who put himself into such predicament. That is unlike me.

Whatever it is I need to stop it now and here. I can't replace Tina with Avni. Avni is not the girl I chatted with all those years.

An uneasiness flashed through every cell of my body. I am so in trouble I can feel it.

Avni was walking in a full speed. She needed to get out of the khanna mansion after what happened in the kitchen. She was still able to feel her heart beating faster. What had she planned to do and what had happened, something that she had never imagined.

Suddenly she felt herself being pulled back only to see a frowning Tina who had held on to her wrist.

Tina: Avi, I'm calling you since so long but you just seemed to be on this fast walking mode. What world did your mind zone out into. She saif eith ger usual cheeky smile.

Avni: Neil. Her heart screamed out which she ignored.

Calming herself down, she tucked a stand of hair behind her ears. Still able to feel her body shivering

Avni: I'm sorry Tina. I was in a rush to get back home as i have to send few attachments at my work place.

Tina: uff and here i was thinking you're going as if to beat someone black and blue she said jokingly making Avni give a fake smile.

For a sec avni did want to beat Neil black and blue. What if Tina had come earlier and seen their proximity. How hurt she would have been. She couldn't even imagine that.

Tina: By the way what made you come here? Since you said you was in a rush to get back home.

Avni: Maa made kheer so she told me to come and give it to Neil.

Tina: Ohh. Where is Mr America? Don't tell me he is filling his mouth up with all of that kheer.

Avni: He is in the kitchen. Uh Tina I'll get going. Bye she said and left from there

Tina entered the kitchen to see Neil's back facing towards her.

A big smile appeared on her lips. She slowly tip toed towards Neil to keep her visit quiet.

Reaching near him she slowly hugged him from the back.

Neil who still thinking about what had occurred between him and Avni came back to present when he felt someome hug him from the back.

He slowly turned around to face a smiling Tina who broke the hug and now had her hands around his neck.

Tina: Someone is looking hot today. She said as she winked at him. She felt like teasing Neil a little.

Neil: Tin.
suddenly he stopped speaking when Tina started to trace her finger all around his face, moving her finger down his throat to his visible chest.

Neil: Tina what are you doing? he said stopping her and moved her hands away as he moved a little away.

Tina smiled mischievously and was about to take a step towards Neil not noticing her shoe lacies were undone.

As she took few steps she suddenly stumbled and was about to lose her balance but Neil saved her on time making her land in his arms.

Neil: Careful Tina. You could have fell he said.

Tina looked at Neil. His face was very close to hers. She was able to feel his breath falling on to her face.

As Neil was about to move away, Tina stopped him. She placed one hand on the back of his neck while the other hand held his shirt collar .

Her eyes moved to his eyes and then at his lips. She drew her face closer to Neil.

Neil looked at Tina as she was closing in the gap between them. Before things could go far he turned his face to the otherside.

Tina stopped as she saw Neil turn his face. Her grip loosend around him as she felt embarrassed and upset.

Tina: I'm sorry. Maybe i should get going. She said. Her tone reflecting how upset she was.

Neil looked at Tina. Her facial expression showed how she was feeling. He cursed himself in the head. She wouldn't have expected that out of him. Not only her but no partner would expect their partners to turn their face away in such moment.

He knew he messed up big times. He covered his face with his hands as his eyes closed as he spoiled things up with both Avni and Tina.

Tina was about to leave but Neil held her hand stopping her.

Neil: Tina. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to react that way. It waa so sudden that...that i didn't expect such thing.

Tina: It's...its ok Neil. I'll leave now she said glancing at him breifly as she removed her hands from his hold .

Neil: No. Its not ok Tina. I know you're upset. Anyone would be. Please let me make it up to you... let me take you out on a dinner date tomorrow please. Let me show how sorry i am.

Tina: I'm...I'm not sure Neil. I...I don't think its necessary.

Neil: please Tina. For me. For us. Please allow me to take you on a date. For making it up to you. He said taking both of her hands and holding it.

Tins looked at neil and his hand. What happened a moment ago was such an embarrassing situation.

Tina: Neil. I don't think that is needed. It's ok she said moving her hands away from him

Neil: Tina please. He pleaded

Tina hesitated. She didn't know what to do as she wondered what if something similar happend. She looked up at Neil to see that hope on his face.

After taking a long deep breath she slowly smiled.

Tina: okay.

Neil smiled and hugged her. He knew he has upset Tina and has to make it up to her. Also spending time with Tina will probably help him clear his thoughts away from Avni and maybe make things back to the way they were like before.

He wanted to give him and Tina a chance.

Hey peeps here is the next chap to Be Mine .

Wouldn't have been possible without NeilAvni_love thanks dida .

Also thanks to those who voted and commented for the previous chap .

Keep those votes and comments coming
Silent readers votes can do.

Lots of love