Days passed, and Neil tried to get close to Avni. Neil daily tried to meet Avni. Sometimes, Neil succeeded in that, and sometimes not.

It was the time of the morning, the sun was shining over the Mehta house where Avni was standing in front of the dressing table and got ready to go with Neil. Neela Maa came there and smiled to see Avni.

Nm: tiyar ho gai?

Avni turned and smiled.

Avni: Hmm.

Neela Maa cupped Avni’s face.

Nm: Yeh muskan tere chehre per kitni pyaari lag rahi hai. Humesha ase hi muskurati raha kar.

Avni: Humesha?

Nm: Hmm, humesha.

Avni: Phir to log mujhe pagal samjhen ge.

Avni looked at Neela Maa who was confused. They smiled.

Nm: Pagal.

Avni: Dekha.

Neela Maa was surprised.

Nm: Chup.

Avni smiled and hugged her mother. Avni felt something and she felt a pull to Neela Maa. Avni looked at her mother and she thought. Neela Maa smiled. They broke the hug and Avni looked at Neela Maa.

Nm: Chalo, ab jaldi se baki ki tiyari kar lo. Neil bus aane hi wala hoga tumhe lene.

Avni smiled faintly. Avni turned but she was not able to move. Avni turned to her mother and Neela Maa frowned to see Avni. Avni hugged her mother and Neela Maa was surprised. Neela Maa got worried.

Nm: Kya howa, bacha? Sab theek hai na?

Avni: Maa, bohat ajeeb sa lag raha hai. Aap ko chor kar jane ka mann nahi kar raha.

Neela Maa frowned and smiled. Neela Maa caressed Avni’s hair.

Nm: Aaj Maa per bara pyaar araha hai, hmm.

Avni was looking serious.

Nm: Bacha, maine kahan jana hai. Main to yahi huni ghar per. Main tumhe chor kar kahin jaa sakti hun kya, hmm. Tumhare siwa mera is duniya main hai hi kon? Main tumhe chor kar kabhi kahin nahi jaungi.

Avni smiled sadly and Neela Maa broke the hug and held Avni’s arms.

Nm: Aur agar kahin gai bhi na to main humesha yahan.

Neela Maa kept her hand on Avni’s heart.

Nm: Yahan rahungi. Tumhare dil main. Tumhare pass.

Avni got emotional and she hugged her mother.

Avni: Kabhi bhi mujhe chor kar mat jaiye ga. Aap ke bina aap ki Avni adhuri hai.

Neela Maa smiled.

Nm: Main bhi tumhare bina adhuri hun, Bacha. Main kahin nahi jaungi. Humesha tumhare sath rahun gi.

Avni smiled but her heart was giving her signals that something bad was going to happen. Avni thought.

Avni came out of the home and was lost. Neil was standing in front of his car. Neil saw Avni and he smiled. Avni was coming to Neil and was walking slowly. Avni was feeling restless. Avni was going and Neil saw her coming. Neil frowned to see Avni lost. Neil came to Avni who didn’t notice him. Avni collided with Neil and stumbled. Avni was about to fall but Neil held her waist and hand. Avni’s eyes were closed and Neil smiled to see her. Avni opened her eyes and she saw Neil. Avni was surprised.

Avni and Neil got lost in each other’s eyes. They were looking at each other. Avni broke the eye contact and looked down. Neil also came back to his senses. Neil made Avni stand. Avni felt awkward. Neil looked at Avni and smiled to see her.

Neil: Dihan kahan tha tumhara? Kis soch main ghum thi?

Avni lowered her gaze and shook her head.

Avni: kisi main nahi.

Neil frowned and then he smiled. Neil leaned to Avni who looked at Neil.

Neil: Khuli ankhon se humare future ke sapne dekh rahi thi kya? Han?

Neil smiled and Avni looked down. Avni kept her hair behind her ear.

Avni: Humain chalna chahiye.

Neil was looking at Avni and he found her upset. Neil had already guessed that and that was the reason, he came to Avni. Avni moved.

Neil: Avni.

Avni stopped and looked at Neil.

Neil: koi bhi problem ho tum mere sath share kar sakti ho. Main humesha tumhare sath rahunga.

Avni was surprised and she remembered her mother's words.

Flashback:

Avni and Neela Maa were standing near the dressing table.

Nm: Main bhi tumhare bina adhuri hun, Bacha. Main kahin nahi jaungi. Humesha tumhare sath rahun gi.

Flashback ended.

Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil: bus ek awaz de dena. Mujhe apne pass hi paogi.

Avni was looking at Neil and smiled.

Avni: Chalen?

Neil felt hurt because Avni didn’t share her problem with him. Neil nodded and they moved. Avni looked at Neil and found him sad.

Avni: Asi koi baat nahi hai jise share kiya jaye. Mujhe khud nahi pata ke baat kya hai. Main bus low feel kar rahi hun. Ek ajeeb si bechaini ho rahi hai.

Neil: Tumhari tabiyat theek hai na?

Avni nodded and said, hmm, I am fine.

Neil: phir?

Avni: I don’t know. Sab kuch theek hai lekin pata nahi kyun asa lag raha hai ke kuch bura hone wala hai.

Neil frowned and then he thought. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: don’t worry sab kuch theek hoga.

Avni: I hope so.

Neil: don’t worry.

They came to the car and got in it. The car moved back and drove away from there.

It was daytime, a car was moving on the road. Neil was driving the car and Avni was sitting in the passenger seat. Avni was feeling restless as if something was going to happen. Neil looked at Avni who was looking out from the window. Neil looked at the road.

Neil: Abhi bhi usi baat ke bare main soch rahi ho?

Avni looked at Neil who looked at her and then he focused on the road. Avni looked down and nodded.

Avni: Hmm. Ek ajeeb si bechaini ho rahi hai.

Neil: ghar wapis chalen? Hum date per phir kabhi chalen ge.

Avni was surprised.

Avni: Nahi.

Neil looked at Avni and then he looked at the road.

Avni: I am fine. Wapis chalne ki zarorat nahi hai.

Neil looked at Avni and asked: Are you sure?

Avni nodded.

Avni: Yes, I am sure. Shayad bahar jaa kar main acha feel karon.

Neil nodded while looking at the road.

Neil: OK.

Avni turned her face and looked out from the window. Neil saw Avni and then he thought. Neil tried to concentrate on the road. Neil switched on the music. A song played and Avni looked at the music player. Song: Bol na mahi bol na.

Avni looked at Neil who looked at her and smiled. Avni smiled and then Neil looked at the road. The song was playing and Avni looked out from the window. Neil took Avni on the long drive and the song was playing.

They went to the restaurant and they had lunch there and after that, they roamed the roads and went to the local market. Neil showed the things to Avni like jewelry and hats but Avni denied them. Neil looked down and suppressed his lips. Neil was disappointed and they moved from there. Avni and Neil were roaming in the market. The day turned into the night. Neil saw the ice cream and he went to buy it. Neil bought the ice cream for them and he came to Avni. Neil gave one to Avni and they had the ice cream while walking.

A little girl of nine, ten years old was selling the flowers. She came to Avni and Neil.

Girl: Bhaiya, Didi ke liye yeh phool lo na.

Avni and Neil felt bad to see her.

Girl: Jitna pyaar aap Didi se karte ho unhe phool le lo.

Neil smiled and sat on his feet. Avni was surprised to see Neil.

Neil: Aap ka naam kya hai?

Girl: Priti.

Avni smiled.

Neil: Priti. Wah aap ka naam ko bohat pretty hai.

Neil said while pinching the girl’s nose: bilkul aap ki tarha.

The girl smiled. Avni also smiled.

Neil: Aap school jati ho?

The girl nodded.

Priti: Hmm aur main apni class main first aati hun.

Avni smiled.

Neil: Really? Yeh to bohat achi baat hai.

Priti smiled.

Avni: Aap ki family main kon, kon hai?

Priti: main aur Maa. Maa gharon main kaam karti hain aur main phool bechti hun.

Avni and Neil felt bad.

Priti: Mujhe bilkul acha nahi lagta Maa ko gharon main kaam karte dekhne. Jab main bari ho jaungi to main Maa ko koi kaam nahi karne dungi. Us ke liye mujhe bohat mehnat karni hai. parh likh kar bohat paise kamane hain.

Avni and Neil smiled. Avni was looking at Priti and Neil looked at Avni because Priti’s thinking was just like Avni’s thinking. Neil cupped Priti’s cheek and caressed it like a big brother.

Priti: Aap ek phool le lo na. Mujhe meri school ki fees submit karwani hai.

Avni and Neil felt bad. Neil smiled.

Neil: Yeh sab phool kitne ke hain? Agar main aap se yeh sare phool le lun to?

Priti was shocked.

Priti: Sare?

Neil nodded.

Neil: Woh kya hai na main aap ki didi se bohat zyada pyaar karta hun.

Avni looked at Neil shockingly. Neil looked at Avni who looked away. Neil smiled. Neil looked at Priti and smiled.

Neil: Yeh Phool to bohat kam hain. Is duniya ke sare phool bhi agar main khareed lun to bhi woh kam hain. Main itna pyaar karta hun aap ki Didi se.

Avni was looking at Neil shockingly. Neil looked at Avni who looked away instantly. Neil smiled. Neil looked at Priti who was also shocked.

Priti: Itna pyaar karte ho aap Dadi se.

Neil smiled and Avni looked at Priti.

Neil: Is se bhi bohat zyada.

Avni was shocked. Neil took his wallet and then he took the money. Neil passed the money to her. Priti counted the money.

Priti: Yeh to bohat zyada hain.

Avni and Neil were surprised.

Neil: aap rakh lo.

Priti shook her head.

Priti: Nahi, yeh main nahi le sakti. Priti sirf apni mehnat ka khati hai. Ase bheek le kar nahi.

Neil and Avni were surprised.

Neil: Yeh bheek nahi hai. Yeh to bhaiya ka pyaar hai.

Priti: Pyaar?

Neil: Hum. Aap hum dono ko bohat pasand ayi.

Priti looked at Avni who nodded. Priti looked at Neil.

Priti: Mujhe bhi aap dono bohat ache lage to phir mujhe bhi aap dono se paise nahi lene chahiye.

Neil was about to say.

Avni: Neil.

Neil looked at Avni who shook her head.

Avni: Yeh bachi bohat khuddar hai. Duniya main bohat kam log khuddar hote hain. Isay extra paise de kar is se is ki khuddari mat chino. Is ki khuddari hi isay agaye le kar jaye gi.

Neil smiled. Avni and Neil looked at Priti and found her cute and innocent. Neil asked Priti about the price of one flower. Neil gave the money to her.

Neil: Ab theek hai.

Priti counted the money and smiled. Priti nodded. Avni and Neil smiled.

Neil: Phool.

Priti palmed her head. Avni and Neil smiled.

Priti: Sorry.

Priti gave the roses to Neil. Priti waved her hand.

Priti: Bye.

Priti waved her hand and Avni and Neil also waved their hands then Priti went from there. Avni and Neil were looking at her.

Neil: Main Dad se baat kar ke in ki help karne ki koshish karunga.

Avni: Bohat Khuddar hai yeh bachi. Yeh kabhi kisi ka ehsaan nahi le gi.

Neil: Tumhari tarha.

Avni looked at Neil who smiled. Avni lowered her eyes and Neil smiled.  Neil saw the roses in his hands and he passed the bunch of roses to Avni. Avni was surprised and she looked at Neil who signed her to take it. Avni took the roses and Neil smiled. Avni smiled to see the roses and inhaled their scent. Neil smiled to see Avni. Neil remembered something and he saw the time in his watch.

Neil: Aa, ab chalen.

Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: Kahan?

Neil: Dinner karne.

Avni looked on and then she looked at the roses.

Neil: Chalo.

Avni and Neil turned and then they moved from there.

On the other side, the moon was shining over the Mehta house where Neela Maa was passing by the living area hurriedly and she was sweating. Neela Maa was looking worried.

Nm: Mujhe Avni aur Neil ko is bare main batana hi hoga. Main Ashish aur Maa Ja ka parda fash kar ke rahungi.

Neela Maa was going and someone held her arm. Neela Maa widened her eyes in fear. Neela Maa turned her face and she was shocked to see Ashish with his mother. Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta were looking at Neela Maa angrily.

Ashish: Kahan jaa rahi thi?

Nm: Ka… kahin nahi. Ma, main, main ka, kahan jau…gi.

DM: Phir itna ghabhrai hoi kyun hai?

Nm: Gha… ghabhrai…

Neela Maa wiped her sweat from her forehead and neck.

Nm: Na… nahi to.

Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta looked at each other and then they looked at Neela Maa. Neela Maa was looking at them nervously.

On the other side, Avni and Neil were sitting at the restaurant and Avni was continuously feeling restless. Neil gave the order and he smiled. The waiter went and Avni wiped her sweat. Neil saw Avni and he got worried.

Neil: What happened, Avni? Are you ok?

Avni looked at Neil nervously.

Neil: Abhi bhi wahi feeling?

Avni nodded. Neil thought.

Neil: Relax, sab theek hoga.

Neil poured the water into the glass and passed it to Avni.

Neil: Yeh lo pani piyo.

Avni took the glass with shaking hands and she sipped the water. Avni wiped her mouth and she thought.

Avni in mind: Subha se yeh ajeeb si feeling kyun ho rahi hai? kyun asa lag raha hai ke kuch ghalat hone wala hai mera koi apna mujhse dur hone wala hai?

Avni thought.

On the other side, Neela Maa was standing in front of Ashish and Neela Maa. Neela Maa was looking at them angrily and the blood was ogling from her mouth.

Nm: Mujhe aap dono ki sachai pata chal chuki hai aur main sab ke samne aap dono ka parda fash kar ke rahun gi.

Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta got angry.

Nm: Main aap dono ki sachai sab ke samne la kar rahun gi.

Ashish: Tu humari sachai sab ko bataye gi. Han?

Neela Maa was looking at them angrily.

Nm: Han main bataun gi. Bohat zindagiyun ke sath khel chukke aap dono ab bus… ab aur nahi.

Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta laughed.

Ashish: Tu bataye gi? Teri baat per yakeen kon karega?

Nm: Mere Avni and Neil.

Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta were shocked.

Nm: Mere Avni aur Neil meri baat per bharosa karen ge.

Ashish got angry.

On the other side, Avni was continuously feeling restless. Avni clenched the sheet of the table in a fist and Neil was shocked and became worried to see Avni’s condition. Avni shivered. Neil was shocked to see Avni.

Neil: You OK?

Avni: Mu… mujhe kuch acha nahi lag raha… please ghar chalo.

Neil was shocked.

Neil: Lekin dinner.

Avni: Mu, mujhe ghar jana hai… Maa… Maa ke pass jana hai.

Neil was shocked to see Avni.

Avni: Mujhe Maa ke pass jana hai.

Ashish was holding Neela Maa and she was trying to free herself. Neela Maa tried to free herself but she lost her balance and fell on the glass table. The Table broke and Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta were shocked.

Avni shouted: Maa.

Neil was shocked. Neil looked around and the people were looking at them.

Avni: Maa.

Neil: Avni, relax.

Avni looked at Neil who looked around. Avni followed Neil’s gaze and saw the people. Avni gulped and she tried to act normal but she was shivering. Avni was looking down.

Avni: Please ghar chalo.

Neil nodded. Neil asked the waiter to get the bill.

On the other side, Neela Maa was laying on the floor in a pool of blood, and Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta were looking at her shockingly.

DM: Yeh kya kiya tu ne?

Ashish: Maine kuch nahi kiya. Woh ghalti se…

Dm: Ghalti se… Maar dala tu ne isay.

Ashish: Maine nahi mara. Woh ghalti se ho gaya.

Neela Maa saw the flashes of her moment with Avni and a tear fell from her eyes. She smiled. Neela Maa sighed and she found difficulty in taking a breath. She started to pant and she took her last breath.

On the other side, Avni was sitting at the table in the restaurant. Avni shivered and she felt like a part of her body had been cut down from her body. Avni started to pant.

Avni: Maa.

Avni was feeling restless. Neil was looking at Avni and he became worried to see her. Soon, the waiter came and Neil paid the bill. Neil talked to the waiter and then he looked at Avni.

Neil: Chalo.

Avni and Neil got up and they moved. Avni stumbled because she was shivering and he head spinned. Neil held Avni.

Neil: You OK?

Avni nodded. Neil got worried.

Avni and Neil were on the way and Avni was remembering the moment that she spent with her mother. Avni’s eyes got moist. Avni joined her finger and closed her eyes.

Avni: God, please meri Mama ko safe rakhna. Please.

Avni squeezed her eyes and cried. Neil looked at her and then he looked at the road.

Soon, they reached the Mehta house and Avni got out of the car in a hurry. Avni was shocked to see the police jeep.

Avni: Maa.

Avni ran. Neil got down from the car and he looked at Avni. Neil thought. Neil shut the door of his car and then he ran behind Avni. Avni opened the door of her room and she came inside. Neil was behind her. Avni was shocked to see the view in front of her. Neil also came there and he was shocked. Neela Maa’s dead body was laying on the floor. Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta were sitting on the floor near the dead body and they were crying. The police were present there. Avni was looking at her mother and Neil’s eyes got moist.

Avni shouted: Maa.

Neil looked at Avni. Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta also looked at Avni.
Avni ran to her mother.

Neil: Avni.

Neil also hurriedly came to Neela Maa. Avni sat on the floor and took her mother’s head in her lap. Avni cupped Neela Maa’s face. Neil sat near Avni.
Neil checked Neela Maa’s pulse and he was shocked. Neil looked at Neela Maa and then he looked at Avni sadly with tearful eyes. Ashish and Dayawanti Mehta looked at Neil and then they looked at each other.

Avni: Maa. Maa, utho. Kya howa aap ko, Maa? Maa.

Avni shook Neela Maa and called her name.

Neil whispered: Avni.

Avni: Maa, utho. Maa.

Avni thought something.

Avni: Ne, Neil, hu, humain Maa ko hos, hospital le kar jana, jana pare ga.

Neil looked at Avni while crying.

Ashish: Neela, yeh kya ho gaya. Neela.

Neil looked at Ashish. Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: Neil, dekh kya rahe ho? Utho humain Maa ko hospital le kar jana parega.

Avni looked at Neela Maa.

Avni: Dekho, Maa ko kitni chot lagi hai. Humain unhe hospital le kar jana hoga.

Neil looked at Neela Maa and then he looked at Avni.

Avni: Neil, utho.

Neil looked at Neela Maa and cried. Avni shook Neil.

Avni: Neil, utho.

Neil looked at Avni while crying. Avni looked at Neela Maa.

Avni: Maa, aap in sab ko choro main, main aap ko hospital le kar chalti hun. Aap utho.

Avni tried to pull Neela Maa but no use. Avni again tried.

Neil cupped Avni’s face while saying.

Neil: Avni. Avni. Avni, Neela Maa humain hamesha ke liye chor kar jaa chuki hain. Ab woh wapis nahi aan gi.

Avni slapped Neil.

Avni: How dare you?

The Khanna family reached there and they were shocked to see the view. They came forward. Shweta cupped her mouth and the Khaana family cried. Neil was crying and Avni held Neil’s collar.

Avni: Tumhari himmat bhi kaise hoi yeh bolne ki.

Neil was crying and Avni pushed him. Neil looked at his family and then he looked down and looked away while crying.

Everyone felt bad to see Avni. Avni looked at Neela Maa.

Avni: Maa, aap is Neil ki baat per dihan mat dena. Yeh Neil kuch bhi bol raha hai. Aap choren isay. Mujhe pata hai aap ko kuch nahi howa. Mere hote aap ko kuch ho hi nahi sakta. Aap ne kaha tha na aap mujhe chor kar kahin nahi jaengi. To phir aap ko kuch kaise ho sakta hai. Aap ko kuch nahi ho sakta. Aap mujhe chor kar nahi jaa sakte.

Avni cried.

Avni: Maa, utho na.

Avni cried and she was calling her mother. The Khanna family felt bad. Avni was trying to wake up her mother and was crying. The ambulance came there and the hospital staff also came. Neil looked at them.

Prakash: Maine call kiya tha police ko aur hospital bhi.

Neil looked at his father and then he looked at Avni sadly. The wardboys came and Neil looked at Avni.

Avni: Yeh aap log kya kar rahe ho. Meri Maa kahin nahi jaen gi.

Avni held the arm of the wardboy and everyone was looking at Avni while crying. Neil tried to handle Avni.

Avni: Nahi. Choro meri Maa ko.

Neil: Avni.

Avni got up and Neil also got up. Avni tried to stop the staff. Neil was trying to stop Avni.

Avni shouted: Maa. Maa. Maa. Maaaa…

Neil shouted: Avni, Avni. 

Neil cupped Avni’s face.

Neil shouted: Avni, bus karo. Bus karo. Bus karo. Neela Maa humain chor kar jaa chuki hain. Bus karo.

Avni was crying and she punched Neil’s chest who hugged her. Avni clenched Neil’s coat. Avni was not able to stand so they sat on the floor. Neil was hugging Avni who was crying. Neil was also crying.

Avni loosened the grip on Neil’s coat and her hand fell down. Avni fainted. Neil was shocked and he frowned.

Neil: Avni?

Neil held Avni’s arms and took her away. Neil was shocked to see faint Avni. Avni’s head fell backward. Neil held Avni’s neck and then he took Avni in his arms. Everyone was shocked. The Khanna family came to Avni but Ashish and Neela Maa looked at each other and then they looked at Avni. Neil tapped Avni’s cheek.

Neil: Avni. Avni. Avni. Avni, wake up. Avni. Avni utho.

Neil was trying to awake Avni but no use. Shweta ran to get the water. Neil got worried and he captured Avni in his arms. Neil was shivering because of fear.