Author's POV

Neil was right, he left her for good. At least that's what he thought. He didn't bother her anymore. Her life was gone back to as it was before. Chaos, but without the chaos of whatever Neil kept doing.

The murder mystery case, the drugs case...he worked on them and solved them as he always does. With willpower and intellect.

The days passed sooner and it was already monsoon. The August weather didn't help the gloomy atmosphere these days either. Two months without him bothering her. But did Avni care? No. Did it bother her? Maybe. Because for once, the image of him being a bad police officer kept fading. She wanted to know what those words meant.

The one who is targeting you, I will surely kill him for you.

For you? Now Avni knew the reason behind all of this, 'I want to protect you' thing.

Dammit, I like you.

Was he serious?

Avni had several confessions resided in her heart. The thing she never cared for. She knew love was something she wouldn't get. Just an attraction or obsession.

But why did he like her? Or perhaps why ever he wanted to protect her. He said he loved her. What was her name? Aditi. Yes, he loved her. Was she a replacement?

Avni bitterly chuckled at her thoughts.

"Avni, what are you thinking about?" Piya piped out, "You seem spacing out? Is it work?"

Avni shook her head with a smile, "It's just... nothing."

"I've been thinking about mom, a lot."

"Are you?"

Avni nodded, a pained smile on her face.

"You could always visit her, or maybe she could," suggested Piya.

"No!," Avni shrieked. "Mom won't ever come here. She shouldn't."

Piya neared, placing her hands on Avni's shoulders. "Sure. I get it. You should go then. I guess you guys haven't met each other in three years." Piya pulled her in a hug, "Isn't it a long time, Avni?"

Avni nodded, tears threatening to fall. "I would but work-"

"Maybe after this movie's shooting is done." She continued.

"Okay." Piya looked up, "Also, I think that day...um, you should really move on from him. I know it's hard but it's been 11 years Avni."

Piya saw Avni being vulnerable and at the edge. "I can't forget him, and I definitely won't forgive him."

"No, that isn't what I am implying Avni. Just move on, from that incident. You have Ali and me. And your mom. And maybe you'll find someone who will love you. You should try dating someone Avni."

"I don't think I'll ever love someone. I just get zoned away. I'll just hurt that person." Avni shrugged, smiling.

"Just like you hurt Vivaan?" Piya asked, staring at her eyes filled with guilt.

"It's okay, it wasn't your fault. People change and that incident changed all of you." Piya grinned, "And anyway, maybe someone will love you even when you have your tough days. Maybe someone won't give up on you even when you are hard to love?"

"That certain someone doesn't exist, Piya."

"It does, definitely. Ali and me. Look at us now. It's been a few years since we started dating. And those first months were hell. We kept misunderstanding each other and making assumptions. You won't know until you give it a chance. If ever someone keens your interest, please make that move. Also, make sure not him being from the entertainment industry. I know you don't like not having privacy."

Piya's words assured Avni, slightly having a ray of hope outshine.

The days went by, and Neil's thoughts didn't leave her mind since. She started having double thoughts of what-ifs.

She did wonder about her being a target as told by him. But any of that didn't happen. It was as if she jinxed it and got injured on the set of an ad-shoot. It was scary yet confusing.

The light resulted faulty and a short circuit happened to cause the metal rod to fall at an uneven pace.

Avni was busy with the script, trying to rephrase the words better when a harsh unsettling feeling in her upper left arm caused her to fall with a thud.

Everyone rushed and pushed the rod aside when they saw blood oozing out from her upper arm due to the harsh encounter. Avni whimpered in pain, while the staff tried to make her stand up, as they took her to a hospital.

The doctors admitted her to a VIP ward. It was shocking to Avni when she was told they had to do surgery.

"Isn't there any other way to cure this?"

"Miss. Raichand, as long as we want you to heal fast, that seems unsure. Surgery would be much better rather than casting. A casting would take more than 4 months to properly heal while surgery would reduce it to perhaps 12 weeks. So I suggest you go for surgery. Also, I want you to take a break from work. You can't work like this, not in this condition."

"So a surgery would make me heal in 12 weeks?" Avni asked, sighing.

"Not really, you could just not feel as much pain. Also, that would only happen if you take proper medications. You have a severe injury on the humerus. The bone seems a bit cracked, as per the X-Ray we took."

"For now, the nurse will help you with anything you need. We need your family to sign the papers first, then we'll continue with the surgery."

"Sure," Avni replied.

Avni called Piya and told her about the incidents. As always, Piya was busy with her artwork, so she couldn't leave. She asked the director for an urgent leave but he denied it due to the project they were working on.

"Okay, don't worry. I am currently fine now. Just come tomorrow, will you?" Avni softly asked.

"Yeah, I will. Also, don't pressure yourself. Lovely's with you right?"

"He is irritating, you know that right."

They both chuckled, talked a minute more before hanging up.

Avni sighed, looking up at the white ceiling reminding her of the gross smells she once inhaled. A nightmare.

The white walls, the medic equipment and the smell of medicines and blood mixed, it made Avni nauseous.

"Ma'am, we m-may have a problem." Lovely gasped for air as he spoke.

"What?"

"T-the police is here." That alone, made Avni's eyes widen. After more than two months? She thought.

"You mean the ACP N-" Avni didn't even get to complete her assumptions when Lovely added to her fear.

"That isn't even the m-main problem. The ad-shoot director is scared for his life. The police will interrogate him for this incident."

"Why? That was just an ac-accident?" Avni stuttered.

"No, Sir says it wasn't." Lovely shook his head, "Also, his words were like fire, he said 'I will not let anyone guilty slide out of my hands.' His eyes were like daggers, Avni."

"I mean Avni ma'am," Lovely gulped.

Avni gaped at him with disbelief, "Who?"

"Of course Sir."

Gritting her teeth, she said, "Sir who?"

"ACP Sir, the king himself."

Avni scoffed, "King?"

"Yeah, didn't you see his aura? Come on, you must have. You probably have met him more than m-" Lovely stopped rambling when he saw Avni glaring at him.

"Tell him, I want to talk-"

Before Avni could mutter, "Mr Lovely Singh, I would like you to assist Officer DD with the situation and let me ask Miss. Raichand about the incidents of today." Neil said in a demanding tone causing Lovely to nod, not before him leaning to whisper something in Avni's ears receiving a 'Get Out' glare from her.

Lovely scurried out, taking small baby steps. Avni knew one thing, 'Miss Raichand' was the term he used when he was pissed. Avni searched his eyes looking for the comment lovely passed,

"See, he is back with his aura and ever so dashing personality."

Avni took a deep breath, leaning back on the hospital's bed. She closed her eyes, trying to blur out the surroundings, the one she lost and all of his memories.

She didn't realise Neil sitting on the chair beside her bed until he spoke, "Now do you believe me?"

|××××××|

A/N:

I keep spacing out, wondering about life.

Then, I remember my studies, and I feel more stressed.

This is my last year, important for me to get to a good college.

Please send someone motivation to study xx, I am extremely demotivated rn 😭