Y'all aren't ready
for this chapter☺️

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Author's POV

The pinks and purples were fading into utmost dark blues, the moon inviting itself to cover up the sky's heavenly hues. Birds were migrating home, lights were turned on. The little bulb in the balcony shone as someone sat with their thoughts alone.

Staring at the sky was Avni's usual routine these days. Although her thoughts that meddled with her mind were uncanny, somewhat unusual.

She wanted to hide, everyone knew— well, not everyone, but farmost personalities knew where she lived. They had a rough idea on the area but it didn't concern her as much as a certain someone did.

Anyone would've been okay but not him, she didn't want him to know anything about her or her family.

The door bell rang, alerting, and giving a cue for Avni to gradually rise from the wooden chair she found herself comfortable in. Maybe it was past half an hour since she decided to take a breath of fresh air and enjoy a little alone time. However, it didn't last long.

She tucked the few strands of hair that kept messing with her view behind the ears, casually walking towards the door. She twisted the knob open only to reveal a person that kept inviting himself these days.

She let the person enter and closed the door before turning around and heading towards the couch in the living room.

"I don't like you constantly disturbing my alone time." She said, taking a seat across him.

"Come on, you don't hate me that much. I know."

Avni passed a crooked smile, liking how naturally they conversed. "At least you are aware that I hate you a little, Lovely."

"Sure, Miss." Lovely nodded, chuckling and ruffling through his bag as he searched for his I-pad. "Well, there's a reason I am here for," He looked at Avni with excitement rushing through his veins and eyes simply disappearing as he smiled full, scanning through the device.

Lovely went through his I-pad, swiping and opening an email, and passed it for Avni to look. Brows furrowed, she took it and waited for him to continue. "This is an official email from Adidas. They are suggesting for you to be a brand ambassador for them."

Avni's eyes gleamed, shock surfaced her features as the sudden information thrown at her made her overwhelmed. "This is... amazing," Words were at loss, for her mind was bubbled up in a frenzy.

"I know." He smiled, expecting the same. "I just need your confirmation for this. I'll get back to them and soon they'll send details with the contract."

Avni nodded, thinking over it. Sure, she was a brand ambassador for a few products but well – this was new and certainly huge. This – welcomed for a lot more opportunities in future, not that she was ungrateful with what she had, considering this itself was a great deal.

"This is something extravagant. It's hard to wrap up my mind over it but I... I can't take it. I-I have to refuse."

To say Lovely was shocked would be an understatement, this was once a lifetime opportunity because if Avni denied, he was sure the articles won't shut up if the word was leaked, which not seemed to be impossible. Lips agape, he asked, "But Ma'am, this–"

"Listen to what I have to say..." Avni said, gaze still on him, it gave a message that she wasn't too happy with that information either.

"The doctor came by today for a checkup. He said my arm is currently doing fine since I didn't strain it much. But you do remember that I have to have this cast for 12 weeks? Only a few weeks have passed by, I still have two more months for it to be gone. Then, I have to start rehab." She paused for a breath. "It'll be for a month or maybe longer. That is dependent on how much my arm recovers."

"So I can't endorse any new brand because I have to be on a break. I can't help it, Lovely. Any project, I can't work on. Just... remember that."

Lovely eyes mimicked the frown on his lips as he tried to grasp those words. Nevertheless, he nodded. "Okay, as you say. But...you would've agreed if that wasn't the case, right?" He pried, thinking that maybe he could find a solution for this, he didn't want to let this opportunity slip like the sand from his hands.

Avni nodded, assuring. That's it, that was the cue for him to try something. Although he wasn't sure what, he was going to try at least.

"By the way, any update on the property? Did you contact Mr. Awasthy, lately?"

"Yes, I did. It's ready." Lovely grinned. "Are you gonna leave the apartment here as it is?"

"I guess so."

"Certain final touches are in work to make it look exquisite. It is more cozy and better than this apartment, though this apartment is wider and cover more area. One thing for sure, you'll love it." He said, earning a happy grin from Avni who seemed relieved, and maybe... nervous too?

"You can see the property sometime on the weekend." He added.

Before Avni could've questioned anything, the door bell rang, again. Lovely raised a hand in the air to stop Avni from answering. He rushed to the door, and there someone was, staring at Avni, teasingly.

"Oh, look who is it." Lovely grinned, eyes wide, travelling to look at Avni and back to the certain someone. "An idiot."

"Shut up, Specs." Piya nudged him aside, causing Lovely to pout and adjust his glasses.

Piya started, rambling about the art project she was working on and how much she wanted to kick him right where it hurt because these days he was being an actual old cuss.

Avni laughed, shaking her head at those sudden threatening statements that spilled from her bestfriend's mouth. Avni knew Piya was all talks. Though she was a crackhead that babbled and did idiotic things, she knew Piya was far from violence unlike her.

The memory of a pained Neil flashed across her eyes, holding onto himself for dear life. Avni chuckled earning a look from Piya.

"Don't you dare laugh at my pain." Piya warned, scoffing and glaring with utter passion. Man, she was damn pissed.

Lovely shook himself, his eyes widened at the realisation that he was quite in a daze, staring the floor thinking something. He flinched at the sudden cold buzz that raged through his body and decided to head back in the living room.

Just as he was about to close the door, a tall and well built figure stood infront of him, eyes glinting and intimidating him whole. He watched with wide eyes, eyes flickering to the side to avoid eye contact with the man.

There wasn't any word spoken between the two but Lovely let him enter 'cause he had met him a few times, another he wouldn't mind. However, that wasn't quite where his mind was wandering off to.

Avni nodded slowly, listening to Piya's horrifying attempts to teach the director a lesson, she kept going on and on.

"No, one of my colleagues suggested it. I think it's the best idea."

"What! No! You aren't going to leave him at the haunted house ride. It can traumatize him." Avni objected at the idea, knowing some people couldn't handle horror things well.

Piya stopped and for a moment, Avni thought whether the dramatic revenge plots were over, but her eyes seemed as if they stopped right behind her. Avni frowned.

"Piya, what happened?"

Avni turned her head around, eyes looking up and staring at someone who smiled softly at her, waving his hand. She blinked.

"Neil..."

"Hey!"

Avni stood up, eyes never leaving his, and comtemplating the sudden arrrival. She wasn't expecting him at all.

"What are you doing here?" Avni whispered so low that it barely reached Neil.

"Of course, you told me to come–" Neil was interrupted by Avni's widened gaze, and she was shaking her head.

Piya was grinning at the exchange, her want to tease the couple grew, "I didn't know you guys were going to spend time together. I wouldn't have come."

Avni fluttered her eyes shut, no it was already starting.

"Ma'am? You are ACP Sir are together?" Lovely asked, failing to see the smirk on Piya's face.

However before Piya could reply, Avni interrupted, "If you dare say a word, I'll throw you out."

The threat didn't faze Piya as she came closer to whisper something in Avni's ears, "Just say you don't want us here. We'll gladly give you privacy."

"Then leave me alone." She whispered in her bestfriend's ear, glaring.

Piya smirked, walking over to grab her bag. "Come on, Specs. She wants us to leave."

"But I didn't come here long ago." Lovely pouted, earning a roll of eyes from Piya.

"What are you? A baby?" She feigned innocence. "Come on, I'll treat you to ice-cream little one."

Piya grabbed his I-PAD, and pushed it towards him, "Take your stuff. You don't wanna disturb their alone time, right."

Lovely nodded nevertheless, following behind Piya, and shutting the door close. When they were out in the space, he asked excited, "You are really giving me an ice-cream treat?"

Piya scoffed, "In your dreams, Specs."

"YOU LIAR!!" Lovely accused, mouth agape. "I knew it. You little piece of bread crust."

Piya laughed. "Bread crust? Why? Do you hate it."

"Yes. I hate it as much as I hate you."

"Sorry to tell you little one," She flipped her hair. "but I love it."

🎬🎬🎬

Avni sighed, leaning backwards and shaking her head. "Next time, tell me if you're ever going to come here."

"You asked me."

Avni threw him a look. "I did. But it was three in the afternoon. You said you weren't sure."

"I am here now."

"That's not the point. How am I supposed to know you were going to knock at eight? I was so...shocked. Also, having Piya near never helps."

Neil chuckled, "I was quite busy with someone."

"I didn't ask."

"Of course, it's going on in your head but you never ask. You like to assume and overthink."

Avni clicked her tongue, "Are you taunting me?"

He neared her, "Yes."

"I can't believe you." Avni scowled, walking to sit back on the couch, a clingy Neil following and sitting just beside her.

"Won't you ask?"

"No, like you said. I am overthinking now." Avni mocked. Neil let out a soft laugh.

"You are so cute." He murmured, softly staring at Avni with gleaming eyes, who's cheeks flushed.

"I am angry right now."

"But you look so cute."

"You find angry me cute?"

Neil softly booped her nose. "You get all red when you're angry. It's cute."

Crimson blush spread through her cheeks at the sudden close proximity. It led to staring at each other with stars in their eyes. While Neil seemed to get lost in it, Avni's searched for insincerity but there wasn't something like that flowing through his. It was fondness and admiration, longing and care. It sent Avni in a daze. How could someone carry so much of emotions for her?

Moments after, Neil's hands found it's way, one to Avni's back and another softly cupping her right cheek. His thumb stroking and caressing her soft mushy skin as Avni fluttered her eyes shut, gulping.

"May I?"

Avni looked at him nervous, soft breaths, rosy cheeks, and her left hand setting on his waist.

It seemed like if they waited more, the moment was going to slip away, like sand from their fists, or something like an obstacle meddling in their way.

Avni nodded, whispering a soft yes, breathing uneven as Neil came closer, his soft caresses sending her brain into a frenzy. Her heart decided to skip a beat when his smell washed over her, so hypnotic.

Heat surged through her when she felt the soft press of his lips against hers, her whole body tingled, a wave of warmth washing over, numbing her senses as the taste of him nearly silenced all her thoughts.

He hummed, growing weaker at how wet their lips were, coated soft with each other's tentative and burning touch. His hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her in, more closer as the kiss went from tender and gentle brushing to a slow intimate one, making her knees weaken at the intensity.

He pulled away, slowly after what seemed a long time, soft gasps leaving their mouths, caught between an array of feelings.

However the surprises didn't end there as Neil leaned and softly pecked her forehead, smiling gently at her after.

Avni wanted to say something, anything... but her mind couldn't find words proper enough to describe what she was feeling at the moment.

Neil noticed her struggle and took her into his embrace, surprising her again. Her heart leaped, the gush of fluttering butterflies surged when his fingers drew soothing circles on her back and his left palm resting atop her shoulder, stroking in a slow pace. It calmed her heart knowing that he was doing this because of the cast. A smile found its way on Avni's features, they stayed like that for a minute or so.

The silence was broken by the loud burst of Neil's phone. Avni thought he was not going to answer it by the look on his face when he pulled away. It seemed like he wanted to spend more time with her, maybe even more than she did. However when his gaze set upon the caller ID, he immediately stood up.

"I have to take this."

Avni nodded, and before he could excuse himself and go, she asked, "Would you like something to eat?"

Neil just nodded with a small smile, before scurring towards a secluded space.

He conversed over the phone whereas Avni pondered over what to make. Did sandwiches seemed nice? There wasn't anything else she could make in such a short time.

Also, she was quite hungry, these days she didn't care about the diet. To hell with diet. Any after thoughts of what happened moments ago, she let them slide. It made her cheeks flush just even thinking about it.

She took the cheese and spread them over the toasts that she grilled minutes ago. It was messy to do it with one hand and she chuckled at the ingredients on the counter. She almost had them ready.

It bugged her how much time passed by since Neil went to receive the call. She glanced at the clock. Before she could contemplate, the sound of footsteps stopped right behind her.

She turned around, hiding her grin, keeping it at a faint smile and looked at him, "They would be done in less than a minute."

However, what she failed to notice when she spoke was the way Neil's jaw hardened, his expression was stern. He seem pissed.

"Explain." He said, flashing his phone's screen in the air. As Avni took a look, her eyes widened in disbelief.

No no no.

S-she can't explain.

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Oops! 👁️👄👁️

A/N:

Please bear with the slow updates.

My college isn't giving us students a rest and the finals are next month. However, I'll try to update whenever I can.