Author's POV

The hospital air is saddening, depressed. Two families are standing outside an operating room, waiting.

Krisha had tears in his eyes, she couldn't believe it when she saw Avni like that. So much blood, so many injuries. It reminds her of Abhay, and she sobs throughout. Shweta sits beside her, comforting her, but even her eyes are brimming with tears.

"Mom!"

A few pairs of eyes flit towards the side. Neil is standing there, before he walks closer. His shoulder and arm are accentuated with a cast. Thankfully, as the doctor said, the bullet cut halfway through his shoulder. It could have been critical.

"Neil..." Prakash says, pulling him a soft hug. He caresses his back, "I'm glad you are fine." When he pulls away, Neil plasters a smile on his face.

"How is Avni?" He asks. When they give him pained glances and silence, he moves to look through the glass window of the operating room.

He catches a few glimpses of her. He stares down, head hanging low as his body shook from choked sobs. He palms his face, leaning on the doorframe as the moisture of pain speaks for him. Bebe comes around and rubs his back. "She'll be okay, Neil. You believe in her, right? She is a strong person. She'll make it through." He turns to her and cries in her arms.

Piya looks away, walking a little distance and sitting on the other bench. "Ali... I can't see this. I can't see her like that." She says, and it's obvious she is crying. "It's been three hours, how longer?" She looks at him. Ali just stares. He doesn't have much to offer other than silence and a thin thread of hope he is holding onto. "It'll be alright, hm?" His voice cracks as he leans on her shoulder.

🎬🎬🎬

"Neil..."

"Avni..."

They both stare at each other with fondness.

Avni raises her hand slowly, and touches his face, caressing his cheek. A soft smile lingers on her lips. "I missed you..." she mumbles.

Neil smiles and leans in to softly kiss her cheek. "I miss you, even when you are here."

"Are you okay? What happened?" She looks a little sad as she observes his shoulder.

"Just took a bullet for my girlfriend."

Her eyes open wide. Neil chuckles lightly. "I'm kidding, it was meant to come my way." He brushes her hair to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. "Thank you."

"For what...?" She mumbles. Her voice lacks the usual enthusiasm and it's understandable because of the lack of energy in her body. She has gone through so much.

"For not leaving me." His eyes glisten. "I'm glad you are here with me. Thank you so much."

"I could say the same..." she chuckles before wincing in pain from the pressure on her stomach.

"Does it hurt much?" Neil asks with worried eyes.

She nods. "It feels numb but at the same time like I'm being pinched by needles. It's not a good experience, honestly."

"I'm so proud of you," she feels a peck on her lips. "You fought with all your might. I'm sorry to not be there early."

"I wouldn't be here if you didn't come then." She tilts her head, a faint smile on her lips.

"Come on, get healthy soon." Neil pouts. "I want to hug you so bad."

"What about kisses?" She stares at him, mischievously.

"Oh, you'll get plenty of them."

"Is that so?"

"Hm.." He nods, eyes softening. "I'll pour all of my life's worth of love into them. I'll make sure you feel it. I'll love you with every breath in me. I love you, Avni. I love you so much. I'll make sure you won't forget it, ever."

"Neil..." Avni's lips wobble. She closes her eyes, blinking off the tears. "Kiss me..." She says after a moment. "Please..."

So, Neil does. Without any further question, he kisses her. It's soft, careful like a touch of cotton candy. It's pillowy and warm in the hope that the love is conversed, felt.

Neil pulls away after a few seconds. "You need to rest a little before I pounce on you." She rolls her eyes at him, trying to hide the wide grin that spills through the blush colouring her cheeks.

One by one, everyone greets her, gathering around. Everyone is grateful that she is fine, though the stitches still need to be healed and the cuts are yet to be completely wiped off. Krisha kisses her, crying as she speaks with her, telling how thankful she is that her daughter is Alive, right in front of her. Piya dots on her, doesn't pass a comic comment but scolds her to not do it again. Avni smiles and accepts her half hug. Ali just holds her hand, trying not to cry and Avni understands it. She feels, knows what he doesn't say. Prakash and Shweta, both wish her to be healthy soon. And she smiles, because it's a lot of love. It's only a lot of family adoration that she can take.

Bebe comes last, but she comes with a bowl of soup, casually making sure she eats. It's in the afternoon that she gets to know; she woke up after four days. It's the first week of January. Another year, new beginnings and she hopes it goes happily, she hopes that life is kinder to them.

Neil sits by her side, watching her, his palm under his chin, a smile on his face.

The things are being taken care of. Vidyut surrendered after he got to know that someone wasn't where she was supposed to be. The girl named Viv that they had found and sent for care was Vidyut's younger sister. He was the man she was talking about. Vidyut only did it because he didn't want any harm on her.

Well, for Vihaan, he surrendered to the bullets in his body.

And for the rest, his team is taking care of it.

And for his father, Neil thinks it could wait. Avni doesn't need to know it now. She needs to be away, heal. It's a close-ended decision he had taken after speaking with Krisha.

By the evening, two officers come by and hand Avni a bouquet of yellow orchids. She knows DD, and the other one introduces himself as Akshay. She thanked them for the flowers and for what they did. They waved her away with a smile.

"They like you." Neil speaks with a tight-lipped smile.

"Of course, they don't have any reason not to."

"Well, I can understand it." Neil shrugs. "I'm already trapped under your fingers."

"As if." Avni scoffs.

"What? Am I wrong? Baby..." he teases.

Avni gapes. "That's not fair."

"Come on, it's time for sleep." Neil adds, standing up and lowering her bed. They're in one of the VIP rooms of the hospital. Krisha is sleeping on the couch. She hadn't slept in the last two days, so Neil's thankful that she is resting.

"Neil..." Avni grips her wrist, "Please...sleep here."

Neil's eyes soften. "I would've but you need to rest properly." He tries to pull the duvet over her but she shakes her head, pouting.

"There is plenty of space. I can manage."

Neil pauses a moment. "Are you sure?" She nods. "Are you thirsty?" She shakes her head.

Neil pulls her a little to the side and carefully leans on the other side of the bed, before pulling the duvet over them. Avni closes the space and rests her face on his chest, "it's a little bearable like this."

"Hmm...is it?" Neil brushes her hair, kissing a moment after. "Are you sleepy yet?"

"Mhm..."

"Okay...rest well."

"Good night, Neil."

"Good night, baby."

|××××××|

THE END.

Thank you for staying till the end.

Like I promised,
the first dawn of 2023 is yet to come
as I post this.

Hope you enjoyed :)

🌟🌟🌟

Please do provide me your reviews and feedbacks. I will attach my favourite ones in the thanking note or if there are more than a few, I'll add them in a special bookmark section chapter.

You can suggest scenes for bonuses, too.

🌟🌟🌟

You guys can still fill in for the
Q/A segment
I have posted.
I would love if more of you participate.

Stay tuned for the epilogue!💕