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Avni

I have somehow managed to convince my Mamma by promising her that I'll be back home before 11.Even I didn't forget to add that, Rea would drop me home.

I sighed and Mamma furrowed her brows, thought deeply before she give me a permitted speech.

"You are enough grown up bachha, you know better your friends with whom you hang out. But one thing always remember your safety is your own concern, no one would build it on your behalf" saying this in a placid tone she got up and went to her room.. within a minute passed Mamma came back holding a lil carry bag in her hand...
Mamma handed me that carry bag....
I looked at her, bewildered..

"Yesterday I went to Sarojini..." saying this She motioned me with her eyes to pull out the thing out of the bag...

*******

It was around 8:45, reaching the given address I stepped out from the cab and gave a call to Rea ...She replied within a ring, said she is coming towards the entrance..I saw her waving at me standing beside Ali at the entrance..

The moment I got the invitation I was in deep thought that what should I gift him in his b'day, as he has everything, belongs to one of the richest business family in town... I was hell bemused by this gift thing. Even I didn't know what kind of stuffs they prefer to be gifted on such occasions...
So very confusingly I chose a dreamcatcher for him as per as my middle class brain. I thought it would be the best gift for a guy who is gonna be pursue his dream this year or some day soon...
So I picked up the turquoise blue one. it has caught my eye the moment I stepped inside the Archie's store...

I waved back at them softly in response and walked to them...

"Happy Birthday Ali. This is for you" I smiled shyly handing the gift box to him...
Ali thanked me taking the gift off my hand and his smile broadened looking the box..."I shouldn't accept any gift you know..guest are not allowed to bring any gift" he smiled softly...

I glanced at them nervously thinking if I did any blunder...
"But I'll accept yours" and next mome Ali broke into a small chuckle looking at my nervous face...I exhaled deep bringing back the smile on my lips...

This guy, I wonder how Neil and Ali became best friends..Ali is an absolutely different person compared to Neil in every means.. He is so sweet and that khadoos.

"He is coming though" a voice in my head reminded me and I sucked a harsh breath.

Ali gestured me to the entrance and moved before leading me the way to the venue.

"Hey babe you are looking breath taking in this V neck A-line dress..." Rea complemented walking beside me and I blushed.

Rea held my arm smiled brightly. Escorting me inside she whispered in my ears"he hasn't come yet" her words caused me flushed heavily. I'm sure she smirked looking at me I didn't dare to give her a glance. I kept walking fiddling my fingers, I was nervous..I inhaled deeply biting my bottom lip...I didn't know how would I behave among these high class people. Suddenly the thought clouded my mind and I grew more anxious.

We got inside. it was a huge hall, roughly near about 500 people could fit all together...I roamed my gaze around, there were sufficient crowd scattered over, not much thronged ...Many food and drinks counters were placed each corner so that guests need not to roam one corner to another to grab their favourite cuisine....

Ali brought us to a soft drinks kiosk corner...
"Avni there no need to be formal, be comfortable..Rea please do take care of your best friend and obviously my sweetest guest..." Ali side hugged Rea grinning broadly and left us excusing himself to check other guests across. Rea nodded frantically and then her amused gaze over me...god knows why.

In the middle on a big round table the cake has been placed. In short, there were not only a single one, actually there were many delicious cakes of different shapes and flavour. On top of all of them were written Happy birthday Ali.

I have never cut cake on my b'day since papa passed away. Mamma makes only kheer for me on this day to celebrate in her own way. But I stopped celebrating as Papa used to bring cake for me at 12am before my every b'day night. Though it was a surprise according to Papa but that was one of the most predictable surprises someone could get for a b'day...I smiled inwardly recalling those moments. Papa used to always ended up putting a small touch of cream on my cheek...And Mama used to spread it all over my face and I used to squeal and it had been changed in a cute cream chasing session among three of us...

I flinched coming back off my daze when Rea elbowed me wobbling her eyebrows gestured to look at somewhere behind me...my eyes formed into furrow looking at her weird expression, I turned my head following her gaze. My heart stopped beating for some seconds, stomach swirled the moment my eyes landed at the person I saw, coming towards this way staring at me.
That gaze. It was not that I commonly see in his eyes for me. It was something breath taking, that could take your heart away just by a twitched spit second. I felt I'm gawking at him. But I'm incapable to pulled my eyes off him. So I kept staring with my heart drumming inside and eyes still.

He was in a black full sleeve round neck Tee, paring with grey buttom looking mouth-drying, dashing. Everything about him screams hot. I couldn't help swallowing down my dried up throat.

He was coming closer bursting my heart almost out of my rip cage. When he was few feet away me he immediately turned, passed over. And next moment he is out of the spot.

He was seen joined his boys gang over there at the hard drinks counter, opposite us across another side.

My chest tightened inhaling his captivating manly sent still in the air as he passed over me...I immediately pulled my gaze away, twirled my head back to the sight I have been before he came.

"Shit I was checking him out" I shut my eyes being embarrassed, pressed my lips holding up my thumping heart.

"It's okay babe sometimes girls should give boys signals you know. nothing to hold on to pride always" her words pulled me back from my mortified state. Rea winked at me when our eyes met. She must have seen me staring at him. Great.

I looked away bit my lips, I heard her let out a chuckle grew me more timorous.
I couldn't control myself to give a quick glance at the direction the boys were gathered together..I saw Ali said something in his ears, in return he blushed. Oh my god did they see it too? I swallowed, looked away. My breath caught my throat.

"What!! Did I see that!!!no no it was something else I'm sure...Neil khanna and blush!!! Hah!! next to impossible..." I shrugged off my thoughts when the glimpse of his blushed face strike my mind.

"but I saw that reddish hue on his cheeks, flushed for a nano second and disappeared instantly...may be for some other girl, as there was so many beauties roaming around. All of them are not only Classy, at the same time all are Fashion Diva.. totally opposite me" I sighed inferiorly and my heart dropped imaging him with a girl.

"Hey babe where are you lost! humm!!" Rea asked passing me a glass of soft drink and I sighed.

"Somewhere in Neil land!! I'm sure" sniggering Rea seeped her drink, stared keenly at my countenance, then held the glass in her hand grinned stupidly..I rolled my eyes shrugging off her words, took the glass upward to my lips. God I need to composed back my self before my bestie make more fun of me.

I flinched, so did Rea the same beside me by a sudden announcement made by Joy on the mic.

"I hope you are having great time lovely people. Now Let's cut the cake and get the celebration begins" Joy left the mike on the DJ keyboard. He walked towards the centre grabbing Ali along with him.

Sending a welcoming smile to all of us Ali bent to the table where the cakes all placed. He blew off all the burning candles in a single breath.
Then Everyone sang the b'day song wishing him and he cut the cake one by one.

Ali fed cakes each and every person including me and Rea around him there in huddle of invitees. Consequently we fed him back in return breaking the smallest share from his hold. And the smile on his face didn't fade.

*******

"Omg it's 10:15 Avu!!" Holding a plate full of several kababs in her grip Rea widened her eyes looking at the pH screen which is ringing now. I saw the caller ID it was Mom_the name dancing on her screen...
She gestured me to hold her plate then immediately she received the call when I grabbed it from her.
Pressing another palm on her ear struggling to hear the voice from other side which is not clearly audible for the loud music over here, she walked to a corner other side away the sound.

I stood there holding both the plate in my hand, hers and mine...I was standing there helplessly waiting for her to come back soon and grap her food from my hold and set me free from this balancing mode.

Sweeping my eyes around nonchalantly they collided with someone I hardly wanted to.

My breath got caught inside my chest. Before my mouth could let out a gasp but it stuck in my throat. I felt trouble in breathing suddenly.

He was looking at me, then slowly his forehead creased, now he is stepping towards me. I swallowed hard.

His move was fast but I saw it in slow-motion....in a fraction of second I couldn't registered the scene happened. Next moment I saw his arm around my shoulder holding a plate in his hand.

I don't know when he took it from me..I saw a boy close to our age fell a loaded glass of drink on the floor and there are glass pieces scattered over that spot I was standing few minutes back. What happened? My brain is total ambivalent.

"Are you okay?" he asked examining my face. His voice demanding but gentle. My subconscious is in a state of fainting by the softness of his deep voice when it hit my ear-drums. I have never heard something this sweet, coaxing in my entire life, obviously until now.

He seemed spoke something more but I only blinked few times watching his lips moved. My body jelo, state dizzy. I have zoned out for few seconds staring at him all lost.

His gaze held mine, concerned. His warm touch over me caused my inside haywire, I couldn't take my eyes off his coaxing gaze staring at me.

He is more handsome from this close. All those features of his face is so perfect, so delicious. I hope I could touch that chiseled jaw, run my fingers over that trimmed stubble around his cheeks down the jaws. I couldn't help gawking at him like some creep.

His closeness has created a havoc turmoil within me, that my brain has denied to response completely at any other event instead him at that moment...I became mute, my inside squirmed by the adrenaline rush my body was receiving at the moment.
Oh my, I never knew his voice could create this effect on me! He is saying something. And it is so sweet.

My daze broke when my ear buds received some commotion faintly, then everything is clear. A small crowd formed around us. And the realisation hit knocking me out of my sences.

Blinking my eye lashes slowly few times I got my sanity back , flitted glances nervously around with my pounding chest. Everyone was staring at the broken glass pieces those are scattered all over the floor our spot, then they shifted their attention to me next Neil...

That boy apologized, said me Sorry...I have no idea still what has happened!! Why he is apologizing, to me?
That boy stepped back with a facade worrying, seems he has done something he shouldn't have...Ali Joy Monish kk Raj all hurriedly reached us and I still don't know what to react.

"You better be" saying him sternly Neil slipped his arm away from my shoulder causiously. And I'm out of his warmth. Guh.

Rea came hastily to us, her baffled glances over me and Neil.

"What's wrong guys??" Rea asked looking at both of us, curiously waited for our reply..
My befuddled gaze at Neil then at Rea. I'm still in a combat inwardly what to say.
I stumbled with my words struggling something to utter, but nothing came out of my mouth. I was that stunned by the entire scene.

"Where have you been letting your friend hold these things?" Was his disgruntled tone underscoring the word friend.

Neil placed the plate in her hand pouring all his vexation through his scowling gaze over her and I shivered seeing him mad. My heart dropped. Is he mad at me!

"I just went outside to receive my Mom's call" Rea spoke timidly, tentatively she roamed her puzzled glances at all of us.

"It's okay guys everything is fine C'mon don't spoil your day.." Kk dismissed the crowd around, Ali raised his voice in search of a waiter to clean up the floor immediately so that none gets hurt by those broken glass pieces...he walked towards somewhere backside. And I'm away him. He strode out of the spot leaving me and Rea standing still there.

******

Neil

I'm trying the best possible way not to bring back my eyes on her, the way I just did the moment ago making my way to enter this place...

I was looking for our gang they have already reached the venue I was informed..
I saw Rea stood facing the main entrance beside a girl back facing me...Rea leaned towards her ear, murmured something and instantly that girl turned around.

And there she is. My heart leaped, everything around muted, faded for some seconds.

Our eyes collided I couldn't take my eyes elsewhere off her. I have zoned out, gobsmacked as if in some conjuration her demeanor has put me into.

She wore a sheen length dress decently falling all over her body. she was looking beautiful in that simple yet elegant attire...the more I'm moving closer to her, the more my heart is pumping fast. I never seen such a beauty in my life until now. She is the epitome of innocence, attractive in her own way. Entirely variance from our society damsels. I wouldn't be surprised if someone ask her for a dance tonight.

Heading the way towards her I sucked a sharp breath seeing her checking me out, even though we both kept staring at eachother not bothering the ambience around us. Indeed I liked it, what I saw.

Holly fuck what I was even thinking?
How dare she look at me with all those emotions which I don't want to experience with her even not in my worst dreams? Liking someone like her would be the grave if I do such blunder. She would never gonna be my type, nor even atleast as a friend I could tolerate her for a day. What would we even chat about? Do we have anything in common? A big No. Look at her she look so meek, docile unlike those females of her age in our society. No where she fits to our standard I belongs to.

A distasteful scoff blew out my chest.

The second I got my sanity back I broke the eye contact, darted my gaze off her. Out of sight, out of mind.
I took big steps, walked past by them and headed to my friends other side.

Subsequently I got busy chatting with my gang, joined me quarterly. And other half of my group Joy, Raj , Ali , left us, they had gone to the dance floor to move their feet to catch the beat.
Me, kk and Monish got busy chatting, pulling each other's legs having our fun time. The chat helped easing the resentment a little.
Half an hour later the announcement was made to cut the cake and we all assembled at the centre area to begin the celebration.

*******

We were having our drink chatting with our gang standing there beside the hard drink counter. Absentmindedly I turned my head to my right. My eyes fell on Avni who was standing there afar some few people away from us, holding two plates with food in her hand roaming her eyes around helplessly.

My gaze creased at a person behind her I saw Karan that Ali's cousin two years junior than us stepping backward playfully along with some guys holding a glass of drink in his hand not having any idea what could happen if he took steps backward.

Some few steps more he will land on Avni and Avni definitely couldn't be keep her balance being engaged her both hands with food and she would fall headfirst and there is a chance she could get injured as well by the shards she is holding those china dishes.

It took me some seconds to reach her. Before anything could happen embarrassing as such or she could get hurt I rushed towards her breaking the huddle aside to take hold of a scene gonna be happened unpleasant.

As soon as I moved close to Avni I snatched one plate from her hand immediately so that she couldn't fall it being startled by my sudden action. Pushing karan a step backward my hand went around her shoulder partly giving her support not to loose her balance for these unceremonious act of mine.

To my own surprise I pulled her to my chest slightly. And being fumbled by my harsh shove the glass plummeted on the floor with the liquid inside sprinkled out from karan's hold.

The glass breaking sound made everyone's attention snapped to us.

Avni stood still there staring at me flabbergasted. I enquired asking her if she is alright!! but she was numb. As if she has forgotten to blink, cat caught her tongue.
She didn't utter a single word, not even tried to...she kept staring at me blankly! Oh god now who would make her speak?

I was about to take a eye rolling on her state but now it was me whose turn to lost the speech.

Staring at her eyes this close, the words hit me to the core. Just an hour back Ali has whispered in my ears watching us staring at eachother "she likes you.."
he had anticipated.

"incredulous..." I had smirked in reply to his comments. But now I'm spellbound by her dark black orbs.

Again I liked it, what I saw.

*******

Folding my hands crossed over my chest I was talking to Joy. It grew me jittery by my own behaviour tonight. What happened to me? How could I? Thanks to god, Ali spoke in between and his voice brought me back to my actual mind.
I hastily collected myself and I was away her. Later I joined Joy and we indulged in some mouth watering mutton kababs. My head totally off her.

"Hey Rea" Joy greeted looking at my behind.
I twirled my head around saw Rea smiled at him and threw me a cheeky one on a way walking towards us.

And I know that face of her. And it said_Tonight I wouldn't get peace that's for sure.

She must be cooking in her dumb brain something very annoying.
A groan blew out my throat I turned back.
She came and stood close to me then poked a finger on my shoulder.
"What!!" I threw my most not interested look raising a brow at her. And she flapped her eyes lashes with her countenance sacarine. Drama queen.

"Could you please drop me at Sans Villa and on the way Avni home?" her voice overly sugar coated, pleading. flipping her eyelashes Rea innocently said one more time. And I felt my mouth formed a bitter taste inside.

I looked at her annoyingly with a deep frown as if I have just heard something very enraging.

And what made my frown transformed into scowl is_Joy's amused grin, his face askew gazing at both of us.

"What the fuck" the phrase I uttered inwardly while my face hardened shooting a deadly glare at Rea then Joy.
And that imbecile head is unfazed, as always.

************

Though Rea haven't explained to him the actual fiasco yet. That after dropping her at Sans Villa Neil has to drop next Avni at her place..which is 10mintues farther than the destination that she has mentioned to drop him 😜😜

To experience a very short glimpse of a cute Neil khanna in my next update, you have to stay tuned my lovely readers...

I guess the next chapter shall be the end of flashback or more or less another single one hardly...

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Love Mon 💖