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Chapter 8

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Neil was still sitting rooted to his place. Rain drops kept drenching him but were not enough to hide his pain. Neil recalled each and every moment he spent with Avni.

(PC: Instagram gurudev) 🤭

Neil rubbed his face trying to get rid of his frustration but no use. He punched the ground venting his anger.

Neil: kyu kyu kyu avni... Kyu tum mujhse door ho gyi? Kyu tum mujhe chhod ke chali gyi? Kyu!!?

He was still crying when he heard someone calling his name.

As the voice hit his ears he felt a sense of calmness in himself. The sky had finished pouring water. Light sunshine appeared. 

He opened his eyes looking around. He was surprised to find avni standing in front of him against the backdrop of a faint rainbow.

Dressed in white off shoulder dress she looked serene. Her eyes were as beautiful as they always had been. Her smile was as charming as it used to be.

Avni: Neil...

Neil stood up. As if he was in a spell of some magic he started moving towards her.

Neil: Avni... (smile) tum aagyi... maine tumhe kitna miss kiya Avni.. Tum kyu door jaati ho mujhse?

Avni: Main to aagyi... lekin tumne yeh kya haal bana rakha hai apna? hmm? (worried)

Neil: Avni ke bina yehi Neil ka wajood hai... Avni nahi to Neil bhi nahi...

Avni: lekin Neil hai... tabhi to Avni hai... (smiles)

Neil looked at her confused.

Avni: apni zimmedaari se bhaagna mere Neil ko nahi aata tha... Mere Neil ne to mujhe hasna sikhaya tha.. to sikhane wala koi cheez kaise bhool sakta hai hmm?

Neil: Main tumhara hi Neil hoon Avni main kisi aur ka nahi hoon...

Avni: Jaanti hoon.. Lekin humari family ke bhi to ho na... Unhe apne Neil ki zarurat hai... Police force ko apna ACP NEIL KHANNA chahiye..

Neil: ACP Neil Khanna kabka mar chuka hai... (looking away)

Avni: Maine humesha tumhare farz ko pehle rakha hai.. phir tum piche kaise hatt sakte ho?

Neil knew she was right. In an year of their marriage she had given preference to his job over her time.

She was A girl who used to hate Police but falling for Neil gave her a sense of pride. She was proud to be the wife of ACP NEIL KHANNA.

Neil: (low voice) kya chahti ho tum?

Avni: Humare dukh ki wajah ko saza dilwao Neil... Vidyut jaise mujrim ko bahar nahi hona chahiye.. Uski jagah narak hai... 

Neil clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. Avni was right. That bastard deserves the worst of Hell.

Neil: (heavy eyes) main karunga.. lekin tumhe mere saath rehna hoga... tumhe mere paas rehna hoga Avni...

Avni: Main to humesha tumhare paas hi hoon Neil.. Tumhare dil mein... tumhare Khayaal mein... Tum mein hi to main zinda hoon.. Neil hai to Avni hai... (smiles)

She vanished into air.

Neil: Avni... 

He tried catching her but she was not there.

Neil: Avni... (teary eyed) I promise Avni.. main us Vidyut ko narak bhijwa ke hi dam loonga... (determined) Teri ulti ginti shuru Vidyut R...

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Other side

Avni reached her hotel room. She was surprised to find Samar sitting on the bed smiling.

Avni: Samar tu..? Yaha kya kar raha hai?

Samar: Woh hill station hai na.. ghoomne aaya tha..

Avni: (frowns) Pagal hai kya? Mumbai mein konse Hills dikhte hai tujhe...

Samar: offo Jaan.. (avni glares) i mean.. Baccho ki jaan didi.. Tum yaha kyu aayi ho?

Avni: ghar dekhne...

Samar: exactly.. (Smiles) to tumhari jo woh Sirat amma hai na.. usne mujhe yaha bheja hai... Dhamki de ke.. boli ki agar main yaha nahi aaya to woh mera sir phod degi... (scared) And you know na... meri wife... i mean.. future wife abhi bhi mera intezaar kar rahi hai... Agar mujhe kuch ho gya to us bechari ka mere bina kya hoga... (sad pout) to isiliye main bina soche yaan usko sochne diye yaha aagya.. udh ke... 

Avni burst out laughing. Samar stopped narrating his tale to look at her. A small smile came to his lips seeing his friend laughing heartily.

Samar: Acchi lagti hai tu haste huye... 

Avni stopped laughing and adjusted her hair. 

Samar: accha abhi main mere room mein jaa raha hoon.. tu shaam ko 4 baje ready rehna... ab chalenge okay?

Avni nods. Samar left.

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Neil reached khanna house. As he entered he saw DD sitting with Bebe.

Neil: DD.. tu abhi tak yaha? Chal jaa ke gaadi nikaal..

DD: gaadi... woh kyu Neil sir?

Neil: police station kya udh ke jana hai?

DD: police station..? main samjha nahi..

Neil: subah se yeh ratt lagaye baitha hai wapis join karlo.. wapis aajao.. aur ab jab main aa raha hoon.. sawal pe sawal kiye jaa raha hai?

Prakash: wapis aa raha hai matlab?

Neil: Main Police Force join kar raha hoon Dad.. Kuch adhure kaam hai jo poore karne zaruri hai... (determined)

All were overjoyed listening his declaration. Bebe saw a strange fire in his eyes. This was put out few years back but maybe today's rain re-ignited it in him.

They were happy for him that at least he won't be that sad from today onwards.

DD was so excited that he hugged Neil really tight. All others laughed at him.

Shweta: I gets mithaiis..

Bebe: haan haan jaa.. (smiles)

After a long time Khanna mansion heard giggles and laughter.

The walls who were used  to listened it every day had now lost the habit.

Winds blew through the garden and the trees and leaves expressed their happiness. Flowers bloomed spreading fragrances.

It's said that houses are made home with the women of the families. She can be a mother.. a sister.. a wife.. or a daughter. In each and every phase she holds and important place in the lives.

When Avni entered this house, she witnessed the cute banter between Bebe and Shweta. While they both fought all others laughed.

Days later, her presence made their conversations lively.

Gradually she became an integral part of their lives.

Even a day's absence would leave them craving for her.

Now it's been  three years... even today it's her name that got the smiles and laughs  on their faces.

She became a necessity for them. she was their Daughter.. She was Avni Khanna...

Neil went to his room to get ready. 

He opened a closed cabinet of the cupboard to reveal his uniform hanging there.

He got teary eyed seeing his 'hard earned' uniform.

Few moments later he was standing in front of the mirror adjusting his name badge.

He saw avni giving him a thumbs-up through the mirror. When he turned, she vanished. Neil closed his eyes.

Neil: Tumhare liye Avni.. main wapis aagya hoon... ACP NEIL KHANNA is back...

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Everyone in the police station was happy to have Neil back with them.

As Neil entered police station nostalgia hit him hard.

He recalled Avni standing on the top of Almirah trying to convince him for Honeymoon. Nothing was changed. Each and everything was same as before.

He went inside his cabin and sat on his chair. He saw Avni sitting in front of him with a hand under her chin.

Avni: kya baat hai ACP NEIL KHANNA.. . Handsome lag rahe ho yaha baithe... (smiles)

Neil smiled. Avni vanished again.

Neil: (sighs) kaise aage badh jaunga main Avni jab mere zindagi ke har ek ek lamhe mein tumhari yaadein ho? Jab mere aas paas ke har inch mein tumhari hasi ho... Har jagah bas tum ho.. Andar bhi bahar bhi... (Sad smile)

He was getting emotional recalling her but he shook his head and controlled himself.

Neil: tu kamzor nahi padh sakta Neil.. Avni ke liye.. you'll have to be strong... Haan stay strong...

he tried some breathing exercises and calmed himself.

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It was nearly evening. Neil was sitting in his cabin working on a file when he heard a sudden panic coming from the hall.

Voice: mujhe please aapke senior officer se milna hai.. woh khatre mein hai please...

He went outside only to find a man in mid 20's standing there. His white shirt was coated with blood. His forehead was bleeding profusely. he was continuously asking for help but himself was on the verge on fainting.

Neil: shinde.. isko baithao.. jaldi... first aid le ke aao.. ambulance ko inform karo.. fast...

The constable made him sit on the chair the other one rushed to get the first aid box.

Neil gave the man water and asked him to calm down.

Man: sir please... please usko bacha lo.. woh .. meri jaan.. please..

Neil: shh...  calm down... tum yaha ho you are safe.. okay.. calm down... 

He got his first aid done and was a bit calm than before.

Neil: Ab shanti se batao hua kya hai? naam kya hai tumhara? kisne tum pe hamla kiya?

Man: samar...

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Somewhere in the dark corners of the city, A man is seen sitting on the floor. A glass of whiskey in his hand says it all that he his out of his senses.

Getting up from the floor he walked away to a room. It was a dim lit one but the light was enough to show the photos hanging there.

Man: Ab bas kuch der aur Sweetheart... sirf kuch der aur... (smirks) i promise tum mere saath hogi... isi kamre mein.. isi bistar pe... Vidyut R ki baahon mein....

A bed decorated with roses and fairylights is seen.

Evil laugh is heard.

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Precap: 

Neil: are you sure woh yahi thi.. 

The other person nods.

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Take care

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