Wrapped in blankets, she sat on couch in the balcony with a cup of coffee in hand. She tucks a hair strand behind her ears as the wind breeze hits her.

Siping her coffee she enjoyed sitting there alone, she kept the cup down when she heard her phone ringing.

She starts searching for her phone as she couldn't find it, the ring stops making her sigh but it starts ringing again. She shifted side and found the phone.

She got hold of the phone and looking at the caller id, everything stops. Time froze as she stare the phone screen blankly.

She felt her eyes blurring seeing the caller id,  tears starts glinting into her eyes as she starts the screen.

Taking a deep breath and composing herself and answers the call.  She stayed silent till she heard his husky and soft voice.

Neil : hello Avni! Are you there?

She pressed her lips together controlling her tears.

Neil : Avni, I know you are there! Please say something, I know you are angry with me. Please speak up.

His pleading melted her heart but how can she forget those day when she waited for his call but he never called her.

Her heart wanted to have a conversation with him but her mind was saying no. She was so confused but nevertheless avoiding her mind she composed herself and spoke in soft voice.

Avni : hello!

She clutched the phone tighter.

Neil felt peace and content as he heard smoothing and soft voice, her voice echoed into his body system relieving his worry.

Neil : I craved to hear your voice. How are you?

Avni : if you craved so much then why didn't you call in those months you left back to mission?

He knew she was taunting him, she wasn't blamed but it's his fault not calling her when he knows she would have been waiting for his calls.

Neil sighs.

Neil : I know, it's my mistake! I can't change the past . I am really sorry not calling you in this period of month. Where are you? I heard you are in Mumbai? Is that true?

Avni : oh god! I didn't Knew you kept some bodyguards of yours behind me to watch. Neil why do you care so much where i am?

Neil : I do care because.

He stops blurting his feelings out that soon. And he doesn't to confess over the phone. He bits his lips and shook his head looking there.

Avni : what did you say? Complete your sentence Neil khanna?

Neil chuckles the way she addressed him in anger.

Neil : I like it! I like it when you are angry with me.

Avni : I really wanna murder. How are dare you? First of all you don't call, then when you call you won't stop pulling my leg. Why I had to meet you?

She was frustrated the way he was pulling her leg instead caring about her feelings.  She didn't want to try over the call but he was making her cry.

Neil : hey, I'm sorry. It's okay you don't hide your  tears from me. You met me because you fall for me. Remember what you said. Okay this topic aside. When are you coming to navy? I heard you will be going back soon.

Avni : yes I will be going back. I really miss you Neil.

She finally confessed missing him, the distance between them wasn't helping either.

Neil heart broke hearing the words and he felt loneliness in her voice. He wouldn't do anything to make her happy. Few months back he was running away from the same girl who whipped just in few months. He wouldn't stop thinking about her.

Neil : I miss you too.

He too finally said it as his heart was aching to scream how badly he missed her since he got back from Mumbai.

Avni smiles widely as she heard him. Sometime expressing is easy but showing and conveying feeling over the phone is hard.

Neil : what are you doing? You also didn't answer my pervious question.

Avni : I am sitting in balcony and talking to you. What question are you talking about?

Neil : oh really you forgot! I thought you would be smarter to understand what I want to know. 

Avni : well! Not everyone is smart like you mr khanna. Can you please repeat your question?

Neil chuckles and ruffling his  hair glances at his friends who was approaching towards him with smirk playing on their lips.

He knew he was caught just by seeing them smirking as they made their way towards him.

Neil : can I call you back later? My friends are coming.

Avni felt her heart aching wondering would he call back or not knowing the past connection of calls receiving from him.

Neil not hearing her voice immediately understood turmoil what she was thinking, he felt helpless not making her have faith him. Obviously she wasn't to blamed for that either, it just the situations that they are going through is difficult.

Neil : I promise I call you before going to bed.   I will call you. Just stay awake. Okay!

Avni : okay!

She muttered under her breath as he ended the call. She kept the phone aside and picking the cup up thought to go down and help making dinner.

She grabs her phone in hand and cup in another. She descends down the stairs and didn't find anyone in the living room. She wondered where they could be but hearing laughter from kitchen understood.

She made her way into kitchen and placing the cup in sink turns looking at the ladies who smiles upon seeing Avni there.

Avni : what happened? Why all of sudden you guys stop talking?

Bebe : we didn't stop but was thinking seeing you.

Avni frowns hearing them then looks at her mother who smiles in return making her more confuse.

Avni : I didn't understand. What are you saying Bebe?

Bebe : what I am saying is that, you should also find someone for yourself. Or even better if you already love someone? Who might that be?

Avni's eyes widen hearing Bebe, she looks at Neela who looked excited wanting to know if there is someone in Avni's life.

Avni shook her head and leaning to the kitchen slabs looks at the ladies who looked very curious about this topic.

She wanted to bang her head on the wall seeing them looking so suspicious. She cursed Neil in her mind too for letting her face this drama.

Avni : Bebe who said that? I don't love someone either I have someone in my life.

Bebe : who are you lying to dear? The shines of love in your eyes is visible. I can see your eyes filled with love. Who is the luck guy?

Avni : why would I lie to you bebe? There is definitely no one in my life. Maa please tell me.

Unfortunately Neela teamed against Avni with them.

Neela ; yes bacha! Why don't you tell us? I mean Manik has Nandini now. They will get married soon, after Manik is your turn to get married. We also should look a groom for you too. Tell us if you have someone in your life or you are seeing someone?

Avni looks at Neela who betrayed her. She felt her cheeks red due to the tease they were torturing the poor girl out.

Avni : can I say something?

Swetha : yes Avni, say something. Even I want to know who is ideal guy for you.

Swetha who was quiet since the conversation started finally spoke wanting to know what kid of guy Avni would like to marry.

Avni : I don't wanna lie but on current situation I think we are still making progress between us. We can't name our relationship yet because we are working together for this relationship to work out. I do really like him. We haven't made it official yet. We are taking things slow between us.

Three ladies smirks as they heard Avni confessing about love of her life. They also knew who the guy might be but they wanted to hear from Avni's mouth.

Neela : who is the guy name bacha? He must have a name.

Avni : maa, is it necessary to say it out right now. I promise I will let you guys know.

Bebe : dear, why to hide it? We know you love someone. Who is the lucky guy?

Avni was dilemma thinking how should she answer that question. She doesn't want to reveal Neil's name not before talking to him about this conversation. Also she doesn't know where they stand, she knows they like each other but haven't confessed.

Fortunately Avni's phone rang at same time.  As the phone was placed on the slab Bebe who was standing beside Avni glanced the screen and smirks before she looked away.

Avni disconnected the call and picking up the call excused herself, as she walked out of the kitchen messaged Neil that she will call once everyone fallen asleep.

Avni keeping a hand on her hearts sighs remembering what just happened in the kitchen.

She widely seeing Prakash who just got home after work. She hugs and breaking  the hug bends down taking his blessing.

Prakash kept his hand on her head and blessed.

Prakash: how are you Avni? How is your work?

Avni : I'm good uncle, work is also good. Will be going to navy soon.

Prakash nodded his head and excusing himself went to fresh up while the ladies set up the dinning table.

They all sat down and starts having their dinner while chatting away and catching up with few business talks.

Prakash: Avni, beta please pass me the bowl of rice.

Avni nods her head and picking up the bowl of rice passed to Prakash.

They ate dinner in peace and ending dinner with dessert sitting hall laughing their hearts out on silly jokes cracked by the men's.

Ashish : you won't believe it, my children hated these jokes.

Ashish tried flaunting his silly jokes front of the khanna family.

Avni relished her favourite dessert made by swetha not caring about her father cracking jokes and making himself fool in front of them.

Swetha smiles looking at everyone, she was so glad the malthora came and added happiness in the mansion. She also missed her both children's. She didn't like silence in the house but thankfully malthore family brought the happiness as they came to Mumbai.

Avni headed to took but stops as she stood front of Neil's room. She had urge to push the door and go inside.

She shook her head and walks pass Neil's room and heads into hers. She got change and completing her night routine jumped on bed getting comfortable under the duvet.

Dimming the room light, she picks the phone up and dials Neil's number.

In last ring he answers and spoke while panting heavily like he ran milestone to fetch his phone.

Neil : hello!

Avni : hello Neil! Sorry I had to disconnect your call earlier. Everyone was in kitchen and investigating against me.

Neil frowns hearing her last sentence.

Neil : investigating against you? What does that mean Miss malthora?

Avni : why are you addressing me like that?

Neil : because I can! Why don't you like it?

Avni : absolutely it, I don't like it!

Neil : oh no! What shall I call you then? How about love. No not near there yet, baby, darling. Too much cliche. You know what by next call I will find such nice nickname for you.

Avni felt butterflies jumping in her stomach as he starts addressing her with so many nicknames even though she found some Cliche as he mentioned.

Her cheeks turns crimson due to blushing as he continues to tease her. 

For the first time after Neil left to mission Avni was peaceful to sleep, she felt happy and content talking to him.

~

Hope you like the chapter.

Vote and inline comments.

~