It was the daytime, the sun was shining over the Khanna mansion and the birds were chirping. The sun peeked into Avneil’s room where Avni was sitting on the bed and she was lost in her thought.

Avni’s point of view:

Sab kuch perfect hai bus kami hai to bus ek pyari si nanhi si Rajkumari ki.

Avni got upset and she thought.

Neil ki wish hai ke humari ek pyari si beti ho. Neil kehta nahi hai lekin main janti hun ke us ke mann main is baat ka dukh aaj bhi hai ke Neav ke time woh mere sath nahi tha. Woh Neav ka bachpan nahi dekh paya. Us ke janam ke waqt woh mere sath nahi tha, woh Moghi ko apni bahon main utha nahi paya. Us ki ungli pakar kar usay chalna nahi sikha paya. Neil ne kabhi mujhse shikayat nahi ki lekin ek din baton baton main us ke mou se us ke mann ki baat nikal hi gai.

Avni thought.

Flashback:

Avni and Neil were sitting on the bed and they were looking at each other. Neil thought.

Neil: Avni. Tumhare pass Moghli ke bachpan ki pictures nahi hain?

Avni: Haon. Tum dekhna chahoge.

Neil: Of course, I am dying to see his childhood pictures.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Ruko, main abhi album le kar aati hun.

Neil smiled. Avni got up and she went to the cupboard. Neil thought and he turned his face. Neil looked at Avni who took out an album and bag from the cupboard. Avni was smiling. Avni shut the cupboard and then she came to Neil who was looking at her. Avni sat and a smile was on her face. Avni opened the ablum and she showed Neav’s birth day picture and they smiled. Neil took the album from Avni and they were smiling.

Neil: so cute. Moghli to bohat cute tha.

Avni smiled.

Neil: Meri bachpan ki picture bhi is se milti hain.

Avni: Hmm, Mummy Ji ne mujhe dikhai thi. Moghli bilkul tumhare jaisa tha.

They smiled. Neil turned the pictures and he saw the Neav’s picture with Avni where Avni was laying on the bed of the hospital and Neav was layed beside her. In one picture, Avni was laying on the bed in Fowler’s position and Neav was in Avni’s arms. Neil smiled. Neil turned the picture and he saw a picture where Avni was standing in an open area and Moghli was in her arm and Avni was looking at Moghli. In other picture, Moghli was in Avni’s arm in air.
Neav’s first time standing.

Avni: Yahan Moghli pehli baar khara howa tha.

Neil smiled but then Neil got hurt to think that he was not there with them. Avni was smiling to see the pictures. Neil thought and then he turned the picture and saw the picture of Neav’s walk where Avni and Sunehri were holding Neav’s hands. Neil felt his heart heavy. Neil saw a birthday picture.

Avni: yeh Moghli ka first birthday tha.

Neil smiled and saw the pictures of birthday where the kids, Sunehri, Tara and Sitara were present. Neil was looking sad. Avni looked at Neil and she was shocked to see Neil sad.

Avni: Neil… Neil, kya howa?

Neil looked at Avni and his eyes got moist. Avni was shocked.

Avni: Neil. Neil, kya howa, tum ro kyun rahi ho?

Neil smiled and he wiped his eyes by looking down.

Neil: nahi kuch nahi.

Avni looked confused. Neil smiled to see the picture. Neil was smiling but sadness was clearly shown at his face.

Neil: Kitna badnaseeb baap hon main apne bete ka bachpan bhi nahi dekh paya.

Avni was shocked and she felt hurt.

Neil: usay ke janam ke time main wahan nahi tha. Us ki ungli pakar kar usay chalna nahi sikha paya. Jab woh apne pairon per pehli baar khara howa tab main wahan nahi tha, jab us ne apna pehla kadam uthaya tab bhi main us ke sath nahi tha.

Avni felt bad for him.

Neil: Bacha jab bolna shuru karta hai to woh pehla word Mama aur phir Papa bolta hai. Main badnaseeb to woh bhi nahi sun paya. Mere bache ne kabhi apni totli zuban se mujhe Papa nahi pukara.

Avni looked down.

Neil: Us ke pehle birthday per main us ke sath nahi tha. Pehla birthday kya main to kabhi kahin tha hi nahi.

Avni felt bad and guilty.

Avni: I am sorry, Neil.

Neil looked at Avni.

Avni: Meri waja se tum Neav ka bachpan nahi de paye.

Neil shook his head. Neil kept the photo album.

Avni: meri waja se Moghli Pita ke pyaar se vanchit raha.

Neil cupped Avni’s face and their eyes were moist.

Neil: Nahi, Avni, yeh sach nahi hai. Tum ne jo kuch bhi kiya woh humare liye kiya. Humain bachane ke liye kiya. Tumhe guilty feel karne ki zaororat nahi hai.

Avni was looking at Neil and she was crying.

Neil: tum ne to khud kitna suffer kiya hai.

Avni looked on.

Neil: tumhari pregnancy ke time main tumhare sath nahi tha.

Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Kaise manage kiya hoga tum ne sab kuch akele.

Avni was looking at Neil sadly.

Neil: Kitna mushkil raha hoga tumhare liye.

Avni looked down. Avni was crying and she nodded.

Avni: Asan nahi tha, Neil.

Avni looked at Neil who was looking at her.

Avni: Bohat mushkil tha.

Neil felt bad.

Avni: Har pal ek naya imtihan tha, ek nayi mushkil. Kya karna hai? Kaise karna hai kuch smajh nahi araha tha? 

Neil looked on.

Avni: Jab mujhe pata chal ke main pregnant hun tab tak bohat dair ho chukki thi. Main yahan se jaa chukki thi. Wapsi ka koi rasta nahi tha.

Neil felt bad.

Avni: naya shehar tha, Naye raste the aur sath main thi nanhi si Mishti. Bohat mushkil tha safar. Bohat miss karti thi tumhe.

Neil was looking at Avni sadly.

Avni: bohat yaad. Mann karta tha sari zanjiren todh kar dor kar tumhare pass ajaun lekin main asa nahi kar sakti thi. Bohat majbor thi.

Neil caressed Avni’s hair. Avni cried and Neil hugged her. They cried and Neil kissed Avni’s cheek. Neil sighed and he wiped his tears. Neil broke the hug and Avni looked at Neil. Neil cupped Avni’s face and wiped her tears.

Neil: Jo hona tha so ho gaya. Best thing yeh hai ke aaj hum sath hain.

Avni smiled slightly.

Neil: aur hamesha sath rahenge.

Avni smiled and Neil kissed her forehead. Avni smiled and her eyes were moist. They looked at each other and smiled. Neil looked at the bag and wiped his tears.

Neil: Is bag main kya hai?

Avni looked at the bag and she wiped her tears. Avni smiled.

Avni: Yeh. Is main Moghli ke kuch kapre aur cheeze hain.

Avni pulled the bag and opened it. Avni took out a feeder.

Avni: yeh Moghli ka pehla feeder tha.

Neil smiled and took the feeder from Avni.

Neil: kitna chotu sa hai yeh.

Avni smiled and then she took out a toy.

Avni: Moghli ka first toy.

Neil took that and jerked his hand. They chuckled. Avni took out baby clothes and showed to Neil.

Avni: Yeh Moghli ke pehle kapre.

Neil smiled and caressed them. Avni took out a pillow. Neil frowned slightly and he smiled.

Avni: Yeh Moghli ka pillow. Jab chota tha woh tab is ke bina sota hi nahi tha. Isay hug kar ke sota tha.

They smiled and then Avni took out a baby frock. Avni opened it. Neil frowned and Avni smiled to see it.

Neil: Yeh frock. Yeh frock kis ki hai?

Avni said while looking at the frock: Moghli ki.

Neil was surprised and he smiled with a frown.

Neil: what?

Avni nodded.

Avni: Hmm. Jab Mummy Ji ne tumhari pictures dikhai thi us main ek picture main tum ne frock pehni hoi thi.

Neil was surprised. Neil said what while smiling. Avni nodded.

Neil: Tum ne woh bhi dekhi thi.

Avni nodded while smiling.

Neil: God. Mom bhi naa.

Avni smiled.

Avni: so maine bhi Moghli ko frock pehnai thi. Is Album main picture hogi. Kahan hai album?

Neil turned his face and took the album. Neil turned the pictures and saw them. Neil saw Neav's picture in the frock.

Avni: Yeh raha.

Neil was amazed. They chuckled to see the picture.

Neil: bilkul larki lag raha hai.

Avni: bilkul tumhari tarha.

Neil gave a look at Avni who looked at him with naughty expressions.

Neil: kuch bhi.

Avni: sach main.

Neil: shut up.

Avni smiled. Neil smiled to see her. They looked at the album and smiled to see it. They saw the pictures and talked to see them and smiled. Neil kept the album on the bed and saw the frock. Neil thought and smiled.

Avni: Kya howa? Kis baat per huns rahe ho?

Neil looked at Avni and smiled by looking down.

Neil: pata hai, Avni, main hamesha se ek beti chahta tha.

Avni was surprised.

Avni: Beti?

Neil looked at her and then he nodded while looking down.

Neil: Han. Meri hamesha se yeh khuwaish thi.

Avni was surprised.

Neil: cute si, pyari si, choti si nanhi pari. Jo meri Princess hoti. Meri tigress hoti.

Neil was lost.

Neil: Main khub pyaar karta usay. Usay apne kancho per ghumata. Us ki har wish puri karti.

Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Woh girls ki choti, choti si pony bani hoti hai naa mujhe bohat achi lagti hai. Bohat cute lagti hain woh.

Neil smiled and Avni smiled to see him.

Neil: Humari beti hoti to kitna acha hota.

Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Asa nahi hai ke main Moghli ke hone se khush nahi hun. Main khush hun but ek beti aur hoti to kitna acha hota.

Neil leaned to Avni.

Neil: woh kehte hain na Bache do hi ache.

They smiled.

Neil: Humare bhi do hote to kitna acha hota. Ek larka aur ek larki. Tumhara Prince hota aur meri Princess.

They smiled. Neil lowered his gaze and thought. Avni was looking at Neil and she thought. Neil looked at Avni and smiled. Avni looked at him and smiled slightly and then she thought.

Flashback ended.

Avni was lost in her thoughts.

It was the time of night, the city was shining with the millions of lights and the vehicles were floating on the room. The people were busy with their activities. The moon was shining in the sky over the Khanna mansion where Avni was standing in her room and she was talking on the bed.

Avni: Sir, main aap ki baat smajh rahi hun lekin adoption ka pura ek process hota hai aur us process main time lagta hai. Hum bina inquiry ke kisi bhi bache ko handover nahi karte. Hum ne aap ke papers check kar liye hain aur unhe verification ke liye bhi bhej diya hai. Hum bus papers verification ka wait kar rahe hain. Jaise hi humain report milti hai hum us ke according age ka process shuru karenge… ok… Ji, ji, jaise hi humain report milegi hun aap se contact karenge… hope for the best. OK, bye.

Avni cut the call and she sighed. Avni came to the bed and she kept her phone on the bed. A file was kept on the bed. Avni took the file and checked it. Avni watch the time on the clock and she saw 9 pm. Avni thought.

Avni: Neil ne bohat dair kar di hai aaj. Call kar ke puchti hun.

Avni kept the file on the bed and she took her phone. Avni dialed Neil’s number. Avni heard the ring and she turned. Neil entered the room and he was looking at the phone. Neil was smiling. Avni saw Neil and she smiled. Neil looked at Avni and showed his phone to her. They smiled and Avni cut the call. Avni moved to Neil who was coming to her.

Neil: Koi khas kaam tha, call kar rahi thi?

Avni: Nahi, tum ne thori dair kar di isi liye puchne ke liye call kar rahi thi.

Neil: Oh ok. Ab kya karen, aap ki wish ko pura karne ke liye phir se police force join ki hai to ab kaam to karna parega na.

Avni made a face. Neil smiled.

Neil: Mazak kar raha hun. Woh ek case ke silsile main commissioner sir ke sath meeting thi. us main time lag gaya aur us ke bad crime scene per jana tha. Wahan aane jane main hi char ghante lag gaye.

Avni: tum bohat thak gaye hoge na.

Neil nodded and sighed.

Avni: tum fresh ho jao. Main khana room main le aati hun. waise bhi hum dono hi hain ghar main.

Neil: Neav kahan hai?

Avni: Woh bhi Mummy Ji aur Papa ke sath gaya hai.

Neil: Oh, ok. Acha hai us ka bhi mind fresh ho jayega.

Avni nodded and said, hmm. Neil smiled and something struck in his mind.

Neil: means aaj ghar main sirf hum dono hain?

Avni: Han.

Neil thought and the naughty Neil Khanna got up. Neil looked at Avni and a mischivious smile was on his face. Avni looked at Neil and she was surprised to see Neil’s expressions. Avni thought and she looked at Neil. Neil took the steps towards Avni who looked at Neil’s steps and then she looked at Neil. Avni took the steps back.

Neil was procedding to Avni who was talking the steps back. Neil’s eyes were glued at Avni who was also looking at him. Avni turned her face and she saw a cupboard away. Avni looked at Neil and she was going back. Avni’s back hit the cupaboard but Neil kept his hand behind Avni’s head. Neil never let her get hurt. Avni looked at the cupboard and then she turned her face. Avni saw Neil who took a step to her and stood really close to her. Avni felt her heartbeat heavy and she could hear her heartbeat. It always happens to her when Neil comes close to her. Neil smirked and Avni was looking at him. Neil looked at Avni’s hand and intervened their fingers. Avni looked at the hands and then they looked at each other. Neil took Avni’s hand up and Avni was looking at the hands. Neil gave a soft kiss on Avni’s hand while looking at Avni. and Avni shivered. Neil was looking at Avni.

Neil: Aaj ghar main koi nahi hai bus sirf tum aur main hain.

Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil: mera show bhi nahi hai aaj.

Avni looked on.

Neil: aur doctor ne bhi green signal dikha diya hai ke ab tum bilkul theek ho.

Avni and Neil were looking at each other.

Neil: Aaj ka yeh mauka main kaise hath se jane de sakta hun.

Avni blushed. Neil was looking at Avni lovingly.

Neil: aaj ek match ho hi jaye.

Avni’s eyelids were down and a soft smile was at Avni’s face. Neil was smiling. Neil smiled.

Neil: Main shower lene jaa raha.

Avni smiled and she didn’t look at Neil. Neil smiled and he kissed Avni’s cheek who felt a shiver in her body. Neil smiled to see Avni and then he opened the shut of the cupboard. Neil took out his clothes and then he looked at Avni. Neil smiled and he shut the cupboard. Neil went to get fresh. Avni looked at the door of the bathroom and she thought. Avni blushed hard.

Neil came out after taking a bath and he looked at the around but Avni was not there. Neil saw a tray of food on the table and a letter was on it. Neil was surprised and he smiled. Neil went there and he picked up the letter. Neil opened it.

Avni: Dear Husband.

Neil smiled.

Avni: Aap ki wish puri karne main thora sa waqt lage ga. Sorry for incovinience.

Neil smiled.

Avni: Aap ki command per kaam jari hai (Neil smiled) tab tak aap tasty sa dinner kijiye.

Neil smiled and shook his head. Neil sighed.

Neil: Lagta hai Wifey kuch special plan kar rahi hai.

Neil smiled and looked at the dinner. Neil looked happy. Neil went to the couch and sat while sighing. Neil opened the lid and smiled to see it. Neil filled his plate and had a bit.

After the dinner, Neil decorated the room with the fairy lights and candles. Neil light the candles. Neil clapped and rubbed his hands. Neil looked around and smiled to see the room.

Neil: room to thora bohat decorate ho gaya. Ab jaa kar wifey ko dhondhte hain.

Neil smiled and he turned. Neil was going and he passed by the door but then he came back.

Neil: Lights off karna to bhul hi gaya.

Neil switched off the light and saw the room which was still lighted because of fairy lights and candles. Neil smiled and then he hurriedly went from there. Neil searched for Avni in the whole Khanna mansion but Avni was not there. Neil came to the kitchen.

Neil: Yahan bhi nahi hai.

Neil came to the living room.

Neil: Avni, kahan ho, yaar, pura ghar chan mara hai kahan ho, yaar.

Neil looked around and he thought.

Neil: Bahar dekhta hun. Yeh Avni bhi na. Pata nahi kya chalta rehta hai is ke mind main.

Neil shook his head and then he went from there. Neil came out and he looked around. Neil looked for Avni in the garden area and he held his waist. Neil huffed and he rubbed his mouth.

Neil: Kahan hai yeh, Avni.

Neil thought. Something hit the couch and Neil flinched. Neil looked around and he looked down here and there. He saw something and it was covered with a paper. Neil frowned and he went to the thing. Neil took the thing and it was a paper weight. Neil opened the paper. Neil looked around and then he read the paper. Neil was shocked to read the paper.

Now what happened? Where is Avni? Any guesses?