Heya!!

Hope you are doing good.

There are just two more chapters to go for this book to end.

Happy reading!! 

😘😘

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Before he could manage himself he directly landed over Avni.
She gasped out of shock.

Within a moment avni forgot every sort of pain in her body. Her heart started beating so fast that the oximeter showed 120 beats per minute against a normal 70 beats. Neil looked into her eyes.

They had an eyelock. It was long and loving. Both knew each other's emotions for themselves but could not express citing their own personal drawbacks.

They wanted each other. They had longed for each other but DESTINY is standing against them. Their moment broke hearing a long beep from the machine. This indicated the end of procedure.

Neil stood up and looked here and there. They were alone in room. But now a Nurse came inside rushing.

Nurse: avni lagta hai aaj last minutes ki pain kam thi... that's a good sign.

She smiled and disconnected all the wires and fluid lines from her body.

Avni and Neil looked at each other Awkwardly. Soon the nurse dropped avni back to her room and went to tend other patients. Neil didn't came back to her room. Avni sat on the bed thinking.

"Was it deliberately done? Kya Neil ne yeh sab jaan boojh ke kiya? taaki mujhe dard na ho..." she thought to herself. Neil on the other hand sat in the cafeteria thinking about the incident upstairs.

He didn't knew how many minutes were they close but those moments were beautiful. Her eyes which used to had an array of emotions were now just depicting pain. Those few moments made her eyes emotional. She got tears in them.

He sighs and ordered a tea for himself.

Neil: mujhe kisi tareeke avni ok theek karna hoga.. uski abhi sari zindagi padi hai.. kaise khatam hone doon main usko?

He thinks something.

The day went by.

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

Next day avni woke up rubbing her eyes. She looked her room it was lighted brightly. She squinted her eyes to adjust to the light.

She focussed on Neil who sat at a corner painting something on the wall.

Avni: Neil...

He smiled and turned to her.

Neil: shukar hai kumbhkaran ki competitor uthi to sahi..

Avni: tum yeh sab kya kar rahe ho?

Neil: main soch raha tha abhi thode se din to tumhe jeena hai kyu na jaise terrace pe hariyaali mein rehti thi waise reh lo...

He grinned pointing at various types of indoor plants, some pottery items and some wall paintings in her HOSPITAL ROOM.

Avni was shocked seeing all this.

Avni: Neil yeh sab kya hai? yeh hospital hai..

Neil: pata hai par bohut boring hai.

Before avni could say anything the nurse came inside handling some medicines and reports. Her mouth fell wide open seeing the hospital room decorated.

Nurse: sir yeh aap kya kar rahe hai?

Neil: (under his breath) aagyi phir se...

Nurse: yeh hospital room hai kya kiya aapne yeh sab?

Neil: arrey yaar yeh avni hai na isko inhi pedh paudho ke saath rehne ki aadat hai.. khali to koi deewar yeh rehne nahi deti thi, Aur matka banaye bina iska din nahi nikalta...

He tried reasoning his actions in front of the nurse.

Nurse: dekhiye sir woh sab main samajh rahi hoon lekin aap yeh sab yaha nahi kar sakte.. infection ho gyi to? aur waise bhi doctor ne dekha to gussa karenge.. aap sab saaf kijiye.

Neil glared at her narrowing his eyes. Nurse went out to take some medicines. Avni giggled seeing Neil standing there with this emoji face 😑. Neil saw her giggling at him and immediately made a good face. He smiled at her.

Neil: jealous feel kar rahi hai woh tumse... huh.. pagal nurse.. pata nahi kisne bharti kiya usko yaha... abhi le jata hoon... nahi to phir lecture degi mujhe...

Avni pressed her lips to control herself from laughing.

Neil successfully managed to place all the flower pots and and pottery items out. Avni looked at him and smiled to herself.

Avni: pagal ladka... (chuckles)

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

Few days went by. It's been 2 weeks that Neil was away from his home.

One fine day Ashish called him to tea stall outside the hospital. Both sat facing each other.

Ashish: tumhe yaha aaye 15 din ho gye hai... ab mujhe lagta hai tumhe wapis jana chahiye.

Neil: main yaha se kahi nahi jaunga jab tak avni theek nahi ho jati.

Ashish: tum kyu ni samajh rahe ho... tumhara yaha thode der aur rukna sahi nahi hai.

Neil: kyu sahi nahi hai?

He asked looking into his eyes. Ashish looked at his face and then shifted his eyes away.

Ashish: meri beti tumse pyaar karti hai.. yeh baat main bhi janta hoon aur tum bhi...

Neil: jab jante ho to avni ko mere saath bhej kyu ni dete? Ab to main bilkul waisa hi hoon jaisa aap chahte the... Apna business hai... Tameez seekh gaya hoon... Independent hoon....

He looked at Ashish straight into his eyes saying all this.

There was pause from both the parties. Ashish sipped his tea and took a deep breath before starting to state his reason.

Ashish: kuch saal pehle tak mujhe lagta tha ki tum meri beti ke liye sahi nahi ho.. lekin aaj meri beti tumhare liye sahi nahi hai.

Neil: avni se zyada mere liye koi theek nahi sakta.

He looked straight into his eyes stating his point, this time fearlessly.

Ashish: tum kisi aur ke ho chuke ho Neil.

He mentioned this making Neil realise about his engagement to Naina immediately.

Neil looked away sighing.

Neil: woh sab main dekh lunga lekin avni ke bina yaha se nahi jaa raha main.

Ashish: tumhe jana hoga... warna.

Neil: (chuckles) warna kya?

Ashish: main avni ko tumhare rishte ki sacchai bata dunga...

Ashish raised his eyebrows warning Neil. Neil gritted his teeth as the hold on his glass tightened. He did some breathing exercises.

Neil: nahi sir please... aapki apni aulaad hai woh... kyu jaan mushkil kari hai aapne uski...

Ashish: tumhe jo samajhna hai samjho... maine jo kehna tha keh diya... aaj sham ki train se wapis chale jana....

Saying this he paid the bill for the tea and walked away Neil sat there wondering on this personality.

Neil: akdu saal.... Nahi gaali nahi deni.. "Akdu Sasur" kahi ka...

He was about to go towards Avni's room when his phone rang. It was from Shweta.

He took a deep breath and answered the call.

Neil: hello maa kaise ho?

Shweta: main to theek hoon par tum kab aa rahe ho?

Neil: aapko kahi Mr. Mehta ne to nahi kaha mujhe phone karke bulane ko?

He thought as Ashish was the one trying to persuade him to go back.

Shweta: kaisi baat kar raha hai Neil.. tu mera beta hai... Mujhe kisi aur ke kehne ki koi zarurat nahi hai tumhe call karne ke liye.. samjhe?

Neil: haan haan samajh gaya mom.

There was a momentary silence. Neil and Shweta stayed quiet waiting for the other one to start with a conversation.

Shweta: woh kaisi hai?

She finally asked for avni. Even though she had never met her in person but seeing change so much for her she felt she must be special.

Neil: theek hai par puri tarah se nahi...

Shweta: hmm.

She stopped for some time again.

Shweta: Neil wapis aaja beta.

Neil: kyu maa?

Shweta: beta chaar din mein teri shadi hai... sab rishtedaar aa chuke woh yahi jaan na chahte hai ki tum kaha ho?

Neil: maa aap unse kehdo ki main kisi business trip pe gaya hoon.

He asked her to try this as a reason to avoid going back.

Shweta: Neil... dekh baccha tu ab peeche nahi hatt sakta... do parivaro ki izzat judi hai is shadi se.. aur us se bhi bade Rishte daav par hai baccha.

If this marriage didn't happen may be the cordial relations of the family will be affected severely. Neil sighed and rolled his eyes.

Neil: theek hai maa main aa raha hoon.

Saying this he hung the call. His mind wandered to Shweta's words
"rishte daav par hai baccha".

One year back when Naina completed her graduation the talks for their wedding started in the house. Neil had not yet got over avni and his life in Mumbai. Naina on the other hand had always admired Neil. She would have loved being his wife.

Neil spoke about his feelings with shweta. She listened to him calmly and advised him to let the past go off and start with a new beginning. He agreed to this idea. Few months back they agreed for their wedding which was scheduled within 4 days.

Neil took a deep breath.

Neil: ab mujhe hi avni ko sab batana hoga... warna bahar se pata laga to uska dil toot jayega...

He wiped his tears and took few deep breathes calming himself and walked into her room. Avni was sitting on bed staring at a small flower bouquet which he got for her this morning. There was a soft smile on her lips.

Neil sat on the chair next to her.

Avni: kaha the subah se?

Neil: woh bahar hi tha...

He took a pause for few minutes. Avni smiled and caressed the flowers.

Avni: Neil pata hai yeh roses na mujhe bohut pyare lagte hai... Inka yeh color na... Aisa lagta hai sab kuch surkhmayi kar deta hai yeh laal gulaab.

Neil nodded his head. He was not even listening what was being said.

Neil: mujhe tumhe kuch batana hai

Avni: haa bolo na...

She placed the bouquet on the side table and turned her complete attention to his words.

Neil: mujhe aaj wapis jana hai...

He said looking at his hands resting in his lap.

Her smile dropped immediately. Neil wanted to go back. She straightened herself and masked another smile almost the next moment.

Avni: haan kafi din ho gye hai... ghar pe bhi to kaam hoga hi na tumhe...

She stopped waiting for his response but Neil just hummed.

Avni: phir wapis kab aaoge?

Neil: avni 3 din mein shadi hai...

Neil could not contain anymore. he closed his eyes and blurted out the bitterest truth he could have imagined. Avni felt like her heart beat stopping for a moment. Was he kidding her? She looked into his eyes to search for any trace of lie in them but there was none.

She chuckled sadly and put on a fake smile.

Avni: ohh... haan.... tumhari to fixed hi thi na... kon hai woh? tumhari bua ke bade jeth ki choti beti?

Neil nodded in a yes.

Avni: accha hai... sab ko aage badhna hi hota hai... mujhe na us se bhi milwa dena... main use tumhare bare mein sab samjha dungi...

She laughed at her own statement. It was fake.

Neil knew she was laughing just to make him go away happily but he could not. His heart never agreed to it. He held both of her hands in his hands. They were cold. Avni gasped feeling his touch.

Neil: abhi bhi waqt hai... main sab badal dunga.. bas tum mera saath de do avni..

Avni chuckled sadly. She pulled her hands back and looked away.

Avni: jao usike paas Aur main to pata nahi ek pata nahi do... kitne din ki aur hoon... Khud ko barbad mat karo Neil. Jitna waqt maine tumhare saath bitaya utna sukoon se marne ke liye kaafi hai mujhe...

Neil: AVNI...

He was okay with her speaking anything but not about her death. He wanted his life to be blessed with her but she was saying something else. he felt anger rising in his nerves.

Avni: yehi is zindagi ka sach hai Neil... Aaj nahi to kal mujhe mar...

She could not complete her line because pair of soft lips were placed on hers. She was shocked realising Neil kissing her.

There were tears in her eyes.
There were tears in his eyes.
Avni was in pain suffering a heart ache.
Neil was in pain suffering the heartbreak.

He pressed his lips on hers holding her neck firmly in place. As much as avni tried to get out of his hold, the more he pulls her into him. Few minutes into the kiss he realised she must be breathless.

Separating from her he looked into her eyes while avni looked at him in aggression.

Avni: yeh kya kiya tumne neil?

She cried asking him. He just kissed her without her consent.

Neil: wahi jo sahi tha... mujhe is baat ka koi pachtawa nahi hai avni...

Avni: tumne...

She bit her lip trying to contain her cries.

Neil: tumhe mere saath nahi chalna.. i respect your decision.. lekin yehi humare pyaar ki ek pehli aur aakhri nishani rahegi mere pass.

Avni looks on.

Neil: main shadi zarur kar raha hoon avni... lekin naina ko kabhi main koi haq nahi de paunga...

Avni gasped in shock.

Neil: main apni zindagi mein aage badh jaunga avni lekin.. tum mere ateet ke saath saath mere aaj aur kal mein bhi rahogi. good bye...

He walked out of the room leaving a confused avni behind. She sat there processing his words. This was worst she could have expected of her life. 

She lost her love again for the second time. Now all she could do was to sit and cry over her fate.

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