Neil was shocked at this condition. It was clear cut blackmailing. He looked into his eyes. He wanted to revert back but something in him stopped him from doing so.

Call it the fear of prakash or something but Neil made up his mind to move out of the mansion the same night..

Avni who was on the terrace as her usual routine saw a silhouette walking out of Neil's bungalow. She found it weird.

As soon as the person walked under the street light avni was shocked to see Neil with a suitcase and hand bag. She at once rushed downstairs. 

Neil hurriedly sat in the taxi he booked without paying any heed to Avni's repeated calls at his back. He don't want to face her right now.

Avni gathered her breathes standing on the street. Why would Neil leave in such a hurry. 'Was everything okay at his home?' this thought crossed her head seeing Neil in such a hurry.

Avni: yeh aise achanak kyu chala gya? sab theek to hai?

She walked back and took her phone trying to call him. But his number was unreachable.

Avni: aise achanak jana... ab phone bhi nahi utha raha hai.. Kahi kuch gadbad...

She walked to her room. She wanted to talk to him ask the reason but she can not leave in such an hour of night.

*******

Few days went by, Avni was visibly lost after his departure. She got herself with her college but somewhere she missed Neil a lot. His cute antics to make her smile, his stupid midnight talks everything has became an important part of her life by now. Going through her day without him gave her a feeling of emptiness.

It was nearly a week after his leave, when Avni was in market with her friends. It was the same market where she and Neil used to come often for their regular coffees or any outing. She was busy looking at the pieces of jewellery that were displayed on a stall outside the shop when her eyes fell on a familiar face. It was Neil.  

He was busy looking at the T-shirts on display when he felt a soft tap on his shoulder. as soon as he turned he was shocked seeing Avni. All the same she stood there with her hands crossed over her chest and a questioning look on her face.

His eyes cut their contact from hers and looked back to the T-shirt. He don't want to speak to her. At least after what her father had said to him. Without paying any heed to her he walked away seeing the screen of his phone.

Avni huffed in anger seeing him go like this.

Avni: abhi batati hoon isko...

She stomped away thinking of something.

Neil who was walking looked back and sighed not finding Avni behind him. 

Neil: thank god chali gyi... isse bachna itna mushkil kyu hai? pichle teen din se bachta bachata ghoom raha hoon yaha...

Before he could continue he felt a pull at his wrist. The very next moment he was pinned to the wall of an isolated street. His eyes widened seeing Avni in front of him. He gulped.

Avni: pichle teen din se bhaag kyu rahe ho mujhse?

Neil: main.. oh hi Avni.. kaisi ho tum?

He smiled trying to divert the topic. Avni narrowed her eyes at him.

Avni: pichle teen din se mujhse bhaag kyu rahe ho?

Neil: oh really?!! haan woh maine marathon mein part liya hai na prac..practice kar raha tha..

He smiled at her which fell immediately seeing Avni glare at him. Clearing his throat he looked around.

Avni: bohut ganda joke tha... ab bologe?

Neil: Ab kuch nahi woh main bas... shehar ke dusre taraf bhi to ghoomna chahta tha isiliye..

Avni: isiliye adhi raat ko bina bataye choro ki tarah ghar se nikal gye.. koi piche se awaz laga raha hai..koi ni lagane do.. koi roz ke das das phone kare.. koi ni.. karne do... haina?

She complained placing her hands on her waist. Her face had gone red with Anger.

Neil looked to the ground.

Neil: woh.. Main...

Avni: best friend maanti hoon main the aur tum...

Neil immediately looked at her face. She mentioned him as her best friend. But how will he tell her that for him she had gone more than a best friend. All this week when he was away from her he realized his true feelings for her.

Avni: ab shimla pahadi ke paas bane statue kisi tarah kyu khade ho? Bologe kuch?

Neil: kuch nahi...

Avni: tum mujhe apna best friend nahi maante kya?

Neil looked on.

Neil: best friend se bohut aage ban chuki ho tum mere liye...

Avni Gave a confused expression waiting for his answer. When she popped her eyebrow another time Neil shook out of trance and looked at her.

Neil: maanta... Maanta hoon na.. Best friend maanta hoon..

Avni: phir?

Neil: dekho main bas thoda change chahta tha isiliye chala aaya.. Tum batao... Ghar pe sab kaise hai?

Avni: haan sab theek hai... Maine dad se keh diya hai ki main unki marzi se shadi kar lungi...

Neil frowned at her.

Avni: woh sab chodo... Tum batao kaise chal raha hai sab?

Neil: sab... Acc... Acha hai.

He said these words looking somewhere else. Nothing was fine within him. This one week when he was away from her he realised his feelings. They said something very special for avni.

Before avni could say anything Neil cleared his throat.

Neil: mujhe ek kaam hai jana hai... Bye take care.

With hurried steps he walked away without bothering for avni standing behind him. Avni looked at him thinking something.

********

Neil's mind was visibly taken by the question avni said today. 'Tum mujhe apna best friend nahi maante kya?' This was continuously ringing in his head.

Neil: mere halaaton ko dekh ke lgta hai best friend se kayi hadd zyada maan chuka hoon main tumhe avni...

He thinks. A small smile came on his lips.

Neil: waise agar maan chuka hoon to manaane mein kya harz..

He walked to the mirror setting his hair.

Neil: avni ne kaha ki woh shadi apne baap...oops... Papa ji ki marzi se karegi to kyu hum hi unke papa ji ki marzi ban jaye...

He smiled widely to himself.

Neil: agar main ACP ashish mehta ko bata doon dikha doon ki main avni ke kaabil hoon... Aur avni mere bina kisi ko deseve nahi karti... Meri aur avni ki baat ban jayegi...

Neil: yes... You are so smart Neil bro...

He applauded himself looking in the mirror and sprang to the bed happily.

He finally found a way to get 'His Avni'.

********

Few days later.

Avni stood in front of the mirror getting ready for her college when her phone on the bed rang. She walked to it setting her dress.

Seeing the caller ID a gentle smile came over her face.

Avni: ji boliye...

Caller: mujhse milne aogi?

Avni: kaha?

Caller: kabristaan mein.

A gentle laugh followed this sentence. Talking about death didn't went well with avni.

Avni: Neil...

She spoke with a tinge of disappointment on her face. It was Neil joking around.

Neil: accha baba sorry... Lake ke paas...

Avni: kyu?

She had pressed the phone between her shoulder and ear. While her hands adjusted the wrist watch.

Neil: Arrey agar na milo to milte nahi agar milo to kyu? Yeh mya baat huyi.

Avni: accha baba fine... Aa jaungi... Time bolo..

Neil: paanch nahi nahi paune paanch (4:45)

Taking the phone back in her hand she took the lipstick.

Avni: okay... Aur kuch?

Neil: nahi....Bye..

Avni: bye...

She smiled hanging up the phone.

Neil who stood in front of an old building smiled making one part of his plan successful.

Neil: plan A part 2 ki baari..

Saying this he turned around facing the building. Police Station XYZ division read the board.

He made a confident smile and walked in. Standing in front of the cabin door he took a deep breath and knocked.

As soon as he heard a 'Come in' he walked and stood in front of ACP Ashish Mehta.

Ashish who was busy reading a file looked up and saw Neil standing there.

Ashish: Neil tum yaha...

Neil: ji uncle main...

Ashish: koi kaam?

Neil: ji woh mujhe aapko batana tha... Ki aksar shaam ko na main lake ke pass jogging ke liye jata hoon... 5 baje... Aur avni bhi kayi baar waha mil jati hai... Mera matlab coincident... Main keh raha tha aap please galat mat samajhna..

Giving a smile to ashish Neil stood up from his chair.

Neil: accha ji main chalta hoon..

He walked out of the cabin smirking. Ashish sat there looking at his retreating figure. 'What actually this boy wanted of him?' He was confused regarding Neil.

But his prime concern was for his daughter. She needs to be kept away from this Neil as much as possible. He saw the time on the wall clock and thinks. Moments later he took his phone and dialled someone.

*********