It was quater to five avni stood lakeside looking around. Neil called her here and was missing himself. She sighed.

Neil: avni...

Here comes Neil with two ice creams in his hands. Avni smiled at him. Neil stopped near her and smiled.

Avni: itna late?

Neil: sorry yaar woh ice cream wale ke paas rush tha...

Avni: bahano ki to PhD hai tumhare paas haina?

She giggled at him. Neil made an innocent pout and looked away.

Neil: theek hai phir ice cream nahi de raha main... Khud hi kha lunga dono...

Avni: Arrey aise kaise? Ice cream ke saath no compromise... Meri wali do...

She forwarded her hand like a child demanding fir her share. Neil smiled and handed her a cone.

Neil: double chocolate two scoop ice cream.

Avni smiled licking her ice cream for once.

Neil: baith ke baat karein?

She nodded. They took their usual seats on a bench near the bank of the the lake.

Avni chuckled a bit looking ar Neil. Neil frowned and checked himself from top to bottom.

Neil: kya hua? Hasi kyu?

Avni: soch rahi hoon ki tum humesha itne casual kaise reh sakte ho?

Neil: casual matlab kya problem hai?

Avni: nahi... Shirt tuck in nahi hai... Cuff khule rehte hai.. Sleeves rolled. Humesha jeans kabhi bhi formal nahi pehne tumne... Pata hai ladke formal wear mein kitne acche lagte hai...

Neil: oh haan... Formal na bohut ghute ghute se hai... Mujhe ghut ke rehne aadat nahi hai... Khule dil ke log khul ke rehte hai...

Raising and setting the collar of his white blue checked shirt he smiled at her. Avni shook her head in disbelief. Sometimes she wondered how could someone be so self obsessed.

Some other girl passed by them. Neil saw her with the corner of his eyes. Avni noticed him looking at the girl. She chuckled.

Avni: Sare ladke ek jaise hi hote hai na...

Neil: ab maine kya kiya?

Avni: ladkiyaan dekhne se baaz nahi aate tum...

Neil: Arrey maine dekha... Tum us ladki ki baar kar rahi ho na jisne pink top, blue jeans, brown boots Aur ek sling bag pehna tha... Wahi na jisne haath mein ek billa wala phone pakad rakha tha... Maine nahi dekha... Sacchi.

Avni looked at him amused. How could he even claim not seeing the girl. She stood up feeling a shot of jealousy.

Avni: main hi sahi thi sab ladke ek jaise hi hote hai... Cheater...

Neil: Arrey main...

They were interrupted by third voice. It was Ashish.

Ashish: avni...

Avni looked at him with shocked face. She was not expecting ashish reaching there. She gulped in nervousness.

Neil carefully looked at both of them.

Ashish glared Neil and looked at avni.

Avni: papa...

She was interrupted in between when he showed his hand to stop her.

Ashish: avni abhi ke abhi gaadi mein baitho.

She wanted to say something but walked away looking at Neil for once.

Ashish glared Neil and clenched his hand into a fist.

Neil: uncle jaise aapne dekha bilkul sahi... maine aapko yaha ka jaan boojh ke bataya... taaki aap samajh sake ki avni mere saath kitni khush hai...

Ashish: Maine kaha tha meri beti se door raho...

His voice was clear and demanding. It showed authority of his character.

Neil on the other hand had also gained confidence, enought to stand in front of him.

Neil: pyaar karne wale kabhi door nahi rehte... Hum pyaar karte hai ek dusre se...

Ashish chuckled at his confidence.

Ashish: pyaar... Beta yeh tumhari jawani ka suroor hai... Chal theek hai agar itna hi bharosa hai na apne so called pyaar pe... Puch lo meri beti se...

Neil looks on.

Ashish: meri marzi ke bina tere saath agar ek kadam bhi aage gyi na to mera naam ACP Ashish Mehta nahi...

Neil kept looking into his eyes. Ashish gave him a challenging look and walked away.

As soon as he. Left Neil punched in the air. He was frustrated.

Neil: yaar yeh aadmi bhi na... Lagta iski jaan avni mein hai... Plan B action mein laane ka time aagya hai...

He thinks.

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

Few days later.

Neil stood on the terrace where they had first spoken to each other i.e. avni's little garden.

He stood there facing the garden downstairs.

A smile was constant on his face. It showed he wanted to have a good day ahead.

As soon as he heard Avni calling behind him he turned.

Avni: Neil mujhe itna jaldi kyu bulaya?

Neil: maine tumhari shadi ke liye ek ladka dekha hai...

She looked at him confused. He smiled at her.

Neil: Arrey itna confuse mat ho... Ladka accha hai... Nasha patta nahi karta... Aur to aur daaru ki jagah bhi 'maaza' hi pita hai... 

Avni frowns. Maybe she's getting somewhat idea of his reference.

Neil: accha ghar hai well settled. Ladka abhi job nahi karta par kar hi lega... Shayad. Anyways... Ladke walo ki koi demand nahi hai... Shadi ka kharcha bhi wohi karenge. Aur...

All this while avni was having a sad look on her face. She wanted to say something but could not find suitable words for the same.

Neil: aur yeh ladke ki photo...

Handing over a white envelope he said. Avni frowned and took the envelope in her hand.

Her eyes widened of shock as she opened it.

She could not believe her ears what she heard. He wanted her to marry him.

Avni: Tum mere liye apna rishta laaye Ho?

Neil: haan to... Galat hai kya?

He smiled and turned around taking a light pink sweater from the chair he handed it to her.

Neil: yeh ek sweater hai jo bebe ne apni potabahu... Yani meri biwi ke liye banaya tha... Agar tumhari haan ho to ek baar isko pehan ke mujhe milne aa jana... Aage ka main sambhal loonga...

He smiled happily and turned around to go.

Avni: Neil mera roka ho gya hai...

These words were enough for him to stop on his tracks and turns around.

Avni stood there showing her wrist with some red and shagun threads on it. She was telling the truth.

Neil could not even think properly. It was a kind of shocker for him. He had not expected her to get engaged so soon.

Neil: kaun... Kaun hai?

Avni: papa ke kisi colleague ka beta hai...

She knew she was hurting him but what could she do? Nothing was in her hands now.

Anything that would be... Will be an engagement ring then bangle set of her marriage.

Neil gulped down the tears in his eyes and looked around.

Neil: theek hai phir... Mera to yaha kaam hi nahi... Main chalta hoon...

His eyes fell on the sweater in her hands.

Neil: yeh sweater... wapis kardo.. Woh... Meri bebe ne nahi banaya yeh... Aive hi market se liya tha...  Dedo...

Avni clutched it more tightly.

Avni: nahi mujhe pasand hai...

Neil: Arrey yaar... Yeh... Color accha nahi hai... Main dusra laa doonga na..

Avni: nahi bohut sundar hai color...

Neil: thee... Theek hai...

Avni was about to say something but Neil turned and started walking.

Walking a few steps he stopped.

Neil:  All the best... Aur haan...

He wanted to say something but his words choked in his throat.

There were unshed tears in both the eyes that threatened to fall down the brink any moment.

Everytime whenever Neil walked away from that terrace he always carried a hope in his heart but today he walked down the stairs with a broken heart. He knew he was never perfect for Avni but imperfections made him the Neil that could be loved.

Avni on the other hand hand stood there holding the light pink sweater and Neil's picture.

The tears in her eyes now had lost their patience and flowed down without hesitation. She ran to her room and sat on the bed locking the door.

Neela had gone to her friend's place while ashish was at police station.

Avni needed a let out. She wanted a person whom she could talk about her heart. Taking her phone she immediately dialled neela and called her home.

Within twenty minutes she was here.

Neela: kya hua baccha aise kyu bulaya?

Avni: maa aaj Neil ne mujhe propose kiya.

Neela looked her shocked. Being a mother she had already guessed the emotions of her children. She had found a son in form of Neil.

Neela: tumne kya kaha?

Avni: maine usse bata diya Mere roke ka...

Some tears formed in neela's eyes too. She knew Neil would have been perfect for her daughter but ashish would never had agreed to it. She felt pain in her own heart.

Neela: ab...?

Avni: maa.. Neil aaj wapis jaa raha hai apne ghar... Main mil aau use?

Neela shot a look to her.

Avni: I promise maa main haan nahi karungi par ek aakhri baar mil loon?

Neela nodded her head lightly and walked out of the room not before asking her to be back soon.

Avni took her bag and walked out taking her keys.

It was almost 10 at night. A male figure is seen sitting on an isolated platform at Mumbai railway station. A big suitcase and a handbag stood near his feet.

He is Neil.

Tears in his eyes spoke the heartbreak he had. He was thinking about how his life had took turns. He sat here crying for a girl whom he wanted as a mere timepass. Had he really changed or what?

The chain of his thoughts broke hearing a soft feminine voice of clearing throat. Looking up he found avni sitting next to him on the same bench.

She saw him sitting there from a distance. The tears in his eyes were very well seen by her. Taking a deep breath she walked to him.

Avni: ghar jaa rahe ho.. kya hua?

He at once moved his back to the ground fidgeting with his fingers.

Neil: haan woh kuch kaam tha thoda ghar pe...

There was an awkward silence for the first time. Whenever they were together they had a tempo of words flowing between them but today nothing was the same as before.

Avni: gussa aa raha hai?

A chuckle escaped Neil's lips.

Neil: gussa kaisa? Tum to apni jagah sahi ho... Main hi galat hoon... Faltu ki feelings mere liye kabhi sahi nahi thi.

She kept on looking at him.

Had it been another day they could have chatted for hours without letting any topic repeat but today words had to think for a hundred times before leaving their lips.

Avni: shadi pe aoge?

Neil: (chuckles) kyu shadi kharab karwani hai tumhe... Maaza ki jaga daru pi li to kham kha mein hungama ho jayega...

Again a long pause.

Neil: ACP sahab ne khushi puchi Tumhari?

Avni: sari zindagi puchi thi ek baar nahi bhi pucha to kya hua?

Neil: ladka pasand hai tumhe?

Avni: tum jaisa to nahi hai par...

Neil: tabhi tumhe pasand hai...

Avni looked at him with shock filled eyes. She liked him. She liked him a lot but could not claim it openly.

Before she could say anything Neil stood up hearing the train horn.

Neil: chalta hoon...

Avni stood in front of him. She wanted to hug him. She wanted to hear his heart beat for one last time. Taking two steps towards him she was about to put her hands around his neck when he held both of her arms and jerked back.

Neil: main sach keh raha hoon avni... Bohut kamina hoon main. Aaj gale lagi to utha ke le jaunga phir tumhara baap dekhta rahega idhar udhar.

His voice was stern and clear. Leaving avni itself was huge task for him and she was making it more difficult for him. First she came to meet him here on the station and second she tried to hug him.

He wanted to go as far as he could and never see her again. He can not fall weak in this mission.

Avni was shocked seeing him so serious. She had never imagined him to have such a side.

He turned away with a jerk and walked a few steps. A thought coming to his head made him stop in between.

Neil: Woh sweater sach mein meri bebe ne apni potabahu ke liye banaya tha... Please mujhe wapis kar dena... Tumhare liye woh kuch nahi hoga par mere liye is duniya ki sabse kimti cheez hai woh.... Waise bhi Kuch cheezo pe tumhara haq nahi hota to unhe paas rakh ke koi faayda nahi...

He walked away towards the train door.

Avni stood there on platform looking at his retreating figure. Neil stopped at the step.

Avni wished the time could stop and she could go keep him in her arms forever but alas! Nothing could be done this moment.

The skies started raining heavily. Other people on the platform rushed into the train or in the waiting Hall while avni and Neil stood there getting drenched in the falling water drops.

Neil stepped into the train and train started moving.

Avni recalled her own said words.

Avni: mujhe lagta hai jab saccha pyaar hota hai to baarish hoti hai.

She looked up towards the sky. It was raining just the way she had imagined. The two souls got drenched in this off seasoned rain.

She looked at the train which had already left the station. Tears came down her eyes and get mixed with the rain.

She sat there crying over her found and lost love.

Had she lost him forever?

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