Neil was shocked seeing Ashish Mehta standing in front of him. Prakash and Shweta who had already known everything looked at Ashish with questioning looks.

Ashish: namaste Mr. Khanna.

Prakash nodded and greeted him. They did not knew the reason for his sudden arrival. Ashish looked at Neil understanding the confusion running in their heads. He took a deep breath and these words escaped his lips.

Ashish: main yaha Neil ko le jane aaya hoon...

Neil looked surprised. His mind wandered back to three years when Ashish was the one who successfully drove him out of the city. Even though it was indirect but He was the one behind fixing avni's wedding and now he wanted to get him back.

***********

Neil sat on the passenger seat while Ashish drove his SUV through the roads. These roads lead their way to Mumbai, a place where Neil never wanted to go again. As the car passed through the roads surrounded by the green fields, Neil turned his face towards Ashish, Who was driving with his complete focus on the road.

Seeing Ashish his Mind wandered to the days he spent in Mumbai. Or more precisely, the days he spent with Avni.

Emotions came together in his eyes recalling the first time he saw Avni. She was irritated when he asked her about the house number. The next when they met on the Terrace,  The day when she hugged him for the first time. Her carefree Laugh... Her ever pleasing smile... everything... every memory of her felt so fresh in his mind. He smiled to himself before wiping away his tears .

After 5 hours of their journey the car stopped in front of a huge building. Neil looked around but was confused. It was not the colony they used to live in. Maybe after his departure Mehtas might have shifted their place. Or may it's where avni's in-laws live. He drank back his tears and looked around.

He found the area extra busy. Neil stepped down the car Looking up he read the board, 'City Hospital, Mumbai'.

His  heart raced at once. A strange feeling took over him instantly. Thousands of thoughts came rushing in his head. He felt like his heart and mind were loosing their balance all at once.

He was about to move inside but stopped seeing Ashish behind. He stood there waiting for Ashish to come forward.

Ashish: yaha aane ke liye shukriya Neil...

Neil nodded his head lightly and followed him. Walking through the corridors of the hospital they reached the ICU floor. His heartbeats were so fast that he could feel them in his ears. Reaching the middle of the corridor, Ashish pointed at a room in the right corner and signalled him to go.

Ashish: Neil... Mujhe kisi se milna hai... Tum jao andar.

Neil nodded and took a deep breath.

As soon as he stepped inside he saw something shocking that made him turn immediately. He stood leaning to the wall outside the door. The scene inside was enough to make his heart Stop for a While.

It was Avni, coughing badly. She was crying in pain. A nurse sat next to her rubbing her back while the other one was busy with medicines. She was not the same as before. Her lively face was no longer lively as it used to be.

He had never even thought to see Avni in this condition. Taking few deep breathes and calming himself he wiped away his tears and determined himself to go in again. He knocked the door softly.

Neil: yeh 311 konsa hai? Left wala ke right wala?

Hearing this voice avni looked at the door of the room. There he was standing, Neil whom she had missed a lot. A wide smile shone on her pale face. Tears of happiness rolled down her eyes.

She had wished to see him. But somewhere she felt a doubt because of whatever had happened three years back. The smile never left her face even for a millisecond.

Seeing her smiling Neil too could not hold his smile back. Their eyes met. A spark flew and Telepathy in action again.

Neil: daant kyu nikal rahe hai tumhare? Lottery lagi hai kya?

Avni: tumhare bhi to nikal rahe hai...

Neil: meri to lottery lagi hai...  Tum to pehle se bhi zyada Hot ho gyi..

Avni widened her eyes and chuckled at his thoughts. Now she wanted to hear his voice...

Avni: shareef ghar ke ladke aise khyaal nahi rakhte...

Neil: nahi hoon main shareef... kitni baar batau tumhe... aur jaise daant phaad rahi ho mukki maar ke tod dunga...

Avni smiled at him while he walked and sat on the stool next to her bed. Avni wiped her tears. These were of happiness. The happiness she got seeing her friend and obviously her love back after three years. 

Composing herself  She took a deep breath and looked at Neil. He looked the same... 

Avni: Akele aaye ho.... Bacche saath nahi aaye tumhare?

Neil: Woh shadi se pehle allowed nahi hai na to... Tumhare kaha hai?

Hearing this a sad chuckle escaped her lips.

Avni: kon khada rehta hai saath? Dhaage to aive hi toot jate hai...

Neil: Tum mauka to deti saath khade ho kar dikhata... 

He said these words looking into her eyes. He was honest in his words. He might have stood beside her like a strong wall only if he was allowed to.

Avni: (Slight laugh) ab ankhon se baatein karni band karo... Aate hi shuru ho gye..

The Nurse walked out of the room writing something on charts.

Avni: Badal gye ho tum... 

Neil: Nahi...

Avni: itni sundar nurse tumhare paas se ho ke guzri... tumne mud ke dekha bhi nahi...

Neil: Nahi... woh neeche reception wali zyada sundar thi... isiliye...

Avni bit her lip and smiled at him. She noticed his eyes never leaving her face... Not even for a millisecond. 

Avni: naah... Badal to tum gaye ho... Formal suit pehna hai... shirt tuck in.. cuff closed... Kahi ghut ghut ke rehne ki aadat to nahi ho gyi?

Neil looked at his ownself from top to bottom and recalled his own words.

Neil: areey hum khule swabhaav ke log hai... ghut ghut ke nahi reh sakte...

He looked at Avni who was already looking at him 

Neil: nahi aisa kuch nahi hai woh... Thodi thand lag rahi thi to... Main aata hoon. 

Avni smiled and nodded. Its been straight 15 minnutes the smile never left her face, She had painful tears in her eyes but her heart fluttered with each and every second she saw Neil. 

She closed her eyes resting on the headborad behind.

Coming out of the room Neil Straightway walked into the doctor's cabin. He wanted to know each and everything related to Avni and her disease.

Doctor: pichle 15 din se avni ki body mein jo bhi nutrtion jaa raha hai woh sirf fluids se hai... uski dono kidneys damaged hai... Hum kidney transplant ke baare mein soch sakte hai lekin uske liver mein infection phail chuki hai... Recovery ke koi signs nahi dikh rahe... 

Neil looked on.

 Doctor: humare liye easy hai yeh kehna ki ab hum use nahi bacha sakte lekin uski himmat dekh ke humein bhi ek aur koshish karne ka mann karta hai.. sach kahu to aaj se pehle maine aisi himmat wali ladki kabhi nahi dekhi.. jis halat mein log behoshi se nahi uthte avni baatein kar rahi hai... has rahi hai.... Sach kahu to.... pata nahi shayad koi miracle hai jiski wajah se aaj tak woh zinda hai... 

Neil thinks. Thanking doctor he walked out. He don't know where his steps were taking him his mind was continuosly playing doctor's words.

"Sach kahu to shayad yeh ek miracle hai..."

Neil: agar aaj tak yeh miracle kaam aa raha tha to ab use theek hons a hoga. Avni ko theek hona hoga.

He rushed upstairs back to the ICU corridor. He saw Neela maa coming out of the room. As soon as Neela saw Neil she could not contain herself and rushed into his arms. She had always accepted him as he own son. Neil hugged her back. He felt the same solace that he feels in Shweta's arms. Afterall all mothers have the same heart.

Neela: Avni.. Neil....

Neil: aap ro kyu rahe ho? kuch nahi hona use...

Neela: doctor ne Ashish se kaha ki woh ab zyada din bach nahi paye...

She could not complete this sentence because she could not stop her tears from bursting out.

Neil could not see his mother in such a condition and immediately wrapped arms around her.

Neil: arrey maa... Aap na kisi dhang ke aadmi se shaadi nahi kar sakti thi kya... Bahar to apne ACP hone ki dhauns jamate hi hai.. ghar ke andar bhi kisi ko nahi chodte... Avni theek ho jayegi... usse theek hona hoga... 

Neela looked at her son. A gentle smile broke on her lips as Neil wiped her tears.

Neil: Ab aap na tension mat lo... ghar jayiye... Main yahi tukta hoon... Aur subah subah na mere liye please apne haath ka bana khana le ke aana... maine bohut miss kiya usko...

Neela patted his face gently and nodded. She knew the reality of he daughters disease. She knew the heartbreak Neil himself is undergoing right now but she wanted o believe him. She wanted to believe his words.

As Neela left Neil walked to the room. He was about to enter when a nurse walked up to him.

Nurse: maine abhi medicine di hai... so gyi hai.. aap please jagana mat.. warna saari raat mushkil ho jayegi....

Neil nodded.

Standing at the doorstep he saw Avni. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he thinks something.

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