Chapter 03:

It was the time of the day, in Neil's cabin, Avni was about to fall and Avni's hands hit the side of the table and her hand cut with it badly. Avni squeezed her eyes and she jerked her hand. Avni looked at her hand then she again jerked it. Neil came there and was shocked to see it.

Neil: what the hell is this?

Avni flinched and she looked at Neil who was looking at the vase. Avni frowned and then she looked at the vase and was shocked to see it. Avni forgot about her pain and the bleeding hand. She looked at Neil with fearful eyes who was coming to her by looking at her and the broken pieces of the vase. Neil was looking at Avni like a hungry lion who will hunt her. Avni gulped her fear. Neil came there.

Neil: what did you do this?

Avni: Actually, sir.

Neil caught Avni's arms harshly and Avni flinched.

Neil: what sir, do you even have an idea how expensive this vase was?

Avni was looking at Neil with teary eyes. Avni looked down.

Avni: I, I am...

Neil: how do you know that? You even would not have seen an antique vase in front of you in your entire life.

Avni looked at Neil with hurtful eyes. She recalled and saw many antique pieces which were decorated in the home. She came out of her thoughts to hear Neil.

Neil: you know, if you sell yourself then also you cannot buy this vase.

That was the limit for Avni how can he say so cheap words to her? She is his employee but he doesn't have the right to humiliate her. Avni looked down.

Neil: get the hell out of here.

Neil pushed Avni and she stumbled slightly but the piece of vase hurt her. Avni felt a sharp pain.

Neil shouted: Out.

Avni goes from there while crying. Neil was looking at her.

Neil: stupid.

Neil looked at the vase and he carefully goes from there to his table. He took the receiver of the phone and dialled a number.

Neil: Send someone to clean my room.

Neil kept the phone down and then he looked at the vase. Neil shook his head and then he sat and resumed his work. He heard the knock on the door and permitted the person to come in. Neil looked up from the file and he saw the man.

Neil: clean that mess and be careful.

The man nodded and Neil resumed his work but suddenly, he realised that he saw something then he looked up and that's it, he was shocked to see the blood stain on the floor.

Neil: blood?

His gaze followed the stains and it stopped near the broken vase. Neil was shocked.

Neil said while he was in shock: Avni.

Neil was shocked and he hurriedly got up from his chair. Neil came out and he saw Avni is not on her desk. He looked around. Neil saw a man who was going to his desk by passing him.

Neil: listen.

The man stopped.

Man: yes, sir.

Neil: where is Miss Mehta?

Man: sir, I saw her going that side.

Neil thinks.

Neil: hmm, you go.

Neil looked down and he saw the blood spots. Neil followed it and he reached outside the lady's washroom. He can clearly hear the sobbing of someone and it didn't take a time to understand who is the girl. On the other side, Avni was crying by holding the sink. Neil felt guilty and pain in his heart. Neil gulped. He was standing there. Avni huffed and she washed her hand with the water and rubbed it harshly to give her more pain so that she can remove Neil's words from her mind. Avni saw herself in the mirror and she remembered something then she wiped her eyes and sighed. Avni nodded dedicatedly.

Neil took steps back and hurriedly goes from there when he realised that Avni is coming. Avni opened the door and she came out but she did not see Neil going. Avni came to her desk and she was aiding herself. Neil was looking at her from his cabin. No one can see him but he can see them. Neil felt sorry. After that, Avni goes to wash her hand and then she resumed her work. Neil thinks.

Neil heard the knock on the door and he permitted the person to come. Neil looked up and he saw Avni who was coming but she was not able to walk. Neil felt a pinch in his heart to see her. Avni gave him the file.

Avni: sir, your signature is needed to send it for scrutiny.

Neil nodded and took the file from her. Neil kept the file on the table and he looked at Avni who was looking down then he read the papers and checked and then he signed the papers. Neil gave back the file to Avni.

Neil: hmm.

Avni was not looking at Neil.

Avni: thank you, sir.

Avni turned and was going. Neil's heart was feeling a sharp pain in his heart to see that.

It was the time of evening, on an empty road, Avni was walking at the side though she was not able to walk but she has to walk to the bus stop.

A car was moving to its destination and Neil was driving it. He saw, Avni and slow down the speed. Neil stopped his car and he open the window of his car and then Neil stopped the car. Neil thinks. Neil thought to help Avni but he knew that she will not accept his help.

Avni stopped and she saw a bench there so she goes to sit there and kept her leg on the second leg and saw her bleeding feet. Neil was looking at her from the distance and to see her act, Neil understood that Avni is in pain.

Avni: come on, Avni, get up and walk. The bus stop is just at some distance.

Avni huffed and then she took her bag and starts walking. Neil started his car to go to her. Neil stopped the car and he opened the car door. Neil was about to get down of the car but he got a call. Neil stopped and took his phone from the side seat and he saw his mother's number.

Neil: Hello.

Neil saw Avni is going.

Shweta: where are you?

Neil: on the way, why?

Shweta: nothing. Just asked.

Neil made a face.

Nei: bye.

Neil cut the call and saw Avni is nowhere. Neil frowned and he thinks. Neil started his car and goes. Neil turned his face while driving and then he focused on the road but he felt that he saw a know face. So, Neil turned his face and then he saw Avni sitting on the bus. Neil sighed to see Avni. The bus goes. Neil looked at the bus.

It was the time of night, the moon was glowing in the sky and Neil was standing near the window keeping his hands in his pocket and he was looking at the moon. He recalled how harshly, he caught Avni's arms and he crossed his limits. He saw the flashes that what did he do.

Flashback:

1. Neil: what sir, do you even have an idea how expensive this vase was?

Avni was looking at Neil with teary eyes. Avni looked down.

Neil thinks by standing near the window.

2. Avni: I, I am...

3. Neil: how do you know that? You even would not have seen an antique vase in front of you in your entire life.

Avni looked at Neil with hurtful eyes.

Neil: you know, if you sell yourself then also you cannot buy this vase.

4. Neil: get the hell out of here.

Flashback ends.

Neil was thinking.

Neil: I should not say those words to her. I should apologise to her.

Neil looked at the sky.

On the other side, Avni was sitting in her room and she was searching for the prices of vases on the internet. She saw the same vase. Avni was shocked to see the price.

Avni: 5 lacs.

Avni thinks.

Avni: how will I get this much amount?

Avni thinks and she gets sad.

Avni was sitting on the bed holding a piece of necklace. Her eyes were moist. She caressed it and recalled something.

Flashback:

A girl of 17 years old was sitting on the bed with her mother in a lavish room which was decorated with soft toys and other things. A lady was sitting by holding the same necklace in her hands and her eyes were teary. She squeezed her eyes and smiled.

Lady: you know, Avni, your papa made this necklace for you. He asked me, Neela, I made this necklace for my rockstar's wedding. I chuckled at it because you were just 10 years old.

Avni smiled slightly.

Nm: he said, if something happened to him then I give this necklace to you at your wedding and make you wear it.

Avni was looking at the necklace. Neela maa gave the necklace to Avni and Avni caressed it with teary eyes then she kissed the necklace. Neela maa captured Avni in her arms who cried. Neela maa kissed her hair and squeezed her eyes.

Flashback ends.

Avni was looking at the necklace.

Avni: I am sorry, papa, I am going to sell your precious gift please forgive your daughter.

Avni kissed the necklace and caressed it.

The next day was Sunday so, Avni goes to sell the necklace and she gave the necklace to the jeweller. He checked the necklace and then he looked at Avni.

Man: it is pure gold. I will give you 10 lac for it.

Avni thinks. She knew that it is more expensive than that and it is about Avni's dignity and her self-respect.

Avni: and if I mortgage it here then?

Man: then five lacs.

Avni: six lacs?

Man thinks.

Man: ok but only for three months then I will sell it.

Avni nodded.

Avni: ok. But please don't sell it before that.

The man nodded and he goes. Avni sighed.

Avni cleared the bill of the hospital which was 75 thousand but she did not go to meet her mother because she was guilty for mortgaging that necklace and her mother will understand just by seeing her that something is disturbing her.

The whole day, Avni spends to write the articles and she earned 120 dollars from there on monthly basis and she was in search of an online accounting job. She was even thinking of starting online teaching and tuition classes but she didn't find the teaching quality in her and the Khanna enterprise is giving her a handsome salary but those are not enough for her mother's treatment.

The next day, the sun was not in the mood to wake up so the weather was looking quite pleased. Neil was sitting in his cabin and he heard the knock on the door. He was signing the file.

Neil: come in.

Avni came inside and she came to the table.

Avni: Good morning, sir.

Neil looked at Avni and thinks.

Neil: morning.

Neil saw Avni take out a packet from her bag and she passed it to him.

Neil: what is this?

Avni: the price of your that vase.

Neil was shocked and he frowned.

Neil: what?

Neil kept the pen and closed the file. He kept his hands on the table.

Avni: I broke that vase so I am making up for it.

Neil was looking at Avni.

Avni: hmm, I do not need to sell myself to pay back anything.

Neil raised his eyebrows.

Neil: Attitude.

Avni: no, self-respect.

Neil was looking at Avni. Avni kept the packet on the table and she turned. Avni was going and suddenly someone pulled her back and pinned her to the wall. Avni was shocked and when she looked up, she was shocked to see Neil who was angrily looking at her.