Chapter 09:

It was the time of the morning, the weather was quite good but the atmosphere of Neil’s cabin was quite warm again. Neil was sitting in the cabin and everything was arranged. The pictures were not on the table. Prakash and DD were also sitting there. Neil was sitting by keeping his hand on his mouth and was lost.

Prakash:  what happened, Neil, what do you want to share with me that you called me here urgently?

Neil remained silent. He was in anger but more than Avni, he was angry at himself how can he love a cheater? More than anger, he was hurt. His heart was broken. The door knocked and Neil looked there. He kept his hand down.

Neil: come in.

Avni happily came inside because the thing she wanted, she got that thing. Yes, she got a donor for her mother. Avni looked at Neil and her smile faded. She found the atmosphere tense. Avni came to them. Avni looked at Prakash.

Avni: good morning, sir.

Prakash nodded. Avni looked at Neil and Prakash also looked at him.

Avni: you called me, sir.

Neil was looking at her. He lowered his gaze and then he got up. Prakash and DD also got up to see him.

Neil: Miss Mehta, where were you yesterday’s evening?

Avni was shocked. She looked at Prakash who was looking at her and then Avni again looked at Neil.

Avni: si, sir…

Neil: ok, let’s change the question. With whom you were yesterday’s evening?

Avni was shocked. She gulped.

Avni: sir, I, I was at my home.

Neil grinned his teeth but he controlled himself and DD was also shocked.

Neil: really?

Prakash: what happened, Neil?

Neil: relax, dad, relax.

Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: so you were at your home?

Avni nodded by looking down and was sweating. Neil observed her.

Neil: by the way, when you entered, you were looking very happy. Did you get the money for your mother’s operation?

Avni looked at Neil shockingly because she did not tell anyone about her mother’s condition. Prakash knew that but she did not also tell him about the operation. Prakash looked at Avni.

Prakash: operation?

Avni looked at him and she was getting nervous with each passing second.

Neil: from where you got the money?

Avni was looking down.

Avni: I, I… I didn’t get the money.

Neil shouted: don’t lie.

Avni flinched and others were also shocked. Avni looked at Neil.

Prakash: Neil.

Neil: Dad, your beloved Avni leaked the information of our copy to our rival company, VRP enterprise.

Avni was shocked and she widened her eyes in shock. Prakash was also shocked.

Avni: no, sir… I…

Neil shouted: not a single word.

Avni was looking at Neil who also looked at her with anger.

Neil: not. A. single. Word.

Prakash: Neil, you…

Neil: I knew it, I knew it, Dad, that you will not believe me that’s why I kept the proof safely. I have proof.

Neil took out the pictures from the drawer and showed them to Prakash in his hand.

Neil: see.

Avni was shocked and Neil showed her the pictures. Avni was shockingly looking at them. Avni shook her head. Prakash looked at Neil.

Neil: see, dad. See her real face.

Prakash was shocked.

Neil: she is a spy.

Neil threw the pictures in the air and the pictures fell on the table and floor. Avni looked at the picture. Neil was looking at Avni.

Neil: Don’t go on her innocent face she looked innocent but she is a cunning person.

Avni looked at Neil with teary eyes.

Neil: I never saw a wicked girl like you. Who can think that behind this innocent face there can be a cunning girl.

Avni closed her eyes and clenched her fist. Neil shook his head.

Neil: what did you get by doing this, han? Money? How much money they gave you? 20 lacs? 50 lacs? You would have asked me, I would give you. What was the need to do this?

Avni remained silent.

Neil shouted: answer me.

Prakash: Neil…

Neil was surprised and got frustrated.

Neil: dad, after knowing the truth still you are taking her side.

Prakash shouted: yes because I know the truth.

Neil frowned.

Neil: Dad…

Prakash: she told me about their offer and I asked her to communicate with them.

Neil and DD were shocked. Neil looked at Avni who was looking down and then he looked at Prakash.

Neil: what?

Prakash: yes. Some days ago…

Prakash narrated with the imagination.

Prakash narrated:  she got a call from them and they tried to bribe her. Don’t know how they got to know about her mother’s illness so they asked her to leak the information and they will give her money as much as she will ask. Avni contacted me and told me everything. Already, we had an idea that their one spy is in our office so to catch that man, I asked her to say yes so that we can catch that person.

Prakash was looking at Neil.

Prakash: she was doing this on my saying.

Neil was shocked to hear that. Neil’s eyes filled with tears and he looked at Avni who was crying looking down. Neil felt guilty and he felt like he dug a grave and burry him in that.

DD: I am sorry, Avni. I misunderstood you.

Avni shook her head while looking at DD. They heard the knock on the door and the police entered. Neil, Prakash and DD were shocked.

PO: hello, Mr Neil Khanna.

Neil was looking at him.

PO: where is that spy?

Avni raised her head and she turned. Avni was shocked to see the police. Avni looked at Neil who also looked at her but he instantly lowered his gaze in guilt. Avni was looking at him. Neil looked at the police officer.

Avni: I…

Neil: ab, officer, sorry, there was a misunderstanding. There is no spy.

Avni: there is.

Neil and others were shocked. Neil panicked that Avni will take the blame on her in anger.

Avni: his name is Karan.

Neil and others were shocked.

Prakash: what?

Avni looked at Prakash and nodded.

Avni: yesterday, they told me that. I wanted to tell you but you didn’t receive my call and after that, I did not get the time to tell you.  I have already doubt on Karan and that’s the reason, I became his friend.

Avni looked at Neil who was looking at her and now he realized why Avni was with Karan. Neil looked down.

Avni narrated with an imagination where Karan and she were sitting on the couch and Karan goes then she copied the proof and screenshot of the email into the pen drive

Avni: and I got the proof from his laptop. I also copied them.

Avni was looking at the police.

Avni: I have those proofs.

Police: can you give them to us now?

Avni nodded. Avni goes and she gave the proof and then Karan was arrested.

Karan: I didn’t do anything. Sir, listen to me.

They took him from there. Neil, Avni and others were looking at him. Karan was shouting.

Prakash: I am sorry, Avni because of me, you faced all this, please forgive me.

Avni shook her head.

Prakash: And thank you for your help. If you would not help us then don’t know for how many days, he will play with our emotions.

Avni: sir, it was my duty.

Neil was looking at Avni. He forwards the step to her. Avni felt that.               

 Avni: ab, sir, I should leave now. Bye, sir.

Neil stopped. Avni goes to her desk. She grabbed her bag and Neil was looking at her. Avni goes and Neil wanted to stop her but she goes. Neil was sadly looking at Avni.

Neil, Prakash and DD were standing in the cabin near the table.

Neil: why did you not tell me about that earlier, dad?

Prakash: because of your this anger. I knew you will react like this and see you did it. Neil, you hurt that innocent soul so much. I know, you don’t like her but you… today, you crossed all your limits.

Neil cried. Prakash was shocked to see him because he understands his guilt but crying was far away from his imagination.

Prakash: Neil.

Neil: I don’t hate her.

Neil fell on his knees while crying and the chair pulled back. Prakash was shocked.

Neil: I love her, dad. I love her.

Prakash was shocked.

Prakash: what?

Neil looked down and nodded while crying. Prakash was in shock. Prakash thinks and he moved to Neil. Prakash held Neil’s arms.

Prakash: get up, Neil. Get up.

Neil got up and DD sets his chair and Prakash made him sit. Neil was devastated. Prakash pulled the chair and he sat on it.

Prakash: you love Avni?

Neil nodded while looking down.

Prakash thinks and then he looked at Neil.

Prakash: what kind of love it is, Neil, where trust is nowhere?

Neil gulped and cried. Prakash got angry.

Prakash: stop crying like babies. You should have thought about it before accusing her. At least, she deserved a chance to explain. Neil, even a culprit gets a chance to defend him or herself and you…

Neil was not in a state to talk.

Prakash: now what?

No answer. DD passed a glass of water to Neil.

DD: I am sorry, sir, it happened because of me.

Neil shook his head. Prakash picked up the glass and kept it in front of Neil.

Prakash: have it.

Neil shook his head.

Prakash: have it, Neil.

Neil drank a sip.

On the other side, Avni was walking lifelessly on the side of the road. Her face was showing deep grief. She can bear anything but a false accusation. No.  Whenever Neil scolds her for other’s work or mistakes she always replied to him. She was going where her feet were taking her.

Later, the trio, Prakash, Neil and DD were sitting there. Neil was better now but was still guilty.

Prakash: now, what, Neil?

Neil looked at him then he looked down.

Prakash: that time, you were accusing her nonstop now, what happened to you?

Neil: dad, you know about my anger? In anger, I say, whatever comes into my mouth.

Prakash: now face the consequences.

Neil looked down.

Prakash: nothing will happen by bowing your head and answer me, one thing, you love her why you didn’t tell us about it?

Neil: I thought to tell her first. I thought, first I propose to her then I will talk to you all.

Prakash: and you proposed to her so well today with the bouquets of accusing.

Neil: tch.

DD: sir, please forgive me. I am responsible for it.

Neil: no, DD, you did your work with honesty and Avni was in their touch so, you will misunderstand her but I. I should trust her. I claim that I love her so, I should trust her also.

Prakash: Thank God, you understood it.

Neil: Dad, please, I am already in tension because of this mess and you are taunting me continuously.

Prakash: well, you have created this mess.

Neil looked at him and then he looked away. Neil thinks.

Neil: should I go to her home?

Prakash was about to say.

Neil: Yes, I should go there. Nothing will happen by sitting here.

Neil grabbed his phone.

Prakash: Neil. Neil.

Neil looked at him.

Prakash: leave her for today. She is hurt and she will not understand anything today.

Neil: so, I should go to her.

 Prakash: give her some space. Go to meet her tomorrow.

Neil thinks.

Neil:  Are you sure?

Prakash: yes.

Neil thinks.

In the evening, Neil went to the café but Avni was there also. Neil got disappointed.

It was the time of the night, Neil did not have dinner because he was worried whether Avni would have eaten anything or not. Neil was sitting on the bed and he was thinking about Avni. Neil took his phone from the bed and he thinks. Neil dialled Avni’s number.

On the other side, Avni was sitting on the bed and she was worried about her mother. Her phone rang and she picked up her phone from the couch and was shocked to see Neil’s number. Avni got angry and she cut the call by grinning her teeth. Neil got disappointed. Neil looked at the phone.

Neil: I am sorry.

Neil wrote I am sorry and then he removed it. Neil thinks.

On the other side, Avni was thinking about what happened in the office. She squeezed her eyes and shook her head.

Avni: Leave it, Avni and think about from where you will arrange the money.

Avni thinks. She got an idea and her eyes filled with tears. She looked at her home.

Avni: now, I think, I have only one way. I may have to sell this apartment.

Avni thinks. She looked at the home. Avni gulped.

Avni: I am sorry, papa, this home is one of your signs but what do I do? Mamma’s treatment is more important than this home. I am sorry, papa please forgive me.

Avni gulped her pain and tears fell from her eyes. She wiped her eyes and sighed with determination. She nodded.

The next day, Neil was sitting in his cabin keeping his elbows on the table and joining his hands on his mouth. Neil was lost in thinking. Avni also did not come office. He heard the knock on the door and he sighed then he permitted the person

The person came in. He looked up and he was surprised to see the person because it was his lady, his Avni. Neil smiled.

Neil: Avni.

His happiness was on cloud nine. Neil got up and Avni came to his table. Neil was about to move but Avni passed an envelope to him. Neil frowned to see that and he looked at Avni.

Neil: what is this, Avni?

Avni: my resignation, sir.

Neil was shocked. He took the envelope from her and took out the paper. Neil was shocked.

Neil: n, no, youuuu, you can’t do this.

Avni: I can, sir. According to the rules of the company. I have completed the period of six months and Prakash sir has already accepted my resignation so, I can do it.

Neil was shocked and he saw Prakash’s signature which shocks him more. Avni glared at Neil and Neil was looking at her. Now, she is not his employee that she will bow her head in fear of losing her job. Avni turned and was going. Neil came to her and held her wrist. Avni looked at her wrist and then she looked at Neil. Avni jerked her hand.

Avni warned Neil: don’t you dare to touch me.

Neil was shocked to see her that side.

Avni: now, I am not your employee that you will treat me as you want and I will bear it just in fear of losing my job.

Neil was shocked.

Neil: Avni…

Avni: I have many other important works to do so, I don’t have time to waste on you. Bye.

Avni turned.

Neil: I will not accept it.

Avni turned to Neil and Neil tore the paper.

Neil: now, what will you do?

Avni smiled.

Avni: sir, it was just a copy.

Neil was shocked.

Avni: other copies are also sent to other concerned departments.

Neil was shocked. Avni looked at Neil angrily then she goes and Neil was just looking at her.

Prakash was sitting in his office when the door opened with a bang and Neil stormed into the room.

Neil: Dad, how can you accept Avni’s resignation letter?

Prakash was looking at the file and he turned the page. He was wearing glasses.

Prakash: I didn’t want to accept it but she insisted.

Neil: you should refuse her.

Prakash looked at him and he closed the file while sighing and removed his glasses and then he looked at Neil again.

Prakash: and what would I say to her? Did you leave any chance that I asked her?

Neil got irritated.

Neil: Dad… what did you do?

Prakash: sit and I tell you why did I do that.

Neil looked at him and he sat on the chair but he was frustrated.

It was the time of evening, Avni was sitting on the bed in the hospital in front of her mother. Avni was shockingly looking at her mother.

Avni: mamma, what are you saying?

Nm: yes, bacha, I want you to get married.

Avni: but, mamma…

Nm: bacha, try to understand. Don’t know, I will survive in the operation or not…

Avni: mamma, please don’t say this.

Nm: bacha, we can’t run from reality. I am seriously ill and it is truth.

Avni looked down.

Nm: ok, do one thing, meet that guy if you don’t like him then you can refuse it.

Avni: promise?

Nm: yes, promise.

Neela maa smiled.

Avni: by the way, mamma, from where did you get that guy?

Nm: he is my friend’s son.

Avni: which friend?

Nm: of ho, you are going to meet him tomorrow then ask him whatever you want.

Avni made a face and then they smiled. Avni hugged her mother.

Avni: I love you.

Neela maa smiled.

Nm: I love you, too.

They smiled and Avni sighed.

The next day, the sun was shining over the restaurant and Avni was sitting in it. She was waiting for the boy.

Avni: don’t know, who that guy is. I didn’t even see his picture. How I will recognise him. Tch. Mamma, kahan phasa diya aap ne mujhe.

Avni doesn’t want to meet the person. Avni looked around. She turned her face left and she got a 440-volt jolt to see the man. She was just looking at the person.