Chapter 11:

It was the time of the day, Avni and Neil were sitting outside the operation theatre and Avni’s eyes were stuck at the door. She looked at the red light and then she looked at the door. Neil got up and he goes because Avni had not eaten anything since morning and Neil observed it by seeing her face, and her dried lips. Neil came back with a bottle of water. He knew that no matter how hard he will try, Avni will not eat anything so he didn’t even try it. Neil sat on the bench and passed a bottle and as expected Avni refused to drink. Neil insisted with his facial expressions and this time, Avni took the bottle but she kept it near her.

Neil: Avni, you need to be hydrated else you will get ill then how will you take care of Neela maa.

Avni looked at Neil who signed her to drink water. Avni picked up the water and she tried to open the cap but she didn’t have that much strength that she opened the cap of the bottle. Neil took the bottle from Avni’s hands and then he opened the cup. Neil made Avni drink water with his hands and Avni held the bottle then. Neil took the water bottle from Avni and Avni gulped the water. Avni looked at Neil who kept the bottle next to the bench. Avni was feeling lucky that even at this time, Neil is with her. Avni knew how a workaholic person he is, but still he is sitting with her by leaving his office. Neil looked at the door and he felt Avni’s gaze. Neil turned his face to Avni and found her looking at him. Neil passed a smile to her. Avni too smiled to see him.

With each passing minute. Avni was getting more worried. She was looking at the operation theatre.

Avni: it has been three hours why they have not come out till now?

Neil took Avni’s hand in his hands and Avni looked at the hands and then at him.

Neil: nothing bad will happen, just calm down.

Avni nodded by looking down then she looked at the door.

Soon, the door opened and Avni got up hurriedly. The doctor came out and Avni goes to him, Neil was behind her.

Avni: Doctor, mamma.

Doctor: the operation was successful.

Avni’s happiness has no limits. Avni’s eyes filled with tears and she smile. Neil smiled and looked at Avni. Avni folded her hands in front of the doctor.

Avni: thank you, doctor. Thank you.

Doctor: say, thank you to God and that person who donate the kidney.

Avni nodded. Avni wiped her tears.

Avni: Doctor, when will I meet my mamma?

Doctor: not now, once, we shift her to the room then you can meet her.

Avni nodded.

Avni: thank you.

The doctor nodded and he goes. Avni thanked God and she was crying, the storm, she was holding inside her, finally, it broke and it was flowing from her eyes. Neil kept his hand on Avni’s eyes. He was smiling with teary eyes. He couldn’t control his tears by seeing Avni crying. Avni looked at Neil who smiled to see her and cheered up her with his facial expression. Avni smiled while crying and in excitement, she hugged Neil by keeping her head on Neil’s chest.

Neil was stunned by this sudden action of Avni. Avni’s eyes were closed. Neil felt a shiver in his body and he was numbed. Neil can hear his own heartbeat because it was beating like he is running a marathon. Neil looked at Avni and after some seconds, he registered everything. Neil looked at Avni again and he smiled. Neil slowly captured Avni in his arms. Soon, Avni realised what she did and she opened her eyes. Avni took her hands back and moved away. Neil left her and he looked at Avni who was looking down. Neil smiled. Avni kept her hair behind her ear. She goes to sit on the bench and Neil was looking at Avni. Neil smiled to see Avni.

The next day, Avni came to meet Neela maa who opened her eyes to feel Avni’s presence and she heard the sound of opening the door. An oxygen mask was on Neela maa's face. Neela maa was about to say. Avni kept her finger on her lips.

Avni: ssshhhhh. Doctor has prohibited you from talking.

Neela maa smiled. Avni came to her and she caressed her mother’s hair.

Avni: soon, you will be fine and then we will go home.

Neela maa smiled.

Nm: Neil?

Avni: he is outside.

Neela maa nodded.

Avni: now, you have rest. I am going, hmm.

Neela maa nodded and she closed her eyes. Avni sighed to see her mother.

Avni came out and she saw Neil is standing there. Avni looked down and then she saw a nurse passing by there.

Neil: how is Neela maa?

Avni: she is fine.

Avni looked down.

Avni: ab, sir…

Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: thank you, sir, thank you so much for your support. If you were not with me then don’t know…

Neil interrupts.

Neil leaned to Avni: how would I not be here? How would I not come when you needed me the most? Avni, no matter, how hard the situation will be, you will always find me beside you.

Avni was looking at Neil and their eyes were locked. They drowned deep in each other’s eyes. Avni broke the eye lock and she looked down. Neil smiled to see her. He moved back.

Avni: ab, sir, you should also go home. You are here since yesterday.

Neil: Am I troubling you?

Avni frowned. She shook her head.

Neil: then why are you making me run away.

Avni: I am not making you run away but what will you do here? Now, mamma is fine also.

Neil: I will adore my lady.

Avni looked at Neil and she looked down because she felt shy. Neil smiled to see her blush. The red cheeks were a treat for him.

After a few days, Neela maa came home. Avni took her home. Neil was behind them. Neela maa saw the decorated home and she was surprised.

Nm: who did this? Avni, you?

Avni shook her head and she signed at Neil through her eyes. Neela maa was surprised.

Nm: Neil?

Neil smiled by looking down. Avni smiled to see him.

Nm: I can’t believe it.

Neil felt embarrassed.

Person: even we can’t believe it.

Avni, Neil and Neela maa turned and they saw the Khanna family. They smiled and the Khana family came to them.

Shweta: I can’t also believe that my son did this all.

Neil gave her a look and others smiled. Shweta passed the bouquet to Neela maa.

Shweta: this is for you.

Nm: thank you.

Avni: come, sir, ma’am. Ma’am.

Shweta made a crying face.

Shweta: how many times, I have told you to not call me ma’am. I am Tillu’s mother.

Neil widens his eyes and Avni looked at Neil then she suppressed her lips. Neela maa was also trying to control her smile.

Shweta: then I am your mother also, right?

 Neil looked at Avni then he looked at Shweta.

Neil: mom?

Shweta: what?

Neil signed her what.

Shweta: what?

Neil made a face and Shweta ignored him. Neil rubbed his neck in embarrassment but, he doesn’t know that Shweta had called him Tillu numerous times in front of Avni and Neela. They went to meet Neela maa in the hospital and there she blasted the bomb of Tillu.

Neil whispered: God, mom.

Nm: come, sit.

They all go and sat on the couch. The Khanna family brought buckets of fruits and sweets. They kept them on the table.

Bebe: these are for you.

Nm: what was the need of it?

Bebe: it was needed. We were first time coming to our daughter-in-law’s home and we would have come with empty hands.

They smiled.

Prakash: how are you now, Neela Ji?

Nm: better.

Prakash nodded.

Avni: I am coming.

Avni goes and Neil was looking at her.

Soon, Avni came back with the tea and snacks. Avni sat on the floor and she made the tea for all. Neil was looking at Avni. Avni took her hair behind the ear and she was smiling. Neil was adoring her, he felt like they came for their alliance. Avni gave the tea to everyone and Neil was looking at Avni then she turned to Neil and gave him tea.

Neil kept his hand on Avni’s hand intentionally in order to take the cup. Avni shivered and she looked down. Neil smirked and he was not taking the cup from her. Avni looked at Neil who winked and Avni widened her eyes and her breath stopped. Neil gave a flying kiss to Avni and Avni’s hand starts shaking. She left the cup but Neil held it. Some tea fell on the floor.

Nm: Avni, be careful.

Neil: it’s ok, Neela maa.

Avni: I, I, I am coming.

Avni hurriedly goes from there. Neil was smiling to see her.

Bebe: what happened to her?

Shweta: don’t know.

Nm: nothing, she must have remembered something.

Neil looked in the direction where Avni goes. Neil smiled and he sipped the tea.

On the other side, Avni came to her room and she kept her hand on her heart which was beating face. Avni closed her eyes and she felt shy. Avni was blushing hard.

Later, Avni came back and silently she sat with Neela maa and Neil was looking at her and he was smiling.

Shweta: so, Neela Ji, when will we come to get our daughter?

Avni and Neil looked at Shweta who kept the cup on the table. Neela maa smiled and Neil looked at Avni who looked down.

Neil: mom?

Shweta looked at him and Neil signed what is this.

Nm: she is yours now, you can take her whenever you want.

Shweta: If it was in my hands then I would have taken her to our home a long time ago.

They smiled.

Neil: mom, right now, I don’t have any plan of marriage.

Everyone’s smile faded.

Nm: what happened, Neil? Did something happen?

Avni and Neil looked at her. Avni looked at Neil.

Neil: no, Neela maa, it is just that I am working on a big project right now so, I want to finish it first then I will think about our marriage. Ab, if we get married now and I will not be able to give Avni time then what is the use of this marriage?

Neela maa smiled. Avni was looking at him and she knew that he is making excuses because of her.

Nm: oh.

Neil: yeah.

Avni was just looking at Neil. Neil looked at Avni and he smiled but Avni didn’t smile so, Neil looked down and he again looked at Avni and smiled. Neil looked at Shweta when she talked.

Shweta: ok, then we wait till then. What can we do except it.

Everyone smiled. Avni looked at her ring and she thinks.

After some time, the Khanna family signed to each other.

Bebe: now, we should take your leave. You also need rest.

Neela maa smiled.

Nm: no, I am fine.

Bebe: yes, you are but rest is important. We will come some other day.

Everyone smiled.

Nm: ok. Avni.

Avni looked at her and Neela maa sighed her. Avni nodded. Everyone got up except Neela maa.

Shweta: Tillu, you are coming with us?

Avni looked away to hide her smile.

Neil: no, mom, you go. I am coming in my car behind you.

Shweta: ok.

The Khanna family and Avni came to the main door and they met then the Khanna family goes. Avni and Neil were standing at the door.

Neil: ab, Avni, I know, you have refused to join back our company many times but I am again asking you.

Avni looked down.

Neil: Avni, come back to our company.

Avni shook her head.

Avni: I am sorry, Sir, but, I can’t.

Neil: you have not forgiven me for that day till now.

Avni: no, sir, nothing is like that. Whatever you said that day, you have done for me more than that and for that, no matter, how many times, I thank you is less.

Neil: then?

Avni: sir, mamma has come back home from the hospital, I have to do the extra care of her and it can’t be possible with office work that’s why, I am working from home. I want to be at home as much as I can.

Neil: then why are you going to the café?

Avni: I am even thinking of leaving that job. There my work is also of an accountant. Ali sir has asked me to just come for one and two hours and check the balance and all.

Neil looked down because he knows that. He was the one who asked Ali to shift her to the counter.

Neil: ok as you wish but remember the doors of our company are always open for you.

Avni smiled.

Neil: now, I should leave. Bye.

Avni: bye.

Days passed like this and Neil was used to come to Avni’s home and sometimes he have dinner also with them on Neela maa’s saying. Neela maa was better now and Avni has arranged a nurse for Neela maa also.

One day, a car was standing in the compound. Avni came to the car and she got in it. She turned her face and she saw Neil who smiled to see her.

Neil: Hi.

Avni: Hi.

Neil smiled and his smile faded when his eyes fell on Avni’s hand and he was shocked to see it because Avni have removed the ring that Neil gave her. Neil looked at Avni who was wearing the seatbelt. Neil looked down and then he straight. Neil didn’t have the courage to ask her so he started the car and they go.

On the way, Neil was silent or I say lost in his thoughts. Avni noticed it.

Avni: where are we going?

Neil: beach.

Avni smiled.

Avni: but you said that you have some important work.

Neil remained silent. Avni felt it strange but she decided to remain silent.

Soon, they reached the beach. Avni and Neil got down from the car and they looked at the beach. Avni smiled and she looked at Neil who was looking here and there. Avni thinks. She was surprised to see Neil’s changed behaviour.

Avni and Neil were walking on the beach. Neil was lost in his thoughts and was walking on the beach with Avni. Avni looked at Neil then she thinks. Avni stopped and Neil didn’t realize when she stopped walking. Avni was looking at Neil. Neil was walking lifelessly.

Avni: Neil.

Neil came out of his thoughts and he stopped. Neil looked to his left and then to his right. He looked here and there and then he turned.  Neil saw Avni and he frowned.

Neil thinks and then he looked at her. The fear of losing Avni engulfed him and he thought that Avni called him to talk about them. Neil came back to her. Avni was looking at Neil and Neil looked down and he rolled his eyes.

 Neil said with a cracked voice: Yeah. Yeah, Av, Avni, say.

Avni was looking at Neil. Avni showed her fist. Avni opened her fist and the ring was in her hand and that’s it now Neil was 100 per cent sure that Avni is going to end their alliance. Neil looked down and he rolled his eyes here and there. Avni was looking at Neil.