Chapter 08:

It was the time of morning, the birds were hovering in the sky over the beach of the resort. Neil was sitting in the restaurant with others and they were discussing about their work with him. Neil looked up and when he saw Avni is discussing something with Karan because Karan asked her for help. Neil turned red to see them sitting together. Neil angrily looked at the file which was in DD’s hand.

Some files were kept in front of Neil on the table. Avni was standing there because one file was of her. Neil talked to Riya and gave her the file after that he looked at Avni and picked up the file while sighing. Neil got angry to see it. He was already in anger and it just increased his anger. Neil threw the file in anger on the file. Avni flinched a bit but she was confused.

Neil: what is this rubbish? It is incomplete. Of course, how will it be completed when you were busy chit-chatting with your friend?

Neil looked at Karan who looked down. Avni didn’t say anything and she picked another file and passed it to Neil.

Avni: sir, now see it. Maybe, something will also be missing in it because it is my file.

Neil was shocked. He got embarrassed and then he looked down, here and there. Neil gulped and checked the file but he was feeling really very awkward. Neil closed the file.

Neil: hmm. Good.

Neil signed the file and passed it to Avni.

Neil: send a copy to the accounts department.

Avni nodded and she turned but she stopped and Neil saw her. Avni turned to Neil.

Avni: Sir, you are our boss and you have a complete right to shout and yell at us if we do mistakes. If. We. Do. Mistakes. Then. A person should think twice before saying because the words, we say, we can never take them back so, before shouting and yelling, make sure that you are shouting at the right person.

Neil was looking at Avni and others were looking at Neil. Avni looked down.

Avni: I am sorry if I said wrong.

Avni turned and goes. Neil's eyes were on Avni.

DD: ab, sir, I think, we should continue our work in the conference room. We will be more comfortable there.

Neil: hmm.

Neil looked in the direction where Avni goes. After that, they continued the work in the conference room and Neil looked at Avni who was concentrating on her work. Neil felt bad.

Neil in mind: I should not shout at her unnecessarily. She said right, I should think before speaking but what should I do, I can’t see her with anyone else. I am getting possessive for her, what is all this happening with me?

Neil thinks.

Neil saw Avni gulp and she rubbed her throat. Neil thinks. He picked up the receiver and ordered the refreshment for everyone. Soon, it comes and Neil signed to DD who nodded and gave the juice to Sunehri and asked her to give it to Avni. Avni smiled and said thank you to Sunehri. Neil smiled to see Avni having the juice. Neil sighed.

Some days passed and they worked hard day and night and then they went to the meeting and the sponsors of their project were satisfied with them so, everything goes well. In these days, Neil realized that he is developing feelings for Avni. In the night, Neil gave the treat to all. At the party, everyone was enjoying but Avni was silent. She smiled to hear them but she got lost sometimes. Neil understood her condition.

The next day was Sunday so, no work for the employees. Everyone decided to visit the place but Avni did not go because she has to write articles. Neil also didn’t go but he sent DD with them.

In the evening, Neil was sitting in the café and was reading a newspaper. Avni came there in his search because she knew that Neil did not go. Neil saw her coming to him and he saw her now in the whole day.

Avni: sir, DD sir is calling you but you are not picking up his calls.

Neil frowned.

Neil: what?

Avni nodded. Neil picked up his phone and he saw DD’s missed calls.

Neil: sorry, my phone was on silent mode.

Neil talked to DD and cut the call. Neil sighed and he looked at Avni.

Neil: sit. I order coffee for you.

Avni: no, thank you, sir, I have some work.

Neil looked at Avni.

Avni: Bye.

Avni goes and Neil was looking at her. He thinks.

After ten to fifteen minutes, Neil looked up and he was shocked to see Avni and Karan were having coffee and smiling. Neil got jealous to see them,

Avni: ok, Karan, now, I have to go. I have an important work.

Karan: ok.

Avni smiled and she got up. Avni goes to the lift and someone entered after her. The lift was empty.  The person held Avni’s arm and pinned her to the wall by gripping her both upper arms. Avni opened her eyes and she was shocked to see Neil. Avni looked down.

Avni: sir, what are you doing?

Neil: what are you doing?

The lift opened.

Avni: what do you mean, sir? Sir, leave me, you are hurting me.

Neil: really? And what about the pain that I am going through?

Avni looked at Neil confusingly. The lift closed.

Neil: why did you sit with me?

Avni was confused and Neil was angry.

Neil: When I prohibit you then why did you go with him?

Avni: with whom?

Neil: with Karan.

Avni was shocked. Neil tightens the grip and Avni felt pain. Neil was hell angry.

Neil: I prohibited you from sitting with him then why are you sitting with him? Why don’t you listen to me?

Avni closed her eyes.

Neil shouted: answer me.

Avni: he offered me the coffee.

Neil: I also offered you that but you refused me.

Neil shouted: then why did you say yes to him?

Avni squeezed her eyes,

Avni: he insisted on me.

Neil glared at her. He thinks and then he looked at Avni.

Neil: who is Karan to you?

Avni was shocked and she looked at him.

Avni: what?

Neil: who is Karan to you? Is he your boyfriend?

Avni didn’t like that and now she was frustrated.

Avni: excuse me, sir. You have no right to interfere in my personal life.

Neil got more angry and he was shivering in anger.

Neil: answer me.

Avni got afraid to see his anger but she decided to not show it.

Avni: he is just a friend. That’s it.

Neil: really? Just a friend.

Avni: yes, a friend.

Neil was satisfied to hear that but the next thing, he heard that boils his blood.

Avni: but what if he was not my friend and was more than that then what also?

Neil glared at her.

Neil: then I also don’t know what would I do.

Avni looked at Neil with frightful eyes and Neil was looking at her with his bloodshot eyes and Avni can see his possessiveness clearly in his eyes. Neil left Avni’s arms and he trapped her in behind his arms and moved deadly close to Avni. Avni gulped to see him.

Neil: because you are only mine.

Avni was shocked to hear that. The lift opened and this time someone came there. Avneil turned their faces and saw the man who was surprised to see them. Neil looked at Avni and then he goes. Avni was looking at him. She thinks.

In the night, Avni was sitting on the bed and thinking about Neil.

Avni: Neil sir and love me?

Avni thinks.

Avni: no, no, he just said that in anger… but.

Avni thinks.

On the other side, Neil was sitting in his room on the bed.

Neil: yes, I love you, Avni. I really do. Don’t know, when I started falling in love with you but I really love you.

Neil smiled.

Neil: I know, you must be confused now but soon, I will clear everything.

Neil smiled.

The next day, they were going back. Avni was going to the gate but someone held her hand and pulled her to the side. Avni was shocked and when she saw the person. She was more shocked.

Avni: sir?

Neil was looking at her. Avni tried to free her hand. Avni was looking down.

Avni: Sir, leave my hand. I have to go to the car.

Neil looked out from the glass wall. Everyone was getting in the car. DD was looking around.

Neil: why, this DD is not getting in. He will ruin my plan.

Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: plan?

Neil was shocked and then he looked at Avni. Avni was looking at Neil who avoided her. Neil looked out and Avni also followed his gaze. Avni was shocked to see them sitting. Avni tried to free her hand.

Avni: sir, leave my hand.

Avni stopped struggling.

Avni: sir, leave my hand else I will shout.

Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: ok, shout.

Avni was surprised. She was about to say but Neil’s phone rang and he saw DD is calling someone. Neil smiled and he took out his phone.

Neil: yeah, DD.

DD: sir, where are you?

Neil: I am in my room. Do one thing, you people go, I am coming.

Avni was shocked.

DD: sir, Avni also didn’t come, once she comes then we will go.

Neil: you all go. I will take Miss Mehta with me.

Avni got another shock.

DD: Ok, sir.

Neil cut the call. He smirked and looked at Avni. Neil had a victorious smile. Avni was surprised to see him. Neil turned his face and he saw the car goes. Neil smiled and he turned to Avni.

Neil: come, sweetheart.

Avni was shocked and then Neil took her from there. On the way, Avni was silently looking out and Neil was looking at her. He smiled to see her. Soon, they reached the airport and Avni hurriedly goes to her friends. They sat in the aeroplane and luckily, Avni sat with Riya and Avni thanked God to see Riya. Neil was worried for Avni but Riya is so talkative that with her Avni did not realize when the plane took off. Neil sighed to see her normal.

Soon, they reached and they went to their home. Avni goes with Riya and Sunehri and Neil was looking at her.

It was the time of the night, Avni was sitting on the bed and was thinking about Neil’s changed behaviour.

Avni: why Neil sir is doing this? Does he really love me?

Avni bites her lower lips.

Avni: Avni, forgot about it and think from where you will arrange the money and maybe the donor.

Avni thinks and rubbed her thumb and index finger. Suddenly, her phone rang and she flinched to hear the phone call. She picked up the phone from the bed and she was shocked to see the number. Avni thinks.

On the other side, Neil was sitting in his room and smiling while thinking about Avni.

Neil in mind: Finally, finally, I am in love. That too, to that girl whom I used to hate.

Neil smiled.

The next day, Neil was running in the jogging park and there he saw a couple. Neil stopped to see them. They were walking hand in hand because they were a newly married couple. Neil smiled to see them and imagined him and Avni walking like this. Neil smiled and he blushed to think about it. Neil started running and then he saw a couple and he again stopped because the lady was pregnant, they were sitting in the park and her husband was feeding her ice cream and Neil went to his imaginary world where Neil was feeding the pregnant Avni. Neil smiled and he looked at them. Neil was about to run then he saw a couple with two babies. One baby was walking and the second was in the walker. Neil was again lost in his world where his son was walking with him and he and Avni were holding their son’s hand and his princess was in the walker. Neil was pulling the walker. Neil was smiling to imagine that and again he looked at them then Neil started running and after a few minutes, he saw an old couple sitting on the bench. Neil stopped to see them and again he imagined himself and Avni in an older look. Neil smiled to imagine that. Neil smiled.

Neil: Neil, you are gone mad.

Neil blushed and ruffled his hair. Neil starts running. Neil was smiling and Bebe was surprised to see him smiling.

Neil came to her and took out his bottle from the bag and he sat. Neil drank the water and Bebe was looking at him.

Bebe: what happened? Someone is looking very happy in the morning.

Neil looked at her and smiled by looking down.

Bebe: I am watching your changed behaviour since yesterday. What happened? Did you have found our daughter-in-law?

Neil was surprised and he looked at Bebe.

Neil: something is like that.

Neil smiled and Bebe was surprised.

Bebe: really, who is the girl? Tell me? Do I know her?

Neil: yes. But, I will tell you after telling her.

Bebe: you didn’t tell her yet?

Neil: no, I gave her a hint but I didn’t propose to her.

Bebe: tell me, Neil. I will not tell anyone.

Neil: what’s the hurry, Bebe, soon, I will make you meet her.

Bebe made a face. Neil smiled.

Neil: ok, now, let’s go home.

Bebe: Neil…

Neil got up and he took his bag. Neil goes.

Bebe: Neil… this boy. Pura apni maa per gaya hai.

Bebe got up and goes. Neil was walking slowly for her. Once, Bebe reached to him, Neil smiled to see her angry face then they go.

Neil entered his office and he was in a good mood. The staff greeted him and he gladly replied to them. They were surprised to see him like that.

Neil saw Avni who got up and greeted him. Neil nodded and replied to her.

Neil: Good morning, Miss Mehta, please sit.

Avni nodded and she sit. Neil smiled and he go.

Later, Avni was working and she got a call on the landline. She picked up the call.

Neil: come to my cabin.

Avni gulped.

Avni: yes, sir.

Avni kept the receiver and was tense.

Avni was standing outside the cabin. She closed her eyes.

Avni: God, please help me.

Avni opened her eyes and then she took a deep breath. Avni knocked on the door. She got permission to come in. Avni came inside.

Avni: sir, you called me.

Neil: yes, sit.

Avni nodded and she sat. Neil passed a file to her.

Neil: it is AA company’s file. See, all the papers and vouchers are there?

Avni nodded. She got up.

Neil: check it, here.

Avni looked at him. She sat back. Avni was doing her work and Neil was adoring her by resting his head on the seat. Avni felt his gaze and felt awkward but she tried to concentrate on her work. Neil sat and Avni stopped her work. She was holding the page. Neil picked up the receiver of the phone.

Neil: hello, two cups of coffee.

Avni was hearing him. Neil kept back the phone and started his work and Avni resumed her work. Avni closed the file. She passed it to Neil.

Avni: sir, each paper is attached in it.

Neil took the file and Avni was about to get up but Neil passed another file. Avni looked at him. She made a face and Neil raised his shoulders and make an innocent face by curving his lips downwards. Avni took the file and she started her work. The coffee came but Avni didn’t take her cup. Neil took the file from her and signed her to have coffee. Avni made a face by looking at the table and she took her cup. Neil smiled to see her. They have the coffee and Neil was adoring Avni while sipping the coffee. Like this, Neil teased Avni but he also concentrate on his work. Neil daily called Avni to his cabin and teased her but never crossed his limits.

One day, Neil was sitting in his cabin and he was working on his laptop. The door knocked.

Neil: come in.

DD came inside and Neil looked at him. Neil frowned because DD was looking serious. Neil saw an envelope in DD’s hand then Neil looked at him.

Neil: what happened?

DD: sir, we got to know about the person who is leaking the information of our company.

Neil was shocked and he got up. Neil got angry.

Neil: who is that person?

DD looked down and he passed the envelope to him. Neil frowned but he took the envelope in anger. Neil opened it and took out the pictures from it. Neil saw the pictures and he was shocked to see them. He felt like someone pulled the floor form under in feet. He felt the earth was shaking. Neil looked at DD and then he looked at the pictures. Neil got angry. He threw the picture on the table in anger.

Neil: Miss Avni Mehta.

Neil clenched his fist and was shaking because of anger. The pictures of Avni and a man were kept on the table and they were sitting in the café. Neil was in hell anger.