It was already night and Neivi was tired and sad. Prakash offered her to go home with the little girl and take rest because Avni’s comfort matters the most to her. Dd and Mitali had already dropped Bebe and Shweta at Khanna mansion after a lot of persuasion.

“Papaji par aap yaha akele kaise.. manage?” Avni reasoned, cooing an almost sleeping Neivi in her arms. “Dd will be back just in a moment. You go and take rest. Neivi also needs it.” Prakash said with a small smile as if ensuring her. Avni looked hesitant but nodded anyways.

It was almost ten by the time when they reached Sukoon Ghar and Neivi was asleep by then. Avni walked inside with Neivi after opening the door. Sunehri and the kids moved to Bandra. Avni was supposed to move too the next week, she will leave as soon as Neil is perfectly okay and fine.

She tucked Neivi on the bed, kissed her forehead and went to the washroom to take a refreshing bath. While the cold water ran through her body, hot tears also left her eyes.

She knew that he still matters to her the most. He always mattered.

Please god, please don't take him. He deserves to live his life with Neivi. He deserves all the happiness. Please.. please don't seperate Neil and Neivi the way you seperated me from my Dad, the way you seperated me and Neil. Please..

She changed into new sets of clothes and got into bed with Neivi.

××××××××××××××××××××××××

It had been three days and Neil wasn't giving any response to the treatment which was worrying the doctor's. He was on life support system and there wasn't any help from his own side to help the doctor's. They were loosing their hopes.

“Please sit Mr. Khanna,” The doctor beckoned to Prakash, “Please.” He then told Avni too, politely. They both sat down on their respective seats.

“Things are not going the way we wanted it to. And there are no signs from him that could possibly be marked as his fight to come back.” The doctor began, his tone apologetically soft and guilty. Avni closed her eyes, Prakash could feel his heart beating at a faster pace than the usual.

“The only reason why he is breathing is because of the life supporting system. Frankly, I don't even know if he could call it being alive. That is why, we called you both. None of us know the pain or his mental state right now. The only help we can do for him right now, is to remove the ventilator.” As the doctor again paused, Avni felt her throat tighten and her breathing becoming shallow. Prakash closed his eyes, a few tears leaving his eyes.

“The ones who have the right to take such a decision is his parents and you. His wife, Mrs. Khanna.” Avni gulped down a sob hearing that again.

“Humara divorce finalise ho gaya.”

The doctor was the same one who performed the surgery on Neil when he was injured during the bomb blast. The woman infront of the doctor was Neil’s wife for now. He knows nothing else.

“We are not telling you to do it right now or sooner. Take your time, and we hope you make a right decision. It is better to let him go than let him live with the help of something else.” The doctor concluded and hung his head low. Avni got up and moved out of the cabin, she could feel a lurch beginning in her stomach, a nasty pain crawling through her heart, a wincing on her bullet wound.

As she moved she stopped near the ICU. He was laying there. A many equipments attached to his body. His head covered in heavy thick bandages. His chest heaving up and down as if a robot’s movements would do. She kept her hand on the glass panes.

“Please dont punish me more. Please come back. ”

She would give her life instead of his. She was sure if anything happens to him, she would become someone unrecognisable. She couldn't bare to see the death of another important person in her life.

“You have punished me enough for what I've done. Do you hate me that much that you are going away from me so you could make me feel the pain I gave you? Please don't do that. I won't be able to handle Neil..”

She ran from there, cupping her mouth to calm her heart wrenching sobs that could echo through the white walls of the hospital. A secluded corner caught her eye and she moved, holding somewhere for her support as she felt like collapsing.

“Avni Beta..” A hand on her shoulder bought her back. She turned to see her Papaji there, crying as well. He engulfed his daughter in a warm hug. They both didn't speak for a while. The pain was not making them from words.

“We have to make a decision Avni. It's -- it's wise to let him go--” prakash choked on his own tears. “What will we tell the others? What about Neivi? We promised her right, tha-that we will bring her Dada back home.. how will I...” Avni was crying, she had no idea about the words she was spilling out.

“Some promises are not meant to be fulfilled Avni.” Prakash’s tone was calm, as if he had already accepted the fate. Avni closed her eyes, nodding. The drive to Khanna house was very silent. Avni didn't refuse or hesitated to go there. She just wanted to be in that room, feel his fragrance and sleep there.

“Go to Neivi okay? I will handle them.” Prakash told her as they both stepped inside. “Is- Is Tillu okay??” Shweta’s broke voice hit her and she closed her eyes before she stormed to his room, a room that was theirs. Once.

As she stood outside the doorstep she looked around.

Nikal Jaa! Nikal Jaa meri zindagi se!

She closed her eyes to exclude those thoughts.

Neivi was sitting on the bed drawing. Avni heaved a long breath, sighed, and wiped her tear strains away and put on a fake smile. “What are you drawing baby?” Avni asked as she sat beside Neivi and peeked.

“My happy family!” She squealed in excitement and showed her picture to her mother. It had a picture of a small girl holding both her parents' hands. “Tis is Mommy, Tis is Dada and tis is Neivi!” She exclaimed enthusiastically. “Dada bowt( ‘bought’ ) me tis clayons (‘crayons’).  Me will (‘I will’) show tis to Dada tomorrow. I pwomised (‘promised’) him I show him my piture (‘Picture,’).” Neivi was so enticingly excited to meet her Dada unknown to the fact that her Dada would not come back.

Avni's eyes welled up, she was controlling herself to not spill a tear. “Dada.. Dada will like it bacha.” Avni said, her voice trembling. “Bohot raat ho gaya he bacha, ab so jao.” Avni said and tucked her in, slowly caressing her head. After Avni was sure she had slept, she got up from the bed and walked towards his wardrobe. She opened it and caressed her hands through his shirts. His police uniform tugged her heart. Thinking that her side of the wardrobe would be empty, she opened it, only to shed a few more tears as she saw her sarees there, folded perfectly, not even a pinch of dust on them. She had not taken anything from the house when she left four years back.

She walked around, whimpering, the painful yank of her heart becoming unbearable. Finding her Sindoor, bangles, rings and love shaped pendant was the edge for she cried loudly yet softly. She walked towards the idol of Krishna kept at the corner. Folding her hands, she closed her eyes and cried.

“I know I have always been a bad luck in his life. Whenever I was with him, he always landed in one trouble or the other. I know my presence in his life is risky. I'll.. I'll go away from his life, I promise, but please don't take him...please give him back... I will.. I will not be a threat in his life anymore.... Please..” She sobbed and fell on her knees, her body shaking, her hands involuntarily crawled to her left side of her chest, the pain there becoming unbearable.

She knows it is wise to let him go because that would be the biggest help for him right now, freeing him from the pain he might be feeling. But he will go once it's over, what about her? Would she be able to live with the guilt? What will she tell her daughter?

A lot of questions were once again clouding her mind, once again killing her slowly..

××××××××××××

Avni didn't want the next morning to come. However, the sun rose up and Avni got up, her eyes puffy due to the crying and her heart broken. She opened the cupboard and took a saree from inside. He had always loved her in sarees. She’s going to wear it while she is going to meet him, perhaps, for one last time. As she draped it over herself, she felt an unknown, scary feeling interrupt her. She smiled softly remembering how he used to tease her, tickling her or playfully touching her bare skin just so he could see those reddish hue painting themselves on her apple cheeks.

“Mommy loos (‘looks’) pwettyy...(‘pretty’)” Neivi exclaimed, adorning her mother with her pretty doe eyes. Avni smiled at her. “What does my baby want to wear?” Avni asked as she picked up Neivi and showed her wardrobe. Neivi, without any doubt, touched a pretty baby pink dress with flowers on. “Dada bowt it last day.” She said as Avni made her wear it.

“Neivi..” Avni called her softly after she was done with her hair. “Bacha kal se.. kal se hum Dada ke bina rahana padta he.” Avni said, eagerly waiting for her. Neavi’s eyes turned moist and she immediately hugged her mother tightly, they both sobbed in their embrace.

Even God can turn blind eyed.

×××××××××××××××××××××××××××

(Italics for Neil’s POV)

Avni parked the car infront of a temple. She watched as Neavi was so engrossed in completing her drawing. “I'll be back, okay?” Avni said as she caressed Neivi’s cheeks. Neavi nodded, without taking her eyes off from her picture.

She walked inside, sat on her knees, and placed her hand on the blazing flames.

‘‘Praying is her only hope, Neil. Her atonement for the wrongs done to you knowingly or unknowingly. Her last hope after realising how much you meant to her, how much she loved you. She always loved you a lot Neil. More than anything, and anyone, in this world.” Peter says it calmly. I see her sitting on her knees, her hands on top of the fire spitting from the candles kept there.

I walks over, my eyes welling up, my heart feels heavy. Nobody ever loved me in a way she did, nobody loves me in a way she does. I was a fool to never realise that. I sit infront of her. Her face tear strained, muddy, red, eyes closed.

I forward my hand and places it below hers so the fire wouldn't burn her soft skin. I see her opening her eyes as she felt the fire go down. She looks at the idol of God, teary eyes, a shimmering hope in her eyes.

I see her walking out, finding myself following her.

“Neil.” My steps hault as I hear Peter. “There a lot of mistakes that could've been corrected if you would have looked back. But.. unfortunately your Auditing ends here.”

×××××××××××××××××××××××××

Avni could feel a dull feeling engulf her as she stepped inside the hospital. Each step she took towards the ICU, each memory engulfed her. Moments that she spent with him, that were those times when she felt like she was actually living. Without him she was just surviving.

As she opened the door to the NICU, she felt Neavi hold onto her more tightly. They both walked inside. Neavi looked thoroughly confused and scared seeing her Dada attached with machines and tubes. She looked at her mother who nodded at her. With small baby steps, she walked towards her Dada. Her eyes welling up. She knew her Papa wouldn't come back.

Her soft, small hand held her Dada’s fingers as she whimpered, “Da..Dada..” She bent down and kissed his hand. And then, with shivering hands placed her drawing in his hands.

I can.... I can feel something. A soft.. soft caress, a soft kiss. Suddenly a picture appeared. A drawing of a happy family. Neavi...

Neavi turned and hugged her mother tightly. Avni caressed his face, slowly, her tear drops falling on his face. She softly kissed his forehead, “I’m.. I'm sorry Neil...” She sobbed and held her daughter's hand, walking out of the room, both of them crying.

Avni.. I can feel her soft lips, I can feel her tears. I stop on my tracks and suddenly, suddenly all I see is the beautiful moments of my life painted in this white canvas around me.

A painting of our first meet. From the cliff.

Realising that I love her.

The hugs, the cuddles, the kisses, the cries.

I fall on my knees and sobs my heart out, I cannot bear it anymore. Peter stops also and turns around. “Peter....Can I .... can I go back?”

×××××××××××××××××××××

That was a filler chapter! And dw, its not the end... Like the beginning of a beautiful journey! Stay tuned. Also it would be a great help if you could share this story with your followers!

And do you guys also experience the changes in offline reading settings? Because now I can only add two books in the offline settings. Till yesterday night it was of 25 stories, but now it changed! Please lemme know if it's just for me or for is it for every users

Thank you for reading!🥰