Chapter 144:

It was the time of the night, an ambulance stopped outside the hospital. Inside the hospital, Neil was sitting on the bench by holding the bench. Everyone was worried. Neil sighed and looked up at his family. Neil looked down and got up.

Neil: I am going to Avni. You all go home, I will bring Avni.

They nod.

Aman: I will stay here with Jiju.

Neil: Aman, no need of it. You can go.

Ashish: Aman is saying right, Neil, someone should be with you.

Neil nods. Prakash came to him and kept his hand on Neil’s shoulder.

Prakash: take care of yourself and Avni.

Neil nods. They go. Neil signed Aman that he is going to Avni. Aman nods.

Neil looked at the door and thinks.

On the other side, Avni was laying on the bed which was kept in the corner. She touched her belly.

Avni: don’t worry, baby, you are fine now. You heard, right? what did doctor aunty say? She said you are absolutely fine.

She smiled but deep inside her heart she was worried. She thinks.

Avni: where is Neil? Why did he not come here till now?

Avni thinks. The door opened and Avni looked at the door. Neil entered the room and looked up. Avni smiled to see him and her eyes were teary. Neil closed the door and turned to her. Neil smiled. Neil was going to her.

Avni: Neil.

Avni forwards her hand. Neil came to her and holds her hand. Neil stands near her. Neil caressed Avni’s hair with his second hand. Neil kissed her forehead. Avni closed her eyes. They looked at each other.

Avni: Neil, our baby?

Neil looked at her then he smiled fakely which disturbed Avni, she knows Neil better than any other person.

Neil: our baby is absolutely fine.

Avni looked at him suspiciously.

Avni: then why you are worried?

Neil was shocked.

Neil: n, no.

Neil closed his eyes.

Neil: Actually, I was so worried for you and baby so maybe that’s, that’s why you are feeling it.

Avni: yo, you are saying the truth, right?

Neil was keeping his hand on her head.

Neil: yes. Don’t you trust me?

Avni: I trust you blindly but I also know that when it comes to me and our baby then you can lie to me also.

Neil was stunned to hear it.

Neil: nothing is like that. Everything happened in a bit of a moment that I could not understand anything and on top of that the fear of losing you both. I, I am still in shock.

Avni was looking at him, she was not satisfied. Neil cupped her face with one hand.

Neil: trust me, Avni, our baby is absolutely fine. If you and the baby were not fine then would the doctor have given you discharge, hmm?

Avni: means?

Neil nods.

Neil: yes, you got discharged.

Avni smiled and she kept her hand on Neil’s hand then she nods but she was not satisfied.

Neil: now come on, get up. We have to go.

Avni nods. Avni was getting up. Neil helped her.

Neil: slowly, slowly.

Avni suppressed her lips and she sat. Neil helped her to get up.

Soon, they reached home, and Neil was holding Avni’s hand. Avni was not able to walk because she had pain in her back, she got saved but got a sprain in her back. Everyone was standing there except Maddy, she went home. Neil looked around. Avni smiled to see her both families.

Shweta: Avni.

Shweta cupped Avni's face and smiled with teary eyes.

Shweta: how are you?

Avni: fine and the baby is also fine.

Neil looked at her. Shweta's smile faded. Everyone was confused. Shweta looked at Neil who shook his head. Shweta smiled fakely.

Shweta: that's good.

Neil: mom, Maddy Bua?

Bebe: She was not feeling well so She went to her home.

Neil thinks.

Shweta: don't know what is her problem. Bebe asked her to stay here but she was adamant that she wants to go.

Neil: Mom, first let me make her sit.

Shweta nods.

Shweta: yeah, make her sit here.

Neil nods. Neil was taking Avni to the couch.

Neil: mom, water.

Shweta nodded and Bheema came there. Neil makes Avni sit and then he sat beside her. Neil took the glass and made Avni drink water. Avni smiled to see him.

Ashish: we should leave now.

Bebe: stay here today. It is too late.

Nm: No, we have to go.

Bebe: I am elder so you have to obey me. It is my order, stay here tonight.

They smiled. But everyone was worried from inside.

Neela maa came to Avni and sat on the other side. She caressed Avni's hair. Avni smiled.

Bebe: Neil, take her to the room.

Shweta: but stairs?

Bebe: yeah.

Neil: it is good that she stays upstairs at least she will not get the chance to roam around if she stayed downstairs then she will not sit quietly.

Avni makes a sad pout. Other smiled.

Bebe: you said it right.

Neil smiled.

Bebe: take her to the room. She needs rest.

Neil nods. He got up and picked up Avni in a bridal style. Avni looked at the family and felt shy. Neil looked at her and smiled then he thinks.

Neil in mind: Don't know what will happen when you will get to know the truth.

Neil looked at Avni.

Neil entered the room by carrying Avni. He made her sit and then lays her there in a fowler position by adjusting the pillows at her back.

Neil: you sit here. I am just coming.

Avni nods. Neil goes.

Neil came to the living area. Shweta came to him and holds his arm.

Shweta: Tillu?

Neil: mom, Avni don't know the truth so please everyone acts normal in front of her.

Shweta: but till when we will hide the truth?

Neil: it is just a matter of 24 hours please till then control your emotions.

Nm: Neil, ab, you are right at your place but I think, you should tell her the truth. She will get alert and will become more careful.

Shweta nods.

Neil: Neela maaa, she is already afraid of losing the child. If she got to know then...

Neil stopped.

Nm: I know, Neil, but my daughter is very strong. She can handle herself.

Neil thinks.

Shweta: I think, Neela Ji is right. If Avni would be aware of her condition then she would pay more attention, and she will be extra careful.

Neil thinks.

Nm: my daughter is very strong. You should tell her the truth.

Neil looked at her. Neil thinks.

Neil came into the room. Neil was looking down. Avni looked at him. Neil sat on the bed near her. Avni keenly looked at him. She holds Neil's arm.

Avni: Neil.

Neil did not look at her. Avni cupped Neil's face who was looking down.

Avni: Neil, look at me.

Neil looked at her and his eyes were teary. Avni was shocked.

Avni: what happened, Neil? I know something has happened and you are hiding it from me.

Neil was looking at her.

Avni: I know you more than you. Tell me, what happened? Our baby is fine, right?

Neil couldn't hold him more. Neil hugged Avni and cried. Avni was shocked. She hugged him back.

Neil: Avni, our baby. Avni, our baby is in danger.

Avni was shocked. She felt that the earth is shaking.

Neil: the doctor said that the next 24 hours are critical, anything can happen.

Avni was shocked. Neil cried. Avni blinked her eyes. She rubbed Neil's back to console him.

Avni: Ne, Neil.

Avni holds Neil's shoulders to take him away.

Avni: Neil.

Neil moved away. Avni cupped his face, Neil was crying by looking down.

Avni: nothing will happen to our baby. It will come to us.

Neil looked at her.

Avni: you always say that it is your belief that our baby will come into this world. Today, I am saying to you that it is my belief that our baby will come to us. We will carry our baby in our arms.

Avni looked at her hands.

Avni: in these hands.

Neil was looking at her. Avni cupped his face.

Avni: it is my belief. A mother's belief and a mother's belief can never lose. Our baby will safely come to us. Mark my words.

Neil smiled while crying.

Avni: it is our baby and it is very strong just like us. Our baby is strong. It is brave. As its parents cry, break but in the end, they win, it will also come to us. Our belief will win. We will win.

Neil nods.

Neil: we will win.

Avni nods and was smiling but her eyes were teary.

Avni: yes, we will win, our belief will win.

Neil hugs her.

Neil: yes, our belief will win.

They closed their eyes. Tears fall from Avni's eyes. Avni wipes her tears.

They broke the hug and Avni cups Neil's face and wipes his tears.

Avni: now no more tears. You look like a monkey when you cry.

Neil looked at her then they laughed. Neil wipes his tears. Avni too wipes her tears. They looked at each other and laughed.

Shweta and Neela maa were standing outside the room. They smiled and looked at each other then they go from there.

Later, Avni was laying on the bed in fowler's position. She kept her hands on her belly.

Avni: please baby, be strong. Please, don't let your mamma's belief break. You have to come to mamma. Please, be strong.

Neil came into the room.

Neil: Avni, sleep now.

Avni nods. Neil helped her to lay and he covers her with the duvet. Neil kissed her forehead. Neil goes to his side and rests his head on the hardboard of the bed. Neil caressed Avni's head. Avni smiled to see him.

Neil: good night.

Avni: good night.

They smiled then Avni lays her head on his lap to make him feel good. Neil smiled, Avni looked up at Neil then she adjusted her head and closed her eyes. Neil thinks.

The next morning, the sun was showering on the bungalow.

Neil entered while shouting: Maddy Bua, Maddy Bua.

Neil was hell angry.

Neil roared: Maddy Bua.

Neil looked around.

Maddy came to the living area and was confused. Neil glared at her.

Maddy: Neil.

Neil was angrily looking at her. Maddy was confusingly looking at him.