Chapter 165:

It was the daytime. The sun was shining over the Khanna mansion which was decorated for Neav's naming ceremony. Shweta and Bebe were preparing for the naming ceremony and Prakash was also with them. Neil was passing by the corridor and he heard Neav's crying. Avni was trying to calm Neav but he was crying badly.

Avni: calm down, bacha.

Avni felt helpless. Avni looked at Neav. Neil entered the room and he saw Avni looking at Neav sadly. Neil came to them.

Neil: what happened, Avni? Why is he crying?

Avni turned her face to hide her tears.

Neil: give him to me.

Neil took Neav from Avni.  Avni sobs. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: now what happened to you?

Avni wiped her tears and shook her head.

Neil: What is this, Avni? Children cry like this.

No reply. Avni goes to the bed by wiping her tears and sits. Neil looked at Neav.

Neil: what did you do, Tiger? You made mamma cry.

Avni looked at them and her eyes were teary.

Avni: don't scold my Neav.

Neil looked at Avni and smiled. Avni looked away. Neav stopped crying. Neil came to the bed and sits while sighing. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Avniiii. Children do this.

Avni looked away and her eyes were teary. Neil smiled to see her.

Neil: you know, there is no difference between you and Neav.

Avni looked at Neil cutely. Avni's eyes and nose were red because of crying.

Neil: really. You are also looking like a baby right now. You are crying like a baby. You don't believe me. OK then ask Neav.

Neil looked at Neav.

Neil: What say, Neav? Mamma also cries like babies. Right?

Neav was lost in his world. Avni made a sad face. Neil chuckled to see her.

Avni: I am serious, Neil.

Avni sobs. Neil was smiling. Neil pinched her nose.

Neil: aww, my cute wifey. Children do this. They can not tell what they want so they cry. A mother understands what her child wants.

Avni: but I am not able to understand what my Neav want. I am a bad mother.

Neil: Are you mad, Avni? You understand Neav more than us.

Avni looked away.

Neil: you are unnecessarily taking tension.

Neav vomits and Avneil looked at him. Neil makes Neav's head up so that he can vomit. Avni grabbed the hanky and she wiped Neav's face with it. Avni was upset. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Everything is fine. These all things are normal.

Avni looked at Neil.

Neil: It is not the first time, Neav vomits. Children usually vomit when they have milk. If you have rubbed his back then maybe he might not have vomited.

Avni: this is what I am trying to say that I am not able to take care of Neav. I forgot to rub his back

Neil made a face.

Neil: Avni, if Neav vomits then it doesn't prove that you are a bad mother. It happens. You say, didn't you make day and night one for Neav? Literally, you are putting your double efforts than a normal mother. Avni, we are not like those normal parents who have more than one baby. We have only one baby and we both are well aware of the fact that how much we craved for a baby. You also decided to leave me, so that I get an heir.

Avni looked down.

Neil: Four years, four years, Avni, we cried four years for a baby then we got Neav and he is also a premature baby. Did you have forgotten how we have passed those Seven months? Every day was a new challenge. We were afraid that what if we lose our...

Neil stopped. Avni looked at Neil.

Neil: even after these all things you think that you are careless regarding Neav then I am sorry, Avni, but you are overreacting.

Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil: yes, Avni, you are overreacting. OK, I agreed that you are not able to feed Neav properly, he is starving but tell me what is your fault in it. It is happening because Neav was in an incubator for almost one month then it is natural that you will not be able to feed him enough milk. Why you are not understanding this small thing?

Avni looked down. Neil was looking at Avni and he sighed to calm himself.

Neil: Avni, you are not a bad mother. You are feeling that because you are worried for Neav. You got Neav after craving for him for years that's why you are reacting on small things also. Neav is fine, everything is fine. It is your thinking only and it is normal because no mother can bear a scratch on her baby, it is natural so relax. Stop blaming yourself for everything, especially for Neav's matter.

Avni looked at Neil. She sighs.

Avni: Don't know what happened to me. When it comes to my loved ones then don't know why I blame myself for that.

Neil smiled. Avni was looking at the floor. She recalled something.

Avni: Maybe, it happens because I have spent a long period of time with the blame of Riya's death on my head.

Neil was looking at Avni. Neil's smile faded. Neil looked down.

Avni: somewhere in my heart, I regret that I couldn't be able to save Riya.

Neil looked at Avni

Avni: somewhere, I feel that I am responsible for Riya's death. Sometimes, I think that if I told about Aman to papa on time instead of taking that matter into my hands then maybe my Riya was alive. She would have been with us.

Avni's eyes were moist.

Neil: you are not responsible for her death. You very well know what was the circumstances that time because of that you hid the truth and you didn't take Riya with you. She came behind you and you, yourself said that it was an accident.

Avni nods but was not looking at Neil.

Avni: that's truth but what do I do? I am like this. Whatever happens, I consider myself responsible for that. Years have passed to that accident and years have passed since everything has become fine now everything is fine but this guilt is there as it was. It has become part of my personality. No matter what happens, others and also I make myself responsible for that.

Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: what do I do?

Neil: I understand that. Don't think too much. Like we have passed many hard times, we will handle it too.

Avni smiled. She looked at Neav and she sighed. Avni wiped her eyes.

Avni: give him to me, I change his clothes.

Neil nodded and gave Neav to Avni. Avni got up and sat at some distance so that she can change Neav's clothes. Neil was looking at Neav and Avni. Avni was talking with Neav while changing his clothes and Neil smiled to see them.

It was the time of the day, and the Khanna and Mehta family was present in the living area of the Khanna mansion which was decorated beautifully.

Neav was in the cradle and Avneil were standing near him.

Avni was wearing this dress and Neil was in Sherwani.

Sonia and Arnav were playing with Neav and Arav came there.

Arav: Mamma, Neav is so cute. I just want to see him.

Avneil and others smiled. Avneil looked at each other.

Arav: can I take him?

Sonia: no, Arav, Neav is a small baby when he will grow up then you can play with him.

Arav: when will he grow up?

Avneil smiled.

Arnav: Arav, Neav is a small baby now. It will take time to grow.

Arav gets sad.

Avni: aww, my baby.

Avni hugs him from the side.

Avni: you can still play with him but he is choto baby na so he cannot play with you.

Arav: Is that so?

Avni: yes, see mamma, papa was also talking with Avni but did he answer them?

Arav shook his head.

Avni: no, right? Because Neav is a small baby. So, he cannot understand what we are saying, he will just look at us.

Neil smiled.

Avni: you know, when you were of Neav’s age, you were also not able to talk, walk and play.

Arav: really?

Avni: yes and now see you are a big boy. Neav will also grow up one day just like you.

Arav: then we will play.

Avni: exactly.

Arav: yes.

Everyone smiled.

Arav: can I talk to him?

Avni nods. Arav moves to Neav.

Arav: Hi, Neav, I am Arav Mehta, your big brother.

Avneil and others smiled. They were enjoying themselves together. Avni excused herself and she goes to Shweta. Neil also goes behind her. Suddenly, Neav starts crying.

Sonia: aww, aww, relax baby. Mamma is coming.

Sonia picked Neav in her arms and tries to console him. Aman was going by carrying a bucket but he stopped to hear Neav's crying. He called a staff member and gave a bucket to him and then Aman came to Sonia.

Aman: what happened, Bhabhi, why is Neav crying like this?

Sonia: maybe, he is hungry.

Aman: then where is Di? How can she leave Neav like this?

Arnav: Relax, Aman, Avni went to Shweta aunt, she had some work.

Aman: Bhabhi, give him to me.

Sonia nodded and she gave Neav to Aman.

Aman: haye, baby, relax, calm down. See, you are in Mamu’s arms.

Neav stopped crying and he looked at Aman. Everyone smiled.

Sonia: see, how he stopped crying in his Mamu’s arms. I think, he likes his mamu’s company.

Aman smiled and Kareena was looking at them from a distance. She smiled to see Aman happy but then she got sad at seeing Neav because she realized that she cannot give an heir to Aman in fact she snatched his child from him.

Aman: he is Mamu’s buddy so he will stop crying in his arms. Right, Neav?

Everyone smiled. Arnav sighs to see Aman smiling. He was happy to see Aman like this. Avneil came and smiled to see them. They were standing at some distance.

Sonia: now, give him to me. I also have the right to carry Neav after all, I am his Mami.

Aman: of course.

Aman gave Neav to Sonia. Avneil smiled. Avni turned her face, she was smiling and she saw Kareena. Avni felt bad. Avni looked at Aman.

Avni: Neav’s younger Mami also have the right to carry Neav in her arms.

Aman, Neil and others looked at Avni and then they looked at Kareena who was looking at Avni.

Avni: In fact, she has a double relationship with Neav, she is Neav’s Bua too.

Neil lowered his gaze. Kareena looked at Aman and then she looked down. Aman looked away. Avni came to Sonia and took Neav from her. Avni nodded and Sonia smiled. She also nods. Avni smiled that Sonia understands her. Avni looked at Arnav who was smiling and then Avni turned and she goes to Kareena. Avni signed Kareena to pick Neav. Neil and others were looking at Avni but they were facing her back or side.  Avni passed Neav to Kareena.

Kareena: I am sorry, Bhabhi but I don’t deserve it.

Avni looked at Kareena and took her arms back. Avni thinks and Avni turned. Avni and Neil looked at each other. Neil looked down. Avneil thinks.