Chapter 109:

At the time of the day, people were coming and going to the hospital. Some got the good news, some got the bad news, some were happy, some were in deep grief, and one of them was Avneil who was going through a tough time in their lives.

In one of the rooms, Avni was admitted and Neil was standing beside Avni. Neil caressed her hair and kissed her forehead.

Neil: how are you, Avni?

No response.

Neil: Avni?

No response. Neil was looking at her. He wondered why she is not saying anything. Neil carefully sat beside her and holds her hand in his hands.

Neil: Avni?

Avni looked at him.

Avni: when will I get discharged?

Neil was looking at her. He looked down.

Neil: Avni, our, our baby, our baby...

Avni: I know, it's gone.

Neil looked at her shockingly.

Neil: You know?

Avni: I am not a fool, I understand everything and am well aware of my present condition.

Neil was looking at her. Neil could not hold himself anymore. He was already devastated and Avni's this strange behaviour is crushing his heart. Neil hugs her and cries. Neil hides his face in her neck and cries. He wanted her support and also wanted to break her because he knew if she will not cry and hold that storm in her heart then this grief will kill her. Avni holds his back and ruffles his hair with a second hand.

Neil: our baby, Avni.

Avni's face was emotionless. She was consoling Neil by ruffling his hair. Neil sobs, he looked up at Avni after some time Avni wipes his tears.

Avni: don't cry, wherever our baby is, it will surely not like it.

Neil was looking at Avni astonishingly and sat.

Avni: I want to go home.

Neil remains silent. He wipes his tears and face.

Avni: I don't want to live here.

Neil sighs.

Neil: Avni, you can't go home now, you should stay here for at least two days. You should be under observation.

Avni: I am fine.

Neil: Avni, try to understand. You are weak now.

Avni: If I stay here for some more time then I will get mad. The veins of my brain will blast. Please take me from here.

Neil: ok fine, we will go today but you have to stay here at least till evening.

Avni nodded and closed her eyes. Neil was looking at her emotionally.

Neil came out and was lost. The family saw him and came to him.

Shweta: how is Avni?

Neil looked at her.

Shweta: Tillu, I am asking you something.

Prakash: Shweta.

Shweta looked at him. Prakash sighed her to relax.

Prakash: Neil, what happened?

Neil: Mom, I lost my Avni.

They were confused. Neil goes to the bench and sat, he was crying. Neil looked at them.

Neil: I did not only lose my child, I also lose my child. Avni is in trauma, she is acting like nothing has happened.

The family got emotional.

Neil: Today, I am seeing the same Avni whom I met four years ago who was used to hiding her pain. Mom, she, she did not even shed a single tear. She has become a statue, a stone. I lost my Avni.

Neil looked down and cries by saying: I lost my Avni.

Shweta came to him and sat. She kept the hand on Neil's shoulder and Neil looked at her. Shweta hugged him and they cried.

Neil: my Avni.

Shweta caressed his hair.

Shweta: everything will be fine.

She breaks the hug and cups his face.

Shweta: her wounds are fresh. It will heal with time. Remember time is the best healer.

Neil looked at her emotionally.

Shweta: hmm.

Neil nods.

Neela maa, Ashish, Aman and Arnav reached there. Neil looked at them and wipes his tears. They got up.

Ashish: how is Avni?

Shweta: she is inside, we also did not meet her till now.

Neela maa looked at Neil with teary eyes and comes to him. She cups his face with one hand. Neil's eyes filled with tears. Neela maa had no words to say. Ashish comes and hugs Neil.

Ashish: don't worry, everything will be fine.

Arnav comes and Ashish breaks the hug. Arnav pats Neil's shoulder.

Arnav: I know, my words will not make any difference but still I want to say, be strong, this time will pass too and happy days will come soon.

Neil smiled slightly. Arnav hugs him. The doctor comes. They talked and she goes inside. Neil turns to the family.

Neil: Avni wants to go home.

Nm: but now...

Neil: she is not listening to me.

They looked at him.

On the other side, the doctor checked Avni who was silent. The doctor wrote something on the papers and talked to the nurse and then she goes. The doctor comes out.

Neil: is she fine?

Doctor: she is fine but is weak.

Neil talked to her.

Doctor: ok then take her home maybe she will feel better but make sure that no one talks to her about the baby and anything related to the baby will not come in front of her eyes her mental state is not good.

Neil: Sure.

The doctor nods and goes. The family goes to meet Avni. Neela maa sat beside her and caressed her hair.

Nm: how are you?

Avni: Alive in front of you. What will happen to me?

All got shocked.

Shweta: why are you saying this, bacha? Everything will be fine.

Avni smiled and closed her eyes. All were looking at her. Ashish came to her and caressed her hair.

Ashish: princess?

Avni looked at him.

Avni: hence, once again it proved that I am a jinx.

All were shocked.

Avni: first my parents then Riya and now my own baby. I am a jinx.

Nm: Avni.

Avni looked at her.

Avni: I am sleepy please you all go, I need rest.

They looked at Avni who closed her eyes. All looked at each other and Neil was looking at Avni. He thinks.

At the time of the evening, a car stopped outside the Khanna mansion. Neil took Avni to their room because the room where they were living have many memories and things of the baby. Neil makes Avni lay by setting the pillow on her back.

Neil: do you need something?

Avni shook her head. Neil nods, he looked down and rubs his fingers. He looked at Avni.

At the time of the night, Neil was coming to the room carrying a tray of the bowl of soup. He stopped at the door and smiled fakely to see Avni. He comes to her and sat.

Neil: aah.

Neil looked at Avni and smiled.

Neil: see, wifey what I bring for you. Soup.

Avni was looking at him.

Neil: This is not a normal soup it is a special soup prepared by chef Neil Khanna.

Avni smiled slightly.

Neil: let me feed you.

Neil feeds her and sighs how is it.

Avni: nice.

Neil: I knew it now you have to finish it.

Neil feeds her.

Avni: did you eat anything?

Neil: how can I eat before feeding my wifey?

Avni takes the spoon from him and tries to feed him, Neil looked at her emotionally. Neil opens his mouth and Avni feeds him. Neil coughs as he got emotional. Avni took the bowl from him and kept it on the side table. Neil looked away and suppressed his lips then he smiled and he wipes his tears.

Neil: aah it is too spicy. Black paper stuck in my throat.

Neil coughs.

Avni: from whom you are hiding your tears?

Neil looked at her.

Avni: I know you very well may be more than anyone else in this world. I understand your tears.

Neil looked at her and hugs her but Avni had no effect. She rubs his back. Neil breaks the hug. He holds her hands.

Neil: Avni, please let your tears fall. Don't stop yourself from mourning. Let this storm come out else it will hunt you, will kill. Please accept the truth and move on.

Avni: I am sleepy.

Neil got angry.

Neil holds her shoulders and shouts: Avni, we lost our baby. Do you get that? Our baby goes away from us before coming to us.

Avni was trying to control her emotions. Neil's eyes were teary.

Neil: it goes before coming into this world.

Avni: good night.

Avni lays on the bed and Neil was looking at her. Neil grins his teeth and wanted to pull her up but suddenly he recalls the doctor's words.

"but make sure that no one talks to her about the baby and anything related to the baby will not come in front of her eyes her mental state is not good."

Neil looked at Avni. He thinks.

The next morning, Neil stirs in asleep and stretched his body. He opened his eyes and thinks. Neil turns his face and was shocked to see that Avni is not on the bed. Neil sat and looked at the door of the bathroom which was open. Neil thinks.