Chapter 02:

It was the time of night, the moon was shining on the sky and the lights of the nightclub were lit. Avni was sitting on the stool keeping her hand on her ear and closing her eyes. Avni opened her eyes and looked at the boy who was looking in a particular direction angrily.

Boy: arrest them all.

Avni got shocked.

People panicked and were running. A group of people ran and surrounded the two men and took the weapon from their men. Avni looked there and then she looked at the boy.

The people were running and they wanted to go outside but two men came inside and locked the door. Most of them were youngsters and were not able to stand properly because of the effect of drugs.

The boy was looking at the man and then he looked at Avni who was looking at him confusingly. The boy diverted his gaze and he went to the men. They were drug dealers. The boy pointed his gun at the man.

Boy: your game is over.

The men looked at each other and they laughed. Avni was confused.

Man: why are you wasting your time, ACP?

Avni was shocked.

Avni in mind: ACP.

Man: let us go, ACP. If you want, we can give you, your share. Enjoy and let others enjoy.

Avni and the boy got angry.

Boy: of course, I will take my share.

Avni was shocked and got angry.

Avni whispered: bloody corrupt officer.

Boy: I will take my share from the parents of these innocent kids.

Avni got angry.

Boy: And you know what will be my reward?

Avni looked away and said in a low voice: of course money. What else the people like you want.

Boy: my reward will be their blessings.

Avni got shocked and she turned her face to the boy.

Boy: my reward will be their prayers for me.

Avni was surprised.

Boy: my reward will be their smile.

Avni was just looking at the boy. The boy pointed at the youngsters.

Boy: their better life will be my reward. And the amount that you want to give me will be very less in front of all these rewards.

Avni smiled.

Man: don’t be a fool. You also know that we are very powerful and you can’t keep us in the lockup for a long time so your betterment is in shaking hands with us. You and we, both sides will live happily.

Boy: I am happy and I will get happier when I will see the newspaper of tomorrow morning where my picture will be on page 01 with a lot of praise and the news will be on every news channel.

The men got angry and the boy also gave them the deadly glare.

Boy: take them from here.

The team nodded.

Boy: also arrest these all.

A lady officer saw Avni and she came to her. The lady officer held Avni’s arm.

Avni: hey.

LO: get down.

Avni: Hey, listen, I have not done anything. I am not a drug addict.

LO: shut up.

The boy looked at Avni and he thought.

Avni: you are misunderstanding me. I have the first time come here. I am not a drug addict.

LO: Come with me else I will slap you.

The lady officer tried to drag Avni and the boy came there while saying: hey stop, stop, stop.

The lady stopped. Avni and the lady looked at the boy. The lady left Avni’s arm.

Boy: leave her. She is not a drug addict.

The boy was standing there who was shocked to see his sir trying to save a girl.

The lady nodded and went. Avni and the boy looked at each other. The boy smiled and came to Avni.

Boy: I am sorry on her behalf.

Avni lowered her gaze. The boy forwarded his hand.

Boy: Hi, ACP Neil Khanna.

Avni was shocked. A man came to Neil.

Man: sir.

Neil and Avni looked at the man and Neil took his hand back. Neil talked to him and nodded and then he went with him. Avni was looking at Neil. Neil talked with his team members. They nodded and went. Neil thought and turned to see Avni but Avni was not there. He looked around but no sign of Avni. Neil thought. A boy came to Neil.

Boy: what happened, sir?

Neil turned to the boy while saying: hmm.

The boy smiled.

Boy: what happened, sir, what are you thinking?

Neil shook his head and said nothing.

Neil looked around scratching his cheek.

Boy: Sir, I didn’t get one thing.

Neil: what?

Boy: why you left that girl?

Neil looked at the boy. Neil looked away and then he looked at the boy.

Neil: because she was not a drug addict.

Boy: how do you know? Do you know her?

Neil: no, DD, her eyes. I saw her eyes. They were clear.

Neil in mind: but were showing deep grief.

DD: oh.

Neil looked at DD.

Neil: leave it and tell me…

They talked.

On the other side, Avni was walking on the side of the road and a car passed by her. Avni was lost in her thoughts. She saw the flashes from the entry of Neil till he forwarded his hand to shake hands with Avni. The same flashes were roaming in Avni’s mind.

The sun rises and Avni sipped her coffee and kept the cup on the table. Her hair was tied in a loose bun and some hair was on her face. Avni opened a newspaper that she bought when she went jogging. The first thing that she saw, was Neil’s picture. Avni smiled.

Avni read: once again, ACP proved his bravery. One more racket is behind bars. ACP Neil Khanna saved the lives of many innocents by doing a red in ABC nightclub.

Avni smiled widely. Avni read further and thought.

It was the time of evening, Avni was passing by the road and she was unaware of the fact that ACP Neil Khanna is standing on the other side of the road with his right-hand DD via Dakhal Dayal. The dark clouds were hovering in the sky and were ready to shower. Neil turned his face and saw Avni who was looking here and there while going and was smiling. The weather was pleasant so she was enjoying it. A bag was on her shoulder and she was coming from her office. The reason for her coming back after ten years was her job. Neil smiled to see her. Neil heard the thunder and looked at the sky. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil in mind: does she love to trap in problems? The weather is so bad. The rain can start at any time and she is roaming freely like a free bird.

Neil shook his head.

DD: Sir, I don’t think that he will come. We should leave now. Rain can start at any time.

Neil was looking at Avni. Neil looked at DD and thought.

Neil: hmm. Do one thing, you go home. I will wait for him for some time.

DD: But, Sir.

Neil looked in the direction from where Avni was going but Neil didn't find her. Neil was shocked.

Neil: where did she go? She was there only.

DD looked in the direction where Neil was looking.

DD: Who, sir?

Neil was shocked and he was puzzled. Neil looked at DD and thought. Neil shook his head.

Neil: no one. Ab… you go home. I will go in a while.

DD: But, sir, what will you do here?

Neil: DD, you go.

Neil looked for Avni.

DD: Are you sure, sir?

Neil said yes while looking for Avni: you go.

DD nodded and said ok but he was confused by his sir’s behaviour. DD saw an auto so he stopped it. Neil looked at DD who got in the auto and went on it. Neil was looking at DD and once he went. Neil looked at the other side of the road.

Neil: don’t know, where did this Miss Ajooba go?

Neil passed the road carefully and then he went behind Avni.

On the other side, Avni was roaming at the side of the road and was enjoying. She saw a stall of shaved ice and she smiled. Avni remembered how she was used to behaving stubbornly with her mother for this shaved ice. Avni smiled.

Avni: this stall is still here.

Avni smiled and went there.

Avni: hello, Bhaiya, ek mere liye lagaen. (Brother, make one for me.)

The man nodded.

Man: konsa flavor? (Which flavor?)

Avni: cola… no, no. orange… wait, wait hmm. Ek kam Karen sab mila den. Bohat salon bad kha rahi hun so sab flavor ka maza lena hai. (do one thing, mix all. I will eat it after years so I want to enjoy all flavors.)

Man: theek hai. (ok.)

Avni smiled. The man made the shaved ice and gave it to Avni. Avni sucked it and she saw the flashes that her mother bought her the shaved ice. Tears formed in her eyes but she smiled.

Avni: awesome.

Avni was having it fastly. Two reasons were there. One, she was excited and second, she was trying to hide her tears. Avni smiled and coughed. Avni wiped her tears and smiled. Avni had the shaved ice and she paid for it. Avni went from there and Neil came there in Avni’s search. He stopped near the stall and looked around.

Neil said while looking around: where did she go?

Neil: is she Mr. India? Tch. Where will I find her?

Neil went in search of Avni who came to the same road because the way to her home was that.

Avni was moving to her home while cherishing her childhood memories. Avni was smiling looking at the kids playing in the park. Avni turned her face and she flinched. Avni stopped because she was about to collide with Neil who suddenly came on her way. Avni stopped and took a few steps backward in fear while clenching the strap of her bag. Neil was looking at Avni and he smiled. Avni was looking at Neil and was looking nervous because Neil came on her way suddenly.

Avni: wh, what is this behavior?

Neil smiled. Avni's heart was beating fast.

Neil: what happened? Got scared?

Avni looked at Neil and she was still holding the strap of her bag.

Avni: of, of course not.

Neil was looking at Avni. Avni looked away to hide her fear and embarrassment and set her hair with her hand looking away. Neil smiled. Avni folded her arms and looked at Neil from the corner of her eye. Neil shook his head while smiling. Neil shook his finger.

Neil: noooo... you got scared.

Avni looked at Neil.

Avni shouted: No.

Neil flinched. Neil looked at Avni and then he again smiled.

Neil said while shaking his finger: Liar.

Avni was looking at Neil angrily who was smiling. Avni felt awkward.

Neil: hmm...

Avni: ab if you suddenly appear in front of anyone like a ghost then anyone will get scared.

Neil smiled and Avni looked away. Neil looked at the sky.

Neil: by the way what are you doing here in this weather?

Avni looked at Neil and then she looked at the sky and here and there.

Avni: where is it written?

Neil frowned and looked around.

Neil: what?

Avni: your name.

Neil was looking here and there and he stopped looking. Neil registered what Avni said. Neil looked at Avni who raised her eyebrows.

Neil: what do you mean?

Avni: this is your street so your name must be written on it.

Avni said looking around: where it is written?

Neil made a face.

Neil: very funny.

Neil looked away and Avni smiled. Neil looked at Avni and found her smiling. Neil smiled.

Neil: Are you Mr. India... I mean, are you Miss India?

Avni looked at Neil.

Neil: where had you vanished last night?

Avni was looking at him.

Neil: Even now, I saw you passing from here and then you just vanished all of a sudden. What is happening all this, madam?

Avni was shocked.

Avni: are you stalking me?

Neil was shocked.

Neil: what?

Avni looked away and folded her arms.

Avni: God, the boys of nowadays.

Neil frowned and he remembered that he said that last night. Neil was shocked and looked at Avni.

Neil: listen, I am not stalking you. I came for my work but when I saw you here, I thought to help you.

Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: Really? How sweet of you!

Neil made a face.

Neil: listen, the weather is not good. Rain can start at any time. It is not good for you to roam like this in this weather.

Avni: are you my Aunt?

Neil frowned.

Avni: no, right?

Neil made a face.

Neil: come I drop you home.

Avni looked away.

Avni: no, I will go myself.

Neil gave a look to Avni.

Neil: is it necessary to argue on everything?

Avni looked at Neil and then she again looked away.

The heavy wind started. Avni and Neil looked at the sky and around it.

Neil: see, the weather is getting worse. Come, I drop you home.

Avni thought

Neil: see, I am not a random guy. I am an ACP. Please, come.

Avni looked at Neil and nodded. Neil smiled.

Neil: Thank you.

Avni didn't say anything.

Neil: come.

Neil talked to Avni and pointed at the other side of the road. Avni saw there and they went to the jeep. Avni and Neil got in the jeep and drove from there.
Avni and Neil were on the way.

Neil: where is your home?

Avni: on XYZ road near ABC bakery.

Neil: ok.

After that, the drive was silent for a few minutes. Neil looked at Avni who was looking out from the window.

Neil: by the way, what is your name?

Avni looked at him and thought.

Avni: Avni.

Neil: Avni?

Avni was looking at Neil.

Avni: Avni. Avni.

Neil: Avni is your name and your surname?

Avni: Does surname matters? I don’t have a surname. My name is Avni Asha.

Neil frowned. Neil was about to say.

Avni: left from here.

Neil looked at Avni and then he looked at the road. Neil nodded and said ok. Neil turned his jeep and they entered a street. Neil was about to say something.

Avni: stop.

Neil: what?

Avni: stop the jeep. We reached my home.

Neil: oh.

Neil stopped the jeep at Avni’s home. Neil looked at the street and then he turned his face and saw Avni’s home but he didn’t know that it is Avni’s home because there were other homes also. Neil looked at Avni.

Avni: thanks for the help.

Neil: you're welcome, madam.

Avni got down from the car and passed in front of Neil’s jeep and Neil was looking at Avni and he got to know that it is Avni’s home. Neil got down from the jeep and the dust was all around because of the wind storm. Avni and Neil saw that and the rain started. Avni stopped and turned to Neil who was trying to look around. Avni was also not able to see clearly. Avni came back to Neil.
Avni: come inside. Once the rain stops then you go.

Neil: no, it’s ok, you go inside. I will manage.

Avni: is it necessary to argue on everything?

Neil was stunned and then he smiled because he recalled that he said the same to her.

Neil: ok, let’s go inside. Happy.

Avni smiled and they moved inside.

Avni closed the door and Neil ruffles his hair and cleaned his clothes. Avni switched on the light and Neil looked up. Neil looked at Avni who also looked at him and then she turned and moved from there. Neil looked at Avni’s home. They moved forward and Neil was looking at Avni’s home. Neil saw Avni go to the couch and she kept her bag on the table. Neil thought.