Chapter 22:

It was daytime, the sun was shining in the sky. The roads were floating with the vehicles. A car was moving to its destination. Neil was driving the car and Neav was sitting on the passenger seat. Neav was looking out and was looking very happy. Neil saw Neav and smiled. Neil saw the balloons and cotton candy so he stopped the car at the side and got down from it. Neil bought the balloons and cotton candy for Neav and passed them to him. Neav got excited.

Neav: these all are for me?

Neil: yes, only for you.

Neav smiled but then his smile faded. Neil frowned. Neil cupped Neav’s cheek.

Neil: what happened?

Neav: I can’t take it.

Neil: why?

Avni: because mama prohibits me from taking things from others.

Neil: she says right but we are friends.

Neav: mama will not like it.

Neil: don’t worry, she will not say anything now because we are friends and friends can give gifts to each other.

Neav: really?

Neil nodded and said, yes.

Neav smiled and Neil smiled to see him. Neil came and got in the car. Neil started the car and they moved to their destination. Neav was eating the cotton candy.

Neav: Mama always prohibits me. Don’t do this, don’t do that. She never bought me my favorite things. Always talk about saving and budget.

Neil was listening to Neav.

Neil in mind: Avni is teaching Neav to be responsible, she is teaching Neav to value things. She is making him so strong that he can face any difficult situation tomorrow easily.

Neil smiled,

Neil in mind: only Avni can think like that.

Neil was smiling but his smile faded.

Neil in mind: Am I doing the right thing by filing the case of Neav's custody?

Neil thought. Soon, they reach home and a car stopped outside the Khanna mansion. Neil got down from the car and Neav saw the mansion from the window with open mouth. Neil opened the car’s door and took Neav out. Neil shut the door and Neav was just looking at the Khanna mansion.

Neav: woooowwww…. It is your home.

Neil smiled and Neav looked at Neil who nodded, Neav looked at the mansion.

Neav: it is soooo beautiful.

Neil: thank you. Soon, you will also come to live with us.

Neav got surprised.

Neav: me and here?

Neil ruffled his hair and said, yes. Neav smiled.

Neil: come; let’s go inside.

Neil took Neav inside and the Khanna family was ready with toys.

Khanna family: welcome.

Neil and Neav smiled. Neav looked at the mansion and the Khanna family smiled to see Neav. They got emotional.

Shweta: Bebe, he is just like Neil.

Prakash: his nose is like Avni's.

Shweta smiled with teary eyes.

They looked at Neil who smiled and then they looked at Neav.

Neav: wow, it is so big and beautiful.

Neil and the others smiled.

Neil: Neav, these are…

Neav looked at Neil and then he looked at the Khanna family.

Neav: I know, who they are.

Neil frowned.

Neav: she is a Great-grandma.

Bebe waved her hand and Neil got surprised.

Neav: she is grandma and he is grandpapa.

Shweta and Prakash waved their hands and everyone clapped except Neil. Neav moved to the family and took their blessings. Neil got surprised. Everyone hugged Neav and kissed his forehead and cheek.

Neil: how do you know it?

Neav: Mama told me.

Neil got shocked.

Neav: she said, they are really very sweet and they will give me immense love. She also asked me to take their blessings and asked me to not trouble them.

The Khanna family got emotional. Neil got shocked. Neil didn’t like it because he felt that Avni is doing a great job as a mother. Neil smiled fakely.

Neil: ab, come, let’s go to see your toys.

Neav got excited and Neil looked at the family and then he avoided eye contact and smiled to see Neav. Neil took Neav from there.

Prakash: will this little boy be able to live without his mother?

Shweta and Bebe thought.

Shweta: ab, leave this topic for now. Our grandson came home for the first time, we should focus on him right now.

Prakash looked away and Shweta went.

Bebe: I understand what you are thinking but what can we do? it is their lives and they can take a decision about it. We can only pray for them and we are doing it. That’s it.

Prakash: Bebe, I am 50+ still if something happens to you, I felt a shiver in my body and got worried. Neav is just five. How will he survive without his mother?

Bebe: I understand your points… ok, now don’t take stress. You will fall sick. Everything will be alright.

Prakash thought and Bebe went from there asking him to come. Prakash looked at her and then he thought.

Neav enjoyed it a lot with Neil. He got the life and things that he wanted. They played different games and gave Neav the best food like pastries, burgers, fries, and other things. Neav enjoyed and Neil got happy to see him happy. The whole family played the blindfold game and they enjoyed it.

It was the time of evening, Neav was watching TV with the family and he changed the channel by mistake. Everyone looked at him and smiled. Neil came there and his phone was in his hand. Neil was looking at his phone and he heard.

Man: so, ladies and gentleman, let me show you that it is the place from where that lady start running and these dogs will be behind her.

The dogs were in a cage and were barking.

Man: They will chase her and you can see that red flag, she has to reach there.

Shweta: Neav, what is this? Change it.

Neil smiled.

Shweta: give me a remote.

Neav hid it behind him. Neil smiled and looked at his phone.

Man: so here is that lady who is going to do that stunt… hi.

Lady: hello.

Neil got shocked to hear the voice and he looked at the TV. Neil felt a 440-volt current. The Khanna family got shocked.

Neav: Mama.

Neil looked at Neav and then he looked at the TV.

Man: so, you will perform this stunt?

Avni licked her lips.

Avni: yes.

Neil and the others got shocked.

Man: you think that you can do it?

Avni: I have to do it.

Man: why?

Avni: for my son.

Neil and the others got shocked. Tears formed in Neil’s eyes.

Man: for your son?

Avni nodded.

Avni: I want to give him the life that he wants. I want to fulfill his wishes.

Neil and others got emotional. Neil gulped. Juhi and others were also watching it and they were shocked and worried. Juhi cried. Neil was looking at it.

KK: is she gone mad?

Vidyut and KK were together.

Man: you will fulfill his demands with the money that you will win today?

Avni nodded.

Avni: yes.

Man: ok... Well, all the best.

Avni: thank you.

Avni went and the camera showed the dogs and Neil and others got shocked.

Avni saw the dogs and was nervous. Avni huffed.

Avni closed her eyes to calm her.

Avni: relax, nothing will happen. You have to do it for your son, for your Neav. Relax.

Avni huffed.

In the Khanna mansion, Neil and others were in shock.

Neil: what the hell is this? Has she lost her mind?

Prakash got up.

Prakash: yes, she has. She is losing her only son so she is going to be mad.

Neil and the others got shocked.

Prakash: you have forced her to do this.

Neil got shocked and they heard something and looked at the TV. Avni was standing there and a man asked her questions. Avni nodded and said yeah. Avni gulped and nodded. Avni closed her eyes and huffed.

Man: ready?

Avni nodded with closed eyes.

Neil got shocked.

Neil: Mom, take Neav from here.

Shweta nodded and she came to Neav.

Shweta: come, Neav, let’s check if the cake is ready or not.

Shweta took Neav with her. Neil and the others looked at the TV.

Man: ready?

Avni nodded.

Man: run.

Neil felt his heart skipped a beat. Avni started running and Neil started panting. The dogs started to chase Avni who was trying to run as fast as she can. Shweta came back and looked at the TV. Avni was running and stumbled on the stone. Avni fell and everyone got shocked.

Neil: Avni…

Everyone looked at Neil who was shockingly looking at the TV and was shaking. Avni looked back and she got up. The dogs were about to reach her but Avni started to run and soon, Avni reached the flag and the man put the net wall on the way to the dogs and their owners came to calm them. Avni was panting and she held her knees. Neil closed his eyes and got relieved.

The Khanna family, Juhi, Vidyut, and KK also got relieved. Avni fell on her knees and she gulped. Avni was panting heavily and the crew was asking her and passing the water bottle. Avni coughed and Neil was emotionally looking at Avni. Avni drank water and a man asked her something and Avni nodded. Avni got up and was not able to walk properly. She moved a few steps and sat on the chair. Neil was looking at Avni on the TV and the family looked at him. Neil looked at the family and then he avoided eye contact and he went from there to his room.

On the other side, Avni's condition was not good. Her arm was injured and she was panting.

Neil reached his room and he closed the door. Neil turned and leaned to the door. Neil was panting and was on the verge of crying. Neil fell on the floor and he cried. Neil sniffed and then he gulped. Neil looked here and there.

On the other side, Avni got the check and she got happy. A bandage was on her hand and elbow because she got hurt when she fell.

Soon, an auto stopped outside Avni and Asha’s home and Avni got down from it. Avni paid the driver and the auto went. Avni smiled and was looking very happy. Avni was about to proceed to the home and Neil’s car stopped. Avni looked at it. Neil saw Avni and he got relieved to see her safe but he was angry with her. Neil got down from the car and he looked at Avni who looked down. Neil went to the other side and opened the door. Neil picked up Neav and then he kept him down. Neil held Neav’s hand and took it to Avni. Avni spread her arms and Neav came to her and hugged her. Neil got shocked to see the bandage and he can see scratches on the arms. Neil glared at Avni.

Avni: did you enjoy there?

Neav: yes, I enjoyed it a lot there. They gave me immense love.

Avni smiled.

Neav: Mama, I saw you on the TV.

Avni got shocked and looked at Neil who was looking at her.

Neav: why you came on TV? Grandma took me from there.

Avni got relieved.

Neil: Neav, you go inside. I want to talk to your mama.

Neav nodded and went inside. Avni and Neil looked at Neav and when he went inside then Avni and Neil looked down and then they looked at each other. Neil took a deep breath to control his anger and then he looked away.

Avni: Neil…

Suddenly, Neil held Avni’s arms and Avni flinched. Avni looked at Neil shockingly. Neil was fuming because of anger.

Neil: what do you think of yourself? Hmm? What do you think of yourself?

Avni was looking at Neil with hurtful eyes.

Neil: There is something called mind you have it or the upper floor is completely empty.

Avni lowered her gaze.

Neil: how could you do that? How can you put your life at risk?

Neil left Avni who was looking down.

Neil: you didn’t think about Neav. You didn’t think how he will survive if something happened to you. You didn’t think about me?

Avni looked at Neil.

Neil: you didn’t think how…

Neil realized what he said and he looked at Avni who was looking at him. Avni looked down and Neil looked away. Neil looked here and there and then he looked at Avni and when Avni looked at Neil, he looked away. Neil looked at Avni and then he took steps back and turned. Neil went to his car and opened the door. Avni and Neil looked at each other and then Neil got in the car and he went from there. Avni was looking at him.

Avni was coming inside and she saw Juhi standing with Neav. Avni smiled and she got surprised to see tears in Juhi's eyes. Avni felt bad and Juhi looked away. Avni smiled and came to Juhi.

Avni: Hello.

Juhi: Neav, tell your mother that I don't want to talk to her.

Avni raised her eyebrows.

Avni: will never talk to me?

Juhi shook her head looking away.

Avni: really? Think about it.

Juhi: I have thought.

Avni: good now I will live peacefully. No tur, tur.

Juhi looked at Avni.

Juhi: I am not a frog.

Neav giggled and Avni smiled to see Neav.

Juhi: stop laughing.

Avni and Neav kept their fingers on their lips. Juhi narrowed her eyes and looked at them and then she got emotional. Avni got surprised and Juhi hugged her.

Juhi: I got so worried for you. Does anyone do this?

Avni smiled.

Juhi: what if anything would have happened to you.

Avni: but nothing would happen.

 Juhi cried and Avni consoled her.

Avni: Juhiii… You call me crybaby and now you are crying like babies.

Juhi smiled and wiped her tears and then they broke the hug. Juhi cupped Avni’s face.

Juhi: you are ok, right?

Avni: yes, I am perfectly fine.

Juhi saw the bandage in Avni’s hand and arm and she got shocked. She held Avni’s arm and then she glared at Avni who made a sad face. Juhi shook her head.

Juhi: come, sit.

Juhi took Avni to the couch and made a sit and then she went to get water and came back. Juhi made Avni drink water.

It was the time of the night, Avni and Juhi were sitting in Avni’s room.

Juhi: Avni, what have you thought? When will you tell the truth to Neav?

Avni looked at Juhi.

Juhi: I think now you should tell him that Neil is his father.

Avni got shocked. Neav was standing at the door and he heard Juhi.

Juhi: tell him that his Superman is his Papa.

Avni and Neav got shocked.

Neav in mind: superman is my papa.

Juhi: one day, he will get to know that, and if you will not tell him then Neil will tell him so, it is better you tell him.

Avni nodded while thinking. Avni sighed. Neav ran from there.

Avni: hmm. The court case will start soon and then he will get to know about the truth.

Avni got nervous.

Avni: I am worried how will you react? Neil told him the truth but I denied that. Don’t know how he will react now. His anger is just like Neil's.

Juhi: don’t worry, everything will be fine.

Avni sighed and nodded. Avni looked worried.

The next day, Avni entered her home carrying a big box of the video game. Avni was smiling.

Avni: Neav will be super happy to see it. He was asking for it for a long. Finally, I bought it today.

Avni looked up and she saw Neav is sitting on the couch and was playing a video game. Avni smiled and came forward.

Avni: Neav... see, what I have bought for you.

Neav saw the video game and got happy but the next second, Neav made an angry face and looked at the cell phone. Avni frowned.

Avni: Neav.

Neav looked up from the phone and then he looked at his phone. Avni got hurt.

Avni: Neav, I have bought your favorite game.

Avni smiled with difficulty.

Avni: you wanted it for a long.

Neav looked at Avni.

Neav: but now I don’t want it.

Avni got shocked.

Avni: you don’t want it? I bought it for you. At least see it.

Neav kept the phone on the couch and came to Avni. Neav took the game.

Neav: it is an older version. I have its new version.

Neil was standing at the door with a scooter. Neav asked Neil to bring it yesterday but because of Avni’s stunt, Neil forgot to carry that so he took it today. Neav saw Neil and smiled.

Neav: Papa.

Avni got shocked and Neil got surprised. Neav threw the Video game and Avni flinched. Neil saw that and he got shocked. Neil looked at Avni who was looking at Neav. Neav came to Neil and hugged him.

Neav: Papa, you came.

Neil looked at Neav. Avni was in shock. Avni thought that Neil has told the truth to Neav because he tried that earlier also. Neil smiled and tears formed in his eyes. Neil sat on his knees and cupped Neav’s face.

Neil: what did you say? Say it again?

Neav: Papa.

Neil shivered.

Neil: say it again.

Neav: Papa. Papa. Papa.

Neav giggled and Neil smiled while crying. Neil hugged Neav.

Neil: yes, I am your Papa. You are my son. You are my tiger.

Avni was looking at them like a defeated person. Neil’s eyes fell on Avni and he felt bad. Neil broke the hug and Neav saw the scooter.

Neav: My scooter. Yeahhh, papa brought my scooter. Yeahhh…

Neav moved to it and held it. Avni looked at the video game that was on the floor.

Neil: ab, Neav, why you threw that video game? You love games then why you threw it. It is bad manners na.

Neav: I don’t want it. I don’t want her things.

Avni got shocked. Neil also got shocked and Juhi and Vidyut came from inside. They looked at each other and then they looked at Avneil and Neav. Avni was looking at Neav with hurtful eyes.

Avni: why? Why you don’t want my things?

Neav: because you are a liar.

Avneil and others got shocked.

Neav: you lied to me that Superman is not my Papa. I heard you and Masi last night.

Avni got shocked.

Avni: Neav, Baby, listen…

Neav: I don’t want to listen to you. I don't want to live with you. You are a lair.

Avni got shocked.

Neav: This home is also so small. Papa’s home is so big, it has a garden. I will live there.

Avni got shocked and Neil looked at Avni who was looking at Neav.

Neav: you don’t have money to buy me, my favorite things. I don't want to live with you. You are a liar, I hate you. You always scold me and prohibit me from doing things. You always hover over me.

Avni and Neil were shocked because Neil also said the same. Neil looked at Avni.

Neav: I feel suffocated with you.

Avni’s breath broke and sighed.

Neav: I hate you, Mamma. I hate you. You are so bad. I don’t want to see your face.

Avni felt her head heavy. Everyone looked at her and felt bad.

Neav: soon, Papa will take me from here and I will live with me.

Neil looked at Avni and felt bad.

Neav: I hate you, Mama. I hate you.

Neil got angry.

Neil: Neav.

Neav flinched. Neav looked at Neil and he got frightened. Neav made a crying face and he ran inside crying.

Neil: Neav.

Neil and others looked at Avni who was in shock.

Flashback:

1. Neil: I have never seen a clingy girl like you in my whole life. Wherever I go, you come with me to embarrass me. I feel suffocated. I feel suffocation when you are around me.

2. Neil: You know what, Avni, now, I am fed up of all this love drama. I am fed up of all this now. I, I feel suffocated. I feel suffocated with you.

3. Neav: I feel suffocated with you.

4. Neil: You always hover over me like a satellite and you claim that you love me. Hmm?

5. Neav: You always hover over me.

6. Neil: I hate you, Avni. I hate you.

7. Neav: I hate you, Mama. I hate you.

Flashback ended.

Neil and Neav’s words were echoing in her mind and Avni stumbled. Avni collided with the couch and held it. Avni was panting. Neil and the others got shocked. Neil was about to move but Vidyut and Juhi came and Juhi held Avni. Neil looked on.

Juhi: Avni.

Avni blinked her eyes and she sighed that she is fine. Avni saw the video game and she was feeling dizzy. Avni came to the game and picked it up. Avni looked at it and Neil looked at Avni with teary eyes. Avni came to the couch and kept the game there and then she went inside. Everyone was looking at her with teary eyes, especially Neil.

Avni sat in her room on the couch for hours and the day turned into night, Avni went outside and she sat on the swing and remembered her childhood. The rain started.

Flashback ended.

Avni was sitting on the bed in her room and tears fell from her eyes. Avni came out of her thoughts and she sniffed. Avni wiped her tears and took a deep breath. Avni rest her head on the headboard and she closed her eyes.

Soon, the sun rises and Avni was standing in her room and talking on the phone.

Avni: I want to talk to you about something very important. Come in the morning sharp at 10 am.

Avni cut the call and thought. Avni sighed. Avni dialed a number and kept her phone on her ear.

Avni: hello. Yes, I have talked to them. you also call them… yes, I am sure about it… OK, bye.

Avni cut the call and then she went to bed and kept her phone on the bed and then she went to get fresh.

On the other side, Juhi, Neav, and Vidyut were having breakfast.

Neav: where is Mama?

Juhi and Vidyut looked at him.

Juhi: why are you asking about her? You don’t want to see her face then why are you asking about her? Ask about you Papa, your Superman, don’t ask about her.

Neav lowered his gaze.

Vidyut: Juhi…

Juhi looked at Vidyut,

Vidyut: relax.

Juhi looked away. Neav was sitting bowing his head.

Later, a car stopped outside Avni and Asha’s home and two men got down from it. They moved to the home and inside the home, Avni was waiting for them folding her arms. Avni saw the time on the wall clock and she thought. The door was opened but a man still rang the doorbell. Avni was standing in the living area and was waiting for them by folding her arms. Avni looked there and just looked on.