Chapter 18:

It was daytime, the sun was shining in the sky and people were busy doing their work. Some goons were trying to kidnap him. A man picked up Neav and his hand was on Neav’s mouth. Neav was struggling to free himself. Neav took out a small foldable knife from his pocket and opened it. Neav hit it on the man’s side. The man left Neav who fell on the ground and the other man looked at that man. Neav got up and ran.

Man: catch him.

They ran to catch Neav.

On the other side, Juhi cut the call and she looked around. Juhi got shocked.

Juhi: Neav?

Juhi looked here and there and she looked there but Neav was not there.

Juhi: where did he go?

Juhi caught her hair and then she started asking there and then she went to find Neav.

On the other side, Neil was standing at the side of the road and was lost in his thought. Neav came there while running and he saw Neil. Neav ran to Neil and stood near him. Neav held Neil’s hand. Neil came out of his thoughts and looked at Neav then he heard the men and looked at them.

Man: give this kid to us.

Neil turned to them.

Neil: why? Is he your son?

Neav: no, I am not his son. My father is a superhero and he is zero. A bad man.

Neil smiled and kept his hand on Neav’s head.

Man: give him to us.

Neil held Neav’s hand and felt a connection. Neil looked at Neav. Neil looked at the goons.

Neil: come and get him.

Neav looked at Neil who looked at him and winked. Neav smiled.

Two goons moved to Neil who punched the one and kicked the other one. Two others came to him and Neil kicked them. After that, all gathered around Neil and Neil looked at them. Neil moved and was holding Neav’s hand and kept him behind him. Neav was looking at Neil and the goons. The goons attacked Neil all together and Neil fought with them and didn’t leave Neav’s hand. Neil beat them and one man took out a knife and Neav widened his eyes and hid behind Neil. The goon attacked Neil but Neil leaned back and the goon again tried to attack and this time, Neil bent and went behind the goon. Neil kicked the man from behind. The goon fell and lost his grip on the knife. Neil kept his foot on Goon’s hand. Neil took out his phone and called the police. Neil saw a rope there and then he tied all the goons with the tree. Neav clapped and Neil turned his face. Neil smiled to see Neav and came to him. Neil sat on his feet and caressed Neav’s hair and cheek and cupped Neav’s cheek.

Neil: are you ok?

Neav nodded.

Neil: good. What is your name?

Neav: Neav.

Neil got shocked and he felt a pinch in his heart and he recalled Avni’s words.

Flashback:

Avni boy? Neav.

Neil: Neav?

Avni: yes, Ne of Neil and Av of Avni. Neav.

Neil smiled while thinking.

Neil: wow. Neav. Neav Khanna. Neav Neil Khanna.

Avni smiled.

Flashback ends.

Neil was lost. Neil came out of his thought and looked at Neav. Neil got emotional and he cupped Neav’s face and then he hugged Neav. Neil closed his eyes and he felt a connection with him. Neav was confused. Neil opened his eyes and looked at Neav and then he broke the hug. Neil cupped Neav’s face and got emotional. Neil wiped his eyes.

Neav: are you crying? did you get hurt?

Neil smiled while wiping his eyes. Neil looked at Neav and held his arms.

Neil: no, I am fine.

Neav: Can I ask you something?

Neil: yeah, say.

Neav: what is your name?

Neil: My name?

Neav nodded and said yes.

Neil was about to say but Neav talked: I know who you are.

Neil smiled.

Neil: who?

Neav: Superman.

Neil smiled.

Neav: you know, my father is also a superhero. He went on a mission.

Neil widened his eyes.

Neil: really? What is your dad’s name?

Neav got sad and Neil frowned.

Neav: I don’t know, Mamma never told me.

Neil felt bad and cupped Neav’s face and gave him a flying kiss. Neil thought to change the topic.

Neil: ab where do you leave?

Neav: me?

Neil nodded.

Neav thought and shrunk his shoulder while curving his lips downwards. Neil frowned.

Neav: I don’t know.

Neil: you don’t know?

Neav shook his head. Neil thought and Neav made a crying face. Neil looked at Neav and got surprised to see Neav. Neil cupped Neav’s face.

Neil: what happened, Baby?

Neav said in a crying tone: I want to go home.

Neil: ok, ok, we are going. We are going, but first stop crying, you are a strong boy. You are a tiger and a tiger doesn’t cry. He roars. Like this.

Neil roared. Neav chuckled.

Neil: now you do it.

Neav roared.

Neil: yeah that’s like my tiger.

Neil raised his hand: give me a Hi-Fi.

Neav did as Neil said.

Neil: very good.

Neil and Neav chuckled. Neil looked at Neav.

Neil in mind: Avni, if everything was ok between us then we would also have our Neav and he would have been of his age.

Neil was thinking.

Neav: superman.

Neil looked at Neav.

Neav: home?

Neil: yeah! Yeah! We are going. Ok so tell me something about your home and area. There must be a famous shop or something.

Neav: there are shops and, and, and a café. Suman Aunty and Fat Red Uncle run that café.

Neil frowned.

Neil: Fat Red uncle?

Neav nodded.

Neav: Motti Laal uncle.

Neil was confused and then he made a face.

Neil: not Motti, Moti Laal.

Neav: oh.

Neav giggled and Neil smiled.

Neil: anything else?

Neav: yes, our house name is “Sukoon Ghar”

Neil got surprised.

Neil: Sukoon Ghar?

Neav nodded.

Neil thought and smiled.

Neil: Sukoon Ghar. Nice name.

Neil looked at Neav.

Neil: come, let’s go to find your home.

Neav’s face lights up.

Neil in mind: I should have given him to the police but don’t know why my heart is not ready to leave me here.

Neil thought and looked at Neav. Neil smiled and signed let’s go.

Neil: come.

Neil got up and forwarded his hand. Neav gave a hand to Neil’s hand and Neil signed come. Neav did the same and they went from there while smiling.

In the Sukoon House, Avni was standing in the living area and was waiting for Neav and Juhi.

Avni: I shouldn’t have shouted at Neav. He is a kid, he doesn’t understand things. I also did the same when I was a kid then how can I expect from Neav to behave maturely. I should have done something to pacify him.

Avni thought and smiled.

Avni: yes, I will prepare his favorite dish then he will get happy. Yes.

Avni smiled and went to the kitchen.

On the other side, Neil was asking the people about Neav and they reach the area where Avni lives.

Neav: it is Moti Laal uncle’s café.

Neil looked at the café and remembered that he saw Avni there.

Neil in mind: it is the same café where I met Avni.

Neil thought and Neav pulled his hand. Neil looked at Neav.

Neav: those goons tried to kidnap me from here.

Neil frowned.

Neil: Here?

Neav nodded. Neil looked at the café and thought and then he looked at Neav.

Neil: Are you sure?

Neav nodded.

Neil: is your home near here?

Neav: yes.

Neil: ok, come.

Neil took Neav from there and he was asking the people there.

Neil: oye, tiger, you took me to the right place, right?

Neav nodded.

Neil: then why anyone is not recognizing you here?

Neav shrunk his shoulder and curved his lips downwards. Neil smiled with a frown. Soon, Neil reached the area where he felt Avni’s presence. Neil looked around.

Neil in mind: why destiny is taking me here again and again. What is destiny’s plan now?

Neil thought and Neav turned his face. Neav smiled.

Neav: our home is on that street.

Neil looked at Neav and then at the side where Neav pointed.

Neil: there?
Neil looked at Neil who nodded to see him. Neil smiled.

Neil: come.

Neil took Neav there and Neil felt Avni’s presence.

Neil in mind: again this feeling.

Neil looked around. Neil saw the Sukoon Ghar. Neil stopped.

Neil: Sukoon Ghar… there is a strange type of peace in the air.

Neil looked around.

neav: this is our home.

Neil looked at Neav.

Neav: come.

Neil smiled and now Neav was taking Neil to his home.

On the other side, Juhi was standing at the side outside the home.

Juhi: what will I say to Avni, where is Neav? How could I do this? How can I lose Neav?

Juhi was thinking and she turned her face. Juhi saw Neav and got surprised. Juhi smiled but she got shocked when she saw Neil.

Juhi: Neil?

Juhi got shocked and panicked. Juhi looked at the gate and then she looked at Neav. Juhi hurriedly went to Neav.

Juhi: Neav.

Neil and Neav stopped. Neil frowned and Neav smiled.

Neav: Masi.

Juhi came to Neav and sat on her knees. She hugged Neav. Neil was looking at them and he looked away.

Juhi: where had you gone? I got so worried for you.

Juhi broke the hug and cupped Neav’s face.

Juhi: are you ok?

Neav nodded.

Juhi: where had you gone?

Neav: I went to buy a balloon.

Juhi made a face and Neil was looking at them.

Juhi: you should ask me, what if something had happened?

Neav: happened.

Juhi frowned.

Neav: you know, some goons…

Neav narrated and Juhi got shocked. Neil was looking at Neav.

Neav: and then Superman fought with them and beat them. dishoom, dishoom.

Neil smiled and Juhi looked at Neil. Juhi got up and held Neav’s shoulders.

Juhi: thank you for saving Neav. He means a lot to us. He is the only heir of his mother, he is her life.

Neil nodded.

Neil: hmm. then take care of him.

Juhi; I lost him. She never leaves his hand for a second.

Neil smiled.

Neil: she will because she is a mother.

Juhi: true… ab thank you once again.

Juhi looked at Neav and held his hand.
Juhi: come, Neav.

Neav held Neil’s hand.

Neav: come superman, meet my mama.

Juhi got shocked and Neil felt awkward because Juhi didn’t offer him.

Neil: ab, I have work, Tiger, some other day.

Neav: no, come.

Neil: I will come some other day, promise.

Neav: promise?

Neil: promise.

Neav: ok.

Neav said bye and waved his hand. Neav and Juhi were going and Neil turned but Neil stopped and frowned. Neil turned to Neav.

Neil: excuse me?

Juhi got shocked and turned. Neil came to her.

Neil: you are Juhi, right?

Juhi got shocked and nodded hesitantly. Neil smiled.

Neil: that’s why, I felt that I have seen you.

Neil forwarded his hand.

Neil: Hi, I am Neil, Vidyut’s friend.

Juhi: ohh…

Juhi acted to recognize him and shook hands with Neil.

Juhi: I also felt that I have seen you. Actually, I didn’t expect you here so…

Neil nodded.

Neil: I understand.

They smiled. Neil’s phone rang.

Neil: excuse me.

Juhi nodded. Neil took out his phone and received it.

Neil: Hello… ok, I am coming.

Neil cut the call.

Neil: ab, I should leave now, I have some work. It was nice to meet you.

Juhi: same here.

Neil nodded and said bye, Juhi also said bye. Neil ruffled Neav’s hair and then Neil turned and went from there. Juhi huffed. Neav looked at her. Juhi looked at Neav and got shocked.

Juhi: ab, come, let’s go, home.

Neav nodded and Juhi talked to him while going.

Inside the Sukoon house, Avni was walking to and fro and waiting for Neav.

Avni: where did they leave? Juhi is also not picking up my calls. I hope everything is fine.

Avni stopped and looked at the door and then she again started walking. Avni was worried. The door opened and Avni stopped. Avni turned her face. Neav and Juhi entered and Avni got relieved. Juhi and Neav were talking.

Avni: where were you two?

Juhi and Neav looked at Avni and they stopped. Juhi and Neav looked at each other and Juhi shook her head. Avni frowned and got suspicious. Juhi looked at Avni.

Juhi: we went to the café to have ice cream.

Avni was looking at them.

Juhi: what?

Avni folded her arms.

Avni: why you were not picking up my calls?

Juhi got shocked.

Juhi: ab, woh, we were busy in our enjoyment.

Avni was looking at them.

Juhi: oh come on, Avni, stop giving us these looks. We enjoyed ourselves a lot so we are tired now and now we are going to our room… come, Neav.

Juhi took Neav from there and Avni took a deep breath while shaking her head.

Avni: these two will make me crazy one day.

Avni sighed and went from there.

It was the time of the night, the moon was shining in the sky and Neil was sitting on the couch resting his head on it. Neil was smiling thinking about Neav.

Neil: he was so cute. If I and Avni were together then we would have our Neav today.

Neil got sad and suppressed his lips.

It was the time of the late-night, Avni and Neav were sleeping on the bed. Neav saw the nightmare that goons were kidnapping him and he started shivering and murmuring.

Neav: Mama, Mama, Mama.

Avni stirred and opened her eyes. Avni saw Neav.

Avni: Neav.

Avni got shocked and moved to Neav. Avni turned Neav who was shivering.

Neav: Mama. Mama.

Avni caressed Neav’s hair.

Avni: yes, Baby, mama is here. Relax.

Neav: superman. Superman save me.

Avni frowned.

Avni: calm down, Neav. Calm down, Mama is here.

Avni calmed Neav and hugged him. Neav slept. Avni looked at Neav and wiped his sweat. Avni kissed Neav’s forehead. Avni thought.

Avni: what happened to Neav today, he never do like this. Why he was so scared?

Avni thought.

The next day, the sun was shining in the sky and Avni was sitting in the living area. She was checking Neav’s diary. Avni heard the knock on the door and she turned her face. Avni kept the diary on the table and she went to open the door. Avni opened the door and she looked up. Avni got shocked to see the person and was looking at it.

Vidyut was standing on the door and he smiled to see Avni.

Vidyut: Hi, Bhabhi.

Avni: Hi.

Avni gave way to Vidyut. Vidyut smiled and came inside. Avni and Vidyut were coming.

Vidyut: how are you?

Avni smiled.

Avni: I am good. How are you?

Vidyut nodded.

Vidyut: I am good.

Avni: sit.

Vidyut nodded and sat on the couch. Avni was standing there.

Avni: you came to meet Juhi?

Vidyut: I came to meet my friend, my Bhabhi.

Avni looked on.

Avni: I am not your Bhabhi anymore.

Vidyut: relations can’t break like this. You are still Neil’s wife so you are our Bhabhi.

Avni looked down.

Vidyut: Bhabhi, Neil has realized his mistake. Even he came that night to apologize to you but unfortunately you…

Avni looked at Vidyut.

Vidyut: Bhabhi, he still loves you. He was waiting for you for six years.

Avni: now things have changed. Now we both have learned to live without each other. We can’t be together now.

Vidyut looked on.

Avni: you sit here, I am going to call Juhi.

Avni turned.

Vidyut: I also came to meet someone else.

Avni stopped.

Vidyut: My Nephew.

Avni got shocked and looked up. Avni turned to Vidyut who was looking at her.

Vidyut: Neav. He is Neil’s son, right?

Avni was looking at Vidyut.

Vidyut: How can you keep him away from his father? Don’t you think that he needs a family?

Avni: No, I don’t think that he needs a family. I and Neav are family and we both are enough for each other. We don’t need any family.

Vidyut: But, Bhabhi…

Avni: I am not your Bhabhi.

Vidyut: fine, Avni. Why are you behaving stubbornly? When Neav have a father, have grandparents then why you are keeping him away from their love? Neav deserves their love. When he has a family then why he lives a life of an orphan? You have lived a long period of your life alone, you know that pain better than us then why do you want to give that life to your son? Why?

Avni thought.

Avni: Vidyut, now my and Neil’s ways are different. We can’t be together. Neav can live with one of us. Neil has a family but I have only Neav and I can’t lose him.

Vidyut: till when you will hide from Neil about it? One day, he will get to know about it.

Avni got shocked.

Vidyut: you thought that now you will not come back to Neil’s life. You didn’t come back but see destiny took him here. It is destiny’s planning and you can’t win from it. As Neil found you, he will find out this truth also.

Person: about which truth you are talking about?

Avni turned her face and Vidyut too turned his face back. They got shocked to see the person because it was none other than Neil. Neil was looking at them and Avni was looking at Neil shockingly. Avni got worried also that what if, Neil had heard them and wanted to confront her or if he saw Neav then what will happen? Vidyut got up. Avni and Neil were looking at each other.