Chapter 03:

It was the evening, the stormy wind was hitting the wall and the trees were swinging with them. The dust was all around. Soon, the heavy rain started. Avni and Neil were inside the home and they heard the sound of raindrops so they turned their face to the window.

Avni: and here it started.

Avni and Neil looked at each other and smiled.

Avni: come, sit. Do you want water?

Neil sighed.

Neil: yeah.

Avni smiled and said ok. Neil passed a smile to Avni. Avni turned and she went to the kitchen side and her kitchen was an open and attached kitchen. Neil looked around and he saw Avni’s childhood picture with her mother on the wall and a picture frame was kept on the table near the couch. Neil thought that why there is no picture of Avni and other family members.
Avni came back and gave a glass of water to Neil.

Neil: thank you.

Neil moved a step to the couch and sat on it. Neil drank the water and Avni moved to the kitchen and Neil saw that while drinking water. Avni took milk from the fridge and Neil saw that.

Neil: what are you doing?

Avni looked at Neil and then she looked at the pan and smiled.

Avni: making tea for myself.

Neil was stunned. Neil thought and Avni smiled to see him while pouring milk in the pan. Avni looked at the pan and was smiling. Avni took the onions and then the knife. She started cutting them. Neil looked at the home and got up. Neil moved.

Neil asked while looking around: you live alone here?

Avni: yes, why?

Neil stopped walking and he looked at Avni.

Neil: nothing.

Neil turned and thought to go to Avni.

Avni: I was shifted from here years ago and now I have come back here for my job.

Neil asked while coming to Avni: oh and your family. Where is your family?

Avni stopped cutting the onion and she thought. She felt like Neil hit her heart with a sharp instrument. The tea boiled and fell. Avni and Neil looked at it. Avni slowed down the gas and stirred the tea. Neil was looking at the tea and then he looked at Avni. Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: I don’t have a family.

Neil was shocked at first and then he felt bad for Avni.

Avni: I was 10 years old when my mama passed away.

Neil felt bad.

Neil: I am sorry.

Avni smiled.

Avni: it’s ok.

Neil smiled. Avni kept a pan on the stove and poured oil into it. Neil was thinking something and he looked at Avni. Avni was keeping the batch of fritters in the pan.

Neil: and your father? Where is your father?

Avni kept the bowl on the counter and she was shocked. Avni looked at Neil and she took the knife in her hand. Avni clenched the knife in her fist. Neil frowned to see Avni’s expression. Avni looked at Neil and then she looked down. Avni looked at Neil and smiled fakely. She poured tea into the cups and took the tray. Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: curious to know about me, han.

Neil was surprised to hear Avni’s reply. Avni smiled and went to the living area and Neil was looking at her. Avni kept the tray of cups on the table and Neil came to her. Avni again went to the kitchen and put the fritters on the plate from the pan and came back to Neil. Neil was sitting on the couch and Avni sat on the large couch.

Neil saw the cups and smiled.

Neil: two cups?

Avni looked at the cups and then she looked at Neil who was looking at her with his charming smile.

Avni: woh, I was making tea for myself but then I felt mercy on you so I add water in it.

Neil was surprised and they looked at each other and then they chuckled. Avni passed the plate of fritters to Neil while smiling.

Avni: have it.

Neil leaned and took a flitter and ate it. Avni looked at Neil and smile. She felt a connection with Neil. They had fritters and tea.

Soon, the rain stopped. Neil looked at the window and then he got up.

Neil: The rain has stopped. I should leave now before it starts again.

Avni got up.

Avni: ok.

They moved and came out of the home.

Neil: bye and thank you.

Avni frowned.

Neil: For letting me come to your house in the rain.

Avni looked down.

Neil: I know, how hard it is for a girl to let a guy come into her home especially when that guy is a stranger.

Avni smiled.

Avni: I have spent a long period of my life alone. I understand what kind of person is just by seeing the faces.

Neil was stunned to know that Avni trusted him that’s why she let him come in. Neil felt happy.

Avni: ab, you should leave…

Avni said looking at the sky: weather is cloudy. The rain can start again.

Neil looked at the sky and said, hmm.

Avni and Neil looked at each other.

Neil: bye.

Avni: bye.

Neil moved to the car and got in it. Neil looked at the road and then he looked at Avni. Neil start the car and turned it. Neil drove away from there. Avni was looking at him.

It was the time of the night, it was raining outside. Avni was laying on the bed and was thinking about Neil who was sitting on the bed keeping his back on the pillow and head on the hardboard of the bed. Neil was also thinking about Avni and a smile was stuck on his lips. Avni smiled and closed her eyes.

Some days passed and Avni and Neil didn’t meet after that day. One day, Neil came out of a shop and was coming down from the stairs. Neil looked up and turned his face and then he looked straight and saw his car. Neil proceeded to his car.

A girl of three or four years old was standing with her mother near the stall of juice. The girl saw a kitten and she smiled. She went to the kitten who got scared and ran to the road. The girl ran behind it.

Neil opened the door of his car and he looked up. Neil saw the girl and he got shocked. Neil closed the door and ran. A car was coming to the girl and was about to hit her. The lady saw that and she screamed.

Lady: Muskan...

All of a sudden, Avni came to the girl like a storm and she held the girl's arms and twirled. Neil stopped to see that and sighed.

The girl started crying. Avni sat on her feet and held the girl's arm.

Avni: Are, are you OK?

The girl was crying.

Avni: no, no, don't cry.

Avni hugged the girl.

Avni: sshhhh... Don't cry.

The girl's mother came there running.

Lady: Muskan.

Avni looked at the lady. Avni broke the hug and the girl looked at her mother.

The girl cried: mamma...

The lady took her daughter in her arms.

Lady: ssshhhhh... don't cry. Mama is here, don't cry.

The lady tried to calm her daughter and Avni was looking at them. She missed her mother and tears formed in her eyes. Neil was looking at them from away. The lady looked at Avni and Avni wiped her tears.

Lady: thank you so much for saving her.

Avni: it's ok. Be careful next time. Your luck will not be with you every time.

The lady nodded and went. Avni was looking at them and she thought. Avni turned and she came to Neil's side but she was on the other side of the road. Avni didn't see Neil. Neil was looking at Avni. Neil smiled.

Neil: she is daring and caring also... just like I want a girl for me. Impressive.

Neil smiled. Neil realized what he said.

Neil: Neil, what are you thinking all this? What has happened to you?

Neil thought and he looked up. Neil saw Avni is going from there. Neil smiled to see Avni who went from there. Neil thought and again he smiled thinking about Avni. Neil realized that he is smiling.

Neil: Again. Again you are smiling thinking about her.

Neil sighed.

Neil: you have gone mad.

Neil shook his head.

Neil smiled. Neil turned and he came to his car. He got in his car and start it.

After that day, Neil thinks about Avni at night and his heart wanted to meet her again but he had no excuse for meeting her.

One day, Avni was sitting in the café, and “Chamko Café” was written on the board. Avni was enjoying her coffee. Avni jerked her hair slightly and smiled to see a toddler baby who came with her mother. The mother was talking on the phone and her daughter was tapping her face. Avni smiled.

Neil entered the café and his phone beeped. Neil took out his phone while walking and saw a message. Neil slowed down his speed and was looking at his phone. Neil used his phone and stopped. Neil looked up and here and there. Neil saw a vacant table so he started to go there. Neil was going and he turned his face. Neil’s eyes fell on Avni and Neil stopped. Neil smiled and came near the table.

Neil: hey, hi.

Avni looked at Neil. Avni was surprised at first and then she smiled.

Avni: hi.

Neil: you here? You came to meet someone?

Avni shook her head.

Avni: no, I came to enjoy the coffee here. I like their coffee.

Neil smiled.

Neil: me too.

They smiled. Neil looked at the chair.

Neil: may I?

Avni looked at the table and then she looked at Neil.

Avni: yeah sure.

Neil: thank you.

Avni smiled and Neil pulled the chair and then he sat on it.

Avni: you here? You came for any case?

Neil smiled at Avni’s question.

Neil: no, no, I came to meet my friends but they are late.

Avni: oh…

Neil: your home is quite away from here then you…

Neil stopped.

Avni: Actually, the company in which I work is nearby here so I sometimes come here.

Neil: oh…

Something struck Neil’s mind

Neil: company… here?

Avni sipped her coffee. Avni looked at Neil and kept the cup on the table.

Avni: yes, Khanna enterprise.

Neil was stunned.

Neil: what? What did you say?

Avni frowned.

Avni: Khanna enter…

Avni stopped as something struck her mind. Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: you are also Khanna. You know them?

Neil smiled.

Neil: it is our company.

Avni was shocked.

Avni: what?

Neil: yes, Prakash Khanna is my father.

Avni was shocked.

Avni: really?

Neil smiled and said yes while nodding his head.

Avni: strange.

Neil: it’s called coincidence.

Avni smiled and Neil remembered something.

Neil: but I came a day before tomorrow but I didn’t see you.

Avni: I was unwell that day so I didn’t go office.

Neil got worried.

Neil: what happened to you?

Avni: nothing. Flu and headache.

Neil: now you are fine?

Avni: yeah, yeah, now I am fine.

Neil smiled and said ok. They were talking and two boys came there and they stopped to see Neil with Avni. One was of Avni’s height and the other was tall like Neil. Both were handsome. They looked at each other and then they looked at Neil. They smirked and looked at each other again and then they looked at Neil with their mischievous smile. They came to Neil.

Boy: Neil?

Neil was smiling and then he looked at his friends and his smile faded. They smiled. Avni frowned to see them and then she looked at Neil. Avni understood they are Neil’s friends.

Neil: Vidyut. KK.

Neil got up

Vidyut: what are you doing by sitting here?

KK came to Neil and kept his hand on Neil’s shoulder.

KK whispered in Neil’s ear which was audible to Avni: is she our sister-in-law?

Neil widened his eyes and Avni also got shocked. Neil looked at Avni who looked away and behaved that she didn’t listen but Neil understood that she heard. Neil looked at KK and grinned his teeth.

Neil whispered: Shut up. She is not your sister-in-law. She is just a friend.

Avni heard Neil also and felt bad but didn’t understand why she is feeling bad and got hurt.

KK: just friend.

Neil avoided gaze.

Neil: ye, yeah.

KK and Vidyut looked at each other and smiled.

Neil looked at Avni and thought to lighten the atmosphere.

Neil: ab, I forgot to introduce you guys. Ab, Avni, they are my best friends. He is Vidyut and he is KK… and she is Avni, my friend.

Avni got up and they shook hands. They said hello.

Vidyut: please, sit.

Avni: no thank you, you guys carry on. I have to go home. I have some work.

Neil: stay.

Avni: No, I will get late. I have to complete a file.

Neil: oh, ok.

Avni: bye… and nice to meet you two.

KK: same here.

Avni smiled and took her bag. She said bye to them and then she went. Neil was looking at Avni. Vidyut blocked his way and Neil looked at him with irritation.

Neil: what?

Vidyut: exactly, what? What is the matter?

KK: what is the scene?

Neil looked away to avoid eye contact and said: what do you mean by scene?

Vidyut: you very well know, what we mean.

Neil sat on the chair.

Neil: stop your nonsense and sit. Let’s order something.

Vidyut and KK sat.

Vidyut: we will order something but first clear our minds.

Neil: nothing is there as you guys are thinking. And don’t forget, you both called me here. I came to meet you and saw her here. You both were late so I sat with her. That’s it.

Vidyut: means, you don’t love her.

Neil: no.

KK: Means, I can try my luck.

Neil was shocked and he glared at him.

Neil: don’t you dare.

Vidyut: why? You are not interested in her and nothing is between you two so let us try our luck.

Neil: no… I am warning you guys that don’t think about her in an inappropriate way.

Vidyut: our intentions are good, Bro.

Neil: Vidyut.

Vidyut: ok, ok, chill, we were just teasing you. Keep your Avni to you.

Neil blushed to hear your Avni.

KK: Oye hoye… blushing and all.

Neil: shut up.

Neil looked away to hide his blush and kept his fist on his mouth. Vidyut and KK hoots.

Vidyut and KK: blushing. Say, you love her say.

Neil: are you mad?

KK: Come on, Neil.

They asked Neil again and again.

KK: come on, say.

Vidyut: say, say.

Neil: ok, ok, I like her.

Vidyut and KK were surprised.

Vidyut: only like?

Neil looked at Vidyut. Neil blushed. Vidyut and KK were surprised to see Neil’s red cheeks. They looked at each other and then they looked at each other. Neil was feeling shy so he got up and went from there. Vidyut and KK were calling Neil but he went. They laughed.

Days passed like this and Avni and Neil met coincidentally many times. Sometimes in the café, sometimes in the nightclub and somewhere else. They started to like each other. Sometimes, they called each other and planned to meet.

One night, Avni and Neil were sitting in the nightclub with Neil’s friends. They were sitting on the couch. Avni and Neil were sitting together. A glass of soft drink was in their hands. A group of girls came there and everyone looked at them.

Girl: you are Avni, right?

Avni and others looked at the girl. Avni frowned.

Girl: what is your full name?

The girl thought and Avni was trying to remember her.

Girl: yes, Avni. Avni Asha.

Avni nodded and said yes. She was confused.

Girl: oh my God, you haven’t changed a bit.

Avni smiled nervously.

Avni: sorry, I didn’t recognize you.

Girl: I am Mitali.

Avni thought.

Mitali: you don’t remember me? We were in the same class at ABC school.

Avni thought.

Mitali: who are they? They are your friends or…

Everyone was shocked. Avni and Neil got angry. If she asked about Neil then Avni and Neil would have blushed surely but she raised a question on Avni’s character.

Mitali: girls, you know, she doesn’t have a surname because her mother was a single mother.

Avni and Neil got angry.

Mitali: Avni, I must say, your mother was very fast. I mean, nowadays, it is common to be a single mother, but in that era when the father's name was so important, in that era, she was a single mother.
Avni got angry and she tighten the grip on the glass. Neil looked at Avni and then he looked at Mitali angrily.

Mitali: you know, girls, people were used to saying that Avni is an illegitimate child.

Avni got angry. Neil got shocked and looked at Avni. Neil's friends looked at each other.

Mitali: A man was used to come to meet her in the night.

Now it was a limit for Avni.

Avni: shut up.

Avni threw the glass in anger and got up. Mitali flinched. Neil and his friends also flinched. Vidyut and KK got up and everyone looked at Avni who was looking at Mital with bloodshot eyes.  Neil got up and he was shocked to see Avni.

Avni: say, now say a single word against my mama and see what I will do.

Mital got scared.

Mitali: I said what is truth? Your mother was a pro…

Avni roared: shut up…

Avni moved to Mitali but Neil held her arms. Mitali got scared. Avni was glaring at her. Neil was looking at her. Everyone was looking at them and Neil knew that it can go against her if an incident happen. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Avni.

No effect on Avni. Neil shook Avni’s shoulder.

Neil: Avni.

Neil cupped Avni’s face with one hand and called her calmly: Avni.

Avni looked at Neil who felt a pinch in his heart to see pain in Avni’s eyes.

Neil: calm down.

Avni was looking at Neil and then she looked down. Neil looked at Mitali and glared at her.

Neil: go away from here before I call security and ask them to throw you out.

Girl: come, Mitali, let’s go. He is ACP Neil Khanna.

Mitali was shocked and she was also scared by seeing Avni so, she nodded and went from there hurriedly with her friends. Neil and his friends were looking at her. Neil looked at Avni who was looking down.

Neil: Vidyut, KK, you both stay here. I am taking Avni from here.

They nodded.

KK: take care.

Neil nodded.

Neil: Avni, come.

Neil held Avni’s hand who looked at the hands and then she looked at Neil. Neil took Avni from there and Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil made Avni sit in the car and then Neil got in the car and they drove from there. On the way. Avni and Neil were silent. Neil looked at Avni who was looking at her palm and was rubbing it with her thumb. Neil noticed Avni’s hand and then he looked at Avni. Neil looked at the road and Avni looked at Neil and thought. Avni looked out from the window and Neil looked at her and then he looked at the road. Both were silent.