Chapter 14:

It was daytime, everyone was running with the time and was trying to win the race. In the Khanna mansion, Avni and Neil were standing face to face. Neil was smiling and Avni was confused. Suddenly, Neil hugged Avni who got more confused.

Neil: Avni, I am so happy today.

Avni frowned.

Neil: today is actually a good day.

Avni: what has happened?

Neil was smiling and he broke the hug.

Neil: Actually, today a big issue has been solved.

Avni frowned.

Neil: you didn't understand?

Avni shook her head and Neil smiled.

Neil: how do you understand when you don't know anything? Come, sit.

Neil moved a step and they sat on the bed.

Neil: Actually, Maya was in a problem.

Avni's blood boiled to hear about Maya and she felt a pinch in her heart too. Avni clenched her fist.

Neil: and today her problem got solved. I was afraid that she will fell into depression but thankfully, everything got resolved today.

Avni looked at the other side on the side table and Neil was smiling.

Neil: I am so happy for Maya and Kabir.

Avni frowned.

Neil: finally, the dispute between them ended and everything got fine.

Avni turned her face to Neil. Neil also looked at Avni and frowned.

Avni: Kabir?

Neil: oh, Kabir. He is Maya's boyfriend.

Avni got surprised, happy, and whatnot. Her anger flew away and she felt a joy in her heart.

Avni: Maya's boyfriend?

Neil said yeah while smiling and was surprised by Avni's question.

Neil: what happened?

Avni shook her head and was looking very happy.

Neil: you know, Maya was really disturbed for a month because their relationship was going through a tough time of their life. They started to degrade each other and fought over small things. Last night, Maya called when you were sleeping. She literally made me worried because she thought, she is pregnant.

Avni got shocked.

Neil: she sounded like she will harm herself and I tried to calm her. I wanted to go to her that time but I thought, you will get worried if you woke up so I tried to calm her and asked her that I am with her and we will find some way.

Avni felt guilty for doubting Neil.

Neil: thankfully, she understood and today, we went to Kabir. We talked and cleared his doubts. You know, Kabir thought that Maya and I were having an affair.

Avni looked down.

Neil: Idiot. I mean how can he even think like that?

Neil looked at Avni and found her looking down. Neil frowned.

Neil: what happened?

Avni looked at Neil and she was feeling guilty.

Avni: ab, Neil, I, I, I am sorry.

Neil: sorry?

Neil shook his head because he was confused.

Neil: sorry for what?

Avni was looking at Neil and was afraid of his reaction.

Avni: Neil. Neil.

Avni licked her lips and Neil was getting an idea but he wanted to hear her.

Avni: I also felt that...

Neil: that?

Avni: that you and Maya...

Neil was getting angry.

Neil: I and Maya what?

Avni got scared.

Avni: you.

Avni squeezed her eyes and said: you both are in a relationship.

Neil got shocked. Neil was hurt, angry, shocked, and whatnot.

Avni opened her eyes and looked at Neil. Neil got up and was fuming. Avni got up.

Avni: Neil, I... Neil, what would I have done?

Neil ran his hand in his hair.

Avni: That Maya cling to you all the time and then I heard you last night.

Neil grinned his teeth and closed his eyes. He was trying to control his anger.

Avni: I didn't hear you intentionally.

Neil rubbed his mouth and ran his hand in his hair and caught his back head and Avni was talking.

Avni: My sleep got disturbed and I heard you talking to Maya (Neil turned and joined his hands on his mouth and huffed) where you said that you are with her and...

Neil: and you thought that we are in a relationship.

Avni was looking at Neil who turned to her.

Neil: hmm?

Avni was feeling guilty. Avni tried to hold Neil's hand but Neil jerked his hand.

Neil: there I was trying to clear their misunderstanding and here, my, my wife was doubting me.

Avni was looking at Neil sadly.

Neil: she was doubting my character.

Avni shook her head.

Neil spread his arms and said: wow.

Neil twirled.

Neil: just wow.

Neil looked at Avni.

Avni: Neil, I... I am sorry. But, please listen to me...

Avni tried to go to him but Neil showed his hand to her and she stopped. Avni looked at Neil with tearful eyes. Neil opened his eyes and looked at Avni with tearful eyes. Avni got shocked and hurt. Avni felt like she should die at that moment only. She just wanted to kill herself because Neil had tears in his eyes because of her. Neil shook his head and moved back. Neil turned aside and then he went from there.

Avni: Neil, Neil, please listen to me.

Avni cried and said: please, give me a chance to clarify. Please.

Avni went to the bed and cried sitting on it,

On the other side, Neil was driving his car at high speed and tears were in his eyes because since the day, they are in a relationship, he tried his best to earn Avni's trust, to show her that he is not Ashish Mehta but he failed. He failed to win Avni's trust. Neil wiped his tears and looked out from the window. Neil stopped his car in an isolated place and he came out. Neil hit his hand on the car and hit his foot on the tire. Neil turned and caught his hair. Neil was crying.

The day turned into night and Neil was laying on the car's bonnet. Neil was looking at the sky.

Avni waited for Neil and called him numerous times but he didn't take out his phone from his pocket.

Later, Avni was dialing Neil's number and she heard the car's sound. Avni smiled and she waited for Neil to come in the room. Neil came there and Avni's smile faded to see his condition because Neil was drunk. Neil was standing with the support of the door and was stuck to it.

Avni: Neil!

Neil looked at Avni and smiled. Avni went to Neil and held him but Neil jerked her away saying: don't touch me.

Avni looked at him.

Neil warned Avni: stay away from me.

Neil said while moving to the bed and stumbling: stay away.

Neil fell on the bed and Avni cupped her mouth because of the shock.

Neil: go away from my life...

Avni got hurt.

Neil: I, I don't want to see your face. Go.

Neil threw his head on the bed and fainted while saying; go, go away. Go.

Tears formed in Avni's eyes and soon they fell back to back from her eyes. Avni came to Neil and removed his shoes and then she put his legs up and covered him with the duvet. Avni sat beside Neil and caressed his hair.

Avni: I am sorry.

Avni cried and hugged him.

The sun rises and peeked into Avneil's room where Neil was sleeping on the bed. Neil stirred and caught his head. Neil opened his eye and frowned. His head was spinning. Neil sat on the bed while holding his head. Neil thought and remembered about last night. Neil looked around and then he saw lemon juice on the side table. Neil ignored that and got up. Neil went to the cupboard. Neil came downstairs where Avni was arranging the table. Neil ignored Avni and was going, Avni saw Neil.

Avni: Neil.

Neil stopped but didn't turn to her.

Avni: breakfast is ready, have it.

Neil: I am not hungry.

Saying this, Neil stormed out and Avni was looking at him with teary eyes. Avni looked at the food and she went from there. They didn't have lunch and dinner yesterday and now they left the breakfast also.

Neil came to the police station and got busy with his work. Avni was at home because she was feeling low. Avni came out of the bathroom and a towel was in her hand. Avni was wiping her face with it and she smiled.

Later, Avni was standing in the room near the bed and smiling.

Avni: now let's see Mr. Khanna, how can you be angry with me?

Avni smiled. Avni thought and got an idea. Avni dialed Neil's number but Neil cut it. Avni got upset.

On the other side, Neil was standing near the table with his team and a map was kept on the table. Neil was instructing the policemen and they were discussing a plan. Commissioner was with them. Avni called him and he looked at his phone. Neil saw Avni's number and he looked at the commissioner and others. Neil looked down and then he cut the call. Avni got hurt. Avni made an angry pout.

Avni: I will also see how he does not receive my call.

Avni again called Neil. Neil sighed and cut the call and talked but again his phone rang. Commissioner sighed and looked away. Neil cut the call. Again his phone rang.

Neil: excuse me.

Everyone nodded. Neil received the call. Avni was about to say.

Neil whispered: Avni, I am busy right now, so please.

Neil cut the call and Avni looked at the phone with hurtful eyes.

Avni waited for Neil the whole day and he came home in the evening. Neil entered the room and Avni was waiting for him and was looking very excited.

Avni: Neil.

Neil furiously came to Avni and held her arms. Avni flinched and got hurt.

Neil: what do you think of yourself han?

Avni was looking at Neil with hurtful eyes.

Neil: Am I your slave?

Avni was looking at him.

Neil: hmm, why? Why were you calling me back to back, hmm, answer me.

Avni: Neil, I...

Neil higher his voice.

Neil: when I was not receiving your call then why were you calling me again and again?

Avni closed her eyes and shivered.

Neil: don't you have a mind (Neil touched Avni's side head) to understand that I am busy.

Avni was looking down.

Avni: I, I am sorry.

Neil: sorry? Sorry? Will your sorry make everything fine? The embarrassment that I have bear there, will everyone forget that? Do you even have an idea how embarrassed I felt there today? Commissioner Sir also scolded me just because of you. Just because of you.

Neil jerked Avni slowly and turned. Avni looked down. Neil again looked at Avni.

Neil: aur asi konsi qayamat tot pari thi ke tum mere ghar aane tak ka intazaar nahi kar sakti thi. (And what storm was on the verge of breaking that you could not wait for my coming home?)

Avni remained silent. Neil turned to Avni.

Neil: hmm? Tell me... and it is not the first time when you have done this. You are continuously doing it since we met?

Avni wiped her tears.

Neil: first you had doubt on me that's why you did that but now, what happened? Still, you have doubt on me?

Avni looked at Neil and shook her head. Neil nodded.

Neil: Yes. Yes. Still, you doubt on me.

Neil turned aside and sighed.

Neil: you know what, Avni, now I am fed up of you.

Avni got shocked. Neil turned to Avni.

Neil: I am just fed up of you.

Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil: since we got married, my peace has been destroyed. I have lost my peace.

Avni got shocked. Neil caught Avni's arms again.

Neil: you have snatched my peace from me. You have destroyed my life.

Another shock for Avni. Neil was glaring at Avni and Avni can see anger and hatred in his eyes. Avni looked down and she was in shock. Neil jerked her and Avni stumbled a step. Avni was looking down. Neil took a deep breath.

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 with you. I feel suffocation when you are around me.

Avni was shocked.

Neil: You always hover over me like a satellite and you claim that you love me. Hmm? What type of love it is? This is what you call love? See, what you have done to me? You have destroyed me. You have snatched my peace from me.

Avni was looking at Neil with tearful eyes.

Neil: you never loved me, Avni. Never.

Avni got shocked.

Neil: You were just attracted to me that's it.

Neil looked away.

Avni: Neil, please, don't say like this about my love.

Neil looked at Avni.

Avni: You can say me anything you want but please don't say anything about my love. I called...

Neil didn't let Avni complete her sentence and caught her upper arms. Avni flinched. Avni was looking at Neil with hurtful eyes.

Neil: why? Why do I not say anything? You doubt my love, raise a finger on my character and I can't say anything to you. Hmm. 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.

Avni got shocked.

Neil: marrying you was the worst decision of my life.

Another shock for Avni.

Neil: it was the biggest mistake of my life. I curse the day when I met you the first time.

Avni was just looking at Neil shockingly.

Neil: I regret the day when I proposed to you. I regret my decision of marrying you.

Another hit on Avni's heart.

Neil: you claim that you love me. If you really love me then just get the hell of my life. Just get out.

Another hit.

Neil: I feel like if you stay in my life for some more days then I will definitely kill myself. I will go mad. Because I feel suffocated with you. Just get out of my life.

Avni's all energy has drained now.

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

Avni was totally broken now. Neil pushed Avni and Avni stumbled. Avni collided with the wall. Neil glared at Avni and then he went from there leaving the broken Avni behind. Avni's felt dizzy so she caught her. She was already feeling low and Neil drained her remaining energy and power. Avni took baby steps to the bed which was near her and Avni fell on the bed. Avni was panting and her eyes were tearful. Avni looked at the side table and she tried to pick the glass. Avni's hands were shaken and she held the glass but it fell. The glass broke and tears fell from her eyes. Avni wiped her tears and gulped. Avni took the jug with both hands and tried to drink water. The water fell on her saree. Avni kept the jug back with difficulty.

Avni cried and suppressed her lips. Avni's lips started to tremble so she bit her lower lip but no use. Avni looked at her belly and kept her hand on it. Avni thought and again she looked at her belly. Avni cried bitterly. She thought and looked straight. Avni thought. A fresh tear fell from her eye. Avni wiped her tears and sighed with determination.

On the other side, people were enjoying their night with their friends in an outdoor restaurant. Vidyut and KK were sitting there. Neil came there and he kept his car's keys on the table and his friends looked at the keys and then they looked at Neil. They guessed Neil's tension. Neil sat on the chair and held his forehead. Vidyut and KK looked at each other and then they looked at Neil. Vidyut smiled.

Neil: what happened? Had a fight with Bhabhi?

Neil sighed and sat by leaning to the table and keeping his hand on it.

Neil: Avni yaar. She literally has become a headache. I am feeling suffocated now. She is literally getting on my nerves.

Vidyut asked calmly: what happened?

Neil sighed and told them everything. They looked at each other.

Neil: I am fed up of her now. She always hovers over me like a satellite. I regret the day when I met her, when I proposed to her.

Vidyut and KK got angry.

Vidyut: shut up, Neil.

Neil got shocked.

Vidyut: do you even have an idea what are you saying? You fought with Bhabhi on this silly matter.

Neil: silly matter, seriously? Commissioner sir scolded me because of her and you are saying, it is a silly matter.

KK: I understand that was not a silly matter but you could have asked her calmly.

Neil: what do you think, I had not tried it. I tried that a lot but she never trusted me. This all is happening before marriage and now when she didn't get any reason then she made Maya a reason. She dragged her in between.

Vidyut: she didn't make that an issue even she didn't drag her in between. You are the one who dragged her in between you...

Neil got shocked.

Vidyut: and I am not getting one thing why she always clings with you... Bhabhi is not clingy. That Maya is clingy.

Neil said while turning his face: what rubbish.

Vidyut: I am not talking rubbish. You hadn't realized that. Kabir also felt that.

Neil looked at Vidyut.

Vidyut: Two people can't be wrong na.

Neil got surprised. Neil thought.

Vidyut: in fact, we also felt that Maya is more into you than Kabir but we are your friends and we know that you both are childhood friends. We have seen you two together like that but it was new for them.

Neil got shocked.

KK: yes, Neil, wherever you guys meet, you two just jelled up. At Bhabhi's birthday party, Bhabhi was sitting with you but before her Maya sat with you.

Neil got surprised and he recalled that Avni went from there when they were having dinner.

KK: I didn't notice that. Sonia told me that. She also felt that you and Maya are close.

Neil got shocked. Neil thought and realized that since Maya had come, the problems has started.

Vidyut: she even picked up your phone and received the call that to in Bhabhi's presence. Did she not get hurt?

Neil got shocked.

Neil: ok, I admit that Avni felt insecure because of my and Maya's friendship but she is like this before that also. She is clingy.

Vidyut got angry.

Vidyut: Neil, she had spent her whole life alone. Think from her perspective. She is afraid of losing you. She is afraid of loneliness. Her fear is making her like this. She is not clingy. She is possessive. She is helpless.

Neil got shocked.

Neil: but that doesn't mean that she will control my life.

Vidyut gets angry.

Vidyut: you know what, Neil, you are right, you shouldn't have married Bhabhi. Not because she is clingy because you don't deserve her.

Neil got shocked.

Vidyut: you don't deserve her love. You even don't know what she has done for you.

KK got shocked and held Vidyut's arm.

KK: Vidyut, no.

Neil frowned. KK shook his head. Vidyut looked away.

Neil: what happened? Hmm? Tell me, what she had done for me? Tell me... Answer me. Because according to me, she has destroyed my life.

Vidyut and KK got shocked.

Vidyut: destroyed?

Neil nodded and said, yes.

KK: No, Vidyut.

Vidyut: No, KK, let me tell him today. He should know the truth.

Neil: what is the truth, hmm?

Vidyut: Bhabhi has not destroyed your life. She saved your life.

Neil frowned.

Vidyut: you are sitting here today just because of her.

Neil was confused.

Vidyut: if she had not sucked your poison that day in the forest then you would have not been with us today.

Neil got shocked. Neil felt like the thunder has fallen on him. Neil was looking at Vidyut.

Neil: what?

Vidyut: yes, she sucked your poison.

Neil got shocked.

KK: Yes, Neil.

KK said while smiling: and when we stopped her, she said that Neil is life if something happens to him then she would also not survive. She would also die.

Neil got shocked.

Vidyut: You got your consciousness but she, she was still in danger and that's the reason, she didn't come to meet you.

Neil got shocked and now he was guilty for his behaviour.

Vidyut: Do you even know, she was in a coma for 24 hours and when she got her consciousness, she asked about you first.

Neil had tears in his eyes.

Vidyut: she loves you this much.

Neil ran his hand in his hair and looked at the side. Neil looked at his friends.

Neil: why didn't you tell this to me earlier?

KK: because Bhabhi prohibited us.

Neil got shocked.

KK: First we hide because of your condition but then she took a promise from us that we will never tell you about it.

Neil felt guilty. His eyes were teary.

Vidyut said calmly: you claim that you love Avni but I can bet that no one can love anyone like the way Bhabhi loves you.

Neil got shocked.

Vidyut: not even you. Her love is of another level. What do you think that anyone of us would have sucked your poison?

Neil got shocked.

Vidyut: no, never. We would try to get you hospital and we did that but she, she sucked your poison without thinking twice. Her love is selfless.

Neil got shocked.

KK: true. I love Sonia very much but the way Bhabhi loves you, it is... it is something different.

Neil sighed.

Neil: What did I do? h. h. how...

Neil was not able to say.

Neil: I should apologize to Avni... Yes.

Neil was not understanding what he do. Neil looked at the table and he was finding the keys but his mind was not working properly. Neil gulped and he saw the key. Neil took the keys and looked at them and then he ran from there. Vidyut and KK were looking at him.

KK: what do you think, Bhabhi will forgive him?

Vidyut: I don't know why I am feeling that the water has gone over the board.

KK looked at Vidyut who sighed.

Vidyut: let's hope for the best.

KK nodded and they looked at each other and then they looked at Neil who was going while running and had reached the gate. They wished everything will become like before between Avni and Neil.