Chapter 36:

It was the time of the day, people were busy with their schedules and the birds were sitting on the building of the hospital to which Neil was admitted.

In the room, Neil was laying on the bed holding Avni's arm who was looking at him.

Neil: Please say that again. Please once. Only one time.

Avni was looking at Neil who was looking at her with hopeful eyes.

Avni: I love you.

Neil was surprised. Avni cupped Neil's face.

Avni: I love you.

Neil was surprised. Neil got excited and he moved to hug Avni who got surprised and Neil winced.

Avni got up while saying, Neil.

Neil squeezed his eyes and he winced.

Avni: What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?

Neil nodded while his eyes were closed. Neil was in pain.

Neil: Yes, I have lost my mind.

Avni frowned. Neil opened his eyes and looked at Avni.

Neil: Yes, you said right, I have lost my mind and why not I... I have heard three magical words from your mouth. The three magical words my ears were longing to hear. The three magical words I was craving to hear. The three magical words that I lost hope that I would ever listen to...

Neil got emotional. Avni was looking at Neil emotionally. Avni cupped Neil's face who looked at her hands and then he looked at Avni.

Avni: I have hurt you a lot. Right?

Neil gulped.

Avni: Neil, I have never hated you. Never. Not even when you kicked me out of your life.

Avni showed her index finger.

Avni: But yes, I was hurt.

Neil was looking at Avni.

Avni: I was angry with you and I am still angry with you. I am still hurt. How could you ask me to go away from your life?

Neil gulped.

Avni: How could you say that you hate me? How?

Neil: Avni, I...

Avni: Neil, please... please let me say.

Neil stopped and looked at Avni.

Avni: How easily you said all those words to me and then you went from there without even looking back at me once.

Neil felt guilty.

Avni: Only I and my God know how I handled myself at that time. I was pregnant. I...

Avni stopped and turned her face. Avni's eyes got moist. Neil cried. Avni sniffed and looked at Neil.

Avni: You have no idea, Neil, how I lived all those six years. How I lived the nine months of my pregnancy. I was all alone and there was a pile of problems. Only I know, how I faced those problems.

Avni paused for a moment.

Avni: I admit that mistake was not only of yours. I also made mistakes. I should not doubt you. Instead of being silent, I should have talked to you. I should have cleared the things in the beginning. I should not have assumed things by myself but I have my own reasons to do that and you know that. We fought several times but we were used to sorting out that on the next day but that day, you... You were not ready to listen to anything and you blamed me for everything. You blamed me that I destroyed your life. You regret your decision to marry me.

Neil looked down.

Avni: Neil, I can never forget those all words but still I never hated you. I can't hate you. I just can't.

Avni sighed and tears fell from her eyes. Avni wiped her tears. Avni sniffed.

Avni: Neil, I also want to live a normal life like you and I am trying to be normal but I am not able to do that. Whenever I try to act normal like before, the past starts to hunt me. Maybe, it takes time but I am trying and if you help me then maybe, I will be able to move on... Will you help me?

Avni looked on and Neil was looking at Avni with moist eyes. Neil sniffed and smiled. Neil nodded. Neil held Avni's hand in his hand and Avni looked at the hands and then she looked at Neil. Neil caressed her hand with his thumb. Avni looked at the hands and then she looked at Neil. Neil sighed.

Neil: I would love to help you. We will pass this phase too with the support of each other.

Avni smiled and her eyes were moist. Neil signed Avni to come by nodding his head. Avni leaned to Neil and kept her hair behind her ear.

Neil: come close.

Avni moved to Neil.

Neil: Come closer.

Avni looked at Neil and moved to him. Neil cupped Avni's face with one hand and kissed her forehead. Avni closed her eyes and then they looked at each other. Neil hugged Avni with one hand who kept her head on Neil's left shoulder. Neil closed his eyes and Avni looked at him. Avni thought. After a few seconds, Avni tried to move back but Neil captured her shoulder. Avni understood his sign. Neil sighed.

Neil: Please don't move.

Avni: Neil, it may hurt you.

Neil: It is giving me peace.

Avni kept her head on Neil's shoulder. Avni looked at Neil and cupped his face with one hand. Neil kissed Avni's hand who smiled. They looked at each other and smiled. They heard the knock on the door and they looked at the door. Avni moved back and Neil let her go. The door opened and the doctor came with a nurse.

Doctor: How are you, ACP Sir?

Avneil smiled. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Now, I am absolutely fine.

Avni was looking at Neil and she was surprised because she understood what he meant. Her cheeks turned red. Neil smiled. The doctor came forward with the nurse.

Doctor: Hi, Doctor Mahesh Kumar, in charge of this hospital.

Neil: Hi.

The doctor took the pad and read it.

Doctor: Three bullets hit your body. God has given you a new life.

Neil smiled and Avni looked down. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: If I have gotten a new life then there must be a reason for it.

The doctor smiled.

Doctor: True.

The doctor talked with Neil and then he asked something to the nurse. They went from there. Avneil looked at each other.

Avni: Now close your eyes and have rest. Didn't you hear what the doctor said that you have to have a proper rest?

Neil made a face and looked away. Avni smiled. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: I just have woken up. I don't want to sleep. I want to talk to you.

Avni: We have a whole life to talk to each other. You need to rest now.

Neil smiled.

Neil: OK.

Avni: I am outside. You have rest.

Neil nodded and closed his eyes. Avni stayed there for some time and then she went from there.

Avni came outside and she saw the family sitting there. Avni looked around and KK and Vidyut were not there. Avni looked at the family.

Avni: You all didn't go home?

Shweta got up and came to Avni.

Shweta: No. We were waiting for you.

Avni frowned. Shweta held Avni's arm.

Shweta: I and Mr Khanna are here. You and Bebe go home.

Avni: But...

Shweta: No but, no if. Go.

Avni was about to say. Shweta cupped her face.

Shweta: Baby, you have been here since last night and you were in tension yesterday's whole day. So go and have some rest...

Avni was about to say.

Shweta: Baby, you will get ill like this.

Avni: I have promised Neil that I am here outside. How can I break my promise?

Shweta: Ba...

Avni: Mummy Ji, I will not get peace at home. My peace is here. My Neil is here.

The family was surprised to hear "My Neil".

Avni: How would I have rest at home when my mind and heart would be here?

Shweta: And Neav?

Avni smiled.

Avni: Why do I need to worry about him when you all are with him? You all will take care of him better than me.

Shweta dropped the weapons and looked at Avni like a defeated person. Prakash smiled and came to them. Avni and Shweta looked at him.

Prakash: I told you that she will not go leaving Neil here.

Avni smiled and Shweta looked at Avni.

Prakash: But you didn't listen to me.

Avni was smiling and she looked at Shweta who slapped Avni's head playfully.

Shweta: Stubborn.

They smiled.

Shweta: OK, we are going but you will go home in the evening.

Avni smiled and said, OK.

The family smiled and they talked to each other and then they met Avni. They saw Neil from the glass of the door who was sleeping and then they went from there. Avni saw them and then she sat on the bench. Avni huffed and her head was aching. She felt her head heavy. Avni closed her eyes.

Later, Avni was sitting near Neil on his right side and was feeding Neil soup.

Neil: Have you eaten something?

Avni nodded.

Avni: Yes, I had a sandwich and Coffee in the canteen.

Neil: That's it?

Avni looked at Neil and smiled. Avni fed Neil.

Avni: Mummy Ji called and asked me to not eat anything from the canteen. She is sending the tiffin.

Neil: Oh.

Avni: Yes.

Avni fed him.

Neil: Then why did you eat a Sandwich?

Avni: Because my husband is really very stubborn.

Neil was surprised.

Avni: I knew that he would not eat anything until I eat something so I ate a sandwich.

Neil made a face and Avni looked at him. They chuckled and Neil shook his head.

People say right, that people forget everything in two situations when they get happy and when the tough time comes. These two things update the software of the human being. Like, Avni forgot everything when Neil was on the mission and got injured now she has started to talk to him freely. She cleared the things and sorted out their matter.

Avni fed Neil and then they talked. Neil thought.

Neil: Avni?

Avni: Hmm.

Neil: You should go home.

Avni looked on.

Neil: You need rest.

Avni was silent. Avni looked down.

Neil: Avni, don't get me wrong if you stay with me here then no one would be more happy than me. But you need rest. You have been here since last night and Neav. We are his parents. One of us should be with him.

Avni looked at Neil.

Neil: Please go home.

Avni got emotional.

Avni: OK, I will go in the evening when Mummy Ji and Papa come.

Neil nodded and Avni warned Neil by showing an index finger.

Avni: But I will come back in the night. I will stay here tonight.

Neil smiled.

Neil: OK, Baba. You can come back in the night. Happy?

Avni nodded and wiped her eyes. Neil smiled to see her.

At the time of the evening, Prakash and Shweta entered the room of the hospital. Avni was sitting on the stool near the bed. Shweta and Prakash came to them and met Neil. They talked and then Shweta asked Avni to go who looked at Neil. Neil blinked his eyes and nodded. Avni nodded lowering her gaze and then she said bye to all and asked Neil to take care of him. Avni turned and she was going. Neil was looking at her. Shweta and Prakash smiled to see them. Avni stopped at the door and turned. Neil smiled. Avni passed a smile to him and looked at Shweta who kept her hand on her waist and made an angry face. Avni got frightened and she looked at Neil and Prakash and then she went from there. Neil and others chuckled. Neil sighed happily.

Shweta and Prakash spent some time with Neil and then they went outside.

Later, Avni came back and everyone smiled to see her. Prakash and Shweta talked to Avni who nodded and then they went. Avneil looked at each other.

Neil: How was Neav?

Avni: He is fine. He asked me to bring him here but I handled him.

Neil smiled.

Avni: Neav has sent a card for you.

Avni took out a card from her bag and she moved to Neil. Avni gave the card to him. Neil smiled to see the card and opened the car with one hand.

Neil read: My Papa is my superhero. Well done, Papa, you completed your mission. I am proud of you.

Avneil smiled.

Avni: He is really very proud of you. He has literally called his all friends and classmates and has told them that his Papa is a Superhero and he told them the story of your Bravery.

Neil was surprised.

Neil: How did he get to know?

Avni: DD.

Neil made a face.

Avni: When I was here in the hospital and we got to know that you are out of danger then DD went from here because he had some work.

Neil nodded.

Neil: Hmm. He must have gone to the Police station. He came to meet me in the evening.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Hmm. You know, DD went to meet Neav because he thought no one was at home and Vidyut and KK were also here. So he went to meet Neav so he doesn't feel lonely.

Neil: DD is like this. He has a golden heart.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Not only DD, your other staff was there.

Neil smiled and felt proud of his staff.

Avni: They handled Neav very well. Neav told me this.

Neil smiled.

Later, Avni gave medicine to Neil.

Avni: Sleep now.

Neil: Where will you sleep?

Avni pointed at the couch. Neil looked there.

Avni: There.

Neil: Sit here (Neil kept his hand behind me) with me for some time, please.

Avni nodded and came to the left side. Avni was about to sit near Neil's waist.

Neil: Not there.

Neil signed beside him.

Neil: Here.

Avni looked there and then she looked at Neil who was looking at her with hopeful eyes.

Neil: I want a peaceful sleep.

Avni sat beside Neil resting her back on the pillow. Neil smiled and kept his head on Avni's shoulder. Avni was looking at him. Neil looked at Avni while resting his head on Avni's shoulder. Avni smiled to see his face. Neil smiled and adjusted his head. Neil held Avni's hand in his hand and kissed it. Avni blushed and Neil smiled to see her. Neil closed his eyes and Avni's hand was in his hand. Neil slept and Avni heard his snoring. Avni smiled.

Later, Avni was sleeping on the couch and Neil's sleep got disturbed. Neil opened his narrowed eyes and turned his face. Neil saw Avni sleeping on the couch. Neil smiled and adored Avni. Neil realized that Avni was sleeping on the couch and he thought.

Avni and the Khanna family took care of Neil. Avni daily fed Neil with her hand. Avni stays with Neil in the hospital and when Prakash and Shweta come, Avni goes home and after spending some time with Neav, Avni comes back to the hospital, and Prakash and Shweta go home. This was their daily routine and then Neil got discharged.

Avni and Neil were present in the room and Neil was in civil clothes. A ward boy came with the wheelchair and another was with him. A ward boy helped Neil to sit while hanging his legs and then he tried to make Neil sit on the wheelchair and the second ward boy was standing by holding the wheelchair. Avni was standing near Neil. Neil stumbled and Avni held him. The ward boy also gave support to Neil. Neil looked at Avni and they got lost in their moment. The ward boy called Neil and Avneil looked at him. Avni and Neil felt awkward. Avni and the ward boy made Neil sit in the wheelchair and Prakash entered the room.

Soon, they reached home. Shweta, Bebe, and Neav were standing outside the mansion. Avni and Prakash made Neil sit in the wheelchair and Neil saw his family and Neav. Everyone met Neil and Neil ruffled Neav's hair.

Neil: How are you, Tiger?

Neav: I am good. How are you, Papa?

Neil: Perfectly fine.

Neav: I am proud of you.

Neil and the others smiled.

Avni: Neav, Papa needs rest. Let's go inside then talk to Papa as much as you want. OK?

Neav nodded and others smiled. They moved to the mansion. Shweta welcomed Neil and they entered the home.

Prakash took Neil to the room which was on the ground floor. Avni and Prakash helped Neil to lay on the bed. Avni adjusted the pillow at Neil's back. Neil was looking at Avni.

Neil: Thank you.

Avni smiled. Neil looked at the room and lowered his gaze. Avni understood that he was missing his room. Neav came to Neil and sat on the bed. Avneil and Prakash smiled. Neil and Neav talked and Avni smiled to see them. Prakash went from there.

Avni: Ab, Neil, do you need something?

Neil shook his head.

Neil: No.

Avni: Ok. Neav.

Neav looked at Avni.

Avni: Stay with Papa, I am going to get fresh. OK?

Neav nodded and Neil smiled. Avni went to the cupboard and then she looked at Neil and Neav. They were talking. Avni smiled and then she shut the cupboard and went to get fresh. Neil and Neav talked and enjoyed each other's company after days.

The day went normal and it converted into night. The moon was shining in the sky and Avni entered the room. Avni was in a nightgown. Avni saw Neil laying in Fowler's position on the bed and his shirt's buttons were open. The bandage was on his body. Neav was sitting beside him.

Avni came to the bed while keeping her hair behind her ear and took the pillow. Neil looked at Avni.

Neav: Papa, you have saved people in the past also.

Avneil smiled and Neil looked at Avni. Avni was setting the cover of the pillow.

Neil: Yes and I feel proud that God has made me the reason for saving lives.

Avni smiled and kept the pillow back.

Neav: When I will be a big boy, I mean man then I will also be a police officer and will save the people.

Neil smiled and ruffled Neav's hair. Avni was setting the cover of the second pillow. Avni thought.

Avni: Ab, Neav, enough of talks now. It is time to sleep. You have to go to school tomorrow.

Neav made a sad face. Neil smiled. Neav thought something and his face lit up. Avni frowned.

Neav: Yes, tonight, I will sleep with Papa.

Avni was shocked and Neil smiled. Avni kept the pillow on the bed and sat on the bed while keeping her hair behind her ear.

Avni: Neav, baby, Papa is injured so you can't sleep with him. You may hurt him in sleep.

Neav got sad. Avni smiled.

Avni: When Papa becomes fine then you can sleep with him.

Neav lowered his gaze.

Neil: Avni, let him sleep here. It's OK.

Avni: Neil, don't be a kid. In sleep, Neav may hurt you. He is a kid.

Neil lowered his gaze. They heard the knock on the door and they saw Shweta standing there. Shweta came inside and Avni got up.

Shweta: I came to take Neav. Neav, you will sleep with us tonight also, right?

Neav was looking down and everyone felt bad.

Avni: Ab, Mummy Ji, did you show Neav's new storybook to him?

Shweta looked on and Avni signed. Shweta nodded. Neav and Neil looked at them. Neil looked at Neav.

Shweta: Oh, yes, yes. No, I forgot about that.

Avni made a sad face.

Avni: Oh.

Neav: Storybook?

Avni: Yes, I bought it yesterday after returning from the hospital.

Neav: But you didn't show me.

Avni: It was a surprise. There are many new stories in it.

Neav: Really!

Avni: Hmm.

Shweta: Yes, it is in my room. Come, I tell you a story from it.

Neav got up.

Shweta: Come. Come. Come. Come. Come. Come. Come...

Neav jumped from the bed.

Avneil: Neav.

Avneil made a face and Neav was going with Shweta. Avneil shook their head while looking at Neav. Neav and Shweta went and Avneil looked at each other. They smiled. Avni went to close the door and she came back after locking it.

Avni came to the bed and took her pillow. Avni was going to the couch. Neil was confused to see that. Avni kept the pillow there. Neil was shocked. Avni went to the cupboard and took out a duvet. Avni came to the couch. Avni kept the duvet there and she went to the bathroom. Neil was looking at Avni. Avni shut the door and Neil looked at the couch and thought.