Falling For You

Storeroom

" Avni?" Neil says and goes behind the cupboard, he sees her for a millisecond before Avni turns and wrap her arms around herself and Neil turns away. "s-sorry!" Neil panics " I'm sorry-" he says again

" U-um..it's not your fault. It's okay" Avni quickly assures him, to stop him from overreacting.

It becomes silent before Neil breaks it.

" A-Avni" he stutters " Um..y-your dress" Neil puts his hand over his face even though he's not facing her, he just saw her, almost topless, he has the right to be shocked.

" it got torn" she whispers, her face flushed. What could she do, he just saw her almost topless. She rubs the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger.

She hears a swift movement but doesn't turn to look and a second later, Neil talks.

" Here take this " she hears Neil tell her, but doesn't turn, too ashamed to face him.

" take it, I'm not looking" she finally turns and sees him extending his hand out behind him, with his shirt in it and he's only wearing his vest, all his muscles exposed making her feel hot immediately.

She takes it and puts it on, " thank you" her voice low, then she turns and goes to sit on the floor, where they were sitting.

He joins her shortly and they avoid each other's gaze, they sit there in silence and three-quarter of an hour later, he feels something heavy slump on his shoulder, only to turn and see Avni asleep with her head on his shoulder.

An expression is etched on his face, an expression which conveys his emotion that she's something...something precious..something priceless...something invaluable... his lady love. He moves a stray strand of hair behind her hair. As a reaction, she adjusts herself, still asleep and folds her arms round his waist and pulls him closer.

******

Avni wakes up to a soothing sound and lifts her head from its place on Neil's shoulder, all the earlier events forgotten. She rubs her eyes and tries to regain her equilibrium and she realizes the sound is coming from Neil.

He notices she's awake and stops singing, she looks at him urging him to go on. He stays quiet and looks at her blankly.

" Why did you stop?" she says and tries to avert her gaze from his body, stop it Avni!. 

" nothing, it's just a stupid hobby. It doesn't mean anything" Neil dismisses

" no it's not, you're really good at it. Why don't you do it openly" she asks surprised by his self depreciation.

" cause I don't need it Avni, just leave it" he tries to cut off the topic.

" okay" she gives in and after sometime she speaks again "is singing your only hobby?"

He sighs and then " No, it's not the only one. I have a lot of hobbies" he says dryly

" tell me " she turns to face him, wanting him to open up to her.

" what? " he asks

" tell me your hobbies" she tells him finding an opportunity to get to know him a lot better.

" oh.." he pauses and sighs loudly " well, I like photography cause I love taking pictures of beautiful things, like nature. It's amazing, I like diving cause it's adventurous and exciting, and I like fishing too, I love dancing-" Avni cuts him off.

"-dancing?" she looks at him incredulously.

" yeah, I dance. I used to dance do much as a kid that mom had to register me for a summer dancing class" he smiles at the memory and she smiles at him.

" Go on"

" okay, I also like camping, cooking, skiing, shopping-" she cuts him off again.

" shopping? " she asks him finding it weird

" yeah for the kids" he says

"what kids" she asks as various unwelcome thoughts run through her head.

" the kids at the orphanage, I told you righ-" he stops realizing he never informed her about the orphanage he runs.

" you run an orphanage? And you didn't tell me "

" and a charity too" he decides to tell her everything once and for all before she misunderstands.

" when? " she asks again, suprised

" way before I knew you" he says " about four years ago" he further explains

" why didn't anyone tell me" she frowns

" maybe they thought I might have told you. Sorry" he says

" why are doing it, is it a family thing? " she asks a lot calmer now

" No, it's all my idea. The way I see things pushed me to do it" he starts "I did it because I can't don't like seeing innocent people, children suffering just because they were not born with a silver spoon, or because their homes were destroyed or any other unfortunate thing. Since I had that opportunity, why can't I help them, take them away from the streets and give them a better life. Once they are there, we teach them basic things and various skills so once they reach a suitable age, they can work and be independent. And I feel very happy doing all this" he states

" that's very thoughtful of you Neil" she whispers, her eyes holding his gaze.

" Thank you" his eyes doesn't leave hers

He shakes his head trying compose himself after the moment.

" Um..tell me your hobbies" he says

" Uh.. I don't really have much hobbies, except sleeping" she pouts

" there's no way" he chuckles "you have to have at least one reasonable hobby "

" okay-I think-um..flying" she recalls

" you like flying?" he asks

" yeah, I love it, I used to fly with Neela maa's company helicopter whenever u was free" she smiles " the view from up there is captivating"

He looks at her as she dreams on, a fascinating expression on her face, a dreamy and beautiful smile on her lips and looking as tempting as ever. Her charm drives him to talk without thinking...

"Um..Avni..." he pauses nervously

She looks at him and nods, encouraging him to go on

" Avni-" he stops

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What do you think Neil wants to tell Avni?

XOXO