Avni
"You did. what?" With her eyes wide Juhi freaked out. Next moment her squeal rendered my heart raced too high that I felt my parents will heard it out from their room they went to bed an hour ago.
Mom, Dad is back today morning to when I was having my breakfast Meenu di made idli as she knew they are reaching soon. And as soon as Dad freshen up, after having a heavy meal next hour he has arrived the clinic. Since Mamma is back home, she is no more with her cold-shoulder demeanor towards me any more, rather I have found her much placid and a little worn out as if she haven't sleep for a whole week. Therefore it's not the time to bombard her asking about Kakai's heath at this time while I already have a small chat with Dadda when he basked on couch for few minutes before he walk to his room to freshen up. Uncle is doing fine now, his family as well. He has to be strict with his diet for the rest of his life. If he wants to get well soon and also stay healthy. This is what Doc said keeping his eyes on his report chart. No more Mutton kasha, no more Shorshey Elish and many more spicy food especially which all Kakai likes the most ( Hilsa with mustard gravy) Both are Kakai's favourite. Alas!
And a thorough check up every month and a Echocardiogram in every six month, if needed.
"You heard it" I said, bit my inner cheek rolling the ring around my finger growing jittery.
"What am I missing guys?" Aman said re-adjusting his front Cam joining a little late.
"Just shut up and sit your butt down on that untidy seat of yours. eww it look so scruffy.. " Juhi let out a exasperated breath, then scrunches her nose made a face.
"Waha se bhi dikhrah hai kya?" Aman meekly mumbled taking few cringey glances all over his chair he has settled in. His clothes piled over the headrest and a pair of vest he just now towed away the armrest after Juhi made that comment. I bit a chuckle at his mortified facade.
In response Juhi rolled her eyes and thereafter instantly her gaze widened back at me catching back to the topic we are in.
"I want all the details" she frowned.
"What details,?" Aman regained his strength nonchalantly said but immediately freaked out unlike Juhi did it before. He is petrified rather.
"Like seriously! he is my brother for god sake guys. Crap I'm not at all interested about his sex life" Aman added in terror.
"Then get lost" I bit my lips suddenly feeling abashed by his words unlike Juhi butting Aman through the screen. It's 11:30 pm we have gathered around a zoom call. Never mind Ayan is my only guy best friend since we were in kindergarten. There is no word like secret between us, especially stuffs like from having our first kiss to loosing that precious thing like, the another term known as vCcard. Well, I know it all of them. His first kiss to how many crushes he had and how badly he got ditched once when Aman was in 11th standard. A girl he liked did double timing and the day he had his first heart break. Aman was totally whipped by that girl and she broke his heart brutally.
Great never mind, Bad experience gives you lesson and good experience gives you memory. This is what I said him like some ted-talk speaker when Sweta Mom called me to have a watch on Aman as he is not talking to anyone that's out of his charming character since a whole weak. That entire day I spent with Aman mending his smashed heart, we watched all those comedy movies we have already seen several times by then. And had lots of chocolate, pizzas and call it night not before having a five minutes walk to our favourite Sundae parlour and devoured into those extra big bucket dessert with extra marshmallow toppings. It was heaven. And that's how Aman and I are friends forever in our thick and thin.
"Okay guys time out" Ayan gained our attention and we did look at him. Me snapping out of my daze.
"Listen Av relax. You have done nothing, it's all your dreams. Okay!" Holding his breath he speak in an extra serious tone.
"She did it, stupid" Juhi rebuffed and I saw Ayan swallowed hard keeping his eyes on me. I saw some sort of disappointment in his gaze that telling me "why Avi Why". And I felt suddenly cold sitting there, gulping hard stealing glances.
Seeing Aman rubbing his forehead leaning forward closer to screen Juhi snapped retaliating his thoughts.
"As if we are all teens....
C'mon grow up mahn" Juhi blurted out harshly.
Leaving no room for me to say much they keep continue with their blabbering until I thought to interrupt them falling the vase in the room, to stop their fight, gain their attention to me " it was great" and as assumed by me they abruptly stop talking and stared at me for few seconds without nictating their eyes like they have seen ghost infront of them. When my words finally registered into their imbecile brain and it knocked some sense into them, in reply I earned an smug eye dancing from Juhi sending me go- on-girl-I'm-all-ears gaze.
And Aman rested the case muttering, getting back to his original self_ tujhey bhai hi mila tha is puri duniya mein mere Jiju ki jagah dene k liye? You churanto paaji aurat !
Churanto paaji. My Mom's two mostly used words when someone annoy her over the line. It means effing evil. Aman's favourite term as well.
That's how this conversation turned tense to discomfit to full blown guffaws. And our chatting went on till the mid night, until someone yawn shamelessly aloud.
Neil
"How long you will be occupied today Neil?" the moment I pressed the ph to my ear I heard Neela Aunty asked and my hand movements paused tying the tie around my neck facing the walk in wardrobe mirror I'm getting ready for office.
"Why Aunty? Are we going for a date or what? I joked, resumed my hands movement around the charcoal black tie I paired with my steel colour suit. There is a Client from Bulgaria coming for a visit to our office and I'm gonna be super occupied the entire day.
To mention I'm behaving overly cheerful these days after that wonderful moment I have had with my Jaan last week. Everytime I think about it I can't help but crave for her more. She has become some elixir to me since we did the deeds. There is no single hour passed I do not think about Avni. Her smile, her face, the way she push her glasses over her nose blinking her eyes when she gets annoyed, her cute moans when I kiss her passionately, her touches, everything I miss about her. Her thoughts itself gets my restlessness into ease. I love her. I love her so very much. It will sound Cliche but I would love to claim that, She Is Mine.
And here since Neela Aunty came back from her native town visiting her sick brother in law, and his family, unexpectedly that gloomy air around us faded off I have noticed. She is getting into conversation. Although not totally as similar as she used to be, nonetheless it is much better now. And I'm no less happier to have it whatever is gradually returning to normal between us.
This Sunday I'm hoping more. We are having that Griha Prabesh Puja which was postponed last month due to that emergency vist of mine to our Hyderabad division. Besides we will have lunch at our place altogether. As decided before.
" Neil I think the time has come, few things you should know" her small voice hauled breaking my reverie and I promptly realised what she said and it took me a while to reply to her. My my joyous mood faded then completely gone.
"About who?" Her hesitant, dismal voice, her indecipherable words brought me trepidation. Holding my racing heart I asked, my voice turned extremely severe followed by my grip tightened around the divice. All my senses gathered together in one point. I waited for her answer.
This is not about Avni. Please god. I prayed when she took a pause what seems like ages then spoke with her same voice only this time a little more crestfallen.
"You would know when we would meet" she plainly replied and there is a eerie, tap dripping silence in my room as if everything stopped around me.
"Once you confirm the time I'll text you the place" breaking the silence these are her words before the line went off leaving me rubbing my face in apprehension. It was clear from her tone that this meeting is only between two of us. She wants to keep it restricted from others to be known or she could have told me calling to her house anyday. Instead she chose it to be happened in a surreptitious summon like this.Why I go back to that same point over and over again, everytime I think finally things have started getting smooth?
What does she wants to talk to me? What it is, I need to know she thinks? What if I don't want to know it whatever she wants to feed me with?
Yes I don't want to know it. I took a deep breath nodding to myself this will be the best. I would not meet her, make an excuse that I was busy with back to back summit.
What if it is something about Avni and she is actually trying to help us? Immediately a voice in my head reasoned out and my hands rubbed the back of my neck with the agitation building up inside of me.
What if I'm over thinking and being any other over protective mother she wants me to step away her daughter's life? The second this thought hit me I freeze on my seat. There is nothing trivial that's for sure.
Or it is Ayan I need to concern about?
With this last name came to my mind my teeth gritted, jaw clenched in a thought of this only person I swear to god this time I'll show that sniper his real place where he belongs to if even thought of coming on my way.
*
Due to the frenzied work schedule I usually get into that moment I step to my office, there wasn't any clouded thoughts struck my mind related to that morning event I had. I have got into that much occupied the entire day. And totally forgot the hour I have typed and texted Aunty during my haste lunch break until the device, my phone let out a small tone telling me I have something to remind. That I have a meeting around 6 in the evening.
My mouth formed a awfully bitter in taste when I pulled at the parking area, where Neela Aunty texted me the spot name and location.
It's a vast cafeteria, quite far away the location is we rarely visit. Soon my thumping chest accompanied my sour mood. I felt nervous the moment I killed the fuel, stepped out of my vehicle glancing around and strode through the main entrance. I felt as if my feet transformed into some hefty metal like object just dragging me to the destination for which I'm going to regret soon. I can bet.
~~~~~~~~
Few revelation is coming soon to Avniel's path taking them to the tour of a rollercoaster ride. Hope you will stick to the final update, until everything will settle down at the end with a sweet beautiful note. Till then stay tuned to You Are My Love.
Thank you so much for Reading.
Love MoN ❤️