Chapter 32:
The rain had started and Avneil were drenched in it and looking at each other.
Avni: ab, aa, wo.
Neil: no need to lie now. You confessed the truth.
Avni looks at him.
Neil: I knew it that you was not a drug addict since you told me that but I wanted to know the truth. I know you are not responsible for your cousin's death.
Avni looks at him. She shook her head.
Avni: no, I am not responsible for that. I didn't kill her. I didn't kill my Riya. I didn't kill her.
Avni sits on her knees by saying, "I didn't kill my Riya, I didn't kill her."
Avni cries. Neil comes to her and keeps the hand on her shoulder. Avni looks at him and looks into his eyes she throws her in his eyes and cries. Neil also had tears in his eyes and keeps his hand on her back and let her cry. The storm which she was holding inside her he let her take out that. After some time, she feels better and moves away. Neil looks at her.
Neil: you ok?
Avni nods by looking down and keeps the hair behind her ear.
Neil: weather is not good my condo is near here let's go there.
Avni looks at him.
Neil: I want to know the truth as it is related to the future of my sister.
Avni was looking at him. They get up and Neil turns. Avni slips but Neil holds her hand and pulls her to him he catches her waist and Avni's hand were on his chest. Their eye locks. Neil looks at Avni's trembling lips then into her eyes but they came back to reality by hearing the sound of thunder and they looked down. They get separated. They avoid eye contact.
Neil: you ok?
Avni: yaa.
Neil: come.
They went to the cars.
Avni: you go in your car. I am coming behind.
Neil: you come with me. I will call my driver he will get your car there in the morning.
Avni nods.
They went to the car and get in it. The journey was silent. Many questions were in Neil's mind and he was concerned for Kareena. Avni was silent as she never thought that she will tell the truth like this and that too, Neil, was far away from her thoughts but this is life, the thing that we don't expect, will happen.
The door opened and Neil asked Avni to come she came first and Neil follows her he switches on the light and Avni looks around. Neil looked at the home then at Avni he saw her dress got dirty in the mud and his clothes were also had dirt. Neil thinks and goes to the cupboard he tried to find something that Avni can wear but there were only man's clothes he picks a shirt which was small of his size and shorts. He looks at Avni and closes the cupboard. Avni heard that and turns her face. Neil comes to her and forwards the dress.
Neil: hmm, your dress is wet so change it before you catch a cold.
Avni looks at him and takes the clothes.
Avni: bathroom?
Neil: that is.
Avni nods and goes.
Neil: I have to talk to her she has to tell me the truth it is about Kareena's life I can't take any risk.
Neil thinks and takes out his phone.
Prakash: hello! Neil, where are you? And Avni, did you get her?
Neil: dad, Avni is with me and we are in my condo. Rain was heavy so we decided to come here.
Prakash: Thank God, you both are fine.
All sighs.
Prakash: you did right, stay there and we are also staying here tonight.
Neil: ok dad, take care and tell all that Avni is safe with me.
Prakash: ok, take care.
Neil: bye.
Prakash cuts the call.
Shweta: what did he say?
Prakash: he is fine and Avni is also with him they went to Neil's condo because of rain.
Shweta thank God.
Bebe: thank God, they are safe.
Nm: Avni is fine?
Prakash: yes, Neil said she is fine and don't worry Neil is with her she is safe there.
Neela maa nods and looks at Ashish who got relief.
On the other, Neil was waiting for Avni to come out he heard the sound of opening the knob and looks the other. Avni comes out and Neil was just looking at the water was dripping from her hair and she was looking Uber-cute in his clothes. Avni was feeling awkward she looks down, here and there. Neil came back to reality and turns his face. Avni came to him.
Neil: I have informed to family.
Avni was shocked she thought he told them the truth.
Avni: wh, what you told them?
Neil: relax, I didn't tell them the truth.
Avni sighs.
Neil: you sit. I am going to change.
Avni nods. Neil took his clothes and looks at Avni then he goes. Avni visits the home and Neil comes back. They look at each other, Avni can see questions in his eyes.
Later, Avni was sitting on the bed and Neil was making black tea. He came to her and gives her a cup. Avni looks at him and takes the cup and Neil sits. There was an awkward silence.
Avni; ab Neil, please don't say the truth to anyone. No one knows about it.
Neil: fine but I want to know the truth it is about my sister's life.
Avni: Neil, Aman had left drugs.
Neil: but he should tell us that.
Avni: he told Kareena.
Neil was shocked.
Neil: what?
Avni: yes, Kareena knows everything about Aman.
Neil: how you know?
Avni: since the day I got to know about Aman's addiction to drugs my eyes are always on him. I am well aware of his every act where he goes and what he does? I knew about Kareena but never saw her I thought she must be his friend. But trust me, Neil, Aman had left drugs.
Neil: ok I trust you but I am not getting one thing that why Aman is silent and why you are taking all the blame on yourself, why you are facing Ashish papa's hatred.
Avni: because I know him more than anyone else. If he got to know about Aman's truth he would surely throw him out of the house but I knew that he will not do that to me.
Neil: why?
Avni: because I am not his daughter.
Neil shocked.
Neil: what?
Avni nods.
Avni: me and Arnav bhai, we are his sister's children our parents died in an accident and papa promised my mother that he will take care of us and he did. He gives us the love of our father and Neela maa loves us like a real mother she never discriminates between us. I never felt that she is not our mother I even don't remember the time which I spend with my parents I was just two.
Avni stopped sometimes she thinks that she doesn't even have a memory of her parents how they treated her how they talked to her many things came to her mind.
Avni sighs and wipes her eyes.
Neil: you ok?
Avni looks at him and smiles to hide her emotions.
Avni: yup.
Neil nods and there was silence for some time.
Neil: do you want to share your past?
Avni looks at him.
Neil: you will feel better.
Avni thinks and they look at each other.