Chapter 34:
It was the time of the night, a car was passing by the forest. Avni was driving it and Aman was laughing and blabbering. Avni grins her teeth.
Avni: Aman, sit quietly.
Aman keeps the finger on his lips and cries.
Aman: Di scold me, you are bad, Di.
Avni was feeling bad to see his condition and focus on driving. Aman moves to them and stands by keeping his hands on the seats.
Aman: where are we going, Di?
Avni: Aman, sit on your seat and let me drive.
Aman: Di, I know driving. Let me help you.
Aman holds the steering wheel and turns. Avni shocked.
Avni: Aman.
Riya also tried to push Aman back. The car went out of control. Riya pushed him back and he falls on the seat in a laying position. Avni tried to control the car and saw a car is coming from the opposite direction. Avni was shocked she tried to turn the car and it hit a tree. Riya's seat belt was not properly locked and when the car hits the tree, her head hits the window and the door opened she falls outside and her head again hits the rock. Avni's head hits the steering wheel and her head was bleeding she was panting she touched her head and saw the blood she looks up and turns her face she was shocked to see Riya.
Avni: Riya.
Avni came out of the car and her head was spinning she holds her head and goes to Riya. Avni was shocked to see her. Avni sits and takes Riya in her arms.
Avni: R, R, Ri, Riya.
Riya smiles to see her and tries to touch her face. Avni holds her hand. Riya's smile faded. Avni was shocked she shooks Riya and called her name.
Avni: help, help, is anybody here. Help.
Aman was not in his senses and was imitating Avni by sitting in the car he had not a single scratch. Avni was shocked to check Riya's pulse and shocked. Avni shakes her and called her name but no use.
Avni: Riya, get up. Riya, are you listening to me, get up. Riya, get up else I will slap you. I swear I will kill you. Get up, Riya. Riya, Riya.
Avni cries she takes her in her arms and shouts her name. Avni cries badly.
Flashback ends.
A tear falls from Avni's eyes. Avni was not in her sense. Avni looks at Neil and holds the sleeves of his shirts in a fist.
Avni: I, I, I ca, called her many times but she, she did not wake up.
Neil feels bad and cups her face.
Avni: I shouted for help but no one comes.
Avni saw the flashes that she was asking for help and no one stopped the car her dress was covered with blood and her head was injured so no one stopped at the car to see her condition as no one wants to involve in the police case.
Avni makes the hair strand behind her ear and was not in her senses.
Avni: I shouted, help, help, save my sister, help. I got up and asked the people for help but no one stopped the car. I begged them, please, please help my sister please but no, no one helped me. I, I.
Neil holds her neck and pulled her to him. Avni was crying she holds his arm.
Neil: ssshhhh. Relax, calm down.
Neil caresses her back to calm her.
Neil: calm down. Calm down.
After some time, Avni detached herself from him and looks down she makes her hair strand behind her ear.
Neil: you ok?
Avni nods. Neil goes and comes with a glass of water and gives that to Avni. Avni looks at him and takes that she sips and holds it tightly.
Neil: feeling better.
Avni nods.
Neil: now take a rest we will talk later.
Avni: don't you want to know how Aman got saved?
Neil: some other day now you take a rest.
Avni looks at him.
Avni: when no one helped me I came back and takes Riya in my arms and again tried to wake up her but no use then I heard Aman and saw his condition. Don't know what happened, what came to mind. I got up and called someone.
Neil frowns.
Avni: Manish, Aman's friend I can only trust him that he can help me only in this condition.
Neil: why you think so?
Avni: because I helped him in his bad time so I knew that only he can help me he will not disclose the truth.
Avni thinks.
Flashback:
Avni and a boy were standing there.
Avni: promise me, Manish, that whatever will happen you will not tell anyone that Aman was with us.
Manish: but Di.
Avni: promise me.
Manish: I promise you, Di that I will never tell anyone about this night. Think that I did not meet you. No one will get to know that what happened here.
Avni slightly smiles.
Manish takes Aman to the house of his friend where they were supposed to live that night.
Flashback ends.
Avni: Isay Aman ki khush naseebi kaho ya meri bad naseebi us accident main Aman ko ek kharoch tak nahi aai.
Neil: but you were not a drug addict then how did you make all believe you?
Avni: I had some knowledge of making fake reports and other things. Aman did not remember anything and that was a plus point for me. I made the fake reports and changed the reports with the help of Staff.
Neil shocked.
Neil: but why did you do that?
Avni looks at him.
Avni: I had lost Riya, I did not want to lose Aman if Papa punish him and throw him out of the house then he will completely be spoiled by living with those boys and I did not want that.
Neil: Are you human?
Avni frowns.
Neil: because as I know a human can never be that much selfless.
Avni smiles.
Avni: if you were at my place, you will also do that.
Neil looks at her and looks down.
Neil: how you made your family believe you?
Avni: that report was enough though they had doubt but I confused that and they all were shocked. Papa did not give me to the police but he gave me the worst punishment. I knew that he will do something like that so I was prepared but only I knew how I felt that day.
Avni thinks.
Flashback:
Avni and the whole family was standing there.
Ashish: we don't want to do any police case so you can go.
The inspector goes.
Ashish looks at Avni. Avni looks down, Neela maa comes to her and holds her arm.
Nm: Avni, tell me the truth, say, you are lying. I know my daughter can not do that. She can not do anything like that.
Avni: that is true, Neela maa.
Avni looks down because she knew that Neela maa will catch her.
Neela maa tightens the grip
Nm: look into my eyes and say the truth.
Avni did not lookup.
Ashish: enough of it now.
They look at him.
Ashish: there is nothing left to know more. I feel ashamed that you are our daughter.
Avni closed her eyes and clenched her dress.
Ashish: today you proved that you are not our daughter.
Avni squeezed her eyes and tear falls from her eyes. All were shocked.
Ashish: and from now we have no relationship you will live in this house but no one will talk to you, no one will have any relationship with you.
Avni was looking at him with tearful eyes.
Ashish was about to go but stops he turns to her.
Ashish: and you will not attend the last rituals of Riya.
Avni shocked.
Avni: papa, papa please I will accept whatever you will say but please let me come. I want to see her last time after that I will never get that chance.
Ashish: you will not come. That is your punishment that you will not see her.
Nm: Ashish...
Ashish stops her by his hand.
Ashish: no one will come between it and why do you want to see her, hmm you killed her and now you want to see her.
Avni shocked.
Ashish: I don't want to give her soul any type of pain. You took her life now at least let her rest in peace.
Avni's eyes were teary.
Ashish: no one will talk to her if you talk then my relationship with that person will also end.
All shocked.
Ashish: Arnav, come with me we have to take Ri...
He stops and goes and Arnav was looking at Avni he comes to her and was about to keep his hand on her head but Ashish called him and he goes by wiping his eyes. Avni was standing there all go and she was looking at them she left alone and after some time she goes to her room and heard Riya's laughter by looking at the room she saw their picture and goes to pick it and she hugs that. She falls on her knees and cries badly by hugging that picture.
Flash back ends.
Avni wipes her tears and sighs deeply. Neil was looking at her and was thinking how can someone be so kind-hearted and good. Avni squeezes her nose and looks at Neil.
Avni: so this is my story. I hope you will not tell anything to anyone.
Neil was looking at her.
Neil: How did you do that? You are bearing your father's hatred to just save your brother.
Avni shook her head.
Avni: it is not only about Aman it was for my whole family if papa got to know the truth then he would break and if he throws him out of the house then we would lose Neela maa she would have always been worried for him so I saved all by doing that. The suffering of one person is better than the suffering of the whole family.
Neil was looking at her. Avni smiles.
Neil: don't you think that your family should know the truth and what if Aman is still taking the drugs then?
Avni: no he left that. As I told you, my eyes are on him.
Neil: when he was not caught then how did he leave drugs?
Avni: when he saw that what punishment papa gave to me then he got scared and that what I wanted. He did exactly the same what I thought. He threw all his drugs packet and went to the rehabilitation centre by saying that he is missing Riya and wanted to change his mind. I was very well aware of his each and every step and since that time he had to consume drugs.
Neil: Did really your family stop talking to you?
Avni nods.
Avni: not completely but things changed badly. When papa would be at home I spent my day in the room and when he went office then sometimes Neela maa and bhabhi came to meet me. I left sitting with them as me and papa almost fight daily on something. I completed my education and started my own business by taking a loan from the bank and I had my parent's property and I made myself busy in the work so that I would not face papa.
Neil was just looking at her.
Avni: but with time family's behaviour changed towards me and things came to the right place but papa never forgive me and the wall is still between us and I don't think it will fall someday.
Neil: you can break that wall.
Avni was looking at him.
Neil: A long time had passed now he will also not get angry with Aman I think.
Avni: no, now if the truth will reveal then he will get angry at himself and will never forgive him. I know him, this truth will break him.
Neil remains silent.
Avni: promise me you will not tell that to anyone.
Neil: I already had promised you.
Avni: then keep your promise.
Neil: don't worry I will not tell that anyone but I want Aman's blood to test. I can't take any risk.
Avni: but Neil.
Neil: don't worry I will manage he will not get to know anything.
Avni nods.
Neil: ok now sleep I will drop you home tomorrow.
Avni nods. Neil goes to the couch and lays there and Avni laid on the bed they were looking at each other.
Neil in mind: I am lucky that a strong girl like you is going to be my life partner. I am feeling proud of you.
Avni in mind: I am feeling lucky that an understanding life partner I got.
They look at each other and sleep took over Avni as she was exhausted she sleeps and Neil was looking at her and sleeps by staring at her.