Chapter 39:
Mehta house was written on the board and inside it, the Mehta and Khanna family were standing. Neela maa shows the fake smile and goes to the Khanna family.
Nm: what a pleasant surprise? Please come, come inside.
The Khanna family smiles fakely.
Shweta: yes we went to the hospital to meet Avni but got to know that Avni had been discharged so we came here.
Nm: You did right. Please come.
Neil was looking at Avni. Arnav touched Aman's arm and signed him to take the bag inside. He nods and goes.
Neil: what are you doing here? I told you to take a complete rest.
Avni looks at Ashish. Neil follows her gaze then he looks at Avni.
Neil in mind: something had happened but what? Avni just came from the hospital.
Nm: why are you standing please come, sit.
Bebe nods and signs them let's ok.
Neil: Avni, go to your room and take a rest.
Avni: I will go after some time.
Avni comes to sit on the couch. Neil was looking at her. Neil also comes and sit.
Bebe: how are you now, Avni?
Avni: much better, Bebe.
Bebe: good.
Avni smiles and Neil's eyes were on Avni.
Nm: it's good you came, I also wanted to talk to you.
Shweta: what?
Nm: ab as we all know that Avni and Neil's wedding was on next month but now Avni's condition is like this so...
Prakash: don't worry, Neela Ji, we understand we also thought to postpone the date.
Avni shocked.
Avni: I am sorry to interrupt but I am fine there is no need to postpone the wedding.
Neil was looking at her.
Neil: ab Neela maa, Papa if you don't mind, can I talk to Avni alone.
Mehta family looks at each other.
Ashish: aa yaa sure why not.
Neil: thank you, Papa.
Neil signs Avni come. They get up and go to Avni's room. Neil locks the door, Avni saw that. Neil comes to Avni.
Neil: what's the matter?
Avni looks at him.
Neil: I know something had happened and where were you going?
Avni: I am leaving this house.
Neil shocked.
Neil: what?
Avni: yes.
Neil: but why?
Avni: because Mr Mehta thinks that he is doing a favour on me by keeping me here.
Neil frowns.
Neil: means? Tell me, clearly.
Avni told him everything and she doesn't understand that why she shares everything with Neil. She shared her past with him, she broke down in front of him and now she is sharing the recent incident with him. She is not that Avni who hide the truth with excellence.
Neil: Avni, see I know it hurts but you are weak right now and needs care so please ignore these things and take proper rest.
Avni: I am tired, Neil. I am tired now I don't have the strength to fight more, to tolerate his hatred. When he talks, his words stabbed my heart like a knife.
Neil: but you choose this path.
Avni looks at him. Their eyes lock. Avni breaks that and looks away. Neil signs.
Neil: Avni, understand he does not know the truth. You were his pride, he had some expectations from you. He is hurt.
Avni: but that doesn't mean that he will hurt me always. I admit that he is unaware of the reality but there is a word "forgive". Can't he forgive me? Four years, Neil. Four years had passed. If I broke his truth then I had achieved many things. I tried my level best to cope with his expectations. Why? why I do hard work to maintain my status? I do this for him. If I close my business still, I have that much money that I can live my life comfortably but I want him to feel proud of me. It gives me happiness when people praise me and he feels proud of me that time the smile which I see on his face, for that smile I do hard work.
A tear falls from her eye and Avni wipes that. Neil feels bad. Neil was speechless he doesn't know what to say.
Neil: ab aan.
Neil signs.
Neil: I don't know what to say. As a doctor, as a friend, I will suggest you stay here it is just a matter of one, two months.
Avni: not possible. I had decided that I will go to my parent's home.
Neil: is it your last decision?
Avni nods.
Neil thinks.
Neil: what if we marry in fifteen days?
Avni shocked and looks at him. Neil was waiting for her reply.
Avni: but...
Neil: what is wrong with it? We had already decided that.
Avni thinks and calculates that one week of their trip, one week after the trip, one week of her hospital and now 15 days are left.
Avni: but our families are thinking to postpone it.
Neil: I will handle that.
Avni thinks and looks at Neil.
On the other side, the Mehta family was worried that what Avneil are talking about? Why did Neil ask that? The Khanna family was also tense but both families were trying to hide that.
On the other side, Avneil were looking at each other.
Neil: let's go all must be worried.
Avni nods she was about to go but she stopped and holds her head. Neil saw that and Avni holds his arm. Neil holds her hand and the second hand was at Avni's back.
Neil: what happened?
Avni looks at him and their eyes lock. Avni can see affection in Neil's eyes. Avni looks down.
Avni: my head.
Neil: I told you to take a proper rest but you never listen to me now see.
Avni remains silent.
Neil: come.
Neil takes her to the bed and made her lay. Neil covers her with a blanket.
Neil: did you eat something?
Avni shook her head and smiles.
Avni: I had a grand welcome so I did not get the chance to have anything.
Neil feels bad.
Neil: I am asking Bhabhi to make you eat something light.
Avni was looking at him.
Neil: take care.
Neil goes and Avni thinks.
Neil comes to the living area.
Neil: Bhabhi, please make something light for Avni she has to take medicine.
Sonia nods.
Nm: Avni?
Neil: her head was spinning so she is having rest.
All shocked.
Nm: what?
Neil: relax, she is fine. Because of injury, it is happening.
All sighs. Neil looks at his family.
Later, Khanna Family was sitting in their home and were shocked.
Shweta: what?
Prakash: what's the hurry, Neil? She just came from the hospital.
Neil: Dad, Avni and Ashish papa argued and she was going to leave her home. Because of her past, Ashish papa is angry with her if she leaves the home then she will be alone and she needs family's support and care now.
Bebe: I also feel that tension.
Neil looks at her.
Shweta: but fifteen days are less.
Neil: but it was preplanned on that date.
Shweta: I know that but because of Avni's accident we did not start preparations.
Neil: we have many days. Avni's team will handle the decorations and all. We just have to do is the shopping and I don't want a grand wedding.
Shweta: sorry Neil but you are our only son I want a grand wedding and I can wait for Avni's recovery.
Neil looks at her.
Neil: mom?
Shweta looks away.
Prakash: Shweta Ji, understand.
Neil: ok fine we will do a grand wedding but for that, we have to do two functions in a day. Like haldi in the morning and mehndi in the evening.
Shweta: Neil, Avni's hand is injured where she will apply Heena?
Neil looks at her. Neil's phone rings and he saw Avni's number.
Neil: excuse me.
Neil goes to talk.
Neil: hello.
Avni: Hi. Ab, I just called you to say that no need to say anything to your family. You are their only heir they have some dreams for your wedding so let them do what they want. I will manage. I had tolerated everything till now. I can tolerate that for some more days.
Neil: are you sure?
Avni: yes and thank you for understanding me and thinking about me. It means a lot.
Neil smiles.
Neil: we are friends so friendship's rule number one: no sorry, no thank you.
Avni smiles.
Avni: I didn't know that Gorillas also know friendship rules.
Avni smiles.
Neil: very funny.
Avni: ok now bye.
Neil: ok, take care, bye.
Neil cuts the call and smiles.
At late night, Avni was walking on the road wearing a hoody and song mujhe yuhi kar ke khuwabon se juda from patiala House.
Mujhe yu hi karke khwabo se juda.
Jane kaha chhupke baitha hai khuda.
janu na mai kab hua khud se gumshuda kaise jiyu rooh bhi mujhse hai juda
kyun meri rahe mujhse puche ghar kaha hai kyun mujhse aake dastak puche dar kaha hai.
Rahe aisi jinki manzil hi nahi dhoondo mujhe ab mai rehta hu wahi.
dil hai kahi aur dhadkan hai kahi sanse hai magar kyu zinda mai nahi.
Flashes when Avni was happily living with family.
Ret bani hatho se yu beh gayi taqdeer meri bikhri har jagah.
Kaise likhu phir se nayi dastan gham ki syahi dikhti hai kaha.
Aahe jo chuni hai meri thi raza rehta hu kyu phir khud se hi khafa.
aise bhi hui thi mujhse kya khata tune jo mujhe di jeene ki saza.
Avni falls on her knees and cries.
bande tere mathe pe hai jo khiche bas chand laqeero jitna hai jaha.
Aansu mere mujko mita keh rahe rabb ka hukum na mitta hai.
Rahe aisi jinki manzil hi nahi dhundho mujhe ab mai rehta hu wahi.
Avni wipes her tears and signs deeply. She gets up and goes. Ashish's words had hurt her deeply.