Chapter 71:
At the time of night, in a beautiful resort, Avni was sitting on the bed and a laptop was kept in front of her. Her eyes were teary and the phone was kept at her ear. She holds her wrist and suppressed her lips. Neil was on the other side, his condition was the same. He was also crying.
Neil: Avni.
Avni closes her eyes.
Neil: Avni, please say something.
Avni: hmm.
Neil closes his eyes.
Aman was standing behind him they were in Avni's office.
Aman: Did she receive the call?
Avni heard that.
Avni: Ne, Ne, Neil, no.
Aman took the phone from Neil.
Avni was about to cut the call.
Aman: don't try to cut the call, Di. I will never talk to you.
Avni heard him.
Aman: why are you running, hmm? What do you think if you don't come to my wedding and I will do that? Never.
Avni: Aman, please try to understand.
Aman: I don't want to listen to anything. You are coming back from the next flight and that's final.
Avni: I have work.
Neil was looking at Aman.
Aman: I don't know anything I want you here that's it.
Avni: Aman, listen to me.
Aman: no, you listen to me. You have work, fine, do your work and come back but don't be in the delusion that I will get married without you. We have postponed the date for one month and it will be postponed till you will not come. And yes, don't think that I forgave you. No, I am still angry with you how can you think that I will get married without you. Don't you know what are you to me? You are more than mamma for me.
Neil looked at Aman now he understands that their love is of another level. They are not only siblings but like mother and son.
Aman: you are my mother. I slept more on your lap than mamma.
Neil thinks.
Aman: And you thought, I will get married without you.
Avni smiled with teary eyes.
Avni: Idiot, you are already married.
Aman smiled and wiped his tears. Neil was looking at Aman.
Aman: Woo, I was emotionally blackmailing you.
Avni laughed out and her eyes were teary.
Avni: Duffer.
Avni wiped her tears.
Aman: please Di, come back and else I swear, I will not marry.
Avni remains silent.
Aman: Now, talk to Jiju, he has lost his five Kg weight in your tension.
Avni smiles slightly. Aman gives the phone to Neil. Neil looked at him. Aman signed ok, relax. Aman goes away. Neil kept the phone at his ear and turns. Both were silent and wanted to hear the voice of each other. Neil cleared his throat.
Neil: hmm.
Neil looked away. He was angry with her for cutting off her completely from them.
Avni: hmm.
Neil: I will reach home in an hour and will call you. And don't you dare to switch off your phone or not attend my call.
Avni smiles.
Neil: ok.
Avni nods.
Neil: words. I can't see your nod from the speaker.
Avni smiles.
Avni: then how do you get to know?
Neil: because I know, my wife is dumb.
Avni smiled.
Neil: I will call you, bye.
Neil cuts the call.
Later, Avni was sitting on the bed, her phone rings. She immediately picked the call but did not say anything. Neil was standing near the wall and looking at their pictures. He sat and touched the pillow and bed sheet. He goes to the window and Avni also goes to the window. They looked at the moon. Neil squeezed his nose and wipes his eyes. He looked away. Avni's heart pinched to hear his sobbing.
Neil: so?
Avni: so?
Neil wipes his nose with his hand's back.
Avni: I am coming back, tomorrow.
Neil: your wish.
Avni: you don't want me to come back.
Neil: when did you listen to me? When did you go by asking me? You went by your wish now it is upon you when you want to come.
Avni smiles. He is talking to her, taunting her and complaining to her.
Avni: OK then I am not coming.
Neil: you think it is a joke.
Avni's smile faded she knows he is hurt.
Neil: this all is a joke.
Avni: I didn't mean that.
Now Neil was emotional.
Neil: you did not even think for a second that what would happen to us if we had no contact with you. You just think about yourself but what about us? Why do you think about Neil, who is he to you?
Avni whispered: my life.
Neil heard that.
Neil: what did you say?
Avni realized what she said.
Avni: aa nothing. OK, Neil, I have some work. I will talk to you, tomorrow. Bye.
Avni cuts the call.
Neil: Hey, listen.
Neil saw the call is cut. He smiled because Avni cover up her sentence. Neil shook his head. Neil sighs because Avni is safe now he is relieved.
On the other side, Avni was standing by clenching her phone. She was happy because she talked to Neil after so many days. Neil was with his family but she was alone far away from all. Avni was smiling.
Avni: yes Neil, you are my life, my strength and my love. I have realised my feelings. After living away from you, I have realised how much I love you. I love you, Neil.
Avni blushes and smiles with teary eyes.
That night, both Neil and Avni were happy and relieved. They were thinking about each other and sleeping peacefully after so many days.
After one day, an airport was floating with people. Avni comes there and looks around. She smiles to see Neil who was looking at his phone. Avni comes to him and clears her throat. Neil turns his face. They looked at each other and were lost in the eyes of each other.
Neil: how are you?
Avni: fine. How are you?
Neil: Good.
Avni: You seriously have lost your weight. You were not having food on time, right?
Neil: how can I wish to eat anything when I had no idea where my wife is? How is she?
Avni looked down.
Neil: and what are you saying to me, look at yourself you are also looking weak.
Avni: I was missing my family.
Neil replied sarcastically: yeah that's why you didn't want to keep in contact with us.
Avni looked at him.
Neil: anyways, let's go everyone is waiting for you at home.
Neil takes the trolley and they go. Soon, they reached home where the Khanna and Mehta families were present. Avni meets all. Neela maa hugs her and cries. Avni's eyes were teary.
Nm: are you ok?
Avni nods. Neela maa caresses her face. Avni wiped her tears. She moves to Shweta who hugged her but was angry. Avni saw that. Avni took blessing from Bebe and was about to hug Bebe but she stopped her.
Bebe: it's ok.
Avni's eyes filled with tears. Neil looked at them.
Neil: Bebe...
Bebe stopped him. She looked at Avni.
Bebe: what? Got hurt? Now understood how we felt when we did not get any information about you. You did not even think about us for once.
Avni shook her head. Avni holds her ears.
Avni: I am sorry.
Bebe: will you repeat it?
Avni shook her head.
Shweta: promise?
Avni: promise.
Bebe and Shweta looked at each other.
Bebe and Shweta said together, ok we forgave you.
Avni and Neil smile. Avni hugs Bebe.
Bebe: we were worried about you.
Avni: I am sorry.
Avni breaks the hug then she hugs Shweta and looked at Aman who looked away. Avni goes to him.
Avni: you will not meet me?
Aman shook his head.
Avni: are you sure?
Aman nods.
Avni: ok then why did I come back? I am going back.
Avni turns. Aman turns her to him and hugs her. Avni smiles. Aman cries.
Aman: don't you dare to go back.
Avni smiled with teary eyes.
Aman: I am sorry, Di. Please forgive me. I am responsible for everything. Because of me, you got hurt. Please forgive me.
Avni: ssshhh.
Avni caresses his hair.
Avni: calm down and forget everything.
Avni breaks the hug and cups his face.
Avni: now I am back we will have a lot of fun at your wedding.
Aman and all smiles. Avni looked at Ashish she looked down. She turns to family and smiles.
Avni: I am coming after changing.
Avni goes. Neil looked at the family and goes after Avni. Neil entered the room but before him, Avni went to take shower. Neil thinks.
Avni comes downstairs and Neil looked at her. Avni sits with the Shweta and Neela maa.
Avni spend the day with the family and Neil was craving to spend time with her. He was talking with Arnav and Aman and looking at Avni from time to time. Avni looked at Neil and saw he is talking with Arnav.
At night time, Avni was setting the bedsheet. Neil comes after changing his clothes. Avni looked at him and resume the work she keeps the hair strand behind her ear. She again looked up then she sets the bedsheet. Neil was also feeling awkward. He looks here and there Neil keeps the sleeves of his t-shirt up because of awkwardness. His phone rings. Avni looked at Neil. Neil goes to the table he picks his phone. He looked at Avni and goes to talk on the balcony. Avni looked at him and think.
Neil cuts the call and comes back to the room. He saw Avni is sleeping. Neil smiles to see her and goes to the bed. Neil sits on his side and caresses Avni's hair and kissed her forehead. Neil thinks.