Once Avni was done taking his measurements, she & Mrs. Sinha were accompanied by Ali towards the other players. However, the intact grin on Neil's face had got him earn a "we-need-to-talk" look from his best friend before he left.
Smiling to himself, he moved out of the room & made his way towards the ground for practice. However, upon reaching there, he witnessed a heartwarming view. A small kid, around three years of age, was roaming around the ground. Neil watched her walking around with her little feet, losing her balance sometimes, & then she sat on the ground, playing with the grass. Chuckling, he too sat besides her on the ground.
N- Hi, Sugarboo! What'cha doin here? -he almost cooed to her & in an instant she looked at him with her big wide eyes.
Baby- I shugbu no! -she corrected him as she stood up.
N(smiles)- Okay. What's your name then, Princess? -he followed her small steps.
Baby- Seher! -she told while taking out a half eaten chocolate from her small bag-pack.
N- Hi, Seher! I am Neil. Wanna be friends? -he asked as he sat on his knees to match her height, taking out his hand for a handshake.
S- Do you know Mumma? -she asked while looking at him with scrutinizing eyes.
N(confused)- Ah, no, I guess! Why?
S- Mumma says not to be friends with strangers! -she wiped the chocolate near the corner of her mouth, but it spread even more!
N(sighs)- Hmm! Mumma is right but, I am no stranger, you see! You can call me Buddy. So now you know me! -he tried with hopeful eyes but the kid here was no easy nut to crack.
S- Buddy who? -she questioned.
Neil just smiled at the curious little munchkin in front of him. But before he could come up with an answer to her question, a familiar voice was heard.
A- Seher! Baby, come here! -both Seher & Neil turned around to face Avni.
Both Avni & Neil were shocked to see each other there. Avni didn't want any problems at her workplace, that too at the first day itself. And, for Neil, it was a whole different story. He couldn't figure out if he was shocked, surprised, disheartened or flabbergasted. The girl he was thinking to pursue had a kid! Now, that apparently meant that she was married & of course, there was no chance for him!
A- Ah, Neil...I am so sorry if she bothered you. Actually, I had to take her to work today as....
N- Hey! Hey, Relax! Its alright. And she didn't bother me! In fact, she is such a cutie! -he passed a genuine smile which she reciprocated back.
S- You know Mumma?
N- Seems like I do! -he flashed a small smile towards Avni & then turned to Seher.
Lifting her up in his arms, he smiled at her.
N- Wanna be friends now? -he asked & she nodded almost immediately making him smile.
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After an exhausting session of ground practice, Neil was finally going home and since he & Ali shared an apartment, they were together in the car.
Ali- What's wrong with you? Subah toh itna chehak rha tha tu, being all mushy & lovey-dovey aur ab Devdaas wali shakal bna rakhi hai?
N- Nothing ya! Just tired. -he said, leaning onto the glass window, looking out on the road.
Ali- That girl....in the theatre, was it Miss. Mehta? -he asked cautiously.
N- No!- he answered almost in an instant, as if he knew what his next question would be!
Ali- For how long do you think I've known you, Neil? You think I'll buy that? Its very clear that it was her & you're clearly into her!
N- Its nothing like that, Ali. Main tujhse jhoot kyu bolunga, yaar! - he averted eye contact.
Ali(sighs)- Pta nahi! -& there was a long silence that followed.
While Neil was figuring out how to feel about all this, Ali was contemplating how to cheer his friend up!
Ali- Neil, she is single! -he said slowly, making Neil surprised.
N(shocked)- What? -he turned towards him, now sitting straight.
Ali- She is a single mother. Her marriage...it didn't work out, her husband was abusive & one day, Avni caught him cheating upon her, so she just divorced him. She came to Mumbai when Seher, her daughter was one month old. Neil, she is a very nice woman, independent, empathetic & mature! Look, I won't stop you from pursuing her, cause she is one in a million & the people that she came across just didn't know her worth. But, being your friend, I'll definitely ask you to be careful about it. She is not alone, she has a kid too! -he told him everything, slowly & softly, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Neil didn't say anything for as long as ten minutes. Neither did Ali, as he knew that Neil needed time to think through it.
N- Tujhe pta hai tu aur main bestfriends kyu hain? -he asked making Ali confused. Kyuki, you understand me even when I don't want to be understood!
Ali- Thoda jyada filmy nhi hogya? -he said, making Neil laugh!
Once the laughter died down, it was silent again.
N- Ali, I know that if ever it happens, it won't be an easy one, but its worth a try. I'll try my best to make it work out, of course if she wants it too! -he said with determination evident in his voice while Ali gave him an encouraging smile, knowing that it was going to be the start of a beautiful relationship.
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Next Day:
Neil was coming out of the players' sauna when he heard someone talking on phone, a familiar voice.
N- Is it Avni? -he thought.
A(on call)- Mumma, I'll be home by evening. Please take care of her till then. I need to shop for the fabric for the outfits today, its urgent. She must be crying as we got her the vaccine last day. And, please give her that syrup if she gets a fever. Okay, bye!
Disconnecting the call, she sat on the bench there. Just looking at her Neil knew that she must be blaming herself for what was happening around. And, for some reason, he didn't want her to feel that way.
A- I must be the worst mother alive, who leaves her baby behind even when she might get a fever! -he heard her say under her breathe, disappointment audible in her voice.
Quickly getting out of the sauna, he rushed up to Ali's cabin.
N- Ali, can we get the fabric delivered to the designers from the suppliers directly?
Ali- But Miss Sinha said that she'll pick it up herself. Why are you asking? Is there a problem?
N- Seher is ill & Avni can't get to her as she has to shop for the fabric!
Ali- Ah...I doubt, if we can get it supplied directly. But, if get the list & specifications of the fabrics that need to be bought, we'll buy it ourselves & get it supplied to their office. What do you say?
N- I think that would be cool!
Ali- Alright, I'll ask my PA to get the specifications from Miss Mehta. She might buy the fabrics along with her help over a phone call.
N- Okay!
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Avni got home as soon as Ali's PA let her know that they wanted to get the fabric on their own. Initially, Avni wasn't convinced at the proposal, but after talking to Ali she got to know that the Football Team had a sponsor in the form of a fabric company & that was the reason that they wanted the fabric from them only. Taking it as a help from the universe, she accepted it & went back home to her little bundle of joy.
Thankfully, Seher hadn't got a fever & the pain due to the vaccine subsided soon. She was now back to her chirpy self.
It was evening now, Avni had finished all her home chores & had even assisted Ali's PA over the call for buying the fabric, now all she needed to do was to make a final inspection before starting to work on the outfits. But, that was a work to be done the next day. So the evening could be used as a date with her daughter. Sighing in relief, she got dressed, after dressing Seher up. The mom & daughter duo went to the nearby mall where Seher enjoyed herself in the game-zone while Avni enjoyed watching her.
After sometime, they went to the nearby restaurant to have dinner. It was a small & cozy place, & didn't attract much customers in winters but Avni liked it because of its subtle ambience. Ordering the food, she was playing with Seher when someone came up to them.
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