Chapter 87:
Tough time tests our patience.
At the time of the night, Avni was sitting on the bench at the poolside, the day was terrible for her. She knew this day will not go well but she did not assume that this would go like this. She could not imagine that and can not imagine that. It was worst than the nightmare. She knew when the truth will come out then everything will shatter, the relations, the hearts and of course the people, if something would be left that would be a pin drop of silence. A silence that would be more painful than the noise.
Avni catches her head with her both hands but immediately she keeps her hands on the bench. She was tired, she was guilty, she was in pain. She was feeling her heart heavy because there was a burden of emotion, fear, guilty and many other emotions.
Avni: tch... I should not say those words to Neil. What was his mistake? He promised me that he will not disclose the truth and he fulfilled his promise. If Neela mas heard us then what was his fault in that, he was just consoling you, he was supporting you as a caring husband and you... Avni, today you hurt him a lot. How can you say those words to him? I should apologise to him. Yes, Avni, go and talk to your Neil.
Avni gets up and fastly goes from there. Avni entered the room and saw Neil is not there. She saw a paper on the bed under the paperweight. Avni goes to pick it up.
Avni reads: Avni, I am going to the hospital. Don't worry, everything is fine and don't take tension of Papa, I am with him. I will take care of him.
Avni thinks.
Avni: Neil is very hurt. Tch... What did you do Avni?
Avni sits on the bed and was guilty.
Neil was sitting in his cabin by leaning to it. Neil was thinking about Avni's words. Neil closed his eyes and again open them, he was hurt. On the other side, Avni was laying on the bed and thinking about Neil. The sleep was far away from them. They thought about each other.
The next morning, Neil heard a knock on the door and woke up. He looked around and realised that he is in his cabin. Neil runs the hand in his hair and pinches his eyes to clean them.
Neil: come in.
A ward boy comes with a file.
W.B: sir, these are reports of bed no 34.
Neil takes them.
Neil: ok, you can go.
The man nods and goes. Neil gets up and goes to wash his face. Neil came back. He rubbed his forehead.
Neil: my head... Neil, you need a coffee. first, check papa then anything else.
Neil goes. He checked Ashish and read the papers. Neil talked to Arnav and Neela maa then he goes to his cabin. Neil picked the receiver of the phone.
Neil: one coffee, please.
Neil keeps the receiver and thinks.
Neil: Avni.
Neil picked up his phone but he heard a knock on the door.
Neil: come in.
The door opened, Neil looked there and to his shock, Avni came inside by carrying a bag the tiffin was in it. Avni looked up and their eyes met. They looked at each other. Neil gets up.
Neil: Avni. Come.
Avni looked down and nods. She comes to him and keeps the bag on the table.
Avni: breakfast. I was coming here so thought to bring the breakfast for you all.
Neil: did, you have it?
Avni shook her head by looking down. Neil nods.
Neil: ok, had you given it to Neela maa and Arnav Bhai.
Avni nods.
Neil: ok, sit.
They sat. Avni wants to apologise to him but asking apology is as difficult as it is simple to hurt. Saying hurtful words are easy but finding words to apologise is a difficult task.
Avni sets the plate and Neil cancelled the order of the coffee. They silently had breakfast. The door knocked and Neil permitted the person. A nurse comes inside
Nurse: sir, a suicide case has come.
Neil nods.
Neil: Avni, I am coming.
Avni nods and Neil fastly goes. Avni was looking at him she turns her face and thinks.
Later, Avni, Arnav and Neela maa were sitting outside the ICU. Neil came there and Avni looked at him. At the same time, the doctor comes there and all get up.
Dr: he is out of danger now.
All smiled with teary eyes. Neil looked at Avni happily she also turns her face to him.
Nm: can we meet him?
Dr: yes, he got his consciousness now. You can meet him but one by one and yes, please don't disturb him.
Neil: sure doctor, thank you.
Dr: no, doctor Neil, it is our duty.
Neil pets his shoulder and nods. The doctor goes. Avni and Arnav side hugged Neela maa together and Neela maa cups their faces. She smiled with teary eyes, Avni was also emotional and a tear falls from Arnav's eye. Neil was looking at them. They broke the hug.
Neil: Neela maa, you can go.
Nm: he must want to meet Avni. Avni, you go.
Avni shook her head.
Avni: he just woke up if he saw me it will affect his health.
Nm: he is not angry with you now.
Avni: I know but he was guilty and if he saw me then he will recall all those things please mamma, try to understand.
Neil: Avni is right we can't give him stress now.
Nm: ok if you are saying so.
Neela maa goes inside. She saw Ashish and got emotional. Ashish opened his eyes.
Ashish: Neela.
Neela maa holds his hand.
Nm: I am here.
Ashish: Aa, Aav, Av, ni, Av.ni.
Nm: she is outside.
Ashish signed with his hand to call her.
Ashish: Avni.
Nm: you want to meet Avni?
Ashish nods. Neela maa nods and goes.
Nm: Avni, Ashish...
Neela maa saw Avni is not there with Neil and Arnav.
Nm: where is Avni?
Neil: she went home.
Nm: what? Ashish is calling her if she does not meet him then he will think about it and will take the stress.
Arnav: I call her.
Person: no need to call me. I am here.
They turned and saw Avni she was standing there with moist eyes.
Nm: thank God, you came. Come, Ashish is calling you.
Avni was looking at her. She looked at Neil who nods. Avni clenched her fist she slowly comes to Neela maa who keeps a hand on her shoulder and whispers go. Avni looked at the door and goes there. She opened the door and goes. She saw Ashish and slowly goes to him. Ashish opened his eyes.
Ashish: Avni.
Avni nods like a kid. She was trying to control her emotions she clenched her dress and bits her lip.
Ashish joined hands slowly in front of Avni. Avni shook her hands. She hesitates to hold his hand. Avni slowly forwards her shaking hands to holds Ashish's hand and gulps. Tears fall from her eyes. She holds Ashish's hand and shook her head. A tear falls from Ashish's eyes.
Ashish: I am sorry.
Avni cries she slowly cups Ashish's face and was crying. She wipes Ashish's tears. She keeps her head on his shoulder carefully.
Avni: I missed you so much.
They closed their eyes.
Ashish: I am sorry. I...
Avni opened her eyes and wipes her tears and moved away.
Avni: don't take the stress you just woke up. We will talk later now take a rest.
Ashish tried to talk. Avni warned him.
Avni: if you do not listen to me then I will get angry and will not talk to you.
Ashish smiled slightly. Avni also smiled. Sometimes things were not that much difficult as we thinks.
Ashish closed his eyes. Avni was looking at him she smiled slightly.
At the time of the night, Neil was sitting on the couch and working on the laptop. Avni entered the room by carrying a jug. She was wearing a nightdress. She saw Neil and thinks. Avni goes to keep the jug on the side table of the bed and slowly goes to Neil by rubbing her hands. Neil looked at her, Avni looked down, Neil also looks down. Avni comes to him and sits beside him. Neil turns his face to Avni who was looking away. Neil looked down then he turns his face to the laptop. Avni looked at him and bit her lips. She wants to talk to Neil but does not understand how to start. Avni thinks and looked at Neil.
.