Chapter 156:
It was the time of the morning, the sun was shining and birds were hovering over the hospital. Avni was admitted to one of the rooms of the hospital. Avni was laying in a fowler’s position and was looking at the door. She was surprised to see the Khanna family and Mehta family together.
Everyone said together: surprise.
Avni smiled to see them. Aman and Sonia popped the party popper. They were carrying balloons, gifts and baskets of fruits. Avni was happy to see them. Neil was standing behind them keeping his hand in his jeans pocket. and he peeped into the room. Neil smiled to see Avni. Everyone came to Avni except Neil. Bebe came to Avni and she caressed Avni’s hair and kissed her forehead.
Bebe: congratulations.
Avni smiled.
Avni: thank you, Bebe.
Bebe sat on the bed in front of Avni.
Bebe: how are you?
Avni: fine.
Bebe smiled. Shweta came to Avni and she cups Avni’s face and kissed her forehead.
Shweta: congratulations and thank you so much for giving us such a precious gift. This, this feeling is something new.
Avneil smiled.
Shweta: I have no words to describe my happiness.
Bebe: then leave it.
Everyone smiled except Avni. She looked at Shweta.
Shweta: Bebbeee…
Bebe: Shwetaaa…
Avni hides her smile by suppressing her lips. Neil chuckles by standing outside.
Shweta: Avni, see.
Avni: Bebe, this is not fair you always do this to mummy Ji.
Bebe: so, I am her mother, I have the right to tease her.
Avni smiled. Prakash came to Avni and kept his hand on Avni’s head.
Prakash: congratulations and thank you for giving us a precious gem.
Avneil smiled.
Prakash: people say right that all the luxuries of life are on one side and the happiness of becoming a grandfather and grandmother is on one side. Thank you, my child. God bless you.
Avni smiled. Neela maa and Ashish came and stands on the other side of the bed. Neela maa caressed Avni’s hair. Avni smiled and looked at her.
Nm: congratulations.
Avni: thank you, mamma.
Ashish: congratulations, Princess.
Avni smiled and they heard the sound of a party whistle and Avni closed her eyes. Neil looked around as noise is not allowed in the hospital.
Aman, Arnav and Sonia: congratulations.
Avni smiled.
Avni: thank you, thank you, thank you so much to all. Thank you for this sweet and cute surprise. Thank you. I can’t express in words how bored I was feeling.
Everyone smiled.
Avni: you know, Bebe, mummy Ji, that Tillu is not letting me meet my baby.
Everyone was surprised to hear Tillu and Neil widens his eyes.
Neil: Tillu?
Neil looked here and there and thankfully no one was there. Everyone smiled. Neil nods and a frown was on his head.
Avni’s eyes filled with tears.
Avni said cutely: I want to meet my baby. I want to see him, touch him, and feel him. I have only seen him on Neil's cellphone.
Everyone felt bad and Neil got angry with himself and was feeling helpless.
Shweta caressed Avni’s hair. A tear falls from Avni’s eyes and Neil peeped into the room but was not able to see Avni. Avni wiped her tear.
Shweta: don’t worry, I will see this Tillu, he made my daughter cry.
Nm: bacha, Neil is thinking about your betterment.
Avni looked at Neela maa cutely and she remained silent because she agreed with Shweta. Neil thinks.
Neil entered the room and his hands were in his pocket. Neil was looking at Avni who looked at him and then she looked away. Neil smiled to see her. Everyone smiled to see them. Neil looked at both families and then he looked at Avni who was looking away. Neil cleared his throat.
Neil: was someone missing me?
Everyone smiled and looked at Avni who was not looking at anyone. Avni sets her hair with her hand.
Neil: I heard someone call me.
Avni: Bhabhi, how is Arav? He didn’t come?
Sonia smiled. Neil shook his head.
Sonia: no. He wanted to come but he had to go to school.
Avni: oh and Aman, Kareena?
Aman’s smile faded. Everyone got serious and they looked at Aman.
Aman: she is there where she was supposed to be. She is at home.
Avni was looking at Aman. Arnav smiled fakely.
Arnav: Avni, what name have you thought of your baby?
Avni and Neil looked at each other and then Avni looked away. Neil and others smiled. Neela maa and Shweta looked at each other. Neela maa signed let’s go and Shweta nodded and then they signed to the others. Neil was looking at them, he was feeling a little bit awkward and shy so he scratched his nose. Avni saw they are going and she frowns. Avni looked at her both families and they were going.
Avni: mamma. Mummy Ji. Bebe. Papa Ji. Bhai.
Everyone goes. Neil was looking left and right as everyone was going. Neil looked at Avni who was looking her both families. Everyone passed by the door. Neil also looked at the door. Avneil looked at each other and then Avni looked away and jerks her hair. Neil smiled to see her and he came to Avni.
Neil: hmm. So, you are complaining to mom and bebe about me, hmm.
Avni did not look at Neil.
Avni: so, you broke your promise, so, I complained to them about you.
Neil frowns and he shook his head.
Neil: when did I promise you?
Avni looked at Neil.
Avni: last night. Last night, you told me that you will take me to our baby and chances are there that they will take the baby here.
Neil: yeah, that’s true.
Avni imitates Neil: yeah, that’s true.
Neil made a face and Avni looked at him.
Avni: what true, I did not meet my baby till now.
Neil: Avni, you can meet our baby today. I am just waiting for Doctor Prachi’s reply.
Avni: I don’t want to listen to anything, I want to see our baby.
Neil made a face and his phone rang. Neil took out his phone and he saw Dr Prachi’s number.
Neil: doctor Prachi.
Avni was looking at him. Sho got alert. Neil picked up the call and he was going.
Avni: Neil. Neil.
Neil goes. Avni got irritated.
Avni: tch.
Avni was waiting for Neil after some time, Neil came there and Avni looked at him. Neil was smiling but something strike his mind and he made a sad face.
Avni: what happened? What did she say? I can meet my baby, right?
Neil was looking at her.
Avni: say, Neil.
Neil came to her and Avni was looking at him. Neil turned to Avni.
Neil: doctor gave you permission to meet our baby.
Avni smiled.
Neil: but you can meet him only on one condition.
Avni frowns.
Avni: what condition?
Neil was looking at her. Neil sat on the bed.
Neil: you will not ask me for a second baby.
Avni was shocked. Neil kept his arm on his knees and forwards his hand for the promise.
Neil: promise me. Promise me that you will not pressurise me for a second baby. Our tiger is enough for us.
Avni: but, Neil.
Neil shook his head.
Neil: no, Avni. No, if, no but. Promise me. Only after that, you can meet our baby.
Avni avoids eye contact.
Avni: we will talk about it later.
Neil shook his head and he took a deep breath.
Neil: no, Avni, you have to promise me. I can’t handle this all again. I don’t want to lose you.
Avni: I am fine.
Neil: yes but I don’t want to put your life in danger again.
Avni was looking at him.
Neil: I can’t live with fear. We have our baby and it is enough for us. A child specialist did his check-up and said, he is better now and soon, we can take him home.
Avni got emotional. She smiled with teary eyes.
Avni: really?
Neil smiled and nodded.
Neil: I don’t want any other child. You, me and our son we will live together with our perfect family. Our cute, little family, our small world, where we will happily live in our small world.
Avni smiled with teary eyes.
Neil: we don’t need any other child.
Avni: we can discuss it some other day.
Neil shook his head.
Neil: promise me.
Avni was looking at him. Avni thinks.
Avni: ok, ok, I promise.
Neil shook his head.
Neil: not like this. Hold my hand and promise me.
Avni looked at Neil’s hand then she again looked at Neil. Neil signed Avni to hold his hand. Avni was looking at Neil and was in a dilemma that what to do. Avni moves her hand and her hand was shaking. Neil looked at Avni’s hand then he looked at Avni. Avni kept her hand on Neil’s hand. Neil smiled.
Avni: I promise.
Neil looked at Avni.
Neil: complete the sentence, Avni.
Avni was looking at him.
Neil: say, I promise, I will not ask for a second baby.
Avni was looking at Neil.
Avni stammers: aaaaI, I, pro, promise, aaai, will, will not, aa, ask for a second, second baby.
Neil was looking at Avni who looked at Neil.
Neil: now you have promised me, now you can't back off.
Avni gulps and nods while keeping her hair away from her face.
Neil: good. I am going to talk to the nurse. She will make you wear the kit.
Avni was looking at Neil whose eyes were on Avni. Neil got up and goes. Avni was looking at Neil. Avni thinks.