Chapter 160:
It was the time of the evening, the birds were hovering in the sky and the roads were floating with the vehicles. The people were going and coming out of the hospital. Some people were passing by the corridor. In a room where the newborn babies were kept in incubators, Avni was standing near the glass and Neil was standing by side hugging her. Avni touched the glass. She got emotional. Neil rubs Avni’s arms and kissed her temple by removing his mask and again he wears the mask. Avni looked at Neil who cupped her face and nodded. Avneil looked at the baby.
Avni: baby, please come to mamma soon.
Avni sobs.
Avni: Neil.
Avni turned her face to Neil who looked at her.
Avni: if I go home then how will they feed our baby?
Neil thinks.
Neil: the doctor will prescribe some lactose.
Avni: but I have heard that lactose is not good for babies.
Neil cupped Avni’s face.
Neil: it is just a matter of some days then everything will be fine.
Avni looked at Neil sadly who touched his forehead to Avni’s forehead. Avni sobs by closing her eyes. Avneil looked at each other.
Neil: let’s go.
Avneil looked at Neav.
Neil took Avni outside by giving her support. Arnav was standing there with Ashish and Prakash and Bebe and Neela maa were behind Avneil. Neil took Avni to the car and Arnav opened the door. Avni turned to Neil.
Neil: sit.
Avni: you will not come with me?
Neil: you want me to come with you?
Avni: I am stuck. Half side of my heart wants you to come with me but the other half side wants you to stay here with Neav.
Neil smiled.
Neil: hmm, it is such a complicated case.
Neil and others smiled and Avni made a sad pout. Neil pulled Avni’s cheek.
Neil: aww, my cute wifey. Sit, I am coming with you.
Avni: Neav?
Neil: relax, he is the son of the owner of the hospital. He is enjoying the special treatment.
Neil smiled and Avni also smiled slightly.
Neil: sit. I will come back after dropping you there.
Avni was not satisfied because she is going to the Mehta house by leaving her family and especially the two important people who are her family. She was worried for Neav as till now staff was feeding the milk to Neav and now she is going and she was also worried for Neil as his schedule is already hectic but now one more thing will add to it and that is, he will daily visit Avni in the Mehta house. Avni felt that she is sounding selfish by going to the Mehta house.
Avni was about to say.
Neil: get in the car.
Neil made Avni sit and closed the door because he knew that Avni will stop him from coming with him and he doesn’t want that so he made her sit in the car. Both families were smiling and Neil shook his head while looking at Arnav and he was smiling. Neil gave his car’s keys to Aman to come so Ashish and Aman go there and Neil goes to the other side of the car and he gets in the car.
Neela maa sat with Arnav on the front side. They go from there.
The sun was shining in the sky and was peeping into the Mehta house where Neil made Avni lay on the bed and covered her with the duvet. The Mehta family was present there. Neil caressed Avni’s hair by bending to her.
Neil: are you ok?
Avni nods.
Neil: May I go now?
Avni nods.
Avni: take care and call me when you reach.
Neil: ok. Is your phone with you?
Nm: yeah, Shweta Ji had sent her luggage and phone. Sonia kept her phone on charge.
Neil: ok.
Neil looked at Avni and again he bends towards Avni.
Neil: now, I am going you take care of yourself, hmm. I will try to come in the night if not then I will come to meet you tomorrow. Ok?
Avni nods.
Avni: please, send me Neav’s picture daily.
Neil: ok.
Neil kissed her forehead.
Neil: bye.
Avni: bye and if possible then go home.
Neil: we will go together.
Avni was looking at him.
Neil: don’t worry, my condo is near the hospital, I will go there.
Avni: ok but take care of yourself. Have food on time and don’t you dare to skip a meal. I will daily ask you.
Neil and others smiled.
Neil bends playfully: ok, madam.
Everyone smiled. Avneil looked at each other. Neither Neil wants to go nor Avni wants him to go but he has to go.
They smiled to make each other feel normal. Neil turned to Neela maa and signed her to take care of Avni. Neela maa assured him by blinking her eyes. Neil nodded then he looked at Avni and he goes after looking at Arnav and keeping his hand on his arm. Arnav kept his hand on Neil’s hand and assured him that they will take care of Avni. Neil was not ready to leave Avni there but he has not other option.
Days passed like this, Neil daily goes to Mehta's house, sometimes, one time and sometimes, twice a day. He gets tired as he was looking after of Neav, and he goes to Avni and his hospital’s responsibilities. Now, Avni was better and she also comes to meet Neav tough Neil doesn’t want her to come but she comes after one or two days.
One day, Avni was laying on the bed resting her head on two pillows. She was upset as she was missing her son, her perfect family and her home. Neela maa was looking at her by standing at the door. She thinks and looked at her phone.
On the other side, people were passing by the corridor; Neil was also passing by it and he was holding a statoscope in his hand and was wearing a white coat. His phone rang and he stopped. Neil took out his phone and frowns to see the number. Neil attends the call and he goes to the side.
Neil: Hello.
Neela maa was standing in the corridor.
Nm: Neil, can you come here now?
Neil: why? Is everything alright? Avni is fine, right?
Nm: no, Neil, Avni is not fine.
Neil was shocked.
Neil: why? What happened?
Nm: since she came back from the hospital, she is lost. Even though I am noticing her for some days, I think, she is missing you all.
Neil bowed his head. Neil looked up.
Neil: I am coming, Neela maa.
Nm: yeah, Neil, try to come soon, she is not fine.
Neil: ok, Neela maa, I am coming.
Neil cuts the call and thinks.
A car stopped outside the Mehta house and Neil entered Avni’s room. Avni’s eyes were closed but Neil understood that Avni is awake. Neil closed the door and he turned to Avni whose eyes were still closed. Neil thinks and he came to Avni. Neil sat on the bed at Avni’s head. He slides down and his legs were touching the floor. Neil caressed Avni’s hair.
Neil: Avni.
Avni opened her eyes and she saw Neil. Avni’s eyes filled with tears.
Avni: Neil.
Avni turned to Neil and she hugs Neil who also hugs her with one arm as he was laying on his elbow.
Avni: Neil, I don’t want to live here please take me with you.
Neil: Avni, it is just a matter of one day, Neav will get discharged tomorrow.
Avni smiled with teary eyes.
Avni: you are saying the truth?
Neil moved back and Avneil looked at each other but was hugging each other. Neil nods. Avni smiled with teary eyes and hugs Neil again.
Avneil was laying on the bed and Avni’s head was on Neil’s chest and was hugging Neil. Neil was also capturing Avni in his arms. Avni’s eyes were closed. Avni opened her eyes and thinks.
Avni: Neil?
Neil: hmm?
Avni: were you serious about the second baby?
Neil looked at Avni and then he looked up. Avni waits for Neil’s reply.
Neil: yes, Avni, I was serious.
Avni got sad.
Neil: I was, I am and I will be serious about it. And I don’t want any discussion on it.
Avni remains silent. Neil looked at her and he wants her to keep it in her mind so he also remains silent. Avni thinks.
Later, Neil feeds Avni with his hands and Avni also feeds him. They smiled to see each other.
At the time of the night, Neil and Avni were standing with the family in Avni’s room.
Neil: Now, I should go.
Nm: stay here, tonight, it is raining outside.
Neil: but?
Ashish: Neela is right, stay here.
Neil looked at Avni who was looking at him. Avni wanted him to stay but she did not ask him to stay.
Nm: it is your home also.
Neil looked at Neela maa then he looked down and smiled.
Neil: ok.
Avni and others smiled. Avneil looked at each other.
Later, Avni and Neil were laying on the bed and Avni was in Neil’s arms. Avni’s eyes were closed. She clings to Neil. Neil smiled. Neil kissed Avni’s forehead.
Neil: you were missing me?
Avni: I was dying for you.
Neil made a face.
Neil: Avniii.
Avni: sorry. I was missing your warmth.
Neil smiled.
Neil: I was also missing it.
Avni smiled with closed eyes and she looked up at Neil who looked at her and smiled. Avni moved up and she pecked Neil’s lips.
Avni: I love you.
Neil also pecked Avni’s lips.
Neil: I love you too.
They smiled.
The next morning, an ambulance stopped outside the hospital where Avni and Neil were standing in the room and a nurse took Neav in her arms and Avneil got emotional to see Neav. The nurse gave Neav to Avni slowly who got emotional. A tear falls from Avni’s eyes and Neil’s eyes were also teary. Neil side hugs Avni and he kept his hand on Neav’s head and Neil squeezed his nose. Neil kept his hand on Avni's hand with she was holding Neav and Neil was side hugging Avni also. Avneil looked at each other and smiled to see each other with teary eyes. They looked at Neav. Neav rubbed his nose with his hand and Avneil smiled to see it. They looked at each other and then they looked at Neav. Avni kissed Neav’s forehead and cheek.
Avni: my baby.
Avni touched her forehead to Neav’s forehead. Neil also touched his forehead to Neav and he kissed Neav’s forehead then Neil touched his forehead to Avni’s forehead and Avni cries. Neil smiled.
Avneil was standing at the door of the Khanna mansion and it was a day time. Shweta, Bebe and Prakash were standing there and they welcomed Avneil with the new member.
Shweta: come.
Avneil smiled to see each other. Neil signed Avni to come and they kept the step together to the home and they came inside. Avneil was smiling but when they looked up, their smile faded and were shocked to see the person. Maddy was standing there. Avneil were shocked, they looked at each other and then they looked at Maddy. Avni holds Neav in her arms tightly and carefully. The fear engulfed her as she thought that Maddy came to snatch Neav from them.