Heya!!

Hope you all are doing well.

*************

Avni was giving a head massage to Neil.

Neil: I love you.

It was totally out of the blue. Even though Neil said it but his voice was merely a whisper. Avni at once stopped her hands and frowned.

Neil realised what he said and closed his eyes.

Avni: kya kaha tumne? (raising eyebrow)

Neil cursed under his breath and turned slowly. His feelings were genuine but he was not sure of her reaction.

Neil: Av.. avni woh.. (stuttering)

Avni: kya bola tumne neil mujhe sach mein suna hi nahi.. dobara kaho..

Neil sighed as she had not heard anything. he began to find an excuse.

Neil: I owe you... haan I owe you one.. (smiling nervously)

Avni frowns and pouts. 

Avni: ab yeh kis liye?

Neil: woh tumne mere sir ka dard door kar diya na..  isiliye.. warna mera sir dard itni asaani se jaata nahi .. 

He smiled nervously at her trying to cover up for his words.

Avni: oh accha... to clearly bola karo na pehli baar mein samajh hi nahi aaya mujhe.

Neil: accha hai nahi samajh aaya.

Avni: kya? (confused)

Neil: ab.. woh.. main... 

He tried to find words to get out of this situation. 

Neil: haan woh mujhe nind aayi hai.. ab sir dard gayab to nind aa gyi hai.. bye good night.

He hurriedly got up from the carpet and layed on the his side.

Avni sat there looking at his antics.

Avni: Pagal ladka (shaking her head and smiles)

She stood up and went to the washroom. As she was applying soap on her hands her eyes stopped at her arm with ointment on the finger prints made by Neil.

She recalls Neil shouting on her for being careless and not caring about phone. Tears build up in her eyes.

Avni: tum meri kitni fikar karte ho Neil... Par ab main tumhe kaise batau ki phone switch off hua nahi tha ... maine khud kiya tha...

 She looked at her reflection. 

Some flashes come up in her head. She shut her eyes and tried to ward them off. Her breathe was starting to get labored. Sweat started to form on her forehead. Tears began to flow down her cheeks.

She closed her eyes. A smiling face of Neil came up in front of her. She opens her eyes with a jerk.

Avni: main kisi bhi kimat tumhe sach nahi bata sakti Neil.. i'm sorry...

Her hand went to her Mangalsutra clutching it in her fist she closed her eyes trying to control her sobs.

 Taking few deep breathes she walked outside only to find Neil sleeping on his back. 

She smiled a bit and sat next to him. Her hand caressed his hair lightly so as not to wake him. 

Avni thought of something and laid on the bed turning her face towards Neil's. Soon sleep took over her.

The wall clock struck 3 AM, A loud thunder resonated all around. 

Avni stirred in her sleep. She tried to shift near Neil but frowns on not finding him.

Avni frowned and sat upright on the bed. Her eyes went to the empty side of the bed.

Avni: (to herself) yeh Neil kaha hai? Teen baj rahe hai  is waqt kaha ho sakta hai... baarish bhi ho rahi hai...

She looked at the balcony the door was closed. Her eyes went to the washroom door but it was open.

Avni: Waha bhi nahi hai..

She was about to step down the bed when the main door of their bedroom opened. Avni looked at it. 

It was Neil standing there. His face was pale but a small smile was there on his lips.

Avni: Neil... itni raat ko kaha gye the? baarish itni tez ho rahi hai.. so jao... ajaao...

Neil smiled and took a few steps towards her. 

Before Avni  could comprehend anything, he fell with a thud. 

Avni rushed to him. She was shocked to see the back of his white t-shirt fully blood soaked.

Avni: Neil.. neil.. yeh Kya?

She was too shocked to react. her throat somehow managed to get these words out.

Avni: Neil.. 

she kept on shaking him desperately. Her eyes went to door of their room only to see a fully sleeved gloved hand holding a blood coated knife.

Avni began to hyperventilate. 

Avni: Neil.. Neil... 

she was shaking with fear her hands now had Neil's blood on them. She felt her world coming down.

Avni: Nahi.. yeh nahi ho sakta.. Neil.. NEIL...

Neil: Avni.. avni... AVNIII...

Avni woke up with a jerk. She was all sweaty her heart rate was running a marathon. 

It was all a dream... Avni looked around only to find Neil sitting beside her rubbing her back to calm her.

Avni looked at her hands. There was no blood at all. 

Neil: shh.. Avni kya hua? tum theek ho? 

She looked at him with wide eyes.

Avni turned towards him. Her hands frantically moved on his body to find any injury or traces of blood.

Avni: Neil.. tu..tumhe kuch hua to nahi na.. woh. woh. aa...admi.. Cha.. Chaaku... Chaaku...

Her breathes were not normal. her eyes were no more dry. Fresh stream of Salty water rushed to her eyes.

Neil was shocked to see her in this state.

Neil: shh.. Avni.... mujhe kuch nahi hua dekho.. I'm fine... Yeh lo paani piyo...

He took a glass of water to her lips. Avni drank 2 sips.

Avni: Tum..  tum.. tum mujhse door mat jana... tum...

She was time and again looking at the door.

Neil realised she must have had a nightmare. He gently cupped her face.

Neil: avni.. main kahi nahi jaa raha avni... koi kahi nahi jaa raha hai...

Avni placed her hands on his hands. Tears began flowing uncontrollably. 

Neil just took her in his embrace. Without a word, Without a question.

His hand was constantly stroking her hair while the other one held her close to him firmly.

Avni clutched the sleeve of his White T-shirt in her fist while her other hand went to his back holding him firmly.

Neil: shh.. bas ek bura sapna tha... hmm...

She was still shivering out of fear.

Avni didn't even realise when she slept in his arms still in sitting position.

Neil felt whole of her weight on his shoulder and looked down.

He gently placed her on the bed and tried to get up but Avni held him tightly. he looked at her.

Her face had tear stains and lines of worry were clearly distinguishable on her forehead. Her breathes were returning to normal.

Tears formed in his eyes. He knew she was strong very strong but what happened today was completely indigestible. He cannot even think of any  harm to her even in dreams.

Neil placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Another thunder struck. Avni clutched him even more tightly than before. 

Neil adjusted himself and took her in his arms. Placing a light kiss on her hair and caressed her head.

The night went by..

Sun shone brightly waking up all the sleeping souls.

A girl is seen sleeping draped in covers. Her face looked pale but she was beautiful.

A man walks into the room folding his sleeves. His slightly wet hair indicated that he's directly coming from the shower.

Standing in front of the mirror he took the brush and began to brush his hair. 

Keeping them in his desired place his eyes fell on a thread with Yellow Black beads on it with a small diamond pendant. It was the mangalsutra he gifted his Wife on their wedding day. He took it in his hands and looked at the reflection of his sleeping wife. A smile formed on his lips.

His eyes glanced the wall clock. 

Man: yeh avni abhi tak so rahi hai phir kahegi ki maine nahi uthaya...

Keeping the mangalsutra back on its place he walked to his sleeping wife.

Neil: Avni.. uth jao.. dekho 8:30 ho gye hai.. late ho jaogi...

Avni didn't even stirred.

Neil walked to the dressing table taking his watch and placing on his wrist.

Neil: Avni...

Neil sighs and walked to her. He was about to caresses her forehead intending to wake her.

As his hand touched her forehead he was shocked to find her burning with fever.

His eyes widen.

He sat beside her and started petting her cheeks.

Neil: avni.. avni utho.. avni...

but Avni layed there unconscious. Neil touched her forehead and cheeks.

Neil: oh god Avni ko itna Tez bukhar hai.. ab main kya karu?

He rushed to the cupboard to fetch the thermometer. Checking the temperature, it was 104°F 

Neil: 104°F... Doctor ko call karta hoon.

He grabbed his phone and dialled the doctor.

Shweta was setting the breakfast table when Bebe came up.

Prakash: good morning bebe. (Smiles)

Bebe: good morning... (Smiles)

Shweta: good morningss bebe...

Bebe: haan haan good morning... Yeh bacche kaha hai? Abhi tak nahi aaye?

She found it weird as avni usually gets up earlier than them.

Shweta: haan bebe pata nahi... Mujhe to kal bhi un dono ke beech koi fights huyi lagti thi...

Prakash: haan bebe tension to Mujhe bhi dikhi thi..

Bebe: ab bhai woh log samajhdaar hai... Apna niptara khud hi kar lenge...  Tum log ab ka dekho... Jaa shweta bula ke laa..

Shweta nodded and was about to move when they heard Neil calling.

Neil: maa!! Bebe!! Maa...

All were confused at his voice. They sensed some sort of panic in his voice. 

They immediately moved upstairs to Avneil's room and were shocked seeing Avni laying on the bed and Neil Kneeling beside her. He was having a wet towel in his hand.

Prakash: Neil puttar sab theek hai na?

Neil turned and saw his family. He stood up and hugged Bebe.

Neil: bebe.. Avni..

There were tears in his eyes. It seemed like he was scared out of life.

Bebe: Avni kya puttar?

Neil: Bebe Avni ko bohut tez bukhar hai.. Uth bhinahi rahi bol bhi nahi rahi... 

He stood in front of prakash holding his hands. 

Neil: Dad...please doctor ko phone kijiye na.. maine kiya tha par woh utha nahi rahe.. please dad.. meri avni...

Prakash: shh.. main karta hoon.. tu shant hoja puttar...

Prakash called the doctor.

Everyone was worried for her. Neil sat beside her. He was constantly placing a wet towel on her forehead.

Bebe and Shweta rubbed her hands and feet.

Soon the doctor arrived. Everyone was sent outside the room.

Bebe: Neil kal raat tak to Avni theek thi na...phir achanak?

Neil: pata nahi bebe... Woh theeek to ho jayegi na? (worried)

Prakash: Neil .. kuch nahi hoga Avni ko... 

The doctor came out.

Neil: doctor.. Av.. Avni... theek hai na?

Doctor: ji haan Mr. Khanna Avni ji bilkul theek hai... Its just ho sakta hai unhe koi strress yaa  tension ho.. main detailed reports shaam tak de dunga.. Abhi unhe ek aadhe ghante mein hosh aajayega... uske baad. yeh kuch medicines aap unhe de dena.. light breakfast ke baad.

Neil nods taking the medicines from his hand.

Doctor: ek baat aur... ho sake to unhe kuch din ki rest karne dijiye...

Neil: ji doctor.

The doctor left.

Neil: Bebe aaplog bhi khana kha lijiye...main yahi Avni ke paas rukta hoon.

He went inside and sat by her side. Holding her hand he recalled Avni taking care of him. 

Neil: Kya karti ho Avni? saari duniya ka khayaal rakh sakti ho par apna nahi... Utho sahi phir batata hoon tumhe...

He took his phone and dialled a number.

Neil: Hello DD.. aaj main police station nahi aa raha... tum log sab dekh lena.. jo bhi meeting hogi woh sab kal ko dekh lena... haan okay... 

He caressed her forehead and sat there.

It was some minutes later another Phone bell heard. It was Avni's phone. He took it and saw it was Abhimanyu calling. Neil frowns.

He answered the call.

Abhi: hello Avni.. kaisi hai tu? acchi hi hogi.. meri baat sun woh jo Mr. kumar ke designs kare the humne uski soft copy bhej dena... Kapoor sahab maang rahe hai..

He was constantly speaking one or the other thing not letting Neil speak anything.

Abhi: hello avni sun rahi hai na? 

Neil: haa sun raha hoon main.

Abhi bit his tongue on finding Neil on call rather than avni. He silently thanked God he didn't said anything against him.

Abhi: (in mind) shukar hai bhagwaan maine avni se jallu khanna ka haal nahi puch liya... Warna mera to phone ke andar se hi encounter kar deta yeh...

Neil: ab bolna kyu band kardiya... Bolo na...

Abhi: Neil tum... Ab sorry mujhe nahi pata tha tum ho... Avni kaha hai? Usko phone do na urgent hai...

Neil looked at avni who was still laying unconscious.

Neil: (to himself) agar abhi ko bataya avni ki tabiyat kharab hai to neela maa ko bhi bata dega... Nahi nahi...

His trance was broken by abhi.

Abhi: kaha khi gye Neil... Avni se baat karwao na...

Neil: haan karwa deta par avni abhi busy hai... Matlab... Woh

Abhi: woh?..

Neil: naha rahi hai... Tyaar ho rahi hai... To nahi karwa sakta baat.

Abhi: offo Neil itti si baat... Accha tum hi meri help kardo...

Neil: haan bolo...

Abhi: woh avni ke phone ki gallery mein na ek folder hoyega... Kumar designs karke... Woh mujhe whatsApp pe forward kardona...

Neil: avni ke phone pe. (Skeptical)

Abhi: Neil avni tumhari biwi hai... Maine usike phone se bola hai... Tum itna kya soch rahe ho?

Neil: accha main dekhta hoon...

Abhi: thanks.

Neil enters the pin in the phone and opens gallery. He searched the folder and forwarded it to abhimanyu.

While exiting the app a strange number intrigued him.

Neil: yeh number....

=^._.^= ∫
=^._.^= ∫

Kiska number hai woh?

What's the reason behind avni's strange behavior?

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Take care.
❤❤