I have already  mentioned first romantic gesture in avneil's relation will a step taken by Avni... So here it is.

Do read carefully.
😉🤭

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Neil: avni.. I'm sorry..

But the next moment, avni jerked his hands off her. She looked into eyes. Her eyes had pain and tears.

Avni: woh sab kya tha?

Her words didn't had any strength within them. They were mere whispers.

Neil swallowed a lump in his throat and looked here and there.

Neil: maine bulletproof vest pehan rakhi thi.

He said all this in one go but his heart knew it was wrong faking his own death and that too in front of Avni.

He was very well aware about her sensitive heart. Still he joked with her.

Neil: avni... I... I can explain...

Avni: WHAT?!! what will you explain? Kya explain karoge aur kyu explain karoge...

By this moment her eyes had gone red and teary. She wanted to let out all her anger and frustration.

Avni: Tumhare liye tumhara kaam sab se important raha hai... Humesha se... Maine kabhi nahi kaha.. Kuch nahi kaha... Samajhti thi main tumhara kaam hai it's important... Lekin.... Kya main important nahi hoon? Mere feelings mere emotions... Koi maayne nahi rakhte?

Neil looked on with teary eyes. She was right. Neil had always prioritised his job rather their relation.

Avni: Pata hai us pal mein kya biti hai mujhpe... Dar gyi thi main... Dil ki dhadkane ruk si gyi thi... Lekin tumhe kya? Tumhare liye job important hai bas...

She held her head and back faced him.

Avni: congratulations Mr. Khanna Tum ek acche police wale ban gye ho... Very good... You are the best police officer in town lekin... ek acche pati... You failed it.

Neil who till now had his head down raised to look at her. Tears rolled down his eyes too. He wanted to be the best avni could have but the reality stood somewhere away from this.

Neil: main yeh sab... Sabko bachane ke liye... Tumhe sahi salamat rakhne ke liye kiya...

A small chuckle escaped avni's lips.

Avni: yaha bhi tumne pehle sab ko bachane ki sochi.... Main tumhari list mein dusre number pe hoon.... Tum mere liye important ho... Maine tumhe humesha priority di hai lekin tumne... (Sighs) pata nahi Kyu Neil kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai ki humara pyar ek tarfa hai...

Neil looked her in shock.

Neil: avni...

Avni: lekin ek baat yaad rakhna Neil... Ishq ho to mukkamal rahe warna ek tarfa zidd hoti hai aur main apni mohabbat ko zidd nahi ban ne doongi...

Neil: I love you...

There was a tinge of surprise in her eyes.

Neil: I love you avni... Aaj se nahi kab se chahta hoon main tumhe... Tumhare birthday pe bhi maine tumhe isiliye bulaya tha... Maine kaha bhi tha par..

Their was a question in her eyes. Was this the truth or he is playing another card yet again?

Neil: yeh sach hai avni... Jis din tum mujhe pehli baar mili thi na i swear main kho gya tha... Meri shadi riya se hone wali thi Lekin mere dil mein tum bas gyi thi... Us ek mulaaqaat ne ki kuch aisa asar kiya tha mujh pe...

Neil: Pata hai avni jab shadi ke phero ke liye baithe the tab bhi riya ko yaad karne ki jagah tum mere dil mein aayi thi... Jab mujhe pata chala ki meri shadi tum se huyi hai... Mere andar ek ajeeb si khushi thi... Lekin darta tha ki kahi tum kuch aur na chahti ho...

Neil: Pata hai jab abhimanyu pehli baar aya tha... Mujhe itna dard hua tha... Mujhe laga tha ki tum usko hi pyaar karti ho after all tumhara bachpan ka dost Hai woh... Maine tum pe kabhi shaq nahi koya tha main bas insecure hogya tha... Mujhe laga tha ki main tumhe kho dunga avni jo main nahi chahta tha...

Neil: You know tum itni acchi ho... Main tumhe kabhi hurt nahi karna chahta tha... Main... Maine kabhi apne kaam ko apni priority nahi banaya... Main sirf tumhe tumhari space dena chahta tha... Chahta tha ki tum mujhe usi tarah apna lo jis tarah main apna chuka hoon...

Neil: Chahta tha ki main tumhari chahat banu... Jaise... Jaise tum meri ho... Avni... Tum meri mohabbat, chahat, ibadat, aadat, sab ban chuki  ho... Ab isse badh kar koi khwaahish nahi hai meri. Tum meri...

His words were cut short by pair of soft lips on his.

The clock struck 12. The dark night sky above their heads was now illuminated by chain fireworks from city centre.

He was shocked at her stunt.

She kissed him!

Her lips worked on his. He was so lost in the sweet taste of her lips on his. The fireworks outside were never seen or heard by them instead the crackers bursted in their bodies.

It was their first intimate moment. The hugs and cheek kisses never gave such shivers down their spines.

Avni was boldly leading the kiss. She sucked and licked his lips. Her arms wrapped around his neck while left hand roamed in his hair. Her right hand gripped the collar of white leather jacket Pulling him more into herself.

The thing that bothered her was an irresponsive Neil. He was too shocked to react. His hands laid to his sides. Avni bit his lower lip getting him out of trance.

He winced slightly and grabbed her waist in both hands. A small whimper escaped her lips feeling his cold hands on her bare waist.

Following her lead Neil started responding to her lips. He moved his in a sync with hers.

It could have been an eternity if breathing could be ignored as vestigial. Feeling her breathless Neil parted and pushed her a bit. His hands securely held her waist.

Their lungs were trying hard to compensate the loss of breathing they had been through. Panting heavily Neil joined his forehead with avni's.

Avni: I love you too Neil... Bohut pyaar karti hoon main tumse... Kab aur kaise nahi pata... Lekin ab mera din tumse shuru hota hai aur tum pe khatam... Har subah main tumhe chahti hoon. Har pal, har lamha main tumhare liye jeena chahti hoon... Humare liye jeena chahti hoon

The next moment avni wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him as tight as she could. Neil closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her petite waist. This was what he had promised.

Neil: do din mein diwali hai... I promise ki is baar diwali ki aatishbaazi hum ek saath dekhenge... Ek dusre ke haath mein haath de ke... Sirf hum dono, apne pyaar ka izhaar karenge... Sirf hum...

Under the night sky with fireworks in background they will confess their hearts to each other. A satisfactory smile came to his lips. The love of his life was in his arms, her face rested in the crook of his neck, while her lips continuously muttered some phrases of love to his ears.

Avni: I love you Neil... Nahi reh  sakti ab ek pal bhi tumhare bina I lo....

She gasped feeling a sharp pain in her right shoulder. The same moment Neil felt some drops of cold liquid on his face. He frowned.

Seperating avni from him he looked at her face. It was all pale at once. The sound of firecrackers have subsided by now. Now the pain in her eyes was not of hurt but physical. His left hand reached for her right shoulder. He frowned feeling something wet on it.

Taking it back to himself he gasped in shock seeing blood all over his hand. She was shot.

Neil looked at avni who stood there in pain. Her eyes had gone dry of tears now. She held his left hand looked into his eyes. Slowly she lost her balance and fell to her side.

He stood there trying to comprehend what actually was going on when his eyes fell on a shadow behind the last wall of the bungalow. It showed a person with gun in his hand.

By now the pain in Avni's shoulder had gone several notches higher. She let out a soft scream. Neil immediately sat beside her taking her head in his lap.

Avni: Neil...

Neil: avni...

The fear of loosing her dawned upon him once again.

Neil: avni... Kuch nahi hoga... Hoga tumhe... Kuch nahi.

The sound of firecrackers have managed to snub the sound of the gunshot. Nobody was even aware of the situation avni and Neil were facing.

Neil: avni... Avni mujhse baat karo... Come on avni... Speak... Bolo...

She was in pain. Her eyes were drooping down. She was shot on the back of shoulder into the bone which is way more painful. But being in police and a professionally trained officer he knew the victim in any accident or gun fight should not be allowed to close his or her eyes or loose conscious.

Neil: DD!! SHIVAM!! avni aankhein kholo...

Avni opened her eyes in pain. She was not able hold anymore. Her breathing was irregular.

Avni: Neil... I'm sorry... Mujhe tumpe gussa... Nahi karna...

Neil: avni... Come on avni bolte raho.. Bolo... Kuch bhi bolo.

He patted her cheeks trying to make her stay awake.

Neil: DD! SHIVAM! SIDDHARTH! KOI HAI? Avni... Baat karo... Kuch bhi bolo... Mujhe maar lo... Daant lo... Kuch bolo avni...

Avni weakly shook her head sideways looking into his eyes. By this time DD and Siddharth had already reached the site. They were shocked to find a bleeding avni in Neil's arm. Her breathes were laboured.

DD: sir yeh sab...

Neil: ambulance ko bulao please... Avni... Avni...

By now He was crying hysterically. Nothing in this earth can make him normal. He wanted his lifeline. He wanted his avni.

Avni: Neil... Mujhe.. Jeena hai...

She used her remaining energy and Saying these words she fell unconscious due to continuous bleeding.

Neil sat there staring at her pale lifeless face.

The medical team took avni away to the nearest hospital.

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It's been 4 hours Neil was sitting on the bench in front of the operation theatre. There was no sign of any doctor or the team coming out of the OT.

His ears still played avni's last words.

Avni: mujhe... jeena hai.

His mind was still stuck at the moment when avni fell down from his arms.

Tears began rolling down his cheeks. He felt a soft hand on his shoulder. Turning to the sides he found prakash and shweta standing there. They were followed by mehta family. Bebe and Dayawanti chose to stay home with the kids.

Seeing his family with him his hands immediately wrapped around shweta and he burst out crying.

Tears rolled down every eye witnessing this. Neela was taken into a consoling hug by ashish. While Anurag and prerna stood with each other.

Neil: maa... Avni...

Shweta: bas baccha... Sab theek ho jayega.. Sab theek ho jayega...

She made him leave her and saw his face. It was red because of weeping. She gently wiped his tears and cupped his face.

Shweta: avni bilkul theek ho jayegi...

Neil: sab... Sab meri galti hai... Sab...

Shweta: nahi Neil is mein teri kya galti?

Neil: nahi maa... Avni ki haalat meri wajah se woh... Aise..

He was cut short by another anger filled voice.

Voice: Sahi kaha tumne...

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