Everyone: KYAA!!

Neil stood there holding the letter in his hands. Hearing each and everybody in the hall gasp with shock his hands refused to pull open the envelope. He didn't wanted his family to know anything about his suspension.

Prakash: yeh aap kya keh rahe hai comissioner sir...

Shweta: mere bete ko naukri se nikalne wale aap kon hote hai?

Bebe: naukari sarkar ki hai aap ki personal nahi ki jab man chahe nikala jab man chahe rakha.

Prakash: aur bina kisi baat ke aap aise kaise nikal sakte hai...

Commissioner stood there with eyes wide open listening the whole Khanna family rant together. Every time he opens his mouth to say something he is shushed down with one or the other comment by them.

Commissioner: arrey lekin...

Shweta: lekin vekin kya? mere bete ki naukri khane wale bhooke Halloween ke kaddoo... i makes your bharthaa...

Comissioner: kya?

He gulped listening these threats from shweta. she was literally rolling up her sleeves as if she'll really beat him up.

Comissioner: arrey ab jo DCP ban gaya hai main kaise usko ACP bolu?

Bebe: arrey DCP bana ho yaa kuch bhi... Ek minute... kya kaha aapne?

She questioned him narrowing her eyes at him.

Comissioner: Neil ko promote kiya jata hai...

Neil: sach mein sir!!?

Comissioner: haan baba... tumhari family ki dhamkiya sunne ke baad main jhooth bolne ka soch bhi nahi sakta... is letter mein yahi likha hai..

A wide smile made way to each of their faces. Neil hurriedly tore off the envelope revealing the white paper that had the best news he could get. He was promoted and not only that.. he was also to be awarded for his extraordinary performance during the case.

 Prakash took the paper from neil and showed it to shweta and bebe. They were very happy and congratulated each other. Neil looked at avni not saying anything avni smiled at him. 

Shweta: haaye mera raja beta... me prouds of you tillu!!!

She said in an ovwe joyed way pulling out neil's cheeks while all other giggled.

Shweta: aur aap na comissioner sirji... khana khake jayiyega... maine KADDU ki sabzi banayi hai.

Comissioner: arrey nahi nahi.. mujhe bas thoda kuch kaam hai.. main jata hi hoon...

Bebe: tension na lo... vegetarian kaddu hi banaya hai.

Everybody burst out in laughter including the comissioner himself.

Comissioner: nahi nahi phir kabhi sahi... neil tumhe award function mein pahunchna hai with family... proper ceremonial dress code...

Neil saluted him and agreed to each and everything he said. Comissioner looked at Avni, who stood there beside Riya and Gauri with a sling in hand. He walked to her and placed a light hand on her head.

Comissioner: tum bhi bohut bahadur bacchi ho... God Bless You beta...

Avni smiled and nodded.

Comissioner: police department ki wajah se aap sab ko jo bhi dikkat huyi hai main maafi chahta hoon...

Shweta: okay bye sir... agli baari khana khake jana...

The comissioner walked out of the hall. DD and Shivam stood there looking at Neil with wide smiles on their faces. There was a reason to smile for everyone but their smiles seemed dangerous to Neil.

Neil: tum dono aise kyu dekh rahe ho?

DD and Shivam looked at each other and the next moment neil was pushed down to the ground with they two on the top of him.

Everyone in the hall looked at them before bursting out in fits of laughter.

Neil laid there groaning in pain due to the sudden push. DD and Shivam realised their hug was injurious to Neil.

Shivam: sorry sir...

Both immediately stood up dusting their clothes before giving neil one hand each. Standing straight Neil grabbed his lower back trying to soothe down the pain.

Neil: gadho... yeh kya tha?

DD: bhalu japphi...

Neil: Kya?

Shivam: arrey sir... Bear Hug. zor se laga kya? dard ho rahi hai? (biting his inner cheek)

Neil: Nahi gudgudi ho rahi hai... Gadhe kahi ke... tum ram lakhan ki jodi na mujhse bees foot door raha karo... aas paas aate hi mujhe todna shuru kar dete ho.

Gautam: (controlling his laugh) it's okay neil... woh to bas apni khushi zaahir kar rahe the...

Neil: aisi khushi? (horrified expressions) inko koi samjhao mere spare part nahi aate market mein...

He complained like a child.

Gautam: accha chal chod na... aaja gale lag ja bhai... congratulations!!

He hugged him. one by one everybody congratulated him.

Bebe: chal bhai shweta aaj to kuch khaas ban na chahiye.. lag ja tyaari mein..

Prakash: haanji shweta ji... Tab tak Neil tu avni ko le ja araam kar legi thodi der.

Avni: nahi papa ji main theek hoon...

Bebe: nahi beta... thakaan ki wajah se bukhar aa sakta hai.. isiliye araam karo jaake..

Avni tried resisting but nothing worked and at the end she had to leave and go to her room.

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

Sitting in the bed with her head leaning on to his shoulder Avni drew some random patterns on his chest while he played with her hair. Holding her left hand in his he kissed it lightly bringing it closer to his face.

Neil: Thankyou Avni...

Avni: kisliye?

Neil: Aaj subah main resignation letter mail karne wala tha... tumne rok liya mujhe... uske liye thankyou...

Avni thinks.

Avni: waise tum har baar apne matters ke faisle itni jald baazi mein kyu karte ho? phir kisi se poochte bhi nahi... kisi ko batate bhi nahi...

She propped her head up looking at him.

Neil: (taking a deep breath) mujhe nahi pata Avni... 

Avni: Is baar yeh aakhri baar hai main tumhe maaf kar rahi hoon... agar agli baar aisa kiya na to..

Neil: to...?

Avni: main mayeke chali jaungi... tum dekhte rahiyo...

Neil: (frowns) yeh to kisi movie ka gaana lagta hai...

Avni: gana hi hai... woh kal bebe yeh wali movie dekh rahe the... to mujhe bhi dekhni padi saath mein...

She said hearing Neil's light laughter. It was obvious Neil laughs at her innocent words.

Neil: avni...

He said placing his fingers under her chin. She looked up and hummed in reaction. Looking into her eyes gave a sense of immense relief to his heart. These six months of their marriage he's been used to such things.

Avni on the other hand felt something strange in his eyes. Where he had care and respect for her before, was now having love in his eyes. This was the first time after the accident they have been looking into each other's eyes for this long.

His hazel eyes moved to and from from her dark eyes to her lips. She could feel his breath on her face. She could feel his heart beating under her hand. That was fast.

Neil didn't noticed when his hand slipped down to her waist pulling her into him completely. Avni gasped feeling his cold hand on her waist. Even though she wore a shirt but still she could feel his cold hand.

Neil: I love you avni

His words were mere whispers. Avni could only nod to his words. Don't know why but she felt speechless.

Steadying his hand in the nape of her neck he closed his eyes and leaned in. It was almost a kiss when the door was banged hard.

Neil: isi waqt aana tha kya sabko?

He murmured to himself and stomped to the door. Avni sat there trying to calm her breath. She felt her heartbeats going wild. Setting her hair she sat straight in the bed looking at the door. Neil walked to the door only reveal little gauri standing there with her hands crossed against her chest.

Gauri: chachu.. door aapke bed se kitna door hai?

Neil and avni looked at each other confused. He looked at the ground and then at Gauri.

Gauri: bolo na..

Neil: yahi kuch.. 6 feets.

Gauri: to six feets tak aane ke liye aapko six years lagenge? Jaldi aao.. dadi aapko bula rahi hai... dinner ke liye...

She turned. she was about to go when she turned back.

Gauri: abhi mere jate hi dobara door mat band karna.. warna 6 years aur lagenge...

Neil looked at this little grandma. The way she scolding him for not opening the door in time. Avni chuckled seeing her expressions.

Avni: kon kahega yeh 4 saal ki bacchi hai...

Neil: exactly.

Both walked downstairs.

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

Next morning

Avni: gadhe... kaha reh gaya hai tu.. kabse tera wait kar rahi hoon.

She said to someone on call. 

Avni: dekh... 5 minute mein tu mujhe ghar ke saamne chahiye... Neil filhal ghar pe nahi hai.. to main jaa sakti hoon.. woh to kabhi nahi aane dega mujhe... jaldi aa.

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

Few days went by. Today was a very special day for Khannas... especially Neil and Avni. It was the day Neil is to be awarded for his excellent services.

Avni was getting ready in bebe's room while Neil was using theirs.

Dressed in a cute pink coloured sari she looked at herself in the mirror. Indeed she looked pretty. It was the second time she wore a sari. Her mind wandered about how would Neil react seeing her. Thinking something to herself she smiled and stood up.

Bebe: kaha jaa rahi ho beta?

Avni: woh bebe.. Main dawai lena bhool gyi thi... main jati hoon...

She ran out of the room without sparing any glance at bebe. But as we all know.. "bebe sab janti hai" She chuckled at her excitement of going back to her husband.

Avni reached their room. Standing in front of the door she took a deep breath. without any knock she opened the door. 

Her eyes felt like popping out seeing the scene in front of her.

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