Hello.. thought it will be better to reverse roles in sponge bath scene for more benefit ;) Enjoy reading!

And do keep up with the comments and the votes.. :)

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Neil raised an eyebrow skeptically. Avni had just asked him not to worry about calling another nurse as she could herself take injections and bath.

Neil - "I did not know that Avni madam did a medical course as well. How would you be so sure about injections for example!"

Avni smiled and got her medicine kit. Then she prepared an injection and then in front of Neil who stood gaping before her with an open mouth, she sanitised the injection spot with spirit and then without flinching administered the injection to herself.

Avni looked at him and smiled after that - "Now do not be too surprised. After all you hardly know about my past !"

Neil - "I know.. Infact I can guess how you know all this!"

Avni- "Batao kaise!" (tell me how)

Neil - "You are a junkie! My god that explains everything!"

Neil looked up to see Avni's anger rising and knew it was time to cut his losses.

"Achcha baba. I was just kidding. Main apni biwi ko.. I mean apni dost ko drug addict thode hi bolunga.." (ok.. ok..i will not call my wife.. i mean my friend as a drug addict)

Avni appeared to calm down after that but then Neil could not help himself and added - "After all i am a super cop! I do know the symptoms of drug addiction!"

Avni flared up again after that at which Neil raised his hands in a quick defeat and said - "Ok.. Sorry sorry. Just kidding. But tell me Avni.. how do you know this"

Avni smiled and then said -"When I was hospitalised as a kid after the gunshot. I was discharged after sometime as I did not have any money left for treatment. I could not afford a nurse. So I learnt how to apply injection to myself!"

She looked at Neil and he had lost all color and happiness..

Avni hesitated - "Neil.. I am sorry. I did not want to tell you gory details from my past. Forget it"

Neil spoke finally - "No. It is good that I know...", he was silent for sometime as if thinking and then again said - " Avni I think I know you well and then some thing comes up and I realize that what all contributed to making you the brave person you are.. It just increases my respect for you and brings me more and more in awe of you. Tumko pata hai Avni.. aur koi hota to toot jaata. But my Avni is a survivor.. I am proud of you." (if it were anyone else they would have broken..)

It was Avni's turn to be quiet now. It was nice to have someone understand and appreciate her. She would simply share details with Neil from her past that she could not have shared with anyone else. It was liberating.

Neil said - "Achca then let me prepare your sponge bath. You can take it after that"

He left and Avni kept on looking after him, feeling alone as he walked away from her. In the deepest corners of her heart, she was wishing that she could hug him once more.