In terms of purity of writing, I think this is my best chapter in AvNeil. Staying true to writing and hopefully not at the cost of our couple :)

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Neil was driving the car and it was evening now. The weather was nice due to monsoons but it was not raining presently. They had switched off the car AC and had opened the windows to enjoy the weather while driving. Suddenly Avni kept her hand on Neil's.

Neil - "Kya hua?"( What happened)

Avni - "Mann nahi hai abhi ghar jaane ka Neil. Can we spend some more time in this nice weather outside?"(Don't want to go home Neil )

Neil - "Hmm. Kyun nahi? Waise bhi monsoons will go away soon.. Lets enjoy while we can", and then he smiled at Avni and then took a u- turn. (Why not. Anyways monsoons...)

Neil took them to marine drive - a long winding road by the sea side, one of his favorite haunts in the city and probably the only place where one can be surrounded by people and still feel alone with their own thoughts. He then parked the car and Avni and Neil crossed the road to reach the cemented pathway that people sit on, facing the sea, with nothing between them and the vast sea but some rocks. Marine drive was a great leveler of people - old and young, couples in love and couples who wanted to sort their issues, rich who can afford everything and poor who cannot afford a proper house, all came here to relive some of the best moments of their lives as they used to go deep into their memories. Deep water has that effect on you..

Avni and Neil were sitting side by side as a little boy selling tea came and stood by their side. Neil took two cups and handed over one to Avni. It was now getting dark and very slight drizzle had started. Suddenly Neil laughed softly.

Avni tore her eyes away from the deep sea and turned towards Neil - "Kya soch ke hans rahe ho Neil?" (What are you thinking and laughing)

Neil - "Hamari last rain date soch kar.. When we walked to your home.. When we came close. Kitne alag pal the wo, haseen aur khushnuma.."(About our last date...those were such sweet moments)

Avni, her spirits going down a bit - "matlab, abhi tum khush nahi.."(So now you're not happy?)

Neil turned to face her sideways now, and looked deep into her eyes for some seconds. He then kept his tea cup to hold both her hands with his.

Neil - "Agar abhi khush nahi hoon, to pata nahi kab tha.. Itna sukoon pata nahi kab tha meri life mein.."(There was never more happiness in my life)

They kept on looking into each others eyes for what seemed like hours, but was only a matter of two three minutes. Then Avni's cell rang and the moment broke. She cut the call, without even checking whose call it was.

Then to make things normal she said - "Haan mujhe bhi baarish bahut bahut pasand hai. Kaafi sukoon milta hai"(ya I too like rains. Makes me very happy)

Neil turned away his eyes and started looking at the sea again. The wind was blowing from Avni's side and then touching Neil. Neil knew that Avni did not love him, but he was so so happy, even if he was not loved back by the one he loved.

Neil - "Avni.. kabhii kisi se pyaar kiya hai?"( Have you ever loved someone)

Avni was slightly surprised at this question. She was not ready to look back into her life.

Neil continued - "Maine kiya tha actually.. Ek ladki thi. Much much before I met you, Juhi.. Pehli baar maloom pada ki shiddat kya hoti hai. Pehli baar ehsaas hua tha mujhe , serious ho gaya tha main towards life.."(I did. A girl called juhi. I realized what's love. I got serious towards life)

Then Neil's eyes grew sad. Avni knew what had happened, well roughly at least. Neil and she never talked about their pasts.

But Avni wanted to hear more of Neil's voice, hypnotic and carrying a sweet pain - "Aur phir Neil?.."(And then?)

Neil continued after being prompted by her. He started speaking something, then thought better of it and stopped. He wanted to say that - 'Avni. Usse zyada shiddat se tumse pyaar karta hoon. I dont know how to live without you anymore. I love you.", (I love you with more intensity than that..)
but he did not say any of it. Instead he continued with his story..

NEil - "Phir. Phir sab toot gaya. Jaise ki sab ret thi, jo haathon se fisal gayi. For the first time I saw death in front of my eyes. And that was the day I grew up. I was a privileged child Avni," (then everything broke. Like sand flowing from hands.)
and then Neil held Avni's hand and said - "Tumhari tarah itna bura maine duniya mein nahi dekha tha. I was well protected by my mom and dad from the harsh realities of life. And when I grew up, I used to feel less. I think that I loved Juhi less than I am capable of loving someone right now. Because of the pain that I felt after she died, it opened floodgates of some emotions that I thought I did not have in me. The more the intensity of my feelings increased, the more I tried to cut myself off from them, to be stronger, to survive. But then finally I faced my feelings when.. when..", (I hadn't seen that much bad in the world like you had)
Neil completed the remaining sentence in his mind as Avni's phone rang again and she cut it.

She waited for Neil to speak further but it seemed Neil had stopped speaking then , he was too much involved in his thoughts to speak now. The sea side breeze was transporting him back to the times when he still felt the pain of his loved one's death. Which had faded by now, but now like swelling tide, sea was bringing it back to him..