Neil realised his eyes were burning. He was sitting beside Avni while the paramedics were hunched upon her trying to revive her.. Her bleeding had been controlled, at least externally. But there was still little hope. 

Neil's eyes that had started watering now. He refused to blink them. He thought if this was the last moment that Avni has, then he will freeze it forever. He will not let her go. And therefore he could not blink his eyes.

Prakash looked at Avni and then at Neil. He decided Neil needed more support than he was allowing himself to take. 

He spoke up hesistantly, - "Neil, beta..". (son..)

He waited for Neil to react or respond which Neil did not. Prakash continued - "Beta.. hamari Avni thik ho jayegi. Par beta aise nahi.. Tum hausla rakho please. I cannot see you like this Neil. You are my son!" (Son.. our Avni will get better. But not like this son.. You please keep heart..)

Neil did not look at his dad. He kept on looking at Avni. And Prakash knew at this moment that Neil was a lost cause if Avni left them. If anything happened to his daughter avni, then he would lose his son Neil as well!

Prakash was scared now. He was keeping his composure just for Neil, else he would have broken down long back. He kept on looking at Neil.. hoping his son's stony face will yield some emotion.. But Neil kept on looking at Avni, without blinking..

DD was sitting in the front of the ambulance. His window was down and he was shouting at vehicles in the traffic to give them way! At places when the ambulance would stop in crowd, DD would get down and  disperse the crowd. For a way that could have been covered in 15 minutes, it took them 40!

At last they reached the hospital. Paramedics and ward boys took Avni out on a stretcher and rushed her to the operating room. Neil and Prakash rushed along side the stretcher, Neil holding her hand, looking at her closed eyes intently. At last it was time to take her inside. And they had to forcefully separate Neil from his wife.

It was a long and painful wait after that. Neil would refuse to move away from the operation theatre. Prakash tried to make him change his bloody clothes, or to eat or drink or go wash his face. But Neil refused quietly each time. So they stayed like that camped outside the theatre.. 

DD came in and addressed Neil directly.. "Sir.. Do not worry sir. Bhabhi will be ok soon. And we will catch that girl who did this to her, and tried to do it to you.. Sir we have confirmed her story - Juhi madam.. I mean Juhi.. was part of Raghu Pandit's gang. Her pic was found along with profiles and pictures of many other girls used by Raghu. But it is yet to be confirmed that what exactly was her connection with Raghu. It will take some time sir. Her past is really murky"

And then to Prakash's surprise and fear.. Neil looked up. His eyes were blazing, tears stained and made small streams along his blood smudged face. And Neil spoke in a voice that DD had heard before in office in dangerous situations, but Prakash was stranger to it..

Neil, speaking each word clearly and loudly - "DD.... DO NOT HARM JUHI."

DD looked surprised at this. Prakash also could not understand that why was Neil still caring about Juhi. Was he so blind in her love? Could he not process what she had done? Surely nothing could have happened so bad in her life to do what she did to Neil! And to Neil of all people, Neil who had supported her, loved her.. And even after she was back in this dramatic fashion, he believed her and took her side against the danger of hurting his own wife!

DD - "Sir.. Main kuch samjha nahi"(  I did not understand anything sir)

Neil spoke, relatively calmly this time - "DD. Juhi is mine. You cannot let anyone else hurt her. She is mine to kill"

DD looked very affected by this. Neil always upheld the law. He was the ideal officer - brave, honest and very smart. But this was beyond DD.

DD - "Sir.. aap ye kaise!" (how can you sir)

Neil looked coldly at him. And then went quiet. He kept his head bowed down for around ten seconds and then looked up again.

This time the insanity had left his eyes.

Neil - "DD. I was shocked and hence reacted like this. But what I meant was that Juhi will be an important witness. So do not hurt her. Once you capture her. Keep her reserved for my questioning. And I will take care of the rest... And DD?"

DD looked relieved and asked expectantly - "Yes sir?"

Neil, giving DD a cold stare that shook him to the core - "DO NOT second guess what I say again. Am I clear?"

DD looked sheepish and embarassed. He saluted NEil - "Sir.. yes sir! Sorry sir"

Neil - "You can leave"

DD saluted again and left to carry out his orders. 

But PRakash continued looking at Neil.. He was not convinced. Prakash knew his son , and he dreaded that Neil might do something rash!

Prakash - "NEil.. Son tell me. That you are not going to do anything rash.. Tell me that.."

Neil looked at his dad that made PRakash swallow his words. 

Neil said quietly - "Dad, dont worry. I will not do anything rash..I will go and wash my face now". He then got up and to Prakash's relief walked towards the washroom. But Prakash did not catch the words that Neil spoke under his breath after that.

"I will not do anything rash by letting that girl live. She touched my Avni."

As Neil spoke this, it was good that his back was turned on PRakash. Else he would have seen the murder in his son's eyes.