Part 1: LOW FLAME

Neil's POV

I had finished my work at the Police Station and decided to take Avni along with me. I planned to take her to the beach and spend some time with her. It's been long since we both together went somewhere out. We both love to spend time in the Juhu Beach. It was one of our common favourite place.

I called her.

Me: Hello. Angel.

Avni: Haa Neil bolo.

Me: Tum kab free hogi?

Avni: Hmm...mei bol nahi sakti Neil. Aaj patients jyada hai. 8:00pm baj jaaenge.

Me: Thik hai. Main tab tak free ho jaunga. Main tumhe lene aaunga. Ok?

Avni: Haa..par....

Our call gets disconnected. My colleague DD urf Dakhal Dayal comes to me for some discussion regarding the case. I kept on looking at my watch for it to strike 8:00.

It was about 7:45pm when DD noticed by impatience.

DD: Sir, aapko kahin jaana hai.

Me: Uh...haan...wo...

DD (smiles): it's Ok sir. Hum kal baat karte hai.

I was so happy with him. Hayeee. Mere man ki baat padh liya. 

At 7:55, I was outside the hospital waiting for Avni. I kept on waiting for 10 mins but she was no where in sight. I called her a couple of times but her phone was switched off. I got tensed. I went inside and asked the receptionist.

me: excuse me ma'am.

R: Yes. (she then looks at me from head to toe. Well I should have worn my Police uniform...look how shamelessly she was checking on me!)

Me: Can I meet Dr. Avni?

R: She has left just half an hour ago.

Me: What?! I mean with whom?

R: Her friend who comes with her sometimes.

Now who could this person be? Sometimes? Avni could have informed me? By the way, uski friend 'he' hai ki 'she'? Kaise pata lagau?

Me: Unke friend ka naam pata chal sakta hai?

R: I am sorry sir. Par hume sir ka naam nahi pata.

'Sir' ka naam! Matlab ladka! Kahin Krish toh nahi! Kyun ye ladka mere life mei taang adaane ko aa jata hain? Itna achcha khasa plan banaya tha. Par iss bandar ne mere saare plan par paani pher diya. Chodunga nahi usse.... Kamina kahika. Aur Avni. Ek baar call karke bata nahi sakti thi? Iss duniya mei phone ki kami thodi na hai! Calm down Neil.

I went home directly.

As soon as entered a surprise was waiting for me...

Me: RIYA!!!

Riya: Neiluuu!

She came and hugged me. Just then I saw Avni standing beside my mom. I pulled Riya back.

Me: Tu kab aayi?

Riya: Bass abhi hi. Waise tu to apne Angel se mil ne ke baad mujhe bhul hi gaya. Ek call nahi ho paya tujhse?

Me: Riya aisi baat nahi hai. Kaam badh gaya tha isliye call nahi kar paya. Waise kaise aana hua?

Riya: Yaar phirse tera wo boring question! Dad ne tujhe kuch inform nahi kiya..

Me: Nahi to

I slightly peeked towards Avni who was seting the table for dinner. Waah! Iss bandi ko to koi farak nahi padd raha hai kisi aur ko mere gale lagte. Dekhoo kitni bindaas ghum rahi hai. Aur yahan main hun jo wo Krish ke saath aayi isliye mujhe farak padd raha hai. Hum sirf dost hai to farak kyu padega? Come on Neil!

Riya: Dad ne mujhe tumhaara case solve karne mei tumhaari madad karne ko kahan hain.

Me: Oh wow! Matlab phirse mujhe meri beautiful si pyaari si friend ka support milega...

Riya: Oyee..itnaa khush mat ho warna dad ko bolke transfer back lelungi...

Me: Ae..apne dad ki dhamki mujhe mat de. Tujhse jyada wo mujhe pyaar karte hai. Samjhi?

Riya: Huh! Pata hai! Itni udne ki jaroorat nahi hai!

Me: Riya, isse milo...meri Angel se milo....Avni (I introduced proudly!)

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Avni's POV

I unexpectedly completed my work 30 minutes before my estimated time. Now I had to wait for Neil to come. After 10 minutes Krish suddenly entered my cabin.

Krish (literally jumping): Bro...meri long distant girlfriend aayi hai yaar....chal jaldi.

Me: Tu jaa...Neil aa raha hai mujhe pick up karne.

Krish: Please yaar...mana mat kar. Neil phir kabhi aayega tujhe lene...please Avni..please (puppy face).

Me: Achcha thik hai..Neil ko inform kar deti hun.

I picked up my phone to call him but it died... My Phone was DEAD! Abb Neil ko kaise inform karu...!

Me: Krish tera phone dena..

Krish: Kyu?

Me: Arre dena. Mera phone mar gaya..

Krish (giving me his phone): Tu apne phone ko khana kyu nahi deti hai?

I ignored. Krish sometimes turned out to be really irritating! Neil's phone was out of network coverage area. Pata nahi ye Idiot kaha ghoom gaya. I really didn't want to leave without Neil. Krish had been telling about this girlfriend since the last 5 years and promised that I would be the first one to meet her. I once told him....'Bro! I am not your mother. Apne maa se mila pehla.' but he insisted me to meet first. 

I sat in his car and continuously tried to contact Neil but was in vain.

Krish: Ae yaar...phone de abb..

Me: Rukk na..

Krish: Uska call abb nahi lagne wala. Main apni girlfriend ko call kar lu? Poochna hai kaha jana hai.

Me: Waah bhai! Girlfriend se milaane jaa raha hai aur ye bhi nahi pata ki wo kahan hai.. waah! (slow claps)

Krish: Whatever!

I returned him his phone. Then he started to go on our ghar ka road.

Avni: Ghar kyu le jaa rahe ho? Teri girlfriend se milwana tha na?

Krish: Haan ...Par meri girlfriend apne friend ke ghar pe gayi hai. Kal milegi.

Avni (shouting): Whatt?!

Krish: Ahh!!! Chilla kyu rahi hai. Main yahin to hun.

I sat with a sad face. Iske saath aana hi nahi chahiye tha. Nalaayak!

He dropped me in Khanna House and left. I entered and saw a girl with Shweta maa. 

Ye larki kaun hai?

I was just about to ask when Neil arrived. I stood beside Shweta maa.

Neil: Riya!

Neil iss larki ko jaanta hai!!!

Riya: Neiluuu!

Iss larki ki himmat to dekho! Mere Neilu ko Neiluu bulaati hai! Kahin ye Neil ki girlfriend to nahi hai! Neil ne mujhe kuch nahi bataya!

Suddenly she hugged her. How dare she? Himmat kaise hui mere Neilu ko chune ki. Mann karta hai iske haat tod du.

Neil noticed me but ignored! Huh!

Neil: Tu kab aayi?

Riya: Bass abhi hi. Waise tu to apne Angel se mil ne ke baad mujhe bhul hi gaya. Ek call nahi ho paya tujhse?

Excuse me?! Obviously main jyada important houngi na! 

Am I jealous? No I am not. 

Me: Shweta maa main khana laga deti hun.

Shweta: Haa thik hai.

Neil and Riya were still talking. Itna kya baat karna hai. Aur Neil ko dekho. Mere hi saamne baat kar raha hai and mujhe introduce bhi nahi kiya! Neilu main tumhe dekh lungi. Milo mujhe baad mei.

Riya: Dad ne mujhe tumhaara case solve karne mei tumhaari madad karne ko kahan hain.

Neil: Oh wow! Matlab phirse mujhe meri beautiful si pyaari si friend ka support milega...

What the! Iski toh...! Kisi aur ke saath flirt kar raha hai. I swear raat ko tum milo mujhe Neil. Achchi tarah class lungi tumhaari.

Riya: Oyee..itnaa khush mat ho warna dad ko bolke transfer back lelungi...

Haa to lele na. Kisne tujhe yahan apni naak ghusaadne bola hai. Just get out.

Neil: Ae..apne dad ki dhamki mujhe mat de. Tujhse jyada wo mujhe pyaar karte hai. Samjhi?

Achcha! Itne pyaare hain to shaadi hi kar lete iss make up ki dukaan se....idhar wapas kyu aaye!

I was really over this. Neil still didn't introduce me. He forgot me. I hate you Neilu.

And finally this flirting asshole introduced me. Huh! Tumhe to main nahi chodungi Neil. Bas dekhte jaao. Tumhe kaise seedha karna hai mujhe achchi tarah se pata hai.

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That was it! So, how was the chapter? I hope you guys enjoyed reading it. 

Excited for the MEDIUM FLAME?

You will have to wait for that- sabr ka fal meetha hota hai 😁😂

Nibu.