Neela was busy admiring her princess when the words Neil said struck her mind. She looked at his sad and tired face. She knows that Neil used to like Avni a lot and how shweta and everyone refused to admit that Avni is no more in front of him.

She thanked God for such pure love that Avni was bestowed with. Somewhere nor she neither Ayesha could meet a proper closure and thus entangled not only their lives but also pushed away Avni from her own brother.

She wanted to know everything about her that she is in front of her. She can't go to her , nor can she hug her or cry out loud for her but she definitely can understand how she is now.

Neil who contacted her for the first time for anything related to her would have some answers to her questions.

Neil met with her questioning and longing eyes when he could not control but blurted out about her.

Ab vo bachpan wali Avni kaha hai...

Neela could sense the weight of sadness those words held but she can't let that happen any more. Earlier she could not save her but now when she could finally have a chance to get her back , she will make sure no stone is unturned.

Neil- looked at the carefree figure who was just empty and yet for the first time he could see some peace in her eyes.

Maybe she could finally shop for his family now that he could figure so many bags. Again something not for her but for her loved ones.

When neela wanted to know what he meant all he could do was to ask her to stay there and there he ran towards her. No longer wanting to let her be.

She is having the right to take time off but all the words which were exchanged between neela and Neil made Neil somewhere desperate to get her.

Neela saw him going in her direction. The lady who was oblivious to anything like this was caught off guard when she saw him in front of her.

Her peaceful and cheery face turned into a skeptical and shocked one. How can he be here? This can't be a coincidence, he somewhere knew that she would be here and who could have known apart from Karan?

She composed herself and spoke.

Neil tum yaha?

Neil- haa! Pata nhi kya milta hai bhaag ke tumhe but ab bas jitni bhi baar tumhe bhagna hai ,saath mein bhagenge.

She could feel that he was worried for her but she wanted some time off to set things correctly.

Avni- mein nhi bhaagi thi, bas thodi der ke liye yaha aayi thi. Wapas mein tumhe milne hi waali thi.

Neil had tears in his eyes. He is afraid , afraid that even when he might close the eyes for seconds she would vanish.

Avni saw the tears and quickly went to wipe them. She felt bad looking at his face.

Avni- Neil roo kyu rahe ho? Kya hua hai? Tumhe kahi lagi hai? Ghar mein sab theek hai na?

Neil- koi bhi theek nhi hai. Kaise hoga koi theek jab tum yaha ho? Dar lag rha hai mujhe. Bohot jyaada. Is baar to tum mere saamne ho lekin agar meine tumhe chod dia apne haal pe to kya hoga? Chale jaogi kahi tum. Ye chot( pointing towards her stomach) pata nhi kyu tumhe ordinary lag rhi hai, lekin jitni baar use dekhta hu, wohi khoon dikhta hai. Vo hospital pata nhi kya. Kuch bhi kar lo Avni lekin Aisa nhi ho sakta ki tum mujhe ek chance de do?

Avni could see the restlessness in his words and wanted to ease that somehow. She is the cause of it yet she has to be the remedy as well.

Not understanding how to calm him down she embraced him in a tight hug. Not bothering about the wound and nothing just an affectionate hug. He was tired, not a single day that she would have let him sleep in peace. The fact that she is here and the next moment can do anything that terrifies him to the point to even leave her for a brief moment.

Avni- sorry Neil! I know tumhare liye ye sab bohot hard hai. Mein jaanti hu ye sab kuch mujhe milne se leke yaha tak tumne badi mehnat ki hai. Pata nhi ek baar bhi chain se soye ho ya nhi. Ayesha maa ke saath bhi yehi hota tha. Raat mein jaag jaati thi ye dekhne ke mein to theek hu na.

Unke liye to mein kuch bhi nhi kar paayi lekin ye do din mein bohot soch rhi thi. Pehli baar life mein meine kisi ke liye kuch khareeda Neil.

Pata nhi kyu? De paungi ya nhi ye bhi nhi pata lekin phir bhi mujhe accha laga leke. Aisa nhi hai ki mein nhi chahti tumhe ya kuch aur lekin mere liye tum sab bhi risk mein aa jaoge ye kaise mein hone du?

Ayesha ko to Avni baccha nhi paayi lekin ( coming out of the embrace) tum logo ko jaan kar bhi khatre mein kaise daalu?

She turned her face from him and stared at the mountains with teary eyes.

Dard mujhe bhi hota hai Neil. Itne saalo tak mere seene mein bhoj hai Ayesha maa ka aur Aman ka. Dono ko mein na baccha payi na hi pata hai mujhe Aman ab kaha hai kya kar rha hai.

Hum ab vo bachpan wale dost nhi rhe Neil jaha ek game ke baad sab koi back to normal ho jayega. Aur ye sab tum kiske liye kar rhe ho?

Ye sab kuch mein kabhi bhi deserve nhi karti thi na hi karti hu. Tumhare liye pura aasman pada hai. Ye kaidi ki tarah mujhse bandhe mat raho. You deserve better.

Neil- looked at her with pained eyes. He saw her turning her face when she could not bear the sight of his eyes. She was saying that words so smoothly yet her eyes betrayed her mind and even before she could say anything further , she was pulled in for a kiss.

He tried everything and yet nothing worked but his frustration needed to be removed and so to stop her from condemning herself he kissed her to stop her.

Her mind could not register and before she could get swayed she just pushed him around gently and ran to her room, even before Neil could grab her.

She closed the door and tried to stabilize her breaths. What just happened? There she was trying to explain to him what just happened.

Neil sighed at her running figure and looked with his dejected eyes towards neela who had tears by now. Since she is running an NGO she could lip read and so she could make out what she said.

She was once an optimist personality and knowing that by now she is more closed, her mind clogged at her running picture.

Suddenly her mind chided if she still can't be with Neil how is she gonna react once she faces Neela?

The mother could understand what that meant and a mere thought swept the floor from her feet and all she could do was sit on a chair.

She was trying to grasp the situation and before that she had to first make sure that the boy here needs to be consoled.

He reached towards Neela and wanted to give her the much needed answers to her questions.

Neil- ye hai Avni. Mujhe nhi pata kya soch rhi hai kya karne wali hai. Yaha tak ke mujhe to raat mein sone mein bhi dar lagta hai kahi ye wapas chali na jaaye kahi.

Neela had tears in her eyes by listening to his agony. All she could do was ask.

Neela - kaun hai ye Neil? Kya hua Avni ke saath?

Neil knew it was hard for anyone who knew Avni to accept the one now. He sat there and explained to her how he met and who things conspired.

All neela could do was cry. She was agonising, suddenly the years she spent longing for her went into regret. Regret that she could have tried harder to find her, regret she could have stopped dwm, regret that she failed as a mother.

But one thing is what she would not want to regret is not trying her best to help Avni.

Neela - Neil agar ye humari Avni hai na to don't worry she will comeback all strong. Jaanti hu saalo se nhi mile hai and uske challenges bohot they jisne usko aise bana dia lekin mein hu ab.

Ayesha nhi hai to kya hua ,neela hai uske paas. Abhi philhal use kuch dikhayi nhi de rha hai lekin jaldi hi sab theek hoga.

With that neela left. It was important to assure the poor soul which she did but what is more painful for a mother to realise how she would have spent her years without anyone by her side.

She was heartbroken yet she needs to find a way to approach her once she can. Judging by the current developments , she can't meet her for sure.

All she could do was repent for not trying enough to find her.

There for Avni it was different, completely. Yes, she did not feel bad yet she knows that if she goes with this a lot more will be at stake.

She had not come out of her room since the encounter and still she doesn't want to budge out even for the meal.

She was just resting her head on the headrest when his words echoed in her mind. She could really feel cold chills by thought of just how things would have been if the positions would have reversed.

She scoffed at her own fate as either way she choses it's gonna be a turmoil for him. His teary eyes  has captivated her mind.

She knows that he is here and rather than thinking anything, just as a friend she needs to make him feel a bit better.

She came out to check with reception for his room number and before she could reach , there sat a lonely figure looking at the mountains in the chilly atmosphere.

She went towards him and wrapped a layer as he was in thin clothes and slowly dragged a chair to sit beside him.

He was in mess about what is about to happen next. Here he is all lost with no job at the moment other than getting the lady back. All his attempts have been futile. She budged but not towards him and now he is out of options.

For days he had that fear that another day and she would be gone like that when they were kids.

Words might not be able to express his heart but he can vouch every year was another sadder one than before. Every investigation for her was a new dead end. Every hope came with a huge dent on his heart.

He has not told anyone but there were nights when he had trouble sleeping because she wasn't there. What a game life played. Now she is with him and rather than he being happy about it , he is just sufficed with the fact if she stays even being a mere friend or even a stranger.

His thoughts were rampant and he was unable to stop any of it when he felt something warm being wrapped around him.

Oh my god! He just could not believe his eyes and blinked it for a couple of times to make sure that she came to him upfront for the first time.

She was conscious enough and instead of making an eye contact with him she preferred the mountains.

Neil after realising that calmed himself and starred at the mountains. Not before looking that the one who wrapped a jacket for him is herself not fully covered.

Neil- you haven't covered yourself fully, wear this( giving back the jacket)

Avni- I can still manage with the ones I have, but can you?

Laughs hysterically. She could hear the pain behind his laugh and so she did not react.

Neil- says who? The one least expected?

Avni- it would be best that we go back to when we were Ananya and Neil. At least we could have a bit better conversation. At least if not anything then I could have given you a smack using my seniority for such an act.

Neil could see that she was making an attempt to evade the awkwardness amongst them. This is the first time he has seen her taking a step. Maybe she is shaken up looking at him being mad. No matter what but all what's important is that she has taken a step and he is not wrong about her feelings for him. He can be at a time confused but not lost when it's about the person beside her.

Gives a brief smile- no wonder. If that smack would have actually worked. What if there is a switch in authority then?

Avni-(won't lose look) still the rankings will eventually be senior for me.

Neil- as if that matters? All that matters  is the correct person for the job which I can be at any point compared to you.

Avni- same old habits. If you know someone is good then accept why keep the fake pride?

Neil- as if you really understand. How am I going to ever accept the thing which isn't fair?

Just like that the kids were back. Although the time made them big but just looking at them makes it look like childhood is back.

After a while both went quiet. For the first time she smiled. It's true that she used to smile the brightest when around him. Years passed by and still the magic is the same.

He did not miss to click that memory under the eyes of his phone. Also not to forget the person whom he is mad at for eating all of his share of attention.

Avni- since when did you become the type of boy who clicks pictures?

Neil-( looking at her with lovely eyes) since my lady started to shut herself under the disguise of someone she is not.

Avni looked at him with a shocked face as if she had been exposed.

Sobering up she finally spoke.

Avni-( smiles briefly) look there you go!

He looked confused.

It takes just a little effort and you can still be a cranky baby. This is what I have been explaining to you all the while. Neil in the quest to be around me you are destroying yourself.

You are not a bowl fish. You have a vast ocean where you can roam around freely without any restrictions. You and I since the start had different ways, it's good to know a person like you. I am lucky that you like me but Neil sometimes it's important to get over things that harm us.

Neil now was finally understanding and happy to see her open up fully in front of him.

Neil- you know a thing that I hate the most about you?

Avni looked at him

Is the fact that I love you. ( Chuckles) it's really unfair cause I see how easily a person can destroy self esteem within seconds. Yes , I know my worth and by staying for you I am definitely not making a fish bowl but rather we are exploring the whole world together.

I can be cranky, moody, easy going only by the fact that it's you who is with me. Just like you who have smiled genuinely for the first time in years, similarly it's the same when I would have been so enraged, unhappy, stressed and happy together.

I looked at you in the past and present lies with you. The only fact that troubled me back then was that I won't be able to see the old Avni anytime again but today when you were here to cheer me up, I got a glimpse of her.

Till now it was just my imagination about how you would be but now that I have seen you like that, I want to be with you even more.

Your reservations about things are correct but at the same time in order to push people away from yourself, it's not just an effort from your end rather the other person too should be willing to leave right?

Avni-( scoffs) nothing can win over you right?

Neil- (holds her hands) not when the topic is you.

Avni felt intimidated with the hold but somewhere stayed there for the moment.

After sometime.

Avni- (sighs)let's go back to Mumbai.

Neil could not believe what he heard and looked at her to which she nodded.

Neil- you don't like it there.

Avni- i would say I hate it rather but I can't run away from the family who might have nothing to do with my hate. It's just that I don't like some memories.

Neil knows that and instead of saying anything he just gave her space.

He knows things are hard but he needs to start to know her way to agonise.

Neil- are you not curious to know about your brother?

She had her eyes watery at the mentioning of him but the voice did not waver.

Avni- no .... I am not.

Neil- he is your brother right? Last thing connecting you and your mum.

Avni- exactly that's why. This is the last thing that connects him with me. He should not know me else he would have many issues. I myself am enough to bear the burden of the past why drag him too.

Neil- i understand but does he not have the right to know how his mother was or how are you doing?

Flashes of the past kept coming in her mind. She was all strong but the more he kept bringing her brother, she was unable to have a grip on self.

Trying to shake off the memory,she shakes her head and out of frustration she tries to bind her hair together.

Neil- could see that she is shaken up and so he gave her time to sober up.

Finally when he was all okay, she wanted to get back to sleep but Neil insisted that he would accompany her till she sleeps.

Somewhere he feared another nightmare for her. She agreed assuming his fear.

She went back to have the medicines and finally slept on the bed.

She was fast asleep as she was tired. He saw her sleeping like a baby. He smiled recalling how she liked sleeping of all the things in childhood. He kept on adoring her for a while until he too slept.