Avni reached outside to see dia and her friends waiting for their turn. They were busy in their talks.

Avni-ahem...ahem...come it's ur turn to go inside.

Dia- (smirking) look who's calling us girls..... dr.avni...but let that dr.let in rest for now Avni is calling us. Isn't it great??

Tina- yes!! (Smirking) but isn't she a doctor, then y such works??

Niya- maybe Neil sir gotta know that she's just good for such works!!

Dia-hey don't speak like that about her afterall she is a reputed doc. Avni I am with u ( smirking) come I know that dr.neil has called us right??

Avni- yes !!! U r very smart dia. Come in fast , u would be very happy to know things further!!(thinks in mind- Neil sir Ka naam aise le rhi hai jaise unke koi close relative ho, andar to aao I would now surely enjoy taking ur blood samples...dia!!)

They entered inside and Neil still hadn't taken sample of karan and DD . Maybe u kahu deliberately taking time!!!

Neil just as he saw them asked them to gather near the tray.

Neil-Avni u will be taking their sample and I will be taking theirs....is that clear(strict voice as if he won't tolerate any nonsense)

Avni-ok sir!(in the same voice)

Dia- what!?(widens in shock) I won't be allowing u to take my sample. Sir please u take them!

Neil-I am taking theirs u stay calm as she will get to take only if u allow her to. Plus already ur shifts r over , so be quick asap

Dia-( fumbling and grabbing neils hand) sir I have needle phobia.....please!!! Help me out.

Neil-what!( Irritated) u r a doctor right? How do u treat ur pateints then?

Dia-(clinging towards him) sir !! Please help me ...
U take it I trust u !

Neil-and I trust her and she would take ur sample only!!Karan help her

To which DD and Karan both stood up and took dia towards the chair and Avni while excitingly took the injection

Dia-u r not doing this right Karan!!

Karan- I am doing what sir has asked me to do!!

Dd- Avni start!

Avni-(smirking) just relax dia , breath in and out it's just a small procedure.....see I would be doing urs till then sir would be done with ur friends and then u can go. U don't like to wait after shifts na....so just corporate!!

Dia- (glaring) I won't leave u Avni.......(whispering) abhi to sir hai isiliye u r safe but not any further just stay alert u don't know what might happen next.

Avni just ignored her words and continued her work. But Karan , DD and Neil didn't liked her behaviour with avni.

Soon samples were collected and only Karan , Neil and Avni were there!

Neil- so duties over for today??(looking at Karan as his face was clearly indicating his annoyance)

Karan-yes (a short reply and just a brief look)

Avni now couldn't control herself so,

Avni-what was the need to tell him about dia?? And that too before her blood tests , didn't u saw her upset face??

Karan-(thoroughly upset ) like really she told u this many things and u r still concerned about this.i mean she literally warned u but u r worried about her I mean are u even understanding her words.

Avni's annoyance just disappeared seeing him this concerned and gave a soft smile to which Neil just saw her expression and was thoroughly confused

Avni- it's her age old style to threaten me u know na? And u all are besides me only so if anything happens u would be there na! Tshk u are overthinking.....just stay normal(pulling his cheeks) the cutest.

Karan-(at the end u convinced me tone) stop that thing ....u know na how much precious they are?

Avni-(rolls her eyes) indeed like it stands against the weight of gold.....u know...

Karan glared at her but before he could say anything Neil interrupted.

Neil-bas.bas u both this is not any battle ground!! Control and let's leave . We need to go back to our homes. Come I will drop u all.

Karan - thank you sir but I have my bike with me.

Neil- so Avni!!?

Avni-oh ....... No not possible, I am on a date! U know(smirks at karan)

Neil-(shocked) wh...what did u said??u .... And date??

Karan - yes ,a very special one!

Avni- we go together sometimes!!

Neil-(dramatically) who is that unlucky fellow!!(guys he's not at all jealous)

Avni-unlucky???? What is this sir! U know what I am better option to anyone rather than that dr.dia . I won't mind fixing a date for u and her what say?(smirking)

Neil-y would u fix my date first fix urs and get dressed or r u planning to go in this dress itself?

Avni-I can go in this dress as well but not interested so I think I should change.

Neil-ok then bye.

Karan- bye!!!!

Avni waved them bye and Karan and Neil went towards exit area near the parking.

Neil-whom is she going with? I don't think she has a boyfriend?
(Again suchna vo jealous nhi hai!!!)

Karan- who said she doesn't have boy friends?? She has many!!

Neil- what??( Meine to nhi dekhe)

Karan- yes , a boy who is friend....me, dd,u!!

Neil-oh...like that!! U surely qualify to be her friend.... Both have the same temperament!!

Karan-she's a gem(bit emotional) can't really afford to loose her! Really close to us!!

Neil- she indeed is !!(Karan looks at him shocked) I mean just look at ur group everyone feels the same that says she's a true gem!! And my experience till now is also the same that she indeed is a hardworking and perfectionist.

Karan-yes ! She is.

They both were busy in their own thoughts and left the silence fill in for the conversation.

On the other end at a cafe , almost not so crowded place sat Avni with that certain someone on a date of hers.

The person since last 15 mins was trying to talk to her but she was not at all responding.....the surrounding audience thought them to be couple...or to be more precise the love couple where one has to pacify other.

Person- I know that u r upset about the earlier thing but please see from last 15 mins trying to pacify u. Please I am sorry, I will be there next time for now let's enjoy our date together.

Avni-I m enjoying ( in an uninterested tone.)

Person closed his eyes and let out sigh....

Person- ok! Fine then speak something.

Avni- let's not speak cause if I speak today don't know what things may come up u know.

Person-(thinks- is she upset only for the injection thing or is there any other thing as well) is there anything else apart from this?

Avni-( looks at the surrounding) let's go to our place will talk there.

Now it was clear that thing is something much more grave then mere injection phobia!!

They reached to the cliff and both sat at the bench and staring at horizon.

Avni took a deep breath and spoke up finally.

Avni- Arjun........?

The person sitting next to her froze as if someone has oozed out all the breath from his body. He didn't dared to look at Avni.

But Avni looked at him carefully as she knew that Neil, he and Arjun are best friends and their hearts are connected!!

Avni-I said u that let's not talk today, see Ali I don't want to hurt you with this but it's important for em to learn about him. How close was he to u and also neil sir I know that. But I want ur point . I would have easily met Arjun but before that I want to know about him through u and sir. We are doctors and what's the use if we can't help our close people.

Ali had no different reaction as compared to Neil. There was a smile and tears mixed in that happiness depicting his conflict of emotions.

Avni patted his back and sat there giving him the time collect himself.

For Ali it was harder than Neil cause after Arjun somewhere he knew he is needed as a support to Neil and hence he closed his emotions in a safe box and dug it deep inside his heart. He never knew that he too would be asked about him.

Avni-I know that u are strong (welled up eyes ) but it's ok to cry sometimes. It helps u relax. Don't stop them Ali . Not today , u know na since long u have kept them hidden but not today.

That was it Ali was just a baby brother for Avni just like Amol , whom once she cradled . Avni let him mourn, as she knew this was not only for the moment but years together.

He let out his cry for 30 mins and was silent after that as if no tears left to come out but tons of pain still present, Avni was patting his back. She was waiting for him.

After a while he sat straight and started his story.

Ali- I met them during my college days, although we were in same school but we rarely spoke. But on one day, I still remember that we were in lab doing our practicals. ( He chuckles) we were asked to use our skills on the rat as to get an experience. I was sitting beside Neil and Arjun.

Neil was smart enough and hence completed it within seconds and that too perfectly. Although it was very gross I too was gonna do that but just then I heard some voice behind me.

Neil has an irritated face and the person behind me.. ie Arjun was biting his nails.

First I was confused but then I understood by puppy face of Arjun that he is asking Neil to do that for him and Neil straight away refused.

He tried to persuade him many times but nothing worked and so he tried to flatter me.

First I denied but then his constant pleadings made me help him out. I helped him only to get a kiss and a glare from obviously the best friends.

Avni just smiled.

That was my first step towards being their friend!!
This used to happen regularly and hence one day me and Neil both decided that he has to do the practicals on his own so we both ditched him and he was left with no option other than doing that by himself.

Me and Neil enjoyed his look while doing that and started spending most of the time with them.

Slowly and gradually things started going with flow and we were the three musketeers (Avni shook her head) . U too were not there as ur studies and all made u stay in hostel and so I was all alone and so I enjoyed their company.

I still remember when Arjun had came to us and said about the girl and also his desire! We both were with him.

(Avni just squeezed his hand as if asking him to continue)

We both are somewhere guilty that we can't help him out. Aunty never goes to meet him as she won't be able to handle.(unaware that a pair of eyes were watching them).

We all try to be happy but at the same time we are not. That day we lost everything,his innocence,his cuteness, his sanity..... everything.

U know that every year on one day we both are having a leave together. Have u ever noticed y?

We both go to meet him as we both know that we won't be able to meet him individually. We lost him Avni.......I don't know how u knew about him and somewhere I think Neil spoke about it but then too , I would advise u that please don't get any false hopes until u can do something for them . They are already very sad.

Avni went silent and so was ali

Person- but I trust u Avni!

Both were shocked to hear that voice and turned to see. But Avni relaxed as she was the one to call her.

Ali-maa!

Avni-Shweta aunty!

She was crying and came and kneeled in front of Avni and kept her head in her lap

Shweta- years passed I am not able to see him like that. And if u can help me , I am ready to trust u,please beta do whatever u need to I will help u out but please get me my Arjun, my gappu back.....I can't stay away from him.
Please.

Ali was crying and so was was Avni.

Avni- aunty aap shaant ho jaiye, I promise I will help u. But will u help me??

Shweta just nodded and Avni quickly asked them to wipe their tears ....

Phew.......long update I guess but then I am sorry was on a trip to mahabaleshwar escaping from this summer and heat. Enjoyed in icy rains and lots of strawberries.......so do welcome me back to Mumbai with Ur comments and votes