She wanted to retaliate but what can she do when he was so happy about it. All she could do is make him happy for the last few moments before she leaves.

There the update was rolled out for everyone going to Africa on her WhatsApp.

He saw that her phone buzzed, thinking it to be her friends he had a smile forgetting the change around her.

It was the change of the schedule for them to depart and it was exactly 24 hours from the message time.

She was thinking that she is taking the right step but the last few interactions made her think otherwise. This uncertainty and unclear thoughts are making her suffocated. Assuring herself that what she is doing is correct, she kept her composure from wavering.

Once she was done , she left. There he was smiling like a love sick boy. While returning he met with Ali.

Ali- aaye haaye. Munde nu kis gaal di khushi hai?

Neil-( looked at him and royally chose to ignore him)

Ali was quick to catch up with him.

Ali- waise tum dono na bade hi romantic nikle. Nhi yaani mujhe itna time hua Riya ke saath lekin itni himat to meri bhi nhi ki mein Riya ke saath date pe apne hi hospital mein baithu. Mera to phir bhi samjh sakte hai lekin meri jaan tu to itne logo ka sapna hai. Tujhe nhi lagta ab tak avni Zinda bhi nhi bacchi hogi?

Neil stops and looks at him- kyu? Isme usne kya kiya hai?

Ali- Dekh ladkiyan na do type ki hoti hai. Ek Avni types- jisko tubelight bol sakte hai jise sab kuch samjhana padta hai. Dusri Dia types- Jo zarurat se jyaada hi samjh jaati hai. Pehli ko to tu sambhal sakta hai lekin dusre ka problem hi ye hai ki you never know them. They will be unpredictable.

Neil-(sighs) matlab kya hua ye sab ka?

Ali-(hits on his head) kaise gadha hai be tu? ( Takes him to his office and close the door) Last time dia ne Avni ke patient ke saath game khela? Kyu? Because usko laga you are favouring her. Ab ye soch tabhi to sirf ek dia thi lekin ab to itne openly ladkiyan baate karengi, pareshaan karegi usko. Itna extreme nhi honge lekin phir bhi impact to karta hi hai. With Avni and her personality mujhe to lagta hai hoga to bhi nhi batayegi vo. So you have to be careful. I don't want to hold you back but just to make you aware of how things are.

Neil-(sighs) is it really complicated? Can't it be simple for once. Now what should I do?

Ali-( shrugs his shoulder) what can you do in this? Just relax and be more observant of things in future.

Neil- ( mimics him) relax... When you had no solution why tell me the problem?

Ali- (lifts his shoulders and eyebrows) just thought to caution you. Love is like this only, no one can help you until you yourself try to help yourself.

With that he left and Neil went back to his work. This did made him think but at the same time he thought things can't be that complicated.

Avni went back to her patients one more time and finally left as she had to even meet Neela before leaving.

There Karan who knew about her departure was all set to keep his slot empty as he wanted to drop her and so he swapped his shift.

While leaving the hospital he met Neil in the lift. In order to avoid Avni's topic he just greeted him and stood there silently.

Neil-(looks at him a bit confused) Hey! Is anything wrong?

Karan-(nods his head in no while jerking his shoulders) Nothing you say how's things?

Neil- (nods his head in yes) abhi tak to, lekin tum thoda alag lag rhe ho. Abhi tak Avni se naraaz ho?

Karan- ( smiles sadly) us se chahkar bhi koi naraaz nhi ho sakta jante ho kyu? ( Neil looks at him) Kyunki agar tum naraaz ho jaoge to vo aur bhi akeli hi ho jayegi, you will feel guilty and ultimately the end result is you being the villian in your own story.

Neil-(pats his back) appreciate your understanding. Jab jaante ho to acchi baat hai.

Karan- (looks skeptical) waise ek hypothetical question hai and only answer if you feel it okay.
..

So what do you think of your feelings for Avni? I mean just out of curiosity you may choose to avoid the question.

Neil- (smiles and nods no) not at all. I am more than happy to answer that. But sadly no matter how much I want to but I can't put that in words.

Karan- what if tomorrow she does not accept your feelings or may be goes away from here... I mean she would never go away from this place but still a hypothetical question.

Neil- she is still denying and let's say if she hypothetically goes away as well, one thing I will be sure of is that I tried my best and she would never be able to forget me no matter where she is. Also true mens never back down in love.

Karan went silent on that and appreciated with cool gesture. They reached the exit and both left to their places.

On the other end, Avni spent the night with Neela and others in the family. Not wanting to create a big ruckus she asked Neela to tell them once she is left.

Soon the clock turned over and it was the day where she had to finally leave the place for a while.

Cherishing the pictures she had with all her patients and events in the hospital, checking the bags and making sure that the necessities are packed properly she decided to leave towards the airport.

Karan being the one who knew about her departure was there to drop her. Unlike his grumpy mood ,he was smiling.

Avni - arey waah ! Aaj janab ka face ekdum khila hua hai. Ye bhala kaise?

Karan- kuch nhi bus uhi. Tu bata sab pack kar liya?

Avni- yes sir! Aur nhi bhi hua to I will manage!

Karan- open the desk and remove the packet from it.

She opens the desk only to see a bunch of masks and sanitizers.

Avni- such a great parting gift , I am happy that it will be handy. Waise pakka na tune kisi ko nhi bataya hai?

Karan- (rolls his eyes) jab you do not want me to say to kaise batau. Vaise bhi jis reason se tu itna dur jaa rhi hai, are you sure ki vo tujhe bhul hi jayega?

Avni- pata nhi! Lekin ek cheez hai jo pata hai ki philhal mujhe ye soch ke confuse nhi hona hai ki kaun kya karega ya meine sahi kia ya nhi.

Karan nods and they banter about a few things.

There the final list of doctors office schedule were rolled out. Neil happened to be the one looking at all the junior doctors shifts as he had a few surgeries that needed new doctors as the other went to camps.

He was confused as the list had all the names except for Avni and one of the other intern. He called the admin team to inquire if there was anything missing from the schedule. As far as what he knows is mostly senior doctors have volunteered and just minimal amount of junior have enlisted for the camp.

After confirming that the list was correct, he went to check the list of people leaving for today's outstation camp.

He was unsure but time and again, he was feeling something different with karan and now this.

Although he was not having a good feeling about this but yet he did not want to correct for the time being what his mind was thinking.

He knows that she was not ready for a relationship but so much so that she will have to leave one fine day? That too unannounced?

He did not have the heart to confirm and hence he just called Karan directly.

While as karan was driving so he kept the phone on speaker to respond.

Karan - yes Dr. Neil. All okay?

Neil- Karan just a yes or no. I am sure you are the one helping but are you currently with Avni? Mind you all I need is a yes or no. No other words will be entertained.

Avni looked at him shocked and karan with a shine in his eyes replied in yes.

Neil- (overwhelmed with sadness )

Karan - are you there Neil?

Neil- ( coming out of his grief) y.. yes. What else can be wrong? Since she has chosen to run away I won't be chasing her and hinder her path. Make sure to inform her to take care of herself as here there were many people who would be concerned but there she would be in a complete unknown environment. As a doctor she needs to first learn to protect herself if she has to save the patients.

Avni had tears in her eyes , wanting to say many things but words were not helping.

Karan- Neil don't worry I will. You know what till yesterday I was unsure about her move but after having a conversation with you yesterday I felt at ease. The only reason I am helping her go at the moment is that I am assured , no matter where she goes... She will not be able to forget you. Ultimately when she has the courage to face the reality, she will come and it would be happy begining without any ounce of past in it.

Neil-(wiping his tears) I hope what you said comes true. Can you put her online?

Karan passes the phone to her.

Avni- (composes herself but could not speak anything)

Neil-(sensing her on the other line) you will need to keep as much as sanitizers and masks possible. I..I have been there once , so make sure you are having only hot water and ..and keep having antibiotics even if you do not want to have. K..ke... Call anyone in the hospital if you get struck somewhere and need help.

He was unable to speak further.

Avni- ( all she could manage to say was ) so..sorry Neil. I ....hope these 6 months will allow us to calm down and think clearly about our future together. I hope you can move on and have a better life ahead.

Before she could complete the call was disconnected. He did not wanted to hear her, not at the time when she was running away. Not at a safe place but at a place prone to many challenges.

He is just upset with the fact that the reason for her going there was him and if tomorrow anything happens to her then will he be able to forgive himself?

Not wanting to think much about the other things , he left his cabin and went to the hideout where Avni used to go.

Since it was day time he was wanting some place silent. He was restless and knows that his messy state would not allow him to work.

He sat there for a good time and not wanting to move until his thinking was disturbed by a phone call.

Answering that he left to check on his patients.

Tbc