Time is the best healer.

Five years later:

It was the daytime, the sun was shining in the sky and the birds were hovering over the ground and the ground was decorated. The chairs were kept there and people were sitting on the chairs. Some were in civil dresses but mostly were in police uniform. The police officers were rewarded with the medals and awards. Avni was the one who was giving the medals and rewards. She was the chief guest there. Neil was sitting there with the common people because he wanted to sit there. Neil smiled to see Avni. A man looked at Avni.

Man: Madam, agar aap kuch words logon se kahengi to humain khushi hogi.

Avni was surprised.

Avni: Main kya…

Man: Please.

Avni was about to say but the man insisted so Avni said, ok. The man smiled and he said, thank you.

The man was standing at the Rostrum.

Man: Congratualations to all the cadets. Now I would like to invite IPS officer Avni Neil Khanna to come on the stage to say something to our cadets and share her experience with them.

Everyone clapped including Neil. Neil felt proud on Avni. Avni got up from her seat and she went to the Rostrum. Avni was standing on Rostrum and she sighed.

Avni: first of all, congratulation to all the cadets.

Everyone clapped.

Avni: and after that thank you. Thank you for calling me here and giving me this honour. I am honoured. Honestly main koi speech tiyar kar ke nahi ayi. Mujhe yeh nahi bataya gaya tha ke mujhe speech bhi dani paregi.

Avni and others smiled. Avni gulped and sighed.

Avni: Main apni bahaduri ke qisay sunane yaa bari, bari batain karne ke bajaye aap logo ko ek story sunana chahugi. Ho sakta hai aap main se kuch log us se relate kar paen yaa us se inspire ho paen.

Avni cleared her throat.

Avni: Yahi Mumbai main ek parivaar raha karta tha. Kehne ko ek parivaar tha lekin thay do parivaar. Ek parivaar main ek Maa, beta rehte the aur ek parivaar main ek Maa aur beti. Kehne ka matlab yeh hai ke us ghar main ek larki apne mata pita aur dadi ki sath rehti thi. Kehne ko to woh sab log ek ghar main rehte the lekin woh ghar kisi makan se kam nahi tha. Us larki ki Maa us se bohat pyaar karti thi bohat zyada lekin us ke pita…

Avni shook her head.

Avni: woh us se bilkul bhi pyaar nahi karte the. Pata hai kyun? Kyun ke woh ek beti thi. Beta nahi.

Everyone felt bad. Neil looked down.

Avni: Us larki ka pura bachpan apni Dadi aur Papa ki dant, tane aur maar khate, apni Maa ko tane sunte aur insult hote dekh, apne pita ko us ki Maa per hath uthate dekh hi guzra. Us ke Pita ne kabhi us ki taraf pyaar se nahi dekha. Us larki ne than liye ke woh khub mehnat kare gi aur ek maukam hasil karegi. Woh khud ko aur apni Maa ko ghulami ki zanjirun se chura kar rahegi. Woh apni Maa ko ek achi zindagi degi. Us larki ne apna struggle shuru kiya aur khub mehnat ki aur agaye bharti gayi. Struggle karte us ka bachpan guzar gaya aur us larki ka yahan ke best college main scholarship per admission ho.

Everyone smiled.

Avni: Bohat khush thi woh us din. Usay us ke sapne sach hote dikhai dene lage. IPS officer banane ka sapna.

Avni paused for a moment and thought and then she sighed and smiled.

Avni: Lekin usay andaza nahi tha ke woh apni zindagi ke ab tak ke sab se mushkil parao main kadam rakhne jaa rahi hai. Us college main yahan se rich logon ke bache aate the jo us ka Mazak banate aur usay pareshan karte the lekin us larki per un ki baton ka koi asar nahi hota tha kyun ke usay apna laksh hasil karna tha. Us ne apni mehnat jari rakhi. Phir ek din college ke kuch students ne shararat ki aur us larki ko lab main band kar diya woh bhi exam wale din.

Avni thought. Neil thought and he feld guilty. Neil looked down.

Avni: woh larki bohat darr gai.

Neil looked at Avni.

Avni: Help ke liye bhi chilai lekin koi nahi aya. Woh rone lagi lekin us ne khud ko sambhala aur wahan se bahar nikalne ka rasta dhundhna shuru kiya aur woh kamiyab ho gai. Jaise taise usay exam main behtne ki permission mili aur us ne exam diya but us ka exam itna acha nahi howa jitna us ne socha tha. Who larki bohat udaas ho gai. Usay laga sab khatam ho gaya. Ab woh agaye kabhi nahi parh paye gi. Kyun ke us ke papa ne sharat rakhi thi ke agar us ki parcentage 98 se kam ayi to woh us ka college band karwa denge.

Everyone was shocked.

Avni: Even us ki shadi bhi fix kar di thi ek challis (40) saal ke shaks se because woh ek government employee tha.

Everyone felt disgusted. Neil thought.

Avni: us larki ki percentage 97 percent ayi. 97. Ek percent kam aur phir wahi howa jis ka usay darr tha us ke Pita ne us ki parhai band karwa di. Ek percent ki waja se. sirf ek percent. Us ne us saal bhi top kiya kiya lekin phir bhi… us larki ko laga ke ab sab khatam ho gaya. Ab woh apna sapna kabhi pura nahi kar payegi. Sab khatam ho gaya. Ek pal ke liye us ke mann main khayal aya ke woh yahan se bhag jaye lekin woh asa nahi kar sakti thi kyun ke woh apni Maa ko peeche akela nahi chor sakti thi aur na hi apni Maa ko apne sath le kar jaa sakti thi kyun ke us ke pass itne paise nahi the. Aur phir woh jati bhi to kahan. Koi rasta nahi tha us ke pass siwaye apni kismat ke likhe ko accept karne ke. Woh apne chute se room main tiyar ho kar bethi apni kismat ko qoos rahi thi. Apni kismat per roo rahi thi. Us ke liye sare raste band ho chukke the.

Avni paused for a moment.

Avni: Lekin woh larki ghalat thi. Raste band nahi howe the balke naye raste khule the. Sab kuch khatam nahi howa tha balke ek naye shurwat hoi thi. Jis kismat ko woh qoos rahi thi woh us per meharban hoi thi. Usay shadi ke liye dekhne jo aya woh koi challis sala shaks nahi balke usi ka classmate tha.

Everyone was surprised. Neil smiled. Neil looked around and then he looked at Avni.

Avni: aur woh larka koi aur nahi balke wahi larka tha jis ne usay lab main band kiya tha.

Avni said while looking at Neil: Leader tha apne gang ka.

Avni smiled and Neil was looking at her. Neil smiled and shook his head. Avni smiled and then she looked at the people.

Avni: larke ko dekh kar larki aur ghabhra gai. Kyun ke larki ko lagta tha ke woh larka us se nafrat karta hai. Usay laga yeh larka bohat rich hai. Us ke papa to jhat se haan kar denge. Kyun ke larki ko lagta tha ke larka us se nafrat karta hai so usay laga ab woh larka us larki ko waise hi treat karega, waise hi torture karega jaise us ke papa us ki Maa ko karte hain… lekin kahin ek umeed ki kiran thi us ke mann aur woh tha us larke ka parivaar… us larke ke parivaar ke log bohat ache the. Larki ko laga shayad yeh log us ka sath dain aur asa hi howa larke ke ghar walon ne larki ko agaye parhane ki baat ki.

Everyone smiled.

Avni: Baton, baton main pata chala ke larka apni ghalti sudharne ke liye us se fake engagement kar raha hai.

Everyone got shocked. Avni smiled. Neil smiled slightly.

Avni: yes, woh ek fake engagement kar raha tha larki ke college khatam hone tak.

People looked at each other and Avni smiled. Neil looked at the people and then he smiled while looking at Avni who also smiled. Neil looked at a particular direction as he was keeping an eye on someone. Avni sighed.

Avni: anyways, next day, un ki engagement ho gai aur larki college jane lagi. Waqt beeta, larki phir se apni studies resume kar ke bohat khush ki. College main koi nahi janta tha ke larki ka fiancé kon hai aur na hi kisi ko interest tha kyun ke larki un ke status ki nahi thi. Larka larki college main ek dusre se baat bhi nahi karte the. Lekin phir college main ek naya larka aya aur us ka course cover karwane ki responsibility us larki ko di gai…

Everyone smiled.

Avni: Yahan se aya twist kahani main.

Neil smiled to think about those day.

Avni: Larki ko us larke ke sath dekh kar larke ko jealousy hone lagi. Us se pehle larke ne larki ko kisi larke se baat tak karte nahi dekha tha. Larki class se library aur library se class bus. Us ke ilawa kuch nahi. Dheere dheere larke ko larki se pyaar hogaya.

Neil and others smiled.

Avni: waqt beeta. Larka aur larki ache dost ban gaye aur phir ek din larki ki maa is duniya se chali gai.

Avni got emotional and Neil felt bad. Everyone felt bad.

Avni: us ke bad larke aur larki ki shadi hogai.

Neil smiled.

Avni: Jab shadi hoi tab us larki ke mann main larke ke liye kuch nahi thi. Woh apni Maa se bicharne ke ghum se nidhal thi. Depression main thi.

Avni squeezed her nose.

Avni: us mushkil waqt main larka aur us ka parivaar us ki himmat bana. Sab mil kar usay zindagi ki taraf wapis laye. Usay itna pyaar diya jo us ne kabhi socha bhi nahi tha. Us main himmat jagai ke woh apna IPS Officer banane ka sapna pura kare aur apni Maa ko insaaf dilwaye. Us ki Maa ko us ke apne Papa ne hi mara tha.

Everyone was shocked.

Avni: Larki ki unthak mehnat, us ke pati aur parivaar ke support se woh larki IPS Officer bani aur aaj woh larki aap sab ke samne khari hai.

Everyone was surprised. Avni sighed and then she smiled.

Avni: Ji han, yeh kahani kisi aur larki ki nahi balke meri apni hai. Ek dari sehmi larki se ek needar police officer banane ka safar asan nahi tha. Bohat si kathinaiyan ayi, bohat se kasautiyun ka samna karna para tab jaa kar aaj yeh maukam mila ga.

Everyone clapped.

Avni: aur yeh sab mere parivaar aur pati ke sath ke baghair mumkin nahi tha.

Avni smiled.

Avni: kehte hain har kamiyab admi ke peeche ek aurat ka hath hota hai. Ab yeh quote bhi kafi famous hoti jaa rahi hai ke har kamiyab aurat ke peeche ek mard ka hath hota hai. Aur aaj main proudly keh sakti hun ke meri kamiyabi ke peeche mere pati Neil Khanna ka hath hai.

Avni smiled.

Avni pointed at Neil: Jo aap sab ke beech beth hain.

Everyone turned to Neil who was surprised. Neil was sitting while carrying his three years old boy in his arm. The boy’s finger was on his lips and he was looking cute and adorable. Neil looked at people at all sides. Neil felt awkward and he looked at Avni who smiled. A man got up and clapped. The boy looked at the man and Neil smiled awkwardly. Everyone got up and clapped. The boy kept his finger on his lips and looked at the people.

Man: best husband.

Neil smiled slightly and nodded to say thank you. Neil nodded to the people and smiled. Neil felt overwhelmed. Neil felt proud of Avni.

Lady: aap yahan kyun bethe hain agaye jaiye.

Neil shook his head and signed he is ok here. Neil looked at Avni who was smiling. The boy smiled and clapped. Neil looked at the boy and smiled. Neil kissed his son. Neil smiled and he felt overwhelmed.. Everyone sat on its chair.

Avni: Dus saal ho gaye hain humari shadi ko aur aaj main apni zindagi main bohat khush hon.

The boy started to disturb Neil. People looked at Neil who smiled awkwardly. People smiled and Neil was struggling with his three years old boy. 

Neil in mind: yeh ladydon ka beta bethe to main agaye bethon na. yeh to mujhe siri smajh kar charta hi jata hai.

Neil looked at his son and tried to control him.

Avni: yeh story batane ka yeh matlab nahi hai ke main sab ki nazron main mahan banana chahti hun aur khud ki tareef sunana chahti hun. Nahi. Yeh story sunane ka maqsad yeh tha ke jo cheese humari hai woh humain zaror milti hai. Han us main dair zaror lag sakti hai lekin humain milti zaror hai. Humain bus apni mehnat jaari rakhni chahiye. Agar meri Maa ke jane ke bad main himmat haar kar beth jati to shayad aaj main yahan naa khari hoti. Aap bus try karte rahiye. Raste woh.

Avni pointed at the sky.

Avni: khudhi kholega. Thank you.

Everyone got up including Neil and clapped. Avni moved and came downstairs.

Neil: see, Neav, Mama. Clap for her.

Neav clapped. Neil smiled and kissed him. Neil clapped for Avni. Avni and Neil met each other after the function and they smiled to see each other. The boy jumped to his mother.

Neil: oye.

Avni took her baby: aww my baby.

Avni kissed the Neav.

Avni: Aap ne dekha Mama ko. Suni Mama ki speech.

Neil: bilkul suni aur bohat proud bhi feel kiya.

Avni smiled.

Neil pinched Neav’s cheek: hain na, Neav.

Neav giggled and they smiled.

Neil: tum bhi kamal karti ho, yaar.

Avni looked at Neil.

Neil: tum ne achanak mere bare main bata diya.

Avni smiled.

Neil: mujhe to smajh hi nahi araha tha kaise react karun. I was shocked.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Ab jo, jo deserve karta hai usay woh appreciation to milni chahiye na.

Avni looked at Neav.

Avni: Hain na, baby.

Neav smiled and Avneil smiled to see him.

It was the daytime, the sun was shining over the building of the college where students were present and were busy with their activities. Two people were standing at the main gate and a child was in Man's arm. They were looking at the college and they were Avneil and Neav. Avneil smiled to see the college.

Neil: Yahi woh jaga hai jahan pehli baar hum ek dusre se takraye the.

Avni smiled and she thought.

Flashback:

Avni was standing near the main gate and was looking at the sky. A bike passed by her and she flinched. Avni looked at the boy and two more bikes passed. Neil turned his face and saw Avni.

Flashback ended.

Avneil smiled and they looked at the college.

Neil: Is college ki bohat importance hai meri life main.

Avni was looking at Neil who looked at her and leaned to her.

Neil: yahin mujhe meri zindagi mili aur tum se mujhe meri duniya mili.

Neil looked at Neav and Avni followed his gaze. They smiled to see Neav. They looked at each other and smiled.

Avneil visited the college and cherished the moments. The flashes engulfed them and they smiled. Avneil came out and they turned. Avneil looked at the college and then they looked at each other. Neil held Avni’s hand and they moved from there.

Avneil were going while holding the hands of each other and Neav was in Neil’s arms. They got in the car and they moved to their destination. They lived happily ever after.

The end.

Note: The thing that is yours, will come to you, sooner or later but it will come to you for sure. You have to try hard to get it. True love makes a person to realize his or her responsibilities. If a love makes you away from your responsibilities then it means it is not a true love. True love will feel proud on your success and will become a ladder for you, not hurdle. Thank you.

So, here this book ended, I hope, you liked it.