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FATEFUL COLLISIONS 

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Chapter 12: 

Neil was watching the scintillating moon from his room. The alluring night sky spoke to him like never before. The conversation with Bebe had given him a lot to think. But, no where did he feel restless, instead all his thoughts today brought on an inner kind of peace. 

He closed his eyes, and  he could see her clearly. Laughing. Unabashed. The peal of laughter was as clear in his memory as the night sky was today. No clouds, neither in the sky nor in his memory. 

He opened his eyes with a new found realization~ Fate had intertwined them in an invisible sacred thread. She was his ultimate destiny. He loved her. 

As soon as he realized this, he ran from his room and knocked on a door hastily. He needed to talk and tell his new found feelings. 

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Bebe groggily opened the door to see her grandson standing. She rubbed her eyes and said, "kya hua puttar, itni raat gaye?"

He took her into a big hug and started twirling her in circles saying " bebe, bebe bebe, aap ko kuch batana hai".

She stopped him and asked, "abhi??iss waqt?? Aacha bol."

"I love her bebe, I love her, suna aapne, I love her."

"hmmm.. Toh ye baat hai, ye toh mein already jaanti thi." said bebe, beaming at him.

He blushed a little and  said, "toh abhi jaake usse bata du?" and took a turn.

"aarey areyy, ruk ja bhai!! Itni jaldi kya hai. Yaha aa baith." she  said holding his arm.

After making him sit, she continued, 

"hmm.. Toh nawab zadein ko pyaar hone ka ehsaas ho gaya hai, haa?? Par puttar avni? Uska kya?"

~"I don't believe in love, Neil" rang in his ears as a memory from somewhere. 

He hunched his back at the realization and said, " wo pyaar mein vishwas nahi karti bebe. Ab kya?" 

"oye, tu toh mera punjabi sher hai. Aese haar thodi manega. Hum usse vishwas dilayenge. Firse."

"par kaise? Hum aaj wapas jaa rahe hai?" 

"oh!! Woh sab tu hum par chod dein. Mere sunny puttar ke paas ek plan hai?"

"plan? Papa ke paas? Wo kaha se aa gaye bich mein?" he asked totally confused 

"oh ho! Sunny kya, Shweta aur Neela bhi hai shamil. Ab toh Avni ka dil jeetna mushkil nahi hoga."

He raised his eyebrows in a surprise "sabko pata hai?? Aur  kaisa plan? " he asked,  a little skeptical. 

"abhi batati hu" bebe replied. 

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Next morning Neil went straight to Neela and said, "Neela aunty, aap se kuch baat karni thi.. Ummm.. Akele mein"

"ha baccha chalo" she replied,  a little bit confused as to what he wanted to say. 

So now both of them were standing on the terrace, facing the sea,   when Neil took both her hands in his and said, "Aunty, mein..  Mein Avni se pyaar karta hu. I know, aap, mom and dad aur bebe bhi yahi chahte hain ki hum shaadi kar le. Par mein apni taraf se apko promise karta hu ki mein humesha usse khush rakhunga. Usse wo saari khushiyaan milengi jiski wo haqdaar hai. Bas aap mere baarein mein sure hain na"

Neela's eyes brimmed with tears. She placed a hand on his cheek and said, " tumhare baarein mein sure?? Baccha, you are the best thing that could've ever happened to Avni. Mujhe tum par poora yakeen hai. Mein jaanti hu tum usse humesha khush rakhoge."

"lekin aunty, papa ka plan? I mean are you comfortable with that?  Mera matlab hai ki aap Avni ki mom hai, mein samajh sakta hu agar aapko uss plan se aetraaz hai. We don't have to.."

"Neil, Neil, Neil, baccha, mujhe uss plan se koi aetraaz nahi hai. Mujhe apne dono baccho par poora bharosa hai".

"par aunty, wo toh pehle tha, ab aap jaanti hai mein Avni ke baare mein, you know what I mean.." he said hesitantly. 

"pata hai Neil, tum mere paas aaye, aur mujhse directly iss barein mein tumne baat ki, pata hai ye mujhe tumhare baare mein kya batata hai, ki tumhara dil bilkul saaf hai, aur mujhe kisi tarah ki koi fikr karne ki zaroorat hi nahi hai. Jo sacchai tumhari aankho mein hai na, wo mere dil mein kisi tarah ke doubt ko kabhi aaney hi nahi de sakti. I trust you beta."

"thank you, aunty", Neil replied, a new found spark lining his eyes.

Suddenly, they were interrupted by a voice, 

"oh aap log yaha hai, mein andar dhund rahi thi aapko." Avni smiled. "kya baatein chal rahi hai" she continued. 

"kuch nahi baccha, kal Prakashji aur mene milkar company ke haq mein kuch decisions liye, bas wohi tum dono se discuss karna tha. Chalo, Prakashji bhi aagaye, hum milke batate hai tumhe. Aajao". Neela said,beginning their plan of action.

So the four of them sat down on the table, and Neela began pouring the tea in four cups while Prakash said, " hum soch rahe the ke jab merger ho hi chuka hai Singapore branches ka toh production start karne ke liye wait kyu kare. Jitna jaldi ho utna behtar hai. Isiliye mein chahta hu ki Neil tum Singapore shift ho jao. Jald se jald."

"Par dad, Mumbai ka business? " Neil replied, genuinely concerned. He had had no time to discuss the so called "plan" with his father.

"Mumbai mein mein hu, Neela ji hai. Yaha production start karne ke liye Avni ki maddat karne ke liye bhi koi chahiye hoga. Aur kaunsa permanently shift hona hai? Kuch mahine, fir ek baar sabkuch streamline ho gaya toh tu wapas aa jana."

Neil gave his father a look, which clearly stated, are you sure. 

Prakash just nodded silently, indicating that he will manage. 

Avni broke the silence and said, " I think this is a good idea, we will be saving a lot of time and  money agar tum yaha shift ho jaate ho Neil. Aur mumbai jaakr team banane se behtar hai hum yahi par ek team bana le, interviews rakh le. Sab kuch faster hoga."

"exactly" Prakash replied. "Bas tumhe yaha sabse pehle ek ghar dekhne ki zaroorat hai?" he continued. "Neelaji, koi pehchan ka broker hai jo itne short notice pe ek ghar arrange kar sakein?"

"kaisi baatein kar rahe hai Prakash ji, ye ghar kya aapka nahi hai. Neil, tum yahi shift ho jao. Tumhe kamra to hum already de chuke hai" Neela replied, smiling internally. 

Then she turned to Avni, who was rather confused as to what had happened in a matter of minutes,  Neil was shifting to Singapore, let alone that,  he was shifting in her house!! Her heart beats increased and she was sure all of them at the table could hear it. Loud and clear.

Neela's voice brought her down from her own thoughts, "Avni, baccha, tumhe koi aetraaz toh nahi hai. Agar Neil yaha shift ho jaye? I mean tum pehle bhi Boston mein roommates ke saath rahi ho?"

"huh..haan, mera matlab hai, nai, koi problem nahi hai. Infact, infact accha hoga to have some company. " she replied,  uncertainty lacing her every word.

Once everything was decided, and they all discussed the future possibilities, Neela and Prakash left the two, when Neil turned to Avni and said, "Avni are you sure? Will you be comfortable with me shifting here? Nahi toh hum ek naya flat ya condo, aas paas mein dekh sakte hain."

She placed her hand on his, and it scalded where she touched, "Common Neil, it is absolutely okay. Infact tumhe pata hai akele rehna kitna boring hai? It will be good to have you here." she smiled, Reassuring him eventhough nothing was sure in her own heart which hadn't stopped beating loudly ever since she had heard the news.

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Sothis is it . Neil loves her. He already knows about his conspiring family and is going to room-in/house in with none other than the love of his life. 

now how does he woo her without their families forms the next part in this story. Any particular scene you'd like let me know..I'll try and incorporate it if I can. And thanks a bunch for liking this so far. 

lots of love and big hugs!!