After quite a long call that Neil did his best to cut short, they finally went around as they roamed on random streets & lanes, visited some churches, drank coffee in a cafe, had their favourite chaats & admired the wonder Mumbai was! 

Neil figured it was the best way to spend his evenings. Roaming around without any destination in his mind with her besides. He didn't want it any other way. And Avni, for the first time in ages, thought that may be she could have her spot, their spot at some place apart from her room! 

It was almost dark as the sky turned a darker shade of blue & the moon was visible when they were walking across a narrow lane while eating the bhutta (maize) that they had gotten themselves. 

Avni was listening to Neil telling her about something. Probably some bicker between he & Ali. But, more than listening, she was looking. Watching him. And she thought that he was beautiful. Not just the face, but he, as a person was beautiful. And, she was definitely grateful to life that he was back here. With her! 

N - Tu sun bhi rahi hai? I'm telling you something so important! - he said as he walked backwards on the pavement, facing her. 

A - Yeah, yeah! How you drenched Ali with ice-cold water in the month of December! - she spoke in an animated tone. Such a Neil Khanna thing to do! Completely stupid & frustratingly idiotic! - she rolled her eyes as she shook her head, showing disappointment while stifling a laugh.

Neil's expressions turned from disbelief to surprise when he heard her. He was surprised but not shocked, in fact, elated that he was seeing a lot of glimpses of his ladydon Avni now. Every now & then, she would throw some sarcastic jibe at him & then would herself start laughing when he made a grumpy face. He loved it when she blinked her eyes up at him, as if apologizing & Neil would give in in a heartbeat. 

May be, Kareena was actually right. It wasn't just love for the friendship, but for the friend!

N - Main tereko btaunga hi nahi! - he shook his head as he turned around to walk forward. 

Avni bit back a smile before she started taking long steps in order to catch up to him as he had started walking a bit fast. 

A - Neil? - she nudged his shoulder with hers slowly, making sure she doesn't end up applying too much of force. She didn't want him to stumble & drop his bhutta! The guy was too fragile! Avni wanted to pull his cheeks.

N - Hm? - he said as he chewed on the corn in his mouth. 

Avni stepped ahead & stood in front of him, making him raise his eye brows at her, as if asking "What is it?" She gave him a dazzling smile before raising herself on her toes as she encircled her hands around his neck. She took in a deep breathe against his neck, wanting to fill her insides with his heavenly fragrance. She rested her chin atop his shoulder as her hold tightened around his neck, her upper body pressed against his, while their lower bodies brushed against each other as she embraced him in a hug.  

Neil couldn't hug her back. Though he so definitely wanted too! But he stood there. Frozen in his spot when she held him like that. It was probably the first time that Avni had initiated a hug, or expressed anything intimate that way. He couldn't believe it was real. 

A - Can you hold me, Sloppy Nuts? - she asked on impulse. She didn't know which one was more intense, her want or her need. But she wanted & needed his touch. She wanted him to hold her.  

As if a lock unlocked, Neil traced his hands up her back as he rested his one hand in her hair while other wrapped around her lower back. His eyes closed on their own accord as his breathes became shallow & heart picked up speed. What was happening? Neil felt as if time stopped & there was music in the air. All the film references that he could think of were trivial to describe how he felt around her.

Inhaling his smell one last time, Avni pulled back while blinking her eyes, probably clearly the haze that he had created.   

A - Thankyou. - she said in a heavy voice. For coming back. I don't have any memory of being this happy in a long time! - she was not smiling. Was a little afraid how he would react when she unfolded the rawest truth in front of him. She didn't know what he thought about her, about them, but for her, it was probably the best relationship of her life. The best friend, the best confidant, the best escape!  

Neil's shallow breathe completely stopped the moment those words were out. Breathing became harsh & heart felt constricted as he looked at her. Her face shining under the moonlight & Neil didn't want to look away. 

The daze cleared when she blinked her eyes & bit her lips, a nervous habit, he knew it. Exhaling through his mouth, he looked at her. Simply mesmerized & amazed. 

He smiled at her before holding her cheek in his hand & placing his mouth on her forehead. He pressed his lips against her forehead as she closed her eyes, biting on her lips harder. His touch lingered on her skin even after he had pulled back as he looked at her with his hazel brown eyes that looked a shade darker in the night sky. 

N - And I'm more than happy now that you're happy! - he said, making her smile. 

Avni did not say anything, just smiled up at him & he could feel his heart melting.

N - I love your smile! - he said in a trance. Voice mere a whisper, as if confession to himself.

A - You gave it to me! - she didn't hold back & whispered to him. The dazzling smile widening a bit more.

And Neil thought he would die because the way his heart jumped was definitely not normal at all. 

Thank god, dil sirf gaano mein hi kaan'ch ke hote hain, real mein agar kaan'ch ka hota toh mera toh iski smile par hi bikhar jaata! 

He swallowed as he tried to shake all his stupid thoughts away & schooled his mind to behave. These feelings he had for her, were getting too out hand. He couldn't seem to hold them in anymore!

 Wanting to solve his emotional dilemma as soon as possible, Neil agreed immediately when Avni asked him if they could go back home. She was a bit tired & had an early shift the next day. 

He drove in silence as he could feel the heat of her touch spreading through his body as she put her hands on his shoulders. 

N - Chalo, I'll see you tomorrow then! - he said as he parked the bike in front of her house.

A - Uh, yeah! Okay. Bye! - she smiled.

N - Bye. Sleep well. I lo- I, uh, I-I'll see you. Yeah, I'll see you! - his throat worked on a swallow.

I love you? Ab toh pakka dil bikhar jaayega, kaan'ch ka nahi ho toh bhi! - he thought.

A - Okay! - she chuckled at his expression. Why was he fumbling? 

Giving one last nod to her, Neil turned the bike around & drove towards his home. Parking it in the driveway, he quickly moved to his bathroom for a much needed shower.

Turning the knob on, Neil stood under the cold water shower as he tried to make sense out of his thoughts. 

Okay, he was sure that he liked her. Loved her. But was he sure that she was the one? Could he promise her a forever just as Kareena had asked. He couldn't even bear the thought of hurting her!

He shut his eyes close as his mind flashed some images from their childhood. He recalled how he didn't want to leave her while going to New Jersey. 

Flashback 

Fifteen years old Neil almost threw a fit about not wanting to leave home for further studies. Though he had been so excited about going to New Jersey & getting to learn with all the new people & in a new environment but as the time of leaving approached closer, he felt his heart gripped by a fear of losing his friend here. Of losing Avni. His ladydon!

It was the day just before the day he was supposed to leave. The bags were packed & flight tickets were printed, but Neil was not ready. He needed to see her, talk to her. So, he climbed up her house, knowing well that she would be at her terrace. 

N - Avni? - he called when he saw her sitting on the ground with her head hung low.

A - Neil? Tu phir se pipe se aaya hai! Kitni baar bola hai, yeh achhe manners nhi hote! - she said as she got up, quickly rubbing her face with her hands.

N - Manners baad mein sikhana, pehle bta main nahi jaun? Tu bolegi toh main nhi jaunga! - he spoke as he looked at her with his desperate eyes. Not knowing himself, what he was afraid of exactly.

A - Kya bol rha hai? Kyun nhi jayega? Itna acha toh hai sab kuch wahan par. You should go! - she tried to give him a smile, though she could feel a lump at the back of her throat. She wanted to cry.

N - Yahan par bhi toh sab acha hi hai! - he huffed.

A - Haan, par tujhe jo course karna hai, woh toh nhi hai na! - she reasoned, consoling both him & herself!

N - Main, main course change karlunga! Tu bolna? Main nahi jaun? - he stepped ahead as he held her hand.

A - No, Sloppy Nuts! You should go. - she averted eyes.

N - You won't miss me? - he asked, his own eyes glistening now.

A - No! - she shut her eyes close as she tried to blink her tears back. Jab mujhe yaad aayegi, toh I'll call you. Aur milne bhi aaungi. Thik hai? - she smiled. Both of their eyes glistening as they looked at each other. The predicament of their hearts was too huge for their teenage selves to comprehend. 

N - Tu sad hokar yahan kyu baithi thi? - he asked as he wiped the lone tear that escaped her eyes.

A - Main yeh watch laayi thi tere liye! Par dene nahi aayi....mujhe lga tere saare bags dekh kar I'll end up crying. - she sniffed as she wiped her nose & picked up a small box that was placed besides her.

Neil blinked his eyes as the tears fell from his eyes & he took the watch from her.

N - Mere calls utha lena, thik hai? Woh time-zones ka jo bhi difference hai, mujhe nahi pta! - he spoke as he blinked at her.

A - Aur tu bhi utha lena! Warna main naraaz ho jaungi! - she tried to laugh in between her tears.

N - Tu wait karegi mera? - he then asked, face all serious. A part of his heart knew that the question was not just as a friend!

A - Humesha! - neither did she reply just as a friend.

Flashback Ends

Neil rubbed his hands over his face before turning the knob off & he then stepped out of the shower. 

Drying himself with the towel, he looked at his reflection in the mirror. 

Just how much of a fool I was? How could I not know that I love her! I still have that watch that she gave me ten years back. Ab toh mujhe woh fit bhi nahi hoti, phir sambhaal rakhi hai! Uska diya hua har gift, har birthday card aise rakha hai jaise meri life unn par depend karti hai! New Jersey jaane se pehle last thought woh thi, aur India aane ke baad pehla thought woh! Itni intensity se sirf friendship toh nahi ho sakti! Mujhe kyun farq padta hai ke woh thik hai ki nahi, ke woh khush hai ki nahi, ke woh apne baare mein acha soche, ke woh mujhse share kare! Of course, I love her! And I was so dumb to not understand it till now! 

He could no longer deny his feelings for her. He definitely was in love with her. And she definitely was the one for him. Fuck this shit of getting to know her! He could die for just one smile. Why was he even avoiding the realisation, at that point! He had fallen so deep & hard that there was no way of coming back. He loved her. He would always love her. Even if she didn't. This was the ultimate truth of his being. Nothing or no one could tell him otherwise. Neil Khanna was meant to love Avni Mehta! In all lives! In all time zones! In all universes! 

________________

Kareena was sprawled up on her bed when she heard a knock at the door. Sighing, she got up from the bed & opened the door only to find her brother standing there with a worried look on his face.

Kareena - Kya hogya? - she asked, watching him as he walked inside & sat on the bed.

N - Hogya! - he whispered, still looking down at the floor.

K - Kya? Hogya? Tillu? - she spoke animatedly, emphasizing on each word to grab his attention.

N - Pch! Pyaar yaar! Aur kya hona tha! - he looked at her, irritated at her nonchalance. 

K - Toh? - she was beyond confused now. Of course!

N - Toh? - he spoke in shock! Tujhe samjh nahi aa rha? Mujhe Avni se pyaar hogya! - he said with widened eyes as if the news could break nations & cause world wars!

K - Woh toh tujhe 10 saal pehle bhi tha! - she spoke in a matter-of-factly tone. Ab tu hai hi itna slow ki samjh ab aaya hai. Duffer kahin ka! - she shook her head as she lied on the bed.

N - Zyada love guru mat bann! Chup reh! - he rolled his eyes. Clearly embarrassed at his tubelight of a mind.

K - Tu mere room mein aaya hai! Toh tu chup reh! - she countered.

N - Yaar! Idhar mujhe heart attack aane wala hai, aur tujhe ladai karni hai! - he nearly stomped his foot on the floor.

K - Kyun? Karam Bhai se darr rha hai? - Kareena sat up with all her attention on her brother now.

N - Karam Bhai se kyun darrunga yaar! - he shook his head. Woh toh itne sweet hain! Mujhe Ladydon se darr lag rha hai! - he spoke & Kareena almost gritted her teeth. Tu soch, main usko btane gya ki main, you know, - he hated the way his cheeks turned pink all the time! that I love her! Woh toh mera sar hi phod degi! - he blinked his eyes innocently.

K - Tu jaa yaar! - she wanted to hit him with a bat at that point. Paagal! - she picked up the pillow to throw at him.

N - Arre! Help toh kar! - he said as he held her hands, grabbing the pillow from her.

K - Bhai, woh tera sar kyun phodegi? Woh bhi toh tujhe like karti hai na! - it were times like this that she thought her brother really had some issues. Why was he so dumb anyway? And, she wanted to tell their Mom that she very obviously deserved the previleges of being the elder sibling. Kyunki bhaai toh was so babygirl coded! She mentally rolled her eyes.

N - Usne kaha tujhse? - he asked as he narrowed his eyes.

K - Tere alawa sabko dikhta hai! - she rolled her eyes.

N - Sach bol rahi hai? - he tried to confirm as he raised his eye brows at her.

K - Nahi. - she huffed. Jhoot. - she blinked her eyes dramatically. Taaki tu full confidence mein jaaye unke paas aur woh tera sar phod de! Mazza bada aayega waise! - she gave him a tight smile.

Neil sat back at the bed as he threw the pillow at her which she easily dodged. He exhaled with an open mouth as he look up, Kareena was sure he was saying an inaudible prayer. 

Shaking her head at the way he was so worked up, she sat besides him as she poked his upper arm. 

N - Abhi pareshaan mat kar! - he said in a serious tone.

K - Tension ho rahi hai? - she spoke slowly. 

N - Bahot! - he sighed. Matlab, main toh usse tab bhi pyaar karunga, agar woh mujhse naa bhi kare! Par, mujhe bas darr hai ki woh distant na ho jaye! Agar usse lga ki main serious nahi hoon, aur usne mujhse baat karni band kardi toh main kya karunga? - he looked at her sister. Eyes clearly showing all the distress that he was feeling. 

K - Toh tu unhe dikha, ke tu serious hai, tum dono ko baare mein! That you want to take it forward. - she gave him an encouraging smile. Dekh Neil, I know that she loves you. Ho sakta unhe abhi realise nahi hua ho, but she does love you. I know it. Maine dekha hai jab tu yahan nahi tha, toh woh puchhti rehti thi tere baare mein. Kabhi mujhse, kabhi Bebe aur Mummy se! Haan, teri tarah obvious nahi karti thi, - she chuckled when she saw her brother going pink in the cheeks. par unki aankhon mein dikhta hai, yaar!  Aur waise bhi, tu toh keh hi rha hai na, that you'll still love her, even if she doesn't, so just do it. Just keep loving her, you'll get her someday. May be not today, not tomorrow, par kabhi toh mil jayegi! - she smiled as Neil smiled back. 

N - I think, I should wait for her. Abhi confess nahi karna chahiye! Woh bhi thoda comfortable aur open up ho jayegi, tab bta dunga! - he pondered. Abhi toh bas, main chahta hoon ki uski jitni bhi insecurities hai na, unn sabko khatm kar dun! - he said thoughtfully, turning to look at Kareena. 

K - Aisa hi hoga! - she smiled. Though she would never say it out loud. But she was proud of the man her brother was. He was jovial & amicable & easy going, but at the same time, was equally thoughtful, emotional & understanding. She loved her brother. 

N - Acha, ek baat toh bta...kya puchhti thi woh mere baare mein? - he asked as his cheeks dimpled when he looked at her with a smile on his face.

K - Bas bahot ho gya! Taarifein karwani tujhe khaali. Chal jaa ab yahan se, sona hai mujhe! - she was back to the nonchalance again & Neil frowned at the mood-change. 

N - Kya hai? Bta de yaar, kya bola tha usne? - he frowned. 

K - Beta, pehli fursat mein niklo! Warna Mummy ko btaungi raat-raat ko kahan jaata hai tu! - she lied on the bed as she pulled up the blanket over herself.

N - Jaa rha hun! Jaa rha hun! Mat bata! Main khud puchh lunga usse! - he stood from the bed, as he straightened his T-shirt.

K - Haan haan, chal! Puchh ke dikha! - she chuckled.

N - AC kam karle, phir tujhe fever ho jaata hai! - he shook his head as he grabbed the remote & set the temperature. Iss baar main doctor ke paas lekar nahi jaunga!

K - Haan haan! Iss baar toh tu Doctor Bhabhi layega! - she teased as she wiggled her eyebrows.

N - Soja ab! College nahi jaana kal! - he ignored the teasing. Why would his heart thump like that!

K - Oho! Sharmata bhi hai tu! - she teased more making him almost groan!

N - Good night! - he kissed her forehead & switched the lights off before he stepped out of the room.