Neil had slept only for a few hours after coming back from the music festival as he had to wake up in time to get ready for office. Even so, he didn't really feel tired or lethargic, in fact, he felt quite energized & goofy with a bright smile on his face at all times through out the day. He eagerly waited for the day to end so that he could go & see Avni. 

So after making sure that everybody in his house had slept, he quickly moved out & walked up to the Mehta Residence. Though he knew that Karam wasn't at home that day as he had gone for a two days business conference to Delhi, he still climbed up the terrace with the help of the pipe cause he knew that he would find Avni at the terrace. 

However, what he didn't know was that she had not had a very great day so as to say. He frowned when he couldn't find her walking across the terrace when he finally reached there & was about to go downstairs when he heard someone sniffing. Furrowing his brows in confusion, he turned around only to find Avni sitting on the floor with her head bowed down between her knees as she hugged her legs close to her chest. 

Astonished, he quickly walked up to her as he kneeled in front of her. 

N - Avni? Kya hua, ro kyu rahi hai? - he asked softly as he tried to make her look up at him. 

Neil tapped on her arms gently to make her look up at him but she didn't react & kept mumbling something under her breathe which couldn't quite decipher. It was only when he jerked her by holding her hands that she raised her head up & looked at him with her red teary eyes. 

Neil felt like his heart dropped to his stomach when he saw her like that. She looked so devasted & shattered, as if some little cotton doll who would break in case he applied too much pressure to hold her. 

Scooting closer to her, he wiped her tears that flew down from her eyes & ran till her chin. He gently wiped her under eyes with his fingertips & then ran his thumb over her forehead to smooth the creases there. 

A - Neil! - she whispered in between a sob & Neil hadn't seen a more heartbreaking sight. Her eye lashes were wet from her tears & her nose and cheeks had turned red now.

N - Haan. Yahin hoon! - he put her head against his chest as he held her in his arms. Kya hua, bta? - he cooed as he massaged her scalp lightly.

A - Hospital. Had a patient! - she said in between her sniffles. Same case as Mumma & Papa. - her chin wobbled & Neil didn't need any more elaboration. He very well understood what had happened that made her cry so much.

N - Come here. - he adjusted her in between his legs so that he could hold her close to himself tightly. Avni, breathe! - he rubbed her back gently.

A - I don't know if the doctors will be able to save them. The couple has two kids, Neil. They are small children. - she told as she spoke against his chest. Just like Karam Bhai & me! - she hiccupped as she craned her neck to look up at him & whispered the last line.

N - Kuch nahi hoga, Avni! I'm sure your team of doctors will save them! Hm? - he wiped her cheeks gently as more tears oozed out of her eyes. Idhar dekh, meri taraf dekh! - he had to jerk her face lightly to make her look at him. They'll be okay. It will be alright! - he whispered slowly as if he'll break her if he didn't handle her gently.

A - Sab yahi kehte hain! - she flinched at her own voice. Mumma-Papa ke time bhi yahi kaha tha. Par sab alright toh nahi hua na! - she hiccupped again as her throat felt raw & nostrils were clogged.

A sigh of helplessness left Neil's mouth. He didn't know how to console her for something that they couldn't do anything about, yet it affected her so much after all these years. But one thing he was sure of, he couldn't see her so defeated & grief-stricken. It felt like someone was clenching his insides when she cried so much. 

N - Baby, aise negatively toh nahi soch sakte hain na! Uss time jo bhi hua, zaruri thodi hai ki iss baar bhi ho. - his thumb kept rubbing across her cheeks as he spoke slowly, voice gentle & touch feathery. Acha, ek baat btao! - he tucked her chin up to make her look into his eyes. If you'll lose hope like this then how will you treat your patients? Don't you want to set a strong example for those kids? You want to treat their parents well, haina? - he nodded his head while he talked to her in the most soothing voice. Trying his best to lessen her grief & silently urging her to convert it into strength & hope. I'm sure they'll recover. Have faith, Avni. - he whispered as he brushed away the hair strands that were stuck on her face due to the tears & sweat.

A - I don't want to be strong. - she had come to hate the word now! Kya karenge strong hokar? All these emotions & feelings inside of me....they're suffocating, Neil. - at that point, she was physically struggling to speak. Her tears had stopped but her heart still hurt & her head hammered with pain. So many thoughts going around inside of my head but I don't, I don't know how to let them out, - she felt her chest tightening as breathing became difficult in that moment. Ghutan feel hoti hai khudse! - her chin wobbled as her eyes teared up again & Neil could feel his own heart shatter. I want to cry & scream & yell! - she said as she blinked away the tears.

N - Then do it! - he never stopped massaging her head in gentle motions. Cry all you want. Scream & yell. Let it all out. - he said while looking at her. I'm here to hold you through it. Batao mujhe kya soch rahi ho tum? - he brushed his knuckles across her jaw.

A - Pta nahi! - she almost cried out. Pta nahi main kya soch rahi hoon. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai ki I've just started victimizing myself so that I can console myself for being like this. Sabki life mein kuch na kuch hota hai, par sab mere jaise 10 saal tak uske baare mein crib toh nahi karte na! I hate that I just can't move on. I hate myself. - she wrapped her palm around his hand that was still holding her face. Her nails dug deep into his skin as she spoke. Each & every word a struggle on its own! But Neil didn't even flinch, too afraid that she would again lock herself up in her shell if he broke the spell. I hate the fact that I feel so much yet can not express even a mound. I hate the way all these thoughts keep crawling in my mind time & again. Main sabko pareshaan kardeti hoon. Karam Bhai kahin bahar nahi jaate kyuki unhe humesha meri tension rehti hai. I feel like I've restricted his life too! Aur tum bhi toh mere saath itne considerate isliye hi hona because you've this sense of guilt & sympathy towards me! - Neil would lie if he said that her words didn't hurt. Cause they definitely did. Quite bad. From where did the notion of sympathy come in between them? Here he was literally struggling every day to figure if he perceived her just as a friend or if he actually was so irrevocably in love with her. And she thought he sympathized her? Oh, the girl had no idea! But he did not say anything because he needed her to let it all out of her system. Mujhe aise lagta hai ki sab mujhe special treat karte hain kyuki...kyuki main..because I'm an orphan. - she couldn't help the sob that escaped her mouth. Phir mujhe yeh bhi lagta hai ki aisa kuch bhi nahi hai! - she finally eased her grip on his hand & took in a deep breathe. Neil's hand stung where there were marks of her nails, however that didn't stop him from massaging her head. Jo log mere saath hain woh sirf isliye mere saath hain kyuki they actually care for me, & not because they sympathize me. But I just don't know how to stop all these thoughts from creeping in. - she felt like she was speaking to herself now. Begging herself to stop thinking this way. Neil, I am not even making sense. Main yeh sab kyun bol rahi hoon, kyu soch rahi hoon, mujhe kuch samjh nahi aa rha hai! - she wanted to cry again as her head throbbed with ache & all her muscles spasmed with pain. She was beyond exhausted. Dekho, maine yeh bhi apne baare mein bna liya hai! I should be sad about those kids, par I'm wallowing in my own self-pity. - her mind just wouldn't stop the spiral of self-loathing. I am just so selfish! I hate myself! - a tear left her eye. Neil! - she shook his hand. Neil, please stop me from talking. My head hurts. Please stop all these thoughts. I want to rest. Help me, please! - her chin wobbled as she talked. Neil could only imagine how she had struggled with her thoughts all these years.

Taking in a deep breathe, he put her face against his chest as he patted the back of her head. His other hand ran across her lower back as they just sat their in silence for a minute. He could feel a headache at the back of his own head but then shook his head as he brought his focus back on her. 

N - Aisa nahi hai, Avni! Tum selfish nahi ho, & you don't make things about yourself. - he told her with sincerity evident in his voice. Tumne bas apne emotions to itna restrain karliya hai ki they have become this huge volcano inside of you. Toh ab jab bhi kuch triggering hota hai toh all these feelings & thoughts come rushing back to you. - her sobs had died down & tears had stopped but her eyes still sting because of crying so much & there was still a dull ache at the back of her head. However, she couldn't deny the fact that Neil's embrace did ease her down. A hell lot than she was ready to admit. You've consciously busied yourself so much that you just did not find the time to feel all these things, aur ab yeh bottle up ho gayi hain tumhare andar. - a sigh left his mouth. But its okay, Baby! We can still work on them, we can still let them out. Right now, you're just high on emotions isliye tum itna negatively soch rahi ho! It will all be fine with time, sweetheart! - he stared afar at the starry sky as he rested his chin atop her head.

A - Sach mein? Sach mein thik ho jayega? - she craned her neck to look up at him.

N - Haan! Sach mein thik ho jayega! - he chuckled at how she reeked of innocence while asking that with her big bright eyes widened. Aur agar nahi bhi hua, toh bhi hum deal karlenge! - he mumbled as he placed a quick kiss on her hair, at the top of her head.

Though it was just a slight touch, Avni could feel her tension settling down. She rested her head back against his chest as she inhaled his scent in deeply. Her muscles were coiled & her back hurt by sitting in that position from quite a long time now but she could feel a sense of peace in her heart. And Avni had almost forgotten the feel of it inside her all these years. They sat there in silence as he kept stroking her hair & she closed her eyes as she rested for a while. All the swirling thoughts put to a rest for the time being. 

N - Avni? - he called after a while.

A - Hm? - she shifted closer.

N - Khana khaya hai tumne? - he asked as he bowed his head down, trying to look at her face.

A - I ain't hungry! - she mumbled. Her voice had become hoarse & raspy because of all the crying.

N - Koi baat nahi, thoda sa toh khana padega. - he tried to pull back from the hold but she tightened her grip as she shook her head. How will you go to hospital then? C'mon, I'll cook you noodles. Hm? - he tried again.

A - No! I just want to sit here. - she spoke childishly.

N - Avni, baat nahi manogi? - he was stern in his voice this time.

Avni pulled back slightly to look at him with a deep frown on her face as she blinked her eyes. Why was he ordering her? She was the Ladydon! That was her job!

N - Thoda sa khale, chal! - he blinked his eyes as he patted her cheek lovingly.

Avni just gave him a grumpy look while she furrowed her brows in slight irritation. She was loosing her touch. How could she melt like that? It was almost frustrating how he was breaking all her defense mechanisms that she had built around herself.

Chuckling at her long face, Neil got up from the floor & dusted his clothes before he stretched his hand out for Avni to hold. However, she rolled her eyes as she got up on her own & haughtily walked towards the stairs. Why was he the only one who got this attitude? She was so sweet to everybody else!

 Sighing, he followed her downstairs. She sat on the kitchen platform as she told him where the pan & packet of maggie were. He cooked the noodles in silence & then put them in a bowl before moving towards her. Placing the bowl aside, he stood beside her legs against the kitchen platform as he forked some noodles & blew on them. 

She furrowed her brows again as she scrunched her nose when she chewed on the maggie. 

A - Overcook kardi hai! - she almost whined.

N - Acha sorry! Aage se dhyan rakhunga. Abhi khale please! - he assured as he fed her another bite.

Neither of them realised it but Neil was already bringing the younger Avni back. There was not even a single time in the last ten years that she had thrown a tantrum or talked back with someone. Yet, in just four days, she had done all of it with him around. He didn't do anything on purpose, just the mere presence was enough. He gave her a sense of power, dominance, confidence & sass. It was all things that she needed. 

Finishing the noodles, he walked her to her room and made her lie down on the bed as he put her head in his lap. He slowly massaged her forehead while he leaned against the headrest.

A - Neil? - she mumbled.

N - Haan? 

A - They will be okay, right? - she asked. She needed his assurance.

N - Yes, sweetheart! They'll be okay. - he smiled while stroking her hair. Now, you grab some sleep so that you can serve your patients tomorrow. Chalo, close your eyes & try to catch some sleep. - he placed his palm across her eyes as if that would make her sleep instantly.

They didn't know when they drifted into deep slumber but Avni hadn't had slept so well in a really long time. 

She woke up as fresh as daisies when the morning sunlight filtered in the room through the glass windows. Blinking her eyes a few times to adjust to the light, she sat up from the lying position & stretched her muscles. And it was then that she noted that Neil was sleeping in a sitting position as he leaned his back against the headrest for support. 

Feeling guilty for his discomfort, she scooted closer to him on the bed as she brushed his lock of hair back which was falling on his forehead. That woke Neil up as he wasn't in a very deep slumber because of the sitting position.  

N - Arre, tum uth gayi? - he asked as he yawned & then rubbed his face with his hands.

A - Haan, woh...sorry! - she stood up on the floor while he was still sitting on the bed, probably had a sprain in his neck. Kal uh, I was just...high on emotions aur Mumma-Papa ka accident yaad aagya tha! I was blabbering things. I'm so sorry. - she spoke hurriedly as she looked down at her feet.

N - What are you sorry for? - & suddenly he was just a step away from Avni as he spoke in his hoarse morning voice.

A - Huh? - she furrowed her brows, not catching up with his words.

N - Kisliye sorry bol rahi ho? - he asked again as he took a step forward while she took one back.

A - Uh, woh...maine tumhara time waste kardiya...aur tum so bhi nahi paaye! Toh-

N - Avni! - he sighed her name a little loudly making her jump a little startled while he ran a hand through his hair & then across his face. She watched him timidly as he looked visibly frustrated now. For god's sake! Main yahan apni marzi se tumse milne aaya tha, aur apni marzi se tumhare paas ruka tha! You did not force me into it. Do you understand? - he spoke sternly, daring her to look away from him as he held her eyes in a heated gaze.

A - Yes. - she spoke in a heartbeat, not wanting to ruin his mood anymore.

N - Could you please stop blaming yourself? - he didn't know if he was schooling her or pleading her. But at that point, it didn't matter. He would use whatever means he needed to use to make her understand that she was just so fucking special. 

A - Sorry. - she said as she averted eyes from him.

One more time she says it & I'm gonna kiss her so hard ki sorry toh kya kuch bhi bolna bhul jayegi! - he mumbled to himself under his breathe.

N - Look at me! - he held her chin in between his thumb & index finger, making her look at him. Hum dost hain, right? - she nodded. Toh agar main kisi problem mein hota aur tum mere paas aati toh tumhe aisa lagta ki tumne time waste kardiya hai? - he spoke patiently. Trying his best to keep calm & pass his message to her gently.

A - No, Neil. It's not that. - why did she always end up hurting people?

N - Then why is it so difficult to understand that I want to be with you through your problems? Tum trust kyun nahi kar sakti mujh par? - he asked in a patient voice. However had a river of desperation coursing through every nerve ending. He needed her to let him in.

Tum par trust karti hoon, Neil! Khud par nahi karti! - Avni thought. But she didn't know what to say. 

N - Puch rha hoon kuch main! - he pressed.

A - I won't think like that again! Promise. - she said honestly. She would try her best to open up & share her feelings. She would do it for him! She decided.

N - You better not! - he put that out as a warning, making Avni blink her eyes up at him. Sighing, he leaned forward towards her as he picked up an eye lash that was stuck near the crease of her eyes. Grabbing her hand, he placed it in her palm. Make a wish & then go freshen up, I'm gonna go make breakfast for you! - he said before heading towards the kitchen.