It was the time of the night, the moon was shining in the sky. Avni was in the OT and the kids were praying for her life. Shweta went to pray for Avni and Sunehri also went behind her. Prakash saw them and he also went behind them. Neil saw them and he also followed them. Everyone prayed for Avni who was in operation threatre and the doctors were trying their best to save her.

The doctor gave shocks to Avni and tried to treat her. Avni felt back on the bed. The doctors looked at each other. The kids were praying in the Sukoon house and the others were praying in the hospital.

Soon, the lights of the OT turned off. Neil was standing with the support of the wall and his one leg was up. Everyone saw the red light turned off and they got alerted. The doctor came out and everyone moved to him, except Mitali.

Prakash: Doctor, meri bachi.

Neil and others looked at Prakash and then they looked at the doctor.

Doctor: relax, Mr Khanna, patient ab khatre se bahar hai.

Neil and others smiled and they got happy. Neil took a deep sign of relief and he ran his hand through his hair while closing his eyes. Everyone’s eyes got moist and they were smiling. Neil’s eyes were also teary and he smiled. Mitali also smiled.

Neil: thank you sooo much, doctor. Thank you.

The doctor shook his head.

Doctor: it was my duty.

Neil sighed.

Prakash: kya hum dekh sakte hain Avni ko.

Doctor: abhi nahi. Ek baar hum patient ko ICU main shift kar dain us ke bad aap log patient se mil sakte hain lekin one by one.

They nodded.

Prakash: thank you, doctor.

Neil: thank you, doctor. Thanks a lot.

Doctor: you’re welcome.

They smiled and then the doctor went from there. Neil looked at Prakash and they hugged each other. Shweta and Sunehri also hugged and then Shweta and Neil hugged each other. Neil looked at the OT. Neil sighed and smiled. Neil’s eyes were moist but he was very happy.

Mitali was smiling. A thought struck in her mind and her smile faded. She looked at Neil and she faced Neil’s back. Miali thought.

Soon, the door opened and Avni was brought out of the OT on the stretcher. Avni was still unconscious. Neil and others came forward but Mitali was standing at her place. Neil and others saw Avni and they got emotional and they cried. Shweta caressed Avni’s hair and Neil was just looking at Avni. The staff took Avni from there and everyone was walking with the stretcher.

Avni was in the ICU and she was unconscious. First Prakash came to see her and he got emotional to the condition of his daughter. One by one, everyone came to meet Avni and then Neil came. Neil saw Avni and he gulped. Neil caressed Avni’s hair and he kissed her forehead. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: Ab bus tum jaldi se theek ho jao.

Neil gulped and his eyes were at Avni who was still unconscious.

The night turned into day and the sheet of sunlight replaced the dark sheet of night. People and the birds started their day. The birds were hovering over the building of the hospital and some were sitting on it. Avni was admitted in the ICU and she stirred. Avni opened her narrowed eyes and then she closed her eyes because her head was spinning. Avni opened her eyes and tried to guess the place. Avni was looking at the roof and then she looked around. Avni understood that she was in the hospital. Avni thought and she tried to catch her head but she saw a drip connected to her hand. Avni looked at the drip and then she saw a wire connected to the thumb of other hand. Avni thought and she tried to remember. Avni saw the blur imagines where she was standing with the kids and heard a sound, Vidyut was on the door, Vidyut was marrying her forecefully, Neil and Vidyut’s fight and then she saw the blur flashes where Vidyut wanted to kill Neil but she came on the way. Avni shut her eyes and caught her head. Avni winced and then she opened her eyes and thought.

Later, the door of the room opened. Avni was resting and she stirred. Avni opened her eyes and looked there. Prakash entered and Avni smiled to see him. Everyone came inside and Neil came in the last. Avni smiled to see them and then she saw Neil. Avni’s smile faded to see him. Neil looked down and stole gaze at Avni who was looking at him. Neil came and stood at the foot side of the bed.

Prakash: kaisi hai, mere bache?

Avni smiled.

Avni: bilkul theek.

Sunehri: tu ne jaan hi nikal di thi humari.

Avni smiled. Neil was looking at her.

Avni: Bache kaise hain?

Shweta: sab theek hain bus tu jaldi se theek ho jaa.

Avni smiled. Avni looked at Neil whose eyes were on her but he looked down when Avni looked at him.

Prakash: kuch chahiye?

Avni looked at Prakash. She smiled and shook her head. Neil looked at Avni.

Prakash: juice, pani, kuch bhi.

Avni shook her head and said, nahi.

Prakash nodded and said, ok. Avni looked at Neil but he looked down when Avni saw him. Neil was stealing the gaze at Avni who was looking at Shweta who came to Avni and caressed her hair. Shweta kissed Avni’s head and Neil was looking at her. They talked.

Shweta: sach main bohat dar gaye the hum. Jaan hi nikal di thi tu ne humari.

Avni smiled. Neil looked down and then he looked at the rail of the bed and kept his finger on it.

Shweta: ab jaldi se theek ho jaa aur chal humare sath apne ghar.

Avni’s smile faded. Neil’s eyes were on Avni and then Neil looked down. Avni showed a smile. Prakash looked at Neil and Avni and then he thought.

Prakash: ab Avni ko dekh liya sab ne aur woh theek hai. Ab mere khayal main humain bahar jana chahiye.

Avni was looking at Prakash who signed Shweta to come and Sunehri also saw them.

Shweta: Ji.

Avni: Moghli ka dihan rakhiye ga.

Shweta: tu fikar mat kar. Tu bus apna dihan rakhna baki sab hum sambhal lenge.

Sunehri leaned to Avni and caressed her hair.

Sunehri: apna dihan rakhna aur jaldi se theek ho jaa.

Avni smiled and nodded. They moved and were going from there. Avni and Neil were looking at them. They went.  Now, Neil and Avni were in the room only. They looked at each other and were not ready to take off the eyes from each other. Neil looked down and he moved to Avni and he stood at the left side of Avni. Avni’s eyes were on Neil who looked away. Neil sat beside Avni.

Avni: Naraz ho mujhse?

Neil shook his head while looking away.

Avni: ghussa ho?

Neil shook his head. Avni smiled.

Avni: to phir meri taraf kyun nahi dekh rahe.

Neil looked at Avni and he got emotional. Neil hugged Avni who got shocked. Neil hid his face in Avni’s neck and cried miserably. Avni got shocked and she hugged Neil. Avni held Neil’s backhead and his back.

Avni: Neil.

Neil was crying.

Avni: Neil, Neil, kya howa?

Neil was crying.

Avni: Neil, kya howa hai? baat kya hai?

Neil said while crying: I am sorry, Avni. I am sorry.

Avni’s eyes got moist and she felt sad for Neil. Avni caressed Neil’s hair and she couldn’t understand what to say and do. Avni was caressing Neil’s hair and she looked at Neil.
Avni: Neil, ssshhhhh. Bus. Ssshhhh. Bus karo. Chup ho jao.

Neil was crying.

Avni: Neil, please rona band karo. Please.

No use.

Avni: Acha meri taraf dekho.

No use. Avni tried to push Neil but she didn’t have much strength.

Avni: Neil, meri taraf dekho to sahi.

Again no use. Avni remembered something and she thought why Neil is saying sorry to her. Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: Neil, tum ne sach to kisi ko nahi bataya na?

Neil shook his head and Avni took a sigh of relief. Avni looked at Neil and she felt bad.

Avni: Neil, please meri taraf dekho.

Avni again tried to push Neil.

Avni: Neil, mujh main itni himmat nahi hai abhi. Main tumhe nahi hata paa rahi please uth jao. Please.

Avni was trying to keep away Neil and Neil moved back. Avni looked at Neil who was crying and his face was red and wet because of crying. Avni felt bad and her heart broke to see Neil. Avni cupped Neil’s face and wiped his tears. Avni got emotional.

Avni: Neil, please rona band karo. Jo kuch howa us main tumhari koi ghalti nahi thi. Mujhe tum se yaa kisi aur se koi shikayat nahi hai.

Neil was just looking at Avni.

Neil asked an innocent question vert innocently: koi shikayat nahi hai?

Avni shook her head and Neil was just looking at Avni.

Avni: koi shikayat nahi hai.

Neil: zara si bhi nahi?

Avni: zara si bhi nahi.

Neil was surprised and he felt guiltier. Neil cupped Avni’s face who loosen the grip on Neil’s face.

Neil: Maine tumhe kitna kosa. Kitni badduain di. Meri zindagi ke dus saal barbad karne ke liye tum se nafrat karta raha aur tum.

Avni was looking at Neil and her hands were on Neil’s shoulder.

Neil: tum keh rahi ho ke tumhe koi shikayat nahi hai mujhe se.

Avni looked on.

Neil: kis miti ki bani ho tum?

Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil: kya kuch nahi kaha maine tum se aur tum meri har badtameezi ko, meri badzabani ko, meri kahi hoi karwi baton ko, meri nafrat ko chup chap sehti rahi. Ek baar bhi tum ne mujh palat kar ek lafz tak nahi kaha. Kabhi sach batane ki koshish nahi ki.

Avni was just looking at Neil.

Neil: Kyun? Sirf dad ko bachane ke liye.

Avni cupped Neil’s face.

Avni: woh mere bhi to papa hain na, Neil.

Neil looked at Avni emotionally.

Avni: Maine jo kuch bhi kiya woh apne Papa ko bachane ke liye kiya.

Neil was looking at Avni with moist eyes.

Neil: Main smajhta tha ke dus saal maine suffer kiya hai lekin tum dus saal, Dus saal tak tum apne seene per pattar rakh kar jeeti rahi.

Avni: Jo howa woh humari kismat thi, Neil.

Neil looked on. Neil squeezed his nose and nodded. Neil gulped and looked at Avni. Avni was also looking at Neil. Neil took Avni’s hand and held her hands in between his hands. Avni was looking at the hands and then  she looked at Neil. Neil kissed Avni’s hand who looked at Neil emotionally. Neil looked at Avni.

Neil: I am sorry, Avni.

Avni looked on.

Neil: I am sorry for my every deed, for my every misconduct and misbehavior. Please mujhe mauf kar do.

Avni: jo kuch bhi howa usay bhul jao, Neil.

Neil was looking at Avni.

Avni: aur ek nai zindagi ki shurwat karo.

Neil was shocked and he looked sad.

Avni: Move on karo.

Neil was shocked and he remembered that Avni wanted him to move on in his life with Mitali. Avni and Neil were looking at each other. Their eyes locked and they were just looking at each other. They heard the knock on the door and their eye lock broke. They looked at the door. The door opened and Mitali entered the room. Avni and Neil was shocked to see Mitali. Mitali was also shocked to see Neil sitting beside Avni by leaning to her. Mitali looked at Avni and Neil’s hands and she got another shock by seeing Avni’s hand in Neil’s hand. Mitali was looking at Avni and Neil and they were looking at Mitali.