It was the time of the night, Avni was laying on the bed in a fowler position and she was lost in her thoughts. The guards were standing outside the room. The door opened and Avni looked at the door. Avni frowned to see there. Avni saw Neil entering the room carrying a tray and a bowl was placed on it. Neil looked at Avni and then he looked away. Avni’s eyes were on Neil. Neil came to Avni and he sat on the bed in front of her.

Neil: Yeh soup pee lo phir tumhe medicine bhi leni hai.

Avni nodded and she tried to raise her arm to take the bowl but she was not able to raise her arm. Neil saw that Avni is struggling. Avni raised her arm.

Neil: kya kar rahi ho yeh?

Avni looked at Neil.

Neil: doctor ne kaha hai na ke kuch time body main pain rahega so arms aur legs per zyada zor mat dalna.

Avni said cutely: Tum ne to kaha ke yeh soup pee lun. Wohi to le rahi thi.

Neil melted but he showed a stern face. Neil fed Avni who silently have the soup. Neil was feeding Avni by not looking at her and Avni had the soup but a tear dropped from her eyes on Neil’s hand. Neil instantly looked at his hand and then he looked at Avni who was crying by looking down. Avni wiped her tears. Neil felt bad. Neil kept the tray on the side and he moved to Avni. Neil cupped Avni’s face and wiped her tears.

Neil: Acha bus ab rona band karo.

Neil hugged Avni and caressed her hair.

Avni: I am sorry.

Neil: It’s ok.

Neil was stroking Avni’s hair and she cried in his arms. They broke the hug and Neil wiped Avni’s tears. Neil kissed Avni’s forehead. Avni sobbed and Neil smiled to see her cute face.

Neil: waise mujhe nahi pata tha ke tum mere ghusse se itna darti ho.

Avni looked at Neil innocently and she sobbed. Her nose was red and she was looking uber cute. Avni hits Neil’s chest with her both hands and Neil was smiling. Neil held Avni’s arms and he captured her in his arms. Avni hugged Neil.

Neil: Waise to tumhe dard ho raha tha ab nahi ho raha?

Avni: dard nahi hai movement karne main problem ho rahi hai. Arms aur legs main hard lumps ki tarha feel ho raha hai.

Neil smiled.

Neil: relax, sab theek ho jaye ga. Water main struggle karne ki waja se ho raha hai asa. Kuch din main theek ho jayega.

Avni: I hope so…

Neil smiled and Kissed Avni's hair. Neil sighed happily.

After six months:

It was the time of the day, the sun was shining over the building of the court. The judge was giving his verdict.

Judge: sare sabutoon aur gaqahun ko maday nazar rakhte howe yeh adalat…

Avni was sitting in the court. Neil and Dayawanti Mehta were sitting on both sides of Avni. Neil was sitting by holding the hand of Avni in his both hands. The Khanna family was present there. Ketan was standing there bowing his head. After all, he had lost everything. The reason for he was doing all that, his daughter is now no more. She died so now he has no desire to live. For whom he lives now and does plotting. In the greed of getting more, he lost what he had.

Avni was keenly waiting for the decision.

Judge: Ketan Mehta ko umar kaid ki saza sunati hai.

Avni smiled with teary eyes and she cried. Neil and the Khanna family were happy.

Dayawanti Mehta looked down because today she lost her second son. She had ended all relations with him but the reality is he is still her son and it hurts to see your child, your blood to see in this state but she also knew that he killed her elder son and he has to pay for it. He should be punished for that.

The judge got up and others also got up in his owner. When the jugde went. Avni fell on the bench and Neil sat beside her. Avni was crying because her parents got justice. Their killer got punishment. Neil cupped Avni’s face who looked at Neil.

Neil: Avni, hum jeet gaye. Hum jeet gaye, Avni.

Avni nodded.

Neil: hum jeet gaye… Avni, tum ro kyun rahi ho yeh to khushi ki baat hai na.

Avni was not able to say anything and she was crying.

Avni: Thank you.

Neil sighed and Avni was crying bitterly. Neil touched his face to Avni’s face. Avni closed her eyes and she cried.

Avni was standing with her family outside the court and she saw that the policemen were taking Ketan Mehta to the police jeep. Avni was looking at him with too much hatred. Neil held both shoulders of Avni. Avni looked at Neil who also looked at her and then he looked at Ketan Mehta.

It was time of night, the Khanna family was present in the Mehta house because of the court case. Everyone was present in the living area except Avneil. Shweta was preparing the dinner for all because Dayawanti Mehta and Avni both were happy but the day was not easy for them so, so the Khanna family decided to stay with them till night.

The moon was shining in the sky and Avni was standing on the terrace. Avni was looking at the sky and Neil came there. Neil faced Avni’s back. Neil looked down and then he looked at Avni. Neil looked at the sky.

Avni: kitni sukoon bhari raat hai na, Neil.

Neil looked at Avni and he was surprised that how Avni understood that he is standing behind her. Neil smiled and came to Avni. Avni turned her face to Neil and smiled.

Neil: tumhe kaise pata chala ke main hun tumhare piche.

Avni smiled.

Avni: Tumhe pehchane ke liye mujhe tumhe dekhne ki zarorat nahi hai. Tumhara ehsaas hi kafi hai mere liye tumhe pehchane ke liye.

Neil smiled and looked down. Avni looked at the sky. Neil looked at Avni and he followed her gaze.

Neil: Neela maa aur Ashish papa ko miss kar rahi ho.

Avni nodded.

Avni: hmm, bohat.

Neil lowered his gaze.

Avni: maine suna tha ke log jab is dunya se chale jate hain to woh tare ban jate hain. Kya yeh baat sach hai? Mujhe to mamma, papa kahin bhi nahi dekhte. Bohat dino se dhundh rahi hun unhe lekin woh dono milte hi nahi hain.

Avni’s eyes were filled with tears. Neil turned Avni to him by holding her upper arms.

Neil: woh is liye kyun ke woh do (Neil held Avni's hand and he kept in on her heart) yahan tumhare dil main hain.

Avni was looking at Neil emotionally.

Neil: unhe yahan mehsos karo. Neela maa aur Ashish maa kahin nahi gaye woh dono humesha hamare dil main zinda rahenge.

Avni smiled slightly with moist eyes. Neil kissed Avni’s forehead and hugged her. Avni felt protected and peaceful. Neil kissed Avni’s hair.

Avni: Neil.

Neil: hmm.

Avni broke the hug and Neil left her. They looked at each other.

Avni: Can you stay here tonight?

Neil frowned slightly.

Avni: Aaj mamma, papa ki bohat yaad arahi hai agar tum aaj raat yahan mere sath rahoge to…

Neil cupped Avni’s face and he nodded. Avni smiled slightly.

Avni: Thank you.

Neil smiled.

Neil: thank you kis baat ka. Main to tumhare kareeb aane ke bahane dhundhta rehta hun.

Avni smiled.

Neil: ab tum ne khud se invite kiya hai mujhe to yeh mauka kaise gawa sakta hun main.

Avni was smiling and she shook her head.

Neil: tum ne khud se kaha hai night spend karne ko so ab agar koi asi waisi baat ho jaye to mujhe blame mat karna.

Avni looked at Neil surprisingly who winked. Avni smiled by looking down. Neil smiled. Neil thought something.

Neil: Ab, Avni.

Avni looked at him and she found him serious.

Neil: Avni, ab to court ki verdict bhi agai hai aur jo hum chahte the woh hi howa. Avni, ab agaye kya?

Avni was looking at him.

Neil: tum ne humare relationship ke bare main kya socha hai?

Avni was stunned. Neil cupped Avni’s face.

Neil: Avni, don’t get me wrong but hum dono ase kab tak rahenge. Tum jo chahti thi woh ho gaya. Ashish papa aur Neela maa ko justice mil gaya aur ab to tum ne criminology main admission bhi le liya hai. Jaisa tum chahti thi waisa hi howa hai sab. Tumhe nahi lagta ke ab humain hum dono ke bare main sochna chahiye. Humare future ke bare main sochna chahiye. Akhir kab tak hum dono ase alag, alag rahenge. It is high time we should unite…

Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil: Avni, I can’t live like this anymore. I want a normal life, a simple life. Main ek asi zindagi chahta hun jahan hum dono ek sath rahen, khush rahen.

Neil touched his forehead to Avni’s forehead.

Neil: Avni, main ab aur intazar nahi kar sakta. I want you.

Avni felt a shiver in her body and heart to hear Neil. Neil looked at Avni and Avni saw desire and love in Neil’s eyes. Avni cupped Neil’s face.

Avni: I am all yours, Neil.

Neil was looking at Avni.

Avni: you don’t need to wait anymore. You can claim me as yours.

Neil was surprised to hear Avni.

Avni: Neil, hum married hain so, we can…

Neil smiled and he shook his head. Avni was shocked. Neil sighed.

Neil: Nahi, Avni, ase nahi.

Avni was astonished.

Neil: Avni, main barat le kar aana chahta hun aur sab ke samne poray maan saman ke sath tumhe apna bana kar le kar jana chahta hun. Us ke bad hi hum humare rishte ko agaye barhaenge.

Avni felt blessed to have Neil in her life.

Neil: hum ne pyaar kiya hai koi chori nahi jo hum humare rishte ko sab se chupa kar rakhen.

Avni was just looking at him.

Neil: Agar tumhe ab bhi waqt chahiye to theek hai main wait kar lunga. Lekin hum humare rishte ko agaye tumhari Bidaai ke bad hi barhaenge.

Neil smiled.

Avni: aur agar main kahun ke main ready hun aur mujhe ab aur waqt ki zarorat nahi hai to?

Neil was stunned and he was looking at Avni. Avni smiled and she nodded.

Avni: main humari wedding ke liye ready hun.

Neil was surprised.

Neil: are you sure about it? You can take your time.

Avni shook her head.

Avni: I don’t need any time, I am ready. I also want to live with my husband and want to trouble him. I want to show him tantrums.

Neil smiled.

Neil: I will love to bear your tantrums.

Avni smiled.

Avni: we will see.

Neil smiled.

Neil: we will see.

They smiled and then they hugged each other. Avneil sighed.

The moon was shining in the sky and it peeped into Avni’s room where Neil was laying on the bed in a fowler’s position and Avni was in Neil’s arms. Avni’s head was on Neil’s chest. Neil was stroking Avni’s hair. Avni’s hand was on Neil’s chest.

Avni: Neil?

Neil: hmm.

Avni: Humari shadi ke bad Dadi to bilkul akeli ho jaengi. Kaise rahengi woh?

Neil: kyun? Kyun akeli ho jaengi? Hum hain na. Dadi humare sath rahengi humare ghar. Woh bhi humari family ka hissa hain. Hum sab sath rahenge.

Avni: Dadi kabhi nahi manegi. 

Neil: kyun nahi manegi? Unhe manana parega. Hum baat karenge na. hum mana lenge unhe, don’t worry.

Avni: I hope so.

Neil: don’t worry, hum bohat ziddi bache hain unhe humari baat manani hi paregi.

Avni smiled. Neil kissed Avni’s forehead and Avni closed her eyes. Avni smiled. Avni opened her eyes and looked at Neil. Neil also looked at Avni. They smiled.

The next day, the sun was shining in the sky and Avni was arranging the dining table. Neil came downstairs and he saw Avni arranging the table. Neil smiled to see Avni and he came to Avni.

Neil: good morning.

Avni saw him and she smiled while doing her work.

Avni: Good morning.

Neil: Need help?

Avni: No, sab ho gaya hai.

Neil smiled and said ok. Neil sat on the chair.

Neil: Dadi?

Avni: Arahi hain.

Neil nodded while smiling. Dayawanti Mehta came and Neil got up. Avneil greeted her and she replied to them then they sat and had breakfast.

Later, Avneil was standing with Dayawanti Mehta in the living area.

DM: Neil, main tumhare parivaar ko aaj dinner per invite karne ka soch rahi hun.

Avneil looked at each other then they looked at Dayawanti Mehta.

DM: Main un se tum dono ki shadi ki baat karne wali hun.

Avneil were surprised and they looked at each other.

DM: Main tumhari amanat tumhe sonp kar is zimedari se mukt hona chahti hun.

Avni was shocked. Neil was also surprised and he looked at Avni.

Neil: Dadi, main mom dad se humari shadi ki baat karne wala tha aaj. Hum shadi to karenge lekin humari bhi ek condition hai.

Avni looked at Neil.

DM: Condition?

Neil nodded.

Neil: yes, condition. Humari shadi ke bad aap ko bhi humare sath humare ghar main rehna hoga.

Dayawanti Mehta was surprised and Avni looked at her.

DM: Yeh kaise ho sakta hai, beta?

Neil: kyun nahi ho sakta? Beta bulati hi aap mujhe. Dad ko aap apna beta manta hain to phir bete ke sath kyun nahi reh sakti aap, hmm?

Dayawanti Mehta smiled.

DM: Beta, tum theek keh rahe ho lekin log kya kahenge.

Neil: logon ka kya hai woh to kuch na kuch kehte rehte hain. Is baat per us din achi khasi discussion aur debate ho chuki hai.

Dayawanti Mehta smiled.

DM: woh sab to theek hai lekin ab mera is shehar se dil bhar chukka hai. Main Avni ko tumhe sonp kar hamesha, hamesha ke liye Shanpur chali jaungi.

Avneil was shocked.

Avni: what?

Dayawanti Mehta nodded.

DM: Han, beta. bus tum dono ki shadi ho jaye phir main Shanpur chali jaungi.

Avni was shocked. Neil looked at Avni.

Avni: Aap ne bataya hi nahi mujhe.

DM: Aaj batane wali thi.

Avneil was looking at her.

Neil: Lekin aap kyun jana chahti hain?

DM: ab yahan acha nahi lagta. Ajeeb se bechaini hoti hai aur phir Maa ji ki bhi omar ho gai hai. Un se ab kheton ki dekh bhal nahi hoti aur ab to un ki tabiyat bhi theek nahi rehti. Is liye mera un ke pass hona zarori hai. Unhe meri zarorat hai. Aur wahan jaungi to mera bhi dil bhela rahega. Yahan to kuch karne ke liye hi nahi hai.

Avni’s eyes filled with tears. Avni moved to Dayawanti Mehta and she hugged her.

Avni: aap bhi mujhe chor kar chali jaengi.

Neil felt bad and Dayawanti Mehta smiled while hugging her granddaughter.

DM: main konsa kahin dur jaa rahi hun. Shanpur hi to jaa rahi hun tum dono chutiyun main aana na wahan.

Neil smiled. Avni was sad.

DM: Meri bachi, main kahin bhi rahun mera ashirwad hamesha tum dono ke sath rahega. Aur phir main yahan aati rahungi. Mera bhi to mann hai mere parivaar ki sath rahna ka.

Avni broke the hug.

Avni: to phir aap jaa kyun rahi hain?

Neil moved to them.

Neil: theek hai, Dadi, hum aap ko nahi rokenge lekin aap ko humare pass jald se jald wapis aana hoga.

Avni looked at Neil. Dayawanti Mehta smiled. Neil blinked his eyes to assure Avni and he nodded. Avni nodded.

Later, Avneil was in the room.

Avni: tum ne Dadi ki baat kyun mani.

Neil: Avni, try to understand. Unho ne apna ek beta khoya hai aur dusra apne hi bhai ke murder charge main jail main hai woh jatati nahi hain is ka matlab yeh nahi hai ke woh theek hain. Unhe koi fark nahi parta. She needs a change, Avni. Dadi Shanpur jaengi to un ka mind change hoga unhe acha lagega. Hum kuch time bad unhe yahan bula lenge abhi unhe jane do.

Avni nodded.

Avni: you are right. I am just worried for her.

Neil: I understand. But you also understand her condition and let her go.

Avni nodded. Neil cupped Avni’s face and smiled.

Neil: that’s like my good girl.

Avni smiled and she thinks.

Neil: don’t think too much. Everything will be alright.

Avni smiled and she nodded. Avni sighed and they smiled.