Next day-

AvNeil were sitting on dining table, opposite to eachother &attending classes when neil noticed frown on avni's face
Students had to keep cameras on so he texted her on phone, while running the meeting app in background

N-what happened?😳😳😳

A-im😴😴😴
Head is also blasting🤕🤕🤕

N-🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
Then who told you to binge watch that web series last night?
Now face the after effects

A-😒😒😒

N-you didnt have breakfast also when neela maa was calling you?

A-i woke up late so i forgot to have it😅😅😅
Ive only had my coffee till now

N-🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
Phir headache toh hona hi tha

A-🤕🤕🤕

Neil thought for a moment& went to the kitchen with his phone& ear plugs on
Soon he came back with plate of grilled sandwiches& forwarded it towards avni whose eyes widened in happiness

A-thank you so much🤩🤩🤩

N-you're welcome😇😇😇
Now make some excuse to switch off your camera& have it

Avni nodded& did as neil suggested& started having the sandwich

A-its yummy😋😋😋

Neil smiled on seeing her antics
They again concentrated on the class& after few hrs their classes were over

While neil was making few notes, avni had noticed that neil's behavior was changing
He was opening up in front of her- bringing his true nature out of the shell it was captured in since so many yrs
He was indeed innocent at heart but his innocence was trampled by the torture he faced at a really young age
She was happy that he had started becoming comfortable with her

*****

AvNeil were doing practical assignment in kitchen- neil was cutting the vegetables while avni was noting down the sequence of preparation of dish
Suddenly neil injured his hand with blade of the chopping board
He winced in pain

N-aaghhh!

Avni widened her eyes in shock

A-oh shit
Neil tum betho yaha
Men first aid box leke aati hu

She made him sit on the chair nearby& went to fetch first aid kit
Soon she returned with it& sat on the chair next to him

A(dipping antiseptic liquid on cotton)-dhyaan kaha tha tumhara huh?
Carefully kaatni chahiye thi sabzi
Ab dekho- lag gayi na chot

While avni was scolding him& rubbing the cotton on his hand, he was staring at her facial features
For anyone else, the antiseptic would cause a stinging pain on the cut but not for neil bcz he was lost in his own land- staring at her

Na hai yeh pana
Na khona hi hai

Tera na hona, jaane
Kyun hona hi hai

Tum se hi din hota hai,
Surmayi shaam aati hai
Tum Se Hi, Tum Se Hi

Her doe shaped eyes, long longs of hair tied in a messy bun, slim nose, soft pink lips& most importantly- the mole above her lips- as if she had a permanent kaala teeka to prevent from evil eyes
Everything was just perfect about her

Zindagi kehlati hai,
Tum Se Hi, Tum Se Hi

Na hai yeh pana
Na khona hi hai
Tera na hona, jaane
Kyun hona hi hai

Aankhon mein aankhein teri
Baahon mein baahen teri
Mera na mujh mein kuch raha,
Hua kya
Baaton mein baaten teri,
Raatein saugatein teri
Kyun tera sab yeh ho gaya,
Hua kya

While avni was applying the ointment, she blew air on his palm while neil just smiled
Avni questioned neil with her eye that where he is lost& neil just nodded negatively

Mein kahin bhi jaata hun,
Tum se hi mil jata hun
Tum Se Hi, Tum Se Hi

Shor mein khamoshi hai,
Thodi si behoshi hai
Tum Se Hi, Tum Se Hi

Few locks of hair came on avni's face so neil put them behind her ear from his left hand& smiled while avni smiled back

Aadha sa vaada kabhi,
Aadhe se zyada kabhi,
Jee chahe karlu is tarah,
Wafa ka

Chhode na chhute kabhi,
Tode na toote kabhi,
Jo dhaaga tum se jud gaya,
Wafa ka

Avni's voice broke his chain of thoughts

A(tying the bandage)-chalo
Aage ka kaam men dekh lungi
Ab tum jao rest karne

N-arre yaar abhi toh itna karna kuch baki h

A-haa toh men dekh lungi na
Tumhe rest ki zarurat h

N-acha at least let me guide you in steps of preparing?

A-arre lekin agar men cook karungi toh note kon karega steps?

N-hmmm
Idea
I will make video recording& later on you write the steps
We anyway have to give assignment in groups of 2 people
Baki sab toh video call pe jese tese kaam karre h
Humare paas face to face hone ka plus point toh h

A-theek h phir
Lets get started

AvNeil did as planned& submitted the practical assignment with pictures, ingredients& steps of preparation

*****

Afternoon-

NM-baccha aaj lunch men kya khana h?

A-maa aaj kuch liquid ya light ban sakta h?

NM-kya hua baccha?
Tumhari tabyat toh theek h na?

A-maa men toh theek hu but neil ke haath men chot lag gayi h

NM-kya!
Kab aur kese?

(Avni told neela maa what happened in kitchen)

A-uske baad neil ne insist kiya ke wo muje help kare but mene bola ke practical men kar lungi& wo bas instruction de raha tha
Practical assignment ke images, ingredients& step of preparation submit karne ke baad mene neil ko rest karne ko bola
So i guess wo abhi so raha hoga

NM-theek h toh phir khichdi bana lete h

Avni nodded

*****

Avni entered guest room with lunch
She kept it on table& woke up neil who was surprised to see her

N-arre avni tum khud kyu aayi lunch leke?
Muje bula liya hota table pe toh men aajata

A-tumhari haath injured h isiliye maa ne khichdi banane ka suggestion dia

Neil smiled

N-avni tum lunch le aayi mere liye yehi kafi h
Men khud kha lunga

Neil held the spoon in his left hand& tried to eat the khichdi 2/3 times but failed
Avni sat in front of him& held the plate

A-haa
Wo dikh raha h
15mins ka khana khaane men tumne 45mins lag jayenge
I know tum right handed ho
Toh chup chaap muh kholo

Thank you so much @itz_soumita for this gif🤩🤩🤩

Neil opened his mouth& avni started feeding him khichdi
While she was busy preparing the next spoon, neil was again busy in staring at her
He didnt bother whether the khichdi had any taste or not

Jo bhi mein ban paya hun
Tum Se Hi, Tum Se Hi

Raaste mil jate hai,
Manzile mil jati hai
Tum Se Hi, Tum Se Hi

After few mins, he stopped avni's hand in between, making her confused
He directed the spoon towards her& when avni opened her mouth to protest, he stuffed the khichdi in her mouth

Na hai yeh pana,
Na khona he hai
Tera na hona, jaane,
Kuyn hona he hai

Soon they had finished the food
Avni had got up& was about to go when neil held her wrist, making her turn

N-thank you avni

A(confused)-kis liye?

N-you have been the sunshine in my life
Itne salo men pehli baar koi esa insaan mila h jisne muje mere looks ya nerdy behavior se judge nahi kia
Pehli baar koi esa mila jisne mere liye itna kuch kia- wo bhi selflessly
Pehli baar kisi ne mere zakhmo pe marham lagaya h
You might call me insecure but the fact is that i can afford to loose your friendship
Plz muje chodke kabhi mat jana

Avni smiled& rubbed his hands gently

A-i understand your situation neil
Jisne akelepan ko itne kareeb se experience kia ho& jise apne relatives ne dhokha diya ho wo kabhi jhoot nahi bolega
I trust you& i will get you justice neil- men tumhe aur suffer nahi karne dungi
Abhi tum rest karo

N-hmmm
Tum mere notes copy karlo- rewrite karogi toh apne aap cheeze samaj aane lagengi

Avni gave him a seepish smile& left his room, after mumbling a thank you

*****

Few days later-

Chudail chacha& chachi finally returned khanna mansion, by renting money from a relative
(Yaad h na how they were trolled by bride's family for langar& empty pockets fiasco🤣🤣🤣)

Hetal entered the kitchen to cook something for themselves, only to see that the grocery which she had left for neil was there

H(to herself)-ye grocery kyu padi hui h yaha??
Ye toh kabki khatam ho jani chahiye thi
Aur neil kaha h?

She immediately went to the storeroom, only to find it empty
She checked all the rooms but neil was no where to be found
She was about to inform ketan but he himself came running to her

K-locker men jo pese pade thy wo gayab h

H-aur neil bhi ghar men kahi nahi h
Money& neil ka ek saath gayab hona coincidence toh definitely nahi h
Uske kapde, books, registers- kuch nahi h storeroom men
Accha wo will ka kya hua?

K-will h locker men
Aur tumhare "loud" jewelry bhi h

H(folding hand)-haash!
Thank god jewelry bach gayi

K(mumbling)-female Bappi Lehri
Abhi bhi bas apni jewelry ki fiqr h
Ye nahi socha ke neil nahi mila toh uss will ka achaar dalogi kya

H(giving suspicious look)-kuch bola tumne?

K-nahi
Kuch nahi

Both suddenly became silent

Chacha chachi (screaming in unison)-matlab wo bhaag gaya!

H-aur itne dino men toh na jaane wo kaha se kaha pahuch gaya hoga

K(after thinking for a moment)-haa
Par kitne dino tak chupega?
Itne sara amount nahi tha ke bohot dino tak chup jaye
Neil abhi 19 ka h- minor h
Agar hum uspe robbery ka case file kare toh?

H-tum na sach men ek no. ke gadhe ho
Agar humne uske against case dala& wo pakda bhi gaya toh wo arrest hojayega
Phir kese karayenge hum uski shaadi?
Aur shaadi nahi hui toh na pese milenge aur na ye ghar

Case bhi hum hi file kare& baad men bail bhi hum hi karaye
Dono ke pese kaha se ayenge?
Money doesnt grow on trees

K(under his breath)-look who's talking
Pese bachane ki baat bhi kar kon raha h

H-ab kaha kho gaye?

K-kahi nahi
Toh phir kya karne ka irada h?
Kyuki hum dono taraf se phas gaye h

H-intezaar-
Uske wapas aane ka
Aakhir kab tak chupega
And i know how much hes scared of us- wo police complaint nahi karega (smirks)
Aur tab tak tumhe company khuli rakhni hogi- chahe kaam online karo ya offline
Taki income hoti rahe

K-hmmm
(under his beath)-aur tum uss income ko waste karti rao
Waaah

H(suspicious look)-kuch bola tumne?

Before ketan could reply, the doorbell rang so he went to open the door- it was a mailman

K-yes?

MM-ketan khanna?

K-men hi hu
Boliye

MM-sir ye aapke liye notice aaya h district court se

K(confused)-court se?

MM-ji haa
Plz yaha sign kariye

Ketan signed& mailman left
Ketan closed the door& walked upstairs

H-kon tha?

K-koi mail man
Bola ye district court se notice aaya h

H-kholke dekho

Ketan opened the envolope& after reading the notice, he froze at his position
The paper slipped off his hands, making hetal confused

H-kya likha h letter men?

K-wohi jo hum nahi chahte they

Hetal picked the notice& she too, was shocked

K-neil ne toh humpe case kardia h-
Child labour, child abuse, ghar& property ko cheene ke attempt men& na jaane aur kitne clauses h notice men
Agle hafte hume court men haazri deni h varna wo hume forcfully haazir karenge judge ke saamne

H(scared)-ab hum kya karenge?

K-tum hi decide karo- iss sab men mujse zyada responsible toh tum ho

H(angrily)-matlab kya h tumhara?

K-zyada anjaan mat bano
Kisne kaha tha usse itna torture karne ko, itna maarne ko& ghar ka sara kaam karane ko?
Mene itni baar bola ke ek maid rakh lo but tumne ek na suni
Tumhe apne shopping& beauty parlor ke alava kuch nazar hi kaha aata h?

H(sarcastically)-accha?
Aur jo tum office ke baad itne ghante peene men spend kar dete they uska kya?

With that, they started their blaming drama

2151 words
Btw any gusses that who stole the money from the locker?
Plz note- this is probably my  last update until mid june bcz my end term exams are approaching so i have to do preparations
See you guys soon