Chapter 140:

The sun rises and the birds start their day. They go in the search of food. The rays of the sun entered Avneil's room where Avni was sleeping. Neil came into the room carrying a tray. Neil smiled to see Avni. Neil kept the tray on the side table and he wiped his hands. Neil sat on the bed. Neil leaned to Avni and smiled to see her. Neil caressed Avni's hair.

Neil: Avni. Avni, wake up.

No use.

Neil: Avni, love, wake up.

Avni stirs and she sets the duvet then she slept by keeping her face on her hands.

Neil smiled to see her. He kept his hand on Avni's arm.

Neil: Avni, wake up, it's morning.

Avni took away his arm.

Avni: Neil, please let me sleep.

Neil makes a face. He thinks and an idea strikes his mind. Neil picked up the plate from the tray and took it near Avni's face. Avni smelt that. Neil smiled to see her. Avni opened her one eye but Neil hides the plate behind his back. Avni opened her eyes and saw nothing near her face. She looked at Neil who smiled to see her.

Neil: Good morning, wifey.

Avni looked at the tray and saw the cup of coffee. Avni thinks.

Avni in mind: was that my illusion?

Avni looked at Neil.

Neil: what happened?

Avni: nothing. I am sleepy. Good night.

Neil was stunned.

Neil: not night, morning. Good morning.

Avni gave no reply. Her eyes were closed and she sets her duvet.

Neil: Avni, come on, get up, now. Don't you have to go office?

Avni replied with closed eyes: no.

Neil gave her a look.

Neil: Avni.

No reply.

Neil: Fine then don't talk to me.

Avni opened her eyes and she lays on her back. She saw Neil is looking away. She smiled and spreads her arms and Neil saw that from the corner of his eyes. Neil turned his face to her. He smiled and hugged her. Avni kissed Neil's cheek.

Avni: I love you.

Neil smiled.

Neil: I love you too.

They smiled.

Neil said while getting up: ok now get up and have breakfast.

Avni was getting up.

Neil: Carefully. Carefully

Avni sat. Neil smiled to see her and he picked up the plate which was kept on the bed at his back. Neil showed the flattened rice to Avni. Avni was surprised because suddenly something came in front of her. She widens her eyes and got excited.

Avni: Poha?

Neil looked at her. Avni looked up at Neil who nods yes. Avni made a serious face.

Avni: you made it?

Neil: yes. Any doubt?

Avni smiled.

Avni: no.

Neil smiled.

Avni: now what are you waiting for? Feed me.

Neil: oh Yeah.

Neil picks up the spoon and feeds her then Avni takes the spoon from him and feeds him. They were talking and smiling while having breakfast.

At the time of the evening, the birds were flying in the sky. Avni entered the Khanna mansion and was looking down. Avni looked up and she stopped because Maddy was coming from the opposite direction. Avni got worried to see her but she managed to smile. Maddy moved toward her and Avni also took steps toward her.

Avni: Hello, Bua, how are you?

Maddy: better. You must have thought that she will not come now, right?

Avni smiled awkwardly.

Avni: no, Bua, why would I...

Maddy cuts her in between.

Maddy: Oh, please, I know, you true face so no need to act good in front of me. Do this acting in front of the family who believes you.

Avni smiled.

Avni: that means you don't know me till now. Bua, how can someone act good twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. It is me that you are seeing.

Maddy got angry.

Maddy: just shut up.

Avni got upset.

Maddy: by the way, you are really cunning how easily you made my family against me. That is impressive. Really. I was thinking that I had done the right thing by making you marry Neil, I played a good game but no, the real player was you.

Avni looked at her. She was hurt and confused.

Maddy: You are a real player. You knew that by seeing your past, no one will get ready to marry you so you planned to use Aman.

Avni was looking at her with teary eyes. She was shocked to think that how can someone think so disgusting. She was feeling disgusting.

Maddy: and see today, you are the daughter-in-law of the Khanna family.

Maddy clapped. Avni looked down.

Maddy: you played a good inning now it's my turn. I will show you your right place. Just wait and watch. I...

Maddy's eyes fall on Neil who was standing behind Avni at some distance. Maddy smiled.

Maddy: Hello, Neil.

Avni looked up instantly then she turned her face and was shocked to see Neil. Avni thinks.

Avni in mind: Did Neil hear everything?

Avni looked at Neil.

Avni in mind: I just hope that Neil would not have heard anything, else things will get more worse.

Avni and Neil looked at each other. Their eyes were locked. Neil broke the eye lock and he turned his face. Avni was looking at Neil. Neil smiled to see Maddy and came to them.

Avni understood Neil's mood.

Neil: Hi, Bua, how are you?

Maddy: Fine.

Neil: sit.

Avni was looking at Neil who didn't turn his face to her.

Maddy: No, I came to give sarees to Bebe, she asked for them now I am going. Will meet soon.

Neil: Yeah, sure.

Maddy: Bye. Bye, Avni.

Avni nods slightly by looking down and Neil slightly turns his face to Avni.

Avni: Bye.

Neil took a breath. Maddy goes. Neil also goes to the stairs. Avni wants to stop him but no use.

Avni: My doubt was right, he heard everything. Now, what will happen?

Avni thinks.

Avni came into the room and she saw Neil is taking out his clothes from the cupboard. Avni goes to him. She tried to talk to Neil but Neil shuts the cupboard and goes to the bathroom. Avni looked at the door sadly. Neil stood near the door and throws the clothes on the floor in anger. Avni goes to the door and touched it because she knew that Neil is standing there. Neil did not change his clothes and came out. Avni wants to talk to him but Neil goes from there. Avni was upset by Neil's behaviour.

At the time of the night, Neil came after changing into his nightclothes. Neil was wiping his hair with the towel. Neil finds Avni lost who was laying in fowler's position and Neil thinks. Neil knew what is she thinking. Neil did not talk to Avni since he came back. Neil looked at Avni. He sighs and came to her. Neil sat beside Avni. Avni looked at him. Neil holds Avni's hand in his hands. Avni looked at the hands then she looked at Neil and she got emotional.

Neil: what has happened to you, Avni?

Avni was looking at him.

Neil: you were my tigress. No one dared to say anything to you, now what has happened to you and why you have become this much weak.

Avni looked down.

Neil: you were used to hiding your emotions so well that no one can say by seeing you that a storm is running in your heart. You never showed your tears to anyone then why now,? Why, you are showing your weak side to the people.

Avni was looking at him with teary eyes.

Neil: yesterday also, you acted weak why did you break down? You would go to the Bua and ask her why will we give our baby to Kareena. It is my baby and it will stay with us. Why did you not say this to Bua because the Avni whom I knew, she would definitely have gone and fought with Maddy Bua? Because my Avni was a fighter, she is used to fight since she has got her senses. Since she had understood the difference between right and wrong. You bravely bear whatever Bua threw at you. You fought with your father for Aman. You fought for Arav many times then why can't you fight for yourself? Where has lost that Avni? Hmm.

Avni was looking at Neil.

Neil: it's good that you are letting out your pain but I want you to show your tears, your weak side to me only, not to the others they will take advantage of your weakness, nothing else. Are you getting what I am trying to say?

Avni nods.

Avni: I don't know, what has happened to me? I also felt that but I am not understanding that. I just don't want to create any drama. That's why I remain silent. I don't want to trouble my family, don't want to give them stress that's why I didn't give any reply to Maddy Bua. I don't want to become a reason of a dispute between my family and Maddy Bua. I don't want Bebe to think that I am conspiring against Maddy Bua. I...

Avni stopped and sighs with teary eyes. Neil cups her face.

Neil: Avni, don't you know Bebe, she always stands with the right. No one will judge you so relax don't think too much and give me, my old Avni back who was strong. Please.

Avni: I am sorry, Neil, you are suffering because of me.

Neil: Avni, are you mad? You are suffering, I am not. I can't stand anyone saying anything to you.

Avni looked down. Neil hugs her and Avni reciprocates the hug.

Neil: be strong, Avni, you are going to become a mother. I know, you are strong and you can fight for our baby and you will fight but I want you to fight for yourself.

Avni tightens the grip on Neil's shoulder and she closed her eyes.

Avni: I will, I will. I am sorry.

Neil: it's ok.

Avni: please never stop talking to me. I can bear anything but I can't bear it, I can't bear your anger. Please.

Neil smiled. Neil broke the hug and was holding Avni's arms. Neil cupped Avni's face with one hand.

Neil: I promise.

Neil warned Avni.

Neil: But. You also promise me that you will fight for yourself.

Avni smiled and nodded. Avni holds Neil's hand in her hands. She kissed Neil's hand. Neil smiled. Avni looked at Neil.

Avni: I love you.

Neil kept his second hand at Avni's hand.

Neil: I love you too.

They smiled and Neil kissed Avni's hand and they hugged each other and were relieved.