He carefully took Nanno to the seat and woke her up by sprinkling water on her face. Once she regained consciousness, she hung onto Neil and cried aloud.
"Moi bacchi ke saath ab tak koi nyaai nahi hua. Aaj bhi anyaai horaha hai."
Neil was calm as ever as he promised Nanno that nothing will help to Avni. "Yeh vaada raha mera aapse" He finished off before darting out through the corridor and out of the hospital.
In reality, it would be an understatement to say that Neil was heartbroken. He was beyond that. He was badly crumpled and shattered. It was as if he had no heart. No heart left to be broken into tiny pieces. But it hurted him like hell. He had no complaints whatsoever. Maybe it was his destiny. Maybe it was some sin he had unknowingly committed that is causing him so much pain. He was never successfull in his love life. How stupid of him was to think he would be now?
He was now in his room at Khanna house. He wanted an escape. An escape from his fateful life. An escape from the cruel world. An escape from its catastrophes. But little did he know that this was his biggest mistake?
Instead of his usual room, he was welcomed into a room full of withered red roses. Dried rose petals were scattered on the carpet. Bunch of roses stuck to the walls here and there, most of them had withered downwards as if being with him in his sorrow. Lavender candles had burnt out completely overnight but the room didn't lose the aroma of the scent. Food was on the table as they were set last night, untouched. Gifts kept on the bed were eagerly waiting to be opened up along with an envelope addressed to "Dear hubby".
Neil was totally taken aback with all the decoration and stuff. When Neela mentioned about a special birthday for him he didn't expect it to be this special. It was indeed special. So special that his birthday becomes a horror for others. He slowly reached out for the letter addressed to him.
"Dear hubby,
Read out loud. No really, read it out loud. I know you very well Neil. If I ask you not to, you will. So I am asking you the opposite of what I want. haha"
Neil couldn't read further. "If I do whatever you say, will you be fine and come back?" Those words came out of his mouth involuntarily. The pain he had inside him was evident from just the way he said that. A sigh escaped his lips before he could continue reading.
"Today is your first birthday with me by your side. I am pretty excited you see. I mean all those years you didn't even know I existed but still celebrated your birthday how dare you? Just kidding haha. Please don't grab me by my hand and pull me on the bed with you for this. It's only the first year and already my wrist hurts, if you behave like this get ready to handle a sulking wife on the hospital bed post a wrist surgery."
Neil closed his eyes. "I would be more than happy if you would atleast sulk right now instead of lying there like a..." His heart and soul trembled at the thought of the word "corpse". He shook his head to get rid of the thoughts.
"Now I know this letter is not at all the romantic shomantic type you want or might be expecting, but that's who I am. Mr.Neil Khanna. Be happy with what you've got. I can ofcourse fight with you. That counts right?"
The pain that was buried deep down in him had now started to take the form of tears. In the hospital no matter how composed he showed himself, it was all a farce. The real Neil was here. "Of course that counts. Leave the romance up to me but I need you to fight with me. Can you hear Avni. I need you." The letter was still pending. He continued with it eventhough his heart felt the pain of a thousand pins pricking deep in to it.
"Anyway, I wish you a very happy birthday. I am the lucky one to have met you. You taught me the meaning of love and affection."
Neil shook his head. "No you lucky for me. Without you I am nothing. Can you see?"
Neil's questions were unanswered but he had her letter to continue. "You must be thinking why I wrote all this in a letter when I simply could have told you. Definitely I can tell you this but my dearest hubby, remember once you told me that you consider yourself to be my handsome police husband? Well, if I speak all this to you how will I sit back and admire the cute face of yours while you read this huh?" I wish Avni I wish you were here to admire my face right now. Can't you do that for me?"
Again no answer but the letter remained. "May All your dreams come true Neil. And may our mission is accomplished soon. Lastly, I never said this to you. But look into my eyes and you'll see my love for you. ❤️ Yours, Wifey. PS: Time to open gifts. PSS: Don't worry about the food. I didn't prepare them. 😉"
Neil was now sitting on the floor beside the bed. He closed his eyes as tears made their way out of them. He didn't try to control them now. He let them flow freely.
"Open your eyes for once Avni, I'll keep looking at your eyes forever. About food, whatever you give burnt or raw, I would eat it with all my heart. Just. return. please!"
The letter flew from his hand and landed too far away from him. He felt that Avni herself just went away from him. He reached for the letter immediately and hugged it while letting out a loud scream that echoed in his room.
tbc
~~~
So here's your part 5. Thankyou lovely people for your love and support. Honestly, I didn't know that I had it in me to ever write an ff. 😆 It still has a long way to go but still confessing this today because #Eidconfessions 🤣 That's something I made up today for Eid so I did one confession here too. Now yall know how crazy I am. 😆 But not always huh? Stay blessed. Love you all my readers. btw I dedicate this update especially to Vihu 😳 Do review this all!
Jhanak
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
