-Instance no.4: together-
Neil looked utterly distressed, his hair crowding his sight and his eyes bloodshot and leaving tears running all over her face. He had rung people on his phone for so long that it stopped working, DD said he was already looking every inch of the city to find her. But his feet were itching to sprint all over the place searching for his Avni... but his son was sleeping in his lap and he couldn't leave Nishaan alone- nor bring his young son with him. He stroked his sleeping head tenderly, his teardrops soiling his hair.
He felt sufforcated being in a warm safe room when he didn't know what state she could be in. He let out an uncontrollable grunt of frustration before sobbing helplessly, running his hands through his hair.
Nishaan- Papa?
He looked down to see his son mumbling, half asleep. He plastered a reassuring, reasonable smile on his face, patting his cheek while whispering consolingly.
Neil- Kuch nahi hai beta... tum phir se sau jao...
Nishaan sat up and looked imploringly in to his eyes, making his heart break.
Nishaan- Mumma kaha hai? Mumma nahi ayenga mujhe goodnight kehne ke liye?
Thats when Neil lost it, dissolving in to manic weeps that trembled through his body. Nishaan looked terrified at his reaction, hugging him tightly, resting his head on Neil's chest that pounded with sobs. He reached up and was trying to wipe away his father's tears but they streamed continuously.
Nishaan- Papa kyu roh rahi hu? Papa please dont cry... kya hua... hum- Kya hua? Mumma kaha hai?
Nishaan was very young but very matured in his understanding, he sensed something was very wrong but tried really hard not to be afraid. His papa always reminded him to brave, and he had seen him and his mumma handle many situations with a completely cool head. He called out with a fearful voice that would shatter anybody.
Nishaan- Mumma? Mumma!?
Neil- Shhh beta... sh.. mumma abhi yaha nahi hai... wo ayenga... wo abhi hi ayenga... Mein jhanti hu...
Neil hugged him as close as he possibly could, as if trying to keep everything he loved close to him. He gulped back his cries knowing that now he was a father, and it was his responsibility to stay strong for his son. Ever since the incident 5 years ago he gets excruciatingly afraid even when Avni is late by 5 minutes, he couldn't stand the thought of her being outside alone, not by his side. Nishaan tried smiling a little which made Neil's eyes water in pride.
Nishaan- Okay... thats okay... mein strong boy hu... i wont cry... par aap bhi nahi rona chaiye na papa?
Neil- (he bit his lip, guilt weaking the marrow of his bones) sorry nishu... papa ko maaf karo please...
Before Nishaan could the reply the door swung open, and footsteps stumbled inside.
Neil's mouth dropped open and his eyes were aghast as he shot up, tears teeming in his eyes, he gasped.
Neil- Avni!?
Avni was in a horrific state, she had a bleeding gash on her forehead that was turning a odd greenish blue. Her body was feeble as she limped inside, traumatised tears spilling down her face. But her eyes empty and abused. She had smudges of mud and blood covering her, scratches and wounds here and there.
His fist curled and teeth gritted, iron of rage coating him. The sleeve of her yellow blouse was ripped and the net saree was torn and she was soaked in rain making her clothes see through and stick to her. He couldn't bear to face the thought of what might have happened, anger blazed in him. Avni had shame imprinted in her eyes seeing the way Nishaan stared at her afraid and agape. Her voice was quivering, drilling agony in to Neil's gut.
Avni- Please... dont let him- please- I... I dont want him to see me like this...
Neil shook his head no, his heart aching. His wife should never lose her respect she has for herself, no matter what ever had happened, he and their Nishaan would always be proud of her.
He wanted to be angry, scream at her for even thinking of leaving the house without for him, for making his heart jump out of his heart in distress.
But he couldn't think straight, he couldn't think about anything but the pain churning in his stomach seeing her state.
He held his heavy arms open and she ran straight in to his chest, tremoring with cluttered sobs, he hugs her as securely and tightly as possible, caressing the back of her head to his chest and unflinchingly around her waist, the droplets of his tears running down her skin.
His tears were of torturous guilt and immense regret...' I should have been there. I should have been there. God... how scared must my Avni have been? I should have been there- It's my fault... it's all my fault... what if I'm too late?'
Avni- Neil...
The relief of seeing him rushed through her veins and out in to her voice. Neil pulled out of the hug and caressed her face, wiping away her tears. He couldn't stand seeing them in her eyes.
Nishaan's eyes clouded with tears, terrified to see his mother like he had never seen her before. He tugged on her hand.
Nishaan- Mumma?
Avni cried louder seeing his face, loathing hatred at herself slapping her in the face repeatedly. Neil looked at her helplessly, before forcing on one of the most painful smiles he's ever had to. He scooped Nishaan up in to his strudy hands, kissing him sweetly but Nishaan recognised the strife in his voice.
Neil- bacchu... papa ki baath suno aur jaake koi toy leke aagawo, music suno ya tv dekho... teek hai?
Nishaan- Par mumma sad hai papa? Mumma kyu sad hai?
Neil bit his tongue to force any cries or words back in to his lungs.
Neil-jao beta...
Nishaan leaves, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand.
Neil- Avni... avni what ha-
Avni hugged him again, collapsing on to his chest in exhaustion racking in weeps. He sat her down on the sofa gently, lifting her bridal style. He took out the first aid box from under the table and soaked the cotton in antiseptic.
Neil corrected the pallu of her saree gently with watering eyes, she felt the right intentions in his touch, she shivered under it. His pained whispers were tactful, comforting.
Neil- we dont have to talk about it now... its okay...
He held her in his hands and rocked her softly, her crying had settled, his touch was all the medicine she needed. But Neil? She could feel the heaving of his internal sobs against her, she tried to controll the sweat crawling down her skin and and the way her breath tried to hyperventilate.
Avni- i was trying my best to reach home quickly Neil- but- but... outside on the road there was this group of men and I did what you taught me Neil... I tried to walk away as quickly as possible- but they were following and- and-it started with some degoratory comments and then- they tried to... Neil i tried to fight them but they were too strong... mein bohot dhar gaya tha par-
He visibly shook in rage he didnt know what to do with, his hands were fists and he growled, closing his eyes as horric thoughts penetrates in to his nauseous mind. he held his throbbing head, he croaked out just in the nick of time...
Neil- avni... bag-
She passes the sick bag from the first aid kit just before he retches in to it, filling it with vomit that was laced with fearful agony. He was sick in disgust of those men, in the fearful scenarios that ran through his mind and he was sick of himself, disgusted that he couldn't protect her. Avni rubbed his back, with tears sprouting in her eyes.
Neil- I was too late wasn't I? You were- and I couldn't- I couldn't do anything...
Avni- No neil... nothing happened baby... (she threw away the bag. she pecked his forehead lovingly, as Neil clutched to her like a scared child would clutch their teddy bear during a nightmare) i found a broken beer bottle in the alleyway and hit them and ran away before they could do anything...
Neil burrowed her in to him closely, sighing relievedly with a crying frown as he pressed his cheek on her head. He muttered, still not content without murdering those men with his blood thirsty bare hands.
Neil- you better have hit them badly...(she grinned, nodding against his shirt) and this time I'm being serious... you are never leaving the house without me ever again... okay? Dont even think about it...
Avni- okay mera jaanemaan... mein tumhare bina kahi nahi jaaunga... (she rolled her eyes at the millions of times she had promised this before to her possessive husband, she finally brought a smile back on to their face)
They jumped up in surprise as suddenly music started blaring out of the speakers and Nishaan sprinted at them and leaped in to the middle of both their laps. The music played and tears reappeared in their eyes, the millionth time today.
'O tere sang yaara,
Kuch rang bahara,
Tu raat dewaani,
Mein zard sitaara'
Nishaan- Mumma sad tha... tho mein song play kiya... mumma ko happy bane ke liye...
The shook they head at each other in absolute bewilderment, that their son could be so sweet or mature. Avni smiled delicately as she smooched his cheek with a big wet kiss, as Neil cuddled Nishaan them to him. Their tears fell on to him and he looked up in confusion.
Nishaan- song accha nahi laga? Why are crying at the song mumma papa?
Avni and Neil glanced at each other and laughed sadly looking back at their son.
Neil- Its a long story but someday we'll tell you... par yeh humara favourite song hai bacchu... thank you... your such a good boy you know?
Nishaan giggled at him making the the heart melt like candle wax. They were nestled in a tight group hug just enjoying the comforting warmth between the
The doorbell rang and after a few seconds of being reluctant to get up, Avni pulled herself out of the sofa and Neil and Nishaan followed a bit behind her.
She opened the door, shocked to face a crying stressed DD who was even more shocked seeing her.
DD- Oh my god Bhabhi! You're okay, you're back home!
He yelled out in an exclaim as Neil chuckled as DD reached out to give her a friendly hug of relief. But he was pushed back harshly, they all looked down in surprise to see and adorably pouting, playfully angry Nishaan, with his hands crossed over his chest just like Neil does when he is immature.
Nishaan- You can't touch mumma... only papa can touch mumma...
They burst out in uncontrollable laughter, gripping to their wobbling bellies. Unable to even look at Nishaan without having tears of laughter spring back in to their eyes. DD punched Neil in the chest in their usual friendly manner, raising his eyebrows with a grin lifting Nishaan up on to his shoulders.
DD- aaj dekha ki chotu sach me Neil Khanna ki beta hi ho saktha hai...
Nishaan- Aaah! Mamuuu!
He screamed in giddy joy as they laughed joyously. The scene was picture perfect like taken out of a cheesy climax of a romantic comedy.
Avni looped her hands around his neck and he roped his around her waist, drawing her nearer to him, taking a distracted Nishaan as the flawless opportunity.
She brushed her lips with his and grazed his lips down her neck, small simple gestures that held unimaginable devotion and zeal. They could see the entire expanse of the word in their eyes, the stars tinkling, the seas washing across the shore, the scaldingly refreshing heat or the exhilarating glacial chill... things so immeasurably, immensely beautiful but nowhere near as beautiful as they found each other or as divine as their love.
Avni- thank you Neil...
Her voice was breaking with affection that filled his tears, their hearts somehow breaking yet healing stimultaneously.
Avni- Kyunki not the best things happen to me... Not the luckiest experiences but I am the luckiest woman in the universe because with you Neil, everything is better... any pain is sufferable kyunki tum mere saath ho...
He awwed at her poetic words, maybe not strung in the most perfect way or using fancy figurative language but it had the most meaning to it than any other words he had ever heard in his life. Avni pouted cutely, hitting him teasingly in the arm.
Avni- Tum ko mere baare mein kuch romantic baat nahi hai bolne ke liye?
He shook his head and she frowned in disappointment, looking to floor. He lifts her chin again to look her in the eyes.
Neil- because i don't thinks words are enough to express it...
She hits him lightly with the laughter that made his eyes haze and his heart thud like he was a hopeless romantic.
Avni- Mr Prince Charming with his cheesy lines...
He grinned at her gleefully, pulling her closer by the waist and brushing over her bare milky skin. He leaned his lips down to her ear, his breath softly tickling it.
Neil- And look over there... there is Mr Prince Charming junior... his papa has taught him how to break many hearts
They watch their son fondly, tears gleaming their eyes. Avni rests her head on his chest and wraps her arms around his broad shoulders. The music flowed through them and created a bond with the melody, a memory that would flood through them every time they heard the tune.
Avni- Nahi, he wont... his papa may be handsome and can steal a girl's heart with a snap of his finger but he respects, trusts and loves a woman more than any man ever can. And our son will learn that.
Avni watched the heavy emotion flitter across his face as he kissed her hair. Avni started singing along to the song- in that celestial angelic voice that he would worship till his last breath- they gently swayed to the music. Their scents wafting in each other's noses and their hearts beating against each other, their eyes shut in content. And the music spoke the language of the actions showed love better than the 'I love yous', the language that their eyes share with unsaid emotion, whether it be fear, lust, adoration or devotion, the language that didn't need to be express and was just felt by both of them, the language of their love.
For when they were together, even the worst things were the most beautiful.
...
Omg! FInally done! you all must be thanking lord...
thank you for reading, liking, supporting and loving me and this story on our small yet beautiful journey. All your comments and likes and all the friends I've made means the world to me, honestly. Thank you. Don't worry I will be back, in a few days of a week?, with a long ff if you want me back... Please comment and like to tell me what you think of this tooo long conclusion... pleaseee! Thank you millions and millions though it will never be enough...
lots of love
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
