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Neil was feeling too odd sitting at the dining table having all the members staring him or more precisely they were laughing at him. And he failed to understand what they were laughing at?
Shweta and Bebe were whispering to each other taking breaks in between to spare him few glance and then continue grinning.
Prakash was trying hard to supress his chuckles.
And Avni was behaving like she couldn't notice their weird behavior.
"I m done so I m leaving." Prakash said breaking the silence... Actually not absolute silence as few whispers and chuckling sound was present. It was just absence of spoken words.
"Dad I m coming with you. I m also done." Neil told him.
"No Neil! That's Ok. Take your time. Have breakfast, get ready then you can come" Prakash said and went away after touching Bebe's feets.
"I have to give few important files to Dad. I'll just come" Avni went behind him.
"Bebe... Please tell me. What's wrong?" he demanded.
"It's not wrong Tillu. It's just kinda odd. Maybe a new trend that I m not aware of. But still... It's too cute" Bebe said smiling in admiration.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"The red lipstick mark on your white shirt. See.." Bebe told him pointing at his shirt.
Neil spotted an inconspicuous red lipstick mark near the collars of his shirt. He didn't required to guess the person behind it. He knew none else in the house could be so creative other than Avni.
"Accha yeee..." he tried to hide the surprise or should I say shock on his face.
"Haan ye" Bebe smiled.
"Yeh aap jo soch raho ho... Ye woh nahi hai Bebe" he let out a embarrassed grin.
"Tillu agar yeh "Woh" bhi hai.. To bhi it's ok. We understand" Shweta winked at Bebe which earned Neil a good laugh from both the ladies.
"Mom" he said in a dramatic way stretching the word and glaring at Shweta which reminded her the treaty signed between the two last night.
"Aah.. Tillu you go and change.." Shweta looked at Neil in a pleading way.
He immediately flashed a toothy smile towards her as a thanking gesture for taking him out of this situation.
Neil rushed upwards as fast as he could.
"Ye kya khichdi pak rahi hai?" Bebe asked Shweta as the non verbal communication between mother son didn't went unnoticed by Bebe.
"Yeh aapka pota..." Shweta stopped in between as she realised what she was going to do.
"Hain??" Bebe was confused.
"Ah. Mera.. Mera matlab tha Bebe aapka poha... Main lekar aati hoon" she excused herself.
Neil was going through his clothes but failed to find a suitable shirt.
"This was so sweet of you Avni. Now I'll make you diabetic" he mumbled to himself.
Just then he heard Avni clearing her throat standing behind him.
"Well played" he smirked.
"Thanks for the appreciation" she replied.
"You're sharp as a sword, I agree. But I m no blunt knife either. So my dear husband, Scores are settled now. Neil Avni both one on one." she took out a white shirt from a fully messed up wardrobe and handed that to him.
"Remember... I m your better half" She walked away leaving an amazed Neil.
"Don't forget that... You're just half of me. So be prepared for next blow My better half" Neil thought.
****************
Neil descended down after changing.
"Avni!! Please can you help me with this tie?" Neil asked Avni who was standing beside Shweta.
She walked towards him like a lamb walking towards a hungry tiger.
She adjusted the knot of the tie.
"It's done." she tried to move back but Neil held her.
"Thank you Better Half" he tucked a hair strand behind her ear and placed a kiss on her cheek making sure that Bebe and Shweta saw him doing that.
Avni was in a pleasant shock. She daren't move. She daren't breath. Her cheeks grew pink and sje could feel the heat radiating out of them.
"Haww.." Shweta's mouth opened in a perfect O witnessing the scenario.
"Shweta... Do one thing... No two things" Bebe said.
"Yes Bebe" Shweta asked still keeping her gaze fixed at Avneil.
"Stop Staring and pouring" Bebe said.
As Shweta shifted her attention towards Bebe she noticed that instead of pouring water in glass she had pored whole jug on Bebe.
"You're an age old wine, I agree. But I m no beginner either" he whispered to Avni.
He patted on her another cheek and walked away waving a hand at her without glancing her back.
Avni touched the spot where he kissed with her hand and a lips curved to form a wide smile. She didn't felt embarrassed neither feared teasing from Bebe and Shweta. She just loved being kissed by him and will cherish this moment her whole life.
"Bebe I m so sorry. I'll clean it" Shweta apologized.
"Just do me a favour Shweta.. Don't do me any favour. Just subtract yourself from my surrounding for sometime." Bebe ordered her.
"I know you're strong. I m no weak either. But always remember you comes first... You're my topmost priority." Avni thought.
********************
IN THE EVENING
Avni was enjoying evening tea with Bebe and Shweta in the garden.
"Hey Beautiful! Missed me?" Avni turned to see Neil approaching her with his mischievous smirk.
"God please!! Not again" she muttered looking away.
Neil went to Bebe and sat beside her with gaze fixed on Avni.
"It was for me?" Bebe asked him.
"Of course... Who else is beautiful over here?" he said gently pulling her cheeks and glancing Avni sideways.
"Chal jhutta.." Bebe said smacking his arm.
"Aur Tillu main?" Shweta asked cupping her face pulling corner of her lips downward.
"Arre mom... Beautiful to girls hoti hain.. Aap to pretty woman ho.." He told Shweta to which she smile broadly.
"You have maintained so well.. Otherwise most people... They look thirty even in their twenties" he added.
"Oh hello... I m just little chubby.. Ok. And lemme tell you, I m a sports person." Avni burst out at the mention of weight.
"Avni.. Ludo khelne ko sports nahi kehte!!" he laughed.
"Ludo... I m a Martial Art Champion. Judo, Kick- boxing, Karate and Taek-won-do.. Don't you remember our first meeting?" she said proudly.
Neil's eyes filled with sadness as he couldn't recollect their first meeting and Avni felt guilty for that.
"Okk then let's put your fitness to test. A cricket match of five overs. What say?" he challenged her extending his hand.
"I say get ready to loose" she answered putting her hand on his.
Shweta was the cheerleader with pom poms dancing in her hands as she cheered.
Bebe was the umpire with a round black silk hat.
Neil was standing on the crease in the same suit he was wearing in the morning with his bat.
Avni was standing at the other end of the pitch in pink track pants juggling the ball between her hands.
Avni started the run up to deliver the first ball but Neil stopped her by raising his hand in the air.
He took off the blazer, pulled up his sleeves and tucked his ray ban aviators at the back of his shirt.
Shweta was shouting " TILLU.. TILLU.."
"Match to shuru hone de" Bebe shushed her.
Neil gave a thumbs up to Avni and she delivered first ball. Neil moved his wrist in a magical way and hit the ball stepping forward.
Avni looked up in the sky with opened mouth and Shweta started shouting her Tillu Anthem as Bebe raised her both hands announcing a perfect six.
Avni flared her nose as she ran back to her spot after collecting the ball as they had no fielders.
"144 runs out of Four over" Bebe announced at the end of four overs.
Avni was standing at her spot all exhausted. Her legs were apart, hands resting on her waist.
Neil was still looking calm and cool as he didn't ran even once to take a single. He scored a six on every single ball of Avni.
Avni wanted to give up but she didn't wanted to loose this match to him so easily. Match was just an excuse, she wanted to live some beautiful moments with him.
"You wanna quit?" he asked her.
She gave a thumbs up and moved back for run up.
Shweta was dancing while enchanting her Tillu Anthem but Bebe asked her to cheer for Avni this time.
"Mom.. You dance really well.. I guess this is the secret of your fitness" Tillu again blackmailed his mom as he heard her cheering for Avni.
Shweta immediately started cheering for him.
"Shweta.." Bebe stared her.
Shweta was about to cry. She couldn't decide what to do of this daadi- pota.
"Oh wow.. Cricket match" Prakash came to rescue of Shweta.
"But Sorry I cannot join in. Bebe Me and Shweta are invited for my friends party. So can we..." he asked Bebe.
"Oh ha bhai... Leke jaa ennu. Mainu vi thodi shaanti di lod hai" Bebe gave permission.
Shweta and Prakash left.
First inning was concluded by Neil with a last six on a percect 180 tucked on scoreboard.
Neil gave avni a flying kiss with his bat to which Avni faked a frown.
Bebe went inside as she was tired.
"Now it's my turn to bat" she took the bat.
Neil pulled her close and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Dekho better half I m really tired. So I m going to take some rest. Match over" he said moving back.
But Avni pulled him back by holding his tie.
"You cheater! You made me run in the whole garden and when your turn came... You're tired. Give me my batting." she yelled.
Neil placed his hands on her waist.
"If I don't do so.. Then" he asked her.
"Then.. Then.." she choked.
"Then I'll give you your batting Avni" Ali said as he approached them.
Neil let go of Avni and stared the intruder for interrupting his special moment.
"Hello Ali.. Kaisa hai tu?" Avni's eyes lighted up seeing her friend.
"Chal Neil ke bahalf par main teri batting deta hoon" he said picking up the ball.
"I hope you don't min?" he asked Neil.
"Why would he?" Avni snatched bat from him and went to take her position.
Neil smiled at Ali out of courtesy but didn't bothered to honour him with a word.
"Sorry! But it's my favourite bat. I don't want to share it" he snatched back his bat from Avni.
"Neil don't be so possessive. We won't break it" Ali said.
"Sorry! But I love this bat... So it's my duty to make sure that it doesn't break. Some possessiveness is important" he said looking directly into Ali's eyes.
"You have ball.. Play catch catch. And India requires good bowlers and fielders. We already have a great batting line up." he patted Avni's cheek and turned away.
Avni stared him in confusion.
"Avni let's play..." Ali snapped her out of her thoughts.
"play what?" her sound was drained of joy.
"Catch- catch" he threw the ball in her direction which she catched and smiled back at him.
Avni and Ali were playing silly games with ball only. Actually the games were not so silly but at least Neil termed them to be. Both of them were joking, laughing, chasing each other and recalling their childhood days- Avni winning the race, Ali cheering, Both of them fighting with each other- for each other.
Ali was happy to see the old Avni back and he knew the reason behind her carefree smile. He knew it's Neil who has brought the smile back... But at the end of the day what matters the most is that.. She's happy and that's it.
Neil was getting annoyed seeing the duo enjoying...without him. It's not that he's jealous...actually he is but he doesn't hate Ali in that jealousy. He knewwhat Ali means to Avni. What Ali has done for Avni. And for that he is grateful to him but... Men will be men.
When finally Ali and Avni were tired too, they joined Neil at the sitting bench.
"ok I think I should leave now" Ali said.
"But Ali..." Avni wanted him to stay for some time.
"ok Ali.. See you soon" Neil bid him goodbye before Avni could stop him.
Ali laughed and went away patting on Neil's shoulder.
"what was that?" Avni asked Neil.
"what you mean?" Neil said calmly.
"You know it.." she said.
"No I don't" he got up and started walking.
"I thought everything is fine between you and Ali?" she asked.
"Fine... It's great. Infact I m planning to take him on a date" his annoyance was evident in his voice.
"Neil.. Be serious" Avni demanded.
"How can I be serious when I m so hungry... Now leave all this and cook your dear husband a tasty dinner.. Come on hurry up" he hurried off to his room but Avni stood rooted at her place.
Neil saw the dining table empty but dinner was placed on it. He opened the lid of a serving bowl and instead of food he found a note in it.
"Alongwith good bowlers, India needs good chefs too.
-Better Half"
He smiled looking at the note.
After talking to Neela ma for hours Avni realized that Neil must be very hungry plus Shweta is out with Prakash ji so she'll have to decide the dinner menu.
As she passed by the dining table the smell of food caught her attention. She saw the food placed on the table.
"Rajma chawal?" she checked the dinner.
As she entered the kitchen, she found Neil giving final touch to green salad.
He felt her presence behind him and turned towards her raising his collars.
"Wow.." Avni walked towards him.
"so you took my advice seriously" she hummed.
"Acchi advice main hemesha seriously leta hoon" he replied.
"You could have waited a little" she told him.
"If your efforts can give someone special a happiness then you shouldn't wait" he said.
Avni noticed the small burns in his hands and she felt sorry for making him cook all alone.
She went near to him. She removed his apron and the long chef hat he was wearing.
She applied ice pack on his burns carefully.
Their gazes intertwined like they always do.
"Neil if I ask something will you tell me?" Avni asked.
Neil gestured her to continue.
"Is there something between you and Ali which I m missing?" she asked.
Neil didn't reacted.
"I mean.. You and Ali knew each other much before I came here. You were friends. But after our marriage it appeared like you both were bearing each other for me. Like I m the link between you two. You care for him, he cares for you but still..." she looked at Neil with hope to get an answer.
"Avni.. It's not like..." Neil tried to explain.
"Neil I trust you. If there's something you think I shouldn't know then say it. I'll not ask again but please don't lie..." she said.
"Ali loves you. He loves you from childhood" Neil told her looking away.
"Did he told you?" she asked.
"Actually Yes! He told me when you weren't here. When he was waiting for you" he said.
"How... Can he do this? He was my friend. My best friend? Then how?" a tear dropped down her cheek.
"Avni Ali always had a good intention behind everything. And he didn't betrayed you. There's nothing wrong with it. We don't have a control over it" he tried to pacify her.
"But Neil how can he.. When he knows that I.. I am married?" she said sobbing.
"Avni.. We don't have a control over it. It's not a machine which runs on logic and have a on-off switch. Even I fell for you knowing that you are married and love someone else." he said.
Neil hugged Avni and she cried burying her head into his chest. After few minutes she calmed a bit.
"I did wrong to him Neil. Don't what I did that made him feel that way. Being a friend why couldn't I see the pain he's going through due to his one sided love. If I knew I could have helped him to get over it" she said.
"Avni you never did wrong to him. It was the power and purity of your friendship that Ali still consider you his best friend and your bond is still unbreakable.
Your support as a friend healed him and made him accept the reality.
And love... It's never one sided... It's a beautiful mutual feeling. It just that two people might have different meaning of love for each other. Tumhare dil me ek dost ke liye pyaar tha aur Ali ke dil me wo dosti hi pyaar thi. Pyaar kabhi ek tarfa nahi hota Avni." he brushed her tears away and stroked back her hairs.
Avni felt calmness in her heart after hearing Neil's POV.
"Thank you Neil. Don't know how I would have reacted after knowing all this if you hadn't been here with me" she rested her head on his shoulder.
They sat on kitchen counter staring the starry sky for sometime.
"Should I talk to him about this?" she asked him.
"Ali has learned to move on by accepting the reality. According to me you should wait till the day Ali would be comfortable to share it with you himself. When he'll take it as a good thing to talk about with you... Till then I guess you have plenty of things to talk about." he said.
"I just wanted to kiss you.." Avni thought.
"You said something?" Neil asked.
"You heard it?" she asked.
"No... But you.." he said.
"It's nothing" she told him.
"Don't worry about me and Ali. We have a different equation. I'll manage" he said.
"I know.. Now let's go and check your cooking skills. Bebe must be waiting" Avni pulled him.
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