The morning light spills upwards and floods over the Khanna Mansion. Neil's car came to halt and he stepped out of the car looking around.
"Thank God no one is awake yet?" he mumbled.
Avni was watching him standing at the window.
Neil was walking in the corridor with quick steps when he saw Avni running towards him uncontrollably. He hugged her and twirled her 360 degrees lifting in the air.
"Woah! Easy madam.." he said helping her to stand on her feet.
"Where were you?" she asked catching her breathe.
"Jogging.." he replied.
Although she saw him coming out of his car but she didn't over analyzed his words.
"Formal suit mein?" she asked.
Neil realised the blooper.
"I m so lost in previous night that couldn't differentiate tracksuits and formal suits.." he laughed to hide the nervousness.
She smiled back as last night replayed in her mind.
He was about to make a move towards his room when he heard someone.
"Sir.. You left this in the car." the driver said holding a bouquet in his hands.
Avni tilted her head to have a better look at the bouquet.
Before she could take it Neil quickly grabbed it and threw away the card attached to it making sure that Avni didn't noticed that.
"For you.." he extended the bouquet towards Avni and gestured the driver to leave.
She smiled looking at the beautiful blue orchids.
"You and your obsession about blue.. I love both.." she said.
"Now you go and change before everyone come to know the story behind your formal suit.." she suggested.
He made his way towards the room.
After Neil went away Avni picked the card that Neil threw away and thought she didn't noticed.
"If you don't want me to read it.. Then I won't" she crushed the card without reading and threw it in the dustbin.
Neil was watching all this and a guilt built up inside him seeing how much she trusts him.
AT NIGHT
Avni was working in the kitchen. All the preparations were finished for Bebe's birthday. It was a small surprise for Bebe. Shweta and Prakash took Bebe out to distract her and Avni arranged everything.
Avni was preparing the cake. But the usual smile was missing. Her nose was red and eyes were puffy. Her eyes were open but she couldn't focus on anything. The same scene was playing in her mind on repeat mode. Every time she tried to take those moments out of her head she found herself back on the same point after a full circle.
Her hairs were disturbing her and her both hands were engaged.
Neil blowed the small hair strands. Avni closed her eyes as right now Neil was the last person on earth she wanted to see now.
"Quite busy??" he asked lightly brushing her hair strands away from her face.
She turned her head away from him.
The smile faded from Neil's face.
"Look what I have got you?" he showed her chocolates.
Avni instantly took them and threw them out of the window even more quickly.
He pressed his lips as the only reaction. Then took out a beautiful velvet case from his pocket and produced it before her.
"They'll look amazing on you" he said tracing the beautiful long diamond earings.
"Bheema.. Bheema.." Avni shouted.
"Ji didi" Bheema appeared.
"Look what I have got you.." she said looking in her direction.
"Take them from Neil.." she smiled.
Bheema happily took them from Neil's hands leaving a disheartened Neil staring Avni.
"Won't you forgive me.." he asked.
"Do you think these gifts will make things right." she finally lifted her gaze to meet his chocolate eyes.
"If yes.. Then you're sadly mistaken" she asserted.
FLASHBACK : same day...
"Neil.. What are you doing here? Everyone is waiting for you." Avni said as she entered their room.
She halted at the entrance as she saw Neil checking his guns.
"Neil yeh?" she asked pointing at the gun he was holding.
"Come in" he asked her.
"Just checking they still work or not?" he smiled at her.
Avni sensed something unusual in his behavior..in his voice. But she decided to trust him and not to over analyze his words and actions.
"Aaj achanak?" she inquired.
He again smiled instead of answering.
Neil handed her a small pistol asking her to keep it with her just in case of emergency she might need it.
"Are we in some kind of danger Neil?" she asked.
"No.. You're absolutely safe with me" he hugged her.
"But I want you to be safe behind me too" he thought.
He went out leaving a confused Avni behind him.
"What an Irony? There was a day when you took away that gun from my hand. And today you have handed this pistol to me yourself. Is something that you're hiding?" she thought as she slipped the pistol under her mattress.
***********************
"Hello bhabhi!" DD appeared in front of Avni with his joyous smile.
"Accha hua DD tum aa gaye.. Now help me in preparations." she handed him the decoration materials she was holding.
Just then she saw a police team standing at the entrance.
She eyed DD weirdly but before she could ask him anything he hurried inside.
She walked to the place and found Neil instructing them.
"Neil.." she called out.
He knew what she's going to ask. He gently stretched his hand and gestured her to not to come out he's coming there.
"Okk then.. Hope my instructions are clear enough" he asked the team.
"Yes Sir" they replied in unison.
He dismissed them nodding his hand and walked up to Avni who was waiting for him with questions swirling in her brain.
"Neil.. Everything is.." she sounded worried.
"Everything is fine.. They are here just for the security purpose" he assured her.
"But why suddenly?" she enquired.
"It's not sudden. I was thinking to get a security for our place from few days" he told her.
"But I guess it was you only who rejected the security proposal from commissioner when you were shot?" she asked.
"Avni.. What's the problem? Why are you turning such a small thing into a heated argument? I want my family to be safe.. Is it something for which I need to call a meeting or seek your permission?" he yelled.
Avni shrank back in fear. He never gets so offensive at such a small thing.
"I m sorry" she hummed.
Neil realised that his tone was a bit harsh. It was the fear and guilt that came out in disguise of anger.
"Avni.." he tried to apologize but she quickly retreated.
Even before he could blink she faded out of his sight.
***********
"Avni didi! There's a courier for Neil sir." Bheema informed Avni.
Avni saw a man standing at the door. He wasn't a normal courier boy.. Instead was dressed in service uniform.
"Mam there's a courier for ACP Neil Khanna" he said.
"I m his wife" she informed him.
"What is it about?" she enquired pointing at the only packet he was holding.
"Tickets and few confidential documents" he told her.
Avni froze at the mention of tickets. Her mind started forming theories and she badly wished all of them to turn out to be false.
The man extended the packet towards Avni but DD was faster this time and grabbed the packet.
"Thank you.." he asked the man to leave.
"DD yeh.. Tickets?" she was confused.
"Ye.. Woh.. Ye tickets.. Bebe.. Haan bebe ke liye hai.. Birthday Gift.. " he flashed a toothy smile.
"But Neil didn't told me about this?" she said.
"Woh.. Sir bhool gaye honge bhabhi.. Wo aaj subah commissioner Sir se meeting thi na... Uski hadbadi mein bhool gaye honge" he managed to keep a smiling face.
Avni recalled him coming out of the car early morning and lying about jogging.. That card on bouquet.. Cleaning his service revolvers... Police team for their security... In..in his ABSENCE.
Avni started to walk towards her room absent mindedly.
"Bhabhi.. Woh" DD sensed her situation and tried to console her.
"I desperately need isolation" she said in a calm yet stern voice which was enough to scare DD.
Neil was busy searching something in his cupboard when his room gate creaked open and he saw his wifey walking upto him. Much to his surprise she didn't halt at a distance instead continued until her body was pressed with his.
"Avni.." his brought her out of her reverie.
"Is there something you need to tell me and I need to know?" she asked looking into his eyes.
He wished he could hide it for some more time but he knew it's the right time.
He nodded in admittance.
"Avni.. It's.." he prepared himself.
"Please jo main soch rahi hoon wo mat bolna.." she mumbled to him.
Neil couldn't put few words together to form a sentence. He stayed silent.
Avni's gaze fell on the open bag lying on the bed stuffed with Neil's belongings in an unorganized manner.
She distanced herself from him and walked towards the bed to examine the bag.
It didn't took much time to put two and two together.
"Neil yeh bag?" she turned looking at him quizzically.
He stared the ground silently not being able to bear the sadness in her eyes.
"Even for gym.. You wanted me to pack your stuff. And today.. You don't need me anymore.." she asked. Her voice drained of patience.
"Say it.. Just say it.." she said calmly.
He made her sit on the bed and sat kneeling down in front of her.
"Training camp.. Bangalore... I need to attend this before joining back." he told her.
"But you're supposed to join back after a period of six months. You haven't recovered yet. You're weak with these bullet wounds, fresh liver surgery, and a partial amnesia" she tried to convince him not to go.
"You mean I m fully defected right now.." he laughed.
But Avni stared him angrily.
"Okk.. Jokes apart.. It's necessary Avni. Mark won't be sitting idle. And I need to join back.. It's for good" he councelled her.
"Only last night I opened up my heart in front of you and you didn't waited a day before breaking it" she she said with sad eyes almost tearing up and jerked away his hands.
"Wapas kab aaoge?" she felt a pain in her chest choking up her throat.
"2 months 15 days.." he replied.
"Please kal mom dad aur Bebe ko bata dena" she stood up to leave.
"Main kal subah hi ja raha hoon Avni" he held her hand.
Avni felt as if the words has slapped her right on her face. She stood rooted to the place.
"Avni.." his concerned voice finally filtered through the fog inside her brain.
"Aur tum ye kab batane wale the mujhe.. On gate or you decided to leave a letter for me.. Just like... Just like you did last time" she asked in a stern voice.
"Avni I wanted to..." he tried to reconcile.
"Wanted to.. But the fact is.. You didn't.. You didn't ACP Neil Khanna" she said accusingly.
"Goodbye.." she didn't glanced back at him and stormed out of the room slamming the door behind
FLASHBACK ENDS
*********
AVNEIL SCENE CONTINUED IN THE KITCHEN
"You know.. You look even more cute when you flare your nose in anger" he remarked.
She ignored him.
He smiled and pressed her nose gently with his forefinger. She turned her head away.
He chuckled at her reactions.
He advanced towards her slowly and she stepped back to avoid him. He pinned her to wall and stared her lovingly.
"I'll make it up with you before leaving.." he whispered.
Avni pretended like she is not affected at all. But deep inside she was crying... She wanted to hold him tight.. To give endless try to convince him to stay. But she chose to control her urges.
Unable to bear his closeness she started crying making noise like a child. But Neil didn't let go off her.
"Avni.. Please.." he took out his hanky to wipe the tears.
"Keep your hands and hanky to yourself.. You'll need it when you'll return because you won't find me anywhere in this house" she yelled at top of her lungs and pushed him back with all her might.
"What does she mean by I won't find her here.." Avni's words pierced his heart and enraged him to extreme level.
He held her arms tightly and pulled her towards him.
"Look up I said.. " he shouted scaring Avni.
She slowly raised her gaze to meet his red eyes burning with fire.
She realised that she went too far.
"Never ever say that again.." he roared.
"No one can separate you from me... GOT IT. Not even you. You are mine. No one can dare to take you away from me." he gritted his teeth.
"Is that clear?" he shaked her.
Her eyes were watering and lips were trembling.
"Now be a good wifey and clean the mess.." he patted her cheeks and said softly careful not to scare her more.
She didn't moved a bit.
He lifted her saree pallu and cleaned his shirt and went away pulling her cheeks lovingly.
**********
Seeing Neil struggling to zip up the bag filled in an absolutely disorganized manner made Avni halt at the threshold of the room. She walked upto him and signalled him to get aside still maintaining a straight face.
She repacked his bags in a more organised manner. Added the things he forgot. Omitted the unwanted things.
"Here you go" she zipped up the bags.
"And I don't think you require this" she added taking out her photo from his bag and throwing it on the ground.
But Neil was too quick to catch it before it hit the ground.
He went close to her and cupped her face. His fingers were in her hairs and thumb caressing her cheek. Avni froze at the cold touch of his fingertips.
He slide his thumb down her cheekbones to her glossy lips then travelled to her trembling chin.
He her chin gently and pulled her face up.
AVNI'S POV
Before I could understand or react he slammed his lips on mine. My body went rigid with surprise. I could feel him breathing slowly through his nose but my lungs were knocked out of each molecule of oxygen. I stopped breathing.
His lips were moving in slow motion. This was our first kiss. I have dreamt it many times but still the feeling was alien..pleasant of course. The kiss which is so innocent yet electrifying in it's own way.
END OF HER POV
One innocent brush of his lips and the world fell away. It was slow, soft and comforting in ways that words would never be.
Avni wasn't participating, she wanted to pull back before she loose herself but she couldn't.
Neil's head was angled to the side and eyes were closed.
Exactly after 40 seconds he opened his eyes.
The moment he opened Avni closed her eyes and water welling in her eyes fell down.
Neil withdrew himself immediately. The sudden hindrance in the warmth made Avni open her eyes.
Don't know how his mind comprehended her tears, he retreated back. Avni wanted him to stop, to ask him what went wrong but he was too quick to fade out of her sight.
And suddenly she recalled his words..."i'll make it up with you before leaving". So this was the trailer of how am I going to feel once you'll leave.
She stood still at the same spot licking her lips to re-taste the sweetest lips, to re-live the gentle press of those soft lips.
She was repenting not holding him. She was repenting not kissing him back.
*******
Neil informed Bebe, Shweta and Prakash about his training camp. They were angry first But Avni convinced them. They celebrated the night as Bebe's birthday and Neil's farewell.
********
"Should I apologize?" Neil asked Avni.
Avni sensed what he was talking about.
Instead of answering she locked her hands round his neck erasing the distance between the them. She captured his lips with her, not innocently or softly but it was hot, fiery, passionate, demanding.
Neil was in pleasant shock. His mind filled with warmth of her touch. Breath intermingled and lips moving in sync.
Neil was amazed to witness such a dominating side of Avni. His hands drifted to her hip and settled there crushing her body with him.
Suddenly, Avni felt herself pushed against the wall and Neil taking the charge.
After 2-3 minutes he let go off her as their lungs ran out of oxygen.
Avni dissolved into laughte resting her head in the crook of his neck. Her hands placed on his perfectly chiseled chest.
"Not bad at all for a first timer.." he grinned.
"And you.. Mr Perfectionist" she looked quizzically at him.
"To be honest... It wasn't my first time. I have a massive amount of experience" he admitted.
"But no one ever made me feel the way you do" he whispered.
He turned her and wrapped his arms around her waist and started nuzzling her neck with warm wet kisses.
Her tense nerves soon began to relax, her troubles, her pain began to melt and the surrounding disappeared.
AND THE LIGHTS WENT OFF...
AVNI AND NEIL BECAME AVNEIL THAT NIGHT.
PRECAP : SOMEONE IS BACK...
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