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"Maa...Maa!" Avni stormed into Neela's house, dumping her bag on a sofa. "Ye maa maa kyun chila rahi ho Avni? Mei yehi hoon" Neela replied from her room. "Maa, meje aapse kuch baat karni hai", Avni said worriedly as she sat down on the edge of neela's bed. "Kya hua Avni?", Neela asked peering over her laptop. "Neil. Neil hua hai" she started off angrily while Neela smothered a smile and let out a sigh. And Avni ranted. Ranted on and on for a good ten minutes about how annoying he is with his pranks, how worried she gets when he is off solving cases, how angry she gets when he calls her getting Maddy Bua and Kareena home an ehsaan. "Ehsaan maa! Wo aisa kaisa keh sakta hai? Jo bhi kkiya meine apne parivaar ke liye kiya hai. Koi ehsaan nahi tha wo! Aur upar se aaj kal sapno mei bhi pareshaan karke rakha hai wo mujhe!" Avni finished, panting heavily while her hands finally came to a still. Neela's eyebrows shot up, "Sapne..sapne dekhti ho neil ke saath?", Neela asked her muffling a laugh. "Kisne bola sapne?", Avni asked flustered blushing slightly. Neela just shook her head bursting into a wide grin. "Avni! Meine ye kabhi nahi socha tha ki aisa bhi ek din aayega jab tum blush karoge, kisike naam sun kar", Neela commented giggling as she shook her head.
"Maaa" Avni protested. "Acha teek hai, mei tumhe pareshaan nahi karungi", Neela said raising her hands in surrender. "Acha abh ye batao ki tumne yaha kis liye aaya ho?" Neela questioned her calmly, looking into her daughter's eyes. "Aapko kaisa pata?" Avni asked shocked. "Kyunki maa hoon mei teri" Neela replied. "Wo...wo...", Avni sttutered wondering how to tell her mum, her woest fear. "Wo wo kya hua hai baccha?" Neela asked gently. "Meine Neil se dhokhe se shaadi ki thi, aur hum dono ne bhi decide kiya tha ki hum iss rishtey ko tab tak nibhayenge tab tak dayawanti ko uski saza na mile...uske beech mei bebe aayi, aur phir unke khushi ke liye hum ye natak kar rahe hai..abhi tak. Muje ye nahi pata hai ki kya neil sach mei iss shaadi... mei iss shaadi mei rehna chahta hai ki nahi? Wo majboor ho kar bhi ye sab kar sakta hai na?", Avni let out her inner turmoil to her mother. "Avni, pehle ye sunno. Ye shaadi asli shaadi hai. Sab rithi riwaaz ke saath kiya hai. Ye tum dono ka decision hoga, nibhane ya na nibhane ki, aur jab tak mei jaanti hoon neil ko, wo nibhayega...iss rishtey ko. Aur muje yakeen hai ki tum bhi nibhayegi iss rishtey ko. Majboor ho kar nahi palki issliye kyunki tum dono nibhana chaahte ho", Neela replied calmly with a firm undertone. Avni smiled worriedly, she knew she wanted this. She wanted him, his companionship and all of him. She wanted to be there for him, supporting him like he did to her. But the answer that feared her was for the question Did He?
Feeling slightly cheered up at her mother's reassuring words, curiosity built up at what her mother was upto these days. "Actually, muje tum dono se ek help mangni thi. Ek friend hai mere, yehi Mumbai mei, wo ek vlogger hai youtuube pe, aur wo kuch logon ke liye pooch raha tha apne agle video ke liye. Married couples ka ek segment hai. Tum dono ko jaana hoga Avni. Please?", Neela asked her while Avni hesitated slightly thinking of if Neil would be comfortable. "Neil haan bol chuka hai, please baccha?", Neela asked again. "Agar Neel ne haan bola tho theek hai hum doni jaayenge", Avni gave in. "Waise aaj kal aap dono kuch zyada hi baat karte ho. Agar aisa chalta raha na, phir tho mei akeli pad jaungi", Avni moped, her lips puckered into a frown. "Kuch jalne ki bhu aa rahi hai ni?", Neela commented wrinkling her nise mockingly. "Maaa", Avni groaned bursting into giggles. And so the mother daughter duo spent the rest of the morning teasing each other.
"Avni, tum taiyyar ho?", Neil asked for the third time in ten minutes, looking at his watch impatiently. "Haan haan, bas ek minute!", Avni called back from inside. "Yaar yehi tho bol rahi ho, pichle aadhe ghante se, jaldi kho lo, mera phone andar hai, aur car keys bhi!" Neil replied exasperated. Women! Take too much time dressing up he thought irritatedly. Avni opened the door to let him in while she went back to the dressing table to put on finishing touches. "Avn..." Neil trailed off looking at her dressed in a red anarkali with black and gold border. Avni finished the look by putting on a tiny red bindi and then glanced at Neil through the mirror. She rose her eyebrows questioningly to which Neil shook his head, shifting track from towards the table to towards Avni. Closer and closer till his breath fanned her face. She kept looking at him, those innocent eyes that betrayed her often. She could feel his arms go around her while her heart rate rose rapidly, so loud that she thought he could hear it, looking at the sight smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. God, she loved it when he looked at her like that! like she was all that mattered and nothing else. Adoring? Caring? Soft? She dint know. There was something else too in that look of his, something she often thought was just her mind playing tricks. His hands now moved away from her back to her forehead, she felt his fingers slightly brush through her maang, while her breath hitched in her throat. Smiling openly now, he walked back, as if to admire her from a distance. While a part of her wanted to clutch onto his black t shirt and not lose the proximity, the other part questioned her sanity. She let out the breath she was holding and quickly gauged the situation. His fingers had a red tinge to it, while he admired his work on her. "Abh lag rahi ho na, acchi kasi Indian wifey", he smirked looking pleased with himself. While she for god knows what time, wondered about his feelings for her. "Chalein?", he asked eyebriws raised. "Haan, tum neeche jao, mein aati hoon", she replied finally breaking out of her trance. Neil shook his head in mock disapproval, as he left and half skipped his way downstairs. Avni turned to the mirror smiling softly. Is this the same girl who'd entered this house burning with rage?
When she got down,one hand holding her golden box clutch, Bebe, Papaji and Auntyji were waiting for her grinning from ear to ear. At least Bebe and Papaji were. Neil stood near the door waiting and whipped around to see her walking gracefully down the stairs. "kinna soni lag rahi mere dono bacche, itte aa puttar", Bebe beckoned to Avni to come over smiling. "Tillu tu bhi", Bebe called. They by each other while Bebe smiled even more, adoringly. "Kisike nazar na lage mere baccho ko" Bebe said as she warded of the evil eye and kept one dot of kohl on Avni and Neil. "Hum chaltein hai", Neil said and started towards the door when Bebe stopped both of them again, made them give their hands and entwined Avni's onto Neil's. "Abh lag rahe hai miyan biwi, perfect jodi", she said and then shooed them off. Soon they rreached the said studio, where a white background and white flooring had been set up wih exactly two chairs and a table with water, a few cards and a little rose had been placed, in front of the camera. "Mr and Mrs Khanna?", a man clad in a simple blue polo shirt with horn rimmed glasses approached them. "Yes?", Neil replied as the man reached them. "Welcome to the sets and thank you so much for doing this! It means a lot. Please make yourselvves comfortable and our make up artists will soon come in to touch up", he told them beckoning to the chairs. "I am the director by the way, John, Neela meri acchi dost thi college mein, and I assume, you are her adopted daughter Avni?", he asked looking at Avni. "Haan mein Neela ki beti hoon, Avni, aur ye mera pati Officer Neil Khanna" Avni replied as both of them shook hands with John. "Now please go ahead and make ypurselves comfortable", John said miling at them.
The video involved the two of them picking up the placards placed on the table in front of them. Each placard had a question that had to be answered without breaking eye contact and with utmost honesty. Neil and Avni looked across at each other in the cute tashanbaazi andaaz, not knowing what was in store. "Ladies first?", Neil said motioning towards the cards. "And rolling!", John called out from behind the camera,signalling Avni to pick up the first card. Smirking slightly Avni picked up the first card. Her smile faltered even as Neil looked on worried but curious. Looking up at him, she steadied herself as she asked him, "Have I always been completely honest with you?" Neil held her glance as he spoke slowly, carefully forming his words, "Maybe not in the words that you speak,but your eyes have always been truthful to me. You cant hide anything from me Avni, I am after all Supercop Neil"he ended on a playful note. "Your turn", Avni indicated. Neil nodded, but even as he reached to pick uo his card, they both had the same thoughts in mind, "This will either make or break us". "Are you happy with this marriage?" Neil asked reading out his card. Avni smiled at that. "Haan, mein khush hoon, bohot khush hoon iss rishtey se. This marriage of ours, never mind the backstory, has given me everything I have ever dreamt of as a child. This is all I wanted, one big happy family to which I belonged in. I could not be more happier" Avni answered looking into his eyes, wat hing his eyes reflect the joy brimming in hers. "Have you ever thought of breaking this relationship?" Avni asked Neil, her forehead lining with worry at what was to come. "Haan. Yes. I have thought about it.", Neil said even as Avni's face fell, tears brimming her lids.oh she was right! Her worst nightmare is about to unfold! "Lekin sirf dho baar. Once on our wedding day and once on the day our mission was complete. Lekin Avni, you should know, I like having you around. Tumne meri famiky ko apnaya, aur aur, usse jod kar rakhi hai jab se tum aayi, sab log khush hai ek dusre ke saath, jo mei aur pappa nahi kar payein, tune kar li hai", Neil replied earnestlt,putting all the eagerness he could muster into his reply, desperatedly wanting to reach out and hold Avni. He coukdnt bear to see tears in ber eyes! "Have you ever loved someone?" Neil asked the next question, his heart beat rapidly in fear of the answer. This was it. This when Avni confesses she loves Ali. "Haan pyaar kiya hai meine bohot logon se. Apni family se, Aur apni friends se.", Avni replied innocently. "Lekin wo wala pyaar? Jo kisi ek insaan se hota hai. Saccha wala pyaar" Neil dared to ask. Her cheeks turned pink slightly as she struggled to maintain a calm aura. "I dont know, I was too busy seething...shayad abh mein kisi se pyaar karti hoon" She murmered, smiling slightly. Neil only got more curious but also pacified himself with her reply. "Have you ever truly ever loved someone?" Avni asked him, emphasising on you. "Yes, thrice. First my work. Second, Juhi, you know what happened. And Third..." Neil stalled choosing on the spot wether to let her know or not. While on one hand something below his throat urged him to confess, another voice kept questioning Avni's feelings and wether he would hurt it. "Neil? Neil! Neil! Batao!" Avni urged on, noticing his lost expression. "You." Neil spoke softly, "I Love You", He said simply like a statement willing his face to not give away the turmoil of emotions that were wrecking a havoc inside. He looked at her eyes, she seemed to be fighting a turmoil herself. Avni stalled, trying to contain the wide grin that threatened to spill out. Her lips puckered as she wondered, did she hear it right? Did he mean it? Or was it just for the cameras? Oh but his eyes were sparkling out of mischeif or joy she dis not know. Probably both. The director called them out to continue.
"Have I been a good husband?" Neil asked her. "Haan. Tum humesha muje surprise karte ho. Tum sab ke baare mei sochte ho, lekin mere saath kabhi bhi nahi chodthe ho. Kabhi kabhi muje lagta hai ki tum Supercop nahi lekin Superman ho", Avni replied, smiling at the end of it. Neil's heart did several backflips as he smiled allowing the compliment. "What are your plans for our future?", Avni asked calmly,acting as if nothing had happened. 'Two can play at this, I am a good actor too!' Avni thought to herself as she decided to talk to him after the shoot. "Apart from Tillu ka Pillu? Ek chotti si Avni bilkul apni maa ki tarah. Thodi si khushiyaan aur der saaraa masti apni wifey ke saath", he replied watching as Avni struggled to keep herself in check. "Have you my dear wifey,got any plans for our future?" Neil asked her back teasingly. "Haan, bas ek plan hai. Jo bhi hoga hum kabhi bhi ek dusre ke saath nahi chodenge, humsha saath rahenge, humare parivaar ke saath humare baccho ke saath, humare grandchildren ke saath" Avni replied smiling as she completed her reply. "And wrap!" John yelled from behind the camera. A few photos later they were done for the day. Avni and Neil walked back to their car in silence, each one in their own thoughts.
"Sooo...grandchildren and all huh?", Neil asked as they drove back home. The sky looked slightly stormy as they drove on. "Haan agar Pillu aur Choti Avni honge, tho grandchildren bhi honge na?", Avni asked back smiling. They remained quiet for a while again. "Pillu aur Choti Avni kyun honge, meine alrwady bol chuka hoon, uss raat humare beech kuch bhi nahi hua hai Avni", Neil replied keeping his tone light. "Neil? Kahin aur chalte hai na? Ghar se pehle?" Avni requested suddenly. Neil nodded and drove towards the nearest park. seating themselves on an empty bench, they sat in silence, taking in their surrroundings. "Kabhi na kabhi tho honge hi na Neil?" Avni asked softly, blooding rushing to her cheeks. "Huh?" Neil asked confused, tearing his gaze away from a couple that were walking hand in hand. "Pillu? Aur Choti Avni? Hum Pati Patni tho hai...kabhi na kabhi tho honge", Avni explained her voice growing muter towards the end. Neil's eyebrows shot up. "Kyun honge? Humare iss shaadi, ek maqsat ke liye thi. Abh wo pura ho chuka hai...lekin phir bhi, mein iss rishtey ko chaahta hoon aur nibhaunga bhi...agar tum chaho tho", Neil said earnestly, turning to face her. "Mein bhi chaahti hoon Neil. Iss rishtey ko...Tumhe chaahti hoon, tumahra saath chaahta hoon Neil", Avni replied smiling. "Kyun?", Neil asked, his eyes alight with happiness. Avni pretended to ponder. "Oh...Hmmm...I dont know, maybe issliye kyunki Mein tumse pyaar karti hoon?" Avni replied her hands fiddling with her c***ch as she responded, voice non chalant. Neil was rendered speechless for a good two minutes. "Tum...tum kya?" Neil asked unbelievingly stunned. Avni stood up and took a few steps as the shyness in her overtook her. She turned around to face him and then said a little more loudly. "I Love You, Mr. Hubby!". All Neil could do was rise, end the distance between them as his emotions took over. He pulled her into one of his bone crushing hugs, swearing to never let go. They stood like that for years for all he cared. Finally releasing her "I Love You too Wifey" he said breathless and giddy with happiness. It was her turn to pull him hinto a hug, put not before he's placed a kiss on her forehead. As he muttered I love yous and kissed her hair, she hugged him, putting her very soul into it, while it started to drizzle. Breaking off, they looked at the sky and then at each other breaking into little tufts of laughter. To Avni it felt like her parents approved, and were showering their blessings. What little idiots had they been, thinking all those nasty thoughts when all they had wanted was each other. Such silly kids indeed. A clap of thunder and it started pouring heavily. As Avni and Neil rushed back to the car, they got drenched. Neil more immune to the cold than Avni, needed only the car's warmth whereas Avni shivered silently and sneezed. Spotting a tea stall open, Neil drove over and got out to get them both tea. Turnjng back only to see Avni, getting drenched again, walking towards him, one hand extended. He rose his eyebrows in suspicion. She gestured to him to take her hand, and twirled in closer even as he held it. Looking up at him from against his chest they smiled as they waltzed slowly in the rain. Pulling her in as close as he could he moved with her simultaneously as they locked eyes and created their own little bubble. The dance got slower and slower and then ceased all together. They stood simply getting drenched in the rain oblivious to everything else. A-AH-ACHOOO, Avni sneezed breaking the moment while Neil scrunched his nose in tolerance. Making her sit in the car and wrapping his coat around her, he turned up the heat while ordering her to stay put. He stepped out again to get them their hot masala chais, to provide some relief. Sipping their tea in silence, Neil slightly inched his hand to take hers, not noticing this, Avni moved her hand away, using it ti balance the hot tea cup. Slightly disheartened, Neil went back to sipping his tea. Eventually they made it home, breaking into a smile or a laughter each time they caught sight of their entwined hands or one staring at the other. Stepping up the pathway in the lawn, Neil took her hand once more and Avni inched closer to him, and they walked hand in hand. Avni hadnt stipped shivering however, which worried Neil as he put an arm around her, pressing her into his side. Would they have to repeat that night tonight? They wondered silently and glanced at each other and quickly turned away blushing beet red. Maybe not tonight. That night could wait. They afterall had enough time to spare, now that imagination and reality had finally become one.
4 pages in one post...and my first on AvNeil! Not checked for typos...please turn a blind eye to my o's and i's! However never forget to comment!
Anupamaa
