AvNeil OS: Beyond the Darkness

A/N: I had written this piece after Ali's kidnapping but with everything happening in the serial I forgot to post this here. Looking at the way everyone is so worried about the upcoming track, I thought of posting this little nugget from the past. If not anything, this will at least serve to take our minds off the recent OLV's.

I would love to hear from you all.

Neil disconnected the call the very moment she recognized the voice, and met her confused eyes with calm ones though his thoughts were in a whirl.

"Ali... Nahi...!She whispered, quite unmindful of the people surrounding them.

Neil took a quick step towards his wife, not caring about the people around them as he enfolded her in a side hug. Avni clung to him like a child as she visibly fought with herself for control, not letting the sudden fear decapacitate her.

He did not know what to tell her, what could he say in such a situation. Both Neela Maa and Nanno were shocked beyond words and he could not even fathom what they were going through. Bebe and his Dad were standing there as if rooted to their spot while Bua and Kareena looked on confused. They did not Ali very well, but were astute enough to guess that he was important to his Avni.

It was however the reaction on the face of his mother which gave him a pause. While all of them were trying hard to make head or tail of the matter, his mother Shweta had a smirk playing on her lips. He watched on over the top of his wife's head as his mother glanced at Riya only to find a matching smirk on the younger girl's face. As suddenly as it had appeared, the vicious enjoyment was gone from their face to be replaced with a thoughtful frown and calculated fear respectively.

So sudden had been the transition that Neil for a moment thought that he had probably imagined the whole thing. But he knew better, not only because he was an astute police officer but also because he know how much his mom and Riya hated Avni. They could go to any lengths to hurt her and if it meant putting Ali in danger, then so be it.

It seemed his mother had completely forgotten that her son was a police officer, for she opened her mouth just that moment to spew the venom that she kept concealed deep within her soul.

"Isme... wo kya kehte hain... surprise kya hai? Wo aakhir hai to Avni ka hi dost na.

"Maa... enough.Neel thundered, fast reaching the thether end of his patience. Shweta shut her mouth up with a snap though he could see the rage burning in her eyes. At this moment however, he had scant regard for that.

It was his wife though who drew his attention towards the situation. "Neil, mai nahi maan sakti ki Ali gunehgaar hai. Dekho, mai maanti hun ki ye call usko laga par... I still don't believe it.

He could see clearly that she was close to hyperventilating now, and he shook her slightly so as to draw her attention, vni... avni... relax. Listen to me. Maine kab kaha ki Ali gunehgaar hai? Han? But use ek baar to baat karni padegi na? Mai ek police officer hun aur ye meri duty hai, but trust me, kisi begunaah ko saza nahi milegi... I promise you that Avni.

She just looked at him with a blank expression on her face and he feared that probably he had lost her there, but then she took a deep breath and nodded. "I know that, Neil. Tum kuch galat nahi hone doge... I trust you.

Her words acted like a refreshner and he smiled, the first true smile since the events of the last day. He was still worried about her but knew that there was no way he would let any harm befall her. So he just smiled at her and with DD in tow, left the house.

~*~

It wasn't easy to find Ali, he was not there at the cafe when he went to meet his friend. Neil still was not treating it as a case, for he knew that whatever may be the provocation, Ali would never ever harm him. He was the guy who worried for Neil when he went missing on long cases, he was the guy who dropped in at his house and made everyone smile, he was the guy who had told him the first time that there was some connection between him and Ananya Verma... It was another thing that he did not know that the girl was Avni... his Avni, but even then Ali would not harm him.

He was surprised to find the gas burning, the vegetables kept open at the counter and Ali; Ali was nowhere to be found. This was what set his mind running. Ali would never leave the gas burning. He was too careful that way.

"DD... kuch gadbad hai. Ali gas on chhodkar kabhi bhi nahi jayega."

"Han Sir... Ali bhai itne gair zimmedar nahi hai."

Neil took a step forward to switch off the gas and halted in his tracks. His sharp, trained eyes had latched onto the foot prints on the mud floor.

"DD... look at this."

DD turned his attention to the floor but other than a lo of foot prints, he didn't find anything strange.

"Kaafi saare log aaye honge Sir."He said.

"Oh really?" Neil shot back at his man friday. "Iss time ko cafe me kaun aata hai DD? Besides, ye footprints normal aane jaane wale logon ke nahi hai... ye struggle ki nishani hai. Look at thi." Neil pointed towards a specific set of foot print. "Yahan se aise lagta hai jaise kisi ko drag kiya ho." Neil reflected as he looked around for any more clues.

"DD... cordon off this area. Kuch hua hai yahan."he order his junior officer.

DD did as he was ordered and Neil, increasing becoming worried looked around for something, anything which would give him a clue about Ali's whereabouts. He had promised Avni that he would inform her about Ali, but he had nothing to tell her.

Finally defeated, he dialed her number. If nothing else, hearing her voice would rejuvenate him.

~*~

Avni was sitting in between Neela Maa and Nanno at Neela's house. She had offered to drop them and had yet to go back to Khanna house. She didn't have the patience to listen to Shweta and Rhea's rant now. her best friend was in danger and here she was unable to help him in any way. She knew Neil would do his level best but she just couldn't sit idle.

Worried, she had dialed Madan's number and after telling him about the entire sequence of events had asked him if he could help her in any way. Madan and his group had answered in positive and now she all that she had to do was to wait for some sort of news - either from Neil or from Madan.

Her phone rang just at that moment - breaking the stillness of the room with its soft music.

"Haan... Neil... kya hua?"

"Kahan ho tum?" His voice floated out of the device and she could hear the pangs of anxiety in his voice.

"Neela Maa ke ghar pe. Baat kya hai?" she asked, suddenly more worried for her husband then about anything else.

"Tum wahin raho... mai aa raha hun." And he disconnected the call without telling her anything else.

"Kya hua Bachha... kya kaha Neil ne?" Neela's worried voice broke her trance.

"Wo yahin aa raha hai Maa. Lagta hai kuch hua hai." she looked at her mother not knowing why she felt so worried all of a sudden.

"Allah kare moya ALi salamat ho." Nanno's tearful voice drew their attention and Avni and Neela were soon consoling the old lady. She had brought Ali up as her own child. What would she be going through?

~*~

Neil parked his vehicle in front of Neela Maa's house and alighted with a heavy heart. He knew in his heart that Ali was in grave danger but he had been unable to find anything which would lead him to his friend.

He walked up the steps and was about to press the calling bell when the door opened and Avni came outside.

"Avni..."

"Tumhare gadi ki awaaz suni maine. To samajh gayi ki tum aaye ho." she explained.

Neil smiled at her response. From hating each other to recognizing the sound of his vehicle, they had really come a long way. Coming from Avni, this was practically a confession that she kept an eye on him.

Almost in a trance, he smiled softly and opened his arms wide, waiting, wanting his wife in his arms. He didn't know why but nobody could calm him down at this moment. He feared that she might not respond, it had been an impulsive decision but he was pleasantly surprised when Avni threw himself into his arms and hugged him as if her life depended on this. He clung to her with all his might, taking and providing comfort as he willedhis racing heart to calm down.

The moment he had realized that Ali had been kidnapped, the gravity of the situation came crashing down on him. He understood the dangerous plan which had unknowingly been foiled yesterday - that of Avni's kidnapping. Someone badly wanted to either hurt him or had a personal score to settle with his wife and in either case, she was in danger. He had already lost his love once; he didn't want to go through that agony another time.

"Mai nahi kho sakta tumhe, Avni... I can't lose you." he murmured in her ear and she hugged him harder.

"Mai yahin hun Neil... tumhare paas. Kahin nahi gayi hun." Somehow, with the understanding inherent in a woman, she understood that her husband was too scared at this point.

It was a long time later that Neil slowly broke the hug.

"Chalo andar chalte hain. Mai batata hun ki kya hua hai." he led her inside, content with her presence by her side. He knew he had to tell her about Ali and also about this suspicion regarding Rhea and his mom, after all no true kidnapper would have let Rhea escape. She would have made a good bargaining chip for forcing his hand. The mastermind behind all this had to be someone who did not wish to harm Rhea. Something just wasn't adding up and he had to hash it out all.

They were going to face many storm tossed days ahead, he could feel it in his very bones but with his WIFEY by his side, he knew he could face anything and come out of every test with flying colours.

~fin.