I miss the old Philosopher Neil, so here is a glimpse of him! I wanted AvNeil to talk about Ashish's betrayal, about Amol and Neela, but CVs never gave us that, so I decided to write how I think that conversation will turn out to be. Hope this is worth a read.
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Ashish Mehta. I looked at the man talk to his wife and son. What about me? You left my mom with the divorce notice that night and then, you came back to take my brother.
Wasn't he born to a Muslim? But your mother gave a stupid explanation and took him away from us, not because she wanted your child, but because she wanted an heir for your family and Neela Maa refused to even let you touch her.
The air was filled with excitement and happiness as students and parents enjoyed their time at the college's Annual Celebration. I proudly looked at my mother, the chief guest of the evening; speak about a woman's independence and thought of the days when she hid behind the name "Asha". Hadn't she lost her freedom to my father and his mother?
As my eyes wandered on the happy faces, he caught my attention. Neil Khanna, my senior. He was a few meters away and he looked into my eyes, and it seemed to me he had been looking in my direction for quite some time now. I could away and went to the fire exit of the building.
As the flashes of my childhood reminded in my head, I heard footsteps echo in the silent stairway. I looked up, to see Neil.
"Can I join you?"
"Will that help us?" I retorted and regretted my harsh behavior immediately. He sat next to me, with a soft smile playing on his lips as if he had been proven right.
I decided to walk out. I didn't any need any intruders in my "me-time" I stood up to leave, but my legs refused.
"Your mom isn't you Avni," He said, making me look at him in confusion.
"If she was you, she wouldn't have reached where she is today." I agreed with him mentally. My Ayesha Maa was strongest. Even after the divorce, she didn't give up and auditioned for movies. Slowly, success noticed her hard work and today, she is a critically acclaimed actress of the industry.
"She is what she is today because unlike you, her heart is filled with genuine love," Neil spoke, breaking my chain of thoughts.
"Why kill yourself Avni? Why burn in the flames of hatred for the man who is the reason of your being?" He asked me. I was stunned. It was as if Ayesha Maa was speaking to me.
"Destiny didn't mess your life, so it's easier for you to comment," I tried to defend my emotions.
"You don't hate Neela aur Amol, you only hate your father, and the world knows, that it was your grandmother who emotionally blackmailed your father to leave you both. Isn't he just like you? Stranded?"
He asked me. I looked at him with wide eyes as I found myself to agree with his words.
"If your mom, like you, had spent her life hating Ashish Mehta, she would have still been Asha Mehta, but no! She chose otherwise and found her identity-Ayesha Haider."
"It's not his fault Avni. I don't know what exactly happened, but from whatever I have heard, you need to give him a second chance. I noticed that your eyes seemed lonely when you were looking at them. Maybe it's my habit of trying to understand people that made me this curious, but yes, I know the feeling of being lonely. So stop blaming him for everything. I am not asking to forgive him"
"Ek stranger ki free advice hai, live in the present, jyaada khush rahogi. Learn to let go" Saying so, he stood up to leave.
"Says the man who lives in the past?" I looked up at him and I regretted my words. Juhi's face flashed infront my eyes. She had lost her life in a car accident. Neil loved her like crazy and had gone into severe depression after losing her.
"Kabhi butterflies dekhe hai?" He asked. I narrowed my eyes, assuming that he was changing the topic.
"You try holding them, you never succeed; you let them go, they fly and sit on your shoulder. Maine bhi wahin kiya, Juhi ke yaadon ke peeche nahi bhaaga, uski yaadon ke sahare jeena seekha. So technically, I don't live in the past." He smirked as my mouth dropped listening to his explanation.
He left. I sat there thinking, was he right when he spoke of letting go? I respect Neela Maa for staying in that bitter relation for Amol, I love Amol because he was my brother, my blood. Then why did Ashish Mehta affect me? He was my father, who left me and my mother agreed. But the whole world knows that he always protected Maa from the lecherous producers and directors. The world knows he has loved her always.
My chain of thoughts broke when I heard my mobile ring. Ma had messaged me that she was leaving. I brushed off my thoughts and went to meet her.
My heart skipped a beat watching Maa talk to Ashish Mehta. She had complete ignorance in her eyes and my father seemed to be unaffected by this ignorance. I guess they were talking business.
"Hey...Di," Amol helloed me from behind, hesitantly. I smiled softly at him.
"Our father isn't bad," He said as he looked at our parents converse. "He was just foolish enough not to see the reality, the reality that he loves you two the most." He smiled sadly and walked away.
Neil's words came back to me. Suddenly, speaking to the dark chocolate orbed guy seemed to be of utter importance to me. I looked around and found him talking to his friend.
"Neil?" I called out to him. He turned as DD raised an eyebrow at me.
"You were right, my Dad is not entirely at fault, even I am wrong somewhere."
"From when did you start consulting strangers?" DD asked him in confusion.
"He was consulting a friend, right Neil?" I replied to DD as Neil smiled.
Yes, I was planning to let go of many things. My hatred, my anger, my fears and most importantly, my insecurities.
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