Neela tried very hard to stifle her laughter, hearing Neil's words for the umpteenth time.
As much as she could totally understand what the guy was going through, she couldn't help but chuckle at his antics. After all, as much as she knew Avni was her daughter, she would always count on Neil as her own son.
In the past six months, she had seen how devastated this guy had been, and so now, even though he was yet to be out of this predicament where Avni barely remembered anything about their marriage, she was at least happy that some part of Neil's normal life and nature was restored.
.
.
'I swear Neela Maa! You should have seen the way he hugged Avni! Mann toh kar raha tha wahi ek punch maar du use!''
He remarked once again, making Neela break into a fit of giggles, startling Neil.
'You are laughing, Neela Maa? Come on! As if my life didn't have an abundance of tension already that ye naya aafat bin bulaye mehmaan ke tarah aasmaan se tapak gaya!''
He averred dramatically.
Neela stood up from the sofa and stepped towards Neil as she said,
'It's okay, Neil! I don't think this is too much of a concern. Trust me, I know Vishal was a classmate of Avni back in Delhi. And you already know everything about Avni, right? She never even had a boyfriend! She was far away from all the teenage crushes and romance!''
'I know all that, Neela Maa! But that doesn't mean others weren't attracted to her! And you should have seen this V for Vishal slash Voldemort's face! The way he was ogling at Avni! Darn, I tell you! I want to go right away and thrash him for eyeing my wife like that!''
.
.
Neela smiled at Neil's frustration plus childishness. She knew very well that jealousy too was quite a prominent aspect of a relationship that in the right quantity would always take things to a better level.
And that made her recall something instantaneously, bringing a thoughtful look on her face, one which didn't go unnoticed by Neil.
'What are you thinking, Neela Maa?''
He asked her.
She just shook her head slightly before saying, 'Nothing! Was just thinking how life comes in full circle, isn't it?''
When Neil asked her to elaborate what she meant by that, she only replied in a rather casual tone, 'When your past love Juhi had come back to your life, maybe Avni too would have felt something close to what you are feeling right now, isn't it?''
The mere mention of it made Neil sit on the couch with an expression that was hard to read.
He knew whatever Neela Maa was saying was so accurate, but to be honest, Avni was Avni. She was so different, that never even for a moment did he see her flinch at the sight of Juhi's resurfacing back into their lives, that too when they had all believed her lie that Mishti was his kid.
Was it even possible for anyone to be like Avni?
It was a rhetorical question because he knew the answer to it already. No, there can't be anyone like Avni.
Today he knew exactly how it feels to even come across a mere sight of the love of your life in a close radius of someone else, and heck knows how, Avni would have dealt with it all, when Juhi was not just hovering over him, but also tried to exercise her rights over him and his family, having Mishti as the bait.
Neil wiped off the lone tear that had escaped his eye without a forewarning and after gaining his composure, he said to Neela, in a tone rather submissive,
'Neela Maa! I can never understand how Avni was so understanding. It is beyond my understanding, trust me! But I am sorry, in this department, I cannot be like her! I cannot be so understanding! I cannot tolerate the sight of any guy close to her. I am possessive about her, and I can't and don't want to do anything about it either.''
Neela couldn't help the small smile that curved her lips at Neil's confession.
This is what she liked about this guy the most. Not only was his love for Avni pure, but from the core of his heart, he was an out and out honest person, be it about anything, including his own shortcomings.
And so, she holds his hand, and assures him that it will all be fine.
'Don't worry, my dearest son! Avni sirf tumhari hai. Give it sometime. It will all fall back to the right place.''
Neil's face lit up after what seemed like ages post his sulking over a certain Vishal Mehra on hearing Neela Maa's words, but his focus was jeopardized right away as both of them heard the sound of the main door open, and there she entered- the spotlight to all his thoughts.
.
.
Avni was in a rather happy mood when she came back home, and that could be told by the wide smile that adorned her face.
However, it didn't last for long right when she saw the sight of Neil and Neela chatting like the closest buddies ever.
When she noticed Neil staring at her a little too keenly, she rolled her eyes, and passed a snide remark, which she thought wasn't audible to anyone else, but she was wrong.
'I wonder what the hell does he always do here, talking to mamma! Don't tell me, this one has a thing for beautiful but older women!''
'WHAT?!''
Neil remarked out loud, taking both Avni and Neela by surprise, as soon as he heard her little murmur to herself, that shocked him to infinity and beyond.
'What, what?''
Avni asked back.
Neil gave her a really cranky look before saying to Neela, 'I will take your leave now!''
Neela silently nodded as he stood up from the couch and walked towards the main door, his eyes shooting glares at Avni all this while.
He was all set to step out of the house, when he heard Avni inform Neela,
'Maa, I think I have to cancel our dinner plan for tomorrow, because there's something that has come up!''
.
.
Neela knew that Neil was still very much listening to this conversation as she could spot him right at the main door.
She was well aware that Neil would want to know about Avni's 'new plan'' for tomorrow and so, without making him wait any longer, she directly asked Avni, what was her plan for tomorrow that she had to cancel her dinner plans with her mom,
'What is it, Bachcha?''
Avni, not knowing that Neil had his ears on her, since it was her back facing him, told Neela honestly,
'Actually Maa, I met Vishal today! Remember? My classmate from college?''
Neela nodded in affirmation.
'Right now, I was with him only, we were at Barista! So, tomorrow there's this opening ceremony of Aqua Blue Resto-Bar! It belongs to his Chachu. So, he has called me over to accompany him for the event!''
Avni said.
Neela acted cool to all of it and said it was all right and she could go for the event. They would plan their mother-daughter dinner programme some other day.
However, ACP Neil Khanna was a bundle of fuming rage as he stepped out of Neela's Mansion after hearing it all, and said to himself,
'I hate using the power of my profession, Avni! But you my stubborn wife, are making me break all rules, just like you had, when you became a part of my life!''
And with that, he took out his cell phone, called up someone and said,
'Make sure, I be the guest of honor for this event, and yes..''
He paused, before wearing his aviators, as he put the key of his car into ignition, and added,
'I would need a date for the evening.''
**
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
