AvNeil SS: Us Against the World | CHAPTER 15 UP: PG-39 (Apr 17) - Page 9

The last seven days had wrecked a thunderstorm in my life, way intent than the last six months.

For the last agonizing six months, I at least had a tiny ray of hope that when she would wake up, she would be back to me, but these last seven days, had defied my theory, my will, my wishes, to infinity and beyond, ensnaring me in a web of doubts and uncertainty, as I still wondered, what if.. What if she never really remembered me, and more than that, what if she never really remembered us?

Every single day, I had paid a visit to Neela Maa's house, just to catch a glimpse of her, but she remained so oblivious to everything, and actually bought it at face value when Neela Maa gave her random reasons for me visiting her on a daily note.

I had been extremely headstrong, thinking of ways I would get the love of my life back, but I could never deny that each moment that passed was a test on its own as I had to push myself to come to terms with the fact that my Avni, my wife, who I loved so much, had actually forgotten all our memories from our marriage.

And if that wasn't all, then the fact that somewhere it was solely me who was responsible for her present condition only pierced me more, rubbing it in almost all the time that though I was a successful IPS officer, I had failed the only woman who I loved so dearly to death.

Each day was tormenting for me, as I knew I could see her, but not be close to her. Hear her, but not talk to her.

And the worst part was looking at this version of Avni, where she was devoid of the two things completely that used to mark her as mine.

Neither did she wear her mangalsutra anymore nor the sindoor that I loved to see her don, before all of this happened.

And honestly, seeing her sans these things was a constant reminder of my failure, and the truth that the person in front of me was Avni for sure, but My Avni was somewhere lost inside her, and this was again because of me.

But I knew it from the bottom of my heart that I would bring My Avni back, regardless of what it took from me, because the reality was simple. Without her, I was nothing.

I had engrossed myself into too much work only to distract myself a little from the thunderstorm that had turned my life, or rather, what remained of it, upside down, when Neela Maa's phone call had broken my concentration and what she had uttered next, had only enraged a certain part of me, to no extent.

I had not wasted another second before storming out of the police station, my adrenaline pumping like no tomorrow as thoughts raced in my head, and a strange fear of losing her yet again clouded my mind.

'Neil! Come soon, please! Avni is hell bent on leaving for New York and she will simply not listen to me! We need something to stop her!''

Neela Maa's words kept ringing in my head, as I contemplated what could be possibly done to stop Avni.

I knew time was running out and whatever I had to do, I had to do it quick, and I should have thanked the stars as right at the next moment, an idea struck me, and I took out the phone from my pocket and dialed Sheru's number.

Avni's 123 gang had helped me with a lot of things, and I was sure, today too won't be any different, especially when they knew it was for Avni's own good.

.

.

When I entered Avni's room I had already heard her speak to Neela Maa about how it was the only right thing to do: her leaving the city to go to New York.

I saw the packed suitcase next to her and my fingers clenched into tight fists on their own accord, and if nothing else, I knew one thing for sure, I was not letting her go, come what may.

And so, gathering all courage and conviction in the world, I feigned the sternest demeanor possible as I remarked:

''You cannot leave at all Miss. Avni! After all, you are CASE 123, isn't it?''

.

I knew she was taken aback at my arrival as well as my charges against her, but the small smile that played on Neela Maa's lips seeing me there told me that whatever I was doing, no matter how harsh I sounded, was the right thing and the need of the hour.

I held the handcuffs in one handan accessory that had been an accomplice in so many ways in my relationship with Avni, and today was yet again another requirement at stopping her, but to her as an onlooker, it only looked like a game of a chaser and the one being chased.

'What the hell are you talking about?''

She said out loud, her eyes shooting a sparkling rage, and call me a sadist, but a part of enjoyed it.

If not anything else, at least we were back to having some argument of sorts, and for starters, that was a welcome change for me. After all, isn't it a pleasure to see your wifey fight with you?

Neela Maa knew that this was not going to end anytime sooner, and so she made a very silent and tactful exit from the scene without Avni even noticing, and I only thanked her in my mind.

It had been ages since I was with Avni alone, and even though at present, the dynamics were way too different for her, I knew I had to make a start from somewhere and if this was it, then be it.

And so, taking a deep breath and flaunting some much needed sass, I replied,

'I am talking exactly about what you are thinking, Miss. Avni Ayesha, alias Ananya Verma!''

Of course she knew that with Dayavanti Mehta's truth out, the world also knew her truth that she was not Ananya Verma but Avni, however, the whole thing coming out from my mouth of course had a different impact on her, given the fact that I was going to twist this just at the right proportion, because well, I did have my own agenda here, which of course she wasn't aware of.

I showed her the pendant that held her Ayesha Maa and Neela Maa's pics, and she knew that her truth was out and she had to face the consequences.

If only she knew that the only punishment I wanted for her was, to have her tied to me forever.

But I knew for that to happen, I had to get her back, get my Avni back.

And so I said, 'Your gang members Sheru, Rocky, and the others have already surrendered and I have their testimony too. And you, Miss. Avni, not only are you the whole mastermind of the 123 gang, but you have also committed identity fraud, by impersonating Ananya Verma for months, just for your revenge. So, by all means, you should be behind the bars now!''

For a second I was thrilled by the conviction of my own voice, but then I knew I had to sound as realistic as possible so that its impact was as expected, and right there, my wifey didn't disappoint me at all, as she said with the same carefree attitude that she possessed as Ananya Verma, 'FINE! Go on! Arrest me!''

Though I had expected that kind of reply from her already, it still left me dazzled for a second.

This female never failed to surprise me.

As much as I loved her courage, her fearlessness, today it was one of the prime reasons for her to have landed in a situation like this, where she had lost such a vital part of her memory.

I tried not to get distracted my those thoughts yet again, and only chuckled at her words, making her don an expression of irritation as I said, 'Oh well! Hold it there!''

I knew she was running out of patience, but I also knew what I was doing and so I said in a tone blended with taunts, 'Technically, I am supposed to arrest you right away, Avni! But since you are still under medical care, with your memory gone with the west wind, I have to wait till you get your memories back, and only then I can put you where you belong. That is in jail (of my heart)! Until then, in no way are you allowed to leave this city. You will stay here! (in front of my eyes)!''

If only she could hear what my heart was telling her after everything that my mouth uttered.

But nevertheless, as anticipated, her expressions changed from shocked to enraged, as she stepped closer and said out loud, 'What the hell is this Neil?! Who the hell are you to decide for Me?! Now where I will, will not go, that permission too I have to take from you, huh?''

'Oh yes, you have to! You don't have a choice, Avni, other than following My orders!''

I knew I had vexed her further by saying that she had to abide by my orders, and she glared at me, as she said throwing a tantrum, 'I don't give a damn about your orders!''

In a jiffy she was about to turn and leave the room, but before she could even turn, I held her by her waist and pinned her to the wall, as I placed both my hands on either sides of her, caging her within my hold.

I knew I had completely caught her off guard and the semblance of it was evident on her face as she looked at me directly in the eyes, squirming under my hold, as she said in a voice audible just to me.

'Neil, mujhe jane do!'' (Neil, let me go!)

And as if on cue, the next thing that escaped my mouth was,

'I won't let you go, EVER!''

.

.

In that tiny spur of moment I saw her eyes go wide-eyed, as if she remembered a scene from our memories, which was playing in my own mind right now.

The same words, the same gestures, the same proximity, when she had thought I had apologized to her because Juhi asked me to, and I had held her the same way, telling her, that I won't let her go ever.

I could see that her mind was fighting its own battle as I could feel a moment of dj vu surfacing in her head and that was the one thing in these entire six months that made me feel, bringing my Avni back wasn't impossible after all.

I looked at her quivering lips as the frown on her face deepened, and all I could wish was for this moment, this life to become simpler, for if it were, I wouldn't have wasted a tiny second and claimed her lips, like there was no tomorrow.

I couldn't help myself as I lifted my right hand, and brought it closer to her face.

I knew her mind was still struggling and reeling in the shock of whatever memories her own words and mine were trying to resurface in her.

But there was a tendril of her hair that was hindering me from seeing her countenance so close completely. And so I brought my hand closer to her forehead to remove that lock of hair and tuck it behind her ear.

And that is when my little world of momentary joy was broken without a forewarning, as she pushed me with all her might, using both of her hands, and threatened me as she snapped at me-

'Just LEAVE ME, Neil Khanna! You don't have any rights to hold me captive!''

I don't know why, but her words only ignited a certain part of me that only screamed endless passion for her, as I held both of her hands again and said in an equally threatening tone, which I had earlier never intended to use, 'I have ALL the rights in WORLD to hold you HOWEVER I want!''

Of course I did, didn't I?

She was my wife.

And if this fiasco wouldn't have happened, maybe we would be somewhere in the Maldives making babies right now!

The thought in itself was so special that though unknowingly, a small smile tugged at my lips even thinking about making babies with this child woman slash fiery female.

But as always, yet again, she chose to pop my bubble of thoughts as she broke free from my hold, and threatened me once again, 'Agli baar mujhe haath lagaya na, toh haath tod dungi!'' (Dare you touch me the next time, I will break your hands!)

Her nostrils flared as she said that to me in complete anger, and this time it was my turn to feel the dj vu, back in the day from Rhea's infamous Bollywood party where I had cornered her and accused her of being case 123, tried to check her pendant, but quite wisely she had turned the tables.

I knew that memory was still engraved in her mind, but a revisit to it, made me smirk, and that only vexed Avni further as she shot me yet another raging glare and turned on her heels before lashing out from the room.

This time, I didn't stop her.

It was in months that I at least had a small smile on my lips, and quite obviously so, the reason was only and only her.

Today, was the just the beginning, and I knew it.

'Just some more days, Miss. Avni! I will win you back and make you Mrs. Avni Neil Khanna once again. You will be back to where you belong. To me.''

**