AvNeil SS ~ Entwined Destinies
Instalment ~ 1
"Avvu, I'm getting married yaar. A romantic number for us please. Rhea requested Avni, singer of the day. Clad in an elegant white chikankari kurti with baby pink palazzo pants, Avni smiled and passed her a flying kiss from the stage.
"Consider this to be your wedding gift, Rhea. Wish you a happy married life.
"Dil kahe kahaniyan pehli dafa
armano mein rawaniyan pehli dafa
Pyaar ko pehchana ehsaas hai yeh naya With closed eyes, Avni began strumming the guitar strings. Traquility spread in the entire cafe as everyone sat hypnotised with her melodious voice.
Suna hai, suna hai...
yeh rasm-e-wafa hai
Jo dil pe nasha hai
who pehli dafa hai. (X2)
Kabhi dard si, kabhi zaed si
zindagi benaam thi
Kahin chahatein hui meherbaan
haath badh ke thaamti.
She looked across the audience. Most of them were regular customers to the 'Chamko' but an intense pair of eyes intrigued her like none else did. He stood near the counter, with a soft drink in his hands, a smile on his lips. His eyes were enigmatic, dark brown chocolate eyes with specks of amber, she could see from afar. Her gaze was fixed on him as she sung the next few lines,
"Ik who nazar, ik who nigaah
rooh mein shaamil iss tarah
Ban gaya afsana ik baat se pehli dafa
paa liya hai thikaana
Baahon ki hai panaah...
Growing conscious of her surroundings, she withdrew her gaze from him and quickly ended the song singing last few words of it,
"Suna hai, suna hai...
yeh rasm-e-wafa hai,
Jo dil pe nasha hai,
wo pehli dasha hai.
A round of applause rang in the cafe as the song came to an end. Gracefully, she walked down the podium accepting the appreciations coming to her from all sides. She looked at the counter but the man was gone long time back. Sighing, she walked to Rhea's table with her guitar back in its bag.
"Thank you so much, Avni. Rhea gave her a tight hug which Avni reciprocated with equivalent emotions. Greeting Abhay, Rhea's fiancee, she dragged a chair and sat on it.
"You were wonderful on stage, Avni ji. He praised her singing skills.
"Feel free to call me Avni or...like Rhea calls Avvu. Apnapan jhalakta hai. And thanks for the complement. Avni finished off with her signature smile.
"So, Rhea how does it feel to get hitched to someone? Avni asked, biting her cheek to stop her smile. Among the two, Rhea was the hard-core romantic who loved watching mushy movies and believed there are fairy-tale lovestories. When she was having a sort of one, Avni could not help but pose the question.
"The feeling is incredible. Getting married to the person you love, it is unexplainable, Avni. Woh jazbaat bataya ya sunaya nahi ja sakta, sirfmehsoos kiya ja sakta hai.
Avni smiled seeing the couple lost in their own paradise. Seeing the way Abhay gazed at her bestie, she was sure he would keep her happy, safe and contented with him. If not, what are besties for..She chuckled at her thoughts.
"Avni, what are your future plans ? Abhay's questions brought her back to the reality.
"Not much. I'm already a successful senior reporter in Mumbai Today. Want to get a blockbuster story. She replied sipping onto her hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. She loved it, especially the taste of chocolate that lingers in her mouth. Old habits die hard, she sighed taking another sip. It's not her fault that she has a sweet tooth since childhood.
"Great. Avni smiled at Abhay's exclaimation.
Her vibrating phone in the pockets of her pants changed her gaze. She pulled the device out and attended the caller.
"Coming home, maa. Fikr mat karo. She ended the call. Waving at everyone, she picked her guitar bag and walked out of the cafe. The road buzzed with people and transports, but when had it not. So rightly is Mumbai known as the city that never sleeps. Her home from the Chamko cafe was a walkable distance of five hundred metres.
Vrishabh; a multistorey apartment with fifteen floors height accomodating about twenty families. Avni saw the packers and movers truck outside the gate, as she walked to her house. Unlocking the door, she shouted,
"Home maa. until her eyes fell on the guests who were seated on the sofa. She quickly greeted the lady with a smile and sat there on the opposite couch keeping her guitar bag beside her, making sure the lady felt comfortable. Her mother, Neela, came outside from the kitchen with two plates filled with snacks. She placed it on the coffe table and sat beside the lady. She initiated the conversation, introducing each other,
"Avni, ye hai Shwetha
"Shwetha, ye hai Avni, meri beti.
Avni smiled at Shwetha, greeted with folded hands. Shwetha smiled and nodded at her.
"You shifted here just now? Avni asked.
"Haan. came a reply from Shwetha.
"Shwetha, have the snacks. Neela forwarded the plate to her friend who declined it politely, saying,
"No, no Neela, it's absolutely fine. I met you here, so just thought to visit. Mera beta aa jayega abhi thodi der mein.
"Jab tak wo aa jaye, tab tak kuch khaa lo. Aur mere paas kya formality kar rahi hai, haan. Neela faked anger forcing Shwetha to pick up the khatta meetha mixture plate and have some from it.
"What's your son's name? Neela suddenly popped the question.
"Neil
Neil...Avni repeated it almost unconsciously, as the name seeped inside her system.
The bell rung for one more time before the residents opned the door. Shock, would be an understatement, when Avni found herself drowned in the same mysterious eyes.
"Neela, this is my son, Neil. ACP. Neil Khanna. Shwetha prodly exclaimed. Neela smiled, before waving back at her.
This person with engimatic pair of eyes is Neil. Nice to meet you. Avni thought, smiling. Closing the door, she walked back to her room.
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Good, bad, worst, horrible. Let me what you felt by dropping a reply in the comment section.
Signing off,
Nivedita
Edited by Aphrodite_NV - 7 years ago
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Arjun
