AvNeil SS- When Past Meets Present - Chapter 9 updated - Page 2

It's amazing..do update soon 😊

Amazing story !!!

Woooho ! That was quite intriguing .

THis looks interesting, would love to read more so keep updating

Originally posted by: sash4love

Nlisa u r back with a bang 😊 ...i love ur writing. U won't believe how many times I have re read ur old ff blurred lines 😳
This seems to be another one. The way u write the emotions r so real to how Avneil rxn. Can't wait for ur next update . 🤗

Update will definitely be sometime either on Friday or Saturday; depending on how we end the week off in NK. :)

Chapter 2:

Neil's POV:

Grabbing my bag from the carousel, I moved quickly from the baggage claim area. I noticed the sign that said 'Welcome to Delhi' and I gritted my teeth.

Papa was the only reason I was here. When he called from the hospital yesterday afternoon, I almost thought I would have a heart attack. I understood and agreed with him that I wouldn't tell mom anything.

All she knew that dad was in Delhi for business and some papers needed my signature as well. I hailed a cab and headed towards Delhi Memorial where Papa was.

Once, I reached the lobby of the hospital, I called him. " Hi, Neil. Come to the 8th floor. I'll meet you in the lobby."

What?

I thought he was sick. I rushed towards the elevator; leather duffel bag still slung on my shoulder.

When the doors of the elevator dinged open, I was at a lost of words. Papa stood in front of me, in perfect health condition, checking his emails on his phone.

"Papa," I said as I approached him.

"Hey beta."

" Don't hey beta' me. You said you were in the hospital."

" I am in a hospital."

"Papa, you know what I mean. I thought you were sick. I thought something happened to you. I was about to close a deal with the Mehras when I had to rush out and catch an emergency flight. What the hell is going on?"

"I saw her."

I frowned. " Who?"

" The girl whose picture is in your desk."

I was shocked. "How did you know?" I knew all the blood from my face had drained into my heart which was now pumping three times faster.

"Oye," he said as he reached forward to cup my cheek, " I'm your father. And your boss. Nothing in your office stays hidden from me." He was silent for a second before he added, " I saw the picture last year when you were in London. I needed one of the reports you had been working on and thought you would have a hard copy in your desk."

I nodded. My head felt heavy and my neck stiff. Being back in her hometown and hearing about her seemed to be too much.

"It's fine," I said; my voice was hoarse and sounded off to my ears. " I don't want to talk about it." Her.

"Neil," interrupted as he grabbed my arm. I looked up at him, "She's here. Right now."

In the hospital? Was she sick?

I looked around; my eyes scanning the lobby hurriedly but not really seeing. Was she sick?

"Is..." "Is. She.Okay?" I asked.

I sighed of relief when Papa nodded.

" Neil, this is the paediatric floor..."

It took a minute for the words to sink in and when they did, I felt the strength leave my body. I heard the muted thud as my duffle back slipped from my hands and landed on the floor next to me.

Paediatric ward. Meant for kids. Her kid.

Her child. With someone else.

I felt like I was in a haze and all I could see was her face floating in front of my eyes. But, not any specific memory. All I could see in my mind was the picture of hers that rested in my desk at work.

Her face had started to blur in my head. The memories hazy. It had been almost 3 years since I had last seen her.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked as I looked at him. His face was blurry. Tears blurred my vision. "I can't do this again."

I scrubbed my eyes with the back of my hands, grabbed my bag and turned around to leave. I pressed the call button for the elevator several times.

" He looks like you," he said as the doors opened in front of me.

I turned around slowly. " The boy," he said as he looked at me cautiously, " he looks like you."

The world had turned silent around me.

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We were sitting in the chapel of the hospital.

I was thankful that Papa kept his silence as he left me absorb the bomb he had dropped on me.

As I stared at the wishes lit in the form of candles around me, I let my mind drift in a place that I had buried deep inside me.

4 years ago, I met Avni Parikh. It had been my first year of school in Mumbai. Previously, I had been studying in San Diego where my aunt lives. When my aunt and uncle started having marital problems, my parents decided that I should come back home. Despite my pleas to let me stay back in a hostel in San Diego where I could finish school, I was enrolled in a local college in Mumbai.

I remembered being enthralled by her when I saw her for the first time. She was a political science major and was leading a rally. Her face held so much passion and her eyes held defiance and strength. I had never seen that in anyone before.

I had been in awe.

It took several months for us to start dating. We couldn't have been happier. She was the one for me. I had known it since our first kiss.

We had been together for almost a full year when my mother dropped a bomb on us.

I scrubbed my face as I focused back to the present.

"Neil," said Papa softly, " I can't imagine how you're feeling right now..."

" You think she hid something this big from me?" I asked; unsure.

" I don't know. Her mother runs a number of NGOs in Delhi." I nodded. I knew this. " Her brother is a doctor here. I met him yesterday and he said his sister still goes by the last name Parikh."

I turned to look at him. "She's not married?"

"Not according to her brother. But, she could be divorced. The boy could even be someone from the NGO."

He didn't look too certain.

" What do you think?" I asked him. " Do you think he's from an NGO?"

Papa shook his head in denial. " He looks like you."

I bit my lip. "She... She seemed really upset by something yesterday and the pain I saw in her eyes... Only a mother can experience this kind of pain for her child."

I let the breath that I was holding out in a whoosh. I scrubbed my face with my hands. This was a whole lot of information. A whole lot of unknowns.

"What do I do?"

"You need to get answers. And she's the only one who has them."

I gulped. I don't know if I had the courage to face her. Not after what I did. I don't know that I would have the strength to walk away from her again.

But, I needed answers.

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It was eleven o'clock when I had finally gathered my courage and followed dad towards the room.

Room 805.

The lights were dim inside. I knocked lightly.

A soft, "come in," was heard. I pushed the door gently and stepped inside. The light was dim but bright enough that I could have my breath knocked out of me.

In the bed in the middle of the room laid a small boy, with his eyes closed. A toddler. Maybe 2-3 years of age. Black hair and features like mine. Papa was right.

In the chair next to him slept the only woman I had loved. But, this was not the Avni I had fallen in love with. This Avni appeared frail. She had lost a lot of weight. The worry lines were etched on her face even in sleep.

She looked so small in the chair, draped with a blanket.

Neela Ma had stood up when I entered the room.

" You?" she hissed, "get out."

"Neela Ma," I started.

"Don't you dare, Neil Khanna. You lost the right to call me Ma when you broke my daughter's heart. Get out of this room and out of our lives."

I shook my head as I let my eyes drift back towards Avni. And the boy.

" I need to talk to her."

" The hell you will. Get out before I call security. You have no right to be here."

"Don't I?" I asked, almost defiantly.

When her expression wavered, I knew papa was right.

" Do I really not have a right to be in this room?" I asked again. Neela Ma was the most honest person I knew and I knew if I pushed her, she would tell me the truth.

"Let's talk outside."

I stepped outside of the room. I watched as she closed the door gently behind her.

"Is that my son?" I asked; my face was hot and I felt like my blood was boiling.

" That's Avni's son," she replied calmly.

" Who's the father?"

"He has no father."

"Neela Ma'am," interrupted Papa, " what my son is asking is does this child have Khanna blood running through his veins?"

" A child's blood is the mother's blood which is what keeps him alive during the pregnancy."

"Ab baat ko ghuma rahi ho..."

" What my mother is trying to tell you, Mr. Khanna," came a stern voice from behind Neela Ma, " is that neither you nor your son have the right to be here. The child in this room is mine. His biological father was only just that. A biological father. There was and there is no need for his involvement."

"Avni," I started.

"He was just a donor," she said with a note of finality. " Come inside, Ma," she said as she turned back around.

" I want a paternity test," I blurted out as I grasped at straws.

She turned back to face me; her eyes blazing but this time with loathing.I opened my mouth to argue with her, but she beat me to it. " There's no way in hell. Leave us alone. Go home to your wife, Neil."

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Author's Note:

Sorry for the slight delay in updating, guys.

Enjoy.

Nlisa.

This is really awesome and interesting pls update soon

Nlisa,,,wow so much suspense.. dropped the bomb ...hehehe Shweta seems to be the vilan here

Fantabulous update.