FEBRUARY 15th, 2017
Avni's Residence
7:00 a.m.
Sun rays danced all the way into the room dodging the shield of sheer curtains held together with a velcro strap. Neil blinked hard, unable to adjust the sudden flash of light on him. His head throbbed and there was a severe pain in his vertebral column. Pulling himself up from the hard floor, he glanced at the sleeping figure of Avni on bed with a blanket secured around her.
He had his Psychology classes to take, but should he leave her alone like this, Neil was in a dilemma. Arjun had trusted him with his best friend, he cannot disappoint him and so Neil decided against leaving her alone in house. He quickly bathed and changed into track pants and sweat shirt, an extra pair of clothes he always carries in his car.
Pulling the curtains together, he made his way down stairs towards the kitchen. He wasn't a nice chef, not a chef as a matter of fact but he had to take control of the breakfast for now. After a wholesome 10 minutes, he readied two mugs of piping tea and sandwiches. Just as he was about to go to her room, his phone began ringing. Setting the tray aside, he fished out his mobile from the pocket.
'Good morning Arjun.'
'Morning Neil. How is Avni?'
'Better. She's sleeping.'
'Sorry for disturbing you, yaar. I will there in some time, please take care until then.'
'Don't worry Arjun and in no way are you disturbing me. No, it's okay. She is alright now.' And the line went dead. Neil deeply sighed, before proceeding to her room.
Avni pushed herself out from the blanket and settled her back on the head rest. She fell asleep, she remembered. How did she get here, to her house? Her clothes were the same she worse previous day. Before she could ponder harder, recollecting the incidents, she heard a male voice from the threshold.
'Good morning' Neil greeted her with an exuberant smile. She smiled weakly, hundreds of questions already invading her mind.
'Aap?' She asked. He evaded her question for few moments, placing the tray on night stand.
'Yesterday, Arjun told me to drop you home, you were in a deep sleep. He asked me stay here, in case you needed anything. So I had to be here.' He answered.
'Thanks.' She avoided looking in his eyes, lest he would see them getting moist. An uncomfortable silence spread across the room very quickly.
'You..you should get changed. By the time, I will re-heat the tea, it must have gotten cold.' He took the tray back, leaving her alone. She silently stood up from bed and entered inside the bathroom.
Switching on the shower, she slumped onto the watery floor. She pulled herself closer as waterworks began in her eyes.
Parking her scooty, she strode towards his apartment. She smiled at the watchman while his face lost its colour seeing her at the threshold. Instead of taking the regular steps, she opted for the elevator. Pressing number 5 button, she waited caressing the bouquet of red roses she brought along with her.
Ting! The portals of lift opened. Avni marched off to his flat, 5 C, and moved her hand to ring the bell when she found the door unbolted. Entering the hallway, she called his name out,
'Varun' 'Varun' but alas! She got nothing as response. Turning around, she thought to leave when she heard a scream from the bedroom. Initially reluctant, she decided to take a peek at the ongoings in bedroom. She knocked once, twice but finally gave up and pushed the door.
'Varun!' She gasped in horror, seeing him in an intimate position with another girl, barely left in any clothing. He was too busy to even notice her standing at the threshold. No longer holding her tears back, she quietly exited the room.
'Avni, are you there?' She heard Neil's voice from outside and realised she was sitting under shower past fifteen minutes. Reaching out to the knob, she turned off the shower.
'I will come down in five minutes. Aap ko agar bhookh lag rahi ho toh, please nashta shuru kar di jiye, will join you quickly.' She replied.
'Will wait for you/'
'Thanks'
Ensuring Neil left her room, she came out wrapped in a towel. Changing into almond-coloured kurti sharara, she applied her regular moisturiser and made her way to living hall cum dining area.
'Sit' Neil, upon seeing her, ushered her to the couch.
'Thanks Neil. You are a very nice person. Ek ajnabi ke liye itna sab kuch kar rahe ho, it speaks a lot about your greatness.' Overwhelmed, words came out instantly from her mouth.
'Please do not embarrass me, you are Arjun's friend which means my friend as well. Aur kisi mahapurush ne kabhi kaha hai dosti mein no sorry, no thank you and no welcomes as well.' Avni chuckled hearing his words.
'Shall we have our breakfast?'
'Sure, Neil.'
Silent thereafter, they munched onto the sandwiches prepared by him. There was a ring on the door. Avni stood up, walked to the door. Upon opening, she looked at him with emotionless expressions.
'Let me explain.' 'We're done.'
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