Posted:
I really hope you all enjoy it too, I'm having exams but I will definitely try to update all my stories soon. I hope you love this as much as I loved writing it, please let me know what you think...
...
"Avni, shall I um- Shall I take you to work tomorrow?" Neil asked, his voice was soft and his eyes downcast, Neil Khanna... ACP Neil Khanna was nervous.
"Neil, I- I don't think-" She stumbled nervously, shyly tucking her hair behind her ear, making him itch to do it for her.
"You don't want me to? I mean that's fine, I was just-" He jammered in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his neck cutely, a grin slowly appeared on her face at his antics.
"No Neil... its not that... I just feel we should keep our work life and engagement seperate, you know?" She instinctively held his hand in reassurance with a smile and he froze at the sparks that struck his veins, he never wanted her to let go. He nodded numbly, her touch leaving him senseless.
"I understand, good night then Avni..." She shivered as he leaned in close, her heart raced as his lips brushed her ear lobe. Her hands turned to fists to control herself, her eyes closing.
"Good night..." She whimpered, her voice barely audible. He smirked at the effect he had on her, her eyes flew open in shock. He had pressed an adorable gentlemanly kiss against her cheek, making her heart flutter, "Make sure you reach work safely... If you need me, call me okay?"
She was dumbfounded as he turned around and walked in to the night, glancing back at her with his million dollar smile as he got in to his car and drove away.
She smiled at her wonderful fianc, the one who would do anything to make her smile, the one she knew she liked, but wondered whether she will come to love. Little did she know, that she always had.
Acp Neil Khanna and Acp Avni Ayesha. The heated passion, the care, the sexual tension, the bond between them was undeniable. Their families arranged their marriage after seeing them together at work, and they said yes.
It was purely for their family's happiness that they agreed, but she couldn't help but admit that he was absolutely perfect. As soon as they had said yes their relationship outside of work mellowed down entirely. Soft and gentle and careful. Yet at work they were still the same, brazen, fearless, stubborn and always fighting. It was like they were living two lives, one where they were the shy bride and groom and another where nobody knew of their relationship and they fought like cats and dogs.
But she loved their relationship either way.
...
Neela woke up to an urgent knock on the door, she stretched as she stood up, yawning as she walked to the door. She frowned thinking who would show up at her door so early in the morning.
She clicked the door lock open and opened the door, a cheeky smile appeared on her face on the sight she beheld.
"Neil beta! Good morning... Aapka maa ko milne aaya hai kya? Yay!" She struggled not to laugh at his bright red uncomfortable face, of course she knew who he really had come to see.
"Aaja baccha, andar aao..." She dragged him inside, and he stumbled over his words again and again, struggling how to phrase that he had come to convince Avni to let him take her to work.
"Tho... What do I owe this wonderful visit?" Neela raised her eyebrow playfully, watching him reluctantly sip at the cup of tea she had forced on him.
"I just missed you Neela ma!" He exclaimed enthusiastically, leaning over and pecking her cheek. But she could see how restless he was to see Avni. "Oh- um- Hasn't Avni woken up yet?"
She pushed him back, crossing her arms over her chest, "accha? No need to butter me up mister... Didn't you come for Avni?"
She chuckled as his face paled, "No, of course I came for you maa!"
"Well thats good..." She teased, smirking, "Because she already left for work... maybe Abhay took her?"
His face fell.
...
"Arrey Mrs Madonna! Jaake dekho kon aaaya hai subah subah!" Bebe yelled to Shweta after hearing the hesitant knock on the door.
"Ji bebe..." Shweta scurried to the door, throwing the door open. They gasped in to silence, seeing the person at the door. Avni was wringing her hands together nervously, her cheeks flushed.
"Oh maa- maa I-" Shit, her brain said, she had come because she had no way to come in to work but a taxi and he had asked not to use taxis, and that he would take her if she needed it. But admitting that would just cause relentless teasing.
"Puttar! Good morning! Andar aajao na!" Bebe adored her to bits, just seeing her at the door in the formal clothes she wore at work made her heart burst with pride.
"Ji bebe..." She came in, flustered thinking how to get out of this situation. Shweta pulled her cheeks, she leaned down to touch bebe's feet but she pulled her in to a huge bear cuddle.
A smile appeared on Avni's face, still overwhelmed by the amount of love that this family, her family, managed to give so unconditionally.
"Aaj tumhe station nahi jaane hai kya puttar?" Bebe was curious as to why they had recieved a visit from Avni on a working day morning, she never missed work.
"No- No Bebe mujhe jaana hai- par... par I thought that I should just come and meet you all first..." She blushed dark pink, which Neil would have killed to see, all the blood rushed to her cheeks. And then it became apparent to Bebe and Shweta why she was really there.
"Oh well thats lovely beta... tho tum ko kya chaiyye? Chai? Coffee? Nashta?"
"Nahi nahi maa, mujhe kuch nahi chaiyee... Mein bus... um-" She tried to subtly scan her surroundings, trying to see him in the kitchen or leaving his room, Shweta and Bebe grinned at her cute antics.
"No, no, no we can't just let you go like that... kuch tho khana hi padega..."
"Mmm- um- teek hai Bebe... Mein hi kuch kitchen se le lunga..." Maybe Neil is in the kitchen, her brain suggested, her heart growing frustrated. But these women wouldn't let her go that easily.
"No way will we let our beti work before her wedding... I will go and get-"
"But maa-"
"No, no excuses..." She yells as she runs off in to the kitchen, Avni groans under her breath, she was getting late now.
"So puttar... tell me... why are you really here?"
Avni eyes widen as she is caught in her act, "Aap sab ko milne ke liye, aur kya ho saktha hai bebe!?"
"Well bus hum hi hai yaya? Neil bhi tho yaha rehtha hai..."
"Haan par- par- he goes to work at this time right?"
"Yes puttar... that is correct..." Bebe raised her eyebrow, she wasn't going to fall for those excuses. "Well then, its good that you haven't come to see him... he left half an hour ago..."
Disappointment was clear in her eyes, but she covered it up gracefully, "of course Bebe, he would never go late..."
She frowned slightly, looking down at her phone, he usually called to check whether she got to work safely. Had he forgotten?
"Sorry Bebe... main ab nikalti hu..."
"Par nashta?" Bebe smiled seeing her expected reaction, she was desperate to get to work where he would be.
"Mein bohot late ho chuki hu... Mein cab bulaati hu..." Avni picked up her bag to leave, but Bebe stopped her.
"Neil wouldn't like it if we let you leave by cab... just wait a minute, Prakash will be leaving, leave with him, he will drop you..."
"Ji bebe..." she mumbled, sighing.
...
"Avni... does Acp Neil Khanna have a thing for you?!" Sunheri question inquisitively, an excited look plastered on to her face.
Avni's eyes snapped up to look at her in worry, "what? No? What are you on about? I can't stand that man..."
"He glances over at you every five seconds bevakoof... He looks like he is reading your face more than those files" Sunheri prodded her shoulder indicating to Neil with her eyes, Avni looked over to his direction. And indeed, he was staring straight at her, his eyes boring in to her soul, as soon as their eyes met they both immediately broke away. Avni shoved Sunheri away, rolling her eyes.
"Shut up and get on with your work... we come here to work not for you to gossip like a teenage magazine..."
She chuckled, she loved winding Avni up, she winked at her as she pretended to whistle, "Okay then... but helpful hint, you guys aren't hiding your sexual tension from anybody..."
"Silence Sunheri..." Avni muttered sarcastically, but her face turned beetroot red, and Neil smiled to himself seeing it, rubbing the back of his neck, an adorable gesture.
...
"Whoever this guy is, he is sick. His signature of leaving the woman naked and calling the media to find the scene is heartless." Sunheri commented, as they all sat around the table discussing the case. Avni swallowed bile that was souring her tongue at the thought of this disgusting man. Neil wasn't listening, his eyes stuck to the way Abhay was checking Avni out.
"He wants everyone to know what he's done. He wants the woman to live with the shame for the rest of her life, thats why he doesn't kill them. It's sadistic." DD added, the whole room was tense, it was running the whole department down that they couldn't find this man.
"But if he's been calling the media then why the hell can't we track him down!" Avni exclaimed in frustration, chewing her pen, Neil watched her intently, he had fallen for all her tiny cute habits.
"We'll find him, don't stress yourself out Avni..." Abhay smiled at her in awe, with those lovesick eyes that he always stared at her with.
Neil rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath.
"What do you mean don't stress myself out? This isn't time for therapy Abhay! We have to find this guy, you understand?" Neil couldn't help the tiny smile that crept up on his face at her shooting Abhay down.
"Right. Of course." Abhay stumbled, red with embarrassment, he scrambled with some files. "Here look at this Avni..."
He started to walk towards Avni, and Neil frowned, standing up with lightning quick reflexes. He walked over and stood covering Avni possesively, blocking her from Abhay.
"Oh this seems interesting...Show me." Neil held out his hand for the file before Abhay could hand it to Avni.
"Yes sir." Abhay handed it over to him meekly, they were a very few number of people that would challenge that glare in his eyes.
Abhay was about to sit in the chair next to Avni before Neil got there first too, without sparing Abhay a glance, flicking through the files. Abhay sighed in disappointment slumping in to the seat next to Neil.
The whole room watched the scenario silently, they could never work out what the hell the relationship between Neil and Avni was, they were at each other's throat 24/7, but whenever any other guy approached her, he was right there.
"Abhay?" Neil questioned, his tone so cold that shivers ran through Abhay's blood, Avni watched Neil warily.
"Yes sir?" Abhay cowered.
"These files are nothing to do with this case. The case these files are about was closed last week..." Abhay froze, caught red handed. He had been making excuses to near Avni, Neil's frown deepened.
"Sorry sir I must have gotten the wrong files..."
Neil tightened, his muscles tensing, anger simmered inside him, if he opened his mouth, there would be trouble.
From under the table, Avni clutched to Neil's shirt, squeezing his bicep, looking at him in worry. At her touch he immediately untensed, taking a deep breath and glancing over at her in concern. She blinked at him in reassurance.
"Okay." He calmed down slightly in her presence, slamming the files down. "Next time check before you waste our time."
Neil instinctively rested his hand on her thigh protectively. Avni turned bright pink and flustered suddenly, biting her lip awkwardly to hide her small shy smile.
"So back to this case..." Avni cleared her throat, and Neil moved his hand quickly, itching the back of his hair nervously. "I believe it would be a good idea for us girls to focus on this case, we as women will best connect to the victims, which will allow us to gather intel."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Neil yelled, staring at her in shock. "If anything all you girls should be staying miles away from it. This guy is so f*cking dangerous."
"We are aware Khanna. But just because we are women, it doesn't render us incapable of handling this man. We have worked as hard and had the same training as you. Are you underestimating us?" She had the fire of determination in her eyes, the irresistible fighting ambition and strength that had first drawn him to her like a magnet.
"You know I'm not doing anything of that sort ACP Mehta. But you guys are his target don't you understand? It is one thing agreeing to face danger for your work but it is completely another to put yourself purposely right in the line of sight for a disaster!" His glare challenged her back as the whole room fell silent again, he leaned in toward her, his warm breath hitting her cheek, and the air was heavy with their sexual tension.
"We are not his his targets Khanna! 5 out of his 7 victims have been prostitutes. We do not fit his trend." She crossed her arms over her chest as she frowned in irritation, she lifted her feet on to the table to prove a point.
"5 out of 7 is not 100 percent. It is not a trend. Many of his victims have been prostitutes because they are easy targets. So if you go out of your way to make yourself an easy target, what the hell do you expect?"
"So you're going to stop half the force pursuing this case? We know what we signed up for Khanna. Every case we are are risking our lifes, it's a part of our daily life. Moreover, he does have a trend. Prostitues." She poked his chest, her face close enough that her nose could brush against his. Her stubbornness was doing all sorts of things to him, but right now he was ACP Khanna first.
"He doesn't have a trend. I bet you. His only signature is the way he displayes the bodies. Thats it." He pronounced every syllable while hitting his pen on the desk to make it 100 percent clear, his husky voice was authorative.
"Yeah well, we'll see about that Khanna. " She dared him with her sexy smirk, grabbing the pen out of his hands. The people of the room just stared at one another in question, looking for a way to break the ice.
"We recieved a piece of footage from the media yesterday, it's time stamped 21:15, but the rape probably occurred around 25 minutes beforehand at least, according to the medical report. Shall I play it ma'am? It's very graphic..." DD asked, slightly scared of the reaction he was going to recieve by interrupting the fight.
"Yes DD, Please do." She said blankly, still annoyed at Neil.
The lights were turned off and the video started playing, the room blanketed in sad silence.
"This was the victim, Reshma Khurrana, 26 years old. She used to work in a marketing company but lost her job and her home, making her resort to prostitution." DD narrated with difficulty, this was hard for everyone to watch.
The victim was laid out in an art like pose, her arms and legs wound together intimately, and the surroundings decorated with dying flowers. But her body was battered, making disgusting feelings crawl in Avni's stomach.
"She was found unconscious but alive, as were the other victims, but she was left speechless in shock for at least 3 hours after she woke up, in trauma from the incident."
Neil gulped back the sobs in his throat, 26, Avni was 26. The girl was bruised and bleeding, her chest bitten and torn at, scratches running down her stomach, blood streaking down her thighs.
He couldn't shake off the sickening feeling. This man was still out there. This man could hurt Avni.
"The psychiatrist says it's unlikely she will ever go back to normal, its had adverse effects on her mental health, especially the humiliation of it being televised. She is suffering severe PTSD."
Neil interlinked his finger with Avni's, under the table, grabbing her hand tightly. She looked over at him in confusion, he had paled in fear as he watched the video, she squeezed his hand, sighing at his reaction in worry.
"And the physical injuries?" Neil inquired, his voice shook and she took note of it, stroking the back of his hand with her thumb to reassure him.
"Well... other than the injuries on the chest that you can see, and the blood running down her thigh that was due to tearing... both of which could at least be considered short-time injuries. He had bashed her stomach with a rod which affected her stomach and other internal organs badly."
Neil's hand went to Avni's stomach automatically, his eyes glassy as he caressed her gently. She tensed slightly at the shivers that his touch sent down her spine. But her eyes welled up, she had gotten really lucky to find someone who cared for her so much.
"Okay. Any distinct markings that we can identify from other victims? To link to the killer."
"Except from the set out, none sir."
"Okay. Thank you. Please turn it off now."
DD frowned as he switched it off, since when did his sir have such a weak-stomach?
...
"Neela ji, Avni puttar... aao andar aao, hum sab ke saath bet jao..." Neela and Avni had arrived at the Khanna house door and Bebe welcomed them inside. They joined the family at the dinner table, Neil's eyes immediately found hers, admiring her out of her uniform. In a gentle feminine dress and her hair out of a tight ponytail and cascading down her shoulders, his heart skipped a beat, as always.
Shweta was serving everybody plates of food, and Avni watched her in guilt, "Maa sab kuch akele hi kyu kar rahi hu? Mein aap ke madat karo?"
As small smile graced Neil's face, she was so sweet and innocent, he thought that surely it would be difficult for anybody not to adore her.
"No pagli... you've just come back from work... sit and eat properly, you've gotten pale and weak now..." Shweta exclaimed, forcing her to sit back on the chair.
Neil looks down at the food on his plate, it was rajma chawal his favourite, but all that flashed in to his mind was images from that footage. He felt so sick that he could barely manage a bite. He couldn't look Avni in the eye, as if he felt like he was failing her by allowing there to be such evil in the world.
"Maa. I'm not hungry... mein mera room mein jaa raha hu..." He mumbled, pushing away his plate.
"Par tillu-" Neil rushed up the stairs before anybody could ask him anything further, Avni watched him in worry, also pushing away her plate.
"Avni beta? Do you know what's wrong? He never refuses rajma chawal..." Shweta asked as the whole room turn to look at her.
"Uh- sorry... I don't know... I mean, we looked at a pretty graphic case today. It was off-putting. Maybe it's still on his mind." She thought back to the sickened look on his face as he watched the video.
"Hey bhagwaan..." Shweta sighed, kissing Avni's hair. "I hate the job you both do, each day we worry for your safety..."
"It will be okay maa..." Avni comforted her, squeezing her hand that was hugging her.
"We have to go do shopping for the wedding, and so we'll leave. Maybe he will feel better if you speak with him baccha..." Neela suggested, while Bebe nodded.
"I'll try." The elders all stood up to leave as Avni nodded, running up the stairs.
...
"Neil?" She asked as she pushed his door open slightly to peer in to his room, he was working on his laptop tediously, the clanging on his keyboard echoed in the room. "Neil tum teek ho?"
He glanced up at her and the worry on her face made it worse, he nodded before focusing back on his work, he had to crack this case. He had to crack it now before anybody else got hurt, before Avni could get hurt.
"You're not hungry? Are you sure you don't want me to bring you dinner up here?" She asked, nervously chewing her lips.
He stared at her as fear coiled in his stomach at the thought of losing her to that sick crime, he admired her every feature as he thought. Her big innocent eyes. He couldn't afford to let that innocence die. Her soft pink lips, her flushed cheeks, her delicate curves, her small frail body that should be treated like the most precious thing on earth. He couldn't let anything happen to her.
He stood up, confusing her, she watched as he approached her. She gasped as his hand reached out for her and grabbed her around the neck, turning her to pin her back against his chest. His arm was wrapped around her neck, trapping her.
"If someone had you in this chokehold. If someone ambushed you like this... what would you do?" He asked in concern, he loosened his hold slightly, not to hurt her.
"Neil?" She gasped in confusion, her body was pressed up against his chest, his warm breath grazing the bare skin of the back of her neck, and his spare hand instinctively brushing her waist, where her clothes had hiked up, sending butterflies crazy in her stomach.
"What would you do? Show me. Please." Her sweet feminine scent was intoxicating, but right now he was in complete focus, he needed to make sure she could protect herself.
"It would hurt you Neil..."
"That doesn't matter, show me..." She bent her leg and kicked backward, causing him to stumble before composing himself quickly with a smile. "Good. Well done."
"Now watch... If I grab your wrist like this..." He advised her carefully as she admired him, the way he was so caring and careful with her. "If you have your phone with you,
I want you to get them on the pulse point of the neck with your phone held horizontally. That would be enough blunt force to render them incapable for a minute at least. Try it."
She acted out the actions gently, as he waited patiently for her to understand.
"But if you don't have have your phone, kick them, so they fall to the ground, and then straddle them so they can't move. Here you have given yourself time to calculate a next step. A way to render them unable to fight. Dislocating a limb, poking in the eye, etc. Got it? Now try..."
She tried this, kicking him to the floor. She straddles his lap and he tenses, she was pressed up against his groin and he was scared of how his hormonal body would react, his stomach tightened.
"But if they then turn you over?" He asks as he rolls her over.
He slips as he does it, his head falling down and banging her forehead.
"Shit. Sorry..." He rubs her forehead with his thumb rushedly to soothe the place he hit, but she just burst in to laughter. He watched her taken aback, her hair was sprawled across the floor and her eyes sparkled, completely carefree and so beautiful.
Her contagious laughter made him chuckle too, laughing the burden of his heart away. "And Khanna. I would twist my arm around their neck, grab it before turning them around again. Leaving them in a chokehold."
She demonstrated, leaving him in shock as she pinned him to ground effortlessly, easily picking up everything he had taught her.
"Wow I'm impressed ACP Mehta... my fiance knows what she's doing..." A huge smile broke out on his face, the pride in his smile warmed her heart like nothing else.
The chokehold somehow turned more in to a hug, their eyes locking, her hand over his mouth moved to caressing his neck and one of his hands lingered on her stomach, running small circles on her waist absentmindedly.
"Arrey! Idhere kya ho raha hai?!" Bebe appeared at the doorway, and yelled in excitement, causing them to break out of the hold immediately, bright tomato red in embarrassment. "Sorry... aap logo ka romance karab kar diya mein?"
"Nahi- mein- mein bus Avni ko thodi si self defence sikha raha tha..." Neil stumbled in his excuses. Avni looked to the floor, her breath still short from the exercise, and her hair dishevelled which didn't help their arguement.
"Haan okay, enjoy your self defence." She teased with a knowing smile, closing the door behind her as she left them blushing.
...
"Guys it's been too long without a victim. We all know he won't keep quiet for long, we have to nab him now. We cannot afford to have this happen to anybody else." Avni struggled to speak, Neil could see she hadn't slept all night in thoughts of this and it made his heart ache, he hadn't too.
"I tried to track down the numbers he used to call the media but he used local phone booths, so there was nothing to track. And no one saw any suspicious people in the towns where the phone booths were located. I think next we use the-" The stress Neil was under was clear to the whole table in the abrasive nature of his voice.
"No need Khanna. DD and me have thought of the most quickest and easiest route to locate the criminal." Avni muttered this, lowering her eyes. Neil frowned, there was something wrong about the way she was avoiding looking at him.
"What is it?" His voice turned rough in worry, he had a feeling he wasn't going to like this.
"Well sir, the only way we can lure out the criminal is if we bait him with a target." DD started, his voice quivering in fear. Neil tensed, his grip on the pen in his hand tightening as he frowned.
"So?"
Avni cleared her throat in worry, "Well Khanna. I proposed that I will go undercover as a prostitute in a brothel in a nearby area to the last crime-"
"What the f*ck!? Have you gone insane!?" He bellowed in utter shock, his eyes horrified, slamming his hand on the table. The whole room looked at him in surprise at his reaction, making him realise how loudly he had yelled.
"Khanna. This is normal protocol in such cases." Avni replied bluntly, her tone cold and emotionless. Emotion had no place in such cases, plus she knew she would go weak if he looked in to his eyes.
"Yeah but then what!? You're going to-"
"We can't keep this case waiting any longer. It's going to happen tonight Khanna." She retorted with finality in her stern voice.
He gritted his teeth, trying to control his rage, he gripped to his pen so hard that it snapped in his hand with a grunt of anger. He ignored the way the broken shards dug in to his skin.
She looked up at him at the noise, her eyes softening. She wished he'd say something, she hated him being mad at her, but he stormed out, his glare brimming with disappointment.
...
She walked through the corridor, she was lost deep in her thoughts, fear eating away at her stomach. She gasped as a hand grabbed her arm, pinning her to the wall, she would have kicked him, but she immediately recognised whose arms she had been caged in.
"Neil I'm sorry-" Guilt was etched in to her face, she didn't want to go against him, she didn't want to hurt him. She shivered in sensation as he leaned in to her, his burning gaze leaving her feeling completely bare.
"What the f*ck do you think you're planning on doing?!" He barked, his eyes filled with rage that made her gasp for air. This wasn't ACP Khanna in front of her who always fought with her, it was her fianc, her Neil. And her Neil never got angry with her.
"Neil please... someone will see..." She pleaded softly, trying to pry his hand off her.
"Do you think I care!? How could you even think about pulling this stunt!?" He hissed, he locked his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he frowned deeply.
"Neil listen to me, please, we have to do this for the case." She rubbed his chest gently, cooing at him like a small child, trying to convince him helplessly.
"What if something happens to you?! For god's sake, what if he hurts you?!" She was overwhelmed by the fearful tears in his eyes that he refused to shed, she stroked his cheek and he choked, her soft touch close to bringing him over the edge.
"This is my job Neil. This is what I've chosen to do, you've got to understand that..." Wrinkles of worry creased his face, of course he knew this was her job, that she loved it, that wasn't going to stop him being terrified for her.
"That doesn't mean you do this! You saw that video yesterday! You saw what that sick man can do... how the hell could I let you near him!?" His heart pounded in his chest, his arms holding her protectively, she furrowed her eyebrows.
"It's not just about me Neil! What about the other girls that will get hurt because we aren't doing anything?!" She was passionate about this, a certain fighting spirit awakening inside her.
"What about you? You think I'll sit and watch while you put yourself in danger? Isn't there anybody else that could do this? I hate it when you do these things, I feel so helpless. i can't let anything happen to you." His eyes were so hurt, and that stung her. But her work came first.
"Neil don't be stupid. I can't just dump the danger on someone else because you're not comfortable with it."
"Why not? Why can't you let me take care of you for once Avni!?" " His voice was desperate now, grabbing her arm tightly.
"Neil you can't interfere with my job for god's sake! We've agreed that whatever relationship we have out of work is left outside of work! I'm not your responsibility!" She tried to escape his grip, twisting and turning as she frowned at him in irritation.
"I can interfere in whatever I like! I have a right to be worried, I'm going to be your husband! You understand that? I'm not thinking as your colleague, I'm thinking as your husband! And I'm going to f*cking murder anybody that even lays their eyes on you." His grip tightened, as if afraid to let her go, his eyes bloodshot. Avni was angry now, she hated anybody trying to restrain her, it reminded her of her childhood.
Her cheeks burnt red in anger, hot tears flowing down her cheeks, "But you're not my husband yet! You can't tell me what and what not to do! This is an arranged marriage, we agreed for our family's happiness. You do not have any rights over me until and unless I say you do!"
His eyes shattered, hurt filled them, how would he put in to words that this wasn't just his family's happiness, she was his happiness, when he didn't understand yet himself, "Avni-"
"Let go of me. You're hurting me." She said bluntly, he looked down to see the red marks he'd left behind, he flinched back in guilt.
He loosed his grip but still kept hold of her hand, "Avni please, listen to me-"
His desperation stopped her, forced her to look back at him.
His broken eyes begged her so innocently that she sighed in defeat. She leaned in, wrapping her arms around his chest, resting her head on his thumping heart. He hugged her back, caressing her gently. They didn't need words, he buried his face in her hair, sighing.
"You need to stop doing stupid shit like this Avni or you're going to get yourself killed. You never listen to me... you leave your phone on silent and I can never reach you, you get injured and I tell you to rest but you dance around like nothing happened. You roam around the streets at night, leaving me to worry like a mad person... I need you to be safe... You understand right?" He mumbled in to her hair, playing with the strands, his tears soiling her scalp.
"Neil I-"
"Promise me, promise me you won't try this stupidity... We will find this guy. We will, but not at the cost of your safety." Avni gripped to his shirt, her mind in conflict, as he wiped away any tears that was left on her face with his thumb.
"Okay..." She mumbled, closing her eyes at his touch.
"Tell me you promise..." he retorted unconvinced, he knew her like the back of his hand.
"I promise..." she whispers in guilt, crossing her fingers behind her back.
...
"You co-operate with us and we won't get you in to trouble for this joint you're running here." DD hissed as he spoke to the man who ran the brothel, he nodded solemnly, glancing at Avni. "She will pose as one of your workers and as soon as you see someone suspicious nearing her, you talk to me. Get it?"
Avni was silent, her mind was on Neil, the guilt of lying to him made her feel sick. The man looked her up and down, his eyes glinted in mischief. Both of them, she and DD, failed to notice.
"Okay sir." The man nodded handing Avni some attire to get changed in to, her hairs stood on end just seeing the scanty material.
DD squeezed her hand in reassurance, but she hugged him tightly, she was never scared, but she was scared now, for some reason she didn't feel right, she wanted Neil there with her. DD wrapped his arms around her and patted her back, offering her comfort. "I am right outside, okay maam? You are going to get him. I know it."
...
The lengha exposed almost everything, the low cut dark blue blouse revealed her cleavage, and her matching low waisted skirt beared her entire midriff. She shivered as her skin hit the cold air, feeling so vulnerable.
The men's eyes glued to her as the music played, all the other girls were overshadowed by her ravishing beauty, her curvaceous figure, her glowing complexion, her sharp eyes.
They watched, hypnotised, as she swayed her hips to the music that echoed in the hall, her eyes were hard, dauntless, a fire was burning within her. The disgusting lustful way the men watched her just made it burn more, she imagined Neil with her,
shielding her, he was her strength.
"Waah! Woh chammak challo ko dekho... mujhe wo chaiye! Let me use her for the night!" One of the men jeered as the others joined in, as she bit her tongue, nauseated by their wandering eyes. She checked them off the list though, the criminal wouldn't make his interest so clear.
"Arrey itni kapde kyu pehni ho!? Thodi aur dikhao na?!" Another man teased, as chills ran down her spine, she took a deep breath. She imagined how Neil would guard her, and rip their filthy eyes out of their head.
The man who owned the brothel approached her, and she went on alert searching around for a suspicious character because he was meant to inform her when he caught sight of who the criminal could be.
He neared her, his eyes narrowing and darkening, she frowned a little in confusion, "Kya hua? Did you see him?"
"Oh lord, for such a smart police officer you're so innocent, beautiful..." He smirked, running his hands down her side as realisation settled and the horror appeared on her face. She cursed herself for trusting him, how could she?
He wound his arm around her waist, pressing her against him so tightly she felt like she would throw up, he leaned in to her top, his filthy fingers tracing her cleavage as he picked out and chucked away the mic she had hidden there. She froze in terror, she had never been left so helpless before, her eyes burnt with tears as he dragged her away.
...
"Hello, sir?" DD asked through the phone as Neil called him, "Did you need something?"
"Avni kahan hai!? Wo phone kyu nahi utaraha hai?!" DD didn't know what to say for a second, Neil's tone was entirely different, he had never heard anything like it before and addressing Avni by name was also something he did so rarely. Something was wrong.
"She didn't inform you sir?" DD furrowed his brows in confusion, they were colleagues, why would she want to hide such a major development in the case. Neil tensed, his hand turning to a fist, his heart suddenly racing.
"Inform me of what?" Neil's eyes widened. He groaned as he ran hand through his hair in restlessness and utter fear. "Oh for f*ck sake! Bloody hell. She still went!"
"Wait Sir- What's wrong-"
"Just get the entire force in to that brothel right now, get it?! Nothing is going to happen to her. I'm not going to let anything happen to her." His voice cracked, puzzling DD, was he crying?
The line went dead.
...
He grabbed her by the neck, the pressure was suffocating but she didn't let the fear overtake her, she kicked him backwards the way Neil had taught her. He stumbled back, looking up at her in surprise,
"Oh wow... the sexy girl is fiesty... even better... I love it rough..." She ignored the disgust that rised in her stomach, swallowing it down as she stamped on his foot and stared running away.
But he was stronger, picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. She hit him repeatedly, flailing her arms and legs to try and cause some sort of injury to no avail. He chucked her on to the bed, laying his weight over her.
Her blood chilled at the close proximity, the way his hands lingered over her body, the look in his eyes. She begged for Neil, her eyes filling with tears, her first sign of weakness.
"Arrey why are you hiding that body away from me baby? Let me have fun with it and then I'll display it's beauty to the world, thanks to the media..." She turned him over so she was on top of him, holding him down, how Neil had taught her, she pictured his calming voice grazing her ear as he advised her.
She traced the precious ring around her neck, her engagement ring that she wore on a necklace to hide their relationship from the office, it made her feel safe.
But he was too determined, grabbing her by the hair causing her to let out a shrill scream, and dragging her up, tying her to the bedpost.
Now the terror was dawning on her, as she watched the man in complete helplessness. The policewoman in her died, the fearlessness in her melted away, her wrists stinging, and her innocent red eyes finally spilling tears, small sobs leaving her shaking body.
The man traced his finger down her neck slowly, torturing her with his painfully slow pace, she squeezed her eyes shut in nausea, making the man grin, "Oh baby I'm sorry... have I broken you?"
"Neil... neil- mujhe neil chaiye..." She whimpers, her stomach churning in fear, begging to be taken in to her Neil's arms.
"Arrey yeh Neil khon hai? Ab tumhara koi lover boy tumhe bacha nahi payenga... God you're so beautiful... forget him, you're all mine now..." He inhaled her scent deeply as his hand moved to her bare midriff, making her wince.
"Don't you dare touch me!" She screamed as she panted breathlessly, inbetween her cries, "He won't let you hurt me..."
"Oh you're so innocent baby... don't you understand? Once I have my way with you, I'll have tainted you forever, not even your Neil will want you back after that..." His laugh was sinister as his hands roamed, his hand ran across her cleavage, and she flinched in repulsion.
"No please...Neil-" She whispered to herself desperately, tears dripping of her cheeks.
"Wow..." He revels in her beauty, ripping away her scanty dupatta, make her cower in fear. "I'm going to have so much fun with you beautiful..."
One of his dirty hands climbed up her thigh, and the other brushed up against her breasts, making her skin crawl with disgust, as she let out a defeated cry of Neil's name.
.
"HEY! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" The man stumbled back with a bashed nose, as an awful cracking sound echoed in the room. Neil stood in front of her, with blood coating his shaking fist.
"AVNI KO HAATH LAGAYA THO MEIN TUMHARA HAATH KAAT DOOGA! YOU FILTHY bas***d!" He growled like a wild animal, the fury in his eyes was inexplicable, harrowing. She had never ever seen him so angry, not even when he interrogated the worst of criminals.
"Oh tho yeh sexy beauty ka naam Avni hai... wow how beautiful..."
"DON'T TAKE HER NAME FROM YOUR FILTHY MOUTH!" He punched the man in the mouth, he was erratic, the other police had entered the room behind him and were shocked by the Neil in front of them. He was always cold and calculated with criminals, he had never ever reacted in this way.
But this wasn't ACP Khanna talking, this was Neil, Avni's Neil.
"Oh so this was the lover boy she was begging for... Arrey mister don't worry, you can have her back, at least let me have my fun with her..." The man smirked, wiping away the blood that streaked his face. The police looked at the couple in surprise, in utter confusion at the situation.
"DON'T YOU F*CKING DARE! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU GODDAMMIT!" Abhay and DD held him back before Neil ended up ripping this man apart mercilessly, the others got to the man from behind, handcuffing him.
"Sir. Come on now, calm down." DD patted his back, frowning at the pain he could see in Neil's eyes.
"He was going to hurt her!" He yelled out in rage, his jaw clenching.
"Sir, she's fine. She's okay... control yourself." DD calmed him down, and he untensed slightly, his eyes turning cold. They let
him go.
He approached the man, grabbing him by the collar, his heated gaze piercing through the man like a blade, "Don't you dare even think about laying a finger on her again, understand?"
His voice was barely audible, but its deadly silence spoke much more powerful volumes. Two police officers dragged him out, while the rest watched Neil quietly, apprehensive of his reaction and still puzzled about the relationship between him and Avni.
.
Neil went toward her and kneeled down in front of her slowly, she froze up in fear and the tension was present in everyone in the room, he was going to be furious. He untied her slowly, he refused to look at her. But she could see the tear running down his face, as he gently caressed her red, stinging wrists. He picked up her dupatta, covering her protectively, his touch was so soft and careful that her eyes welled up at how lucky she was, he was so loving even when he was so angry.
"Neil..." She called out for him softly, desperate for him to forgive her, she needed him. She gripped his shirt in her fists, making him look up at her. Kohl streaked her face, her eyes fresh, sore and red from crying, her clothes torn, the fabric in shreds, and her innocence, her vulnerability was raw in her eyes, it just made him a million times angrier that he could have lost that. He pulled her hands off him, "Neil, please... I'm sorry..."
"I don't want to hear it Avni." He muttered, numbness in his voice just showed how hurt he was. The whole room saw a completely different side to him, somehow this coldness wasn't clever or manipulative. It was filled with love and care.
"Neil please listen to me..." She tugged at his shirt like a small child, frowning desperately, she wanted her Neil right now more than anything else.
Neil ignored her, his expression steeling and his teeth gritting as he saw scratches on her stomach, seeing that the man had touched her killed him, made his lungs collapse in his chest.
"Sir... suno na uski baat... she must need you right now..." Sunheri tried to help, mumbling sweetly, she was always very sincere.
"She told me she won't do this Sunheri!" Neil snapped, scaring Sunheri, he turned back to Avni, he bellowed but she couldn't see anything but worry in his eyes. "You promised me? You promised me right?! Do you have any idea what could have happened?!"
"I'm sorry Neil." She slumped in guilt, lowering her eyes.
"How could you have been this careless?! What would I have done if something happened to you Avni?" His voice strained in concern, his eyes welling up in care. Sunheri's eyes watered too, seeing such a soft side to Neil. "You didn't tell me anything. You know that I'm the one that you're supposed to come to when you're in danger, you know that..."
"We got him though..." She tried to crack a lame joke, dragging a laugh out of her throat, she hated him being mad, she wanted to see that smile that would make this all better. The sick dirty feeling in her stomach, the fear in shivers, the pain weighting her body, his safe arms where it would all melt away.
His glare silenced her, she suddenly realised how stupid she must have sounded.
"Ouch!" She winced loudly, and that was enough for the panic to spark in him.
"Avni! Avni kya hua!?" He cupped her face in his hands, furrowing his eyebrows in distress, scanning her up and down for injuries. She bit her lip, as the blood rushed to her cheeks in guilt, she had done it to get his attention, he sighed as he pulled away.
"Avni, if you want mein tumhe ghar tak choodunga..." Abhay suggested, cutting through the heavy silence, Neil glared at him, and the fire of rage in his eyes was enough to silence him.
Neil lifted her to her feet, holding her by the waist possesively, she leaned in to him for support but the anger didn't melt from his face.
"I'm going to take her home. DD please make sure you guys close this case now." He looked over to DD who blinked back at him in reassurance.
...
He laid Avni on his bed gently, her eyes were already closing in exhaustion as he tucked her in to the blanket carefully, making sure she was covered completely. He had sat beside her until she fell asleep, he still refused to say anything, like the silent car journey home, but he tapped her head lovingly, tortured tears rolling down his face, until her shaky breathing steadied.
He refused to show her any weakness, he wanted her to see how much she had hurt him by not listening to him, how mad he was. He couldn't describe the fear he had felt in that moment knowing that she was in trouble, the horrible thoughts that raced through his mind. How could he forgive her for putting herself in such danger without letting him protect her?
.
"Oh you're so innocent baby... don't you understand? Once I have my way with you, I'll have tainted you forever, not even your Neil will want you back after that..." His sinister laugh echoed, his touch lingered, his filthy looks still crawled up her skin. Fear knocked the air out of her lungs.
"Neil!" She screamed as she shot out of bed in a cold sweat, sobbing like a small helpless child. He sprinted out of the bathroom in a split second, panic on his face, he was just in his tracksuit bottoms, halfway changed.
"Avni?" He gasped, immediately scooping her in to his arms, a horrified frown appearing on his face. He cradled her in his arms like a baby, shushing her softly. "Avni kya hua?"
"He- He- He..." He rubbed her back, his eyes filling with tears, his heart breaking seeing her so shattered. "Neil please don't leave me- He'll come back..."
He kissed her hair, burying his face in her hair and cuddling her closer, this sudden urge raged through him, to destroy anything that made her cry like this, protect her from this world, "He won't come back... I promise... I'm here right? I won't let anything happen to you..."
She nodded in to his chest, grabbing her shirt as she hyperventilated, there was nobody else that made her feel as safe as he did,
"I'm sorry Neil..." She cried in guilt, her innocent words crushed him as he shook his head, caressing her face in his hands, wiping away at the tears that streaked her cheeks. "I shouldn't have-"
"Hey... hey don't get upset... it's okay..." He whispered in to her ear softly, stroking her hair tenderly, his tears soiling her scalp. "Just promise me you'll never scare me like that again..."
"I promise..." She whimpered like a baby, hiding her face against his bare chest, the warmth of his skin was her comfort as she shivered in fear. "What if- what if he hurts me- Neil... Mujhe mujhe dhar lag rahi hai..."
"I won't let anybody hurt you... I promise..." He tucked her hair behind her ear, kissing her temple as small guilty cries left his lips. "Bura sapna agaya tumhe?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling her nose in to the nook of his neck as she nodded sleeplily like a small child, making him smile slightly at her adorable antics, "ab sau jao...koi bura sapna nahi aayega... I swear..."
She nodded again, her exhausted eyes closing heavily. He rocked her gently, peppering kisses in her hair.
"You know Neil... when he attacked me I used the self defence you taught me..." She mumbled in to his neck, smiling slightly,
finally in peace in his arms.
"Wow..." He chuckled at her cuteness, leaning down to rest a kiss on her nose. "I'm so proud..."
"But I never want to do that ever again..." She frowned, snuggling closer in to him.
He played with her hair absent-mindedly, his hand around her waist tightened possesively, "And I won't let you. I'll always be there to protect you."
"Always?" She asked innocently, lifting her finger to ask for a pinky promise, making his heart ache.
"Always." He whispered huskily.
...
Hope you guys enjoyed it!!! This was a lot of hard working, i would really appreciate it if you guys vote and comment to let me know what you think... Thank you so much... I'm so sorry I couldn't think of a better title at all 😆
...
"Avni, shall I um- Shall I take you to work tomorrow?" Neil asked, his voice was soft and his eyes downcast, Neil Khanna... ACP Neil Khanna was nervous.
"Neil, I- I don't think-" She stumbled nervously, shyly tucking her hair behind her ear, making him itch to do it for her.
"You don't want me to? I mean that's fine, I was just-" He jammered in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his neck cutely, a grin slowly appeared on her face at his antics.
"No Neil... its not that... I just feel we should keep our work life and engagement seperate, you know?" She instinctively held his hand in reassurance with a smile and he froze at the sparks that struck his veins, he never wanted her to let go. He nodded numbly, her touch leaving him senseless.
"I understand, good night then Avni..." She shivered as he leaned in close, her heart raced as his lips brushed her ear lobe. Her hands turned to fists to control herself, her eyes closing.
"Good night..." She whimpered, her voice barely audible. He smirked at the effect he had on her, her eyes flew open in shock. He had pressed an adorable gentlemanly kiss against her cheek, making her heart flutter, "Make sure you reach work safely... If you need me, call me okay?"
She was dumbfounded as he turned around and walked in to the night, glancing back at her with his million dollar smile as he got in to his car and drove away.
She smiled at her wonderful fianc, the one who would do anything to make her smile, the one she knew she liked, but wondered whether she will come to love. Little did she know, that she always had.
Acp Neil Khanna and Acp Avni Ayesha. The heated passion, the care, the sexual tension, the bond between them was undeniable. Their families arranged their marriage after seeing them together at work, and they said yes.
It was purely for their family's happiness that they agreed, but she couldn't help but admit that he was absolutely perfect. As soon as they had said yes their relationship outside of work mellowed down entirely. Soft and gentle and careful. Yet at work they were still the same, brazen, fearless, stubborn and always fighting. It was like they were living two lives, one where they were the shy bride and groom and another where nobody knew of their relationship and they fought like cats and dogs.
But she loved their relationship either way.
...
Neela woke up to an urgent knock on the door, she stretched as she stood up, yawning as she walked to the door. She frowned thinking who would show up at her door so early in the morning.
She clicked the door lock open and opened the door, a cheeky smile appeared on her face on the sight she beheld.
"Neil beta! Good morning... Aapka maa ko milne aaya hai kya? Yay!" She struggled not to laugh at his bright red uncomfortable face, of course she knew who he really had come to see.
"Aaja baccha, andar aao..." She dragged him inside, and he stumbled over his words again and again, struggling how to phrase that he had come to convince Avni to let him take her to work.
"Tho... What do I owe this wonderful visit?" Neela raised her eyebrow playfully, watching him reluctantly sip at the cup of tea she had forced on him.
"I just missed you Neela ma!" He exclaimed enthusiastically, leaning over and pecking her cheek. But she could see how restless he was to see Avni. "Oh- um- Hasn't Avni woken up yet?"
She pushed him back, crossing her arms over her chest, "accha? No need to butter me up mister... Didn't you come for Avni?"
She chuckled as his face paled, "No, of course I came for you maa!"
"Well thats good..." She teased, smirking, "Because she already left for work... maybe Abhay took her?"
His face fell.
...
"Arrey Mrs Madonna! Jaake dekho kon aaaya hai subah subah!" Bebe yelled to Shweta after hearing the hesitant knock on the door.
"Ji bebe..." Shweta scurried to the door, throwing the door open. They gasped in to silence, seeing the person at the door. Avni was wringing her hands together nervously, her cheeks flushed.
"Oh maa- maa I-" Shit, her brain said, she had come because she had no way to come in to work but a taxi and he had asked not to use taxis, and that he would take her if she needed it. But admitting that would just cause relentless teasing.
"Puttar! Good morning! Andar aajao na!" Bebe adored her to bits, just seeing her at the door in the formal clothes she wore at work made her heart burst with pride.
"Ji bebe..." She came in, flustered thinking how to get out of this situation. Shweta pulled her cheeks, she leaned down to touch bebe's feet but she pulled her in to a huge bear cuddle.
A smile appeared on Avni's face, still overwhelmed by the amount of love that this family, her family, managed to give so unconditionally.
"Aaj tumhe station nahi jaane hai kya puttar?" Bebe was curious as to why they had recieved a visit from Avni on a working day morning, she never missed work.
"No- No Bebe mujhe jaana hai- par... par I thought that I should just come and meet you all first..." She blushed dark pink, which Neil would have killed to see, all the blood rushed to her cheeks. And then it became apparent to Bebe and Shweta why she was really there.
"Oh well thats lovely beta... tho tum ko kya chaiyye? Chai? Coffee? Nashta?"
"Nahi nahi maa, mujhe kuch nahi chaiyee... Mein bus... um-" She tried to subtly scan her surroundings, trying to see him in the kitchen or leaving his room, Shweta and Bebe grinned at her cute antics.
"No, no, no we can't just let you go like that... kuch tho khana hi padega..."
"Mmm- um- teek hai Bebe... Mein hi kuch kitchen se le lunga..." Maybe Neil is in the kitchen, her brain suggested, her heart growing frustrated. But these women wouldn't let her go that easily.
"No way will we let our beti work before her wedding... I will go and get-"
"But maa-"
"No, no excuses..." She yells as she runs off in to the kitchen, Avni groans under her breath, she was getting late now.
"So puttar... tell me... why are you really here?"
Avni eyes widen as she is caught in her act, "Aap sab ko milne ke liye, aur kya ho saktha hai bebe!?"
"Well bus hum hi hai yaya? Neil bhi tho yaha rehtha hai..."
"Haan par- par- he goes to work at this time right?"
"Yes puttar... that is correct..." Bebe raised her eyebrow, she wasn't going to fall for those excuses. "Well then, its good that you haven't come to see him... he left half an hour ago..."
Disappointment was clear in her eyes, but she covered it up gracefully, "of course Bebe, he would never go late..."
She frowned slightly, looking down at her phone, he usually called to check whether she got to work safely. Had he forgotten?
"Sorry Bebe... main ab nikalti hu..."
"Par nashta?" Bebe smiled seeing her expected reaction, she was desperate to get to work where he would be.
"Mein bohot late ho chuki hu... Mein cab bulaati hu..." Avni picked up her bag to leave, but Bebe stopped her.
"Neil wouldn't like it if we let you leave by cab... just wait a minute, Prakash will be leaving, leave with him, he will drop you..."
"Ji bebe..." she mumbled, sighing.
...
"Avni... does Acp Neil Khanna have a thing for you?!" Sunheri question inquisitively, an excited look plastered on to her face.
Avni's eyes snapped up to look at her in worry, "what? No? What are you on about? I can't stand that man..."
"He glances over at you every five seconds bevakoof... He looks like he is reading your face more than those files" Sunheri prodded her shoulder indicating to Neil with her eyes, Avni looked over to his direction. And indeed, he was staring straight at her, his eyes boring in to her soul, as soon as their eyes met they both immediately broke away. Avni shoved Sunheri away, rolling her eyes.
"Shut up and get on with your work... we come here to work not for you to gossip like a teenage magazine..."
She chuckled, she loved winding Avni up, she winked at her as she pretended to whistle, "Okay then... but helpful hint, you guys aren't hiding your sexual tension from anybody..."
"Silence Sunheri..." Avni muttered sarcastically, but her face turned beetroot red, and Neil smiled to himself seeing it, rubbing the back of his neck, an adorable gesture.
...
"Whoever this guy is, he is sick. His signature of leaving the woman naked and calling the media to find the scene is heartless." Sunheri commented, as they all sat around the table discussing the case. Avni swallowed bile that was souring her tongue at the thought of this disgusting man. Neil wasn't listening, his eyes stuck to the way Abhay was checking Avni out.
"He wants everyone to know what he's done. He wants the woman to live with the shame for the rest of her life, thats why he doesn't kill them. It's sadistic." DD added, the whole room was tense, it was running the whole department down that they couldn't find this man.
"But if he's been calling the media then why the hell can't we track him down!" Avni exclaimed in frustration, chewing her pen, Neil watched her intently, he had fallen for all her tiny cute habits.
"We'll find him, don't stress yourself out Avni..." Abhay smiled at her in awe, with those lovesick eyes that he always stared at her with.
Neil rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath.
"What do you mean don't stress myself out? This isn't time for therapy Abhay! We have to find this guy, you understand?" Neil couldn't help the tiny smile that crept up on his face at her shooting Abhay down.
"Right. Of course." Abhay stumbled, red with embarrassment, he scrambled with some files. "Here look at this Avni..."
He started to walk towards Avni, and Neil frowned, standing up with lightning quick reflexes. He walked over and stood covering Avni possesively, blocking her from Abhay.
"Oh this seems interesting...Show me." Neil held out his hand for the file before Abhay could hand it to Avni.
"Yes sir." Abhay handed it over to him meekly, they were a very few number of people that would challenge that glare in his eyes.
Abhay was about to sit in the chair next to Avni before Neil got there first too, without sparing Abhay a glance, flicking through the files. Abhay sighed in disappointment slumping in to the seat next to Neil.
The whole room watched the scenario silently, they could never work out what the hell the relationship between Neil and Avni was, they were at each other's throat 24/7, but whenever any other guy approached her, he was right there.
"Abhay?" Neil questioned, his tone so cold that shivers ran through Abhay's blood, Avni watched Neil warily.
"Yes sir?" Abhay cowered.
"These files are nothing to do with this case. The case these files are about was closed last week..." Abhay froze, caught red handed. He had been making excuses to near Avni, Neil's frown deepened.
"Sorry sir I must have gotten the wrong files..."
Neil tightened, his muscles tensing, anger simmered inside him, if he opened his mouth, there would be trouble.
From under the table, Avni clutched to Neil's shirt, squeezing his bicep, looking at him in worry. At her touch he immediately untensed, taking a deep breath and glancing over at her in concern. She blinked at him in reassurance.
"Okay." He calmed down slightly in her presence, slamming the files down. "Next time check before you waste our time."
Neil instinctively rested his hand on her thigh protectively. Avni turned bright pink and flustered suddenly, biting her lip awkwardly to hide her small shy smile.
"So back to this case..." Avni cleared her throat, and Neil moved his hand quickly, itching the back of his hair nervously. "I believe it would be a good idea for us girls to focus on this case, we as women will best connect to the victims, which will allow us to gather intel."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Neil yelled, staring at her in shock. "If anything all you girls should be staying miles away from it. This guy is so f*cking dangerous."
"We are aware Khanna. But just because we are women, it doesn't render us incapable of handling this man. We have worked as hard and had the same training as you. Are you underestimating us?" She had the fire of determination in her eyes, the irresistible fighting ambition and strength that had first drawn him to her like a magnet.
"You know I'm not doing anything of that sort ACP Mehta. But you guys are his target don't you understand? It is one thing agreeing to face danger for your work but it is completely another to put yourself purposely right in the line of sight for a disaster!" His glare challenged her back as the whole room fell silent again, he leaned in toward her, his warm breath hitting her cheek, and the air was heavy with their sexual tension.
"We are not his his targets Khanna! 5 out of his 7 victims have been prostitutes. We do not fit his trend." She crossed her arms over her chest as she frowned in irritation, she lifted her feet on to the table to prove a point.
"5 out of 7 is not 100 percent. It is not a trend. Many of his victims have been prostitutes because they are easy targets. So if you go out of your way to make yourself an easy target, what the hell do you expect?"
"So you're going to stop half the force pursuing this case? We know what we signed up for Khanna. Every case we are are risking our lifes, it's a part of our daily life. Moreover, he does have a trend. Prostitues." She poked his chest, her face close enough that her nose could brush against his. Her stubbornness was doing all sorts of things to him, but right now he was ACP Khanna first.
"He doesn't have a trend. I bet you. His only signature is the way he displayes the bodies. Thats it." He pronounced every syllable while hitting his pen on the desk to make it 100 percent clear, his husky voice was authorative.
"Yeah well, we'll see about that Khanna. " She dared him with her sexy smirk, grabbing the pen out of his hands. The people of the room just stared at one another in question, looking for a way to break the ice.
"We recieved a piece of footage from the media yesterday, it's time stamped 21:15, but the rape probably occurred around 25 minutes beforehand at least, according to the medical report. Shall I play it ma'am? It's very graphic..." DD asked, slightly scared of the reaction he was going to recieve by interrupting the fight.
"Yes DD, Please do." She said blankly, still annoyed at Neil.
The lights were turned off and the video started playing, the room blanketed in sad silence.
"This was the victim, Reshma Khurrana, 26 years old. She used to work in a marketing company but lost her job and her home, making her resort to prostitution." DD narrated with difficulty, this was hard for everyone to watch.
The victim was laid out in an art like pose, her arms and legs wound together intimately, and the surroundings decorated with dying flowers. But her body was battered, making disgusting feelings crawl in Avni's stomach.
"She was found unconscious but alive, as were the other victims, but she was left speechless in shock for at least 3 hours after she woke up, in trauma from the incident."
Neil gulped back the sobs in his throat, 26, Avni was 26. The girl was bruised and bleeding, her chest bitten and torn at, scratches running down her stomach, blood streaking down her thighs.
He couldn't shake off the sickening feeling. This man was still out there. This man could hurt Avni.
"The psychiatrist says it's unlikely she will ever go back to normal, its had adverse effects on her mental health, especially the humiliation of it being televised. She is suffering severe PTSD."
Neil interlinked his finger with Avni's, under the table, grabbing her hand tightly. She looked over at him in confusion, he had paled in fear as he watched the video, she squeezed his hand, sighing at his reaction in worry.
"And the physical injuries?" Neil inquired, his voice shook and she took note of it, stroking the back of his hand with her thumb to reassure him.
"Well... other than the injuries on the chest that you can see, and the blood running down her thigh that was due to tearing... both of which could at least be considered short-time injuries. He had bashed her stomach with a rod which affected her stomach and other internal organs badly."
Neil's hand went to Avni's stomach automatically, his eyes glassy as he caressed her gently. She tensed slightly at the shivers that his touch sent down her spine. But her eyes welled up, she had gotten really lucky to find someone who cared for her so much.
"Okay. Any distinct markings that we can identify from other victims? To link to the killer."
"Except from the set out, none sir."
"Okay. Thank you. Please turn it off now."
DD frowned as he switched it off, since when did his sir have such a weak-stomach?
...
"Neela ji, Avni puttar... aao andar aao, hum sab ke saath bet jao..." Neela and Avni had arrived at the Khanna house door and Bebe welcomed them inside. They joined the family at the dinner table, Neil's eyes immediately found hers, admiring her out of her uniform. In a gentle feminine dress and her hair out of a tight ponytail and cascading down her shoulders, his heart skipped a beat, as always.
Shweta was serving everybody plates of food, and Avni watched her in guilt, "Maa sab kuch akele hi kyu kar rahi hu? Mein aap ke madat karo?"
As small smile graced Neil's face, she was so sweet and innocent, he thought that surely it would be difficult for anybody not to adore her.
"No pagli... you've just come back from work... sit and eat properly, you've gotten pale and weak now..." Shweta exclaimed, forcing her to sit back on the chair.
Neil looks down at the food on his plate, it was rajma chawal his favourite, but all that flashed in to his mind was images from that footage. He felt so sick that he could barely manage a bite. He couldn't look Avni in the eye, as if he felt like he was failing her by allowing there to be such evil in the world.
"Maa. I'm not hungry... mein mera room mein jaa raha hu..." He mumbled, pushing away his plate.
"Par tillu-" Neil rushed up the stairs before anybody could ask him anything further, Avni watched him in worry, also pushing away her plate.
"Avni beta? Do you know what's wrong? He never refuses rajma chawal..." Shweta asked as the whole room turn to look at her.
"Uh- sorry... I don't know... I mean, we looked at a pretty graphic case today. It was off-putting. Maybe it's still on his mind." She thought back to the sickened look on his face as he watched the video.
"Hey bhagwaan..." Shweta sighed, kissing Avni's hair. "I hate the job you both do, each day we worry for your safety..."
"It will be okay maa..." Avni comforted her, squeezing her hand that was hugging her.
"We have to go do shopping for the wedding, and so we'll leave. Maybe he will feel better if you speak with him baccha..." Neela suggested, while Bebe nodded.
"I'll try." The elders all stood up to leave as Avni nodded, running up the stairs.
...
"Neil?" She asked as she pushed his door open slightly to peer in to his room, he was working on his laptop tediously, the clanging on his keyboard echoed in the room. "Neil tum teek ho?"
He glanced up at her and the worry on her face made it worse, he nodded before focusing back on his work, he had to crack this case. He had to crack it now before anybody else got hurt, before Avni could get hurt.
"You're not hungry? Are you sure you don't want me to bring you dinner up here?" She asked, nervously chewing her lips.
He stared at her as fear coiled in his stomach at the thought of losing her to that sick crime, he admired her every feature as he thought. Her big innocent eyes. He couldn't afford to let that innocence die. Her soft pink lips, her flushed cheeks, her delicate curves, her small frail body that should be treated like the most precious thing on earth. He couldn't let anything happen to her.
He stood up, confusing her, she watched as he approached her. She gasped as his hand reached out for her and grabbed her around the neck, turning her to pin her back against his chest. His arm was wrapped around her neck, trapping her.
"If someone had you in this chokehold. If someone ambushed you like this... what would you do?" He asked in concern, he loosened his hold slightly, not to hurt her.
"Neil?" She gasped in confusion, her body was pressed up against his chest, his warm breath grazing the bare skin of the back of her neck, and his spare hand instinctively brushing her waist, where her clothes had hiked up, sending butterflies crazy in her stomach.
"What would you do? Show me. Please." Her sweet feminine scent was intoxicating, but right now he was in complete focus, he needed to make sure she could protect herself.
"It would hurt you Neil..."
"That doesn't matter, show me..." She bent her leg and kicked backward, causing him to stumble before composing himself quickly with a smile. "Good. Well done."
"Now watch... If I grab your wrist like this..." He advised her carefully as she admired him, the way he was so caring and careful with her. "If you have your phone with you,
I want you to get them on the pulse point of the neck with your phone held horizontally. That would be enough blunt force to render them incapable for a minute at least. Try it."
She acted out the actions gently, as he waited patiently for her to understand.
"But if you don't have have your phone, kick them, so they fall to the ground, and then straddle them so they can't move. Here you have given yourself time to calculate a next step. A way to render them unable to fight. Dislocating a limb, poking in the eye, etc. Got it? Now try..."
She tried this, kicking him to the floor. She straddles his lap and he tenses, she was pressed up against his groin and he was scared of how his hormonal body would react, his stomach tightened.
"But if they then turn you over?" He asks as he rolls her over.
He slips as he does it, his head falling down and banging her forehead.
"Shit. Sorry..." He rubs her forehead with his thumb rushedly to soothe the place he hit, but she just burst in to laughter. He watched her taken aback, her hair was sprawled across the floor and her eyes sparkled, completely carefree and so beautiful.
Her contagious laughter made him chuckle too, laughing the burden of his heart away. "And Khanna. I would twist my arm around their neck, grab it before turning them around again. Leaving them in a chokehold."
She demonstrated, leaving him in shock as she pinned him to ground effortlessly, easily picking up everything he had taught her.
"Wow I'm impressed ACP Mehta... my fiance knows what she's doing..." A huge smile broke out on his face, the pride in his smile warmed her heart like nothing else.
The chokehold somehow turned more in to a hug, their eyes locking, her hand over his mouth moved to caressing his neck and one of his hands lingered on her stomach, running small circles on her waist absentmindedly.
"Arrey! Idhere kya ho raha hai?!" Bebe appeared at the doorway, and yelled in excitement, causing them to break out of the hold immediately, bright tomato red in embarrassment. "Sorry... aap logo ka romance karab kar diya mein?"
"Nahi- mein- mein bus Avni ko thodi si self defence sikha raha tha..." Neil stumbled in his excuses. Avni looked to the floor, her breath still short from the exercise, and her hair dishevelled which didn't help their arguement.
"Haan okay, enjoy your self defence." She teased with a knowing smile, closing the door behind her as she left them blushing.
...
"Guys it's been too long without a victim. We all know he won't keep quiet for long, we have to nab him now. We cannot afford to have this happen to anybody else." Avni struggled to speak, Neil could see she hadn't slept all night in thoughts of this and it made his heart ache, he hadn't too.
"I tried to track down the numbers he used to call the media but he used local phone booths, so there was nothing to track. And no one saw any suspicious people in the towns where the phone booths were located. I think next we use the-" The stress Neil was under was clear to the whole table in the abrasive nature of his voice.
"No need Khanna. DD and me have thought of the most quickest and easiest route to locate the criminal." Avni muttered this, lowering her eyes. Neil frowned, there was something wrong about the way she was avoiding looking at him.
"What is it?" His voice turned rough in worry, he had a feeling he wasn't going to like this.
"Well sir, the only way we can lure out the criminal is if we bait him with a target." DD started, his voice quivering in fear. Neil tensed, his grip on the pen in his hand tightening as he frowned.
"So?"
Avni cleared her throat in worry, "Well Khanna. I proposed that I will go undercover as a prostitute in a brothel in a nearby area to the last crime-"
"What the f*ck!? Have you gone insane!?" He bellowed in utter shock, his eyes horrified, slamming his hand on the table. The whole room looked at him in surprise at his reaction, making him realise how loudly he had yelled.
"Khanna. This is normal protocol in such cases." Avni replied bluntly, her tone cold and emotionless. Emotion had no place in such cases, plus she knew she would go weak if he looked in to his eyes.
"Yeah but then what!? You're going to-"
"We can't keep this case waiting any longer. It's going to happen tonight Khanna." She retorted with finality in her stern voice.
He gritted his teeth, trying to control his rage, he gripped to his pen so hard that it snapped in his hand with a grunt of anger. He ignored the way the broken shards dug in to his skin.
She looked up at him at the noise, her eyes softening. She wished he'd say something, she hated him being mad at her, but he stormed out, his glare brimming with disappointment.
...
She walked through the corridor, she was lost deep in her thoughts, fear eating away at her stomach. She gasped as a hand grabbed her arm, pinning her to the wall, she would have kicked him, but she immediately recognised whose arms she had been caged in.
"Neil I'm sorry-" Guilt was etched in to her face, she didn't want to go against him, she didn't want to hurt him. She shivered in sensation as he leaned in to her, his burning gaze leaving her feeling completely bare.
"What the f*ck do you think you're planning on doing?!" He barked, his eyes filled with rage that made her gasp for air. This wasn't ACP Khanna in front of her who always fought with her, it was her fianc, her Neil. And her Neil never got angry with her.
"Neil please... someone will see..." She pleaded softly, trying to pry his hand off her.
"Do you think I care!? How could you even think about pulling this stunt!?" He hissed, he locked his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him as he frowned deeply.
"Neil listen to me, please, we have to do this for the case." She rubbed his chest gently, cooing at him like a small child, trying to convince him helplessly.
"What if something happens to you?! For god's sake, what if he hurts you?!" She was overwhelmed by the fearful tears in his eyes that he refused to shed, she stroked his cheek and he choked, her soft touch close to bringing him over the edge.
"This is my job Neil. This is what I've chosen to do, you've got to understand that..." Wrinkles of worry creased his face, of course he knew this was her job, that she loved it, that wasn't going to stop him being terrified for her.
"That doesn't mean you do this! You saw that video yesterday! You saw what that sick man can do... how the hell could I let you near him!?" His heart pounded in his chest, his arms holding her protectively, she furrowed her eyebrows.
"It's not just about me Neil! What about the other girls that will get hurt because we aren't doing anything?!" She was passionate about this, a certain fighting spirit awakening inside her.
"What about you? You think I'll sit and watch while you put yourself in danger? Isn't there anybody else that could do this? I hate it when you do these things, I feel so helpless. i can't let anything happen to you." His eyes were so hurt, and that stung her. But her work came first.
"Neil don't be stupid. I can't just dump the danger on someone else because you're not comfortable with it."
"Why not? Why can't you let me take care of you for once Avni!?" " His voice was desperate now, grabbing her arm tightly.
"Neil you can't interfere with my job for god's sake! We've agreed that whatever relationship we have out of work is left outside of work! I'm not your responsibility!" She tried to escape his grip, twisting and turning as she frowned at him in irritation.
"I can interfere in whatever I like! I have a right to be worried, I'm going to be your husband! You understand that? I'm not thinking as your colleague, I'm thinking as your husband! And I'm going to f*cking murder anybody that even lays their eyes on you." His grip tightened, as if afraid to let her go, his eyes bloodshot. Avni was angry now, she hated anybody trying to restrain her, it reminded her of her childhood.
Her cheeks burnt red in anger, hot tears flowing down her cheeks, "But you're not my husband yet! You can't tell me what and what not to do! This is an arranged marriage, we agreed for our family's happiness. You do not have any rights over me until and unless I say you do!"
His eyes shattered, hurt filled them, how would he put in to words that this wasn't just his family's happiness, she was his happiness, when he didn't understand yet himself, "Avni-"
"Let go of me. You're hurting me." She said bluntly, he looked down to see the red marks he'd left behind, he flinched back in guilt.
He loosed his grip but still kept hold of her hand, "Avni please, listen to me-"
His desperation stopped her, forced her to look back at him.
His broken eyes begged her so innocently that she sighed in defeat. She leaned in, wrapping her arms around his chest, resting her head on his thumping heart. He hugged her back, caressing her gently. They didn't need words, he buried his face in her hair, sighing.
"You need to stop doing stupid shit like this Avni or you're going to get yourself killed. You never listen to me... you leave your phone on silent and I can never reach you, you get injured and I tell you to rest but you dance around like nothing happened. You roam around the streets at night, leaving me to worry like a mad person... I need you to be safe... You understand right?" He mumbled in to her hair, playing with the strands, his tears soiling her scalp.
"Neil I-"
"Promise me, promise me you won't try this stupidity... We will find this guy. We will, but not at the cost of your safety." Avni gripped to his shirt, her mind in conflict, as he wiped away any tears that was left on her face with his thumb.
"Okay..." She mumbled, closing her eyes at his touch.
"Tell me you promise..." he retorted unconvinced, he knew her like the back of his hand.
"I promise..." she whispers in guilt, crossing her fingers behind her back.
...
"You co-operate with us and we won't get you in to trouble for this joint you're running here." DD hissed as he spoke to the man who ran the brothel, he nodded solemnly, glancing at Avni. "She will pose as one of your workers and as soon as you see someone suspicious nearing her, you talk to me. Get it?"
Avni was silent, her mind was on Neil, the guilt of lying to him made her feel sick. The man looked her up and down, his eyes glinted in mischief. Both of them, she and DD, failed to notice.
"Okay sir." The man nodded handing Avni some attire to get changed in to, her hairs stood on end just seeing the scanty material.
DD squeezed her hand in reassurance, but she hugged him tightly, she was never scared, but she was scared now, for some reason she didn't feel right, she wanted Neil there with her. DD wrapped his arms around her and patted her back, offering her comfort. "I am right outside, okay maam? You are going to get him. I know it."
...
The lengha exposed almost everything, the low cut dark blue blouse revealed her cleavage, and her matching low waisted skirt beared her entire midriff. She shivered as her skin hit the cold air, feeling so vulnerable.
The men's eyes glued to her as the music played, all the other girls were overshadowed by her ravishing beauty, her curvaceous figure, her glowing complexion, her sharp eyes.
They watched, hypnotised, as she swayed her hips to the music that echoed in the hall, her eyes were hard, dauntless, a fire was burning within her. The disgusting lustful way the men watched her just made it burn more, she imagined Neil with her,
shielding her, he was her strength.
"Waah! Woh chammak challo ko dekho... mujhe wo chaiye! Let me use her for the night!" One of the men jeered as the others joined in, as she bit her tongue, nauseated by their wandering eyes. She checked them off the list though, the criminal wouldn't make his interest so clear.
"Arrey itni kapde kyu pehni ho!? Thodi aur dikhao na?!" Another man teased, as chills ran down her spine, she took a deep breath. She imagined how Neil would guard her, and rip their filthy eyes out of their head.
The man who owned the brothel approached her, and she went on alert searching around for a suspicious character because he was meant to inform her when he caught sight of who the criminal could be.
He neared her, his eyes narrowing and darkening, she frowned a little in confusion, "Kya hua? Did you see him?"
"Oh lord, for such a smart police officer you're so innocent, beautiful..." He smirked, running his hands down her side as realisation settled and the horror appeared on her face. She cursed herself for trusting him, how could she?
He wound his arm around her waist, pressing her against him so tightly she felt like she would throw up, he leaned in to her top, his filthy fingers tracing her cleavage as he picked out and chucked away the mic she had hidden there. She froze in terror, she had never been left so helpless before, her eyes burnt with tears as he dragged her away.
...
"Hello, sir?" DD asked through the phone as Neil called him, "Did you need something?"
"Avni kahan hai!? Wo phone kyu nahi utaraha hai?!" DD didn't know what to say for a second, Neil's tone was entirely different, he had never heard anything like it before and addressing Avni by name was also something he did so rarely. Something was wrong.
"She didn't inform you sir?" DD furrowed his brows in confusion, they were colleagues, why would she want to hide such a major development in the case. Neil tensed, his hand turning to a fist, his heart suddenly racing.
"Inform me of what?" Neil's eyes widened. He groaned as he ran hand through his hair in restlessness and utter fear. "Oh for f*ck sake! Bloody hell. She still went!"
"Wait Sir- What's wrong-"
"Just get the entire force in to that brothel right now, get it?! Nothing is going to happen to her. I'm not going to let anything happen to her." His voice cracked, puzzling DD, was he crying?
The line went dead.
...
He grabbed her by the neck, the pressure was suffocating but she didn't let the fear overtake her, she kicked him backwards the way Neil had taught her. He stumbled back, looking up at her in surprise,
"Oh wow... the sexy girl is fiesty... even better... I love it rough..." She ignored the disgust that rised in her stomach, swallowing it down as she stamped on his foot and stared running away.
But he was stronger, picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. She hit him repeatedly, flailing her arms and legs to try and cause some sort of injury to no avail. He chucked her on to the bed, laying his weight over her.
Her blood chilled at the close proximity, the way his hands lingered over her body, the look in his eyes. She begged for Neil, her eyes filling with tears, her first sign of weakness.
"Arrey why are you hiding that body away from me baby? Let me have fun with it and then I'll display it's beauty to the world, thanks to the media..." She turned him over so she was on top of him, holding him down, how Neil had taught her, she pictured his calming voice grazing her ear as he advised her.
She traced the precious ring around her neck, her engagement ring that she wore on a necklace to hide their relationship from the office, it made her feel safe.
But he was too determined, grabbing her by the hair causing her to let out a shrill scream, and dragging her up, tying her to the bedpost.
Now the terror was dawning on her, as she watched the man in complete helplessness. The policewoman in her died, the fearlessness in her melted away, her wrists stinging, and her innocent red eyes finally spilling tears, small sobs leaving her shaking body.
The man traced his finger down her neck slowly, torturing her with his painfully slow pace, she squeezed her eyes shut in nausea, making the man grin, "Oh baby I'm sorry... have I broken you?"
"Neil... neil- mujhe neil chaiye..." She whimpers, her stomach churning in fear, begging to be taken in to her Neil's arms.
"Arrey yeh Neil khon hai? Ab tumhara koi lover boy tumhe bacha nahi payenga... God you're so beautiful... forget him, you're all mine now..." He inhaled her scent deeply as his hand moved to her bare midriff, making her wince.
"Don't you dare touch me!" She screamed as she panted breathlessly, inbetween her cries, "He won't let you hurt me..."
"Oh you're so innocent baby... don't you understand? Once I have my way with you, I'll have tainted you forever, not even your Neil will want you back after that..." His laugh was sinister as his hands roamed, his hand ran across her cleavage, and she flinched in repulsion.
"No please...Neil-" She whispered to herself desperately, tears dripping of her cheeks.
"Wow..." He revels in her beauty, ripping away her scanty dupatta, make her cower in fear. "I'm going to have so much fun with you beautiful..."
One of his dirty hands climbed up her thigh, and the other brushed up against her breasts, making her skin crawl with disgust, as she let out a defeated cry of Neil's name.
.
"HEY! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" The man stumbled back with a bashed nose, as an awful cracking sound echoed in the room. Neil stood in front of her, with blood coating his shaking fist.
"AVNI KO HAATH LAGAYA THO MEIN TUMHARA HAATH KAAT DOOGA! YOU FILTHY bas***d!" He growled like a wild animal, the fury in his eyes was inexplicable, harrowing. She had never ever seen him so angry, not even when he interrogated the worst of criminals.
"Oh tho yeh sexy beauty ka naam Avni hai... wow how beautiful..."
"DON'T TAKE HER NAME FROM YOUR FILTHY MOUTH!" He punched the man in the mouth, he was erratic, the other police had entered the room behind him and were shocked by the Neil in front of them. He was always cold and calculated with criminals, he had never ever reacted in this way.
But this wasn't ACP Khanna talking, this was Neil, Avni's Neil.
"Oh so this was the lover boy she was begging for... Arrey mister don't worry, you can have her back, at least let me have my fun with her..." The man smirked, wiping away the blood that streaked his face. The police looked at the couple in surprise, in utter confusion at the situation.
"DON'T YOU F*CKING DARE! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU GODDAMMIT!" Abhay and DD held him back before Neil ended up ripping this man apart mercilessly, the others got to the man from behind, handcuffing him.
"Sir. Come on now, calm down." DD patted his back, frowning at the pain he could see in Neil's eyes.
"He was going to hurt her!" He yelled out in rage, his jaw clenching.
"Sir, she's fine. She's okay... control yourself." DD calmed him down, and he untensed slightly, his eyes turning cold. They let
him go.
He approached the man, grabbing him by the collar, his heated gaze piercing through the man like a blade, "Don't you dare even think about laying a finger on her again, understand?"
His voice was barely audible, but its deadly silence spoke much more powerful volumes. Two police officers dragged him out, while the rest watched Neil quietly, apprehensive of his reaction and still puzzled about the relationship between him and Avni.
.
Neil went toward her and kneeled down in front of her slowly, she froze up in fear and the tension was present in everyone in the room, he was going to be furious. He untied her slowly, he refused to look at her. But she could see the tear running down his face, as he gently caressed her red, stinging wrists. He picked up her dupatta, covering her protectively, his touch was so soft and careful that her eyes welled up at how lucky she was, he was so loving even when he was so angry.
"Neil..." She called out for him softly, desperate for him to forgive her, she needed him. She gripped his shirt in her fists, making him look up at her. Kohl streaked her face, her eyes fresh, sore and red from crying, her clothes torn, the fabric in shreds, and her innocence, her vulnerability was raw in her eyes, it just made him a million times angrier that he could have lost that. He pulled her hands off him, "Neil, please... I'm sorry..."
"I don't want to hear it Avni." He muttered, numbness in his voice just showed how hurt he was. The whole room saw a completely different side to him, somehow this coldness wasn't clever or manipulative. It was filled with love and care.
"Neil please listen to me..." She tugged at his shirt like a small child, frowning desperately, she wanted her Neil right now more than anything else.
Neil ignored her, his expression steeling and his teeth gritting as he saw scratches on her stomach, seeing that the man had touched her killed him, made his lungs collapse in his chest.
"Sir... suno na uski baat... she must need you right now..." Sunheri tried to help, mumbling sweetly, she was always very sincere.
"She told me she won't do this Sunheri!" Neil snapped, scaring Sunheri, he turned back to Avni, he bellowed but she couldn't see anything but worry in his eyes. "You promised me? You promised me right?! Do you have any idea what could have happened?!"
"I'm sorry Neil." She slumped in guilt, lowering her eyes.
"How could you have been this careless?! What would I have done if something happened to you Avni?" His voice strained in concern, his eyes welling up in care. Sunheri's eyes watered too, seeing such a soft side to Neil. "You didn't tell me anything. You know that I'm the one that you're supposed to come to when you're in danger, you know that..."
"We got him though..." She tried to crack a lame joke, dragging a laugh out of her throat, she hated him being mad, she wanted to see that smile that would make this all better. The sick dirty feeling in her stomach, the fear in shivers, the pain weighting her body, his safe arms where it would all melt away.
His glare silenced her, she suddenly realised how stupid she must have sounded.
"Ouch!" She winced loudly, and that was enough for the panic to spark in him.
"Avni! Avni kya hua!?" He cupped her face in his hands, furrowing his eyebrows in distress, scanning her up and down for injuries. She bit her lip, as the blood rushed to her cheeks in guilt, she had done it to get his attention, he sighed as he pulled away.
"Avni, if you want mein tumhe ghar tak choodunga..." Abhay suggested, cutting through the heavy silence, Neil glared at him, and the fire of rage in his eyes was enough to silence him.
Neil lifted her to her feet, holding her by the waist possesively, she leaned in to him for support but the anger didn't melt from his face.
"I'm going to take her home. DD please make sure you guys close this case now." He looked over to DD who blinked back at him in reassurance.
...
He laid Avni on his bed gently, her eyes were already closing in exhaustion as he tucked her in to the blanket carefully, making sure she was covered completely. He had sat beside her until she fell asleep, he still refused to say anything, like the silent car journey home, but he tapped her head lovingly, tortured tears rolling down his face, until her shaky breathing steadied.
He refused to show her any weakness, he wanted her to see how much she had hurt him by not listening to him, how mad he was. He couldn't describe the fear he had felt in that moment knowing that she was in trouble, the horrible thoughts that raced through his mind. How could he forgive her for putting herself in such danger without letting him protect her?
.
"Oh you're so innocent baby... don't you understand? Once I have my way with you, I'll have tainted you forever, not even your Neil will want you back after that..." His sinister laugh echoed, his touch lingered, his filthy looks still crawled up her skin. Fear knocked the air out of her lungs.
"Neil!" She screamed as she shot out of bed in a cold sweat, sobbing like a small helpless child. He sprinted out of the bathroom in a split second, panic on his face, he was just in his tracksuit bottoms, halfway changed.
"Avni?" He gasped, immediately scooping her in to his arms, a horrified frown appearing on his face. He cradled her in his arms like a baby, shushing her softly. "Avni kya hua?"
"He- He- He..." He rubbed her back, his eyes filling with tears, his heart breaking seeing her so shattered. "Neil please don't leave me- He'll come back..."
He kissed her hair, burying his face in her hair and cuddling her closer, this sudden urge raged through him, to destroy anything that made her cry like this, protect her from this world, "He won't come back... I promise... I'm here right? I won't let anything happen to you..."
She nodded in to his chest, grabbing her shirt as she hyperventilated, there was nobody else that made her feel as safe as he did,
"I'm sorry Neil..." She cried in guilt, her innocent words crushed him as he shook his head, caressing her face in his hands, wiping away at the tears that streaked her cheeks. "I shouldn't have-"
"Hey... hey don't get upset... it's okay..." He whispered in to her ear softly, stroking her hair tenderly, his tears soiling her scalp. "Just promise me you'll never scare me like that again..."
"I promise..." She whimpered like a baby, hiding her face against his bare chest, the warmth of his skin was her comfort as she shivered in fear. "What if- what if he hurts me- Neil... Mujhe mujhe dhar lag rahi hai..."
"I won't let anybody hurt you... I promise..." He tucked her hair behind her ear, kissing her temple as small guilty cries left his lips. "Bura sapna agaya tumhe?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling her nose in to the nook of his neck as she nodded sleeplily like a small child, making him smile slightly at her adorable antics, "ab sau jao...koi bura sapna nahi aayega... I swear..."
She nodded again, her exhausted eyes closing heavily. He rocked her gently, peppering kisses in her hair.
"You know Neil... when he attacked me I used the self defence you taught me..." She mumbled in to his neck, smiling slightly,
finally in peace in his arms.
"Wow..." He chuckled at her cuteness, leaning down to rest a kiss on her nose. "I'm so proud..."
"But I never want to do that ever again..." She frowned, snuggling closer in to him.
He played with her hair absent-mindedly, his hand around her waist tightened possesively, "And I won't let you. I'll always be there to protect you."
"Always?" She asked innocently, lifting her finger to ask for a pinky promise, making his heart ache.
"Always." He whispered huskily.
...
Hope you guys enjoyed it!!! This was a lot of hard working, i would really appreciate it if you guys vote and comment to let me know what you think... Thank you so much... I'm so sorry I couldn't think of a better title at all 😆
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
