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Bechani Part 3
Neil's POV
Ali had rushed to the hospital with Neela and Nanno in a panicked despair. Where's Ananya's mother? Why didn't Ali and Neela bring her? Before I could ask any questions, I was ambushed with their's.
"Ananya ab bhi theatre main hain, but from what the doctor told me, operation main sab theek chal raha hain. There are no additional complications, you see," I explained to Ali, whilst trying to calm everyone down.
I didn't know Ananya had formed such a strong bond with the three standing in front of him. He knew Ali and Ananya had gotten close, but it just had been a month, hadn't it. Ali was still in tears. But realizing it now, so was he himself. The only difference was that his tears had dried, but he could feel the unusual stickiness of them on his face. Nanno looked distraught. Had Ali introduced Ananya to Nanno? Had Nanno formed such a strong bond with Ananya? How many times had she seen Nanno? Then there was Neela, who only knew Ananya as her paying guest. A paying guest she kicked out before. Why was she this distraught? And where is Madhavi, Ananya's mother.
"Ali, Neelaji, haven't you informed Ananya's mother?" I questioned. I observe Ali and Neela Parekh's confusion before both their eyes widen. Ali looks down towards the floor where Neela looks around her, sliding her gaze from wall to wall.
"Madhavi ji has gone back to Delhi. I thought it would be better to inform her once Av-Ananya is out of danger," Neela answers. Something doesn't seem right to me but I let it slide. Right now I should be focusing on only one thing, and that's Ananya's health. My policegiri, like Ananya calls it, can wait for later.
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*a couple hours later*
Ananya has been declared out of danger an hour ago, but still was unconscious. We were allowed to see her in the private room, but only one person could stay overnight. I convinced Ali and Nanno to go home, it was now in the early hours of the morning. They needed to sleep. They had reluctantly agreed. Turning to Neela, I asked for her to do the same.
"Nahi, beta. Main yahan rukh thi hoon. Jab tak yain mera saath reheti hain, she's my responsibility. Tum ghar jao, tum yahan khaab se hon. You need the rest," Neela countered. Her words made sense, but for some reason, my mind didn't agree.
"Nahi aunty, aap bhi raat se yahin hain. I don't mind taking care for her. I'm used to the night hours, working as an officer," I reasoned with her. But at the end she didn't budge. Neela smiled, placing her hand on my cheek in motherly affection, and told me to go home and sleep.
I found her guiding me out of the hospital suite, but my legs didn't budge from the hospital corridor. I sat down at the hospital seats and sat there. Waiting for any sign that Ananya is awake. Before long, my eyes became droopy, and heavy lidded.
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*Neela's POV*
Avni began to stir at 5am. Relief washed upon me as I saw her eyes open. They fluttered a couple of times before she took in the image infront of her, and I all but jumped to gently but eagerly hug my daughter. The dried up tears began to stream again, and I kissed Avni's forehead.
"Ma, main theek hoon. Bas, ek choti si karoach ayi thi," Ananya weakly smiled at me, as I lightly slap her arm.
"Yeh mamouli si karouch nahi thi, Avni. Tumhe kuch ho jaata, Avni. Maire kya hota?" I replied, before wiping my own tears.
"Yeh Dayawanti Mehta na kiya he ne?" I asked. I watched sorrow fill in Avni's eyes. Ahhh, so it wasn't Dayawanti Mehta. Avni stole away her gaze, and looked at the floor. My poor bachchi. I know what she was trying to hide, I'm her mother, I understood her silence. It was Aman. I didn't question Avni any further.
"I'll get the nurse or a doctor," I reluctantly smiled. Avni nodded as I left the suite to find the doctor. However, I stopped my quest seeing Neil. Neil has fallen asleep on the uncomfortable hospital chairs. His head slightly drooping to the left, making his head even more uncomfortable.
"Jab tek yeh ladke yahan hain, meri Avni ko kuch nahi ho sakte," I whispered to myself.
I gently shook him, to wake him up. But the nudge made him stand straight up immediately and slightly shout, "Ananya!" He looked around to register his surroundings before he eyed me questioning about Avni's state.
"She's awake. Tum usse mil sakte hon. Main tab thak doctor ko layati hoon," I replied.
He all but ran to the room. My guess was right. Neil is in love with Avni, even if he doesn't know it yet.
What else could explain his bechani?
Next chapter- Neil and Avni confrontation/talk
The chapter after- Neil and Riya wedding preparations
"God, Ananya, tum theek toh ho na," Neil asked whilst rushing into the hospital suite, and grabbing Avni's hand before Avni even realized what was happening.
"Tum..kya..main," Avni collected her thoughts, before Neil interrupted her.
"Tum hamesha koi mushkil phe kaisa par jaati hon. That too, a problem that always risks your life. How can you be so careless, Ananya. Hamesha mujhe heart attack dheti hon. Hamesha. I should get you locked away for being a danger to yourself. Atleast then, main tujh par nazar toh rakh sakoonga. Par mujhe pata hain, tum Miss Ajooba, will still find a way to get yourself in danger and trouble even then," Neil ranted.
"Ne-"
"Kaun tha woh, jissne yeh sab kiya. Did you see the person who attacked you? Abb kaise lagta hain? Are you fine or do you need more medicine to numb the pain now? Tum khab se hosh main hon? I've been up here all night, par thodi si akh ladh gi thi in the waiting room. Are you thirsty? Tumko pani chaahiye?" Neil interrupted again with a barrage of questions, letting go of her hand finally to look for water.
"NEIL!" Ananya managed to shout, in order to stop Neil. She took a sigh, before hoisting herself up on the bed, which Neil insisted on her doing so as he realized what she was starting to do. Avni looked into his eyes, filled with worry and a whole hurricane of emotions. He must be angry at me, Avni thought to herself.
"Neil, main ab theek hoon. Thank you for bring me here last night. But ab main bilkul fine hoon. See?" Avni smiles, to prove her point. Neil opens his mouth to reply, but this time its Avni's turn to interrupt. "Dekho Neil. Mujhe pata hain ki meri wajah se tum kal raat parashan the. I'm sorry, main tumhari khol aati nahi if you weren't the closest person I knew who could help me. Main tujh par bojh nahi banane chati thi."
Although Neil knew what Ananya was saying was to calm himself down, her words felt like a slap to his face. She thinks she's a burden on me, she only came to me for convenience, Neil questioned himself. "Are you serious, Ananya? You're in this condition, and you're apologizing for being an inconvenience? Do you have any idea what you put me through. Pata tha main kitne dar gaya tha. Obviously I would help you. Tum..." Neil retorted, with slight anger seeping through his words, when he saw Neela walking with the doctor, through the window, and stopped himself before he could say anything else.
There was a certain awkwardness in the room, unspoken tension between Neil and Avni, even whilst the doctor was checking up on Avni. That didn't stop Neil from asking a million and ten questions to the doctor. Neela smiled at seeing Avni roll her eyes at the incessant questions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Avni had to stay in the hospital for 72 hrs, as a precautionary measure and Neil was there non-stop. Whether he was there as a police officer, questioning her to open up about the person who attacked her, or as the designated taxi driver for Neela, Nanno, Riya or even Ali. If he was out of the hospital, he'd be back there in under an hour to check up on Avni again.
I'm only here to for work or to help my loved ones or her loved ones to see her. Its not my fault that our social clusters overlap. I'm still faking my friendship for her. In which, she doesn't even consider me a good friend otherwise she wouldn't consider herself a burden for me. Its not my fault I have to see her to make sure she doesn't save her attacker, or he doesn't attack her again whilst she's vulnerable. That's my duty as being a police officer. Its not my fault I have to ask the doctor on how she's doing, I'm just trying to make sure I know what's going on. I can't have the person who can help me solve case 123 too sick to possibly convict.It's not my fault, that I have to act as a friend. A friend will show concern, na. This much concern is normal for a friend. Neil tum yeh sab tumhare plan ke liya kar rahe hon. Tumhe koi farek nahi parte hain usse aur uski battoin se. Neil told himself, as he walked into the hospital suite for the 17th time this day. He had an excuse this time too...to bring Ananya lunch because he saw Ananya's face, in the morning when she had to eat breakfast, scrunch up in disgust to the hospital food.
Next chapter: Neil and Riya's wedding preparations and Neil's undying need to know if he affects Ananya at all.
Tum Se Tum Tak
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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