He stared at her with a smile plastered on his face. He could stare at her all night. Wasn't she pretty? His wife was a baby-faced strong headed woman, with his baby in her womb.
"Neil, she has all the right to know about tomorrow, Mithali had said to him, and he had just nodded his head in a no. He couldn't risk anything with Avni. He was lying to her, in fact cheating her, but it was for her good.
The laptop screen's light was the only the source of light in the dark room and the only source that helped Neil see Avni's face.
"Neil, light! Avni mumbled in her sleep. He didn't pay heed to her. If he would switch off the light, he wouldn't get to see her, and he wanted her to be his last memory.
"Neil and Mithali, humare paas pakki khabar hai! Woh terrorist ussi factory mein function kar rahe hai, and they can attack Mumbai anytime. We have to eliminate them at the earliest. The DCP had informed him and he had just nodded in approval.
"So here is the plan. Tum aur Mithali unn arrested terrorists ko disguise karke unke hide out mein jaaoge.
"Yes, Sir! Mithali and Neil had chorused with confidence in their voice.
"Wahaan pahuchke hume signal do, the backup will be with you. He had proceeded to tell his plan.
Neil knew that this was the deadliest mission till death, but he would do anything for his country, like any other officer. But till date, he didn't mind taking a bullet on him for his country, his family was strong enough to let him go, but today, he had his wife and his child. Avni wouldn't bear people leaving her now. After losing Ayesha, the girl was strong, he knew, but he had seen her become vulnerable when it was about himself. He didn't want to leave Avni, in this beautiful stage of their life. Actually, he didn't want to leave her ever. He didn't fear death, he feared that Avni would be alone.
"Baby, kal ke baad, shaayad aap Papa ko kabhi naa dekho, but remember, Papa loves you, a little more than he loves your Mumma. Aap Mumma ka dhyaan rakhna, thikh hai? Unhe strong banane mein help karna, unse dher saara pyaar karo. He said as he caressed Avni's eight-month baby bump.
Avni groaned in her sleep. She was way too tired after the grand baby shower his mom and Bebe had organized for her. Neil held her hand and she smiled. He kissed her forehead.
Avni woke up to find her husband awake. She freshened up and expected Neil to wait outside the washroom and ask her several times if she needed anything, but was surprised when she opened the door after a warm bath. He wasn't there. "How insensitive, biwi ki parva bhi nahi hai. She mumbled as she wiped her hair.
"Great! Now I can't even wipe my hair. This Neil has pampered me like anything. She mumbled and called out to Neil. He entered the room in a few minutes. She handed him the towel and he took it from her. As he wiped her hair carefully, she stared at him through the mirror. He was staring at her back, with an emotion she couldn't really name.
Love?
Fear?
"Neil, sab thikh hai naa? She held his hand and looked up. He nodded and smiled. "Sab thikh hai wifey. He kissed her hair parting and she looked up.
"Neil, sach-sach batao, kya hua hai? She knew something was amiss. From yesterday, Shweta was more nervous around her, Bebe and Prakash would check on her every now and then, not that they never did, but their faces were grim when they did so. They would share worried glances with Neil. And Neil? He refused to leave her side and kept telling her that he loved her. She loved the attention she was getting, but today, she had sensed trouble behind that attention.
She held his hand firmly and tears gathered in her eyes. She fluttered her eyelashes in the hope that he wouldn't see them, but he gently wiped them away.
"Main bhi kitna paagal tha, tumse chupa raha tha. Meri wifey toh sabse strongest hai, she wouldn't fall weak, will she? He smiled sadly.
"Kya chipa rahe the? She asked him and Neil sighed.
"Avni, main aur Mithali aaj ek mission pe jaa rahe hai. West Mumbai mein humne do terrorists ko arrest kiya tha, aur hume orders mile hai ki hum unke associates ko arrest karne aaj West Mumbai ke ek factory mein jaaye. Waise toh I would have gone on this mission without any worries, but wahaan ki situation ki hume koi idea nahi hai. This can be very dangerous Avni, the chances of my return are 10 percent.
Avni looked at him in horror. She almost felt betrayed. They were on a verge of separation, and he didn't even let her know? But at present, she needed to assure Neil that all would be fine.
"Sab thikh hoga Neil, tumhe aur Mithali ko kuch nahi hoga. Tum unn terrorist ko successfully arrest karoge. I trust you, we all do. She kissed his hands.
He looked at her in devotion. Her eyes were filled with fear, yet she was telling him to be strong. He hugged her. She rested her head on his chest. He would now fight with all might. For his motherland, his family and his wife's trust in him.
~~~~~~~
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