-Aag- Avneil fanfiction- (part 1-4 updated 15/02/18)

To anybody around her, Avni is a bold fiery and bubbly girl. She won't take rubbish from anybody, she can't be kept silent. To anybody around her, she seemed strong.

But her past left her irrevocably, irreversibly shattered. She has lost her faith in love, in happiness. She has promised herself, she will never fall in love ever again.

To anybody around him he was a charming, handsome man, who's had the perfect childhood and the perfect family. He seems dangerously confident, flirty, reckless.


But he found that his family was not so perfect after all, the truth left him broken beyond repair. Restless and guilty, with a heavy burden on his chest. Him entertaining the girl's after him was just a front, to hide the fear, the vulnerability inside of him. He promised himself he will never fall in love, he was too afraid of what he was capable of.


But what will happen when these two meet, and become tied together in a relationship they could never imagine, never allow themselves to indulge in. What will they do when they feel things that scare them? Things they promised themselves to stay away from.

And how will he cope with a fireball like Avni, a girl who keeps on attracting danger, a girl on the run...

Just a note that in this story Avni has an older sister named Shruthi who is married to a man named Aarav and they have a small son Dhruv. These characters are not a major part of the storyline. In this story Avni's childhood was completely normal, her dad has passed away and Neela is her birth mother.

This is nothing like what you are expecting.


I'm so happy that you guys have opened up this story and decided to give it a try, i really think you guys will enjoy it...

Ps: please don't worry, i know recently there has been plagerised work on here but I am some_any_every_thing on wattpad posting this story as Meri over there. I started posting this here as Meri but I've lost it now, hence the name change.

Part 1- Smiles

..


"Don't touch me!" Avni screamed stumbling backward, hitting her head against the wall. "Please! Dont touch me!"

She slid down the wall to the floor, in manic sobs that rattled through her shattered body. She curled her arms around her knees and hugged them to her body protectively, rocking back and forth in trauma.


"Stay away from me! Stay away! Please- please don't hurt me..." Neela frowned at Avni's state, tears in her eyes seeing her daughter suffer through these memories every day.

"It's okay meri baccha... your safe now... he's not here... he's not here anymore... and I won't let him find you again..." Neela stroked her hair and finally calmed her down a little. She stopped punching the air frantically and fell exhausted in to her mother's arms.

Neela rubbed Avni's back gently, pecking the top of her head as she broke out of her psychotic trance and realised that it was just a hallucination, "It's going to be okay baccha, I will find you someone that will love you more than anything and treat you the way you're meant to be treated..."

"I'm never falling in love again..." Avni muttered in to her chest, her eyes burning in pain.

"But baccha not all men are like him... Tumhare di ko dekho wo itni khush hai..."

Avni smiled faintly, but a single tear fell from her eye, "Khushi sab ki kismat main nahi likha hai maa... I will not trust anyone with my heart ever again..."

Neela sighed, knowing it couldn't carry on like this, her daughter was broken on this inside. This blazing fiery front of hers was just a facade, and she needed someone that could heal her, piece together the shattered fragments of her soul.

...

Neil shot up in bed, panting. With a sharp intake of breath, he realised it was just a nightmare. He sighed, running his hand through his hair, and wiping away the cold sweat that had formed at the nape of his neck.

He hid his face in his hands, struggling to regulate his uneven breathing, to shake the disturbing thoughts out of his brain. Guilt racked his body, stabbing him. He chanted to himself, hissing in hatred.

"I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't be here- I shouldn't-"

"Beta... Kya hua?" He looked wearily to see prakash perched on the bed beside him, peering at him in worry.

"Kuch nahi..." He mumbles, rubbing his eyes harshly.

Prakash frowned, the agony in Neil's eyes was unbearable, "Please beta, aisa jhoot mat bolo..."

Neil looked at Prakash for a second, but his eyes flickered away immediately in shame.

"Mein bilkhul teek hu uncle ji..."

Prakash sighed heavily, pain soaring through his chest as tears fell from his eyes.

"Neil-" his voice stern, pained. "I told you, I'm your papa..."

"Nahi..." Neil looked up and the look in his glassy eyes cut straight through Prakash like a knife. They were so vulnerable and hurt. "Wo ghatiya insaan hai mera pita... mera pita ek rakshaas hai, bilkhul mere tarah"

Prakash shook his head, this was excruciating. His eyes were so guarded, his son, his son that he had raised as his own for all these years, that told him everything, his eyes were now guarded. He was hiding all that pain and guilt from what he had found out recently and buried it in to the depths of his heart and he refused to share it with anyone.

And it was painful to see his son destroy himself.

"Beta... listen to me... you are nothing like that man. Nothing like him..."

"I am-"

"Stop blaming yourself Neil..." He placed a hand on Neil's shoulder comfortingly, praying Neil could feel the genuine fartherly love and care in his touch. "None of it was your fault... You're nothing like him... you are going to be the best husband and father. I know it."

'We will never know...' Neil thought, his bloodshot eyes closing. 'Because I am never going to let myself fall in love. I can't trust myself with someone else's heart.'

...

"Duggu slow down na!" She exclaimed in that sing-song voice of hers with a silly smile on her face to amuse him. The little boy running in front of her turned around with a cutesy smile as he giggled.

That smile lit up her life, gave her peace after all she had gone through. She would do anything for him.

"Nuh-uh Mausi... that would be cheating, i never cheat..." She chucked heartily at his feigned innocence, playfully frowning.

"Jhoota!" She yelled, picking up her pace behind him.

Her little nephew was facing her as he ran, and she frowned in concern, "Dhruv,
Saamne dekh kar chalna warna-"

And it was too late, he collided with the leg of a man on his phone and ungracefully landed on the floor with a thud.

She sprinted to kneel infront of Dhruv, lifting him off the floor and checking over him while brushing the dirt off him.

The man puts away his phone as soon as the boy falls and kneels down infront of the small boy, his brows furrowed in worry.

But the woman next to him immediately diverts his attention, and he couldn't peel his eyes away from her, staring at her intently.

Neil PoV

I couldn't tell why my eyes were refusing to look away. I couldn't even see her face, her beautiful soft mane of curls swayed in the wind and hid it.

"Mein teek hu mausi..."

"Pakka? Dhruv tum sacch me teek ho na? Kahi laga toh nahi?" Her long elegant fingers caressed the boy's cheek and that voice, it stopped me in my place in astonishment. It was so delicate, like the hypnotising hum of trees.

She turned around to look at me and-

Woah.

Goddammit...

She was stunning...

The soft wisps of her hair fell behind her ears, tickling her collarbone like cast away kisses from the wind. Her lips were moving animatedly, but they looked so soft and gentle like pink tainted rose buds.

And yet, none of that could compete with those eyes...

Those onyx black eyes that made me gasp for air, for a second I thought I lost myself inside them. They pierced me with their intensity. They were like an ocean, swimming with emotions, compassion and passion and this deep gruelling pain that burnt through them. But they glared with light, like she had hidden away the beauty of the entire universe inside of them.

They were breathtaking. Mesmerising. They were reckless.

What the hell was I doing? This was dangerous. I can't let this happen.

"Hello!?? I asked can't you watch where you are going?!"

That voice of hers broke me out of my trance, and I looked at her blankly like a fool.

"I- uh- um- I- no..." She frowned in confusion, her eyes narrowing and her lips pursing slightly.

"No? Oh god... this one's blind, deaf and stupid..." She rolled her eyes, her tone mocking.

Sh*t. You idiot. Now you've made yourself look stupid.

"I- uh- I mean yes I do- I'm sorry..." I stumbled over my words, clearing my throat. I was suddenly so nervous, like a kid on the first day of school. What's happened to me? I'm never like this...

"Sorry?! Sorry wouldn't have cut it if Dhruv got hurt, would it?" She pointed her finger at me, her voice fierce and stern and her eyes unforgiving.

Oh god, she looked so hot when she was angry. Her brows drawn together, and those eyes blazing irrevocably, the power that surged through her was overwhelmingly sexy... A women that could stand up for herself.

I tried to snap myself out of it, I couldn't even recognise this stuttering Neil. Usually Neil Khanna oozed confidence, who was this nervous mess?

"I am sorry- I am... I just got an important call and I was a little distracted-"

"So? You are in a park sir, kids play around here all the time, the world doesn't revolve around you!" She was seriously irked, she snapped back.

"What? Look, I'm an ACP-"

I was Neil Khanna, who did she think she was? Just because she was unbelievably beautiful doesn't mean I would let her speak to me like that.

She was like a fireball, she would ruin me. I knew it.

Then why was it that I all I wanted was to be completely engulfed by those flames in her eyes.

"Tho? ACP ho tho bhagwaan bangaya kya? Tumhe tumhari wardi ki saath mujhe dhara ne sakthe!"

She looked so adorable as she yelled at the top of her voice in frustration, her nose and her cheeks turning the cutest shade of pink as she pouts like a baby.

I chucked at her face in amusement, making her look completely taken back at my reaction.

Did she think she would scare me? How could I take her seriously with that adorable face?

"Miss... shaant hoga... aap tomatar ki tarah lal ho rahi hu"

She huffed in annoyance, bewilderment etched on her face as she scrunched up her face in anger like a small child.

"Excuse me! What did you just-"

She raised her hand to hit my arm but I saw it coming first. I caught her hand by her wrist.

Was this a movie or something? Because i could swear to god that my heart just skipped a beat as my skin made contact with hers. I wanted to ignore it but it buzzed in my veins like a rush of caffeine.

I think I've gone mad... because as soon as I looked in to her eyes I lost my words again. Now she was looking back at me and it was as if that gaze has the power to chill me to the bone, to set my heart ablaze.

Snap out of it. Idiot. She's just one of the others. I smirked at her, my signature grin that usually had girls on their knees.

"Oh getting eager to get hands on... pretty lady...?" I winked at her, and she looked to the floor, pulling her hand away hastily.
I hoped to see a pinky blush tint her cheeks. I didn't care less if the other girls did it, but I was desperate to see her smile at my words.

But she wasn't the other girls. She was completely and utterly different. She looked back up at me and her stare levelled with mine and it was challenging, battling.

"Are you trying to flirt with me?! First go look at yourself in the mirror... bandar!"

The shock must have been evident on my face as her little Nephew giggled at my probably hilarious expression.

I didn't have anything to say.

For the first time, a woman had been able to leave me wordless.

What was this woman doing to me?

Her beauty, Her boldness, just her. It was making me feels things I never had before. Things that were scaring me.

I continue to stare at her blankly, as if trying to recover from my shock.

I must look so stupid.

"Its okay Mr ACP... you don't have to waste your time thinking what to reply, I'm sure all your oh so very important calls should be given the priority..."

She smirked at my ridiculous reaction and then burst out in the joyous laughter, and its melody was like a choir of angels as she leaned down to get a hi-five from her nephew.

And I couldn't stop the goofy smile that took over my features. I don't know what the hell she was making me feel but i did know that her one smile lit up my entire world.

"Well played... pretty lady..." I got her attention with that and she smiled again, this time at me. Her eyebrow was raised victoriously, and for the first time the competitive streak in me died.

For that smile, I wanted to lose again and again...

Avni PoV

"I'm so sorry beta... tumhe bohot zhoor se laga?" He frowned in worry, caressing Dhruv's cheek gently.

He was mumuring something or another to him, making Dhruv giggle like crazy. He had that charming smile on his face, and god knows how I had kept my cool the entire time.

That wind-swept tossled hair, those melted honey brown eyes that i had to look away from before I drowned in to their unimaginable depths, and those tones muscles flawlessly carved in to his body.

He was devilishly handsome.

But that attitude? Who did he think he was? Flirting like that... I bet he was just like that monster, playing with girls like they're toys.

I don't know.

I don't like the way a whole zoo of butterflies were churning in my stomach when he smiled at me and how his eyes kept on making me forget what I wanted to say and how I couldn't help but find it adorable how easily Dhruv had warmed up to him.

Dhruv pulled the man's nose and shook it playfully, and the guy scrunched up his face adorably as he chuckled at Dhruv. He was so cute as he handled Dhruv, fondling with his hair affectionately and making him smile.

These feelings pounding in my heart were scaring me.

"Okay Dhruv beta, ab mein chalta hu... lovely to meet you champ..." He gave Duggu a hi-five with a wide grin that was making my heart go funny again. Then he leaned and he was whispering something in to Dhruv's ear, but his eyes were finding mine and making no attempt at looking away. Smirking, as if he knew the effect he was having on me.

Arrogant idiot.

I looked away, to hide the embarrassment heating my cheeks.

He planted a sweet kiss against Dhruv's cheek before standing up, turning around and walking away.

I didnt even know his name, I- What was I doing?

He turned back around, flashing that killer smile at me again, my heart thrumming like a madman and threatening to burst out of my chest.

"Nice to meet you as well pretty lady..."

He chuckled heartily as I shook my head at his hopelessness, but I still couldn't hide the soppy smile on my face.

"Likewise Bandar..." I mumbled back but loud enough for him to hear. With another laugh, he walked away in to the distance and I don't know what he took away with him...

But it felt like it was part of me.

As I watched him disappear in to the sunset horizon as if I was in a movie, I felt a tug on my arm. I looked down at Dhruv with a soft smile.

"Kya hua Duggu?" I knelt in front of him, brushing the hair out his eyes.

"Aap idhere aao na..." He tugged me even closer, pressing up against my chest, leaning up and pecking an adorable kiss against my cheek.

I pulled back with a surprised smile, cupping his face.

"Itna pyaar ajaanak se? Kya hua?"

Dhruv smiled shyly and giggled, and I could tell from his face that there was mischief brewing in his mind.

"Uncle told me to tell you it was from him, aap ka bandar, Neil..."

I gasped at the gesture, my insides knotting anxiously but a wistful smile softening my features. God knows what this guy was doing to me...

Neil.

Something told me I was going to have a tough time forgetting him. But I had to.

Part 2- A pretty distraction

..

Dhruv sat on the kitchen countertop swinging his legs merrily, Avni admired him with a grin, waiting impaitently for her toast to finish. Shruthi stood infront of the counter, brushing Dhruv's hair affectionately. Neela and Aarav leaned against the table drinking their coffees.

"Mumma..." He tugged Shruthi's hand cutely, "mein phir se Neil uncle ko kabhi milenga?" Dhruv lisped excitedly, with a bright smile.

Avni PoV

Oh sh*t. Oh Dhruv... what have you done?

I bit my lip in anxiousness, squeezing my eyes shut in realisation and fear. I was refraining from facepalming myself.

Everyone's face warped in confusion and from then on I started counting down to my doom, the barricade of questions that would hurl my way.

"Neil uncle?" Shruthi di frowned in question and maa and jiju leaned forward in curiousity, "Wo kaun hai? Kabhi mila hai is uncle ko?"

Sh*t. Sh*t. Sh*t. I'm done for.

"Wo Mausi ki dost hai na?"

"Mausi ki dost?" Maa pointed her questioning gaze at me, her eyebrow raised.

"Yeh konsi dost hai aap ko Avu jo hum ko nahi bataya?" Jiju was grinning like a mad man, and I was terrified by the gleam of mischief in his eyes.

My lips parted but my words were lost somewhere, I don't know why the words were in a jumble in my head as if just the thought of him, the memory of his eyes had the power to leave me completely speechless.

I didn't know what to say, who was he? Nothing more than a stranger I bumped in to on the street, he didn't even know my name. But why couldn't i just say that? Why did my stomach have to flip like this? Oh god. I hate this.

"Hum usse park me mila tha papa!" Dhruv jumped off the countertop, messing up the hair di had just brushed and jumped in to jiju's arms, hyper with excitement. Now what new mess will this boy put me in to?

"Papa jhanti ho? Wo policeman hai! Wo bohot accha tha... par mujhe laktha hai ki wo mujhse zyaada mausi ko achha lagta hu..."

All their eyes were on me, staring me down and making my stomach churn in twisted circles more than it already was. I gulped under their intimidating gazes, god know what Dhruv would say next.

"Oh really mera baccha? Aise kyu laga?" Jiju asked Dhruv with a smile spread across his face.

Ugh... Oh no... I'm in trouble today...

"Wo poore saame ke liye... bus mausi ko dekh raha tha..." Nishaan giggled, and it felt like for a second, the whole word stopped still.

6 eyes piercing through me with endless questions and utterly shocked amused faces, I knew I would never hear the end of this. But then why wasn't that what I cared about?

Why did my cheeks starting flushing bright red at the thought that maybe he was staring at me? What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I acting like I was some sort of teenager?

I knew love was my weakness. That for me, love is a lie.

Then why did my lips want to quirk up in to a shy smile?

I sprinted to the toaster, grabbing the bread and trying to hide my bright pink face from my family.

"Hey Avu! Aise bhaag ne ki koshish mat karna!" Jiju said behind me with a chuckle, I closed my eyes in embarrassment.

"Avni!" Maa called. Oh damn it. I scrambled for my bag trying to divert my gaze from theirs.

"Avu don't you even think you are getting away without telling me who this new guy is!?" Di yelled in playfully irritation but I could hear them laughing teasingly behind me. "Avni stop right there!"

I opened the door, trying to sprint out of it, " I-uh- Di I can't be late! It's my first day na!?!-"

"Avni!-"

I shut the door before she could finish, locking it behind me. Leaning against it and panting to regain some control over my flustered self.

Oh Dhruv beta... why would you do this to your poor mausi?

End of PoV

...

DD- Sir! Sir!

Neil snapped out of his trance, snapping round to look at DD in confusion, "Hmm?"

"Itni dher se kidhere kho gaya tha aap? Kuch hogaya bhaiyya?"

Neil PoV

Dd stared at me with concern shadowing his features, he must have found it unusual to find me so distracted and unattentive. And it was. This never happened to me.

What the hell is wrong with me!?

Why am I lost in this endless labrinth of overlappinng thoughts and foreign feelings and this heaviness in my heart, this fear that I wouldn't see that face again.

Why is it that those eyes seemed to be etched in to my brain? That everytime I closed my eyes those eyes would reappear, and I couldn't help but just be utterly enraptured by their beauty? The way they sparkled as she smiled or blazed as she argued, they were filled with frenetic energy, and wholly abundant with life. I hate how breathtaking they are, I hate how they make me feel, how she makes me feel.

How does a stranger on the street have enough power over me to reign my thoughts ever since I met her. I was Neil Khanna, my self-control was impeccable...

I couldn't even recognise myself anymore. That woman officially turned me insane.

Then why the hell is my damn heart begging to see her again!?

It's fine. It's just an illusion, a fantasy, an infatuation. Its just an infatuation. Neil Khanna, keep control on yourself now, infatuation is dangerous. You've seen where it leads, what it forces a person to do.

I have the blood of a monster running through my veins. I can't get to close to anybody. I can't- I can't hurt anybody.

End of Pov

Neil clears his throat and closes his eyes to steady himself before looking back up at DD, his eyes now bare of emotion.

"Sorry DD kuch nahi hua hai, mein bus case ki baare mein soch raha tha... Kya bolna chata tha tumhe?"

"Oh wo bus remind karna chata tha ki wo new ACP join kar rahi hai aaj, aap ko accompany karne ke liye..."

With a nod Neil replied, indifferently checking for dirt stuck under his nails after field work, "uska naam kya hai?"

"Uska nahi sir- uski..." DD replied with an joyous smile, Neil looked up at this and subdued shock lingered in his widened eyes.

Neil PoV

A girl? That's surprising. Although the sad thing is that it shouldn't be.

I find a profound respect in me for a woman officer, she battles with a lot to stand where she is. She is attacked on her capabilities just because of her gender, they are told that they aren't strong enough or that the job is not for them. But just by bearing those taboos and working by protecting the same people that say those things about them, they prove they are stronger than anybody can imagine.

I'd feel proud to work alongside a lady ACP.

There was a knock on my door and I stood up to go to the door but DD reached before me, to open the door for her and let her in to my office.

"Sir... Meet Miss Avni Mehta..." DD announced.

Her high heels tapped rhythmically across the floor powerfully as she walked in, immediately demanding attention. But I couldn't explain why it made my heart suddenly start thunder louder with each step.

And then she was in my line of sight.

Oh my lord. No way.

No way in the world.


Avni's PoV

No way.

No f*cking way. This was not happeninng.

Neil PoV

What the hell?! Have I started hallucinating now!? I blink.

But she's still there.

And so I blink again.

But she is still there.

And so I keep blinking, blinking so much I must look like I've gone blind.

But she was still f*cking there.


Avni PoV

Out of all the police branches, in all the states, in all the cities, in all the towns, in all the villages... I was placed in this one.

With him.

Look at my luck.


Neil PoV

This was a dream right? Wait. Wait. It's not. She's actually there. She is actually here.

And F*ck.

She still looked gorgeous.

She literally dazzled with beauty, I suddenly felt stuffy in this room, as if she was stealing my breath away from me.

She wore tight black trousers with a sleeveless white top tucked in to it. Its low v cut teased me badly and all her alluring curves called out to me turning my throat parched and hands clammy. Her hair was brushed out of the way in to a high ponytail but loose strands fell out to frame her kohl lined eyes and tickle her glowing, flushed pink cheeks.

She looked like the epitome of power, a fire danced in her eyes and it was exhilarating. It had the power to make anyone stop and listen to her, those piercing eyes were terrifyingly hypnotic.

Oh god, please give me the power to look away because only God knows what I will do if I carry on staring at her like a creep.

But. Wait. She's an ACP!?

How many more bloody surprises did she have under her sleeve?

This girl is going to kill me.

But what a way to die...

End of PoVs

"Tum!?" Both of them exclaimed at the same time, their eyes wide and lips parted in surprise.

"Aap ek dusre ko jhanta hai?" DD seemed equally as surprised, his eyes bewildered by the spite in their voices.

"Haan... hum mil chuka hai... jab inho ne mere bhanje ka saath takkra kar usse giradiya tha!" Avni yelled pointing at him, looking irked at his presence.

Neil gasped at her outright accusation, placing a hand on his chest mockingly with a sarcastic voice, "Oh so I was the wrong one? That was an accident! You calling me a monkey was also an accident haan?"

DD's mouth falls open seeing them bicker back and forth like a married couple, sulking like small children. It had been so long since he had seen Neil so free, unlike the rigid emotionless man he had become.

"No. It wasn't. That was just the truth. Aap bandar ki tarah hi dikh tha hu!" She retorted with a smug smirk, with her hands playfully crossed over her chest. And that smile made Neil's resolve melt again, his heart weakening at the glint in her eye. But that just made him more annoyed, the power she had over him.

"Actually miss... I know many people that would completely disagree with you!" It was his turn to smile proudly, popping his collar.

"Oh really!" Avni asked, drawling sarcastically with a raised eyebrow. "Who are they? Blind people?"

Neil gasped again, no one had ever spoken to him so boldly, so recklessly. It infuriated him, yet he couldn't help but be drawn to her like a moth to a flame, "Excu-"

"SIR! MAAM! JUST ONE MINUTE!"

The pair looked at the the screaming DD almost immediately in shock that such a loud noise could come from someone looking so innocent and dutiful. Neil had never heard him raise his voice, he again pinched the inside of his palm, convinced he must be dreaming up this entire scenario.

"If you argue like this how will you work together... I'll go now but please... just introduce yourself to each other calmly. Try and behave."

He left the room with a sigh but a thrilled smile on his face seeing his Neil bhaiyya's reaction to this girl, Neil had been cold for so long. Locking himself away in the recesses of his heart. This girl was something else if she was capable of breaking down the walls he had built up around him.

Neil and Avni looked at each other in shock, mouths parted and eyes round like saucers, disbelief at the fact that DD had just left after scolding them like children.

"So..." She held out her hand with a confident smirk, and a raised eyebrow. He lifted her hand and shook it slowly, his eyes still awestruck by her sudden appearance. "Nice to meet to ACP Neil Khanna..."

Neil PoV

My heart leaped again, skipping a beat and then twisting and turning irregularly, just with her fierce stare she had melted me in to a hopeless mess.

My name from her pink lips, in her soft sultry voice was enough to daze me in to a strange intoxication where I had nothing to say... and nothing to do but stare helplessly in to her eyes. It was like sweet poison, ridiculously tempting but so dangerous.

Idiot. Why?

Why do you keep doing this to yourself?!

I opened my mouth to say something snarky back but she had already walked past me, boldly holding her head up high.

Her shoulder brushed against my mine, and that was enough to make my brain stutter, the synapes fizzling again. As if somehow her touch was enough to make me feel everything all at once, yet somehow leave me completely numb.

Forget it... Neil.

I turned around and my mouth must have fell open, aghast. She had sat in the seat opposite the one at my desk. But her feet were swung up on to the desk on top of my files casually, as if this was her second home.

One of her long legs were lazed over the other one, and she looked around the room as if background checking it, in utter disinterest. She looked so cute with her nose scrunched up in distaste at my lacklustre untidy office, and with her homely actions as if she belonged here.

This girl was something else.

I must have had that cheesy smile on my face again.

Her eyes fell on my half eaten sandwich, and I was awed by the excitement that burst like a firework in her eyes, lighting them up.

"Oh wow! Sandwich!" She exclaimed adorably like a small child, grabbing the sandwich with no regard to the fact it was mine and took a huge bite out of it.

"Hey excuse me-" I say in disbelief, walking around the desk to face her, but she cuts me off before i could finish.

"Mmm... this is so good... Kisne banaya yeh?" The slight irritation in me dissipated seeing the happiness glowing on her face, that for some reason was like a lullabye to my heart and soothed it.

Besides I couldn't help but be endeared in total surprise at her bold, bubbly, dauntless confidence. It was overwhelmingly powerful, and unlike any girl I had ever met before. The girls I encountered knew to do nothing but stumble, stutter and blush. Though Avni would be adorable doing even that.

You fool Neil. Can't you just stop with this now? You've gone mad.

"Meri Bebe ne..." With a smile I fell on to the chair, watching her relish the sandwich. I didn't want it anymore, watching her smile when she ate it was a million times better.

"Unki haath me kisi tarah ki jaadu hai yaar!"

I chuckled at the innocence in her eyes as she smiles in delight, "Actually Miss Mehta... that was meant to be my lunch..."

"Well tough luck then... I'm hungry..."She snapped back with a smirk, and an irresistible bite of her lips.

Oh god... this girl.

I leaned back on the chair with a smile, closing my eyes and sighing in defeat.

This was no winning against this girl's stubbornness.

"Oh... ACP... wo din aap ne kya bataya tha? Look, I'm an ACP... you cant speak to me like that?" She glares at me playfully, smiling mockingly.

I'd spoken so haughtily that day, having no clue that the firecracker of a woman in front of me was also an ACP. Damn it. Damn it.

"Mujhe yaha dekh kar shock laga na?" I had nothing to say, my lips just parted and closed again and again like a drowning fish but nothing left my lips.

She just smiled with a soft giggle that made my blood sing, "don't worry Mr Khanna... mujhe aksar yeh effect hota hai logo par"

She got up of the chair as if she had said nothing, as if she didn't understand how attractive, how spell-binding her fearlessness was. It was inevitably sexy, even I had to admit that.

Even though I hate to.

I watched like a ditzy hopeless romantic as she cruised around the room and looked around on my shelves as if scanning her surroundings.

This is just natural, i told myself. Yes she looked irresistibly beautiful. Glowing. Like a tempting sin. But i was just distracting myself from the pain that bites away inside me. Its just a bloody infatuation that is refusing to fade.

Right. Right?

Her eyes narrowed cutely in concentration as, she ran her elegant finger across the shelves of files. Her eyes widened as she found what she wanted and took it out with eagerness visibly buzzing on her face.

"This weeks case... Vikas Agarwal... bohot interesting lagta hai yeh..." She opened the file and started scanning through it, childishly charming little crinkles appearing on her forehead as she concentrated.

But Vikas Agarwal?! She was not getting involved with that! He was a filthy scoundrel, that raped women and did the horridest things imaginable to them. I had intentionally kept women officers as far as possible from this case, I couldn't risk anyone's life. And now, especially not hers.

I sprint to her, and i realise that my expression might have come off as stern suddenly, "File wapas dhe do..."

She frowned at me in confusion, clutching the file adamantly, "Nahi! Kyu?"

"Kyunki wo mera hai!"

"Haan tho... hum partners hai ab! Tumhara case matlab mera case!"

"Well yeh case tumhara nahi hai!" I yelled grabbing the file and trying to yank it away from her.

She huffed in frustration and tying to pull it back, as i tried hard not to get distracted by the way her tongue was cutely stuck out in concentration.

"Kyu! Mujhe chaiyye! Chod do na!" She sulked like a baby and it was so hard not to let her have her way, nobody could deny that pout and those puppy dog eyes.

"I told right... no... give it back..."

Avni PoV

My throat was turning dry at the sight of Neil getting frustrated, I tried to swallow the reaction back but he looked ridiculously hot when he was angry, his jaw was tensed and his eyes were raw and numbing.

But its a front, a facade. I must not let those good looks fool me.

"Never!" I pulled it back out of his hands like a small child and then started running as fast as could carry me.

"Hey stop! Avni! Give it back!" I could hear his footsteps pacing behind me, and it was hard not to stop in my place, my name sounded so good in his husky voice. I wanted to stop and hear him say it again.

I looked back as I was running, he looked so cute as he frowned innocently in distress, but I wasn't one to back down. I'm not going to back down.

"Watch out!" He exclaims in worry, rushing toward me and placing his hand on the wall behind my head.

I gasp as my head hits his hand instead of the wall. My heartbeat races unbelievably fast, so fast that my chest must have been visibly heaving. His face is inches away from mine, our noses centimetres away from softly touching.

He pinned me to the wall with ease, his arms trapping me, and his body literally pressed up against mine. The air was thick with tension, at least for me, my breathing shallow as his hot breath swept across my skin.

My mind was begging for my eyes to close, ashamed by the embarrassing way my body was quivering in his touch and all my blood was flowing in to my cheeks. But how could my heart look away from those eyes, melted honey brown with golden specks as if he had hidden the sun away in them.

They were doing things to me that I didn't want to think about, I wanted to ignore the feelings at the pit of my stomach.

And then the darned idiot tucked the loose strand of hair behind my ear, and then continued to trace his nimble fingers down, grazing my temple, my neck and brushing against my collarbone, I couldn't control the monster of desire that growled within me as I gasped for air suddenly, my eyes closing.

I could feel his smirk on me, boring through my skin, the idiot was enjoying this.

The suddenly my hands were empty. My eyes opened to see him holding the file, with a victorious smile on his face.

"Thank you ACP Mehta for your co-operation... Shock laga kya? Mujhe aksar yeh effect hota hai logo par..." He raised his eyebrow at me with a wink, making my cheeks flame up all over again.

But frustration coursed through me, how could i let someone distract me like that? Not done.

I just stood there fuming from my ears, with my hands crossed over my chest as he smirked that million dollar smile at me making me feel overjoyed yet furious at the same time.

Revenge is sweetest when you wait for a while, he'll have it coming back to him, no doubt about that.

But for now, I snatched the file back with a frown, "No thank you ACP Khanna... Line ka chor! bolo... why don't you want me looking at this thing? Or I'll never give it back..."

Neil PoV

"Avni..." I pleaded calmly, trying to look sternly in to her eyes but failing miserably against that baby-like frown. God... this girl's stubbornness was iron strong.

"Look Avni... he's a rapist, a serial rapist..." It was sickening to say the words, as I warned her gently. Her eyes widened a bit before something changed inside them. A sharp pain shot through them and all the playfulness was gone in her eyes, they had become unreadable. This pain wasn't just anger at a criminal's actions, it felt deep-rooted, it made me worry. "Avni?"

She brushed off the moment of weakness like it was nothing, a passion flared in her eyes, "rapist ho ya drug dealer, criminal tho criminal hi hota hai na? Why wouldn't i help handle this case?"

I feel the worry that pounds in my heart suddenly spread on to my face, as I frown squeezing her shoulders slightly, feeling the softness of her skin under mine, "what if something happens to you?"

Discomfort and confusion pervaded her eyes and just realised how that must have sounded, what i just said, "I mean-I've- uh... I've kept all woman officers off this case..."

And that fire of bullheadedness was back in her eyes, the one that attracted me so desperately, "Oh ho... tho ACP Khanna meri kabiliyat par ungli uta rahi hu?"

"No-"

"You wait and see ACP, just give me two days, aur mein zarur wo rakshas ko hatkadi pehenake yaha leke aaounga... Wanna bet?"

Just by seeing the strength in her eyes, I know she'd wouldn't stop till she won this bet. But I didn't want her to do this, "No... I don't want to..."

"Aww kya hua ACP Khanna ko... dhar laga, ladki ki saamne aap ko haarna padega?" She pulled my cheeks with a heart-fluttering smile that made my heart go crazy. Her soft fingers against my cheeks made me want to close my eyes and melt in to her touch, and let out the huge smile lingering on my lips.

But she should know...I'm not one to back down either...

"Fine. Teek hai... bet karthe hai..." I sigh with a small smile at her hopelessness, she grins at me with those playful eyes again making me feel all those thing I wanted to lock away forever.

"Teek hai ACP Khanna... be prepared to lose..."

"Hmm... dekh tha hai...par mujhe nahi laktha ki tum jeet jayenge" I muttered, annoyance reflecting in my voice.

"Itna confidence hai tho ko aise tightly file pakad kar kyu raha hai huh? Dhedo!"

She snatched the file off me with grace and beauty and I admired like a blind fool, dazed by the way she giggled sweetly. Her sing song laughter echoing in the air as she turned away, her hair flying behind her as she ran back in to the office.

"Mein hi jeet jayenge!" She called out, adorable mischief glimmering in her voice.

"Hmmm... dekh the hai pretty lady..."

I winked, and my heart pounded in joy as i saw her blush furiously under my gaze.

"Don't call me that..." She frowned, her eyebrows ruffled and burrowed.

"Kyu? Sach nai hai kya?" I looked at her smugly, loving the way she was just burning more, that rage was so overwhelmingly hot that I didn't want to think of what it was doing to me.

"Sacch hi hai... par ek bandar ka muh se yeh suna accha nahi laktha..."

My mouth dropped open in surprise at her smart retort, this is girl was really something else. She was like magic, like a alcohol, she made all you other thoughts dissapear and she drew you back again and again, like an addiction.

She threw her head back in laughter, and all I could do was hopelessly gaze like a fool as the way her eyes glittered and the corners of her eyes creased.

She would be the death of me.

But like I said, what a way to die...


But no. I couldn't. I can't.

...

Please comment and vote and let me know what you think... i have rushed this in between exams

Part 3- the bet

..



Neil groaned deeply, splashing water over his weary face. He stared at his red face in the mirror and sighed, his eyes were bloodshot red and his tears sticky and dry. The constant ticking of the the clock grated against his ears in the jarring silence.

3:00 am.

And he still couldn't sleep. He just tossed and turned mindlessly, unable to shake the nightmares out of his mind. Either those dreaded fears dredged up his throat or it was her eyes, which were a new addition to his constant nightmares, what he felt for her scared him. A lot.

He popped open the lid and emptied out the pills in to his hand. With a gulp of water he took them all in one go, holding his dizzy head. With a heavy breath, he bit back the nauseating effect of the medicines and slipped back in to bed.

Finally a little bit of sleep arriving to his exhausted body.

...

"Avu?"

She closed her eyes tighter, folding her shaking her hands around her curled body like a small child who was trying to protect herself.

"Avu kahan ho tum?" (Where are you?)

His footsteps approached as she intook a sharp breath, trying to regulate her hyperventilating. She tried to focus on the sound of the raindrops hitting the floor, and the way it drenched her hair... as if washing the pain away. She wiped away her tears flimsily, but the fact that she was crying was blatantly evident.

"Oh Avni..." He sighed in despair, seeing her in such a bad state, she tried to smile but her lips quivered and her eyes filled with vulnerability.

He rushed to kneel beside her,

"Avni! What the hell are you doing here!? It's 3:00 am and its pouring with rain! Come inside... now..."

He pulled her sternly but gently by her arms but she pryed him away, with a tenative smile but teary eyes, "I'm fine jiju... mujhe bus neend nahi aa rahi thi... Dhruv so gaya hai na?"


He sighed sadly again at the lies that spilled from her lips, at the constant mask of bravery that she hid behind, alone and scared.

"Of course he's asleep its three am, its ages past his bedtime, infact... Its ages after your bedtime missy!"

She smiled at his antics, the fun in his eyes as he said bad jokes and the way someone who wasn't in anyway related to her by blood looked after her so dearly, she didn't deserve it.

Her laughter was genuine and melted away her facade, slowly she broke down in to bitter sobs finally letting out the pain that was excruciating in her chest.

"Oh avu..." Aarav pulled her in to a tight hug, holding her comfortingly to his chest as she cried sorely. "You know that monster isn't worth my baby sister's tears na?"

"Mujhe andhere ki- ki dhar hai- wo- wo mujhe- wo wapas aaya tho? Mujhe dhar-"


"I know... I know Avu..." He rubbed her back gently to soothe her, as if she was a small baby. His sister in law was very dear to him, like the sister he never got. "Par tumhe pata hai ki hum sab tumhe kuch nahi hone dooga na? Us ghatiya insaan tumhare aas paas bhi nahi aane dooga... not anymore..."

She nodded silently, whimpering and sniffling back tears and loosening slightly in his arms.

"Thoda better feel ho rahi ho?" She nodded, still hiding her face in his shirt like a baby. "Aaja undar aao warna bukhaar hoga tumhe is baarish mein bet kar..."

He took her inside, turning on the lights and sitting her down on the sofa. He grabs a towel and dries her hair making her curl her nose is distaste cutely,

"Hey chodo na jiju!" He chuckled at her childishness, with an affectionate smile.

"Haan sure... phir tumhe bukhaar padenga aur mujhe sune padega tumhari di se..."

She smiled slightly, she had longed for her relationship to be like her jiju's and di's but that was a dream that she had long left behind now.

"Oi... avu kis soch mein koyi hui hu? Aapki nayi dost ki?"

"Nayi dost?" She forgot all about the incident in the morning, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Haan... nayi dost... ab batungi aapki jiju ko yeh nayi Neil khon hai bhai?"


The breath caught in her lungs, and Aarav noted the way she flushed at merely the mention of his name, the reaction she had to this new friend, he grinned.

"Koi bhi nahi jiju... promise... wo bus mere nayi colleague hai..."

"Hmmm..." He hummed, his suspicious eyes were not convinced but he let it go for now. "Teek hai phir batao kaise tha aap ki pehele din?"

He stirred the two cups of coffee infront of him stimultaneously, as she looked at him in question,

"Coffee? Raat mein kyu bana raha hai jiju... bohot dher hogaya, aap ko sone chaiye..."

"Oh ho! Sach me? Badi badi baatein karthi ho aap Ms Ziddi... you are telling me to sleep knowing very well that you will not get sleep..."

"Haan par aap-"

"Mein kya? Mein jaake aaram se sau jao yeh jaankar ki aap ko sau nahi pa rahi hai?"

She became pale and sullen realising that her trauma meant he was staying awake for her, she hated troubling people, which was why her pain laid hidden behind her smile.

With a deep grave frown she mumbled, "I'm so sorry jiju, please jaake sau jao, mein bhi chalti hu..."

"Hey, why are you behaving as if someone has died? Calm down, Im just staying up late... mein bus itni si meri choti behen ke liye kar nahi saktha hu?" He asked with a loving smile, he sat opposite her on the table, placing a steaming mug infront of her. But she still frowned, guilt wrangling inside of her.


"Oh come on Avu... udaas mat hoja na? Late night gossip nahi kar saktha hum?" A tiny smile broke out on her face at his ridiculousness.

"Haan teek hai kar saktha hai..." Her eyes glittered now, some of the old childish Avni reviving inside her. "What could we gossip about?"

She winked with a mischievous smirk, "Hmm... pehele aap bataiye jiju... Dhruv number 2 kab aa raha hai? I can't wait for more and more kids to call me mausi..."

"Hey pagal ladki!"

"Aaa! No jiju! Don't!" She screamed in hysteric laughter as he chased her around the room.

Small glimpses of her old self surely returned from time to time, but nobody was there to heal her shattered heart, to bring her out of her dark and scary past, to protect her, as she stayed on the run away from the monster that broke her soul.

...

"Thank you Neela ji, aap ki hi wajhe se humhe is NGO ko itna successful bana payaya..."

"Koi baat nahi Shweta ji..." She squeezed her hands reassuringly, with a warm smile. "Hum dost hai na? Phir itni formality kyu?"

Shweta giggled slightly but tears of old memories and rotten pain moistened her eyes, "mein bus yeh chati Neela ji ki ab koi aur ladki ki shaadi ek narak jaise na hogao... ki wo samje saccha pyaar kaise hota hai... aur wo saccha pyaar unko mil jaye..."

Neela felt her chest tighten as she remembers Avni, the way she was permanently traumatised by that monster, "I know Shweta ji... sab teek hogayenge... wo sab bhi aap ki tarah finally koi prakash ji mil jayenge..."

"Hmm... But i hope that they don't have to live with a monster before that... it ruins your life Neela ji... its so-" she choked back a cry, muffling her mouth with her hand.

"I know swetha ji-"

"Mera beta shaadi nahi karenge ab... i dont know what to do... he doesn't want to listen to me... he doesn't believe me. Neil would be a wonderful husband, i know it, we have raised him to be that way- but he doesn't want to listen to me- he doesn't want to even consider the proposals..."

"Aap ka beta? Neil?"

"Haan, Neil khanna, yaha ka ACP hai wo... maybe you have heard of him?"

'Neil? And a policeman? Could this be the new friend of Avni's that Dhruv was talking about?' Neela thought.

...

Neil PoV

I stumble back in confusion as I'm pushed and shoved around by the huge crowd surrounding all the chaotic noise and mess.

I frown in confusion.

What the hell is going on here?

Sh*t.

Is she in there?

Is she okay?

I saw Avni storm out of the station in the morning and I knew from that fiery look of steeled determination blazing in her eyes that she was up to no good. Now three hours after and she still hadn't returned, I made my way out to look for her.

I can't explain the feeling that flooded my veins. The straining restlessness of waiting around for her to return and being unable to do anything. I was furious she didn't tell me where she was going and when she was coming back, even though she had no reason, or obligation to. Even though i had no right to know.

God knows why I'm so bloody irrational when it came to her?!

What the hell was I supposed to do!

She was going after Vikas Agrawal... because of my bet...

Sh*t.

I'm f*cking idiot.

How could I let her do this?

I pushed myself through the crowds of people, shoving my badge in people's faces to get them to move out of the way. My muscles were tense, as if I was bracing myself for the worst. I tried to stop the way my heart was pounding incessantly, but I couldn't.

"Remember this when you dare to even look a girl in the eyes again!" The shrill voice blared with power, with courage. I could recognise her beautiful voice anywhere.

I got more desperate to get there, rage laced my flesh just at the thought of that filthy man.

I wasn't going to let this go wrong.

Finally, I'd almost made my way to the front.

.

Oh my lord.

What is this woman made of?

Is she purposely trying to steal my breath away from me?


There he was. The notorious terrifying serial rapist Vikas Agarwal stood there meekly like a punished school boy, his eyes downcast in shame, his hands were knotted together with rope and his body was scattered with cuts and bruises.

And there she was, as fierce as ever, her eyes spoke harrowing, scary volumes, that could silence anybody. Her knuckles were stained crimson with blood, but I couldn't tell if it was her own or his.

I didn't know whether to laugh at his pityful state or be scared for my life to have this dangerous woman in my station.

All i knew was that she looked hot. And it was making me feel all sort of ways that I shouldn't.

She spat in his face, her anger raw and overwhelming. "Don't even think about underestimating a woman! Do you think our love, our grace, our compassion... is our weakness? They are not our weaknessness, our pain is not our helplessnesss. Our pain is our strength. Our silence is our armour. And our love is our weapon... Just because no woman has dared to defeat you before, don't think we aren't capable. We can destroy you worse that you can ever imagine Mr Vikas Agarwal..."

God.

My eyes were soft with awe at her magical words, her courage, her fearlessness. It dragged me toward her like a magnet, it addicted me like a drug, killed me like a poison, robbed me like a thief.

I couldn't describe it.

She stood there, her teeth gritted in wild rage and small cuts and grazes adorning her face. Her hair was an untame mane of gorgeous curls flying behind her. The sweat made her soaked grey t-shirt stick to her curves making her all the more irresistible.

She carried on punching and kicking the living daylights out of him, and I couldn't help but admire her sexy agility, as her back arched when she skillfully worked her limbs. She had this cat-like alluring grace that was driving me mad.

She looked like a warrior.

And it blew me away.

"You are under arrest Mr Vikas Agarwal" She smirked as she twisted his hands behind his back, making them crack deafeningly.

I threw my pair of handcuffs in her direction, and she looked up in confusion as it clattered at her feet.

"At least use proper handcuffs..." I scoffed, but in reality i was struggling to speak in the trance of her beauty.

"Oho... tho aap bhi aagaya ACP saab..." She smiled, and my heart skipped a beat. Because I'm an idiot.

"Tho dekh? Mein bola na? Mein hi jeet gayi! Aap haar gaya!!!

The anger in her eyes dissolved and they softened, this sweet innocent triumph filled them that made my heart ache in a way it never had before. Her smile was playful, and the lively excitement returned to her hard fierce eyes and it was stunning.

It didn't feel like I lost anything. In fact it felt like I had won the more precious thing of all.

...

Avni PoV-

We shoved Agarwal in to the back of the jeep where we didn't have to see that monsters face. Neil opened the passenger seat door, and signalled inside.

He smirked at me and i just stared back at him, my mouth parted open but my words lost somewhere that his eyes had made me forget.

Where was that fierceness in me now?

How did this guy make the fighter in me melt away to nothing?

"Aisa kyu ghoor rahi ho? Mein idhere ek landmark hoke kada hu kya? Andar bet ja..."

His bit his words, drawling sarcastically but that didn't take away from the sweetness of his actions. He stood obediently, holding the door open for me like some sort of chivalrous prince.

I sighed, chewing on my lip to hide my small smile as I sat inside.

He shut the door, and opened the door on the other side, silently sitting inside and turning the key in the ignition.

Was he annoyed at me?

I didn't realise he would take his loss this bitterly...


"Kaise tha mera big arrest? Bohot dramatic na?" I tried to start a light conversation, I don't know why his silence bothered me so much, but it's disappointment felt like a stone weighing down on my heart.

"Hm... bohot nautanki hogaya... mujhe nahi pata tha ki itni badi sherni aap ki undar chupi thi..." He chuckled, his low husky laughter and made my hairs stand on end. I almost sighed in relief knowing he wasn't blanking me.

"ACP Sherni aur ACP Bandar... hum bohot mast team hone wala hai na?" I grinned at him, the thought of us working together made excitement bubble through my veins.

"This is not happening again." The cracks in his voice pervaded with stern authority, his eyebrows drawing together in a frown and his chiselled jawline clenching in irritation. He managed to look hot even when he was being irritating.

"God ACP thoda humble raho... you shouldn't take defeat this badly... Are you miffed at me?"

Was he seriously annoyed at me for arresting Agarwal before him?

This man.

"Yes I'm miffed at you... I thought you were smart ACP Mehta..." He still averted his gaze from mine, staring out on to the road in excess concentration, his eyes flared slightly.

"What do you mean?" My voice lowered in confusion, as I wrung my hands together nervously.

"What do you think I mean!?" He looked over to me, his big eyes were adorable as he yelled out in exasperation. "Do you think it was smart to leave without telling anybody where you were going? Do you think it was smart to chase a criminal on your own for a stupid bet? This isn't a game, take it seriously Avni... What if he hurt you?"

I almost gasped at the sincere worry in his eyes, it had been so long since i had seen it from anybody. It almost made me give up my resolve right then and there and forget the promise I had made to myself to never fall for a man again.

I bit down on my lip to stop me from smiling like a soppy teenager, I bit so hard that could taste the blood lace my tongue.

...

Neil Pov

"I know its not a game Neil... but It's going to be dangerous anyway right? I'm used to danger."

I look at her in a spark of worry, the thought of her in danger did something to me. My pulse raced uncontrollably, wrenching in my lungs.

"Used to it? Used to it meaning?"

She looked up at me as if she was broken out of deep thoughts, a puzzled expression on her face. She gave me a long sideways glance of question,

"Um... ACP saab... I have signed up to work on the police force... not some nursery. I know what risks I am taking..." She raised her eyebrow with scoff, even when she was being annoying she managed to look hot.

"Oh really? I thought you ended up here by accident since you behave like a nursery child anyway..."

She gasps at my comment and I could see from the gleam in her eyes that she was ready to pounce at me like the tigress she is.

"I do not behave like a child!" She exclaimed with a huff, pouting cutely as she stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window.

Exactly like a child.

"Well then next time don't risk your safety and then I won't call you a kid... I'm telling you if next time if something happens to you-"

She pushes my arm gently and playfully with a small innocent smile, and reached up to ruffle my hair adorably.

Just her touch was enough to leave me senseless.

"Areey baba- mujhe kuch nahi hoga... tum ho na mere saath... " She fluttered those long lashes at me, with painfully pretty smile on her tempting lips. "jab ACP Khanna meri partner hai mujhe kya ho saktha hai?"

Oh lord.

Did she not realise how those small simple words did so much?

It made my heart flip like a somersault and all these butterfly feelings churn inside of me. I couldn't help but break out in to a huge smile, admiring each one of her fierce yet somehow ever so delicate features.

She was being crazy anyway. She didn't need me. She didn't need anyone. She was so strong. It was spellbinding. It was so beautiful.

Why didn't she see it?

"Stop trying to butter me up madam... I'm not letting you have anything to do with him anymore..." I glared at her, seeing through her mischief.

She wasn't going to go anywhere near that monster again, not on my watch.

She pouted again, with those soft sweet eyes that made my heart melt in to a puddle.

"Shut up! You can't tell me what to do... I will interrogate him! I caught him na?!"

Interrogate him?

Is she mad?

Him and her in a locked room. What all could happen?

It is her job though.

Why am i so desperate to keep her away?

Well I can't let her risk her safety... Thats just basic humanity, right?

"Oh no your not..." I raised my eyebrows at her dissaprovingly, my voice challenging.

"Oh yes I am Mr Khanna..."

She smirked, cracking her knuckles. Her grin almost mocked my challenge.

Man.

This woman was a force to be reckoned with.

Yet the more she drives me crazy, the more desperately I fall back at her feet.


...


Avni PoV

He looked so cute as he concentrated on his work, his lips pursed and eyes narrowed with a small frown as he intently stared in to the computer screen.

I picked up the huge pile of paperwork that came with arresting a criminal with a long sigh, this was the boring part. This all felt so useless, this wasn't saving any innocent people, this wasn't protecting the city. This was just keeping the stupid criminal's lawyer's mouth shut for a while.

"Ow!"

Sh*t.

That hurt. I winced as the papers sliced against my hand. I guess the blood on my hands was from my own wounds not from hitting that Agarwal.


"Avni?"

I looked up in confusion and almost jumped seeing Neil appear right in front of me from nowhere, he isn't looking at me. He grabs my hand, immediately making tingles run down my spine. He looks over my hand carefully, his eyes softening with care.

My mouth fell open slightly, in awe of his actions, it felt so foreign, so special.

"You hurt yourself when fighting him?" He looks up at me now and the look on his face kicked me in the gut, his eyes rotted with guilt.

He ran his hand through his ruffled hair, with a panicked expression on his face, cursing himself. "Sh*t. I should have checked... called a nurse, a first aider or something..."

His gaze bore in to my soul, it felt like it was stripping away the guard I had made for myself all these years to protect me from giving away my heart. He looked frustrated, pained, "And have you turned mad? You couldn't tell me? You would have just suffered the pain without telling anybody?"

"But-"


"Shut up now, sit here... I'll bring the first aid kit..." He reprimanded me like a school child, glancing at me in worry apprehension before turning to leave.

I watched his retreating figure and grief clutched at my heart, I couldn't fall for somebody again, I can't- this can't be true. This concern, it couldn't be true... but why did his eyes feel so honest?

"Haath dhedo na yaar..." I felt a hand on the side of my head and looked up to see Neil caressing the side of my hair, his cute eyes filled with remorse. "I didn't mean to get angry with you... Did you feel bad?"

His face made my heart ache in woe, I smiled at him gently, shaking my head no.

"Aap mere partner hai Khanna... aap kuch bhi khedo... mujhe bura nahi lagega..." My heart warmed as he smiled, his eyes creased at the corners and glittered slightly, filled with joviality that I had rarely seen in them. "And I'm fine, the wounds have probably already dried up... you don't need to do anything..."

He looked at me in anger and pulled my hand back in to his, "Don't be stupid... It'll get infected..."

He opened up the box and started rummaging through it, trying to find what he needed.


Neil PoV


I started emptying out the box to find the cotton, taking out all the band aids and the ointments. I picked out the burn ointment as the antiseptic was underneath it.

"No! No please! Please please not that!" She screamed, her voice in unbearable hysteria.


Avni's Flashback

"I'm sorry baby... I'm so sorry... please don't Vidyut..." Vidyut approached her slowly, his grin infected with malice and a broken vase in his hand.

"Its too late to be sorry for what you did...You need to be taught a lesson..."

"Please..." Her sobbing eyes begged mercilessly but he paid no heed, smashing the vase in to her hand. She let out a yelp as the ragged edges dug in to her flesh and streams of blood spilled down her hand.

Vidyut smiled down at his work, loving the agony that he could controll. He leaned down and planted a wet kiss against her neck, inhaling and exhaling slowly against her skin making her tense up in fear.

"Did you learn your lesson baby?"

"Mmm hmm..." She could only mumble with her eyes squeezed shut, frozen in fear.

"Good..."

He took her bleeding hand in to his, she sprung away with a hiss at the anguishing pain of the touch.

He snapped his head to look at her and she immediately regretted her actions.

"Oh baby did that hurt?" His voice was too soft to be genuine, it was scarier than his usual abrasive voice.

"No- I- I'm fine..." She stuttered, backing away slowly.

"No, no... let me bandage it for you..."

She didn't dare to move as he went to get the first aid kit. She could only watch in horror as he took out the burn ointment and squeezed it out on to his hand.

"Vidyut I'm sorry- Please-"

He slathered the ointment all over her fresh wounds, the alcohol seeping in to her bloodstream and stinging so agonisingly that it's unimaginable.

She cried out in pain carnally like a slaughted animal, unable to hold back her torment.

She had to hide the horrid infection under her sleeve for 4 weeks after that.


End of flash back


Neil's Pov

I looked up at her in paralysing worry. My heart twists in pain and crippling concern seeing her completely distraught. Her gorgeous eyes were so frightened and glassy with these tears that felt like they were stabbing me.

I grabbed her shoulder and shook her slightly to try and get her attention, my heart crashing in panic, "Avni... whats wrong? Avni!"

Her full pink lips wobbled like a baby before she suddenly broke out in to cries, her body shaking uncontrollably and those precious tears running down her red cheeks.

It felt like a punch in the gut.

Why did her tears hurt me so bad?

"Avni... suno... mere taraf dekho... kya hua?" Instinctively, I cupped her cheek, pleading her to stop crying that way.

F*ck. How did I lay my hand on her? I promised that I wouldn't-

"Yeh mat please! Don't put this please..." Her breathing evened out slightly as she gasped out these words, pointing at my hand.

What? This?

"Avni? Kya bol rahi hu? Yeh burn ointment hai... yeh lagaya tho tumhe bohot dukh hoga... mein kyu lagunga? Thats not what you are meant to apply... Avni?"

She suddenly broke out of her trance, and looked up at me, her breathtaking eyes stare at me in confusion. Looking at me as if she was confused how I had ended up these, as I was meant to be somebody else.

"Neil? Tum?"

"Haan mein... aur khon hoga?"

She fumbled for an answer, fiddling with her long elegant fingers.

"And what the hell was that?"

"Nothing." She rubbed away the kohl that stained her face. She suddenly got defensive, her eyes guarding up. There was something wrong, i could read through those eyes. Even I have guarded my eyes this way so many times.

"Avni?" I held her hands tightly, squeezing them, I don't know whether I was assuring her or myself.

Even with her makeup smudged all over her face she was bewitchingly beautiful, i swear she could steal any guy's heart in a second. With these bloodshot eyes and curled in posture she was so vulnerable, raw, like a small child that I for some reason wanted to desperately protect from everything.

The thought of someone hurting her made my breath halt for a second.

Her tears made me want to change this big bad world so that it couldn't hurt her anymore. It made this blazing rage grip my soul, to destroy anything that brought those tears in her eyes.

"Avni... did that Agarwal hurt you?! Tell me he didn't-"

Avni PoV

"No... No of course not..." I could see the sigh of relief stagger through his body, and just the fact that he cared, it meant so much. It felt too good to be true.

It is too good to be true.

"Then what happened Avni... Batao na..." His puppy dog eyes pleaded with me so sweetly that it hurt not to give in.

"Kuch nahi... I know that you are stupid Khanna... so I thought you might mess up my first aid..."

He raised his eyebrow at me, completely unconvinced. I almost sighed, I didn't want to think about that filthy monster anymore. I don't.

"You thought I would put burn ointment in your wound? And you had such a terrified reaction? You can't expect me to believe that?" He scoffed at me, his glare was pointed and unsettling. "Tumhari jaisi ek sherni itni roh roh ke react karega kya?"

"Im not lying!" I lashed out, jumping away from him, Icould see the surprise on his face. "Chodo mujhe... I don't want any first aid..."

I freed my hand from his, I tried to storm away as quick as I could. I didn't want to bring my past in to this workplace, in to this life, especially not when Vidyut is looking for me.

I felt a tug back and looked back to see Neil still gripping to my hands, the raw guilty face of his made the guilt churn inside me.

"Alright... Alright I believe you...at least let me bandage it, warna infection hogayenga..."

My eyes melted in utter awe, as he held my arms gently and made me sit again. He took out the the antiseptic and dripped it on to the cotton, his eyes narrowing cutely in concentration again.

My heart broke in to all these bits I didn't think I could ever fix seeing him.

He dabbed at my wounds softly, so carefully, as if he was handling the most precious thing on earth. He bit his lips, frowning adorably, wincing as he touched my skin, as if it was hurting him. I could swear his eyes were slightly wet, overwhelmed woth concern.

But thats a silly thought.

Stupid.

You idiot.

...

A/N- Rahul and Talia are just two of their other colleagues.

...

Swetha gripped to her dizzy head, closing her heavy eyes. Neil's face warped in worry as he grabbed her arms gently. He cupped her cheek, his panicked eyes staring at her imploringly.

"Maa? Maa kya hua?"

"Chodo Mujhe!" Swetha shrieked, her frail tremoring body falling to the ground. "Chodo mujhe, you monster!"

Strenuous sobs wrung through her body as she squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears tightly.

Neil stumbled back in shock, clutching to his chest as if in physical pain.

He kneeled back down beside her, gripping to her hands in anxiousness.

"Maa?" His eyes shattered.

"Let go of me!" She screamed in agony, shredding him in guilt. Tears brimmed in his eyes, as stinging memories stabbed ruthlessly at his raw wounds.

Bebe and Prakash appeared at the noise, and tension wrinkled their faces. Prakash rushed to Swetha, steadying her shivering body.

"Swetha ji... Shweta ji..." Prakash shook her gently to try and get her attention but she seemed lost somewhere, lost among her nightmares.

He stroked her hair tenderly, "Swetha ji wo chala gaya... that monster isn't here anymore... he's gone, he's gone for good... I promise..."

He continued to console her, whispering words of solace to her in care.

Bebe looked at Neil, and her heart ached.

His posture slumped in defeat, his shoulders drooping and face falling slack. His innocent brown eyes were beyond broken, flickering in anguish, and the tormented guilt was evident in his face. Tears ran down his face like a small child.

She ran to him, stroking her hand down his cheek comfortingly, "tillu beta... tum teek ho na?"

He pulled away and stepped back, hurt streaking his eyes, "mein jaa rahi hu... mujhe kuch case aaya hai..."

Bebe held him back, tugging on his hand, she could see the cries he was holding back, the weakness he was concealing inside him. "Jhoot mat bolo Neil..."


"Let go..." He spoke through gritted teeth, refraining the agony that was pulsating in his chest.

"Neil she needs you... wo tumhara maa hai beta..."

"Please bebe... let me go..." He tries to shove away her hand softly, trying not to hurt her. Turning his head aside to hide the tears filling his eyes.

"Beta... listen to me... she is just in trauma... she doesn't-"

"Stop it! Stop feeding me lies to make me feel better bebe!" He threw her hand aside, yelling at her with burning tears in his eyes, startling her.

"She hates me!" He bellowed in exasperation, running his hands through his hair in desperation and despair running through his tears. "I'm- I'm a monster! I'm hurting her! I only remind her of my father! Just let me go!"

He broke down in to heart-breaking weeps, falling back on to sofa with his head in his hands, mumbling incoherently. "I don't want to remind her of my father, of that monster..."

Bebe sat beside him, rubbing his back consolingly, her own tears crowding her sight, "That monster is not your dad."

"Blood is blood bebe... we can't lie and make it go away, I- I am- am a- product- a product of that monster torturing my mother... I'm a monster..." He cried in distress, disgusted flooding his veins.

"Rishtey bas khoon se hota hai? Phir mein tumhara bebe nahi hu?" Finally Neil looked at her, and the fear that darkened his child-like eyes was enough to crush her.

"Haan- aap teek hai- papa mera pita nahi hu- Aap mere bebe nahi hu... Yeh sab galat hogaya na- mein iss parivaar se nahi hu- mein yaha-"

"Pagal hogaya hu kya!? Duffer..." She hit him playfully on the arm, and pinched his ear lovingly, making a tiny smile break out on to his face. "Now you're trying to disown your own bebe!?"

"Oh bebe..." He murmured sadly, burying himself in to her arms. He let out chunky sobs as she rocked him gently, he nuzzled in to her neck cutely, making tears flow from her eyes.

She kisses his hair affectionately, her voice soft and careful, "stop hurting yourself beta... that monster's actions are not your fault, teek hai?"

He pulled away, his eyes weak and scared, "mumma teek hogayenga na?"

She smiled at him tenderly, pushing the stray strands of hair out of his face, "Wo bilkhul teek hoga beta...", a cheekier smile made its way on her face "especially jab tumhara shaadi hogayega-"

"Bebe-" He complained, an adorable frown scrunching his features.

She warned playfully, poking his nose like she used to when he was a child, "I'm serious tillu..."


His expression turned more somber at this, his brows furrowing and deep set lines on his forehead. His eyes were heavy with emotion, pain burdened them. " I can't Bebe, I'm a-"

"Shut up stupid!" She smacked him endearingly, "I will never hear anything against my ladla tillu... okay? You are not a monster, understood? You are not anything like that man. I know you beta, you would be such an amazing husband..."

The innocent worry in his golden orbs, was heart-rending, his whisper breaking in sadness, "what if- what if I hurt her?"

"Neil..." Bebe sighed at his insecurities, pecking his forehead.

Ever since Neil found out the story behind his birth and his mother's past... he constantly drowned in guilt and fear. That he would be like his birth father, that he was capable of hurting a woman and ever since then he had kept his distance from love. He became a police man, to stop other monsters like that. But that wasn't enough to erase his guilt.

"Can't you see what a wonderful man you are? You couldn't dream of hurting somebody... Have you forgotten the way you sacrifice anything for Kareena, How much your sister adores you? How tirelessly you look after your mother? How you take care of me? How you love all our family so unconditionally? How could my tillu hurt anybody?"

"Bebe..."

"I'm not prepared to hear anything tillu..." She holds him closer to her chest, as if treasuring the way he depended on her like a child. "Anybody would be lucky to have you..."


...


Avni PoV

"For the millionth time Officer Mehta, i am not letting you in the room with him!" He stood there haughtily, staring down at me in frustration.

I didn't know what I wanted to do more, rip this irritating guy's head off or slam him against a wall and kiss him hard because god... did he look irresistible right now.

Stupid hormones.

I shouldn't be in this situation right now anyway, its just more to f*cking deal with. It's that time of the month. And my frustration levels had already hit the roof, and this idiot wasn't helping.

I let out a groan of annoyance, curling up with a bad cramp in my seat.

"Officer Khanna, I'm warning you... you don't want to mess with me right now..." He glanced at me, and I shot him a look that left him silent. It was a burning glare, he must have been hit hard with all that rage pent up inside me.

"Avni..." The boy had enough courage to challenge the glare back, his attractive face clenched in sterness, and it made my insides all hot. I wanted to challenge him further. I wasn't in a state where I would hold back.

I strolled over to him slowly, and I could feel his eyes watching my every move. I stopped infront of him, a sneaky smile curling on my lips.

"Let me go Khanna..." I whispered tracing my hand down his well-toned chest, thrilling in the way that his eyes shut at the touch. "Otherwise it won't be good for you..."

"No-"

Neil Pov

"Khanna..." She leaned up to my ear, her alluring hot breath tickled against my ear lobe, and I could slowly feel my controll slipping. "Think about it..."

"Go." I debated it in my head, but her touch wasn't letting me think properly. Its better that she goes to interrogate him, or god knows what i would have done. "I'll watch from next door."

With a swift nod, and a smug smile she strayed down the corridoor as I rushed to follow behind her. I was entranced my the way she moved elegantly down the corridor, and my heart refused to slow down.


I sighed heavily, realising I was behaving like some kind of pet dog.

This girl had actually made me crazy.

...


Rahul, Talia and DD watched the way Neil was stuck to the door, and watching the interrogation from afar, his body was on edge, his hands tightened as fists beside him as if he was ready to spring to action at any point of time.

"She's doing well ACP saab..." Rahul commented with a knowing smirk on his face, he glanced back at the flustered Neil. "She's a fiesty one..."

/

Avni slammed her hands down on to the table, lowering her glare to face the filthy criminal's eyes. She grabs at his collar firmly, panting to controll the wild animal of rage growling inside her. Her beautiful eyes were wide, and the power that lurked within them was terrifying.

"I don't have spare time for you today Agarwal. Understood?" Vikas Agarwal doesn't reply, tightening his lips. "DID YOU UNDERSTAND ME MR AGARWAL!? OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO SHOW YOU ALL OVER AGAIN?!"

She screamed in to his face, her carved features were fierce, and her voice like the roar of a lion. The strength in Agarwal's face fell away, weakening.

"I have nothing to tell you. I haven't done anything wrong." Vikas stuttered as he spoke, nobody had broken him like this before.

.

"Sir ji, you can come and sit down you know?" DD looked teasingly at Neil, who still hadn't moved from the door handle.

Neil was sneakily staring at Avni in awe, enchanted bewilderment evident on his face. But he was standing at such attention that it seemed like he thought something bad could happen at any second, he was on his tip toes in worry as if he would sprint out.

"I don't want to." He was stone faced, as he point blank shot DD's attempt down. DD sighed, looking over at Talia who just shrugged in response.

.

Avni scoffed at Agarwal's response, drumming her fingers on the desk. "You haven't done anything sir?"

"No."

"Right." She sat down opposite him casually, her smile was poison, slowly seeping in to her opponents blood. Her unusual calmness intimidated him.

"Your mother was a woman you know? And your grandmother, that raised you when your mother died? And your little baby sister. You can tell me that you have done nothing wrong. But would you be able to look them in the eye and tell them the same?"

The taunt hit him where it was meant to, the confidence slipped away.

/
"Sir. She will be fine in there." DD looked at the still unmoving, pained Neil. "She is handling it perfectly."

"For god sake I'm not doubting that DD!" His sudden outburst made his colleagues stare at him, startled looks stuck to their faces. "But we can't trust that filthy man!"

"Yes- sir." DD stuttered in nervousness, inexpirenced on how to handle this angry Neil.

"Then why are you looking at me!? Go inside and make sure that she's safe..."

"Uh- um- but-" Neil glared at him, the anger radiating off it immediately silenced him. "okay sir."

/

"I'm telling you Agarwal- If you dared to even look at my di I would slaughter you... wouldn't you slaughter if someone laid their hand on your sister?!"

"Don't drag my sister in to this..." Agarwal bellowed threateningly, grabbing her hand, his nails digging in to her flesh.

Her eyes changed as a memory flashed across them, they hardened, irrevocable anger blared inside them.

/

Neil PoV

He just f*cking touched her.

The door slammed behind me as I stormed out, not thinking to spare an explanation to anybody. I was done with this stupidity.
I couldn't watch it silently.

Why? I don't know.

But I couldn't.

DD stood outside the door, looking hesitant to go inside, why the hell hadn't he joined her like I told him to?

I shoved him harshly aside to get in, I couldn't think about anything other than getting inside at that moment.

I crusaded in, and I could feel the thunder in my eyes blazing through me. Something was driving me forward, and it had encapsulated my very being.

"Let go off her!" I growled as I yanked his hand off hers, crushing it in my palm, I twisted it in my grip,watching the filthy man writhe and scream in pain. I pressed harder, hear the clicks of his dislocating bones. "And f*cking admit whatever you want to admit because you don't know who the hell you are dealing with!? Okay!?"

I let her go of his hand letting it painfully clatter on to the table, I grabbed his collar and lowered my face to his, the feeling of seeing those cold eyes was inexplainable. The sickening thought of what these eyes had done, the disgusting the thoughts that may have crossed his mind as he looked at women, as he looked at Avni.

"Agarwal, I'm f*cking telling you one last time, I've lost my f*cking paitence and I can't deal with your filth anymore! So admit if you want to save yourself! Otherwise I'm going to charge you with things you've never done, and you will rot in that jail cell for the rest of your miserable life!"

Agarwal quietened at the atrocious roar my voice must have made, his eyes lowered.

"Alright." The coward finally let go off his stubbornness.

And my heart finally calmed a little, as I heard Avni's soft sigh of relief beside me.

...

Agarwal was escorted from the room, as I took a shaky breath.

I looked over at her warily, almost afraid of her reaction. I had lost hold on myself, i prayed it didn't change the way she saw me. I prayed she didn't see me as a monster.

Oh Avni...

She looked so shaken. Like a small wounded vulnerable child, her glassy eyes were stuck on the chair as if she was still looking at Agarwal sitting there, and her shivering arms wrapped around herself instinctively.

I don't know what I felt for this girl. But I knew that it hurt like hell seeing her like this. I knew that I ached to take her frail body in to my arms. Tell her she doesn't always have to act brave.

"Avni..." My voice came out as a heavy sigh, she looked round at me, her mesmerising eyes hesitantly lifting to meet mine.

But before I could say anything else-

"Avu!" Someone yelled as they hurtled through the door. It was a tall muscular man, with curly hair and a immature grin.

Her eyes brightened at the sound of his voice as she swung round to face him.

Why the f*ck did her eyes brighten... Who the hell was this guy!?

"Ali!" She yelled in glee, and jumped in to his arms. Almost knocking the bag that was in his hands to the floor.

What on earth was she doing cuddling up to that noodle headed guy!

What was this painful burning sensation scraping against my raw chest?

For f*cks sake whats wrong with me!?

Let go of him.

Let go of him Avni.

"Dekh mein kya laaya hu tumhare liye-"

"Take it outside the interrogation room. Please... sir..." My voice might have come out too stern and pointed, and that shove of the shoulder a bit too harsh.

But this bas***d deserved it.

Avni looked at me weirdly, her eyes narrowed and I realised how I might have sounded.

But they left the room anyway, and walked in to our office. And I was left tagging behind them like a fool again.

...



"I wondered why you had stormed off at me in the morning- and Neela aunty had told me it was probably because it was your- um- your time of the month..." Noodle head itched the back of his neck nervously, with a shy smile.

Her time of the month? Don't women get really painful cramps? Was she in pain all morning and not telling me? Why wouldn't she-

Wait a minute. Why the f*ck was this piece of filth finding out all this? Does he not know how to respect her privacy?!

"So look at all I brought you, Your favourite chocolate, a hot water pack, paracetamol... all your pain will be eased..." He was flashing all his teeth in his goofy smile, desperate to please her.

bas***d.

He grabbed her round the waist tightly.

Who gave him the right!?

I scrutinised her features. My heart was begging to find discomfort on her face, so I could beat this guy up.

Let go off her Noodle head.

I'm f*cking telling you. Let go off her.

She pulled away, and I could finally breathe again. I didn't realise how suffocated I felt watching them, something wrenching in my chest.

I stomped my way over to my desk and sat down, picking up random files on my desk and pretending to read them, so nobody could see how much I cared.

"Visiting Hours are over Metha" I almost growled, my voice blunt. "If you could please escort your noodle headed boyfriend out of our office, we could maybe get back to work..."

I looked up as I heard Avni gasp, she looked so adorable with her flushed pink cheeks and those sultry parted lips. She just better not be gasping because of him.

"But he's not my-" Her cute defense was cut of by that idiot whispering something or another too close to her ear, and passing over the bag to her.

And I definitely saw him purposely lingering his fingers on her hands.

F*cking fool.

She smiled at him graciously and led him out of the room, I grew impaitent when she didn't come back in a few seconds. Surely it shouldn't take that long?

I relaxed as she stormed back inside, enraged.

That sexy fire had infiltrated her hypnotising eyes, her unforgettable fierceness was etched back on her face like a beautiful piece of art.

She walked over and slammed her hands on my desk, her stance was furious. I felt a grin start appearing at her blunt sexiness, but I surpressed it remembering how that noodle head had his filthy hands on her.

And she let him.

"Khanna! What the hell do you think you were doing?!" Her fiery passionate voice was ridiculously hot, I didn't let myself peel my eyes away from my files and meet her eyes because I didn't trust myself.


I ignored her. I was pissed at the right she was giving that idiot.

I could feel her breathing tighten in rage.



Avni PoV

What was this guy playing at? He just embarrassed me in front of Ali. Infront of any officers that may have heard from outside.

"Hello!? Khanna? Tell me what the hell your trying to do?!" I yelled again, just watching this guy blatantly ignore me and pretend to flick through his files got my blood boiling.

And how adorable he looked was just even more irritating. His coffee brown eyes squinted at the pages and he frowned like a child.

"Don't Ignore me now Mister..." I tutted, this grown man was acting like a five year old and I had no clue why. "Why did you insult Ali?"

"Oh I'm sorry! I didn't know that noodle head had such a protective girlfriend..." He suddenly snapped at me, his husky voice was gruff and his eyes were enraged.

"Whats wrong with you?-" I sighed in exasperation, clutching to my belly as another wave of nauseating cramps took hold of me.

"Sit down." He immediately looked up at me, his words were firm and blank, but his eyes had softened.

"Don't tell me what to do!"

"I said, sit down Avni. Your stomach must hurt..." His eyes filled with care, even though his words were uncordial and still annoyed. I watched him in surprise,Vidyut wouldn't even spare me a glance when he was annoyed.

He took the hot water pack out of Ali's bag, glancing over at me, "Don't move okay? I'll back with this."

He came back after heating it up, but the anger doesn't seem to have dissolved from his face.

Sh*t.

A whole zoo butterflies fluttered restlessly raced around in my stomach, my breath caught in my lungs as shivers ran through my blood. He pulled up my shirt just slightly, and his cool fingers made contact with my aching skin while he placed the hot water bag against my stomach, which was enough for my toes to curl in bliss.
He sat on his chair with a smug sarcastic raise of the eyebrow, "See how pathetic you little boyfriend is..."

He smirked victoriously, "He ran away as soon as I said the tiniest thing without even checking whether you were okay... Bloody bas***d..."

I frowned at his unusual behaviour, he sat there with his arms crossed over his chest and sulking like an adorable baby. His brows furrowed and I swear to God, he must be god's cutest creation.

Why was he being so unreasonable with Ali?

Wait...

No...

Could he be?

He couldn't be-

Was he?

Was he jealous?

Well... that could be fun...


"Ali is not pathetic..." I shot back, crossing my own arms over my chest as I sat on his desk.

His eyes went cold.

And his jaw clenched up.

"So he is your boyfriend?" His voice hardened, abrasive almost as it cut across my skin. His glare was so harsh that it felt like it was tearing through me.

But I held my ground.

"What if he is my boyfriend? It's nothing to do with you..." I was suprised by how smooth and confident I sounded as I leaned toward him, inhaling his intoxicating musky scent.

He looked hurt. Wounded. And for a second I almost regretted it. Almost.

"I don't like him Avni." His voice was small all of a sudden, scared almost. "He doesn't seem right."

"Why not? Since when do you have a say in who is my boyfriend?" I raised my eyebrow challengingly, I yearned for this care, I knew I shouldn't let myself get dragged back in to these feelings but I couldn't help it.

"For f*cks sake! What do you even see in him... He's ugly with f*cking maggi noodle hair. Pathetic. And a bloody coward." I almost laughed as he yelled out in frustration, like a child having a tantrum. "Please. Listen to me. I don't like him."

I threw back my head in laughter.

Giggles erupting from deep down in my stomach as he stared at me cluelessly.

"He's just my friend Neil..." I struggle to hold back my chuckles as I see his features release tension. "Not my boyfriend. Though I still don't appreciate the nasty comments..."

"If he's just your friend then what's he doing putting his hands all over you? Can't you see he's head over heels for you?" Neil was still glaring, rage darkening his eyes and making me want to clash my lips against his.

Stop it Avni.

"He's not-"

"And why the hell are you keeping him updated wih your time of the month? Who the bloody hell is he to know?" He demanded, pouting, and all I wanted to do was reach out and pull his cute red cheeks.

"I didn't tell him, Maa did-"

"Am I not your friend? Should I not know when you are in pain at work? Or is your health exclusive for just him to know about?"

I smirked.

For a second it didn't matter what I felt for Neil or what he felt for me. It didn't matter that I was never supposed to see a man in this light ever again. That my heart would be stomped over and discarded somewhere and I don't have the strength to try and repair it again.

My feminine hormones threw it out the window.

His jealousy was adorable. And hot.

This was going to be really fun.


Neil PoV

She inched closer to me, her alluring floral scent surrounding the air around me. My heart sped up as she leaned over me, a cheeky grin lacing her gorgeous face. The angle gave me a view down her shirt that made my throat go dry.

My breathing must have become laboured and my cheeks flushed.

I peeled my eyes away to look at my fidgeting hands. I'm a filthy monster for looking at such a beautiful, innocent women in such a way.

She ran her elegant hands through my hair and I tried to focus on the anger I felt at that noodle head, instead of the bliss of her touch.

"Kya hua Khanna?" She grinned provocatively. "Itna jealously?"

I looked at her with wide eyed surprise.

I'm not jealous.

Am I?

"I'm not jealous!" I exlaimed in horror, my cheeks embarrassingly turning an even deeper deeper shade of red. "What would I be jealous about?"

F*ck.

My breath hitched.

Out of the blue, she suddenly moved over slowly and straddled my lap. Making me freeze up in surprise, scared of all the ways my body would react. My face must have been laughable.

"You tell me Khanna..." She loops her arms around my neck, biting those irresistible lips seductively. She presses her chest up against mine, my breathing embarrassingly loud and shallow.

"Avni-" My words kept breaking off- as I drowned in the way she was playing with my hair at the base of my neck. "What are you doing?"


She shifted around in my lap, purposely trying to invoke a reaction in me with a teasing glint in her addictive eyes. My eyes automatically fell shut in pleasure, squeezing to try and control my body. But I couldn't.

I was hard. And I bet she could feel it dig in at her stomach.

"What's wrong Khanna? What Am I doing?" She acted oblivious, with a mischievous grin but I couldn't focus on her words, as she traced random patterns on my chest.

I throbbed with desire, and it physically ached to see her lick those tempting lips. She kept on shifting, and I kept on loosing control. I was scared of what I could do.

Could I be like my father?

"Avni..." I rasped breathlessly, and I could tell she was enjoying me struggling. I gripped to her hips to stop her from moving, and she gasped inwardly, making the muscles in my stomach tense up even more in arousal. "Please stop."

She smirked, winking. My blood sang. And my heart cried.

She leaned down, and I turned my hands to fists to resist reaching out to touch her. She pressed what must be the softest of lips, under my ear, so close I could feel her lashes tickle my skin.

"This was just a trailer Khanna... I'm Avni Mehta." She murmured sexily against my skin. Leaving me feeble. "With me, you never know what you're gonna get. So watch out... And by the way. You were so jealous..."

She got up and walked back to seat, leaving me hard and reeling in shock, watching her hypnotic curves as she swayed in her graceful walk with wide eyes.

What the hell was that?

What the hell am I doing?

Avni PoV

What the hell have I done?

...

This was the third time the phone was incessantly buzzing after she already cut the call twice. Neela picked up the phone, staring in confusion at the word unknown flashing on the screen.

She finally picked up, her voice strained in frustration, "Hello? Who's this? I'm currently too busy to take your call..."

"Really sasumaa?" Neela's blood ran cold at his voice, after hearing him all over again and remembering the agony he had forced on her daughter.

"Vidyut." Her voice was vengeful, he had to have been an idiot to fight against it.


He chuckled sarcastically, the noise grinding against her ears are she remembers that scars littering Avni's skin till today. And the deeper ones on her heart.


"Sasumaa... come on now... Don't talk to your damaad in such a tone..." Neela flinched at his calm demeanour. It was always dangerous.

"You can't hide her from me for long sasumaa. And when I find her, you'll never get her back. I'm close now. Slowly I'm finding everything about you. Like this number. She should really have used a fake name..."

Neela yelled in rage, her face reddening in anger, "Why should my daughter lose her identity for you?!"

"Fair Enough sasumaa. That was your choice. Your mistake. And now I'll find her, and I will marry her. She's alone sasumaa... with no one to protect her."

"I'm here. Sruthi is here, Aarav is here. She's got all the protection she will ever need Vidyut. You can't touch her."

"But in the eyes of the law sasumaa..." Neela tensed at the grin she could literally hear on his voice. "Is that enough?"

He cut the call and she was left in silence.

A single tear rolled down her face as Avni's sobs echoed in her ears repeatedly, like a nightmare she couldn't shake off.

He was right.

She had to do something.

...

Read your story on wattpad. It's very engaging! U r a good winter. Please keep updating!

Hi.Loved this story also.⭐️

I have read the first part before I guess .