Tu Jo Mila

Too close yet too far

Afternoon. Neil & Avni were in their meeting with clients. They both were in hustle bustle of work early in the day that they didn't talk to eachother apart from some official email exchanges. 
The meeting went successful and the clients were so happy that they invited Avni and Neil for a dinner which they agreed politely.

Avni and Neil was returning to the hotel in a car. Both were in the back seat facing the windows on their sides silently.

Neil.
It was a bad idea to travel together.   This awful silence is really frustrating.  I was avoiding her from the morning. I made sure we took different cars to reach here making up some reasons.  What amazes me is how calm and composed she is!  Ofcourse, she has no problem facing me. I was the one being hopelessly lovesick, trying to express my feelings through actions and hints.  And she was responding to them giving me hope.  Then she dropped the bomb on me. Ali! My foot!
Neil stirred in the sit with irritation. He glanced Avni.
She doesn't care even if I avoid her?  Is her heart made of stone or what? 
Neil angrily looked away from Avni.

Avni.
Is he angry? Why he is avoiding me? He left the hotel alone in the morning texting that he has another appointment prior to the meeting.  He  literally acted as if I am invisible in the conference room. God knows if he paid attention to what I talked.  What did I do to behave like this? Everything was normal till night.  Then that stupid mind game.  Why on earth I told him I was thinking about Ali? Is that the reason for his behaviour? One minute, why he would be upset if I think about Ali? Arggh... calm down... calm down.  These thoughts are eating my brain.

Avni took deep breaths. Suddenly she felt Neil's eyes on her. She snapped her head at Neil. But he was looking outside then.

I need to end this dilemma. Why can't he tell me what's the problem? Avni thought.

Suddenly Avni’s phone started to ring. Avni smiled seeing her mother's name on the screen.
Avni:  Maa.
Neela: Is it true what I heard?
Avni: umm.. but what did you hear?
Avni was confused.
Avni shifted her phone to the other ear and moved away from Neel in an attempt to attain some privacy.

Neela: About yesterday's date?
Avni: Yesterday's date? It was 30 th December.  What's about 30th December?
Neela: Tubelight! Not that. About your date with Neil.
Avni's eyes popped out of her sockets.

Avni: Who told you? She almost screamed to the phone attracting Neil's attention.
Neela: So, it was true. Neela said in serious tone
Avni: No! Never. That's why I am asking who told you this rubbish.
Neela: Acha? Then who is in this picture with Neil at this fancy restaurant? Your clone?
Avni: which picture?
Neela: check your phone!
Avni looked at the picture sent by Neela. It was Avni with Neil at the restaurant previous night. They were smiling at eachother.
Avni looked Neil in confusion and looked back the picture in her phone. Who clicked this picture and sent it to maa? She composed herself before replying to her mother.

Avni: maa. That's me only. But it was not a date.
Neela: Really? But it looks so. The way you both look at eachother.
Avni: But, how did you get this ? I mean who sent you this?
Neela: That doesn't matter. I want to know the truth.
Avni: maa... I swear it was not date or something. Trust me.

Avni was so tensed.

A laughter met Avni's ears.
Avni: maa... you are laughing?
Neela: Relax. I was kidding. I know my silly daughter very much.
By the way, how was your meeting? Everything went well?
Avni: yeah. All good. Clients are happy.
Neela: Proud of you my dear. Ok. I will call later. Bye.
Avni: maa... hold on.. hello..
The line got disconnected.  Avni was hell confused about the source of the photograph.  She looked at Neil who was busy texting someone.

Neil.
"Who told you?" Avni screamed almost deafening me. What's wrong with her?  I saw her looking at phone screen and I peeped in. It was our photograph from last night dinner. I forgot to breathe for a minute. DD! I gnushed my teeth and immediately texted him.
"Did you ask them to click pictures?"
He immediately replied just like he was waiting for my text.
"Certainly. "
DD had sent two bodyguards to us for our security who followed us every where incognito.  I scolded him first for doing so without letting me know. But, Dad interfered in my arguments with DD and convinced me.  I was aware that they were following me from yesterday morning itself and I hated the idea of being under the surveillance of bodyguards during our outing.  So, I dismissed them but it seems they are more loyal to DD that they secretly followed us and clicked our pictures.

" May I know why?" Neil texted angrily

"For safety reasons "

Neil could see DD's winking smile in his mind.
" F**k with safety! How the hell Neela aunty got our picture?"

"Sorry Dude. Actually Sunehri insisted that she wish to see your pictures and..."

"And she showed it to Neela aunty? One second, pictures? There are more?"

"Of course "

"You know what DD,  I am going to kill you for this. Is there anyone left to see our pictures? Do one thing, post it in Instagram. " Neil fisted his hands in anger.

"Should I tag you and Avni bhabhi? "

"Neil.." Avni's voice stopped Neil from texting further and he looked at her.

"Someone clicked our picture and sent to my mother." Avni said showing the picture. 

"Don't worry. That's DD, actually he has assigned some bodyguards for us. It was their job." Neil said calmly.
"And I will screw him for sending it to your mother."

"Oh. I thought it was a threat. Thank God it's not." Then Avni realised the barrier between Neil and herself is broken. Neil too understood what's going in Avni's mind.  They looked away from eachother leaving the car in silence.
***
Avni was pulling out her phone from the bag but the thing came in her hand was a passport. Passport of Vidyut. She opened it and found that Vidyut has visited Malaysia and Singapore several times.
"This hints that Vidyut's mafia is flourishing in these two countries.  Can we destroy him here itself? "

Then something fell down from the passport. Avni took it. It was a visiting card of a hotel.
"He must be staying there. I think I should check once. I hope the business  dinner will end soon so that I can go this hotel."
To be continued.