LIES

33.MORTGAGE

As soon Neil entered the Goenka house,  he met with an enthusiastic vansh, who come near him and hug Neil first then asked him
"You messaged me that you won't able to join at home because of work, what changed your mind ?"
"Not what but who?" replied Neil with a smile
"Not the one I am thinking, I suppose "asked vansh with a raised eyebrow
"No definitely not her, it's bro he keeps hanging onto me until I agree to come here, I guess it's his way to make sure that I don't drink into oblivion, "said Neil, the last part almost in a whisper, but vansh cached that
"About that Abhimanyu asked me about your new friends,  who take you out on drinks a few days back, basically he wanted to ask if it's me and my crew who you hang out with almost all night, "said vansh
"Well you said him the truth there na, then he won't be coming for you," said Neil with an eye roll( he developed this habit from aarohi)
"Neil you know it's not about that,  he cares about you, and even though I am worried for you now, I have some idea what it is, he has none, so naturally he is taking interest in your life, more than he should according to you," said vansh in a serious tone
"I know he means well, but there are things I can't explain, he should not worry about me, I am drinking because it's helping me, the way no one can, " said Neil,  obviously feeling guilty about worrying his brother now his friend
"Whatever it is Neil,  it's not good, and not only is Abhimanyu worried about you, today akshu asked me if we had a fight or some issue, I didn't like explaining to her that, is everything does not cool between us " vansh questioned him
"Everything is cool, I mean just some punches here and there, otherwise no hard feelings bro," said Neil with a smile
"Is it still about that, are holding grudges for that?" asked a worried vansh
"No dude, I said it to distract you from the topic earlier,  clearly it's backfired, and honestly I did deserve those punches, no complaints there," said Neil, now looking here and there  to see even some small glance of her
"True, and that distraction doesn't work, if you're not stopping the drinking at least cut some amount, and yeah she was here moments
Ago, must be here and there" said vansh, clearly understanding whom he is looking for
"Yeah I will try, and I was looking for bhabhi, need to explain to her that everything is cool between us" Neil lied to vansh
"Sure sure," said vansh with a chuckle and left from there to greet Abhimanyu

Neil greeted all the Goenka,  still unable to locate her sister-in-law and her sister aarohi,  although all day long, he doesn't want to come to this party, but eventually had to come, now he wants to see her, if it means only from afar, then be it.

After looking for more than 15 minutes for a single glance at her, he gave up on that, instead, he went near the sir who called him for getting him something to drink, Neil obliged that and went in near his brother, that's when he noticed where is his brother looking at, their bhabhi and her sister, descending from the stairs,  both sisters lost in their talks, and smiling together,  a moment to capture for sure.
When they made their way to join their family, Abhimanyu make his way toward her beautiful wife, he capture her hand and compliment her beauty,  Neil saw all that and at that moment He also wanted to that, wanted to go near aarohi, and say you are looking beautiful, but Neil couldn't do that, as much it pains him, but seeing her, looking much better than he sees her last time, bring some relief to his yearning soul, she didn't notice Neil yet but Neil,  he is noticing her, the way she moves, her hair looking elegant and her eyes, it looks vibrant and her lips, they were painted and Neil wanted to ruin those paint very much, Neil is controlling every urge he is having to go near her and capture those lips of hers not caring about anything and anyone for that moment.
Neil still watching her from distance,  even after an hour, still couldn't gather enough courage to go near her, she danced a little with her family, she is looking happy or at least trying her best to look, Neil couldn't decipher much but he noticed how she is faking that constant smile on her face, something isn't right he can feel on his bones