Reconciliation

Chapter 10 : Impact

"Avni?" Neela Ma knocked on the door after she had seen Neil leave for work. It took two three knocks more for Avni to open the door, who had indeed been having a beauty sleep.

"Test number 2." Neela said, coming in the room and closed the door behind her. Avni's heart suddenly began beating furiously because this was the test that they were going to do at the proper time. She took the kit and went to the washroom.

"It's positive." Avni whispered, when she came out and gave the stick to Neela. "We'll check after breakfast and before lunch too once." Neela said and kissed her daughter's forehead. She knew Avni was panicking from inside even if she did want the baby.

And they did test at those times too and in the end all the four kits gave the same result : positive. "Congratulations!" Neela finally screamed, clapping her hands gleefully when tears of happiness streamed down Avni's cheeks too.

Avni walked towards her mom and hugged her tightly, trying to express what she was feeling. She would have someone who'd call her mom too, who'd rely on her for good advice just like Avni relied on her Neela Ma.

"You'll be such a wonderful mother..." Neela said, cupping Avni's cheeks and wiping her tears. "Not more than you." Avni replied. "Be with me." Avni whispered, holding Neela's hand tightly. "Always." Neela whispered back and bent down to reach Avni's belly.

"Baby, ask your mommy to stop crying." Neela said cutely, finally making Avni giggle and less emotional. "I'm booking an appointment with a gynaecologist for tomorrow — you and Neil both. Meanwhile you decide how to surprise him." Neela informed and went out of the room to make a call.

Avni thought and thought and finally came up with a simple idea. "You're in a for a ride today Khanna Saab." She whispered to herself and smiled imagining Neil's reaction.

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"Avni tell you why she couldn't come?" Neil asked Mitali who had just returned after finishing the interrogation. "She wasn't feeling well." She lied confidently and rummaged through other pending case files.

Neil hummed and resumed his work too but his mind was totally not on it. He was so used to seeing Avni around him all the hours of the day that today seemed unbearable. His cabin felt dull and the work frustrating.

Even staring at Rawat wasn't very fun today. Whenever he used to do that, he knew Avni was staring at him doing that and would giggle secretly. He enjoyed listening to her sweet giggles and would deliberately act kiddish in front of her.

"I'm suffering from a deficiency." Neil commented, while sitting in Ali's café for lunch. "Which?" Ali asked, smiling. "Vitamin Avni Bhabhi." DD answered on Neil's behalf and burst into laughter when Neil nodded and sulked.

"Sirji maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki aapke aur Bhabhi ke beech itna pyaar hoga." DD commented as they walked back to police station and Neil continued to act disinterested in the work. "Shuru se hi khicha hua tha mai uski taraf." Neil confessed, looking at the clock to see how many hours of misery were left.

Finally when the clock struck 7:30pm, Neil packed his bags, bid an adieu to DD and ran outside towards his car to drive back home. "Welcome home Tillu." Shweta said, grinning as she gave him a glass of water.

"Why all this celebration?" Neil asked, glancing around the mansion to sense a festive fervour. "Neela ji got a promotion." Shweta said, which was true. She was going to become a Nani, that was enough promotion.

"That's amazing!" Neil said, thrilled about it. "Go get ready. Avni's getting ready too." Shweta said, pushing Neil to go upstairs which he did hurriedly. He opened the door and found Avni near the dressing table, wearing earrings. She was clad in a beautiful baby pink sarees, identical in design to the off shoulder sarees she used to wear.