It was already night and Neivi was tired and sad. Prakash offered her to go home with the little girl and take rest because Avni’s comfort matters the most to her. Dd and Mitali had already dropped Bebe and Shweta at Khanna mansion after a lot of persuasion.
“Papaji par aap yaha akele kaise.. manage?” Avni reasoned, cooing an almost sleeping Neivi in her arms. “Dd will be back just in a moment. You go and take rest. Neivi also needs it.” Prakash said with a small smile as if ensuring her. Avni looked hesitant but nodded anyways.
It was almost ten by the time when they reached Sukoon Ghar and Neivi was asleep by then. Avni walked inside with Neivi after opening the door. Sunehri and the kids moved to Bandra. Avni was supposed to move too the next week, she will leave as soon as Neil is perfectly okay and fine.
She tucked Neivi on the bed, kissed her forehead and went to the washroom to take a refreshing bath. While the cold water ran through her body, hot tears also left her eyes.
She knew that he still matters to her the most. He always mattered.
Please god, please don't take him. He deserves to live his life with Neivi. He deserves all the happiness. Please.. please don't seperate Neil and Neivi the way you seperated me from my Dad, the way you seperated me and Neil. Please..
She changed into new sets of clothes and got into bed with Neivi.
××××××××××××××××××××××××
It had been three days and Neil wasn't giving any response to the treatment which was worrying the doctor's. He was on life support system and there wasn't any help from his own side to help the doctor's. They were loosing their hopes.
“Please sit Mr. Khanna,” The doctor beckoned to Prakash, “Please.” He then told Avni too, politely. They both sat down on their respective seats.
“Things are not going the way we wanted it to. And there are no signs from him that could possibly be marked as his fight to come back.” The doctor began, his tone apologetically soft and guilty. Avni closed her eyes, Prakash could feel his heart beating at a faster pace than the usual.
“The only reason why he is breathing is because of the life supporting system. Frankly, I don't even know if he could call it being alive. That is why, we called you both. None of us know the pain or his mental state right now. The only help we can do for him right now, is to remove the ventilator.” As the doctor again paused, Avni felt her throat tighten and her breathing becoming shallow. Prakash closed his eyes, a few tears leaving his eyes.
“The ones who have the right to take such a decision is his parents and you. His wife, Mrs. Khanna.” Avni gulped down a sob hearing that again.
“Humara divorce finalise ho gaya.”
The doctor was the same one who performed the surgery on Neil when he was injured during the bomb blast. The woman infront of the doctor was Neil’s wife for now. He knows nothing else.
“We are not telling you to do it right now or sooner. Take your time, and we hope you make a right decision. It is better to let him go than let him live with the help of something else.” The doctor concluded and hung his head low. Avni got up and moved out of the cabin, she could feel a lurch beginning in her stomach, a nasty pain crawling through her heart, a wincing on her bullet wound.
As she moved she stopped near the ICU. He was laying there. A many equipments attached to his body. His head covered in heavy thick bandages. His chest heaving up and down as if a robot’s movements would do. She kept her hand on the glass panes.
