A little thing called FIRST LOVE ft.Avneil

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 : Bad phase

Avni and Neil stepped out of the auditorium, their hearts still pounding from the exhilaration of their performance. The cool evening air brushed against Avni's exposed shoulders, and Neil quickly shrugged off his jacket, draping it over her.

"Thanks," Avni said softly, pulling the jacket around her.

Neil nodded, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "I'll be right back. I'll change and meet you outside. Can you call DD and Sunheri?"

"Sure," Avni replied, her voice a bit shaky as she watched him walk away. She took out her phone and dialed Sunheri's number, explaining the situation and asking them to meet her outside the auditorium.

As she waited, her thoughts wandered back to the dance. The way Neil had looked at her, the way he had held her-it was different, more intense than ever before. A shiver ran down her spine, and she shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

Suddenly, a voice broke her reverie. "Hey there, beautiful," Sanjay, the singing team leader, sauntered over with a smirk. "You were amazing out there. Maybe we should celebrate... together."

Avni frowned, stepping back. "I'm waiting for my friends."

Sanjay chuckled, moving closer. "Come on, don't be so uptight. We can have some fun."

Anger flared in Avni's eyes. "Back off, Sanjay," she snapped. When he reached out to touch her arm, she didn't hesitate-she slapped him hard across the face.

Sanjay staggered back, his smirk vanishing. "You'll regret that," he hissed before storming off.

Just then, DD and Sunheri arrived. They saw Avni's flushed face and the tension in her posture. "Avni, what happened?" Sunheri asked, concerned.

"It's nothing," Avni muttered. "Let's just go."

They didn't press her further, sensing her mood. Instead, they decided to take her to her favorite restaurant, hoping to cheer her up. They chatted and laughed, trying to lighten the atmosphere, but Avni remained distant, her mind replaying the unpleasant encounter with Sanjay.

Neil joined them after a while, having changed into casual clothes. He could see that something was off with Avni. Despite their friends' efforts, she was unusually quiet. His concern deepened as the evening wore on.

Later, after dropping DD and Sunheri at the college, Neil drove Avni home. The silence between them was heavy, and Neil's mind raced with worry. When they reached the bus stand, Avni quietly opened the car door.

"Avni," Neil called out just as she was about to step out. She turned to look at him, her expression unreadable.

"Yes, Neil?"

"Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Avni forced a smile. "Yeah, just tired. Thanks for the ride."

Neil nodded, not entirely convinced. "Anytime. Take care."

She closed the car door and walked away, her heart aching with a mix of emotions. Neil watched her go, wishing he could understand what had happened and how to help her. As Avni waited for the bus, she hugged Neil's jacket tighter around her, finding a small comfort in his lingering presence.

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Avni stepped into her home, her shoulders heavy with the weight of the day's events. She saw her mother, Neela, comfortably settled on the couch, engrossed in a movie.

"Hi, Mom," Avni greeted, trying to sound cheerful.

Neela looked up with a warm smile. "Hi, sweetheart! How did the auditions go?"