A little thing called FIRST LOVE ft.Avneil

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Neil entered the house, the weight of the day hanging heavy on his shoulders. The sight of his father, Prakash, sitting in the dimly lit hall caught him off guard. Prakash was never one to stay up late, especially not waiting in the living room. Neil's brows furrowed slightly as he approached.

"Dad, you didn't sleep yet?" Neil asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the exhaustion lacing his words.

Prakash turned to face his son, his expression calm but stern. "I didn't. I've been waiting for you. We need to talk."

Neil's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his composure. "What is it, Dad?"

Prakash's eyes drifted to Neil's clothes—the bloodstained shirt, the bruised knuckles. The unspoken question hung heavy in the air, and Neil shifted uneasily under his father's gaze.

"Dad, I can explain..." Neil began, but Prakash raised a hand, cutting him off gently.

"We'll talk, but not like this. Go clean up first, and then meet me in the study," Prakash said, his tone firm yet understanding.

Neil nodded, silently grateful for the moment to collect his thoughts. "Okay," he replied before heading upstairs to his room.

After a quick shower, Neil stood in front of the mirror, his mind racing. He knew his father would listen, but the conversation ahead felt heavy. Wrapping a towel around his neck, he took a deep breath, preparing himself. When he entered the study room, Prakash was already seated at his desk, reading through some documents, the lamp casting a soft glow around him.

"Dad?" Neil called softly.

Prakash closed the file and stood, moving to face his son. "Neil," he greeted, his voice calm. "I've heard from your principal. But I want to hear it from you. Tell me, what happened?"

Neil appreciated the lack of immediate judgment, and so, he told his father everything. From the moment he realized something was wrong with Avni, to the fight with Sanjay, to the frantic rush to the hospital. He spared no detail, speaking with a mixture of anger, guilt, and exhaustion.

Prakash listened intently, his face revealing nothing as Neil poured out the details. When Neil finished, there was a long silence between them, broken only by the soft ticking of the clock on the wall.

Finally, Prakash spoke, his voice measured and calm. "So, what do you want to do now?"

Neil exhaled slowly, running a hand through his damp hair. "Honestly, I don't know. What I want doesn't matter right now. I need to know what Avni wants first. That's what matters."

Prakash looked at his son, a flicker of pride in his eyes. He could see how much Neil cared for her, how deeply Avni's well-being had taken precedence in his mind. "What do you think she'll want?" Prakash asked.

Neil thought for a moment before answering, "I think... she'll want to let it go. She's not the kind of person to pursue a case, not unless she feels it's absolutely necessary. She'll want to avoid all of that."

Prakash nodded, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He could read between the lines, recognizing his son's deeper emotions. "Alright. If she wants to file a case, I'll make sure she has all the support she needs. And if she doesn't... we'll make sure this doesn't happen again. You understand what I mean?"

A smirk crept onto Neil's face, mirroring his father's. "Yeah, Dad. I understand."

Prakash placed a hand on Neil's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "Good. You did the right thing, Neil. Now, whatever comes next, we handle it together."