A little thing called FIRST LOVE ft.Avneil

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Neil had made his decision, a painful one, but in his mind, the right one. He needed to let Avni go, to push her away for her own good. Yet, instead of ending things clearly, he chose the path of avoidance. Slowly, he began to neglect her, retreating into his silence, hoping she would read between the lines and walk away on her own.

At first, Avni didn't think much of it. She believed Neil was still processing the incident with Juhi, perhaps needing some time to sort through his emotions. She gave him space, respecting his silence, trusting that he would come around.

But as days turned into weeks, Neil's aloofness grew sharper. The calls stopped coming. The texts were few and far between, and only when she initiated them. Even when they were together, he seemed distant, his once warm gaze now cold and distracted.

Avni tried to hold onto the relationship, pouring her heart into every interaction. She messaged him every morning, asking how he was doing. She called, hoping to hear his voice, to catch a glimpse of the Neil she knew and loved. But his responses were brief, almost mechanical, as if he were fulfilling an obligation rather than engaging with her.

She tried to convince herself it was just a phase. Maybe he was stressed about the upcoming final semester or something else he wasn't ready to share. She clung to her optimism, but with each passing day, it grew harder to ignore the truth staring her in the face.

Neil wasn't trying anymore.

Despite her best efforts, Avni began to feel the cracks forming in their once unshakeable bond. The love she thought would weather any storm now seemed like a one-sided fight. She realized where this was headed, but her heart wasn't ready to accept it.

"He just needs time," she whispered to herself, again and again, as though the words alone could heal the growing distance. But Neil's avoidance was deliberate, calculated, and cruel in its subtlety.

The final semester was now only a week away, and with it came an unspoken deadline. Avni knew that whatever was happening between them couldn't continue like this. She needed answers, even if they shattered her heart.

Neil sat at a dimly lit bar, a drink clutched in his hand, surrounded by a raucous crowd of boys and girls. A woman draped herself over him, practically perched on his lap. She laughed at something he barely said, her hand sliding over his open shirt, but Neil's eyes were distant, betraying the chaos within him.

It was a typical Friday night for the bar staff, but not for Sunehri. She had just started her shift when her gaze landed on Neil. Her stomach sank at the sight. Avni's Neil, the one who wouldn't hurt a fly when it came to her, now looked like a stranger.

Unable to contain her concern, Sunehri approached him. "Neil, what is this? Who is she? What happened to you?" she asked in a low voice, cautious not to attract the manager's attention.

Neil barely looked at her, taking another sip of his drink. "I'm enjoying my life, Sunehri," he replied flatly.

Sunehri leaned closer, trying to reason with him. "If Avni sees you like this, she'll be devastated. Come on, I'll take you home. Just get up."

He shook his head, the faintest hint of a smirk on his lips. "I'm not going anywhere. Leave me alone."

Sunehri's patience wore thin, and she stepped away to call DD. Within minutes, DD arrived, his expression dark with fury as he stormed into the bar. Spotting Neil, DD made a beeline toward him.

Without a word, DD grabbed Neil by the collar, yanking him to his feet. A loud thud echoed as DD's fist met Neil's face. "Do you think this is funny?" DD roared. "If Avni finds out about this, do you know what will happen? She'll break up with you! You want to lose her because of this random girl?"