A little thing called FIRST LOVE ft.Avneil

Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Avni remained curled in Neil's lap, her arms still wrapped tightly around him as though anchoring herself after the storm of emotions she'd just unleashed. Her cries had softened into gentle sobs, and now, even those had faded into soft sniffles. The burden of her long-held trauma and pain seemed to dissipate, leaving behind a fragile sense of peace.

Neil felt the change, the stillness in her, and gently called her name.
"Avni," he said softly, his voice tender and full of affection.

Avni lifted her head, her tear-streaked face meeting Neil's warm gaze. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the last remnants of her tears. His eyes bore into hers, unflinching and sincere.
"I love you so much, Avni," he said, the words carrying the weight of his unwavering devotion.

For a moment, Avni just stared, her heart swelling with emotion. Yet, amidst the warmth of his words, doubt crept into her mind. The weight of her reality loomed large—the threats, the blackmail, the uncertainty. What would happen if she allowed herself to fall back into a relationship with Neil? Could she endure the fallout? Her thoughts were a whirlwind, but one thing was clear: she didn't want to lose him.

"Neil," she began hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper, "can we... can we start over?"

Neil's brows furrowed slightly in confusion as he tilted his head. "Start over?" he echoed.

"I want to start fresh," Avni explained, searching his eyes for understanding. "Let's be friends first, then slowly go on dates, and only then... start a relationship. I want to build it step by step, without rushing into anything."

Neil stared at her for a moment, processing her words. Then, a small, understanding smile formed on his lips.
"Okay, Avni," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "If starting new is what you want, I'm ready. As long as you're here with me, that's all I need."

Avni couldn't help but smile shyly, the warmth of his words reminding her of their college days. He used to say that exact line to her back then—'You being here is enough for me.'

She let out a soft laugh, her tension easing. "Did you eat?" she asked suddenly, changing the subject.

Neil's lips curved into a grin. "Yes, I had some salad earlier. What about you?"

"Same. Salad," Avni replied, a hint of amusement in her tone.

She slowly stood up, brushing her hands down her dress to smooth it out. "Okay, let's go and sleep," she said, her voice carrying a calm certainty.

Neil nodded and got to his feet. But before parting, he wrapped her in a warm, proper hug, holding her close for a lingering moment.

"Good night, Avni," he whispered against her hair.

"Good night, Neil," she replied softly, her heart a little lighter, a glimmer of hope igniting within her.

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The morning sunlight streamed into Avni's room as she stirred awake. She instinctively reached for her phone and noticed a message from Neil:
"Good morning."

A smile immediately brightened her face as she typed back a reply:
"Good morning."

Setting the phone aside, she quickly freshened up, the lingering warmth from their late-night conversation still blooming in her chest. She felt lighter, freer—almost like her old self again. After getting ready, she headed to the dining area for breakfast.

As she entered, she was greeted by the sight of everyone already seated, chatting casually over their meals. Everyone except Sakshi.

"Hello, everyone! Good morning!" Avni said cheerfully, her tone vibrant and energetic.