h u r r i c a n e ( A x N ) ✔

2. Guts

"Pick up the damn phone Ali," Avni muttered as she tapped the 'hang up' icon disappointingly. She had wanted Ali to know about their temporary win. He was her confidante, the one she could trust blindly and he wanted him to hear the good news from her itself. Avni stirred the straw in the glass in front of her. She was currently at 'Chamko Cafe'. Thinking about the name itself caused her to smile, Ali had fulfilled their childhood dreams of setting up a cafe. She wished that everything gets back to normal so that she could bond back with her long-lost folks: Ali, Nanno and most importantly Aman, whom she had to redeem. 

Avni's chain of thoughts came to a halt as her phone vibrated. It was Ali! She grinned as she answered the call. 

"Ali, we did it. The wedding was cancelled and the Khannas slapped a torn cheque on Dayawanti's face," Avni poured out enthusiastically. 

"She had to meet her end Avni and Dayawanti will suffer more, this is my promise to you. After shooting you in the chest, she'll have to pay for her vile actions," Ali seethed,but he felt at ease to some extent as the goal towards which they had been working has partly been accomplished. The only step left was to get Avni her brother Aman. Ali had dropped Rhea to her friend's place where she would be residing.

"Ali, don't dwell upon these for now. What's important is that we are on the path to victory. Anyways, where are you? We need to celebrate and the best way to do that is by having poha," Avni excitedly said and Ali smiled at the other end of the line, "Avni, you are so engrossed in our conversation that you don't realise I'm behind you,"

Avni took some seconds to register Ali's words and when she did, she swiftly turned back and saw her best friend with a plate of poha in his hands. Ali placed the plate on the table before Avni engulfed him in a hug. "I'm so happy Ali," she enthused and Ali just sighed contentedly as he stroked her hair.

After seconds, Avni parted from the hug and they both started digging into the poha which tasted like heaven.

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Neil felt his mouth go sour as he watched the camera footage in front of him. He had installed hidden CCTV cameras in 'Chamko Cafe' and he did not fail to witness Avni's interactions with Ali. He clenched his fist when he saw Avni embracing Ali, true they were childhood friends and she was nothing more to him than a case. Chucking these thoughts out of his mind, he added 2 and 2 and came to the conclusion that Ali was helping Avni all the time. Why wouldn't he after all? Ali loved her and kept on waiting for her. Though Ali was his friend, he could not stop jealousy from settling in for a mere fraction of a moment. 

Unfortunately Neil couldn't hear what Ali and Avni were talking about but he would find that soon. He would track Avni down, or as she preferred, Ananya. Neil could get over with this and immediately arrest Avni but he wanted to see to what extent she would lie to hide her identity and avenge herself. 

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"I'll clean this up," Ali said when they were done rejoicing. Avni was lost  in her thoughts when suddenly Ali's vacant seat was taken by Neil. He had a sinister smile on his face. Avni frowned, wondering what could be the purpose of his presence. But, she was quick to react.

"Neil, I'm sorry for whatever happened, but they say that everything was meant to be so.." she began nervously. 

"Was meant to be or was conspired to be," he said with a grin on his face. "I didn't get you Neil," Avni silently chuckled trying to mask her deceitful facial expressions.

"Of course Ananya, you wouldn't know what I am referring to," he dryly laughed and attempted at being more friendly, "let's move to some other stuff, how about we go out the two of us and talk since we are interrupted a lot,". Avni smelled something odd. How come Neil was suddenly so nice to her from being downright sarcastic. She knew that he had a hunch that she was behind Rhea's elopement. But, she could not make him anymore suspicious of her.

"Alright, whenever you say," she said flatly and attempted to smile," I need to go and help Ali right now,". With that, she got up from the chair and was greeted by Neil's questions. 

"You and Ali have become very close. It's strange that Ali has let you come so close to him because he had made it clear that he would never be interested in anybody else save his long-lost childhood friend, Avni Ayesha," he  stated, emphasising on 'Avni Ayesha'. 

Avni gulped but soon regained her composure," You know, some people easily click with each other while others simply don't, it's life. And, you should ask Ali about letting down his guard because I have no idea of that,". Neil rolled his eyes at her sarcastic comeback. He flashed her a fake smile and she mirrored the same.

However, before Avni could go and join Ali, Neil spun her and hugged her. Avni was bloody shocked. What the hell was up with him today? Luckily, the cafe was empty at this time. However, she felt a gust of warmth exploding as his breath fanned her neck. She shut her eyes and felt free from all the worries she had. That did not last long since, he withdrew from the hug, almost pushing her away. Avni bit the insides if her cheek, the guts of this man...

"So, I'll see you tonight Ananya, at my place," Neil slurred, not bothering to wipe away the smirk on his face, leaving Avni dumbfounded. This was going to be along day, rather a long night....

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