h u r r i c a n e ( A x N ) ✔

8. History

Avni withdrew her hand from Neil's hands and looked away. Neil felt like something broke inside of him. So, she still didn't trust him? He rubbed his temple, observing as she fidgeted with the hem of the shirt. There is a lot more to Avni than what meets the eye. Avni shivered, she wondered how much Neil already knew about her past and though, trust issues lied on one side of the fence, on the other side, she feared that Neil would get repulsed by her childhood. 

"Avni, i know what i did last time, was wrong and I've come here to apologise but," Neil began as he tried to slide his fingers into his pockets, but soon realised that he was clad only in a bathrobe and wet boxers, he however shook his head and focused on Avni, who had her back turned to him and had irregular breathing patterns. Concerned, Neil, placed his palm on her shoulder. Avni failed to hold back the tears as she relived her childhood: Dayawanti Mehta locking her in a dark room infested with insects, getting shot in the chest...

Avni turned around and seeked Neil's refuge. On the spur of the moment, she turned around and hid her face in his chest, her arms wrapped around his torso. Neil engulfed her in his arms, knowing that she was vulnerable at the moment. He got her to sit on the bed and cradled her in his arms, whispering in hushing tenderness," Avni, you've got to be strong,". Avni tightened her grip around Neil, her tears soaking his chest. His arms were a safe haven for her.

Neil kept on patting Avni's head, hoping to calm her down. Neil clenched his jaw, his plan to seek revenge evaporated. True, he was pissed off at her for barging into his life and she was only a case for him which he wanted to solve, but his heart sank when he saw her in this state. Avni went through a lot, he remembered Ali saying when the latter had confronted him the day right after he attempted to arrest Avni. Neil wanted to know exactly what she had been through but right now, it would be best to not insist knowing of her past.

Avni gradually released her hold on Neil and wiped her tears, inhaling deeply. Neil gave her a reassuring smile," Avni, I'm sorry, let's not talk about it right now,". Avni nodded, letting out a yawn. Avni bit the insides of her cheeks, trying to stiffle her laughter, seeing Neil in a bathrobe was the eighth wonder of the world. Neil noticed the transitioning expressions on Avni's face and he guessed why.

"Come on Avni, would you have preferred to see me parade around naked?" he teasingly said, winking at Avni, who became conscious of their closeness to each other. Neil felt his lips grow dry as her cheeks became tainted with hues of red.  Avni chuckled, and met Neil's eyes who were riveted on her. She was not going to let him dominate.

"By the way Neil, does it still hurt where I kicked you last time?" Avni let out, realising her stupidity as the words resonated and she bit her tongue. Neil was flushed...he did not expect that she would refer to where she hurt him. 

Neil then noticed that Avni was more embarrassed than him and she was hiding her face in her hands. Neil burst out in laughter and Avni mimicked the same. They grew aware of the late hours.  Neil got up from the bed, still laughing and took a pillow proceeding to the sofa. Avni pulled the covers on her, and shifted on her side, facing the sofa where Neil would be sleeping.  Feeling Avni fixing him, Neil's smirk grew deeper as he thought of something.

"By the way Avni, if I told you it still hurts, would you apply ointment over there?" he uttered, unable to control his laughter as he emphasised on 'there' and faked to untie the bathrobe. Avni threw a pillow at him and turned to the otherside, unable to handle his audacity. She shut her eyes, trying to stabilise her breaths. Neil grinned as he lied down, feeling sleep seep in as he kept watching Avni, though she head turned her face away from him.

Avni reflected that she had not smiled so heartily in a while. She wished Neil would stop giving her mixed signals, and settle on a single opinion. As silence reigned in the room, the ticking of the clock made her aware that she had lesser hours to find Aman.

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A bit tired to rant today. Still, thank you everyone for voting and commenting and please keep on showing your support through them. I love you all ❤!