Journey

A danger

Neil and his little family came back to Mumbai after a week at London. Avni woke up with Marshall the following morning. Neil was asleep so she let him sleep in for a while. She fed Marshall and gave him a bath, Neil still didn't get up. Avni put Marshall next to Neil, and caressed on his skin to wake him up. But his temperature was high, "Neil? Hey.." she stirred him a bit. Neil slowly opened his eyes. "How.. you're burning with fever.." Neil nodded his head. "Woke up a few times last night and took medicine." He replied, trying to support himself on the headboard. "What? And you didn't wake me up.." Avni Said, sitting next to him and checking his temperature again. "It's just a fever. It will pass." He said. Avni shook her head in disagreement. "Mashi! Daddy's boy!" Neil took Marshall into his arms and tickled the little face with his beard. Marshall bursted into fits of laughs!
Avni decided not to go out that day. She kept herself busy with unpacking and cleaning. "Avni?" She heard Neil's voice. "In here!" Neil came outside, Avni was doing laundry. "DD is here." Avni nodded and gestures Neil to go. DD was in the living room, busy playing with Marshall. "Off duty is a play date with Marshall?" Avni teased. Neil laughed at this. "Haha no. I haven't seen him for long, so thought I'd come over for a visit. How was London?" DD asked, putting on Marshal's pacifier. "Cold. But Marshall enjoyed the snow, more than the beaches." Neil explained. "Coffee?" Avni offered DD. He reached out and accepted the cup. "Actually.. sir. I came here with a news." DD straightened himself on the couch alerting the other two. "Go ahead." Neil permitted. "Dev is on bail. Dev Raizada. And.. as you know.. he would surely come after Avni." Avni's eyes widened. "What?! How did he get bail?! He was on life imprisonment!" Neil's voice was so loud as he was hit by the bus! "Under parole, sir." Avni's eyes widened. As a light flash, she picked up Marshall from the play mat and hugged him tightly. Neil clasped his forehead. Avni knew how fumed up Dev was, when she fought the case to give justice for her dead neighbor and friend! But now.. Avni's heart thumped with fear. "Neil.." she mumbled. Neil then looked at Avni, he quickly rushed to her. "Hey.. it's okay. I'm here, he can't even place a finger on you!" He caressed on her shoulder, despite knowing that Avni wont relax. "DD, please place security around this building. And a guard outside our door. I'll need Kunal to recheck on the positions and operation of the CCTV in this apartment and building. Please see to this." Neil made a quick plan and instructed DD. They worked on a few more things, and DD dismissed to his duty.
Avni was changing the sheets of the bed when Neil walked in. Marshall was fast asleep in the bassinet. He took one end of the sheet to help Avni. "It's okay, I'll do it." She said quickly but Neil refused. Avni didn't argue much, which scared Neil. He knew she was worried and scared. But he'd never let anything happen to her. Later at the dinner table even, Avni didn't utter a word. She had even forgot to put gravy on the steak she made. Neil didn't mind, and ate the beef the way she served. But her silence was eating his soul. Avni took a shower and checked on Marshall, before coming to sleep. Neil was working on his laptop. Avni moved closer and checked the temperature of him. Her eyes widened! "Did you have medicine?" Neil shook his head. Avni jumped out of bed and hurried to bring medicine. "No need to keep yourself busy with work, if you can't take care of your health. Do you want to fall ill? And get things more worse? Doesn't take medicine on time, not taking proper rest.. what will happen to Marshall and me, if you fall sick?.." Avni's voice trailed off, and her hand shook when she took back the glass from Neil. He knew she was trying her best to hold it in, but he could see he fear inside him. Neil held her hand and made her sit beside him. "Why are you trying to hold everything inside you? Avni, I'll always be right her. Right next to the both of you. You and Marshall are my life! I cant imagine spending a single day away from you both. No one, can ever lay even a finger on either of you. I promise.." Neil hugged Avni tightly and kissed on her cheek. He spent hours that night, pacifying Avni. "You know when Juhi came back, I thought you would leave me forever. I was a fool, for not being able to know how much you loved me." Avni looked into his face. The same perfect hair, black eyes filled with passion and love, the lightly grown beard, just how she loved it. Avni ran her fingers on his skin. "And I never thought in my wildest dream, that I'd get someone as perfect as you.. and a lovely life as this." Avni's voice came out as a whisper. "You know why our life is moving ahead? Just because of you. You have stood by my side always. Never doubted on our love and trusted in me blindly. Basically, you are the magic that's running my whole life!" Avni was in tears. How much she loves this man. Her warrior, who have always appreciated her, in every situation. "Anything for you.. I love you so much!" Avni nuzzled on Neil's face who in return captured her lips and kissed her gently.
The next morning Avni had a hearing. She was in dilemma whether to attend or not. On one hand was the fear of Dev and on the other hand, the rights of an innocent. And.. Marshall! She can't hand him over to anyone. Not at this situation. Even Neil's parents or Neela Ma wasn't in town. Avni panicked with the thought. "Relax! We can ask someone to be home with Marshall." Neil tried to calm her down. But he himself can't decide, he wants to be with Marshall, and also attend the court so that he can be around with Avni. "No! I cant risk that, I don't trust anyone at this point except you.. yes.. you should stay home with Marshall. I'll manage." Neil didn't like the idea. "But Avni.." "No Neil. Please?" She begged him and Neil had to give up. He let out a sigh, "Okay. But DD will be with you throughout. I'll ask him to mount guards near the court too." They finally came to an agreement. Avni fed Marshall and gave him a bath, before getting ready herself. DD came to pick her up in a while. "Please stay at DD's sight. I want you to come home as soon as you are done, okay?" He hugged Avni and kissed on her forehead. Avni nodded and left. Neil's heart was skipping beats, his sixth sense warning him that something huge was going to happen.