Journey

His first word!

"Dev.." Avni murmured as a figure appeared in front of her. She just came into the lawyer's cabin at the court, to arrange her documents after the hearing. DD or other police officers are not allowed in, hence they waited outside. "Shocked?" He said, emerging out of the dark. Avni took a step backward. "See I am free! Told you, there's no force in this world that is going to stop me!" He Exclaimed. "But the force of hereafter would punish you! Fear the death Dev! For no one or a wealth could help you from the torment of fire!" Avni's courage startled Dev, forcing him to think over what she said. Avni moves to exit the room. "I would help you in everything if you want me to. Just learn from your lessons.. please. You have a whole life ahead, not a life of imprisonment." She said before leaving.
Avni's heart thumped when she came out. She finally managed to be brave in front of Dev. And she was glad it had an effect on him. Avni drove back home with DD, picking up some fruits and other stuff for Marshall.

Neil wrap Avni into a tight hug, once she entered to the apartment. "Woah!" She exclaimed. Neil kissed on her cheek, burying his lips in her skin. "So glad you are home safely.." he whispered. Avni could feel how tensed up he was. She nuzzled on the side of Neil's face. "I'm all good." She convinced Neil. "Ma-Ma-maa.." Marshall's voice startled both Avni and Neil! "What?" Avni held her breath. "What did you just say..?" She said again. "Ma-maa.." Marshall responded. Avni shrieked with happiness and ran to Marshall. Who jumped up and down in his high chair, excited. Neil followed Avni. She unbuckled and took Marshall out of the chair and squished him into a hug! "Mommy's boy!" She said, while not stopping to kiss Marshall all over. Neil laughed at her reaction. He was glad to be present when Marshall uttered his first word! He does not care what it Maybe, whose name turns up the first. Avni looked at Neil and grinned. Neil brought both Avni and Marshall into his arms, embracing his world.
"Did you cook?" Avni asked Neil, she cane into the kitchen after a quick shower and nursing Marshall. "Just some pasta. Are you very hungry?" Neil asked, taking Marshall from Her. Avni shook her head. "Let's order from the new pizza place at the back road? I have been craving to taste em!" Avni laughed at Neil's expression. "Okay. But I'll finish up what you made in the meantime." They both sat at the table while Avni ate. She told Neil about how Dev confronted and his she responded. Neil too was in a bit ease now. "Ma-Ma-maa.." Marshall blubbered again. "Tsk, not fair Marshi! Say daddy!" Avni let out a soft laugh. "It's not that I'm not happy cuz he said Mommy first, okay?" Neil quickly said. "Hehe, I know." Avni replied. "Let me try to feed Marshall tonight?!" Neil offered. Avni teased him but agreed.
It took a good one hour for Neil to finish up. Feeding a baby isn't the least bit easy as he imagined. And it was not really the cup of tea for a Daddy, if they don't do it regularly. Avni was really helpful, she didn't make Neil feel new at all. Marshall gestured for more, when his plate was empty. "Wow you want more?! That's a lot of food you just ate! How come your tummy isn't full still?" Neil was surprised. "Haha Neil, he won't know if his tummy is full or not. He's just demanding more cuz he likes it." Avni replied. "No more food for fatsie.." Neil jokingly muttered to Neil, Avni slapped his arm, laughing out loud.
Later Avni cleaned up Marshal and let him down own the play-mat for a while, so that his food gets digested. Neil was on the couch, lost into his phone. The bell rang, and Avni attended. "Bebe!" She Exclaimed as Bebe embraced her tightly. "Yes. I was missing Marshall and thought I'll come to see him!" She spoke, entering the apartment. "Oye, Why are you lazing around like this?" She gestured to Neil, who had no intention of getting up. "Why? A police officer always have to run around with a pistol?" He said, pretending to be serious. "Why not?!" Bebe shot back, taking a seat on the couch adjacent. "Then I'll have to chase my very own 8months little rabbit at home." Neil said getting up to sit in the couch, pointing out at Marshall. "Neil..!" Avni muttered, as she thought Babe might get upset. "Tsk, I'm joking baba. Hahaha. Babe and I always run like this." Neil said as he saw Avni tensing up. "Haha Yes Avni. Don't worry." Bebe added, making Avni feel relieved. She picked up Marshall from the play mat and handed over to Bebe. "Ah, my baby! You know, Neil was such a tiny one when he was little." Said Bebe. "Oh it's my bad that I got married to this British, and Marshall has turned into a fatsie.." Neil teased, making a cry face. "Neil, I swear!" Avni threw a cushion at him. "So what. I am all fit and fine, so Marshi must be just like his mother." Neil added, fuming up Neil. "Did you just call me fat!?" Avni ran towards Neil, who immediately got up from the couch tans moved next to Bebe. He hugged Bebe tightly. "Save me na.." Neil Exclaimed. "You find your own safety. Calling Avni fat, and look at this tummy of yours!" Bebe pulled on Neil's ear and gestured to his tummy. Avni laughed out loud. "Oh it's a tummy filled with fats of love and happiness, Bebe! This is the signature of every happily married man!" Neil said in a dramatic tone. "Indeed!" Bebe laughed and replied.
They chatted for long and Bebe our Marshall to bed. Later she ate with Avni and Neil who later offered to drive her home. But Prakash came to pick her up.

Before going to bed, Avni changed Marshall's diapers and fed him. Neil wasn't in room when she came afterwards. "Neil..?" "Out here!" His voice came from the living room. Avni walked to the couch. Neil was lying down, a blanket draped around him. "Not going to sleep?" Avni asked. Neil did not reply, he just held out his hand, offering Avni to join him. She got down next to Neil, who then draped the blanket over both of them. Neil ran his hands on both Avni's arms and nuzzled in a side of her neck. "Marshall's gonna be an year old soon.. time flies." Avni Said, remembering how strong Marshall was as a baby who was about 3months premature. "Yeah.. He is such a blessing. The miracle that brought both you and our life back from death. His every new venture just fills up my heart, I can't believe I, made him!" Last part of Neil's sentence was a bit loud, as he was so so happy to mention Marshall as his own. Avni laughed softly. "That's the best part of being a parent." She said, caressing on Neil's hair. "How Miya and Keira doing? I haven't been in touch with Ansh for so long." Neil asked, taking Avni's hand and playing with her fingers. She moved more close to Neil. "Aileen has been unwell, she had a ligament sprain. So Mom is so busy with the twin. She have an important project upcoming, but had to take leave." "That's bad.. does she need a surgery?" Neil inquired more. "Yes. A ligament replacement." "Wow.. so what now?" Avni shrugged and answered, "no idea." Neil didn't talk for a while. "How about.. you moving there for a few weeks?" Neil hesitantly suggested. Avni lifted up jet head from his chest, looking at his face. "Wh.. what about you then?" Avni's concern was evident from her voice. "I'll be fine. Mom is back, so I won't have any difficulty. Look, Your family needs you now. Marshall is a good baby, so you can just help out with the twins." Neil said, cupping Avni's face. "You won't be able to come over?" "Don't think so. I just returned from a long vacation, Madam." He Teased. "But then.." "Avni.. we'll be fine. This little separations has to happen. Then only we can deal with it, when a grave circumstance comes up." Neil tried convincing her. Avni nodded her head. Neil knew she would think about it, but would never deny without a reasonable excuse. She've never went against a decision of Neil, which one of the reasons he loved her the most. Neil brought Avni closer and kisses on her forehead. They spent sometime on the couch, cuddling each other and planning about their life.