Avneil FF

Chapter 20

Avni grabbed her bag and just fled away. She had too many thoughts running in her head and she needed to sort things out before she could even begin to explain to neil what she felt.

Neel on the other hand stood flabbergasted as he watched avni leave. He could see that she was going through a lot of emotions but he was lost...he didn't know how to figure things out when he wasn't even sure exactly what was troubling her. As he thought about the breakfast conversation that had triggered her outburst he realized that it would have definitely caught her offgurad. HE had been caught off-guard too. Although he sort of understood where his mom and bebe were coming from too...they were conservative and they just wanted to see him and avni "settled" with kids. But he knew that before worrying about mom and bebe's expectations he needed to confront avni- understand what was going on in her head and where they both stood.

He quickly dialled her number but she was not answering her phone. Neil just paced in his room, very restless...he knew that avni wasn't as impulsive and reckless as she used to be but he knew that this particular topic had struck a different chord with her and he was really worried about her. First and foremost he needed to know that she was safe.

Finally after an hour his phone beeped and he saw a text message from her saying she was ok and that she'd come home later.

Neel was relieved that she was safe but he was desperate to talk to her. He quickly dialled her number and avni answered with a resigned and very subdued hello

Neel- Avni, kahan ho tum?

Avni- neel, I just messaged na...please just let me spend some time alone. We can talk about everything later

Neel- avni I know, but please just tell me where you are. I just need to see you. We wont talk unless you want to but please just tell me where you are.

Avni- just sighed into her phone and said- I'll text you and she had hung up.

A few seconds later he received a message

It had an address along with the name of an apartment , 10th floor and also a person's name underneath- R.D.Sharma

He was very puzzled by this message but he didn't waste any time wondering...he quickly drove off to the address she had sent.

When he reached there the security guy stopped him.

Security- arey saab, kaun ho aap? Kis se milna hai?

Neil- was stumped. He didn't know anyone in this apartment and then suddenly he looked at avni's message again and then told the security guy a little doubtfully...uh... voh R.D.Sharma

Security- oh accha, sharmaji ke guest ho! Thik hai chaliye...

Neel- was puzzled but glad that he had been allowed in.

HE quickly parked and went in...when he looked at the board he realised that the apartment had only 9 floors. But avni had said 10th floor...and R.D.Sharma was on the 2nd floor. HE was getting confused now! Then he thought for a minute and realised 10th floor probably meant the terrace.

So he took the elevator up and walked to the terrace and when he reached there he couldn't see avni anywhere

Neel- avni he called out. Avni where are you?

He heard her voice only reply back- shh...kyun gala phaad rahe ho?

Neel turned this way and that and then finally realised that she was perched atop the water tank on the terrace. He just shook his head at how crazy she was.

HE quickly made his way up to her and said- Avni ye sab kya hai? Tum randomly kisi bhi apartment ke terrace ke tanki pe kyun chadh ke baithi ho? Aur ye R D Sharma kaun hai?

Avni- shh...shut up and she just nudged her head asking him to look in front

When he did, he just shut up for the view was amazing! It was like a slice of the entire city was in front of him. The skyline was dotted with a view of so many different shades of Mumbai city- there was the sea, the slums, the skyscrapers, the busy roads congested with traffic. It was a great view, absolutely breathtaking

Both of them just sat there in silence taking in the view.

Finally avni said- hungry?

Neel- huh?

Avni just passed him her bag and stared back at the view in front of her

Neel peeked into it and saw that she had come with full preparation as if she was here for a picnic! Inside her bag were chips packets, oreo cookies, a bar of chocolate, a bag of popcorn and also a bottle of soft drink.

Neel – (mentally) this girl will never stop surprising me! He helped himself to some chips and cookies and then said- vaise tum toh soft drink nahi peeti ho na

Avni- But you like it na. she said simply

Neel just chuckled (she had figured that he would come looking for her)

Neel was glad that the weather was good too. It was a slightly cloudy and windy day so the sun wasn't beating down on them as it normally would

Avni picked up the bag of popcorn and started eating that. Suddenly she decided that she should make a game out of it...so she would toss it up and try to catch it. Neel watched amused as most of them would hit her nose or chin and land on the floor. She would dust them off on her kurti and eat them and continued her game. He decided it would be more fun if he joined in so the next time she tossed, he gently pushed her aside and caught the popcorn in his mouth. Avni turned to him with a smile. She handed him a few popcorns, picked up some in her hand and said- ok go! She opened her mouth and indicated to him to aim his popcorns into her mouth. She bobbed her head trying to catch them but she was doing a terrible job! Then she tossed popcorn at him. Unlike avni though neel was naturally talented at this game so he caught his first 2-3 easily. So avni stopped aiming and just started pelting him with popcorn now. Neel couldn't help but burst out laughing and seeing that avni too joined in. After a while their giggling died down and together they sat there in silence. A few moments later he felt avni lean against his shoulder. Neel didn't say anything, just wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer.