Destiny Of Avni And Neil

Red.

A comfortable silence surrounded them. They both were lost in their own world, dwelling on questions that they had no answers to.

''Why couldn't I see her in trouble? Why was there a dire need in me to help her? And mostly why couldn't I bear to see her frowning.'' Neil asked himself.

Her presence was soothing . She gave him a sense of relief yet somehow managed to cause his heart to race. Her one word would cause his heart to beat so loudly that he was afraid of others hearing it. His brain wasn't able to function , completely filled with her thoughts only. He badly wanted to speak to her , to know her. He was sure that she was hiding something and he was determined to know what it is.

''What's your favorite color?'' Ne asked suddenly out of the blue.
''What?'' Avni asked, stunned at his randomness.
''Well you weren't saying anything so I thought to do the honors of asking you a question. We should get to know each other'' Neil replies.
''Ku Mujhsa Shaddi karraho kya that we should get to know each other?''Avni said to him in a monotone voice.
''I wish'' Neil says absentmindedly.
''What!'' Avni shrieks at him.
Neil widens his eyes as he realises what he had said mistakenly.
''No! I meant that ...Ah .. is it neccessary to get to know someone only when they're about to get married. Friends should also know about each other.'' He says with a smirk on his face.
''Left'',Avni replies
''What?'' Neil asks her confusedly.
''Take A Left from here'' Avni replies , enumerating each words.
''Is larki ka har kam ulta hai'' Neil mutters under his breath and swerves the car left.

While shifting the gear His hands slowly brushes against Avni's hand.
Tingles shoots against both of their bodies just at this mere touch. The tingles were warm and soothing causing the butterflies in Avni's stomach to begin the excited dance, again.
''We can't be friends.'' Avni says to him after sometime.
''Why not?'' Neil asks her. He wasn't hurt at her confession instead he felt intrigued. He wanted to know why she thought they can't be friends.
''I don't need friends in my life Neil. '' Avni says to him , hiding the pain under her strong voice.
''You might not need them Avni , but a person requires a friend. Someone they could share their pain with. Living by yourself is brave but sharing your pain is also an act of bravery. Pain shouldn't be kept hidden. Don't give pain the power to break you because the pieces will always keep hurting you .'' Neil says to Avni while looking at her eyes.
Something flashed in her eyes but they disappeared before he could figure out what it was.
''Some pain are best kept hidden. These pain are dark , they don't just hurt you, they make you hollow and numb, incapable of having any other feelings. Sharing doesn't help to lessen the pain, it only causes the others trouble. Some pain won't cause you to cry, instead they'll make you scream. You would scream and scream , and try to let it out but it won't leave you .The pain would settle permanently inside you, eating you and Destroying you.'' Avni says with a heavy voice and a faraway look in her eyes.
Pain... it was evident that she had hidden a lot of pain inside her. Her cold exterior finally made sense to him, it's because of her pain.
He looked at her unaware that her confession had caused his eyes to become wet. Her emotions were so raw and painful that even he couldn't bear it. He only realized it when a single drop fell on his hand. He wiped those tears instantly.
He wanted her to get rid of her pain. He never wanted to do something so much like this, he wanted to help her.
''Lekin Avni, dard shayad bata nahi jah sakta lekin mitai jaroor sakta hai. Abtak asi koi dard nahi bani jisa khushiya sah nahi mitayi ja sakka.'' Neil said to her hopefully.
He would do whatever it takes to eradicate her pain .
''If only Neil, if only you knew that the pain inside me can't be erased. It's permanent. This pain won't go away with some mere happiness '' She thinks to herself.

Neil seemed to be lost in his thoughts and she took this opportunity to really look at him.
His eyes were brown that shone with hope and liveliness, something that her own eyes lacked. He had a really light stubble, giving his boyish features a matured yet handsome look. He had a strong and lean built with muscles bulging through his jacket. His face seemed to always have a wide smile etched on it. A carefree and warm smile , the smile she had forgotten to do. He was handsome, she would admit. But he seemed to be radiating an aura that pulled her towards him.
Neil gave her a sideway glance and smirked .
''Done checking me out? Found anything you might like?'' He asked her mischievously.
Avni quickly managed herself and answered nonchalantly, ''nah I have seen better. It takes more than few muscles to impress me.''
''At least you admit that you did check me out and that I do have muscles. Abhi kilya is sahi hum kam chalalega .'' Neil said to her.

"He sure is cocky. But a chivalrous cocky idiot he is." She thinks to herself
Avni gave him a small smile a looked away.
''She doesn't smile fully. It's like she's restricting her self from getting happiness. '' he thinks to himself.

Avni gives him the direction to her house that leads him to a familiar locality. He has been in this locality many times before.
Avni asks him to stop in front of a house.
''Tum yaha rehti ho?'' Neil asks her.
''Nahi mein zoo meh rahti hu. I asked you to stop here that means this is my house '' Avni says to him in an obvious tone.
"How are you related to Ayesha Maa and Ashish Uncle?" Neil enquired.
He has know them since he was 15 years old. Ashish Mehta was his father's friend and his idol. Yes, Neil considered Ashish to be his idol. His bravery and courage inspires him always. Infact, Ashish Mehta was the real motivation of his to be a police officer.
Neil wanted to be just like Ashish Mehta, an honest and courageous police officer.
And he always considered Ayesha as his own mother. Ayesha too loved him very much. Their bond had compelled Neil to call Ayesha as Maa. And Ayesha was obliged to bear this title.

Avni was shocked that he knew them so well to call her mother as Maa. But for some reason hearing him calling her mother as Maa felt right. It felt like he had the right to call her Maa.
It just felt so right .

"They're my parents. But how do you know them so well?" Avni asked. She was really confused now.

"Parents?" He thought to himself.
"Oh right! How could I miss this? She's Avni Mehta, their daughter who lived in pune. How could I not see the dots before. You really are an idiot Neil"

"Hello?" Avni says and waves her hand towards Neil who seemed to be lost in his thoughts.
"They and my parents are really close . Khanna family and Mehta Family are great friends " he says.
"Wait! Neil Khanna? How did I not think of this before. He must be Prakash Khanna's son. Maa always talks about him." She thinks to herself.
"Toh Tum finally wapas ahhi gayi. Your parents waited a lot for you" He said to her remembering how sad they used to be.
"Yeah I am back. " Avni says, still trying to wrap her head around today's occurrences.
"You are welcome" Neil says to her.
"What ?" She asked him quizzically.
" I don't want you to take the stress of thanking me for the lift. So you're welcome. " Neil says to her.
"Thanks? I think you're forgetting that you offered me a ride as an act of repentance for your mistake , I didn't ask for your help." Avni says to him and raises her eyebrow challenging him to say anything.

He just shakes his head and smiles at her antics. She really was an Ajooba.

Avni gets out of the jeep aand goes toward her house only to be stopped by Neil's voice.
"Wait", He says
He jogs toward her.
"Now am I worthy of your friendship?" Neil asks hopefully.
She wanted to say yes but as always her insecurities came in the way of her happiness.
"Bye Neil " she says and turns to leave as a dejected Neil looks at her with sullen expressions.
Neil sighs a breath of disappointment and turns towards his car.

"Neil! " Avni calls to him suddenly.
He turns and looks at her.
"It's red." She says
"What?" He asks her
"My favorite color, it's red" She says to him and enters her house leaving a smiling Neil behind.
"Her choice of color is just like her, fierce."
He thinks.

She'll take time. But Neil was sure that someday she would open up. Now he was even more determined to be her friend.
He starts his car and goes towards his house, all this while the smile not leaving his face.
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Yup! A second update. Hope this makes up for the earlier boring chapter and also for my tardiness. Thanks to everyone who voted and commented on the chapter.💙💙💙💙
Do tell me your views on this chapter and any suggestions her welcomed.