AVNEIL

Chapter 2 - Tug of war

     The next day, Avni pushed some of her loose hair behind her ears and pulled down the hem of her shirt. The winds blew freely around her exposed legs and it made her feel strange.This was one of those rare times she wore skirt different from her everyday jean trousers. It was obvious she wanted to feel girly.....or like a woman. She could imagine how much Mitali would tease her if she saw her right now, the only reason she would even think dressing up was to impressed one man. Ali.

     Her face broke in excitement when she saw him from afar, walking right up to her. Ali had a way of walking that made him seem perpetually in a hurry. His steps weren't long but they were rapid.

     He was the kind of man that when he smiled and laughed you couldn't help but smile along too, even if it was just on the inside. To be in his company was to feel that you too were someone, that you had been warmed in summer rays regardless of the season.

     "Wow, Avni. You look good. Did you do something different with your hair?"

     Her cheeks flushed pink and her finger went to her hair again. She washed it for the first time in the past week and styled in the same pony tail she had done for the past year. 

     Ali always complimented her, no matter how shabby, tired, or stressed she looked at that moment, he always had something nice to say. He spent most of his time schooling in a foreign country and had several degrees in many fields but was yet to choose a career. Despite the fact, she hadn't seen him for about 6 months now, his quest for knowledge was another thing Avni found attractive.

     They strolled along the sidewalk, taking in the scenery.

      School was out and kids ran willy-nilly down the sidewalk as laughter and car honks rang in the air.

     "I can't remember the last time I did this; you know just walking."

     Ali took in a long breath.

    "Me too."

     All she could remember doing for the past year was working at the diner or helping her grandfather. More reason she enjoyed Ali's company, he always took her out of her daily routine.

    "How is school?" that was the first thing she'd whenever they meet.

     "It is alright." Avni mouthed the words almost before he answered.

     That was his usual response, no matter how bad things are for him, he wouldn't disclose but give you the shortest answer possible. "It's fine." She once thought he never went through rough times but soon she realised that was how he was, his mind was always steel closed and his lips never reveal more than what he intended. That was simply Ali nature.

     "So I was with Neil and he told me someone knocked into his car. The weird thing is that the person he describe look exactly like you. Anything you want to tell me?"

     Her face turned sour at the sudden mention of Neil. She knew Neil and Ali have been friends probably since before they could speak, she would never understand how someone has despicable as Neil could be friends with someone sweet and kind as Ali. They never talked about Neil and if it weren't for the accident, they won't be talking about him.

      "Well it sort of happened. But don't worry about anything, I will handle it." She assured him. 

     Neil Khanna sat behind the desk of his office, his gaze fixed on the computer screen,and he tapped the game pad with his fingers. The double French door flung open and a slim blond man pranced in.

     It was no other than DD, the last of the gang. Neil, Ali, and Dd were inseparable.They were friends almost throughout their life but spent the last 6 months in different countries. Now Ali has returned and DD have finally moved back to the city, they could spend time together.

     "Got your message, shouldn't we get going?" DD sank himself into the white leather chair with one of his leg placed over the corner of the glass table that stood in the middle of the room.

     His eyes danced around the room, it had been a while since he was here. The stacks of books on the tall shelves behind Neil and the family pictures on each corner of the wall would make anyone think that Neil was close to his family.

     DD returned his gaze to Neil. "Don't tell me you have been playing games all day. It's not healthy man."

     "Damn it! I died again." Neil tossed his game pad onto the mahogany desk. 

     DD asked, "Where is Ali?"

     In that moment, his phone beeped. Neil picked it up from the table and viewed the screen. "It's a text from Ali, he can't make it," he huffed.  

TO BE CONTINUED....

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