AVNEIL

Chapter 6

      To date or not to date Avni stirred her coffee, took a glimpse round the coffee shop, there were about ten people all sitting around the mostly empty seats. The lunch time crowd has yet to break out of their offices and homes. Two tables away, a man in polo shirt and Bermuda read his papers with a cigarette in hand. The smell of the acrid smoke made her wrinkle her nose. Mitali in her waitress uniform came up to sit beside Avni.

      "You got your smile back."

     It wouldn't take a detective to know that the moody expression Avni had worn during the past few days was because of Neil. It'd been a week she laid eyes on Neil Khanna since she returned to her normal routine.

     "I don't want to talk about that."

     "Fine. How is Ali?" Mitali leaned closer before adding.

     "Have you confessed your feelings to him yet?"

     "Will you stop teasing me?" her fingers tap the coffee mug.

     "And no, beside I'm okay with us being friends, so don't do anything." Her tone was firm like a parent talking to a child.

     "Me? Do what? It's not like I would set you up with a guy that I thought would make you forget about Ali but ended up being your worst enemy." 

     Mitali forced out a smile.

     "What?"

    "Nothing." Mitali blurted. 

     The fact that there is no news about the win a date contest gladdened her heart. Maybe she wouldn't have to tell Avni that she signed her up. Or maybe just maybe she can change her opinion about Neil.

     "During that week you were with him, there wasn't a time or maybe just a moment where you didn't hate Neil?" Mitali asked in curiosity.

     "Well..." she paused.

      Her mind trailed to when Neil had caught her crying, his gestures held so much tenderness that it confused her. Maybe for a moment. She didn't see him as the enemy but a friend. Mitali checked her watch. 

     "Oh my, my break is almost over."

      She picked up the tray that was on Avni's table and proceeded to the next table, picking up the trash left behind. At the next table was an empty cup which pined a paper underneath, she picked it up and scanned the contents of the paper. It was a profile drawing of her when she was with Avni.

      "What is that?" Mitali shuddered at the sight of Avni behind her.

     "A customer drew me...and I don't know who." Avni read the signature.

      "Dhakal Dayal. Doesn't that name sounds familiar?"

      She felt the vibration of her phone that alerted her of a text massage.

     "It's a text from Neil he wants me to come over."

     Her eyes rose from the phone to meet her friend, 

    "what do you think he wants me for?"

      Mitali shrugged.

     What would Neil want from her now? She owned him nothing now. 6 years ago, he was a jerk, plain and simple but now she didn't even know where to place him other than a pest or a headache that never goes away. Avni pushed open the café's glass door and was greeted by a cool breeze. She made her way along the pavement trying to decide if she should go or not. Her mind rattled on possible reasons why Neil requested for her.

     "Avni."

       A voice called her from behind. She turned to see Ali walking up behind her.

      "What are you doing here?"

       "I was around....about to have lunch, hey why don't you join me?"

     A smile busted out with Ali's invitation, she took a quick peek at her phone to the text she had received from Neil. He should be the least of her worries and there was no reason for her to ruin her day by meeting him.

     "Okay. Let's go."

     She pushed down the power button of her phone and switch it off. Neil held his phone on his ears, his legs paced from one end of his room to another end. DD coughed to announce his presence. 

      "The dining hall is ready and I have sent people to look for Avni at her house and shop."

       Neil let down his phone and followed DD to the grand hall. It was decorated with bright lights that reflected on the freshly wiped tiles, there was only a single table with two seats in the middle of the room meant for him and Avni and an orchestra ready to play at any moment. He was preparing this for hours and hopefully put an end to his bet with DD. If only Avni showed up.

     "What's the use of having a phone if someone can't reach you?" he dialed her number again and moved over to the high arch window.

     "Sir," Abhi reported. "Miss Avni is not at work."

      Neil leaned against the window, tilted his head, and gave it a brief thought. If Avni wasn't at work, could she be with Ali? He punched his phone and dialled Ali's number.

     "Hello?" Ali voice echoed.

     "Where are you?"

      "I'm having lunch, why?" then another voice echoed over Ali's. Neil couldn't make out the words but he immediately recognized it.

      "Is that Avni?" Ali answered, "Yes, we are together, why?"

      "Nothing... just tell her I said hi." he hung up.

      Did she ditched him for Ali? What's so special about Ali? Each day she pissed him off by choosing his friend over him. He thought she was finally falling for him but he was wrong. It was like losing war to an opponent who wasn't even fighting. Anger boiled deep in his system like a volcano erupting. Neil fixed a cold stare that could freeze the pacific to the table that been set for Avni. The Flowers, scented candle, Champaign, and food all prepared by the best and was meant to impress her. Now, all his effort went to hell. He picked up the flowers, tossed it to the ground, pushed the food and drinks off the table. This was the outward reaction of the fury sweeping him like ferocious waves.

       "Get rid of it all. Everything. I don't care what you do, just get rid of them." He spat and his breath came into sharp pants.

     She would regret standing him up. He swore. Avni was on her way home but found herself in front of Khanna mansion, it was the kind of house in which most kids dreamed of growing up. Secluded among trees on one of the most exclusive streets in the city. She didn't want to come but here she was, especially when he had sent a shout out to her through Ali. Abhi let her in. Avni walked past the grand hallway that flows into a wide living roomwhere Neil positioned himself on the couch. His legs stretched out and glass of wine in his hands.

     "Miss Avni has finally graced us with her presence." He spoke without a single glance at her.

     "Shouldn't you be with Ali, What are you doing here?"  

TO BE CONTINUED...

P.S. I'M SO SORRY GUYS FOR THIS VERY VERY LATE UPDATE, I HAD MY FINAL EXAM'S ON.

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