The Perfect Stranger (Completed)

Chp 12 : THE RUNAWAY GIRL

Avni's Home in Ajmer :

Avni sat quietly on the swing out on the porch.Her knees bent and drawn close to her chest,hands wrapped around the knees and head rested upon them.Lost in thought s.Thoughts she couldn't share with anyone, not even with her mother.Thoughts which terrified her and shook her to her very core.Thoughts she wanted to bury deep inside a box, lock it and throw the key into the boundless depths of ocean.

" Avni Kya soch rahi ho bacha?" Neela came and sat besides her only child , around whom her whole world revolved.

"Kuch nai Maa"

" Phir aise suddenly ghar kaise aa gayi?Na koi call na message"

" Ab apne ghar aane ke liye bhi mujhe reason chahiye ?"

" Nai bacha.Thats not what I meant"

" Kahin phirse kisine propose toh nai kar diya ?" Neela teased.

"Maa !!!! " she exclaimed with a hint of irritation.

" Kitni baar kaha hai , if anyone proposes just decline it politely, you don't have to run back home everytime" Neela chuckled.

" Maa nobody proposed " she replied sternly

"Ok ok.Main toh bas tera mood thik karne ki koshish kar rahi thi."

Avni rested her head in her mother's lap, where all her worries seemed to disappear momentarily.Neela affectionately caressed her daughter's hairs.She never required words to understand her kid's emotions.Though Avni never let it out,Neela knew her princess still remembered everything.Even after all these years everything was still fresh in her mind and the pain still raw in those eyes.She remembered it all...the fights,the arguments,the shouting ,the accusations; the cries , the tears ;the banging doors , the breaking of glasses, the shattered hearts and unfulfilled promises.She knew the reason Avni always ran away from love and commitment.She knew her daughter was still the scared little girl in some corner of her heart.Behind the brave face was the timid heartbroken child.Children always bore the burden of a failed marriage.

"Maa the phone's ringing"

" Huh??" Neela was disoriented

"Phone Maa"

" Yes I'll get it"

"Don't call me unless its important.These hospital people have been nagging me in the name of change in management.4 din ki chutti ke liye kaha tha.Now they are asking me to come back after a day.I hate this new administrative head"

"Chal thik hai.I won't call you unless its important"

Neela hurried her way back inside the house as the land phone kept ringing.

" Hello.Neela Pareikh here"

"Ma'am.Can l talk to Avni? Her phone has been switched off since yesterday"

"Wo toh so rahi hai.Can I take a message? Who should I say called?"

" I'm her friend.I'll call back later after she wakes up.Need to talk to her"

Neela gave it a second thought.

"Suno.Waise toh my daughter doesn't have many friends who call here.And I know the ones who do by their names.You sound genuine and terrible at the same time.Call it a mother's instinct.Tumhari baaton se lagta hai ki tum dono ka baat karna jaruri hai.So I'm taking this risk.Wait."