The Silent Cinderella (Completed)

Chapter 20

Avni lost her balance and she slipped and hit her hand on walls of the cupboard causing noise.

All of them turned in the direction of the sound. They checked the surroundings nearing the cupboard.

Avni held her breath not to be found out by the morons outside. But to her bad luck the tip of her duppatta was struck outside the cupboard door.

The door opened and revealed Avni with closed eyes.
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"l Avni....???" Rhea whispered.

" Looks like it's a lucky day for us." Shiv spoke while scanning Avni from top to bottom with lust.

" She belongs exclusive to me. I have a deal with her, isn't it Avni?" Vaishnav asked her.

Avni closed her eyes and prayed in mind for their safety.

Vaishnav stepped towards her while Avni moved back till she hit the wall. She continued her prayers.

"Thraash.." the door flung open .

Neil along with police force entered the house. Neil was much relieved to find his angel safe and sound .

Avni who was about to hug Neil realized what she was about to do as she remembered their morning conversation and backed off maintaining distance between them. Neil was confused at her behavior but decided to deal with it later as he had an important task ahead.

Gaurav , Shiv , Raghu and Vaishnav was arrested.

Rhea was freed from the ties and Avni gave her duppatta to cover herself. Rhea hugged Avni's legs and cried.

" I'm sorry Avni. I had done wrong through out my life. I insulted you in  public. I treated you like a slave. Yet You tried to protect me without keeping grudge or revenge. I will be always grateful to you for what you did. I know I don't deserve forgiveness . I will pay for my mistake by becoming a slave to you my entire life. You can do anything you want me to do. " Rhea cried.

Avni pulled her into a hug.

' No Rhea you are my sister even though you didn't consider me as one. But you were , are and will be my sister for ever. You are not my slave.' Avni smiled and conveyed. Even though Rhea didn't understand fully she got the essence of what she talked by her expression.

Rhea smiled back .

Taking the moment as distraction Vaishnav and his gang pushed the force and ran .

Neil pulled out his revolver from his socks and fired them in their legs which brought them down by their knees.
" Aaahhhh "

Avni's eyes went in wide shock seeing her Neil sir with gun and she screamed. She was confused about his identity.
Neil was surprised to hear sound from Avni.

Avni immediately fainted.

Neil rushed to Avni and supported her wrapping his hands around the shoulders.

" DD take them to the van . Make sure to lock them all together so that they won't run."

" Yes sir."

They were taken by the police officers leaving Avni , Neil and Rhea in the house.

" Rhea come with us. We will drop you home." Neil told Rhea.

" I... I really don't want to go back to them. They spoiled me. They made me to behave like a monster towards Avni. Still you guys saved me. I failed to find the purity and goodness in Avni and tortured her along with my family. It was her home and we made her slave of the house . Had my parents brought me up like Avni was brought up her parents I wouldn't have landed up in such a pathetic situation. It's my fate and pay back for what I did in my past and I lost all my valuable virtue. I blame myself and my parents for this. You guys will have a prosperous life ahead . God will shower all his blessings upon you. I am no one to bless you guys but still I can't help myself doing the same. Neil sir if you can please forgive me for what I did to your wife."

Rhea dropped down to Neil's feet and asked for forgiveness.

" Rhea get up. Don't think about your past deeds and what happened just now. Leave in present. You can't leave your parents. They are your parents. Go back to them. They will take care of you." Neil replied.

Rhea nodded and followed Neil who was supporting Avni to the car.

Since Avni was unconscious Rhea sat  in the back seat laying Avni's head on her lap.

Neil drove to hospital first. He took both of them to doctor.

Doctor layer Avni on bed while nurse performed first aid for Rhea. The rape test was not run since Rhea was in her senses and she clearly knew what has happened.

Doctor checked Avni and asked the nurse to provide her with drip.

Doctor went to his room.

" Dr... Avni she is fine na?? Please tell me doctor.." Neil asked doctor.

" It's because of stress that she fainted. She is fine now. You can take her home after the drip is done."

" Doctor can you please explain me one thing. She is basically speech impaired person. But when she heard gun shooting she screamed. How is it possible?"

" mm was she speech impaired by birth?"

" No doctor. She became speech impaired after seeing her parents been shot in front of her."

" Oh yeah it's possible. She lost her speech when she got a shock of her life. But it's not necessary that she will speak in a flow . She needs to be treated. Speech therapy can be done to help the patient. "

" Thank you doctor. Can you refer a good speech therapist?"

" Yeah sure. The receptionist can guide you with that. "

Thanking the doctor he left from his cabin to the receptionist asking for the referral.

He smiled thinking about his angel and himself talking to each other. How it will be to hear his name from her mouth? How sweet her sound would be?

" Here you go sir . Here are the details of the doctor with the referral."

Neil took the referral from the receptionist and he moved to Avni.

He saw Avni lying in the hospital bed in a blue hospital gown wrapping her.

Neil lovingly caressed her hair. Feeling warm and soothing touch Avni opened her eyes to witness a smiling Neil in front of her. Instead of smile and love he was shocked to see fear in her eyes.

Avni startled and sat quickly in her bed with shock. Neil was hurt to see his angel looking at him in fear.

" Avni..." Neil called out.

'Who are you?' Avni fearfully asked.

" Avni ... we will talk about it later. For now we need to go home."

Avni was not reacting.

" Avni , I will tell you everything. We are going home now and that's final." Neil told in soft but stern voice leaving no option for Avni than to agree.
Rhea was ready by now. They drove to home in silence.

They stopped in front of Rhea's house. Rhea looked at AvNeil in tension to which Neil smilingly assured that everything is going to be well. Avni held her hands lovingly and squeezed it lightly.

Rhea waited at the door pressing the calling bell for someone to answer.

Savitri appeared at the door. She looked at Rhea confusedly.

" What happened to you Rhea? Why are your clothes torn and what's with these dressings?? " Savitri asked worried.

Rhea cried without answering her.

" Why are you crying Rhea. Answer me. What has happened to you? " Savitri was getting impatient.

Avni stepped out of car and moved towards Rhea.

" Why are you here? What did you do to my daughter? You are happy with your lover . Ohh now I got it. Your lover dumped you. Now you want to live with us. Get out. You are not going to step inside this house." Savitri was so angry.

" Stop it."  Those strong words were enough for making Savitri shut her mouth.

To be continued.....

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