If she hated him again?

Resented.

"Who? Such a weird name!" Mowgli exclaimed, trying to repeat the name for a fifth time now. "DAYAWANTI MEHTA!"

She said, fed up, wiping her tears, for Neil not believing her. "Ohk...Mom can I have that letter?" Mowgli asked. She handed over it with trembling fingers. Mowgli touched her hand. It was so cold, his mom was never like this. "You're not afraid of anyone. Mom why are you pulling up such a behaviour?" He asked. "She's the only one I'm afraid of bacha..." She said whimpering. "I'll call dad.." he said but Avni stopped him. "He'll not understand." She said, her lips quivering. "As if he ever did... Mom I can't see you like this. Please. Dekh lenge. Lad lenge." Mowgli said, cupping her mother's face. He kissed her forehead and read the letter. "What's na-- what is this na, jayaz?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. "M... mudblood.." "That's horrible!" He exclaimed. "I need to talk to him." She said and went downstairs. "Avni? I told you to rest." Neil said, seeing her. "Neil vo.." "Avni not again. Please just go." He said. Avni turned to Prakash and Bebe. "Please trust me! She's alive. Vo that letter, it came. Trust me
We need to be safe. Pl-" Avni said bit was cut off. "Avni, you're just tired. Nothing else. Puttar, we all were there. She died." Bebe said, caressing her head. Avni joined her hands, to them. Neil rolled his eyes. When Avni saw that her words weren't having a effect on them, she finally lost her cool. "LISTEN TO ME! IT WAS ME WHO HAS BEEN SUFFERING EVERYTHING AND I KNOW!" She yelled. "Avni." Neil extended his arms and pulled her for a hug but she yanked him away and stormed off, banging the doors shut.
"I have to plan in case of an attack. I can't predict what her first step is. She hasn't attacked yet. What is she waiting for?" She muttered, but Mowgli heard her. "Did they listen?" He asked while she shook her head. "I want you to know, in case....I trust you Mom!" He said. Avni just hugged him tightly in response. "Is there a war?" He asked between her hair. "I'm afraid so, sweety." She whispered back. "Um..She has started attacking Mom." He said, breaking apart. "No..What do you mean?" She asked confused while her eyebrows tensed less. "Sweetheart are you hurt? Did someone hit you? You're alright? Tell?" She asked, checking for some signs of wounds. "Mom..I mean. If I were you-know-who, I...I would want you to feel cut off from everyone else." He paused. "Why?" She asked.

" 'Cause if it's just you alone,
Mom, you're not as much of a threat."
He said and Avni realised what he was trying to say. "N..no one's going to support me." She said, tears streaming down. "I-" "Mowgli you're so small. You can't do anything." She said. "I'll fight for my mom." He said. "But first, we need army. We need to convince everyone." "Convince whom?" Neil asked, entering. "Dad mom's not lying or going off." Mowgli retorted at his father's stupidness. "See this Neil." Avni said handing over the letter. Neil read ot swiftly. "Did you see her in person?" He slowly asked. She shook her head. "I'll inquire Avni. But till then, don't stress yourself. It's bad for the baby." He said.

"Attack his son first."

Neil came home in the evening. Avni asked him if there was any clue on Dayawanti. "You're imagining stuff Avni." Neil simply said while Avni was left heartbroken. He wasn't believing her. And if he didn't, even if anyone else did, nothing could make her feel better.
Avni slept quietly, hiding her tears, maintaining her distance from him.
The next morning. Avni was feeling unsafe, sending Mowgli to school but reassurance from everyone, she was left with no other choice.
While he was in school, she couldn't help but feel restless. "Avni, acha we both will get him back. Okay?" He asked while she nodded and went.
Mowgli was waiting for them both. While Neil was running towards his son, Avni noticed a flicker of red light on him, she looked to find a someone holding a gun, aiming at
"Mowgli.." she muttered and ran towards them. She carefully plunged at them to turn the down, just as the gun fired. Avni was injured on her shoulder, while Neil helped them get up. He looked around, finally realising something wasn't right. "MOWGLI!" He heard Avni scream and looked towards him to find Mowgli injured on his arm,
The bullet had hit him.
And Neil cursed himself for not believing her before. After it was too late.
He turned to see a flicker of the samiliar old face.
So Dayawanti was really alive.