Avneil SS

Her Souvenir

The scene that was present before really shocked Neil but not Arnav as it was not new to him. Arnav just laughed at Neil's shocked expression and said "It happens when there are kids in the house, especially with my little one" and proceeded inside. Neil could not believe his eyes this was not the home he left this morning, the entire house was a mess, things were scattered everywhere toys, books, even some home decors, it seemed as if it has been flipped over, it almost looked like the house has been robbed.

"Are you going to come inside or just going to stand there and gawk till your eyes fall out of their sockets" Arnav asked pulling Neil out of his shocked state.

"Did storm hit the house!" He wondered.

But before Arnav could say anything they heard their Di's voice calling out for them "You both go freshen up and come, we'll clean this mess before that"

They both came back down after they've changed and by now the house was back to its normal state. "Di where's my little one, shortcake and Aarav" Arnav asked as he came down.

"They are at Payal's, she came today and shortcake want to go there so all the three went" Anjali answered suppressing her laughter as she watched Arnav's reaction.

"What! She went, that too without informing me, she knows I can't sleep without talking to her, how can she do that" Arnav asked to which now Anjali, Kushi even Neil burst out into fits of laughter as Neil had never seen Arnav behave like this.

"And chote, a FYI the ladydon is angry with you." Anjali managed to spill this out in between her laughter.

That one word, 'ladydon' was all it took to pierce Neil's heart. He remembered saying the same about Avni to his Neelamaa.

"Mom if she does love me, then why don't she show me that, she's always behaving like a ladydon around me." He had complained to which his Neelamaa had laughed and advised him to talk to her.

The expression on Neil's face got Arnav's attention and, in that instant, he knows that he was reminded of something or rather someone. So, he diverted the topic and they all proceeded towards the dining room. Though Neil's appetite was long gone he could not refuse his Di, so he went along with them.

"Actually, I had made your favourite lady's finger, but unfortunately the ladydon in this house ate it all, so today you just have to adjust." Anjali informed Neil, he visibly grimaced at the mention of the name ladydon which did not go unnoticed by Arnav, What happened to you Neil? Who is causing you this much pain? What is it that is wanting you to not disclose it to me? Only if Arnav could know.

"But Di, little one hates lady's finger!" Arnav said.

"Yeah chote, she used to, that's why I had specially made her favourite along with Tillu's but today when she saw lady's finger, she just wants to eat it and it's quite common during this time chote, her tastes will change" Anjali informed.

"But Di, I've never seen her ignoring her favourite Poha and eating the thing she hates the most in the world that is lady's finger." Arnav replied and Anjali just shrugged

That was it for Neil, he could not sit there anymore everything reminded him of her, only her.

"You can also eat; I don't have the habit of keeping people hungry" he had said to which her face had twisted as if she has seen the most ugliest thing in the world and replied. "This! lady's finger! I just hate it; I'll have anything except this." She said making Neil laugh.

Neil just stood from his place, "Actually Di, I'm not feeling hungry I'll just go and sleep." He said and was about to go when he heard Anjali's voice.