Avneil SS

The Masquerade

"Avni....." His voice was not more than the sound of a breeze, it would not have been audible even to the person next to him, but she heard it and turned around.

Avni was just staring at the sleeping form the only difference is, his face now looked peaceful and more handsome she noted. She did not hear it but she felt it, him calling out for her.

"Little one, are you alright" Arnav's concerned voice pulled her out of her trance.

"N.... nothing Bhai, I'm alright," she replied and they both left the room.

"What are you doing here little one, how did you come here in the middle of the night?" Arnav fired the questions at her.

"Bhai relax, Aakash Bhai came to drop me, I couldn't sleep so he took me here, and when I asked Kushi she said you must be in the guest room so I went in search of you but you weren't there." She said to Arnav. "And I am angry with you, you did not even call me knowing that I left to Payal's without informing you, I know you will forget me when your friend Tillu is with you" she complained to him.

"I am really sorry little one the work dragged than we expected, and who told you that I forgot you I can never forget my little one." He replied to her and then it stuck him. "Who told you that his name is Tillu?" He asked her.

"Di called him Tillu, that's all I know, and where is he from? He looked quite distressed bhai, and your face too looks stressed, was that deal that much difficult to get?" She asked him.

"No, the deal was alright we did not face much difficulties but his distress is something else entirely." Arnav said, the evening events running inside his head. "He lost something precious to him, and does not know what to do or how to cope." He completed his gaze fixed on the guest room door.

"If the thing he lost is meant to be with him, then it will find its way to him Bhai. It must have meant a lot to him, the distress on his face is enough evidence for it Bhai he has a Mangalsutra around his wrist, I don't meant to be nosy, but it was quiet odd that a man has it, that too tied around his wrist." She asked.

"Yeah, he does have a Mangalsutra tied around his wrist, it was his late wife's. It's his souvenir of her." he said and he wished Avni's words were true that his friend would at least find a reason to live.

"Oh." was all Avni could manage. She can tell that he must have loved his wife so much to be like this, as she can clearly see he could have married someone else and lived happily but he chose to be alone and this spoke about his love and loyalty towards his wife and their marriage, that women must have been lucky, she thought.

"Come little one, let's get you to bed, it's already past your bedtime" Arnav said and started to Avni's room, but she stopped him.

"Actually Bhai, I want to eat ice-cream," she said to him and he just stared at her. "Please Bhai, I want to eat it now; you know how these weird cravings are common for pregnant women like me." She said giving him her best puppy eyes.

"Alright but just one, okay" he concluded and could not help but smile at her delighted expression.

They both left to have ice-cream, she however bought two ice-creams, though Arnav did not approve of it he, was so happy to see her eating ice-cream with one in each hand and ice-cream smeared all over her mouth and nose. She looked like a small kid without any worry and distress even when Arnav knew she's far from it. He knew she still used to struggle with the fact that she can't remember anything about her past.

"Bhai I'm finished" she said to Arnav. He smiled gave her tissues so she could clean-up and they both went back home. He made her sleep and then left to his room.