OBSESSION

4. A Drive To Remember

    WARNING:- NOT PROOFREAD

Glancing towards the clock, Neil realized it's time to go. Winding up his work, he gathered his things and moved out of the cabin. Maya was long gone saying she has some work at the home. Thinking about inviting Avni to the party, he dialed her number and heard the phone ring while he passing through her cabin. Aborting the call, he moved into her cabin to witness that, she's so much into work. Clearing his throat, he tried to gain her attention while she shot her head up when she realized someone's presence.

"Neil? Hi!" She said walking towards him.

"I thought you would have left?!" Neil said glancing at the laptop and then her.

"I was about to leave now. You here?" She questioned him glancing at the clock.

"I was thinking to invite you to the party. I mean it's okay if you don't want to. I understand, b..."

Avni cuts his sentence in middle. "What made you think that I won't come to the party? By the way, I've got my invitation long back Mr. Khanna!" Avni raised her brows while Neil got confused by hearing her.

"What?" "Yeah. Maya invited me before you do!" Avni giggled saying while Neil sighed.

"Ohh... Okay then. Do you know the address?" He asked her to which she nodded her head in no. "Okay, I'll message you the address" She nodded her head while he looked at her and moved his gaze to the laptop.

"Are you done?" He asked her to which she smiled. "Yeah. I'm waiting for my car. Actually, there's a problem with my car. It's not in condition today. So, parth will come to pick me up." She shrugged her shoulders while saying.

"Ohh.. I'll drop you. Come with me!" He said out of the blue. "No. It's okay Neil! You must be really tired and there's this party also. You should go. It's okay. Parth aa jaayega." She said after a few seconds as don't want to go with him. So, she finds this as a good excuse.

"No issues Avni. I'm in no hurry to go home. And it's my birthday. It's okay if I come late also. Now come" Asking her to come, he turned on his heels but stopped in his tracks and turned around to see her looking at him nervously. Furrowing his brows at her he opened his mouth to say something. But she interrupted him

"But Neil..." He interrupted her."No ifs and buts Avni. It's a birthday boy's wish. Or you can think command also. Now follow me." Grabbing her phone and handbag, she followed him mimicking his last line.

Avni's Pov

Huh... How ill-mannered! He doesn't even open the door for me. Khadoos as always. If my Parth would be in his place na, he opens the door and makes sure that my dress isn't in between the door. Oh shit. I forgot to message Parth. Coming with Neil. You also come home directly. Done. "What?" Neil said out of nowhere. What happened to him?

End of Pov

"You're talking to me?" Avni asked Neil, pointing a finger towards herself in confusion.

"No Avni. I'm talking with this steering." Neil said sternly but sarcasm is there clear in his voice.

"Okay continue" Avni shrugged and looked outside. Neil looked at her with disbelief. This girl.

"Of course I'm talking to you? Is there anyone sitting beside me other than you?" Avni turned towards him while lips turned into a perfect "O".

"But you said you're talking to the steering. Then I thought you can talk with non-living things like bhoot and all?" Avni said with a not so innocent face while Neil was bewildered by her words.

"Are you for real Avni? Do you think I'm some Tantrik and all? I'm talking to you yaar! You said no. "Done". I thought you wanna say something." Neil sighed while Avni bit her tongue realizing her mistake.

"Wo... Actually, I forgot to tell Parth, so I messaged him and said Done to myself. I didn't realize I said it loud." Avni clarified scratching the back of her neck as she's slightly embarrassed.

"Since how many years you've been friends with Parth?" Neil questioned as he wore a Stern look.

"Neeiiilll!" Avni screamed not paying any heed to his queries. Neil was startled for a second by her scream. "What?"

"It's not the way to my home" She yelled while he closed his left ear with his one free hand. "Avni don't shout. My poor ears can't take that much noise. Tell me the address?"

"I know this address. Don't worry now!" He assured her while she again fell silent. Neil cleared his throat and again asked her. His guts after her ignorance. "So tell me. Since how many years?"

"Uh... Actually, I never counted. Probably some 23 years!" Avni replied after calculating on her fingers. Neil gasped at her statement as well as his eyes widened.

"23 years? It isn't a joke right?" His ears couldn't believe what she just said. "I would never lie about Parth. Remember this thing." Avni replied curtly glaring at Neil.

"Avni, your age is just 26, right?" You know him since you were 3? Then you guys are really thick friends yaar" Avni's lips painted a small smile. 

"Indeed we are!" Avni replied while her face brightens up more.

Neil fell silent while Avni is just kept gazing at the evening sun all the time. "You like a sunset?" Neil asked startling her with his thick voice. "Yeah! I love sunset" Avni said gazing at the sun that's about to set. "She also loves sunset." Neil's lips automatically curved up when he said that. Avni's face got pale as she assumed he's talking about Maya. But put up a stern face again.

"She's so lovely you know. And she used to love me a lot. Like more than anyone. She's the one who gifted me this bracelet years ago, which I lost in my college, but found again because of you." As Neil finished, he saw Avni is just kept looking at him with some unknown emptiness in her orbs. She realized he is talking about her. The way he defined her with a small smile adorning his lips, the love his orbs held for her, and the lone tear escaped his eye says everything. He's still the same as she left him.

"You still love her?" Avni asked without any expression. "Of course. I do love her. Love is not a memory to fade away, Avni. It's a feeling that never leaves us. That feeling evokes havoc inside you when you keep thinking about them. Anyways, you're home now."  That's when she realized they are in front of her apartment. She was shocked to realize that she's lost in him for a second. Coming out of the car, she bent down to the car level as he slid down the glass.

"Where's she now then?" She asked him and waited for his reply. Stiffening a bit, he smiled remembering her face. "Amidst those stars." He replied pointing towards the stars peeping from the blue sky and zoomed off from there.

Blinking her lashes, she registered her surroundings and walk back to the lift. His words didn't leave her even now. "Filhaal tho, you evoke havoc inside me, Neil." Muttering to herself, she moved inside her flat.

The End.

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