"Avni! Wifey! Get up it's almost time, you have to take your medicines and they will also be here within an hour." Neil woke her up kissing her forehead lovingly.

"I don't want to take that medicine" she said pouting like a little kid.

"Your tricks are not going to work on me and you know that very well, now come we'll get you ready for them" he said to her.

"When they will come?" She asked him

"Within an hour I guess" he answered her. "Now come wifey, it is time for medicine" and he laughed seeing her expression but suddenly it changed her eyes widened in shock or something else he didn't know and he immediately panicked. "What happened Avni? Is it paining somewhere? Wait I'll call the doctor, no we'll go to the hospital, come" he was blabbering and came to lift her up in his arms.

"Neil stop, it's not it" she said but he was in no state to listen.

"Don't downplay it Avni, I know you, come" he said again trying to lift her but she slapped his hands away.

"Neil, he kicked!" She said her voice full of awe.

"What?" Neil asked.

"Give me your hand, here" she placed his hand on her baby bump.

"Say something, he kicked when you were laughing, come on Neil say something" she urged him.

"Like what?" He asked and immediately felt a kick in the place where he has his hand. He was awed, it was the most heavenly feeling, one which he had never expected to experience in this life time. They both were having tears in their eyes wondering over this beautiful creature they are blessed with.

"Did you feel it?" she asked and again they felt the baby kick and they both laughed together. "You know, hearing your voice only he kicked for the first time" she said her voice filled with wonder and love.

"Really?" He asked.

"Really," she replied nodding her head.

He kissed her baby bump and kissed her forehead and they both enjoyed their little bubble of happiness with their foreheads joined together and their hands cradling their child.

********

"Swethaji, Babe, come soon otherwise we'll miss the flight" Prakash said.

"Here Sunny, this is my luggage" Babe said handing him over her bag.

"Where is Swethaji Babe?" Asked Prakash.

"She's giving instructions to the servants regarding the household and will be joining us soon" Babe replied.

"What happened Babe? After the phone call you seemed to be lost somewhere, don't you want to go to Arnav's Babe?" Prakash asked noticing Babe's thoughtful expression.

"It's not like that Sunny, it's just Neil." Babe said still thoughtful.

"What about Neil Babe, did he say something to you?" Asked Prakash.

"Did you sense any change in Neil's voice yesterday?" Babe asked.

"Change? No Babe, I didn't sense anything." Prakash's voice was confused.

"I too didn't note anything, what are you talking about Babe?" Shwetha asked coming to stand in front of them.

"It looked like there was something different in the way it sounded, like he was somehow relaxed or at peace, I couldn't pinpoint but it was there." Babe said.

"Babe, do you think Neil would have said anything regarding Avni to Arnav." Shwetha asked.

"You know them both Shwetha, obviously chote would have guessed something is wrong the moment he saw Neil, Afterall we do know how Neil is these days. And knowing Chote he wouldn't have rested until Tillu revealed everything, but we should not bring anything up as we did not know anything for sure. Anyway, we'll get to know once we reach there and I hope my Tillu is fine, at least a little bit better." Baby sighed. "Come we have to get going, we'll go and look for ourselves how he is faring." Saying this Babe went out Prakash and Shwetha following behind.

They all left to Delhi in the morning flight. Though they were surprised by Arnav's sudden invitation they all are happy to go and meet him, Afterall he is family, they considered him as their own son. Neil and Arnav used to be inseparable until Juhi's death, because Arnav had to leave alone, as Neil dropped his idea to study MBA and joined the police force. It has been so long since they saw Arnav.

Arnav was the one who went to receive the Khanna's from the airport. All were so happy to see him. Babe was so overwhelmed by emotions, all the events that happened had drained them and they felt genuinely happy on seeing Arnav. He could see what Avni's separation had done to them and he also wished that after this they would be at peace without any dramas.

"Tillu didn't come?" Shwetha asked Arnav during the drive.

"No mom, he's quite busy and you all will see why" Arnav said mysteriously.

They all smiled at his reply. "How is Nani, Anjali and Khushi?" Babe asked.

"They all are fine babe and everyone is eagerly waiting for you" he replied.

They all soon arrived at Shantivan. Anjali was the first one to rush out and greet everyone. She took all their blessings followed by Khushi.

"Live a long life dear" Babe blessed Khushi. "You are so beautiful, a perfect match for my Chote" she gushed seeing them together and her eyes watered automatically remembering her Avni. She could not suppress the feelings. If Avni was here they would have been so happy to introduce their jewel to them.

"Babe! What happened? Why are you crying?" Anjali asked.

"Nothing my dear they are happy tears" Babe lied but the others could see the real reason. Arnav could easily guess that she must be remembering Avni.

"Come in all, you all must be tired after the flight, wait I'll bring something to eat." saying this Khushi left to the kitchen.

"I'm actually cross with you all, why you didn't come earlier with Tillu, it would have been nice" Anjali was saying.

"What to do Anjali beta, I have to look after the company and Babe was not feeling well that's why we were not able to come with Neil." Prakash said pacifying Anjali.

"I know papa Neil said that, and how are you now Babe? Are you feeling good or else we will consult the doctors over here" Anjali suggested.

"I'm fine dear, there's no need for doctor and now I have seen you all, I'll be good in no time." Babe said making everyone laugh at her quip.

"Anyway, where is Nani?" Shwetha asked Anjali.

"Nani is at Aakash jiju's home and she will be coming home by tomorrow" Khushi answered coming with tray full of refreshments.

"Come on Chote, join us" Anjali called seeing Arnav who has entered after finishing his call.

"Where is Tillu? He hadn't come down to see us?" Shwetha asked looking around searching for Neil, as she wants to know how her son is doing. Babe was also eager to see him as she wants to confirm her theory about the change in Neil.

"He will be with us in a minute mom, just wrapping things up" Arnav informed.

"Anyway, Arnav apart from wanting to see us, is there any other reason that you invited us? It seemed like you were so eager to get us here. Was there any good news that we have to expect?" Babe asked teasingly. And Babe thought that maybe the dream about Balkrishna was to indicate this, regarding Arnav and not Neil and she hoped it to be true, so that they could at least get one good news after a long time.

"I did not understand Babe" Arnav asked in a confused voice.

"Uffo! Arnav, Babe is asking that weather you and Khushi are expecting? And that is why have you invited us here to say that you're going to become a father soon" Shwetha impatiently explained the others making Arnav choke on his juice. Shwetha caught what Babe was thinking and was very happy with that thought.

"I don't know maybe soon, but as of now it's not Bhai but it is your lovely Tillu who's going be a father soon." said an angelic voice from behind them stopping everyone's laugh. They all were stunned into silence. Prakash, Babe and Shwetha were so shocked and they all thought that it was their hallucination.

It was Babe who broke the silence. "Di... Did you hear something Sunny?" She asked Prakash in a low voice not daring to turn around and be disappointed as she had experienced it a lot in these six months.

"That means you also heard it?" Both Shweta and Prakash asked simultaneously.

"What Babe, you won't feed me sweet with your hands?" The voice asked. By now all the three were having tears in their eyes they can't fathom what is happening and they also don't want to be disappointed. But the voice seemed real and it sounded like HER.

They all slowly turned to see Neil standing but no one else and they were disappointed, they all thought it was just a product of their imagination, as they all were thinking about Babe's dream all this time and it seemed to rub on them. But still they can't shake off the feeling that she sounded real. "What happened Babe?" Neil asked making them to struggle as they don't want to say that they all heard their precious daughter's voice and upset him.

"It's nothing Tillu, how are you? Come here let me see you properly" Babe said trying to change the topic.

"Come on little one enough of your games, have some mercy on them." Arnav said making them confused.

"What?" Babe asked and before she could turn around and ask Arnav, she saw her Avni peeping from behind Neil. They can't believe what they were seeing, but she is there, holding Neil's hand and was standing behind him only her head is visible for them and she had her body hidden behind him.

"Babe, say that you're seeing what I'm seeing, tell me Babe it's true!" Shwetha was saying tears flowing from her eyes. "Tell me she's not an hallucination and that she's real, I can't take that disappointment again Babe, please Babe tell me." Shwetha was crying by now.

Avni is also crying seeing them all after these long months, her happy family safe and well far from any harm. This is what she wanted to see; this is why she was ready to give up everything. To keep them safe and to keep them happy.

"Papa, Mummy ji!" She whispered.

"Tillu? Is that, is that our....?" Babe was asking.

"Our Avni Babe" Neil finished making them all cry with relief now but still they can't believe it.

"Neil turned around blocking her from the other's view, he squeezed her hands and asked "Ready?" To which she nodded her head and kissed her forehead. He moved beside her giving full view to the others and all the Khanna's expect for him gasped at the sight of her. And the Raizadas were seeing the event unfolding in front of them. Khushi and Anjali were having happy tears in their eyes. Arnav was also happy as promised he had found his Little one's family and she is safe and happy. He is also happy to see the life returning to Neil's eyes, his best friend who was a shadow of his former self has now become whole, his lost charm was back and he looked ecstatic.

All the three approached her slowly as if they were afraid that she'll disappear if they moved fast. Babe was the first one to reach and she raised her shaking hands to caress Avni's face. When Avni doesn't disappear as she expected she hugged her. "My bacha!" She said kissing her hair and Avni gladly hugged her back, Babe has the place next to Neelamaa in her heart. Babe broke the hug and held her face between her hands and kissed all over her face. "You're really here?" Babe asked still not able to believe it.

Shwetha and Prakash also went and hugged her tears continuously pouring from their eyes the happiness seemed overwhelming to them. After these six months of unbearable torture of being away from her, emotions seemed to reign control over them all.

"See! I told you no Di, they once again forgot me when they saw their daughter." Neil said with tears in his eyes. Trying to lighten this emotional atmosphere.

"Then, what you want us to do, you shameless, we are seeing our daughter after this long" Babe said to Neil and twisted his ears. "You should have called us soon right, we would have come here to our daughter soon, but you are calling after 5 days." Babe was saying.

"Ouch Babe! It's paining and I know only yesterday Babe, believe me." Neil said struggling in Babe's hold.

"Pull his ear off Babe, how dare he complaint about my daughter." Shwetha joined with Babe winking at Avni. Seeing this everyone laughed.

"Leave him Babe, it will hurt." Avni said still between Shwetha and Prakash.

"Just because she is asking, remember" saying this Babe left Neil and turned towards Avni. "Come dear, come and sit." and took Avni to the sofa and made her sit comfortably between herself and Shwetha, Prakash was sitting in the armchair beside and Neil just sat on the floor in front of Avni holding her hands and caressing it gently. He does not want to leave her even for a second, he wants to have her in his arms throughout his life if possible.

"How are you dear, and what happened why you didn't come to us till now?" Babe and Prakash asked.

"Babe, I was escaping from Vidyut but unfortunately I was injured, that's when Bhai saw me and took me with him to Delhi, I lost my memory so we didn't have any other option but to wait" she said and Neil finished the rest of the story for her. He said how he does not know until yesterday that Avni was here and how she regained her memory and everything except for the truth about Neelamaa's death. Both Avni and Neil decided to hide this truth from the family as they know it'll shatter them. And Avni said exactly what Neil knew she would say, "He's also my Papa Neil, I can't see him suffer" to which Neil agreed.

"You are going to give us a gift?" Babe and Shwetha asked caressing her baby bump. To which Avni smiled through her tears.

"See I told you right Shwetha that Tillu's voice sounded different, now we know why and also the Augur is also correct" babe said to Shweta. When the others asked about the Augur, she explained her dream and her theory.

"Shwetha aunty, Prakash uncle, Babe." came a voice from outside and they all smiled widely seeing Mishti running towards them followed by Aarav.

"Mishti beta!" Prakash took her in his arms and made her sit in his lap. And Babe and Shwetha moved near Prakash to talk with Mishti.

"Happy? As promised, I've United you with your family" Arnav said to Avni. And she and Neil thanked him for all that he has done to them for which he shrugged as if it doesn't matter much, but they know how much Arnav has done to them.

All the sufferings were ended. She got her happy family back, she protected them from the evil and had triumphed over it. They got their daughter, their happiness back along with a small bundle of joy, an additional member to the Khanna family. Neil felt whole and complete with the love of his life sitting in front of him along with both of his family. Her new family is happy to see that she was finally at peace after all this time. Her face was glowing Neil observed and took her hands in his kissed it and her forehead before leaning his forehead over hers.

"Thank you, Neil, for giving me my happy family, for making my dream come true" she said tears falling from her eyes.

"No more tears" he said wiping it away from her face and whispered. "Thank you Avni, for protecting them, for making them happy, for giving me the privilege to be your other half and having a part of me in you, without you our family is incomplete, I'm incomplete. If Avni is there then Neil is, otherwise Neil is nothing, I'm nothing without you Avni" he said pouring all the love he has for her.

She smiled looking at him. Thanking her stars for bringing him in her life. She will be forever grateful to her Neelamaa for making her marry him, and she will cherish every moment with him and her family. She thanked her Neelamaa once again and prayed to shower her blessings and give her the strength for this new beginning.

"Let's start anew" she said smiling and he smiled and blinked his eyes in agreement and they both saw their family smiling and laughing with each other. Giving them the courage to start anew.

It's not an end but a new beginning.

-----------

Thank you all for having the patience to read my story and sparing your valuable time for me. It means a lot to me. I never expected this much response. You really gave me the courage to continue this story. Without you all I never would have done it.

I hope I made justice to the story and hope you all liked the end.

Let me know your comments.

If you have any suggestions or if you want me to write something else kindly let me know and I'll definitely try to give my best.

See you all!

Stay home stay safe!