Babe was in a pooja organised for lord Krishna, when a small boy dressed as Bal Krishna rushed towards her and signalled her to come down to his height. She smiled at him and bent down so she could be the same height as him. The boy in Bal Krishna attire smiled mischievously and gave her a small bag which babe took from him. "This is a gift from me for you, and keep it safe and don't worry I'll be coming to your home soon" saying this he ran far away before she could even call him. Then she shrugged and opened the bag which had a small Bal Krishna idol in it. She doesn't know what the gift and those words that boy said to her meant. But, before she could think further another voice interrupted her.
"Babe?" Avni called her from the back. She couldn't understand what's going on at all but before she could even formulate a question Avni asked indicating the idol "Babe, that's for me right?"
"Avni?" Babe said in a confused voice but was again cut off by Avni.
"I know babe that is for me, now give me that we'll do pooja for him in our house." saying this she took the idol and walked away.

"Avni!" Babe cried out and woke up from her sleep sweating and breathing heavily. Hearing her shout both Shwetha and Prakash rushed to her room.

"Babe are you alright?" Both Prakash and Shwetha asked her to which she just shook her head. Shwetha poured some water for her which Babe took gladly.

"Nothing I.... I just had a dream." Babe said after calming down.

"Was it a nightmare babe?" Prakash asked.

"No sunny, it was just a weird dream!" She said.

"What happened Babe?" Shwetha asked worrying and babe narrated her dream. They both were listening carefully but at the end they both gasped hearing Avni's name.

"It's okay babe, it's just that you miss her that's why you had a dream like that" Prakash tried to console her but babe shook her head.

"No sunny, you don't understand, Shwetha you know right, the meaning of Bal Krishna coming in your dream?" To Which Shwetha frowned then realisation dawned on her face and sadness washed over her.

"But... but babe, it's not possible now. I mean how... It's..." She was stammering.

"I don't know Shwetha, but I just can't ignore it" babe said.

"Could someone tell me what are you both talking about?" Prakash asked.

"There is a belief that if Bal Krishna come in your dreams then it means soon you will get an heir" Shwetha mumbled looking away.

"What? Babe you know in these circumstances that is not possible and these are just superstitions." He said to her.

"But..." Babe said.

"Babe let's leave it. You go get fresh I'll make you something to eat." Shwetha interrupted her. To Which babe nodded and everyone went their way. Though they managed close the topic, no one could shake off that weird feeling especially babe, it seemed like some message to her but she know that it is not possible in the near future, then what is it? Were the only thoughts she had throughout the day.

********

It was already late in the evening when they all arrived at Shantivan. Everyone was exhausted by the day's events, but was really happy as they finally found their Little one's family and she was safe and at peace. Avni was made to retire as she was drained, though she protested that she was not no one was having it. Having left no choice as they all have ganged up on her even her champ, she agreed reluctantly.

Neil was feeding her dinner which she happily had as it has been a long time since she ate from his hands. They both were left alone as the others wanted to give them some space.

Neil felt like as if he was breathing again after a long time of suffocation. He had lost every single hope to live when he thought she died. He can't even start to describe how much pain he felt, how many times have he prayed just to get a glimpse of her, to touch her, to hold her in his arms, it was as if his wishes were granted. He got his life back along with something that he never expected, this made all those months of suffering and pain go away in matter of seconds. But he still can't seem to wrap his mind that it's all real.

"Where are you lost?" Avni asked pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Nothing, even now this all feels like just a dream and I'm afraid that I'm gonna wake up soon where you won't be there and I have to live that wretched life of mine." He said his voice low.

Avni could not control the guilt caused by his words. Now she could really see how much pain he should have gone through and how much love he had for her. Once again she cursed herself for even thinking that he would move on. But the damage has been done and she have to face the consequences. She have to reassure him even if it takes her whole life that it's all true and that she's not going to leave him after this. "Neil, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to cause you pain. I'm so sorry Neil, I just wanted to protect you and our family." She said as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Avni, I know you didn't do anything intentionally, and I know you only did what you thought is best. Don't blame yourself for the evil deeds of his." Neil said to her wiping away her tears. "But you never did tell me what happened, I know he blackmailed you, but what exactly happened baby. Please tell me everything, I want to know." He asked her holding her face securely in his hand.

"After you left to the station, I received a call from him he gave me an address where he wanted me to come alone. So, I went then he showed me the clip which showed how.... how he planned to ki..... kill yo...you using papa... and how my Ne.... Neelamaa saved you with her life instead. He told me he will frame papa and will get him arrested with your hands and will destroy you and our family if I did not agree to marry him. "She narrated every moment of that day relieving it. "I don't know what to do Neil. How could I tell the man who accepted me as his daughter after all my mistakes after knowing who I was, who never judged me like the others did and who always supported me, that he was the one who killed my Neelamaa.... I couldn't Neil, I couldn't. And I know you'd be devastated if you find out. He had a foolproof plan and we didn't have any time to plan anything against him." She sniffed saying this.

Neil can imagine how helpless she must have felt then and took her in his arms to calm her down, to make her forget that awful day though he know it's difficult. "How did you manage to escape from him?" He asked her.

"I had Neelama's gift, it was a fireproof veil. I wore it and hid Mishti out of the house and placed the naphthalene balls all over the places and provoked him and set fire to the house and tried to escape. But I've inhaled so much smoke and a pillar fell on me, I just managed to get to Mishti and we were heading out through the forest where I hid a car but on the way I tripped and injured my head and fell unconscious and when I opened my eyes I was in the hospital with Bhai, the rest are as they say is history." She finished exhaling loudly.

"Neelamaa always had her own way of protecting you, no matter what. She managed to help you even when she was not around." He said smiling remembering that brave women who gifted Avni to him in the form of marriage. Even now her words rang clear in his head "I did it for you Neil, maybe you couldn't accept it, but there is care for Avni in your heart, and you think that it's your duty to protect her and somewhere in your heart Neil, you love her. Just today you couldn't accept the truth but when you realise your feelings for her, you'll remember me." She had said holding him with her steady gaze. She had always known it, even before he could realise it. How he respected her and loved her like his own mother and she truly is his mother. Always supporting him giving him the strength when he needed it and have been a shoulder he could lean on. He dearly missed her and he'll be forever be grateful for giving him his life, his Avni.

"She's the best" Avni said with pride then cleared her throat and asked "Neil how did you found out about the truth?"

"He died within a month after he was arrested. His belongings were brought to police custody as no one was there to claim it. DD found it and gave it to me." He finished.

She squeezed his hand as she know how much pain it would have inflicted on him when he watched that. She decided to change the topic and she want to know about her family. "Neil how is Babe, Mummyji and papa?"

"They all are trying to get through every single day" he said with a sad smile. "They miss you, every day is hard for them without you. Babe is blaming herself as she was not able to fulfil her promise to Neelamaa. Mom and papa are trying to keep neutral to show me but I know how they are suffering." He said

"Neil, please I want to talk to them, will you make me talk to them?" She asked.

"What little one, is this how you are going to talk to them after 6 months?" Arnav asked from the doorway.

"Bahi!" Avni smiled. Arnav approached the couple and sat beside Avni.

"Don't you want to surprise them and see their reaction for yourself?" He asked again.

"But I want to talk to them Bhai and I don't want to prolong their pain either. If I can travel I would be in front of them by now but I can't, so I want to talk to them, Bhai." She said to Arnav.

"Exactly you could not travel but they could right, so how about I call them now and invite them here so you could surprise them?" He asked.

"You know you are the best" she smiled with teary eyes.

"No more tears little one, you have had enough. Now it's time for you to live your life happily" he said making both Neil and Avni smile. "Shall we call?" He asked to which Avni nodded.

"Put it in speaker please, I want to hear their voice atleast" she asked with her puppy face.

Arnav smiled at her antics and called Prakash and he picked it in the second ring. "Hello?" He said. Avni got happy hearing her Papa's voice after a long time.

"Dad, it's Arnav, are you still in office or home?" Arnav asked Prakash. "In home only, what happened Arnav do you need something?" Prakash asked in return. "No dad I just want to ask you something but I also want maa and Babe to be there when I ask." Arnav answered. "One minute Arnav let me call them." Was Prakash's reply. "Now, tell Arnav what is that you wanted to ask they all are here." Prakash said. "Maa, Babe, Dad if I ask you something will you do it for me?" Arnav asked them. "Ofcourse Arnav, what's that you want just ask and you can have it." It was babe who answered and now Avni's tears are once again flowing freely. "Do you promise babe?" Arnav asked to which babe kindly replied "My chote asked for something and I didn't give him that, it'll never happen." Arnav smiled at that and asked "Can you all come to Delhi for the week, it would be nice and it's been years since I saw you all, as Neil is also here it'll be really good, please for me?" And Arnav nudged Neil to speak. "Yeah babe it'll be good if you all come here for a change" Neil said and there was complete silence for few minutes before babe replied. "Sure tillu we will all come tomorrow itself." All the three grinned at each other and Neil wiped Avni's tears and kissed her forehead. "Thank you babe, so will see you all tomorrow, good night." Arnav said. "Good night you both" said the other three and ended their call.

"Happy?" Arnav asked turning towards Avni.

"Very" she replied her face breaking into a huge smile.

"Good, now sleep I'll take my leave" and he left the room wishing them good night.

Avni snuggled more into Neil and settled comfortably. He wrapped his arms carefully around her and kissed her good night. But his sleep was eventually disturbed by her weird cravings for ice-cream in the middle of the night to which as a good husband he obeyed to her command and brought her favourite one. He was happy that he could do these small things for her after all they still have few months more for him to attend to her every need and he's not going to miss this for the world.

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