Paying the cab driver she comes out of the cab and looks the place where she was standing. She didn't understand why would he be here, nevertheless shaking her head she starts walking.

She stood at the entrance and rang the door bell. She  gasped seeing when  unfamiliar face opens the door.

Person : who are you? How can I help you?

Avni : I believe you don't know me nor do I know you.

Person : right! How can I help you?

Avni : is Neil here? I am looking for him.

Person : Neil sir! Who are you? Why are you asking him?

Avni : I need to see him. Do know where he is?

Person : who are you? I can't let you meet him like that.

Avni was about respond back but stops hearing a voice behind the person. The person turns around and saw Neil.

Avni took a minute and had looked at his feature and his posture. His hair were messy, his eyes were red and under his eyes there dark circles. His top two buttons were open revealing his bare chest, his shirt untucked from his jeans.

Avni diverted her gaze and looked at him as she heard him approaching towards her.

Neil : you may leave!

He spoke looking at Avni. The person understanding her curt to leave. She left from there.

Neil glanced Avni and gestures her to come inside.

Neil : it's okay! She is my cousin. She is bit possessive about you.

Avni: I don't think she liked me.

Neil : her opinion doesn't matter Avni! No one comes between us. Do you get that? I will introduce you both later. First come and talk.

Avni nodded her head and follows him to backyard.

They both sat down and Neil clears his throat making her look at him.

Neil: do you want ask something?

Avni : yeah. I know I don't have any right to ask you anything about your personal life but my heart can't stop. I can't stop being worried about you. Why didn't you come to office? You even took few days off. Why is that? Are you going somewhere?

Neil : you have the right to ask me Avni. I do have personal reasons not to attending the office. My life has been mess and hard after my parents deaths.

Her eyes widen hearing his word. She couldn't believe it he was so blunt and straight forward talking about his parents death.

Avni : your parents.. death.

Neil : yes my parents passed when I was three years old a child. I don't even remember much about my parents. Bebe was my second mother who took me in and took care of him. My parents didn't much effect me as I was a child that time but soon as I grew up it hits me differently. I realised how different and hard life can be without parents. I miss my parents. They lived in my heart but that isn't enough. I can't forget them. I regret recalling how they died. It kills me a lot. I am reason of their death. They died because of me.

Avni was too stunned hearing him. She didn't knew what to do. How can she console him. She wanted to comfort him. She got up from her seat and sat next to him.

She held his hand in hers and rubs his hands softlyz

Avni: why are you blaming yourself? How can you be their death reason?

Neil : should I laugh or cry. We haven't known other much yet you trust me. Why Avni? My whole life is mess and complicated. I can't even explain what I feel about my life.

Avni : you should follow your own advice Neil. You have me strength to fight back and now you can't be broken. I am you are hurt. Anyone would do the same? I know how it feels to live without patents. I know the feeling Neil. My past isn't something would I like to share with anyone but its deepest scar on my soul. I might survived is only because of you.  Right now isn't about me. I will share with you soon about my past. I want you to share your thoughts and feelings to me. I might not be great person to share with me but at least I can be good listener and hear what you have to say.

Neil felt all his feelings were overwhelming him to remember those painful memories of his past. His parents were hard phase of his life.

He had to let his feeling and emotions out. He can't keep everything inside and suffer.

Neil: I don't even know why? I remember Bebe telling how they died. They died in accident. That accident wasn't an accident but planned murder. My
Parents were murder. I find out when I had investigated their case when I turned 20 years. I knew something was fishy. My parents couldn't die. They were killed and made it look like an accident.

Avni: what happened then? Did you find the culprit? Who was it?

Neil : culprit was right under my nose. My mom cousin brother. He killed then. Since my mother was only child of her parents. She was entitled with all the money and whatever they brought on her name belonged to her even after her marriage. Her cousin brother was jealous of my mom wealth and knew there was no way he could get anything. He tried many times to kill her but unfortunately he wasn't successful. His evil plan continued till he was succeeded. He didn't care about anyone. All he cared about was money. I haven't seen him or wish to see him ever again. After my parents death he flew away out of India.

Neil continued sharing his side story with Avni. He spoke his heart out. His heart felt lighter.

Neil looks at Avni who was in tears hearing his story. He wipes her tears off and cupped her face.

Neil : why are you crying? Please don't feel bad about me. This is my past. There is much more into it but I don't want share with. I can't. I can't even think about it.

Avni sniffs and looks at her wiping her tears. She tightened the grip on their hands.

Avni : you don't have to share it with if you don't want to. I don't want to force you. I am happy enough. You shared your pain with me. I am with you Neil. You are not alone.

Neil gave her a small smile and looked away. His heart still craved the love he missed from his parents. He can't imagine how he lived his life with them. He wipes his own tears and gets up.

Neil: enough of talking about past. I shouldn't make you sad. You must be remembering your parents.

Her body stiffens but composing herself she also gets up and stood next to him.

Avni: my story can be told on another day Neil. You look very horrible right now. You should fresh up and fix yourself. I don't like seeing you weak. You are not weak. I know you. Go and fresh up. I will make something to eat.

Neil : I don't feel like eating anything. I will fresh up.

Avni: I don't wanna hear anything. You go and fresh up. I will make something eat.

Neil rolls his eyes at her demand but nevertheless nodding his head went to his room while Avni shaking her head went back in the mansion and looked around finding the kitchen.

She frowns hearing a voice behind her and saw his cousin giving a look.

Avni : can you show way to kitchen?

His cousin: why? Why do you need to go in kitchen? Will you poison his food?

Avni : you can't think so low of me. You don't even know me. I am not here to harm your brother. He is good friend of mine.I just wanna help him out. I don't have time to fight with you. Look we both want betterment so why not get along with each other. You don't have to like me. You can hate me much as you want but all I care is about Neil. His health is important to me. Please show me where is the kitchen?

His cousin sighs and gestures her to follow her.

Avni keeping her phone side and washing her food starts cooking for Neil with help by his cousin who offered to help.

Avni couldn't say no. Neil comes in kitchen after freshening up and saw them cooking.

His hunger died since he spoke about his parents death. He wasn't in right to state.

He sighs and standing by the entrance watched them. His cousin was first one to notice him.

His cousin : Bhai! What are you doing there?

Avni too looks at him.

Neil : what are you doing? You don't have to cook whole mean.

Avni : Neil! Be quiet. Can you arrange the table? It's almost done.

She said to his cousin who nodded her head and went out. Avni ignoring Neil's gaze quickly finished cooking and went out to set the table.

Neil sighs and follows them. He sat down as Avni gestures him to sit and to start eating.

Neil quietly eat few bites, it was hard to digest the food for him but for her happiness he ate little.

He then got up and went to his room without exchanging words with the girls.

Avni also looks worried seeing him like that. She looks at his cousin.

Avni : I don't know if I should be asking or not. But is there something I am missing. I mean...

His cousin looks at her and nodded her head making Avni confuse.

His cousin : tomorrow his parents death anniversary..

Avni's eyes widen hearing her, her heart stops for a minute. She stares the to his room where he went.

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Hope you liked the chapter.

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