It took an incredible amount of pushing and pulling , dragging and pleading to get Avni inside the car and under the seat beat. She tossed and turned in there, unsuccessfully trying to pull off her restraints as Neil swiftly put on his. For half of their way back home she kept demanding to go back to the party which apparently she was enjoying when Neil pulled her away. As if her crying and temper tantrums weren't enough distracting she fiddled with his seatbelts every now and then to annoy him further.

" Avni !!! Sit quietly ! Shhh !!!! "

She innocently cowered back into her seat with her finger straight across her lips .

" What the hell did you drink ? I told you to wait but you have got the patience of a 5 year old !"

" But I just had an iced tea !" she mumbled softly through her tight lips.

" Yeah right !!! "

" I promise " she curled her lower lips innocently causing his anger to melt away momentarily . " A nice lady got me the tea. I forgot to thank her ..."

" Lady ?!! What lady ? "

" Nice lady. Didn't I say that ? She was really nice " she giggled again.

" Who am I asking !! " he shook his head knowing that Avni was too drunk to answer anything coherently.

A few seconds passed by ,with Neil looking ahead and Avni sitting quietly like a baby. The peaceful silence lasted until Neil felt Avni's fingers fiddling on the placket seam of his shirt.

" Just because you are drunk miss fiance , doesn't mean you can outrage my modesty ?"

In place of a bitting comeback he just received a blank stare and some more fiddling with his buttons .

" Even the joke is wasted on a wasted you " he sighed " Stop it Avni ! I am driving. " He carefully removed her hand with his non dominant hand still looking at the road ahead .

" But.  ....I was checking if those were real or not " she replied innocently.

" Checking what ? The buttons ? They are as real as plastic is.....if that makes any sense whatsoever "

" Not those. Your packs.......those abs you keep showing off from these tight shirts. I don't think those are real " she laughed like a kid making Neil burst into a smile as well.
" And those hairs ??" she tried to ruffle his well set hair " how are they always like that. In attention position " she giggled again.

" Let's get you home first ! " he said removing her hands from his hair.

With a turn and a half , they reached their apartment. After parking the car , he carefully carried Avni out. Luckily there weren't many people outside when they arrived and those few who were there kept to their own business.

With some more efforts from Neil , the duo reached the elevator but just as the doors slid open Avni ran away.

" Avni ! Avni ! Where are you going ? Come back here right this instant ! " he spoke in  strict yet hushed voice.

" No ...no elevator ! We will take stairs today Mr Neil Khanna! " she declared with utmost pride walking up the stairs.

" What ? Why ? You take elevator every single day !!! "

" I want to walk. You think I am fat na. Always suggesting me to take the stairs ! So today we start ! Let's go Khanna" she climbed the stairs with her drunken gait swaying from side to side. Having no other option Neil ran behind her to catch her and help her up the seven long flights of stairs.

" Of all the days , you had to take the stairs today ! in those heels !!! Awesome ! " he muttered to himself as they reached the first floor. 

The next flight of stairs took longer than the first one . By the time they reached the fourth floor Avni had given up . She sat down abruptly on the landing .

"  Ah my feet !! It is killing me. These shoes......I hate these stupid shoes." Angrily she pulled off her stiletoes and there them away.

" Shouldn't have worn them then" Neil replied mindlessly.

" I wore them for you Mister ! " her cute smile had been replaced by a red angry flare . She poked her finger at his chest as she continued " Why the hell are you soooo tall?? How is it my fault that you are tall ?  I have to wear these stupid heels to match upto you. I have to kill my feet to walk next to you "

" But I never told you to Avni " Neil replied with some concern. He had never heard Avni speak this way.

" I hate it that I don't look like your girl. I hate it that we don't match. But I hate these shoes more " she stared angrily at her shoes. " I hate these pins too. They are pinned to my blood supply " Just like that she started pulling the pins away from her bun  .

" I got this ! " assuring her he took the last pin out . " Now c'mon let's go. We still have 3 more floors to cover. C'mon be a good girl "He stood up hold her shoes in one hand and holding out his other hand towards Avni.

" But I can't move my legs " she complained pointing at her legs. " They are tired or dead or maybe both."

" I will hold you . C'mon " he encouraged her.

She tried to stand up but was back in to her sitting position even before she could stand straight . " The roof is spinning Neil. The stairs are just going round and round and round in circles " she drew circles in the air to make herself understandable .

" You know what ! Hold the shoes for a second " he handed over the shoes to Avni and within in a matter of seconds he had pulled Avni from the floor into his arms. Holding her in his arms he walked upstairs slowly and carefully trying to avoid spying eyes. Avni happily flapped away her legs like a mermaid, one hand swaying her shoes and other hand wrapped firmly around Neil's neck. Every time Neil tried to get her into the elevator she would throw tantrums like a child. Having no other option and trying to avoid sneaky neighbors at all cost he ascended the stairs with great precautions with Avni in his arms.

Though he intended it to be as quiet as humanly possible , it was beyond his superpowers to keep Avni from talking or make her keep her voice low.

" You know what more I don't like ?" she quizzed him as they successfully climbed one flight of stairs silently.

" lower volume ? "

" Nope " she shook her head.

" Our reputations may be !!"

" No No and No. I hate those girls . No. I hate the way those girls stare at you. No No . I hate the way they stare at me ....with those big big eyes and their perfect nose. "

" Who stares with their nose ?''

" They do. They stare at me. Their eyes are always questioning . Why is he with her ? He is so handsome , suave....blah blah blah.....and she is so ....so so..."

" We are almost there. Oh thank God !" He was almost out of breath as he put a still blabbering Avni back on her feet and searched through her bag for the keys.

" Neil ! "

" Shhhh !! One minute !"

" But my stomach feels funny. I think I am going to be sick " she said putting her hand on her mouth as bouts of nausea hit her.

" Oh no. " Without a second's delay Neil keyed the door open and rushed Avni to the washroom just in time for her to throw up.
" Perfect ending to the night ".

He washed her face and cleaned her up after she was done throwing up 15 minutes later. By the time he got her out of the washroom , she could hardly keep straight. He carried her to her bed and tucked her into a blanket .

As he turned to leave , she sprung back up .

" What on earth ?!! Avni please go to sleep " he begged.

" But I have to change into my night wear. Who sleeps in these ? These are so uncomfortable" . Before Neil could comprehend if she was in her senses or not she pulled the zip of her dress down .

" Stop !!! " he screamed making her stand still like a shocked child on the verge of tearing away.
" Avni " he mellowed down his voice like he was talking to a kid "its okay. You can sleep in that today. Just for today. You are not well. C'mon be a good girl and get back into bed."

" But...I...."

" No buts. You trust me right . Just go back to sleep please. "

" Okay. Just for today then." She sank back inside the covers as told and within minutes was flying in some far off dreamland.

Neil waited by her side for some more time. When he was assured that she was actually asleep , he softly stroked her hair and whispered close to her ears " You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met. You make every moment beautiful just by being in it Avni. You are perfect ......just the way you are. You don't have to do anything to change that. Don't ever change"

He slowly walked out of the room and let himself out of her abode. After weighing the pros and cons of every possible option , he decided on locking her inside and carrying the key with him for safety.

                    *****************