"Have you gone insane? You were just a few inches away from the gunpoint." Neil throws his hands in the air as he glares at me.

"This is my job! My life! Why are you even concerned?" I shout back at him with some annoyance.

"Avni, you and your team had made a plan then why didn't you work according to it?" He wipes the sweat on his forehead with the back of his arm.

"Neil, you very well know the plan wasn't working. I had signaled you all we are taking the backup plan, so it was obvious I was going to recuse the children. I didn't know someone will stand there to welcome me by pointing a gun at me." It feels so annoyed when I have to explain myself.

"Are you serious? You always repeat while fighting Think Before Acting, but do you do that? You shouldn't face directly, the rival will be anywhere." Everyone stands there seeing both of us arguing and Neil is pissing me off right now.

"I take action Face To Face! Stop arguing for some nonsense thing, nothing has happened to me, I can take care of myself." I glare at him while he is giving me an unbelievable look.

"You seriously think this is a nonsense thing? Avni, he could have shot you--" I cut him off.

"He could have shot! I would have died or maybe survived but why the hell does it matter to you? I am no one to you, how much do we know each other? More than a month. That's it!" I snap my fingers at him, "Stop taking control over me. I do what I like."

I turn on my heels to leave but he holds my hand. "You matter to me because I have given you place in my heart or should I say you effortlessly made your place in my heart," He says coldly before leaving from there, god knows where.

Zar, Myra, Ali, and other members stand there silently as if they have been scolded by a teacher.

I walk towards my car and sit on its bonnet, Neil's anger was no less than a volcano.

As per the plan we had reached the place to rescue children but the plan wasn't working so we had to use a backup plan. I opened a room, where I thought children are kept but unfortunately there stood a man with a gun pointed towards me, it was not like I was afraid and I was planning to kill him.

"Shoot!" I replied to him as I raised my hands in defeat and god knows from where Neil appeared. Firstly, he came between me and the man. Secondly, he killed the man very quickly. Thirdly, he threw a glare at me.

We somehow managed to rescue the children and I hope they are now with their parents.

Soon after the children left with few members of Neil's team, Neil burst out like a volcano. He is pissed off that I was demanding the man to shoot me up! But you know why I am annoyed? Because he didn't trust my skills!

Like him even I am an Officer, I know what to do when to do it he can't just enter and rule on me. Though I saw a hint of care in his eyes still he shouldn't have shouted at me without knowing the scenario completely.

Why does he even care for me when he has a wife. But then I know Ria isn't his wife, she never wears - Nuptial Chain and Vermilion.

I roam my eyes around the dark jungle, the only lights here are coming from the headlights of vans and cars.

Suddenly, I chuckle, what if a ghost comes here all of sudden it'll be so exciting right?

Zar comes, giving me a small smile she takes something from the car and leaves. My friends just know when to leave me alone and when to stay with me.

"If you feel like eating something, take the chocolates and juice. It's in the green bag." She shouts facing her back to me, then disappears from there.

Do you know how my life was?

It was Dark just like this jungle.

Zar and Myra lit up my life with their friendship, just like the headlights of cars and vans are lighting up this dark jungle.

Do you know when you are lucky?

When you have few people whom you can call yours, who trust you and stay with you. Not expecting anything but the same from your side.

No matter how much I lie to myself Neil has also become a part of my life. He expresses it openly and I can't just do that. I am afraid, afraid that one day even he will go away. Who has survived forever in this world? No one!

This can't happen that you'll stay with a person forever, one day you'll have to leave them or they'll leave you when death finally kisses life.

Death is something that keeps me away from making a new relationship. Zar and Myra made their place in my life when I badly needed friends so that time I didn't think they'll leave me one day but sadly even they will leave or I'll leave them.

Few tears escape from my eyes which I quickly wipe. "Avni, stop being emotional. This doesn't suit you. Stay away from Neil, you love kids so only Niam and Navya should matter to you." I take deep breaths as I close my eyes.

"Looks like someone needs us." My friend's voice reaches my ears as they hop and sit beside me.

We stay silent as they both wrap an arm around me, resting their heads on my shoulders.

"Don't you think you overreacted?" Myra questions after a little silence as she pulls out and looks at me.

"No, she did right!" Zar exclaimed as she passed a water bottle to me.

I drink the entire bottle silently, I think I did overreact a little.

"He shouldn't have shouted at me," I speak finally throwing the empty bottle away.

"Even you shouldn't have shouted at him," Myra explains. "He was just concerned about you."

"What kind of concern is it when he can't understand her point of view?" Zar rolls her eyes, well they both always have different views. It should be very rare when their views match. Zar is the kind of girl who sees everything according to her while Myra will always think positively no matter what situation it is.

"Zar, tell me you are here to clear the misunderstanding or to create it?" Myra lightly smacks on Zar's hand.

"Well, I am just here to be with my best friend," Zar adds as she side hugs me, a small smile forms on my lips.

"Whatever! Shut your mouth for some time." Myra rolls her eyes. "Avni, why did you shout at him? Poor Neil, how sad his face was when you shouted at him."

"But even he shouted, right?" I ask playing with my fingers. "He should have first known the situation before shouting."

"Why did he even shout at me? Why does he even care? I don't need anyone except you guys and Neela maa"

"Let's take it according to you, you both consider each other friends right?" I give a small nod to Myra's question.

"Then it's simple! He shouted at you because he is your friend and friends care for each other." Myra presses my arm trying to explain. "Keep yourself in Neil's place, what if I was standing at gunpoint? Will you do not shout at me?"

Myra's words put me in deep thought. If I expect him to see from my view then I should also see from his view.

"Sometimes, in anger, we say something which isn't true and sometimes we say something which is the truth." Zar who was silent all the while finally spoke. "He is right, he has given you a place in his heart. And you were wrong he didn't take control over you, it was his concern."

"I would like to add one more thing." Zar smiles at me. "Friends doesn't mean for how long you know each other, as you had mentioned to Neil you guys know each other only for more than a month. You shouldn't have mentioned that because it doesn't matter how long you have known each other all it matters is how much you know each other."

"And knowing each other doesn't mean knowing their deep secrets. It simply means how you bond up without knowing anything about their past, how you know how to make each other comfortable, how you just love to stay with them even by not sharing your secrets, how you shower your care for each other be it violently or silently." Myra makes me understand with a small smile playing on her lips.

"You guys think I should apologize to him?" I take my lower lip between my teeth. Of course, there is my mistake, half Neil's mistake half mine.

"No, I don't think." Myra shakes her head. "Because you should apologize." She lightly smacks on my head.

"Hey, don't apologize. I mean mutual understanding is enough." Zar shrugs.

"I'll see!" I exclaim, I don't think there is a need to apologize to us. We do understand each other well but maybe a sorry won't hurt.

"So, now, go!" Myra pushes me from the bonnet. "Search where he is."

My feet touch the ground, removing the hoodie I pass to Zar. "It's so dark, how will I search? I don't have a charge in my phone as well." I whine a little.

"Why are we here?" Zar rolls her eyes as she throws something at me.

"Thanks, Idiot!" I exclaim catching the torch in my hand.

"All the best!" Myra smiles giving thumbs up to me.

"Keep your hormones in control!" Zar exclaims and both burst out laughing. Irritatedly, I bent down and take a hand full of mud and throw it on them. I run away from there before we all start mud-fight.

✧✧✧

After a few minutes of walking, I finally spot Neil standing at a corner, resting his back on the huge rock, eyes closed and emotionless face.

Slowly I go and stand beside him making sure to not make any voice and destroy his silence.

His calm posture says he is thinking something deeply, sometimes thinking too much isn't good.

"Why are you standing here? You should rest in your car." I get startled a little and look at his face who is still standing in the same position with closed eyes.

"I... I don't feel like." I utter slowly, why are my words not coming clearly?

He opened his eyes and turned to look at me. I stare into his eyes which are filled with concern, feeling guilty for shouting at him I lower my gaze.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," I say slowly, I don't know if it was audible to him or not. The silence spoke between us before Neil lifted my chin with his fingers, for the first time I see moisture in Neil's eyes.

"I am--" Just when I was about to apologize he cuts me off.

"Can we just forget whatever happened?" A small smile forms on his lips while he blinks his eyes to dry his tears.

"Can we just talk and clear the situation?" I question back, I don't like to keep things inside me, I feel as if I am walking with tons of heaviness in my heart.

"As you wish." Keeping his one hand in his pocket, his other hand holds my hand. "Let's sit over there." He points at few big rocks where we can not-so-comfortably sit.

We walk hand in hand then climb up on the stone and settle there. I don't know what to say silence feels comforting between us but I have to give voice to my guilty feelings, that's when I'll get some peace.

Neil gently holds my hands and starts playing with my fingers. I have found out whenever he wants to say something serious he plays with my fingers and it kinda feels ticklish but I don't dare to say 'No' to his cute gestures.

"I shouldn't have shouted at you, I am sorry!" He finally spoke still gaze fixed on my fingers.

"I... I am sorry too!" I utter slowly and I have the urge to cry like hell. It's been a long while when I have cried my heart out. I have always controlled myself to not cry because I feel it's a sign of weakness.

"I should have trusted you with your skills, you have also be trained, I know." He takes a look at my face as his gaze softens. "But I don't know what went wrong with me. I was afraid to lose you!"

Neil, don't do this with me. My heart fills with warmth at the same time I feel my eyes getting heavier with tears which I quickly drink back. I don't have the habit of being cared for by someone who knows nothing about my personal life.

"No matter what we all will lose each other one day." I keep my head on his shoulder to hide my teary eyes, this man will understand my situation just by looking in my eyes."You know a person reaches a stage where he meets death and that death takes him away from all of his or her loved ones."

He keeps quiet while I continue, "I am afraid of being close to people because I am gonna lose them one day and I don't think I am so strong to live without my loved ones."

"If the world starts thinking like Ms. Parikh then everyone will die single." He chuckles a little. "Avni, we don't love people to stay with them forever, we love people to stay with them for today. You don't know what's in your future so live in your present. If one day you look back you'll realize at least I have memories with me. If you don't make memories then in the future you'll feel guilty I wish I had made some memories. And that time all you can do is 'Wish' which can't be fulfilled, so learn to live in the present so that you enjoy your future." He sounds like an experienced man, he wraps an arm around me pulling me more into him as the cold breeze passes through us.

"And what if we have a dark past which keeps troubling us?" I question as I take a deep breath smelling his manly scent.

I wrap my arms around his torso, my head resting on his chest. His sweet smell drags me more towards him, Neil gently passes his hand on my wavy hairs.

"You know past is like a scary night from which we overcome as soon as the morning arrives. Then again the night comes and our past haunts us then again morning arrives and you overcome it, not completely but a little." His voice filled with deep words. "It's like at night we are alone and past haunts us and morning we are with few people so we forget about it. What comes between Day and Night?" He questions while I am just not in the mood to answer.

"It's Afternoon and Evening. Afternoon bids bye to the Day and Evening says welcome to the Night. Afternoon and Evening are like Do or Die. If you enjoy your afternoon with the happiness you 'Do' it and your night will be filled with happy memories of your day and afternoon. If you don't enjoy your Afternoon you 'Die' in the evening and the night will start haunting you with your memories."

"You just have to search for happiness to overcome sadness. One day you'll have happiness more than sadness, like take it as you have 30 days of sadness and 31 days of happiness then yes, there you have overcome your sadness, you have overcome your past. While I believe one day of happiness is more than enough to erase years of sadness." I take his words in my heart and mind. Trying to understand whatever he has said, this man surely knows how to console people. No doubt he has gone through a painful past, he is the best advisor. Maybe being a single parent for his kids made him the best advisor.

A drop of waterfalls on my cheek, I flinch a little then look at Neil, he isn't crying but water? I was still looking at him with a frown on my face, suddenly it starts to rain heavily.

Neil pulls me in a side hug. "I don't think we will be able to make it till car." He says seeing the surroundings, I would prefer to stay here and get wet in the rain instead of walking in this slippy soil.

I feel my body getting wet, I look down at myself and I immediately curse myself for removing my hoodie! My pale yellow paper-thin Kurti is doing nothing but sticking to my navel. I glance at Neil who is busy looking here and there to find a way out.

"Neil," I utter as I hug myself.

"Yeah?" He looks at me confused. "You are feeling cold?" He asks to take off his hoodie.

I pass a hesitant smile to him as I forward my shaking hands to take the hoodie. As if reading me through my eyes he puts his hoodie on my shoulders. "Wear it." He nods at me as he slightly moves away from me fixing his gaze somewhere else.

How can this man be so good? And suddenly my ears echo with Zar's words 'Keep your hormones in control!'. Slowly chuckling to myself I wear his hoodie, gosh his warmth touches my body and it feels so good to feel warmth over my cold body.

"We can sit here till morning, I am not gonna walk on this slippy soil," I speak indirectly saying to him I have covered myself.

"There's no other way!" He shrugs as he fixes his gaze on me.

We sit silently for some time enjoying the rain, how strange rain is. Few consider it as a blessing, few consider it is here to erase their sins while few consider it as a new storm.

I think about Niam and Navya, I just hope they are fine. Suddenly a thought troubles me what if one day Neil goes back to Delhi? What if he doesn't return? I don't think I'll be able to stay without Niam and Navya.

"You alright?" I glance at Neil who is looking at me worried. I let few tears slip from my eyes, I could never be a mother but Niam and Navya made me feel like I am their mother.

Neil rubs his thumb pad under my eyes, how does he even know I am crying? I thought he won't know I am crying as it's raining and my face is already wet by it, but then Neil Khanna reads me through my eyes.

"Will you ever take Niam and Navya away from me?" I finally voice my fears.

"I don't think my kids will appreciate it if I take them away from you." He smiles at me. "I think even if I ask them to do so they will take all the fridge products and throw them on me. Like you three have a very good habit of throwing Milk, Juice, Ice cream, etc on me." I laugh with him.

"You look cute with that messy state!" I exclaim pinching his cheek.

"And you look cute with this smile." He caresses my smile brushing his fingers on my lips. He tears his eyes from my lips and fixes his gaze in my eyes, I stare at him, it's like we can convey our words through our eyes. We speak through eyes. The silence between us is always comforting.

I smile at him and hug him because I feel like. He holds me close to him resting his chin on my head, my cheek rests on his chest, due to rain his white shirt is entirely wet and his strong muscles are on display. I close my eyes feeling exhausted and I kinda find peace in his arms. I hear him take a sharp breath when my lips slightly touch his wet chest.

I sleep in his arms hearing his heartbeat as if it's a lullaby.

Do you know what's weird?

That nothing between us feels weird!

It feels as if it's natural, this should happen and is happening.

━━━━━━━━━━━━ ★ ━━━━━━━━━━━━

How was it? 🙈

Okay, be honest, how many of you expected this? 😁

I hope you enjoyed these unexpected romantic moments.

I am so thankful to you all for showering your love and showing your excitement. Thank you so much!

I know, Avni's past is still not introduced but it'll be opened at on right time.

Do vote, comment, and share.

And yeah to all the silent readers who replied to the last update, I Love You for the support guys!

Thank y'all.