It was the time of morning, the fields were shining in the sunlight and the trees were moving because of the morning breeze.

Avni was standing on the roadside and sand was all around. Avni saw the time on her watch and looked around. A bag was across her shoulder. Avni thinks.

Avni: where did this Neil leave? Kya mujhe sari zindagi is ke liye ase hi wait karna parega?

Avni made a face.

Neil was coming to meet Avni and when he looked up. He stopped to see Avni and smiled. Neil thinks and then he felt something behind her and turned his face behind Avni. Neil was shocked to see the dust then he got another shock because a herd of buffaloes was coming by running.

Avni also heard the sound and she was confused. Avni looked here and there. Avni was about to turn her face.

Neil: Avni.

Avni turned her face to Neil. Neil ran and he came to Avni who was confused. Neil held Avni's arm and pulled her to him. Neil held Avni with his second hand too and he twirled to the side. There was a wall. Neil moved at the right time and buffaloes passed by them. Neil hugged Avni, he was holding Avni's head with one hand and Avni’s back with the second hand. Avni was clenching his sleeves with both hands. Their eyes were closed because of the dust and fear.

Buffaloes passed by them but the dust was still there and they were standing in the same position. Neil opened his eyes and again he closed them. After a few seconds, Neil opened his eyes and he saw the situation is fine. Neil realized their position and he was shocked. Neil looked at Avni whose eyes were still closed. Neil couldn't help but he adored her. Neil smiled to see her. Avni also opened her eyes and saw that everything normal. Avni looked at Neil's chest and Neil's shirt's two buttons were open. Avni looked at Neil who was already looking at her. Their eyes were locked and they were lost in the eyes of each other. Avni broke eye contact and she looked down. Avni moved back and Neil left her. They felt awkward. Avni kept her hair strand behind the ear and Neil ran his hand in his hair and caressed them. Neil looked away then he looked at Avni.

Neil asked while looking down: ab, are, are you OK?

Avni nodded while looking down.

Avni: Yeah. Thank, thank you for saving me.

Neil nodded.

Neil: hmm.

Neil stole gaze on Avni then he looked away. Suddenly, Avni starts sneezing. Neil looked at her. Avni again sneezed.

Neil: Are you ok?

Avni squeezed her nose.

Avni: Yeah, I, I...

Avni sneezed.

Avni: Sorry. I am fine.

Avni was wearing a purse across her shoulder and she opened it and was finding a tissue.

Avni: Du... (sneezed) dust.

Neil looked at her.

Neil: do you want something? What are you searching for?

Avni: Tissue.

Avni didn't get the pack of tissue.

Avni: I think, I forgot it at home.

Avni squeezed her nose. Neil passed a hanky to Avni. Avni saw that and then she looked at Neil. Neil signed, take it.

Avni: No, it's ok.

Neil: take it.

Avni: Neil...

Neil: Avniii... take it.

Avni dropped the weapons and she took the hanky. Avni was feeling awkward so Neil looked away. Avni smiled and sneezed while keeping Neil's hanky on her mouth. Neil turned to her and saw Avni's condition is not so good.

Neil: I think, we should go home.

Avni nodded and sneezed.

Neil: let’s go.

They go. They reached outside the Mehta house. Avni sneezed.

Neil: can I come with you inside?

Avni squeezed her red nose.

Avni: of course, you can come.

Neil: No, maine to tumhare liye pucha.

Avni: No, no, I am fine.

Avni felt she will sneeze but it stopped.

Avni: don't worry, I can go.

Neil: ok. take care of yourself and have medicine.

Avni nodded.

Avni: Bye.

Neil: Bye.

Avni goes while sneezing and Neil was looking at her. Neil left guilty because he called her there. Neil thinks and again looked at Avni.

Avni entered her home and she sneezed. Her family was sitting in the living area. Avni sneezed and they looked at her. Avni came and they were shocked to see her condition. Neela maa got up and she came to Avni. Ashish was not there.

Nm: what happened, Bacha?

Avni smiled.

Avni: nothing. Dust.

Nm: bacha, dihan rakhna chahiye tha na.

Avni: mamma, yahan har jaga hi dust hai main kya karun.

Nm: kya zarorat thi bahar jane ki?

Avni: to kya aap log mujhe yahan anarkali ki tarha deewar main chunwane ke liye laye the.

Neela maa made a face and Avni sniffed her nose.

Nm: batain banana koi tum se seekhe. Chalo main tumhe dawai de deti hun.

Avni nodded while smiling and they moved.

On the other side, Neil was sitting or I say laying by resting his back on the pillow and hardboard of the bed and his one leg was hanging down. His friends came there and saw him.

Ali: aray, tu aa bhi gaya?

Neil saw them and then he looked down. They came and sat on the bed.

Vidyut: how was the date?

Neil: it was not a date.

Ali: kya howa? Itna murjhaya howa kyun hai? Avni nahi ayi kya?

Neil: ayi thi.

Vidyut: phir?

Neil: kuch nahi.

Ali: kuch nahi?

Neil: yaar mujhe thori dair akela chor do.

Neil got up and goes. His friends were looking at him. They looked at each other and Vidyut sighed what happened and Ali shrink his shoulder.

Vidyut: isay kya howa?

Ali: Ishq ke marz ki ibtada hai yeh.

DD: wah-wah.

Ali: thank you, thank you. Arz kiya hai,
ishq ke marz ki ibtada hai yeh.
Woh humare hain humain gumaan hai yeh.

DD was confused.

DD: hain?

Vidyut made a face.

Vidyut: itni bakwas shayri ki umeed tujhse hi ki jaa sakti hai.

Ali looked at him. Vidyut goes.

Ali: DD.

DD was shocked.

DD: Mujhe kuch kaam yaad agaya.

Ali was standing there confused.

Later, Neil was sitting on the wall by resting his back at the wall which was on the corridor. If he falls from there then he will land on the ground. Neil was sitting by keeping his phone near his mouth. Neil looked at the phone and thinks.

Neil dialed Avni's number but it was switched off. Neil frowned and he looked at the phone. On the other side, Avni was sleeping after having lunch because she had a headache. Neil thinks.

The whole day, they didn't get the chance to talk because Avni's phone was switched off. Neil and his family were having dinner and Neil was lost in his thoughts. Meera came there. She is the girl who fought with Neil’s friends.

Meera: Bee Ji, Dadi ne aap sab ke liye meetha bhejha hai.

They smiled.

Neil in mind: Meetha? Means Avni theek hai.

Neil took a sigh of relief.

Neil in mind: Thank God. Main to dar hi gaya tha

Neil smiled. Neil had a bite.

Shweta: wahan sab kaise hain, Beta?

Neil looked at Shweta then he looked at Meera.

Meera: Sab theek hain bus Avni Ji ko sar main dard hai.

Neil was shocked and his friends looked at him.

Neil in mind: Sar main dard.

Meera: lekin ab woh theek hain. Woh unhe dhul miti ki itni adat nahi hai na. Is liye.

Shweta: oh.

Neil was relieved.

Neil in mind: Thank God, Avni theek hai. Lagta hai Avni ne aaj ke incident ke bare main ghar main nahi bataya.

A maid came with the tray which was covered with cloth.

Bee ji: Yeh, apni Bari dadi ko de dena.

Meera nodded and she goes.

Neil didn't have dinner properly because he was worried about Avni.

Later, Neil was laying on the bed on the terrace and was lost in her thoughts

Neil's point of view:

Aaj ek pal ke liye sansain rok gai thi meri jab laga ke main tumhe hamesha hamesha ke liye kho sakta hun. Is se pehle to kabhi maine kisi ko khone ka dard mehsus nahi kiya. Aaj tak main kabhi kisi cheeze se nahi dara lekin aaj dar laga mujhe. Aaj pehli baar maine dar ko mehsus kiya hai. Kya hai yeh sab? Kya main sach main Avni se pyaar karne laga hun? Kya pyaar humain kamzor banata hai?

Neil was looking in his thoughts.

Person: nahi, pyaar humain kamzor nahi banata.

Neil turned his face and saw himself sitting on the wall. Neil frowned and he sat.

Neil: tu?

Neil 2: han, main.

Neil was confused.

Neil 2: Pyaar humain kamzor nahi banata.

Neil: lekin mere sath to as a hi ho raha hai.

Neil 2: asa ho nahi raha asa tujhe lag raha hai. Agar pyaar tujhe kamzor bana raha hota to aaj tu Avni ko bacha nahi pata.

Neil thinks.

Neil 2: aray tere kadam bhi age nahi barh pate lekin tu bina ek minute gawaye us ke pass gaya. Tu ne usay protect kiya to tu kamzor kaise howa?

Neil: main physically weak hone ki nahi balke mentally, emotionally weak hone ki baat kar raha hun.

Neil 2: tu kisi bhi tarha se weak nahi hai. Dar lagna ek aam si feeling hai. It's normal, it's natural. Tu ne aaj pehli baar ase feel kiya kyun ke aaj tak tu jo khatre uthata aya hai us se teri yah ek stranger jisay tu bachane jata tha us ki jaan ko khatra tha. Aaj danger main tera pyaar tha, teri Avni thi is liye tu ne dar mehsus kiya.

Neil thinks.

Neil 2: acha, ek baat bata, Avni ki jaga agar teri family main se koi aur hota to kya tujhe un ki fikar nahi hoti?

Neil: of course hoti.

Neil 2: tujhe dar nahi lagta?

Neil: obviously lagta.

Neil 2: to meri jaan yahan dar lagna bhi to obvious hai na.

Neil was about to say but he understood the point. Neil thinks.

Neil: yeah, you are right.

Neil 2 smiled.

Neil: itni si baat meri smajh main nahi arahi thi.

Neil 2: kyun ke tera dimagh kharab hai.

Neil: Aye.

Neil 2: kya aye. tujhe koi jawab nahi mil raha tha kyun ke tu dimagh se soch raha tha aur main tere dil ki awaz hun jis ne yun (Neil 2 snapped his fingers) chutki bajate hi teri sari uljhane dur kar di.

Neil 2 smiled.

Neil: acha?

Neil 2: yeah.

Neil: to ek aur uljhan bhi dur kar de.

Neil 2: bolo, bolo. Bolo, bacha, aaj Neil baba teri sab uljhane dur kar denge.

Neil: kya yeh sach main pyaar hai?

Neil 2 turned his face to Neil shockingly. Neil 2 palmed his head. Neil frowned and Neil 2 cried fakely. Neil 2 looked up and Neil also looked up and then he looked at Neil 2.

Neil 2: kya, God, asa bina dimagh ke larka meri hi kismat main likhna tha.

Neil 2 cried and Neil made a face.

Neil: Aye.

Neil 2 looked at him.

Neil: Kya aye, haan? Kya aye? Aye, aye ke ilawa kuch aata bhi hai. A ke bad B aata hai phir C D E F G H I J K L M N  O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.

Neil 2 said in one go then he looked at Neil and sighed.

Neil: bol na, kya mujhe sach main Avni se pyaar ho gaya hai?

No reply.

Neil: kya pyaar ek hi nazar main ho jata hai?

No answer.

Neil: yaar, bol na. Acha, tu mere dil ki awaz hai na to tu mujhe bata na, kya tujhe sach main Avni se pyaar ho gaya hai?

Neil 2 smiled thinking about Avni and he closed his eyes. Neil's eyes also got closed. They saw Avni's face and smiled. Neil opened his eyes and he thinks then he looked at Neil 2.

Neil 2: jawab mila?

Neil: is ka matlab main...

Neil 2 shouts: han, han, han. Han, yeh pyaar hai. Tujhe, mujhe Avni se pyaar ho gaya hai. I love her. I love her.

Neil was shocked. Neil 2 jumped and stood on his feet. He spreads his arms.

Neil 2 said with closed eyes: I love Avni. I love you, Avni. I love you.

Neil was smiling. Neil 2 opened his eyes and he looked at Neil.

Neil 2: I love her.

They smiled then Neil 2 vanished. Neil was shocked. He looked here and there then he thinks. Neil smiled or I say blushed.

Neil: I love Avni.

Neil ruffles his hair while smiling. Neil thinks something and an idea clicked in his mind. Neil smiled.