Love Bites

Perfect Peace (4)

The whole stadium cheered for the team captain Neil Khanna when he was awarded "The Man of the Match", but the man had eyes just for his woman! Even in the crowded stadium, Neil's eyes found Avni's, the hazel in them twinkling a bit too much upon meeting with her charcoal black!   

Ali- Avni, why don't you wait in the office? Its quite a crowd here & it will take Neil some time to be done with the interviews. 

A- Ah, okay! Let's go! -she smiled as he walked her upto the office. 

Theirs' was another relationship that bloomed over the time. Ali & Avni had become good friends. No, what they shared wasn't a relationship of besties, there was still time to come to that, but there was certainly a lot of respect & care. Ali was more like an elder brother to her. Actually, Ali wanted it that way, since she & Neil hadn't started anything as of yet, he didn't want her to be awkward with him. However, with Seher, it was different! Ali & Seher were like two small kids who were left to roam around the town with no explanations to serve. She used to call him Noodle-hairs while he addressed her as Granny-Seher, since she used to scold him like a granny! 

Leaving Avni & Seher at the office, Ali went out to attend to the other matters regarding the tournament while Avni looked around at the pictures of the team that were hung neatly on the wall.  Inadvertently, her hand raised to caress one of the pictures where Neil was holding a trophy with all the team members surrounding him. A gorgeous yet silent smile found home on her face when she looked at that particular picture, it wasn't intentional, but her heart just fluttered watching him smile like that. 

Her reverie was broken by someone clearing their throat from behind her. Taken aback, she turned around only to bump into that someone! 

A- Sorry!.... I am sorry! -she muttered as she steadied herself, not looking who the person was. 

N- Sorry for not being able to stop yourself from falling in love with my charms, huh? -he teased while passing a cocky grin to her. 

A- Neil? It was you! Sorry waste hogya! -she sighed as she walk passed him towards a sleeping Seher. 

N- Oh C'mon! Say it. -he walked upto her. 

A- Say what? -she pressed further. 

N- Pfft! Nothing! Let it be! Let's go home. Everyone will be waiting for you!- he said while lifting Seher in his arms. 

A(nervous)- Neil...can we do it some other day? I mean....you should celebrate your win with your family. I can meet them some other time! 

N- Yeah? And, you want me to get scolded by Mom for not getting you over for the dinner.

A- But Neil--

Before she could complete herself, he held her hand while holding Seher in his arms carefully & started walking out of the office, towards his car. 

The drive was too silent for Neil's liking. Seher was sleeping in her baby-seat which Neil had himself bought for her & Avni was just looking out of the window, probably thinking about something serious. 

N- What is it, Avni? -he finally asked, not being able to stay silent anymore. 

A- Hm? Nothing! Just...tired..a little! -she smiled a little but Neil knew that was an outright lie! 

N(sighs)- Avni, I don't know what it exactly is.....but I am sure you're thinking about how my family will think about you being a single parent, or a divorcee. Isn't it that? 

A- Ah..no..No, Neil! I..I was just...

N- Please, say the truth! 

A(sighs)- Yes! -she voiced out finally. Neil, I don't care about what others think of me, but...you are important & your family is important too! So, what they take me to be, matters to me!