Part Eleven- Facing the Lion
Aman was ambushed and tied to a chair soon after they arrived in the boss's den. He spat out blood when he regained some lucidity.
As his vision cleared he spotted his sister. She looked disarrayed but did not look like the boss had harmed her.
" Di aap theek toh ho?
"Oh my God, Aman! Kisne kiya yeh sab?
Avni ran towards her brother.
She was about to assess his injuries when she felt a presence behind her. She whirled around.
Vidyuth and a limping Ballu stood there smirking at the siblings.
" Your brother shot my best guy here. So he had to pay. I must say you both are quite strong. All the beating and yet he didn't agree to let me have you for myself. Now my queen say yes to my demands otherwise saale saibh gets to go to heaven or hell. It all depends on his karma you know, Vidyuth leered.
" Chal go get ready. Sir doesn't like to be kept waiting, Ballu leered.
"Did you get your gunshot treated? As a doctor I shouldn't be saying this, but as a sister whose brother who have beaten , I hope you get sepsis and die. This place is so dirty. You want make me a queen of this den? No girl in her right mind would surrender to you for this!, Avni stated.
Vidyuth cleared his throat after a few minutes.
"Sir should we give her the third degree? She has no right to talk to you like that!
A third man joined them.
Avni grabbed the chains wrapped around Aman's legs. She suddenly turned around and whirled them around.
It was as if the spirit of Maa Kali had invaded her soul.
Meanwhile...
Bebe, Shweta, Neela Ma, Prakash and Nanno prayed for Avni and Aman's safe return. Neil, Ali and DD led search teams and followed different leads. Every other hour they would report to each other and stop to pray.
Avni beat the three men to a pulp with each swipe. Once they seemed knocked out cold with broken noses and fractures across their bodies, she helped Aman up. She quickly assessed his injuries and she helped him limp outside.
They got outside to find themselves outside a farmhouse.
She found some hay and a wheel barrow. She gently laid Aman in it and started pushing with all her might.
She wasn't sure how long she could keep going. But she had to until they got help.
Neil stopped his jeep outside a dhabba. He was just a mere 20 kilometers outside Mumbai. He knew the boss would have chosen a secluded location to make it harder for them to find Avni and now Aman.
The kid had been foolish to embark on this action alone but the lead he created made Neil consider coming out here.
He returned from the washroom to see a girl wearing burgundy off shoulder dress. The kind of outfit DD had described to him two days ago. When he had spotted Avni in the Devil's Den hanging out by the bar.
Neil forgot everything else as he saw a car headed right towards her. He ran as fast his legs would allow him to. He grabbed her by the waist and got her out of the way just in time.
As he caressed her face and knelt down for a moment with the girl in his arms, he realized it was Avni after all. It wasn't a halluation after all. She was safe in his arms now.
She gripped his shirt and whispered, "Aman!
" Yes Avni is he ok, where is he?
She pointed towards a bit of a distance.
Neil turned forlorn seeing the unconscious and beaten form of Aman. He reached in his pocket and dialed DD.
Two hours later..
Aman was rushed into surgery. He would possibly need a chest tube. The blood stains on Avni's clothes and skin were from helping her brother escape. She was shaken up besides a few minor scrapes and bruising. Both had severe dehydration and exhaustion.
" Dr. Rohini, there are several hours I cannot account for. Please bring the kit, Avni said as firmly as possible.
" Avni you don't have to go through this baccha, Neela said softly.
" Nahin Ma. Tanuja was taken advantage by the same kind of men. Neil knows the procedure. I know now things are different as we are now family friends but I rather be safe than sorry. These men need to be charged with everything possible. Please go wait for Aman to get out of surgery. He will need you, Avni declared.
Neil squeezed her shoulder before he escorted Neela out of the room.
Seeing how haggard everyone looked , they had all been praying and searching for her for over forty-eight hours.
After seeing Dr. Rohini leave the room sometime later. Neil turned to face Neela Ma.
"Neela Auntie, I don't care what the results are. I want to marry your daughter if she will have me as her husband.
"Paagal have you told her how you felt about her? First propose my daughter once she get released then we shall finish this conversation, she declared.
"Neelaji, we will accept Avni as our bahu, but more like our daughter if she agrees, Prakash declared.
Neela became emotional.
" Thank-you. All I wanted was her to have what she really needs, a complete happy family.
Neil bent on his knees besides her.
" I promise you that if Avni agrees she will get all that and so much more.
" Main bhi aap ko yeh promise deti hoon Neelaji, Shweta declared.
Neela couldn't help but run a hand through Neil's hair and then she turned to hug Bebe and Shweta.
The next day..
Aman was stabilizing. Avni's test was negative. She would get a week of leave to recover before resuming her duties. She was to give the medical examiner's exam if she was still intending to work with the police department.
Avni found a note on her bedside.
"Meet me in the lobby in thirty minutes.
Avni frowned.
She signed the discharge papers and headed out to the lobby sometime later.
She felt a hand clasp her wrist.
"Vidyuth isn't captured yet. I will drive you home.
Avni looked up into Neil's orbs.
"Theek hai.
She quickly checked on Aman and kissed his forehead before turning to join Neil.
He led her towards his jeep. It was hard to hide his smirk.
She would give him puzzled glances but didn't question him too much until she realized they weren't going to her home.
" Where are we going Neil? This is not the way home.
" We have stop to make first, he replied.
Twenty minutes later they arrived at waterside resort. He helped her down and led her inside.
He had placed a blindfold on her before they entered. It was dark she could tell. Suddenly the light were on and he removed the blindfold.
The decorations were filled with flowers and balloons. Neil stood before her with something behind his back.
He bent down and held her hand.
" Avni I was so angry with you when you came to that club. But after you went missing, I realized how much I love you. I don't know what you feel for me but I want to tell you I admire your courage, selfless attitude. You are always so giving despite what happened to you in the past and no matter what comes next, will you do me the honor of being my wife?
Avni was speechless.
" I know Aman is still recovering. We can have a small engagement ceremony and get married when he is better. I know this may be sudden for you, but I will wait the rest of my life for you to love me back, he declared.
Avni wipped her tears and forwarded her hand to him.
He had tears of relief and happiness.
He kissed her hand and placed the ring on her finger.
They had scrumptious meal together. Avon discussed her fears and they discussed the medical examiners exam. Neil told her he understood if she wanted to remain a hospitalist for now.
Neela had just returned from the hospital to check on Aman when she noted Neil blowing a blushing Avni a fly kiss.
She sighed. Finally all of Avni's dreams would come true.
Current Affairs
Anupamaa
