AVNEIL.SHORT STORY - Chapter 12: Chapter 12
You are reading AVNEIL.SHORT STORY, Chapter 12: Chapter 12. Read more chapters of AVNEIL.SHORT STORY.
The morning sunlight filtered softly through the mansion’s tall windows, casting a golden glow over the breakfast table. Neil Khanna entered quietly, his usual icy demeanor softened just enough to make Avni’s heart skip a beat.
“Morning,” he said, voice low but not harsh.
Avni blinked, startled. Was this really him?
As she poured tea, Neil’s eyes flicked toward her briefly before darting away, as if embarrassed by his own gentleness.
Throughout the day, Neil’s behavior was different — quieter, less cutting. When Avni dropped a stack of papers near his office, instead of snapping, Neil bent down and helped her pick them up.
“Careful,” he murmured.
Avni’s pulse quickened at the unexpected kindness.
But the moment that unsettled her most came in the late afternoon.
They were at a charity event hosted by one of Neil’s business partners. Avni, in a simple but elegant dress, moved through the crowd with her usual grace, chatting softly and helping wherever she could.
A handsome young executive approached her, complimenting her on her dress and the work she’d done organizing donations.
Neil watched from a distance, his jaw tightening.
The faintest shadow crossed his face — a flicker of something like jealousy.
When the executive laughed at one of Avni’s jokes, Neil’s eyes narrowed just slightly.
Later, as Avni approached Neil to ask a question, he responded with a clipped tone.
“Are you enjoying the attention?”
Avni blinked, confused.
“I’m just talking to people,” she said gently.
Neil’s gaze darkened, then quickly softened.
He turned away before she could see the storm of emotions flicker across his face.
That night, as Avni lay awake in the quiet guest room, she whispered to herself, “Maybe... he’s changing. Or maybe this is just something new — something she doesn’t understand yet.”
Neil stood by the doorway of the guest room, his arms crossed tightly.
“Avni, come stay in my room tonight. It’s better than being alone here.”
Avni looked up, surprise flickering in her eyes. “Neil, I… I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He took a step closer, voice low but firm. “Why not?”
She hesitated, biting her lip. “Because you’re going to divorce me anyway. It’s better if we stay apart now, before it gets worse.”
His eyes darkened, fury flashing like lightning. “Divorce? You think I want that? You think I’ve made up my mind?”
Avni shook her head quickly, voice trembling. “You’ve never wanted me. You hate me. So why pretend?”
Neil’s jaw clenched. His hands curled into fists at his sides.
“I don’t hate you,” he growled, barely controlling his anger. “I’m not the man I used to be… and I don’t want to lose you.”
Avni stared at him, heart pounding. For the first time, she saw the raw truth behind his cold mask — confusion, fear, and something dangerously close to longing.
Neil’s voice softened just a fraction. “Stay with me tonight. Please.”
The room hung heavy with tension, neither willing to break the silence.
Finally, Avni nodded, a fragile hope flickering inside her.
“Morning,” he said, voice low but not harsh.
Avni blinked, startled. Was this really him?
As she poured tea, Neil’s eyes flicked toward her briefly before darting away, as if embarrassed by his own gentleness.
Throughout the day, Neil’s behavior was different — quieter, less cutting. When Avni dropped a stack of papers near his office, instead of snapping, Neil bent down and helped her pick them up.
“Careful,” he murmured.
Avni’s pulse quickened at the unexpected kindness.
But the moment that unsettled her most came in the late afternoon.
They were at a charity event hosted by one of Neil’s business partners. Avni, in a simple but elegant dress, moved through the crowd with her usual grace, chatting softly and helping wherever she could.
A handsome young executive approached her, complimenting her on her dress and the work she’d done organizing donations.
Neil watched from a distance, his jaw tightening.
The faintest shadow crossed his face — a flicker of something like jealousy.
When the executive laughed at one of Avni’s jokes, Neil’s eyes narrowed just slightly.
Later, as Avni approached Neil to ask a question, he responded with a clipped tone.
“Are you enjoying the attention?”
Avni blinked, confused.
“I’m just talking to people,” she said gently.
Neil’s gaze darkened, then quickly softened.
He turned away before she could see the storm of emotions flicker across his face.
That night, as Avni lay awake in the quiet guest room, she whispered to herself, “Maybe... he’s changing. Or maybe this is just something new — something she doesn’t understand yet.”
Neil stood by the doorway of the guest room, his arms crossed tightly.
“Avni, come stay in my room tonight. It’s better than being alone here.”
Avni looked up, surprise flickering in her eyes. “Neil, I… I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He took a step closer, voice low but firm. “Why not?”
She hesitated, biting her lip. “Because you’re going to divorce me anyway. It’s better if we stay apart now, before it gets worse.”
His eyes darkened, fury flashing like lightning. “Divorce? You think I want that? You think I’ve made up my mind?”
Avni shook her head quickly, voice trembling. “You’ve never wanted me. You hate me. So why pretend?”
Neil’s jaw clenched. His hands curled into fists at his sides.
“I don’t hate you,” he growled, barely controlling his anger. “I’m not the man I used to be… and I don’t want to lose you.”
Avni stared at him, heart pounding. For the first time, she saw the raw truth behind his cold mask — confusion, fear, and something dangerously close to longing.
Neil’s voice softened just a fraction. “Stay with me tonight. Please.”
The room hung heavy with tension, neither willing to break the silence.
Finally, Avni nodded, a fragile hope flickering inside her.
End of AVNEIL.SHORT STORY Chapter 12. Continue reading Chapter 13 or return to AVNEIL.SHORT STORY book page.