AVNEIL.SHORT STORY - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Two days passed.
Avni didn’t leave her room unless she had to. The silence between her and Neil had grown colder, heavier — like fog that refused to lift.
She kept herself busy with chores, helping Bebe with her medicines and sitting quietly during family dinners. Neil barely looked at her.
But she could feel him watching when she wasn’t looking.
Late one afternoon, as the monsoon clouds gathered outside the window, Swetha invited Rohan over for coffee.
“It’s been ages since you visited, beta,” she smiled, handing him a cup. “You and Neil hardly get time to catch up anymore.”
Rohan chuckled. “I thought Neil might kill me last time.”
Neil, seated across from him on the couch, raised an eyebrow. “You deserved it.”
Rohan only smirked. Then, as if casually, he turned to Swetha and Bebe. “I hope Avni’s adjusting now.”
“She’s doing very well,” Bebe said with pride. “She even organized the temple donations last week.”
“Hmm,” Rohan sipped his coffee. “Funny… she messaged me the other night.”
The room fell silent.
Swetha blinked. “Avni?”
Neil’s fingers clenched into a fist.
Rohan shrugged. “I thought it was strange. She said she was sorry for not replying earlier… that she was just being careful. I didn’t want to say anything, but—”
“You’re lying.”
The words cut like steel.
Everyone turned.
Neil’s voice was calm, too calm. Dangerous.
Rohan blinked, clearly not expecting that reaction. “Neil, I—”
“She doesn’t have your number anymore,” Neil said. “I checked her phone myself before I broke it.”
Swetha gasped. “You broke her phone?”
Neil didn’t blink. “She never replied to you. You just thought she wouldn’t defend herself. That I’d believe whatever you said.”
Rohan’s smirk began to fade.
Neil stood slowly, towering over him.
“I know Avni,” he said. “She wouldn’t humiliate herself like that. And even if she had… she would’ve told me.”
Avni had entered the room quietly somewhere in between — none of them noticed until her voice broke the silence.
“I didn’t message anyone.”
Neil looked at her, and for the first time, it wasn’t anger in his eyes.
It was belief.
And it melted something inside her.
Swetha looked from Neil to Rohan. “Why would you lie?”
Rohan stood, now uncomfortable. “It was just a joke—”
“Leave,” Neil growled. “Before I make it permanent.”
Rohan raised his hands and backed out quickly, mumbling, “Man, chill...”
As the door slammed shut behind him, Avni turned to leave too — but Neil stopped her.
“I’m sorry.”
She froze.
He never said that.
He stepped closer, voice lower now. “I should’ve defended you the first time. I should’ve believed you… when it mattered.”
She didn’t say anything. Just stood there, eyes down.
“You didn’t deserve the way I’ve treated you,” he continued. “No one does.”
She looked up slowly, eyes shining.
“Then why did you?” she whispered.
A long pause.
“I was scared,” he said softly. “That you weren’t what you seemed. That I might fall for you before I found out the truth.”
“And now?” she asked.
He took another step. “Now I think I’m already falling.”
Her breath hitched.
But before she could speak, Bebe clapped loudly from the corner.
“Finally!” she said, beaming. “Now kiss her forehead and go drink some chai like decent humans.”
Swetha laughed. Avni blushed.
And Neil?
He just looked at Avni — for the first time, not like she was a mistake.
But like she was exactly where she was meant to be.