Neil and Avni have returned home, and Avni has taken the responsibility of Juhi’s rehab. Neil’s suspension is still on, and they are finding it hard to getany of the victims to file a complaint and testify as witness to strengthen their case.
At the dining table in the evening. The family is having dinner. Avni is serving, Juhi gets up to help her.
PAPA: wah. After so many days, I’m having food my bahu has made.
AVNI: I didn’t make everything, just the bhindi and some kheer.
BEBE: Bhindi is Tillu’s favorite. You have made it with love, and it has come out so good! [Juhi feels awkward hearing about Avni and Neil’s love, Avni notices it. Neil isn’t paying attention, he is deep in his thoughts]
SHWETA: Tillu, you like baingan more than bhindi, don’t you.
BEBE: [wonders if that may have hurt Avni] Madam Madonna, you should have made some for him, then. [turns to Neil] bol, Tillu. Which one do you like more? [he wan’t paying attention still] Tillu… [Neil looks up] Which one do you like more? [Neil wonders, looks at Avni, who senses something is not right]
AVNI: Bebe, you should teach me some day how to make kadhi that you like a lot. I like it too. Juhi, sit down. I’ve got everything here. C’mon sit. [she makes Juhi sit at the table, and serves her]
BEBE: You too, beta. Let us eat together. [Avni agrees and joins]
The family has dinner together. Neil is still absent minded and tensed. Avni noticed it.
AVNI: Let me bring the kheer. I left it to cool down a bit. [gets up and heads to the kitchen. Neil gets up too, and Bebe poked fun at him]
BEBE: Tillu, she’ll bring it here. I know you’re crazy about kheer, and I also know bahu has made it specially for you!
Neil walks off hastily, and everyone think she is heading after Avni. Avni sees him walk upstairs when she returns with the kheer. She wonders after him. “what happened to Neil”
Neil is in the bedroom, restless. He is worried about the case. The culprits are going to go scot-free if he doesn’t do something about it. Avni enters with a cup of kheer for him.
AVNI: Here. I’ve brought some kheer for you.
NEIL: [looks at Avni] Thanks. [takes the cup and keeps it on the table]
AVNI: What happened Neil. You look worried. Everything went well today with the case right? I heard you tell Maaji all is fine. But you looked upset then too.
NEIL: Nothing Avni. Some pending work from the last few days while I was away. Not a big deal.
AVNI: Tell me if it’s something you can tell me. If you can’t, that’s ok too. [puts her hand on his shoulder] I know everything will be alright.
Neil hugs her and repeats. “everything will be alright”
The newspapers next morning however had a different story. It carried news about suspended ACP Neil Khanna facing probe, much to the shock of everyone at home. Avni in her room.
AVNI: So this is why he was upset. Why, he could have told me. Wonder what happened at his meeting yesterday. Let me call DD.
Shweta downstairs meanwhile…
SHWETA: My son lied to me yesterday. Do Riya’s words have any merit when she said Avni brings bad luck to Neil? No. Can’t be…
She wonders on…
TO BE CONTINUED