MY GIRL NEXT DOOR

CHAPTER 7

The last two days had passed quite normally, contrary to the topsy turvy path her life had taken since the day she met Neil.Avni had been busy with the preparations for the upcoming press release of the book, which was going to be a big event .That would also be the day when she finally meets her boss ,who is fondly referred as AK by his employees and who had coincidentally gone MIA(missing in action) since she joined .Her excitement and enthusiasm refused to die down.Her spirits were at all time high today, first time since she arrived in the city.

It took a single call from an unknown no. to wipe the colour off her face.Her greetings were reciprocated by a known voice.

'' Hello.Shweta here.'' shrieked the voice on the other end.

'' Ji (yes)?'' is all she could manage to say.

'' Aaj sham ko free rehna.Hum log shopping pe chalenge, tu aur main."
(Keep yourself free in the evening.We are going shopping,just you and me. )

" Ji??" Without her expression ,Avni's question sounded more like a confirmation over the phone.

" Ok then, see you at 6 in the evening." Shweta replied cheerfully.

As soon as she got off the phone with Shweta, she dialled the person who was responsible for this mess, Landlord Khanna.After hearing her ordeal ,he suggested to meet they up at his office to which Avni readily agreed.

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As she waited near the reception, while the receptionist checked in with her boss for his availability, Avni's eyes wandered around every nook and corner of the elegant interiors of the Khanna law firm which she labeled as dull and boring in that creative brain of hers.The beige coloured walls were minimally decorated with a few modern art pieces ,which she immediately assumed must have been selected by Mr Khanna's assistant or someone similar.... cause according to her Mr lawyer was too much of a workaholic to take time out for things like these.Even the furniture screamed 'just business'. She had mentally spray painted varying shades of pink and purple on those walls , when a voice broke her creative streak.

" Ma'am , Sir will see you now. First floor , the 3rd door to your left .That's his office. " She smiled politely.

"Thank you " Avni smiled back .

It wasn't difficult to locate his big office with the silver alphabets spelling out his name being the only opaque thing sticking to the transparent glass door.Even before her knuckles could knock on the door , the door flung open with Neil at the other end of it.

Pulling her into an unyielding embrace ,almost immediately squeezing the air out her lungs and making her eyes go wide at the unanticipated welcome.

" Avni ! How much I have missed you today my love." As the words dropped out of his mouth , 'something's fishy' alarm went off in her head , considering that his mother wasn't anywhere in sight.

"Oh ! How ill mannered am I !! " he finally let her loose, but still held her to his side with his arm snaked around her shoulder. That's when she realised that they weren't alone.There was a lady seated in one of the comfortable chairs." Shaina , meet Avni , my girlfriend ,to be fiancee. " he addressed to the lady whose expressions were everything but welcoming.

Avni managed to put on a subtle smile in sync with Neil's introduction of her.

" Avni , this is Shaina , one of the best lawyers of our country and a treasured possession of our firm . "