Abhimanyu stepped downstairs for breakfast. Parth, Neil, Anand, Mahima and Harshvardhan were already seated there. Nishtha had left for school while Shefali had an early meeting. Manjiri had taken Akshara away to the temple for some puja. The staff has set the table with the breakfast Manaksh had prepared before leaving.

Abhimanyu: Good Morning!

Abhimanyu said and sat. The senior Birlas looked at each other before Anand spoke up.

Anand: Abhimanyu! Aaj se Akshara ki leave bhi end ho rahi hai. Aa rahi hai na vo?

Mahima: Haan, subah subah dikhai nahi de rahi...leave ke baad pehle hi din late hona hai kya?

Harshvardhan: Manjiri lekr gayi hai usse puja krne, inki rasme hi khatam nahi ho rahi...Goenkas ki ladki se shaadi krwai hai toh kya unke jaise hi har din koi nayi rasm krte rahenge kya?!

Abhimanyu pursed his lips to control.

Abhimanyu: Akshara nahi ayegi hospital. She will drop her resignation later today and aapme se koi bhi tension mt lena, hospital me department closing mai handle kr lunga..

With that Abhimanyu got up and left. He picked up his helmet and sat on his bike. As he drove off, he sped up a little, hoping the cool air hitting his face would help calm down his anger as he thought about what Akshara had told him last night.

Flashback

Akshara told Abhimanyu whatever she heard between the senior Birlas that day. Abhimanyu looked at his wife. She was maintaining a sober expression with a soft smile indicating she was okay but he knew her more than he knew himself. Her eyes told him she was hurt and this hurt him ten times more.

In a second he sprang up. His veins popping and red eyes were clear signs of the upcoming storm. He was like an alpha wolf now, feeling protective of his hurt mate and ready to rip anyone who dare hurt her. Akshara knew the look too well and rose to her feet too. Abhimanyu was already rushing towards the room's door when she monkey-jumped his back.

His lava like anger met her cool waters. She planted a chaste kiss on the base of his neck and hung to his back like a baby koala.

Abhimanyu: AKSHU! YE KYA KR RAHI HO! Chodo...gir jaogi na...

Akshara: Nahi! pehle tum shant ho jao Abhi..

Abhimanyu: Tum!

Abhimanyu had no choice but to walk back to the bed and carefully lower himself so that she hit the soft surface. Instead of letting go, she held him tighter and whispered sweet nothings into his ears.

Abhimanyu: Akshu bs karo. Shant hone mt kaho mujhe..Kaise ho jaun mai shant?..Koi tumhari capabilities pr, talent pr sawal uthata hai toh mujhse bardash nahi hota...poora hospital tumhare gun gata hai ...sirf ye ghar ke bado ko problem hai...kyu? Aaj sb jawab mangunga..

Akshara: Abhi! Please. Abhi to meri baat bhi poori nahi hui hai...Main apna promise nibha rahi hoon na...kuch nahi chupati tumse...sb jaise hota hai waise hi bata deti hoon...tumne bhi promise kiya hai na apne gusse ko control krne ki koshish krne ki..

Abhimanyu sighed and took deep breaths while his wife kept rubbing her hands on his shoulders. She let go once she noticed his breathing turn normal and got in front of him. Sitting next to him, she said her point of view.

Akshara: Abhi, tum mere liye sbse lad skte ho, jaanti hoon mai...lekin vo humare apne hai..family hai! Tum unhe dhamka kr, dara kr mere liye unke mn me pyaar to nahi paida kr skte na...Tumhari family ab meri bhi hai Abhi aur mai sbka dil jeetna chahti hoon.... Jaise tumne badepapa ka, sabka dil jeeta tha humare rishte ke liye, maine hi uss time dhyan nahi diya ki tumhare case me sb tumhare agey kuch bolte nahi hai, unka point of view to maine jaana hi nahi..

Abhimanyu: Sb pyaar krte hai tumse Akshu...sb! Tum ho hi itni pyaari...pr ye ghar ke bade hai na, inhe kissi ki kadra nahi hai...na kabhi maa ki thi...aur ab tumhare sath...

Akshara: lekin ek poora department kholna bina management ko bataye! Ye baat kissi ko bhi hurt kr skti hai na Abhi. Aur accha hua maine vo sb suna...meri job..mera career sirf isliye hai ki log tumhe naraaz krne se darte hai..

Abhimanyu: Aisa nahi hai..

Akshara: Sach ko juthla nahi skte Abhi... Papa to mujhe wapis hire bhi nahi krte agar tumne vo shart na rakhi hoti...kyu Abhi?

Abhimanyu tried telling Akshu that she is worth everything but Akshara shook her head.

Akshara: Abhi...please meri baat suno...maine kuch decide kiya hai...I need your support Abhi and please tum kissi pr iss baat ko lekr gussa nahi karoge...They are entitled to their opinion, unhone mujhe nahi kaha, apas me baat ki...isko lekr ghar me mahabharat nahi krni..please.

Flashback ends

Akshara's words had stopped Abhimanyu from bursting out but he was also struggling to forget all that his house elders had spoken about his wife. Clenching his teeth, he hit the play button on his watch to give command to his phone. As he waited for the loud rock music to assault his ear drums and drown away his thoughts, he was met with a sweet voice that calmed him down.

' Hello Patidev! Good Morning! Sorry Aise bina bataye tumhare playlist ke pehle song ki jagah apna voice note save kr rahi hoon...Pr tumhari Akshu jaanti hai ki uske shiv ki teesri ankh khulne wali hai..and I am proud of you, mujhe pta hai tumne apna gussa control kiya hoga...Love you Abhi pr ab gusse me bike mt chalana...speed dheere karo...(pause) hmm, better! Ab suno, aaj ki special peshkash-..'

Soon his favourite song in Akshu's voice reached his ears, the melody spreading peace all over him.

'O Kanha....'

Abhimanyu: Kitna acche se jaanti ho tum mujhe...kaise pyaar na ho tumse...

..............................

Meanwhile at Birla House; The seniors were still sitting at the table. Neil and Parth had left soon after Abhi as they didn't want to face the wrath of the seniors which was evident on their faces.

Harshvardhan: Dekha aap sb ne...shaadi tk hi career chahiye tha isse...acche ghar me shaadi ho gayi hai to ab ghar baithna hai isse aur kuch nahi...aisi ladki jo zindagi me age hi nahi bhadna chahti, ye toh nahi chahiye thi mujhe mere bete ke liye..

Mahima was happy on the inside but had to maintain a blank face so she kept quite.

Anand: Tumhe uske hospital ane se issue tha, ab na aane se hai...akhir chahte kya ho? Mujhe to tension ho rahi hai..

Mahima: Kyu? Aap bhi toh us wing ke against they..

Anand: Wing ke against tha, Therapy ke nahi! Akshara ne abhi as a therapist shuru kiya tha, achanak ek poora department lakr uske sir pr de dena, ye kahan ki budhimani hai? Aur itne therapist they kahan hospital me jo ek poori dedicated wing khol di Abhimanyu ne...bs usse surprise dena tha toh consult bhi nahi kiya...Hum samjhate usse practical aspect in sb ka...lekin Akshara ki therapy se patients khush hai...uska hospital chod dene se kahin bura asar na ho..

Mahima: Aisa kuch nahi hoga...kissi tuntuna bajane wale ke chale jaane se patients ke treatment me koi asar nahi hoga...

Anand: Hope so Mahima lekin ye tum bhi janti ho ki therapy was making patients happy and mental peace se recovery better hoti hai...she was helpful to calm down patients a lot of time....pr ab kya kr skte hai...excuse me!

Anand left to get a file form his room.

Harshvardhan: Bhaisahab seedhe hai Bhabhi lekin aap sahi keh rahi ho...uske tuntune se kuch nahi hota...aap sb talented doctors ho hi...uss Akshu ke chale jaane se kuch shaanti hi ayegi...ghar pr to jhelna hi hai usse, km se km hospital me nahi jhelna hoga.....

Saying this, he too left from there.

Mahima: Jo bhi ho, accha hi hai...Manjiri ki tarah ye bhi ghar me rahe...ya kahin camps, NGO me gana gaye...I don't care! Bs Birla hospital se ab door hi rahe..

.............................

Later that day, after coming home. Akshara prepared Abhimanyu's favourite food by her own hands. She had enquired about his schedule from Neil and found out he'd be free. She also kept her resignation letter in her bag and headed out around lunch time. As she reached the hospital, she was greeted by everyone. They congratulated her for the wedding and expressed remorse to see her leave. Abhimanyu had told that the department needs closing as they didn't have enough therapist to run a full-fledged department. As this news was only with the hospital staff, he asked everyone to hush the matter. The little dude who knew about this was long discharged. Akshara only smiled and took everyone's wishes with a simple thank you.

Sometime later, Abhimanyu reached his cabin only to see his wife sitting at his table dozing off a little. She looked up as the door opened and rubbed sleep out of her eyes. She rushed into his waiting arms.

Abhimanyu: Haye! Mai ye bohot miss karunga..

Akshara: bs doctor sahab, milte hi sadu baaten mt kro..

Abhimanyu: Accha! Waise biwi bani nahi ki mere cabin pr kabza kr liya tumne...

Akshara: So? Tum mere ho, tumhara cabin bhi mera...

Abhimanyu: (Smiles) Fair point Mrs Birla..

Akshara: Lunch kre Mr. Birla? I made your favourite!

Abhimanyu's eyes lit up. Akshara loved how he got happy and excited over simple things. Her big scary husband was actually a softy on the inside. Just, he didn't let many people in. She set up a small table and they both began to feed each other.

Abhimanyu: Ye khana to amazing hai Akshu!

Akshara: Thanks Abhi!

Abhimanyu: Aur aaj subah ka idea bhi amazing tha! Ye maine kyu nahi socha.?!!...tumhare pass hota hoon toh ek sukoon mehsus krta hoon lekin ab tumhare aas-pass na hone pr muje duniya ke shor ko bhulane ke liye loud music ki koi zarurat nahi hai...tum apni pyaari si awaaz me recording krna, mai unhe sun liya karunga....

Akshara: Jo hukum...

Abhira smiled and Abhimanyu pulled her in his embrace.

Abhimanyu: I'll miss you Akshu. I already do. Tumhari pyaari baaten, corridor me ate jaate tumhara gaana sunna, surgery ke turant baad tumse milta tha aur sara stress door ho jaata tha...sb bohot yaad ayega..

Akshara: Abhi, mai tumhari life se thodi jaa rahi hoon...Poori zindagi saath hi toh rehna hai hume, forever- humesha! Bs hum kaam same jagah nahi karenge...wrna ghar pr, zindagi ke safar me toh humara sath hai na...

Abhimanyu: Haan lekin mai ek second bhi tumse door rehna pasand nahi krta...upar se doctors ke routine ko to tum jaanti ho na...Same hospital me they tb itna km milte they aur ab...

Akshara: Tb shaadi bhi nahi hui thi Abhi....Ab kuch bhi ho humari shaam aur shubah toh ek saath hi hai na..

Abhimanyu made a face. Akshara hit his chest lightly.

Akshara: Bs ab! Chido mt Chidkuraam ...You know why it's important.

Abhimanyu sighed and did away with his frown. Akshara raised on her toes to peck his nose putting a goofy smile on his face.

Akshara: Better!

Suddenly Harshavardhan entered his cabin. As his door flung open, Abhira parted and looked away. Harshvardhan wanted to roll his eyes at his smitten son but controlled. Akshara seized the opportunity and handed him the resignation.

Akshara: (In mind) Thank you Kanha Ji! Alag se dene jaati to sau sawal krte...Abhi ke samne kuch nahi kahenge..

Her belief was not wrong. Harshvardhan kept his taunts to himself knowing Abhimanyu would not appreciate a wrong tone with his wife. He silently took the letter.

Harshavardhan: Iss resignation ka acceptance tumhe mail kr dunga aaj shaam tk, Abhimanyu can collect the hard copy. Mai bs ye bolne aya tha ki ek surgery line up krni hai..I know tumhara free time hai but vo ek business house ke owner ka-

Abhimanyu: Aap chaliye, Mai aa raha hoon sir.

Harshavardhan nodded and left. Abhimanyu held Akshara's face before meeting his lips on hers. His hands held her hair as he deepened the kiss. Breaking it, he rested his head on hers.

Abhimanyu: Chalta hoon..

Akshara: Bye Abhi..

Akshara whispered softly. He pecked her forehead on more time before leaving. Akshara too left after him. As she walked through the hospital corridor, she thought of all her memories here. Some sweet, some sour. This place was truly special to her.

Akshara: Aise kyu soch rahi hai Akshu. Birla Hospital me job choda hai, lekin yahan aa-jaa toh ab bhi skti hoon... mere Abhi ka hospital hai, kiski majal jo mujhe rokega...

She smiled trying to cheer herself will silly thoughts. 'Ye zaruri tha'

............................

See you next chapter!

Xoxo