Abhimanyu was never known for his patience. He was rather known for his straight forward, no-nonsense nature and quick reactions. Anybody who knew him earlier who be surprised to see him now as he stood waiting patiently for his excited wife to end her happy jumps.

Abhimanyu: (laughs) Tum khush ho dekhr mai double khush hoon pr mujhe reason to batao...

Akshara: Abhiii!! Ek awesome news hai...mtlb sure nahi hai...pr baat acchii hai...

Abhimanyu looked at her with a soft expression, encouraging her to go on.

Akshara: Mujhe na Sunrise Hospital se phone aya tha...actually maine weekend pr jo general therapy session diya tha na ek camp me, wahan us hospital ki head counsellor thi...They have opened up full-fledged department for mental health and therapies. She said she liked my work and music/art therapies itne common nahi hai...she is intrigued and wants to meet me tomorrow....I might get a job Abhi...

Akshara hugged Abhimanyu but felt something amiss.

Akshara : Kya hua Abhi? Tum khush nahi ho?

Abhimanyu: Bhak Pagal! Tumhare liye bohot khush hoon...and I am sure vo tumhe hire zarur karenge..tum ho hi itni acchi....pr ab tum dusre hospital me kaam krne lagogi..mai tumse aur km milunga...wahan dusre doctors honge ...

Akshara: Tum na sach me jal-chidkuraam...

Abhimanyu: Ab ye kya hai?

Akshara: Tumhara promotion hua hai...pehle sirf chidte they...ab jalte bhi ho..

Abhimanyu mock glared at her and took her in his arms.

Abhimanyu: Oye!

Akshara: Hoye! ( she winked and blew him a kiss)

Abhimanyu sighed. Akshara held his face and got serious.

Akshara: Accha hai na Abhi...Birla hospital me toh therapist ki job mujhe Taiji ne offer ki thi..aur tum department khol rahe they..I know tum support krte lekin mujhe guide kon krta? Music me tum sirf listener acche ho.. no offence (she teased) ....lekin wahan poora department hai! Socho mujhe kitna seekhne milega...counselling ke baare me, therapies ke baare me..aur dekhna kuch hi dino me mera routine set ho jayega...smile kro chidkuraam, things are looking up...

She gestured him to smile with her fingers and Abhimanyu cheered. He knew this would cause great pleasure to his wife and be good for her career growth. She deserved the world and he was in a rush to get it for her but maybe he needs to let her assemble it herself. He need not remove every obstacle on her path, just be by her side as she removes them one by one.

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

The next day, Akshara left for the hospital to meet the counsellor. As Abhimanyu had predicted, it went great. They did not have a music therapist in their department and heard praises about Birla hospital having a good therapist. Moreover, their department head had first hand seen her work and she was keen to hire her. Akshara was delighted when she saw how big the department was at that hospital. There were so many different therapies and a whole dedicated wing to mental health. She knew instantly that she'd gain just as much as she could give.

Another delightful part was that her working hours were in the first half of the day leaving her a lot of time to dedicate at home and academy. They explained her the whole contract and told her to start from next week, expecting a response in two days.

Akshara rushed to Birla hospital to break the news to Abhimanyu but her husband was busy in the OT. She waited for him for an hour but decided to leave seeing he wouldn't be free anytime soon. As she was heading out, she banged into someone.

Akshara: So-sorry!

Person: Watch it!

Akshara: Excuse me?

Akshara stared at the girl who must a little older than her, probably late twenties, looking at her with a bored expression.

Person: Excused!

Akshara frowned at the rude person in front of her but turned and left.

Akshara: Pta nahi kon hai? Mujhe kya? Aisi ladki se aur baat krke mai apna mood spoil nahi krna chahti..

Nurse 1: Akshara Ma'am!

Akshara turned to see a young nurse who loved attending her sessions when she worked here. Akshara smiled at her warmly.

Akshara: Asha di! Kaise ho aap?

Nurse 1: Apko bohot miss krte hai ma'am! Sir bhi...aap hospital aa jao na wapis..

Another nurse who was assigned to her at the time of her accident also spoke.

Nurse 2: Haan Ma'am, Dekhiye aap itni acchi hai phir bhi apke apne hospital me bahar se music therapist hire ho rahi hai.. department toh nahi khulega lekin therapy sessions honge...koi Dr. Payal hai..aaj interview hai..

Akshara frowned. This was news to her. It did hurt a little knowing that the hospital did acknowledge the need for a therapist but did not see her fit. She shook those negative thoughts away. She wanted to help people and with her new workplace, she'd be helping more people.

Akshara bid goodbye to the two nurses and left. Reaching home, she found Manjiri and Neil waiting for her. She entered with a sad expression.

Neil: Maa! Bhabhi ka face dekho..lgta hai nahi hua..

Manjiri: Aisa ho hi nahi skta...meri bahu poori dramebaaz hai...dekhna ho gya hoga..

Neil: Bhabhi!!! It is okay. You know what they say, heere ki parakh hr kissi ko nahi hoti...

Akshara faked a sob and Neil started to think of ways to cheer her up. He was panicking thinking about how to cheer her when Akshara took pity on him and laughed out loud.

Akshara: Got you!! Tum jante nahi ho apni bhabhi ke charm ko...aise nahi tumhare bha-

Akshara stopped herself remembering Manjiri was also listening to all she was going to say about her son being smitten. She blushed and looked down. Manjiri laughed and shook her head.

Manjiri: Jaanti hoon mera beta kaisa hai...( she put a loving hand on her head) congratulations beta, khoob tarakki karo..

Akshara hugged Manjiri, overcome with all her love. She loved the motherly vibe she projected at her.

Neil: Wow! Is mauke pr mu mitha to banta hai...mai abhi apki favourite icecream lekr ata hoon..

Manjiri: Aur mai aaj tera favourite khana banaungi..

Akshara: Aap dono kitne sweet ho...haye!! thu thu thu..

Manjiri: (pats her head lightly) nautanki!

Neil: Accha hai na Maa...mere khadoos bhai ki life me kuch to drama aya..

Akshara: Haan lekin koi usse kuch mt batana...maine bataya nahi hai na...vo busy tha..

They nodded in agreement and Akshara rushed to her room, excited to break the news to Abhimanyu.

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

Anand entered the cabin where Harshvardhan and Mahima were discussing something.

Anand: Hadd krte ho...sb apne mn ki kiya kro...mujhse kissi ko kuch dicuss krna hai bhi ya mai sirf hospital me naam ke liye senior hoon...

Harshvardhan: Kya hua bhaisahab?

Anand: Dr. Sharma? Nayi Music Therapist?

Mahima: Haan to isme problem kya hai? Tum hi keh rahe they na ki patients therapy sessions ko miss krte hai...So we were looking for a therapist and hired her ( in mind: and isse Akshara bhi hospital se door rahegi)

Harshvardhan: Haan bhaisahab..and she is qualified too. Better qualified if you ask me..

Anand: Ghar ki bahu jo kaam kr skti hai uske liye bhi bahar ke log hire kiye hai??

Mahima: Tum toh aise react kr rahe ho jaise humne usse nikala hai...usne khud choda na aur humne naya hire kr liya, isme konsi badi baat hai..

Harshvardhan: Exactly! Uss Akshu ko ghar baithne humne nahi kaha tha....waise bhi bhaisahab, bina mehnant ke kuch milta hai na toh keemat nahi hoti....ab jo deserve krti thi usse zyada mila toh ghabra gayi...

Anand: You know what Harsh!? Mujhe lgta hai ki usne tumhari aise hi koi baat sun li hogi aur hospital choda hoga...

Mahima : Please ab baat mt badhao, usne kuch suna hota to abhi tk Abhimanyu ne hospital sir pr utha liya hota..

Anand: Hope karo ye reason na ho phir kyunki otherwise isse Abhimanyu humse door ho skta ha..

Harshvardhan: Aur kitna door karegi ye ladki?

M: Phir shuru ho gaya iska...Abhimanyu tumhare close tha hi kb jo Akshara ne door kr diya? Kuch bhi...

She got up and left, feeling satisfied at shutting up Harshvardhan's mouth yet again. Anand could feel something was amiss that they have not seen yet but set the feeling aside while Harshvardhan mailed the hiring letter to the new therapist who was starting from tomorrow.

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

Abhimanyu rubbed his eyes as he exited the hospital. The work load was high as an accident at a construction site had bought in a lot of injured people. Luckily there were no causalities. He had grabbed a quick bite at the hospital itself. He had called Akshara at that time but she was not picking up his phone. He got worried but a quick call with Neil assured him that his Akshu had had her dinner and was resting.

Abhimanyu: Sorry Akshu! Aaj bohot late ho gaya...tumse baat bhi nahi ho payi..

He reached home and entered his room to find it completely dark which was strange as Akshara did not keep the room completely dark if she was alone. He switched on the light to see that the room was decorated with lots of balloons and roses.

Abhimanyu: Ye sb?

He looked around taking in the room and found his wife sleeping on the couch. She was wearing a light pink saree with a sleeveless blouse. Abhimanyu went and kneeled in front of her. He removed her hair away from her face and caressed it.

Abhimanyu: To surprise plan kiya tha meri methidane ne? Sorry tumhara docman aaj busy tha..

He lifted her with ease and took her to bed. He put the covers on her and carefully removed her jewellery. He stood up and stared at her for a second.

Abhimanyu: Kya karoon? Rehne do? Nahi, its important..

He went in and bought Akshara's makeup remover and gently got rid of the light makeup she had applied.

Akshara: Hmm...Abhi? ( she stirred)

Abhimanyu: Shit! Sorry Akshu...utha diya maine...vo tum so gayi thi makeup ke saath and tumhari skin sensitive hai na toh...

Akshara: Abhi? Kya bole jaa rahe hoo?

Akshara rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and sat. She wrapped her arms around Abhimanyu and leaned into him.

Abhimanyu: Sorry tumhe neend se uthane ke liye...

Akshara: Koi baat nahi...

Abhimanyu: Aur tumhara surprise bhi khara-

Akshara: Shhh...bolte bohot ho tum...hug kar loon sukoon se pehle..

Abhimanyu: Mai toh tumhara hi hoon, jo karo..

Akshara: (Hugs him tightly) I got in Abhi...they gave me the offer letter..

Abhimanyu broke the hug and cupped her face.

Abhimanyu: Congratulations! You deserve it! Isliye ye sb?

Akshara: Haan...

Abhimanyu noticed how his wife was struggling to keep her eyes open and shook his head.

Abhimanyu: Come, let's sleep. We'll celebrate later..

Abhimanyu changed into comfortable clothes to find his wife in lala land already. He took her into his arms and closed his eyes. Letting his fatigue finally get to him as he joined his wife in the same land.

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

One more chapter to go.

Further, I have decided to proceed with the track where Arohi and Neil's wedding is in talks, they won't be married. Thanks for all your opinions!

PS : That track will take some time though!

xoxo💕