Arohi was sitting in the doctors' room. It was common room allotted to most doctors while the senior doctors had their own cabins. She was under another doctor and learning. She was studying a case when the file was taken away from her. She looked up and saw Mahima. Arohi hated this woman with crazy passion. Maybe it was her holier-than-thou attitude or maybe because Arohi saw herself a bit in her, at least her old self.

Mahima: Dr. Arohi, ye case mamuli sa hai. I have referred it to an intern. He will handle it under my guidance. You have to assist Dr. Sinha with a different case.

Arohi: But Dr. Mahima, I have already started with this case..

Mahima: So you want to handle this easy case and not handle the complicated one. Oh well! good for you...mujhe laga shyd MD ki degree se tumme thodi competence aa gayi hogi...Maybe I'll refer..

Arohi: I will do it!

Her taunts worked like magic on Arohi's ego and had the desired effect. Arohi passed the file to the intern who left after that.

Mahima: I will send someone to brief you about it, or maybe you should meet Dr. Sinha yourself.

Mahima too left.

Arohi: (mutters) Moti!...pehle mai bhi toh aise hi mu fulla kr ghoomti thi....mai aisi dikhti thi kya? Thank god! mai junior mahima banne se bach gayi...

Arohi left, pumped up because of Mahima's insult. She saw Abhimanyu standing in a corner. Every time she was near him, she felt awkward. He had forgiven her because he was smitten by her sister but she still struggled to see him in the eye. She would have ruined all their lives if she succeed in her plots to marry him. As she passed by, she noticed he was lost. He was staring at a hall. Arohi peeped over his shoulders and saw Akshara was playing her guitar and standing in the middle. Many patients sat around her and sang with her as she sang something. The soundproof room did not let them hear it but Abhimanyu was still lost in his precious wife's smile.

Arohi: Iski vibe hi alag hoti hai Akshu ke ass pass...kya Neil bhi aisa feel krta hai? Kya mai vo feel krti hoon?

Shaking all these thoughts away, Arohi proceeded to find Dr. Sinha. She found him standing next to another doctor.

Arohi: Dr. Sinha...

Sinha: Dr. Arohi. Mai apko hi bulwane wala tha. Accha hua aap khud aa gaye...let's go to my cabin, I will brief you both together.

They entered his cabin.

Sinha: We had a patient around five years ago. She healed completely from cancer but seems like those cells have made a comeback. She lost all her medical records in a house fire two years ago though. Luckily we maintain duplicate records even of patients who are no longer taking treatment for ten years, so we will find her file in the store. Dr. Arohi please go with a nurse. Baki briefing mai records dikha kr kr dunga...

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

Arohi came out of the store feeling dirty. Though the store was spotless at well, the files in shelves had gathered a lot of dust.

Arohi: Mai clean krke aati hoon, aap ye files mere desk pr rakh do..

The nurse nodded and kept all the lose papers and files at Arohi's desk. As she left, another person entered the room. It was Mahima. She looked around before quickly slipping a single sheet of paper in the files kept at Arohi's desk and left.

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

'And that is it for today...' said a cheerful Akshara. All her patients thanked her and left. She was such a positive person that anyone around could never go untouched by her infectious happiness. As the last person left the room, she turned and began keeping the equipments in their cases properly.

Abhimanyu entered the room soundlessly and locked it behind him. He twisted the stick near the large glass window and made sure the blinds turned, concealing them from the rest of the hospital. He approached Akshara and hugged her from back.

Akshara: Abhi..

Akshara sighed and leaned into his body. Abhimanyu closed his eyes in content and swayed a little with her tiny body caged in his arms.

Akshara: Schedule free hai tumhara?

Abhimanyu: Haan...ek surgery scheduled thi pr patient ke kuch reports me problem hai. Ab vo surgery postpone krni padi...

Akshara hummed. She then broke the hug and turned. Wrapping her arms around his torso, she looked up at him.

Akshara: Maine bhi aaj ka session wrap kr diya hai...kahin bahar chale?

Abhimanyu always loved private moments with her but he loved them even more when she demanded them. He nodded like a happy, eager child. Akshara let out a soulful laugh before ruffling his hair.

Abhimanyu: Nahi...not my hair.

He stepped out of her hold and adjusted his hair again.

Akshara: chidkuraam!

She muttered while rolling her eyes and left the hall, him following behind her.

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

Harshvardhan: Finally bhaisahab! Ek bahu to doctor aa rahi hai..

Anand: Tumhare is obsession ka koi ilaj nahi hai...Shefali Akshara kya bure hai?

Harshvardhan: Arey ab vo family ka hissa hai, pr doctor toh doctor hi hota hai..aur humara apna hospital hai...doctor bahu toh sambhalne ke kaam ayegi..

Anand: Tum khush ho to accha hai...waise Akshara bhi sambhalti hai hospital aur sbse zyada zaruri...vo humare doctor ko bhi sambhal leti hai..

Harshvardhan: (in mind) haan, Abhi ka gussa mere jaise hai...km se km vo handle krna aata hai usse...

Mahima kept quiet during this entire banter. Harshvardhan turned to look at her.

Harshvardhan: Apko kuch nahi kehna Dr. Mahima?

Mahima: Mai kya bolu, waise humare sb bacho me ek Abhimanyu hi medicine practise krta hai...doctor ek beta hai, bahu saari doctor chahiye? ...leave your obsession PHD Doctor.. now excuse me, I have work..

She mocked Harshvardhan. Anand laughed at her truth bomb while Harshvardhan's face turned sour. Mahima left before he could retaliate. She quickly left towards the doctors' room. She spotted Arohi sitting in a corner, nose deep in files.

Mahima: Mujhe pta tha, tum full speed se is case ke peeche pad jaogi, specially after my taunt today..

Mahima felt excited as Arohi picked up a red file next. She was about to open it up when a cup of coffee landed before her. Arohi looked up and saw Neil smile, his own cup in his hand.

Mahima: Isse bhi abhi hi ana tha...

She left, frustrated.

Arohi: Tum? Yahan?

Neil: Haan...suna hai koi apne aap ko over work kr raha hai...

Arohi: Aisa kuch nahi hai ...ye case urgent hai thoda..

Neil: hoga, isliye ek break le lo..

Arohi: Tumhe urgent ka mtlb nahi pta kya?

Neil: pta hai...isliye keh raha hoon, break se fresh feel karogi and better kaam kr paogi..

Arohi nodded and picked up the cup. Lifting it up to her lips, she welcomed the hot liquid. She smiled gratefully at Neil. Both of them lost in their comfortable silence.

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

Abhimanyu stopped the car in front of Akshara's favourite cafe.

Abhimanyu: Maine kahan tha na bike le lene...ab yahan kahan parking hai? Bike to side me lg jaati

Akshara: Lekin Abhi kitni dhoop hai...Mai Aru aur Neil ki shaadi me gandi nahi lgna chahti....Sun se skin me redness ho gayi toh? Aur koi uneven si tanning hui toh bhi mera face dull lagega....Nahi na..

Abhimanyu rolled his eyes at his wife and her cute pout.

Abhimanyu: Accha baba, tum andr jaakr order do....mai car park krke aata hoon..

Akshara went out and entered the cafe. It was run by a really sweet lady and Akshara used to sing there on weekends when she was still in school. She picked her favourite seat near a window at the back that faced a large garden. The moment she sat, someone else did too.

Akshara: excuse me?

Person: Excused!

Akshara: Oh hello! Mr. Aap yahan nahi baith skte. I sat first.

Person: So? We can eat together..

Akshara: Ji nahi! aap jao yahan se..

The man turned and studied her face. Her pretty features gracing her round baby face made her look like an innocent angel. He smiled at her.

Aditya: Hi! I am Aditya..You can call me Adi...Why not eat together beautiful?

Akshara: Hi! I am Mrs. Abhimanyu Birla...waiting for my 'husband'...please leave..

Aditya: No way you are married cutie...mujhse peecha chuda rahi ho?

Akshara: You are frustrating...nahi jaana hai toh baitho yahin..I'll leave..

She got up to leave when the man caught her hand. His large hands dug her soft flesh.

Akshara: Hath chodo mera..

Aditya: Aise ghabra kyu rahi ho..mai konsa kha jaunga...bs saath khane ko hi toh keh raha hoon..

Akshara did not reply. She focused on getting his grip off her. Her frail arms were no match for the large man. His smile grew creepy as he studied the small girl struggling in his hold. They were at a corner seat at the very back and nobody had taken notice of this exchange yet. Something about her looking so fragile and small made him feel like he could over power her.

'OYE!'

The entire cafe shook with a loud roar like shout from the entrance. Abhimanyu had just entered the cafe and when he looked over to his wife's favourite seat, he saw her struggling in another man's grip. He couldn't contain the anger that surged his veins and before he knew it, the entire cafe had stilled. They were looking at his direction. Most of the waiting staff knew him as he was a regular with Akshara who loved the cafe so it did not take them long to figure out his reaction. Everyone who knew them, knew Abhimanyu hated seeing Akshara in even slightest discomfort.

Akshara too had heard him and turned to look at Abhimanyu who marched towards the clueless man. Coming from behind her, he grabbed the man's arms. His grip was so tight that he was forced to open his palm, releasing Akshara. The man stood up angrily.

Aditya: Excuse me?

Abhimanyu: Not excused!

He twisted his arm and kneed the back of his joint causing him to fall flat against the table.

Aditya: Abey tu hai kon?

Akshara: My husband! Dr. Abhimanyu Birla!

Akshara stood proud. To be fair, she did warn this man about her husband.

Aditya: You really do have a husband? I thought mujhe bhagane ke liye jhoot bol rahi ho..

Abhimanyu: So you vision problem as well with your back problem? Chalo, come to Birla Hospital after this. Refer my name, we'll give you a free eye test and refer your appointment with our best Ophthalomologist.

Aditya: What vision issue? And what back issue?

Abhimanyu: This!

He smacked down his back and a loud 'oomph' left the man's mouth. Akshara cringed and closed her eyes.

Akshara: Abhi...please shant ho jao na..

Abhimanyu studied her slightly panicked face and tried to calm his breathing. She moved closer to him and held his hand, drawing small circles with her thumb. The other man groaned and stood up while crying in pain.

Aditya: I'll sue you for this!

Akshara: With what?

Akshara asked him angrily. Here, she was trying to calm her husband from hurting this man further when he was clearly asking for more.

A waiter pitched in.

W: Sir, you were clearly asking for it when you tried to make a move on his wife. Aap jao abhi...bohot saste me bach rahe ho....

The staff moved him out of premises while Akshara stood near Abhimanyu. She knew he was keeping calm only for her sake and her presence was helping it. Abhimanyu took a few deep breaths.

Abhimanyu: I am calm Akshu...chalo kuch order krte hai..

Akshara studied his face. He was smiling a smile that did not reach his eyes. He was still thinking of the incident. Two years of being married to him taught her that anything related to her and Manjiri affected him greatly. Their small smile made him happy like a baby and their slightest sorrow made him turn into a devil. This cafe was and remains one of her favourite place but right now, it would only keep Abhimanyu in a loop, especially when so many people were looking in their direction still. She fixed herself a smile.

Akshara: Hmm...pr mera mood ab kuch aur khane ka hai...

Abhimanyu: Chalo...

The cafe witnessed a strange sight. The man who had just scared the living day lights off a full grown man was now getting dragged out by a tiny human. Oh! Things people do for love!...

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

I have travel plans and tests soon. Super busy weeks ahead so I might not update for a few days but I guess the upcoming wedding will keep our minds off this... EXCITED!🤩

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