Timeline- Akshara is almost at the end of second trimester and heading towards her last.

...

Abhimanyu Birla wrapped up his work as fast as possible for a doctor of his name and position. He delegated the remaining work to his team and left for home. On his way, he spotted some fruit-sellers.

Abhimanyu: Akshu ko berries khane ka bohot mn krna hai, lete chalta hoon.

He bought some berries and headed home. He parked his bike in front of the house when he sensed some movement. He sceptically scanned the area and kept the packet on the steps. He looked around and found a man lingering in a corner. He had never seen him before. Abhimanyu went near him and enquired.

Abhimanyu: Tum kon ho?

The man looked at him with wide eyes. He gulped in fear. He had been warned beforehand.

Abhimanyu: Oh hello! Tumse baat kr raha hoon. Kon ho? Yahan kya kr rahe ho?

Abhimanyu felt something hit his back.

Confused, he looked and saw it was basket, hanging! He looked at the man who pointed up. Abhimanyu saw that the man had been standing under his room's window and a basket had been lowered out from it now. He noticed the packet in his hands and snatched it. Bhel Puri!!.. It did not take a sharp man like him to break down what had happened.

'Jaldi Jaldi rakho na bhaiya!! Paisa bhi basket me hi hai..'

He heard the soft and impatient voice of his wife. She tugged the basket and felt it was weightless still.

'kya hai bhaiya! Koi aa jayega... Jaldi!'

Abhimanyu pursed his lips to hide his amusement. He took the parcel from the man and gestured at him to leave. The man nodded and was about to leave when Abhimanyu held him back.

Abhimanyu: (speaks slowly) Aap yahan tk aa gaye they to ye parcel le liya hai maine but next time se iss ghar ki taraf dekha bhi na toh-

Delivery man: Arey kabhi nahi Sir, jaane do.....

Abhimanyu let him go. The man ran away muttering- ' Didi ne toh pehle hi kaha tha ek admi se bachkr rehne...'

Abhimanyu looked up at his window. His wife was still shouting in a low voice for the food. He went and bought the berries parcel. Keeping that instead, he stood there. He saw the basket getting pulled up.

Akshara: Thank You bhaiya!

Abhimanyu winced but stood. After two minutes.

Akshara: Arey ye kiska order de diya!? Wai-

She peeped out of the window and gulped. Her husband stood there with his arms crossed, staring at her with a raised brow. Akshara quietly lowered her head back in and shut the window like a kid hiding away after his mischief had come to light.

Abhimanyu entered the house after that. Manjiri greeted him. It was usual for Abhimanyu to come in early and it made her happy.

Manjiri: Aa gaya? Chal hath mu dho le...Akshu ke bhi shaam ke naste ka time ho raha hai, tum dono saath me kr lena. Lunch ke baad liya hi nahi usne kuch..

Abhimanyu: kaise leti? Iski jagah jo banana thi-

Manjiri looked into the parcel and was surprised to see its content.

Manjiri: waah Abhi!! Aaj tu uske liye ye chaat laya hai...accha hai, kitna man krta hai uska ye sb khane ka.

Abhimanyu: Mai nahi laya maa...apki bahu ne mangwaya tha kissi se..pta nahi kbse kr rahi hai aise.

Abhimanyu told her what had happened outside.

Manjiri: Ab pati toh khane nahi deta, toh yahi sb karegi na..

Abhimanyu: Maa! aap uski side le rahe ho??

Manjiri: Haan toh?! Tu kabhi khane deta hai usse mn ki?

Abhimanyu: I am a doctor! I know what's good and what's not!

He called a staff and asked him to eat the chaat.

Manjiri: Haan haan. Saari doctor-y tumhe hi aati hai, humara experience toh kuch hai hi nahi...waise bhi isme aisa kya hai jo tu alag se usse khane nahi deta? Tamatar, kheera, nimbo- ye sb vo waise bhi khati hai...arey pati hai uska. Usse bahar lekr jaa, ghooma-fira, accha accha khila... Hone wali maa ka khush rehna bhi bohot zaruri hota h.....tu toh doctor bankr peeche hi pad gaya hai uske, pati ka farz kon nibhayega?

Manjiri scolded him and left as well. Abhimanyu looked up and caught Akshara peeping. She quickly went back once she realised he had caught her. He went upstairs, thinking about what his maa had just said.

......

In his room, Akshara was sitting with a cute pout, facing the window. He went and sat on her side. Akshara did not look at him.

Abhimanyu: Akshu?

Akshara: (whines) kya hai?

Abhimanyu: It's not good for you na baba

Akshara: Toh ye baat apne baby ko samjhao. Wahi mangta rehta hai..

She said, dramatically pointing her now bulged out stomach. The bump was small but very evident now.

Abhimanyu: Accha mtlb hum toh ek team me hai na...to usse mana lenge...you don't eat all that bs...accha berries khai?

Akshara gestured with a no. Abhimanyu got up and washed them. Then he fed them to her with his hands.

Akshara: (in mind) socha tha kya khaungi aur kya khana pad raha hai...

That night, after dinner, they went for a short walk in the lawn. After this, Abhimanyu fed her some supplements and milk. They cuddled and slept.

Abhimanyu slept thinking of what his mother had said while Akshara kept thinking of new ways to eat what she wanted. So far, going to Goenka house had failed as Abhimanyu had strictly instructed everyone. If she left the house, he'd somehow know and then trace her. So her plans outside the house always failed and nobody could make her anything Abhimanyu advised against.

Akshara: (in mind) kuch bhi ho, kl toh mai mere man ka kha kr rahungi-

She also slept.

....

Next morning, Abhimanyu told Manjiri that he'd take Akshara for a short trip. Manjiri was excited for them. Abhimanyu told it will be a short trip as he is saving his holidays for after the baby is born. He left for work. Akshara was full at that time as he made sure to feed her proper breakfast before leaving.

Akshara asked for lunch in her room before Manjiri could call her for it. Later, when Manjiri came, she said she already ate as she was hungry before lunch hour. Manjiri took away the empty plated and Akshara faked being tired, pretending to be sleepy. Post everyone left after lunch, she tiptoed downstairs in an ethnic rajasthani attire. She kept the untouched food she hid back in the utensils and covered her head. She left the house.

Akshara: (in mind) Yes! Plan successful Akshu!! Ab ayega na maza!!

She giggled and her eyes went to the various vendors she saw on either side of the road. There was so much her heart desired to eat but she controlled. First, she headed towards the thing jo hath ayi, pr mu na lagi- Bhel Puri! She closed her eyes and relished the taste. She had wanted this kind of food but sadly her husband monitored a lot!

Akshara: Yummm!!! Ye toh ho gaya...ab next kya???

She wondered when a colourful barf ka golla in a kid's hands caught her attention. She looked around for that stall and headed in that direction.

Akshara: Aaj toh teri lottery hi lag gayi hai Akshu!!!

She enjoyed the cool shaved-ice when another aroma invaded her nose and pulled her towards it. As she was eating all this after months of craving, she lost track of time and ate to her heart's content.

.....

Abhimanyu was really excited. He had booked a resort at Pushkar for a three-day trip with his wife. It will be a small get away for her to relax. He was about to drive his bike through Birla gates when he pulled the brakes. Frowning, he stared sideways. A lady, clad in pink ghagra-odhani with a ghoongat over her face was eating golgappas. She was eating it while maintaining the ghoongat.

Abhimanyu: Ye?

He felt like he knew the physique. Moreover, he felt a pull. He saw the lady tsk as she couldn't balance the golgappa, the small plate and the ghoongat. She pulled the fabric a little up and now it ended below her nose. Abhimanyu craned his neck to have a better look. He wished the lady would remove the ghoongat completely.

Abhimanyu: Dr. Birla! Ye kya soch rahe ho?? Akshu ko pata chala na toh maregi. Pr ye hai kon? Shyd mujhe aise hi lag raha hai..

He was about to leave when his eyes zoomed in on her mouth. His eyes widened. He knew that smile separate from a million smiles!

He parked the bike and came out quickly.

Abhimanyu: Ek plate golgappe dena...

Akshara froze in fear as she recognized the owner of that voice.

Akshara: (in mind) shit!! Ye yahan kya kr raha hai???... uff! Relax Akshu...tu toh ghoongat me hai...chill! dheere se nikal jaa bs..

She dumped the plate and pulled the ghoogat down. She started to go through her purse to pull out the money for the vendor who served to Abhimanyu.

Abhimanyu: arey waah bhaiya!! Kya banaya hai..ohoho

Akshara: (mutters) ye dekho....mujhe khane nahi deta aur khud enjoy kr raha hai...nirdayi pati..

Vendor: Arey bhabhiji, aap kahan jaa rahi ho? Abhi toh apne ek aur plate lagane ko kaha tha..

Akshara smacked her head and shook her head sideways. She kept the money of his stall and turned to leave.

Abhimanyu: Bhaiya vo theeka pani dena, aur extra mirchi laga ke..

Akshara: pr tum toh meetha-

She paused.

Abhimanyu: Ah-haa!

He caught her hand and removed her ghoongat. Akshara looked down like a child outside principal's office. Abhimanyu handed some money to the vendor and pulled her inside the house.

...........

It was a comical scene at Birla house. Akshara was sitting on the couch with a very guilty expression. Abhimanyu was standing in front of her with an angry face. Everyone else was standing on the sides looking between the two.

Suddenly, they all burst laughing. Akshara looked up at her family. Gaining confidence, she relaxed a little and joined them with giggles of her own.

Nishtha: Good one bhabhi!!

Shefali: Oh god! What a plan!

Manjiri: Ab Abhi jitni rok-tok krta hai, aise hi planning krni padegi na isse....

Parth: Congratulations! Aaj tumne Abhimanyu ke protection layers bhed diye...

Neil: well done!

Abhimanyu looked at them in disbelief.

Abhimanyu: Excuse me! Galti aap logon ki hi hai...Aap log hi Akshu ko badhawa dete ho! ...

Akshara relaxes completely now thinking Abhimanyu is angry with family, not her.

Abhimanyu: (to Akshara) aur tum! Ye mt socho mai tumhe bhool gaya! Mana kiya tha na! Bahar jaakr pata nahi kya kya khaya hoga ulta seedha!

Manjiri: Beta agr tu itna strict nahi hota to ye bahar jaati hi nahi...mai ghar pr hi acche se bana deti jo iska man krta..

Akshara: Haan Maa! aur maine zyada isliye khaya kyunki maine socha kal ho na ho..

Abhimanyu: Oh fimly bhoot! Aur maa aap iski side mt lo... ek to maine socha ki mai hi galat krna hoon, I should take her out aur aap dekho iski harqat ...chori chupe bahar khaya jaa raha hai...

Parth: Tum dono bahar jaane wale ho?

Shefali: Oh wao!! Kahan pr?

Akshara: mujhe nahi jana Mr. Chidkuraam ke saath kahin bhi..

Abhimanyu looked at her with his mouth open. Manjiri also questioned this. Akshara rose up from her seat and spoke dramatically with her hands waving around.

Akshara: Apne dekha hai isse maa? Ye khao, itna hi khao...vo toh bilkul mt khao...ab chalo...ab so jao..ye dawai lo...parade laga rakhi hai meri...aur aap log nahi hoge toh mai akele kaise jhelungi isse..

Abhimanyu: haw!!! Tumhari aur baby ki hi fikra hai mujhe... isliye kehta hoon.

He sat down with his hands crossed.

Parth: (to Neil) phir chid gaya Chidku!

They laugh softly at him. Akshara said after a minute pause.

Akshara: Waise jagah konsi hai?

Abhimanyu: Tumhe kyu jaana hai? Mere saath toh jaana chahti nahi ho na tum-

Akshara: vo- pr batao toh..

Abhimanyu: Nahi..tum gussa kro...

Akshara: Nahi nahi...vo mai nahi baby ka gussa tha...aur bahar jo khana khaya na, vo bhi mera nahi, baby ka man tha...sachiii...wrna healthy khana toh mera favourite hai..aur junk toh eww, I don't like....ab bacche ne gusse me kuch keh diya toh uski baat ka kya bura manna...haina?? tum batao toh ki kahan jayenge...

Abhimanyu stifled a laugh as he saw his cute wife blaming everything on the baby.

Abhimanyu: Tum to sach me baby hi ho...kya hi bura manu tumhari baat ka..

He stood up and walked closer to her. He cupped her chin. Everyone coughed and he came back to his senses.

Abhimanyu: Vo Pushkar ka plan hai. Teen din ka. Kl subah nikalna hai...wahan kuch activities bhi hai, maine dekha online. I am sure it will be a welcoming break for her.

Akshara: Yay!!!

Everyone else appreciated the plan and Abhimanyu told them that they'd leave early morning. Akshara was about to rush to her room in excitement when he held her and took her in his arms.

Abhimanyu: No running Akshu!

The family awed as they looked at the beautiful couple leave and did 'thu-thu-thu'

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

Next part: Abhira Trip to Pushkar

xoxo