Hi everyone, thank you for your patience with the story. I'll not bore you with details of what kept me busy and jump directly to the update.

...........

Akshara was stunned. Abhimanyu gently caressed her brow. The slight widening of her eyes made him realise the weight of the words he had said. Did he mean that? Forever?

Ofcourse! His heart answered within seconds.

It was beyond question that he intended to be in her life forever. He did not know if he meant anything else though. He had never seen her in that light. He was his closest friend, someone who knew him the best. He trusted her with his life and loved her. But was he in love with her?

He simply did not know. He did not get time to think about it much either. They could hear loud music coming from the large assembly hall. The party was getting started now. Most teachers would be leaving as kids would stay back for music, food and games. He moved his eyes away from hers that held questions.

Abhimanyu: I will come pick you up later, okay. Enjoy.

While he left, Akshara struggled to compose herself. However, she let her thoughts go as Anisha and her few friends came to her.

Anisha's friend: Wow Akshu di...aaj sbse pretty aap hi lg rahe ho.....agar Miss farewell class 12 se nahi, class 10 se chose hoti to pakka apko hi milta...

Anisha's other friend: Pr dekh lena...Miss Most Beautiful aapko hi milega...

Akshara: Tum log bhi na...

Anisha: Sachii Akshu....aao na, ek picture lete hai...

They click pictures and have fun. As they had said, Akshara was the one who was shortlisted for the title with few others. The selected students were supposed to go through a talent round. Akshara was nervous but she remembered how Abhimanyu always encouraged her. Meeting him earlier had only reminded her of the good things in her life. She sang a wonderful song on friendship. Many students ended up crying and hugging their friends.

Her juniors had rightly predicted, Akshara ended up winning the title. It did make few girls jealous but Akshara was positive and happy. Neil came and congratulated her.

Neil: Akshu, ek aur baat....mujhe aur Anisha ko wapis aane me thoda sa time lagega but pr Bro tumhe pick kr lenge and Goenka house drop bhi kr denge...don't worry about us, hume mere dost ke papa drop kr denge....

Akshara nodded. She went towards the food stall and thought of putting the tiara back but it wasn't fitting properly in her small sling bag so she just folded the sash in it and wore the tiara. She heard some girls whisper.

What a show off!

What an ugly show off! Isse acchi toh mai dikh rahi hoon....!!!

Guys guys! Pta hai I saw our senior today, vo Abhimanyu....

Oo teri!! Bataya kyu nahi....haye, unhe toh kbse nahi dekha...kitne awesome they vo...

Hottest!!! Vo yahan kyu they pr?

Arey unke bhai aur behen abhi bhi issi school me hai...aye honge milne

Tum log bhool rahe ho...ye chipku Akshu unke peeche padi rehti thi...kehti thi bff hai...

Mujhe toh lgta hai unka kuch chal raha hai...mai washroom jaa rahi thi aaj toh dekha tha, swings ke pass ek dum chipak kr khade they...

Pta nahi Abhimanyu ko bhi isme kya dikha....

Desperation...vo bhi maze le rahe hai...

They giggle and laugh. Akshara left angrily. A class 11 guy saw her and offered her water. She took it without looking and drank it. She wiped her angry tears and headed out. She found Neil.

Akshara: I want to leave...

Neil: So soon? ...(sees her face) hey hey!! Are you okay?

Akshara: yeah...just tired...

Neil: O..kay...bhai ko text kr deta hoon mai....10-15 minutes me aa jayenge...is time traffic bhi nahi hota...

While Neil told Abhimanyu that Akshara was ready to leave, she did not want to wait inside and left towards the gate. She found the class 11 guy was coming out too.

Guy: Hii...

Akshara: Hi?

Guy: I am the guy who gave you the water...

Akshara: Okay?

Guy: ....

Akshara looked away.

Guy: Hi.

Akshara turned but did not answer. He walked a little closer than comfortable.

Guy: I thought you were sad...

Akshara: Doesn't matter...

Guy: It does. Such pretty faces should always smile.

He lifted his hand to caress her cheek but she stepped back.

Akshara: shouldn't you go inside.

Guy: Shouldn't you too? Why are you leaving early?

Akshara: Again, doesn't matter.

Guy: You look gorgeous by the way.

Akshara held her head, she was feeling a slight buzzing. Her focus was reducing as well.

Guy: Are you okay?

Akshara: yeah...

Guy: You don't look okay..

Akshara: bs thoda sir dard hai...

Guy: Maybe the drink didn't suit you?

Akshara: (confused) What?

Guy: The one we bought in disguised as water....

Akshara looked at him, more confused now.

Guy: Come on! Don't act like you don't drink...

Akshara: But I drink water, milkshake....sometimes coffee...

Guy: Yeah yeah...

He felt a little bold. He himself was tipsy but Akshara was losing herself more as she drank for the first time and that too a large portion. He grabbed her waist and she pushed him away.

Akshara: The hell you are doing!!

Guy: Oh you are so pretty.....you know I was always jealous of your friendship with our senior...with my classmate Neil...be my friend na Akshuuuu....

Akshara: shut up!! an...d...and...Aksharrra..aa...Akshara naam hai mera...

Guy: But Akshu is cute...like you...

He tried to touch her cheek when a hand grabbed his.

Guy: OUCH!! ABEY-

He looked to see the intruder and it was none other than Abhimanyu. His eyes were angry. The guy gulped.

Abhimanyu: TU KYA KR RAHA THA YE? BOL!!

He twisted his hand and the guy winced in pain.

Guy: Sor..sorry sir...sorry...kuch nahi...

Abhimanyu grabbed his face. He sniffed and realized he was slightly drunk.

Abhimanyu: Daffa ho yahan se....

He turned to see Akshara was leaning. Her eyes were closing and it looked like she was ready to sleep on the floor itself. He pulled her up and she fell forward, resting her head on his chest. She sniffed.

Akshara: Abhiiiiiiiii....

Abhimanyu: (shocked) Akshu?! Tumne pee hai?!

Akshara: Ofcourse! Bina piye koi kaise reh skta hai? It is very imp...imporrtannt....water...good....mmmm...

Abhimanyu: Pani nahi meri maa! Sharab! Alcohol pee hai tumne?

Akshara: haw!! Chi chi chi...never!!!! tum...tum hiccup* soch bhi kaise hiccup* skte ho

Abhimanyu's jaw clenched. He helped Akshara to sit in the car and called Neil. He informed him that his classmates have smuggled in alcohol and were even giving it to juniors. Abhimanyu asked Neil to ensure the junior does not get away with it and drove away.

Akshara: Abhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii...hiccup*

Abhimanyu: Akshu, yahin hoon mai....aram se bhi bol skti hai...

Akshara: tch!

Abhimanyu: Accha bolo...

Akshara: nahi...hiccup*

Abhimanyu: Bolo na...

Akshara: Songs play kro na....

Abhimanyu turned on the music.

...Tere mere beech me kya hai? Chaddar!...

*channel change*

....Meri itni si hasrat hai, gale lg jaa na jaa.....

*channel change*

.......jasbaat ki ye mastiyaan, tera hi hai nashaaa...

*channel change*

Raat ka nasha abhi......

Akshara caught Abhimanyu's hand as he was about to change the song again.

Akshara: BS!!....Kya hiccup* ho gaya hai?

She rolled down the window and hummed along the song, hiccupping in between.

Abhimanyu: Aaj mujhe iske samne ye songs sun kr uncomfortable kyu lg raha hai....?? Kuch kuch ho raha hai...

He shook his head and parked the car in front of a stall. He bought some water & salty biscuits and gave it to her. As first Akshara refused but then agreed only for him. She only drank a little bit of water and ate only one biscuit but since she was not getting any better, he bought her home. Manjiri was stunned to see Akshara in that state but helped Abhimanyu get her into his room without anyone seeing them.

Abhimanyu: Maa, Akshu ki koi galti nahi hai..

Manjiri: Chup! Mujhe bata raha hai!...mai jaanti hoon meri Akshu kaisi hai, tune Neil se kaha na uss ladke ki complaint karne

Abhimanyu: Haan Maa, pr ab iska kya?

Manjiri: Mai Swarna ji ko bol dungi ki Akshu aaj Anisha ke saath rukne wali hai...dono party se late ayenge aur yahi ruk jayenge...aur iske liye Anisha ka koi night suit bhi le aati hoon....tu ruk iske pass tb tk...

Manjiri left and Abhimanyu turned to see Akshara roaming around his room.

Akshara: Abhi!!

Abhimanyu: Haan?

Akshara: Pata hai tumhare bina mujhe tumhare room me ana bilkul pasand nahi tha...

Abhimanyu: Accha?

Akshara: haan, usse tumhari yaad ati thi na...

She said and hugged him. Abhimanyu let her snuggle for a minute before she pulled back.

Akshara: Abhi, hum bffs hai na...

Abhimanyu nodded.

Akshara: Mai tumhe smjhti hoon na?

Abhimanyu nodded.

Akshara: Tumhe mai chipku lgti hoon kya?

Abhimanyu: aaj ye kaisi baate puch rahi ho? Kissi ne kuch kaha hai kya tumhe?

Akshara told him what the girls had said.

Akshara: Mai desperate hoon kya?

Abhimanyu: Akshu, idhr dekho...yahan ao..

He pulled her in his arms.

Abhimanyu: humari story humari hai, sirf humari....hum kaise mile, kaise dost banne.. ye sb log nahi jaante....bohot logo ko weird lagega...ladka college jaata hai, 20 saal ka hai aur iski bff 16 saal ki hai...but Akshu humare is gap se kuch nahi hota...tum batao, tumhe koi aur mujhse zyada samjhta hai?

Akshara paused and Abhimanyu did not realize the breathe he held until he let it out in relief when she slowly said that no one knew her better.

Abhimanyu: Mujhe bhi tumse better koi nahi jaanta .....koi bhi nahi. Meri Gharelu doctor, tum mere liye special ho, sbse special...smjhi na...

Akshara: Thank You!!!!!

Akshara jumped into his arms, feeling really happy. He wasn't prepared for the sudden jump and stepped back to hold her but his leg hit the bed and he fell on it, with her on top of him. Her head was in his neck and he got goosebumps as her breathe hit his neck.

Abhimanyu: You okay baba?

Akshara: Haan...*giggles* sorry...sorry..

She tried to get up and could not balance herself. In the struggle to get up, her pallu came undone on top of him. Abhimanyu's eyes widened for a second as her cleavage and bare waist were in front of his eyes, telling him she was no longer a little girl. He quickly reacted and closed his eyes.

Akshara: (laughs) oops...

She rolled away from him. Her clothes were dishevelled but she was in no state to comprehend. She looked at him and saw he was very still with his eyes closed. She kept her head on his chest.

Akshara: I cannot be without you Abhi....Mere to-be Asli Doctor.....Don't leave me ever...I don't care what others say.

She kissed his cheek and soon her breathing became even. Abhimanyu opened his eyes in shock and saw she had dozed off on his chest. Her plump lips slightly parted and inviting. He gently caressed his cheek where she had kissed. He kissed her cheek too, realizing they were as soft as he thought they were. Without lowering his gaze from her face, he pulled the fabric of her saree to cover her chest and pecked her forehead.

Abhimanyu: I don't know my feelings Akshu, or maybe I am too scared to admit them but I am never letting you go. I meant what I said earlier. Forever.

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

I have chalked out a rough plot for Abhira 2.0 but because there are so many tracks running parallel to it and I want to cover as many as possible, it is not possible for me to write it here in detail. So I can do either of the two things- 1. Publish here but in form of a few part story. 2. Make a separate book for it. 

I feel so many are writing based on the current track, a few part story here itself would do. I will just skip on a few details but it might not be an issue as we've seen them on the show and it would be easy to draw parallels. 

What are your thoughts?

xoxo