It was the day of Akshara's appointment. Manish and Swarna take her to the Birla hospital where Harshvardhan greets them and gives a formal apology for the mismanagement of the previous day. He takes off leaving them with the nurse who then guides them to the doctor who was supposed to check Akshara.

The little girl just held her grandfather's fingers and kept looking around for the doctor she met before. The one that gave her candy as medicine, the one who looked her brother's age, the one who had a large lab coat and wasn't a complete doctor yet. She couldn't see him and silently followed into the cabin.

Doctor: Hello Mr and Mrs. Goenka. Please take a seat.. (to Akshara) and who is this cute little angel?

Swarna nudged Akshara.

Akshara: Hi...(shly) I am Akshu Goenka..

Manish: Akshara...

Doctor: Hello Akshu, come here...tell me, you did not go to school today?

The doctor kept asking her question to keep her engaged and did normal tests. She then asked her about the day when she was rushed hospital from school. Akshara mentioned how she could not breathe and then got chest pains. She mentioned how a Dr. Abhi checked her.

Doctor: Dr. Abhi?

Akshara nodded.

Akshara: Vo asli doctor nahi hai pr...

Doctor: (in mind) kids and their stories....

The doctor spoke with Akshara in private. She then sent Akshara out to play with the nurse in the children's ward and started talking with Manish and Swarna.

Doctor: I have spoken with her but to understand her better, I need to know what has been happening in her life...

Meanwhile, the moment Akshara entered the children's ward she heard the kids shout.

Kids: Nayi ghodi, Nayi daam...!!

They chanted it a few times before clapping. Akshara looked at the nurse who was already busy with a file and left. A boy her age stepped forward.

Boy: Tum new ho na toh ab tumhari baari

Akshara: ye toh galat hai, mujhe thodi pta tha ki yahan ye ho raha hai..

Boy: Tumhe khelna hai ya nahi?

Akshara nodded slowly. She never had anyone to play with so she definitely wanted to play. She agreed to play.

Boy: Ye patti ankh pr bandh lo aur beech me chalo...hum tumhe ghuma denge aur tum 20 tk count krna...ati hai counting? (Akshara nods) Kuch log already chupe hue hai.....hum sb bhi chup jayenge....chupne ki jagah ye ward, left wala storeroom aur right side me attached hall hai bs...okay? Naam nahi ata toh bs I spy boy ya girl bol dena

Akshara nods and they make her blindfold. She counts and takes it off to find that the kids are all gone. She looks around and sees one of them behind the curtain.

Akshara: I spy boy...curtain ke peeche..

The boy stepped forward in bad mood and climbs his bed.

Boy: I wish koi tumhe dhappa kr de...

Akshara flipped her pigtail away from her face and started to look cautiously. Soon, she almost caught everyone from the ward and the hall. Only the store room was left. She saw the dark room and contemplated before finally entering. She was told she is yet to catch three people. She caught two girls and they ran away to the ward.

Akshara: bs ek aur...

Akshara looked for a long time before getting tired and started to leave when she heard snickering. It was coming from inside a carton box. It was a rather tall box. She pulled a stool and climbed it. She tried to peep inside it and catch the person. Her hands were on the edges and she pulled herself up to peep when she lost her footing and fell into the box.

Akshara: ah!

Abhimanyu: ouch!!!

He rubbed his head. One minute he was trying to hold his laughter thinking he won and the next minute something dropped inside the box with him, hitting him on the head.

Abhimanyu: TUM! YAHAN UPAR SE KAISE TAPKI? GIRNE KA SHAUKH HAI KYA??!

Akshara: You! Chup raho, ye bhi koi chupne ki jagah hai kya?

Abhimanyu: bohot awesome jagah hai...

There was a moment of silence when Akshara's eyes suddenly widened.

Akshara: I spy boy in box! Yayyy!!! Mai jeet gayi!!!

Abhimanyu looked at her in disbelief.

Abhimanyu: B-but!

Akshara made faces at him and he looked away.

Akshara: waise tum kaise khel rahe ho, nakli doctor?

Abhimanyu: Kyu nahi khel skta? Doctor hoon to kya hua, games bhi khel skta hoon...

Akshara: accha pr ye toh batao hum bahar kaise niklenge?

Abhimanyu: kyu? Jaise aayi hai wapis chali jao...ud jao...

Akshara: Abhi!!

Abhimanyu gave her a look.

Akshara: what? I am not calling you Dr. Abhi till you become full doctor..

Abhimanyu felt a little irritated. Usually everyone in the hospital did as he said. He did not like this little girl who defied him.

Akshara: garmi lg rahi hai Abhi, bolo na kaise niklenge..

Abhimanyu: Idhr aao...

He held her hand and asked her to sit next to him in the box. She scooted over and they sat close in the small box. Then they both pushed in the same direction causing the box to fall. Then, one by one, they crawled out of the box. Abhimanyu put it back properly.

Abhimanyu: Yahan mujhe koi nahi pakad pata...meri secret jagah hai, kissi ko mt batana...

Akshara: aur isse mujhe kya milega?

Abhimanyu: Kaise ho tum? Maine tumhari madad ki na...

Akshara...hmmm thik hai, nahi bataungi pr mujhe badle me vo chahiye..

Abhimanyu: Kya?

Akshara: tumhari vo medicine...popins wali..

Abhimanyu: popins nahi hai vo!

He said and gave them to her anyways. She took one out and he stopped her.

Abhimanyu: khane ke baad...

Akshara: oye, doctor mt bano..

Abhimanyu frowned as she took one despite what he said.

Abhimanyu: You-

Suddenly, the door opened and a nurse hurried in.

Nurse: I found her!! and Dr. Abhimanyu aap....aap bhi chalo..

While Abhira had been inside the store, Manish and Swarna had wrapped up their conversation with the doctor. Coming out, they couldn't find Akshara. Nurses ran to find her and got to know from the other children that she never returned from the store. They had checked it but at that time she was in the box and at a glance, they thought the store was empty. It was on the second visit that the nurse found her.

Harshvardhan had come out. He wanted Akshara's appointment to be hassle free. He was angry at the nurse allotted to tend to her while her grandparents were busy. He frowned when he saw she was found with Abhimanyu and scolded him.

Harshvardhan: Kitni baar kaha hai ki ye tumhara play area nahi hai, serious kaam hota hai yahan....you are not a doctor yet! Banna hai toh padhai karo, ye time pass se kuch nahi hoga....You!!

Abhimanyu just kept looking down with angry tears in his eyes. Hardhvardhan controlled his anger as people had started to watch and left after a casual talk with Goenkas.

Manish: Chalo Akshu...

Akshara looked back at Abhimanyu and ran towards him.

Akshara: Bye Abhi...

She shook his hand and smiled. She had slipped a few candies that she had taken from him and ran away towards her grandparents. He looked up and saw her waving at him, with a broad smile. He could not help but smile too. He ate the candy and left towards his uncle's cabin.

..........

Manish informed everyone in the house what the doctor had said. Basically, she thought that Akshara's condition was due to the untimely death of her parents, that too one of them dying in her lap. Arohi's accusations only worsened her state. There was something that was triggering her pains and it was very important that they make Akshara say her side of the story to let her heal from what happened.

Manish also got a call from one of the teachers at school who said Arohi and her friends bullied Akshara at school. Since Arohi was a very bright child in all areas of school and Akshara's sister, she informed the house first hoping they could make Arohi understand. However, they faced a major tantrum from her as soon as they mentioned her behaviour.

Akhilesh: bhaisahab koi aur tareeka nahi hai? km se km Arohi sambhli hui rehti hai, Akshu ki baat krne se vo bhi rone lagti hai..

Manish: koi sambhli hui nai hai vo, chalak ho gayi hai...humari peeth peeche galat krti hai...

Swarna: Aap sahi keh rahe hai Manish ji, Aru bs natak kr rahi hai ghar pr...school me usse mauka mil jata hai Akshu ko tang krne ka...

Akhilesh: shyd badi hokr samjh jaye, abhi umar hi kya hai iski..

Manish: Abhi nahi sudhara toh bade hokr baat haath se nikal bhi skti hai

Swarna: Ji Manish Ji pr hume aisa rasta nikalna chahiye jisse dono ko dukh na ho...kyu na hum Akshu ka school hi badal de?

Manish: aur uske dost bhi cheen le usse? Nahi Swarna!

Swarna: Agr vo school me bully ho rahi hai mtlb uske koi aise dost bhi nahi honge....naye school me nayi shuruat kr payegi...

They all argue but finally reach the conclusion that Akshara's school will be changed.

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

Akshara was disheartened but agreed to what her family said. Her school year would end in a month and after her final exams, she was to get enrolled in a different school.

A month later,

Akshara looked down as she wore a different school uniform and Arohi smirked at her in the red plaid skirt before leaving for her school. Akshara straightened her blue one and Manish dropped Akshara himself as it was her first day at a new school. Akshara was guided to the principal office. The principal sent her for the assembly and then asked a peon to show her to a classroom.

Akshara was welcomed by the teacher. She looked shyly as all the kids looked at her with curious eyes.

Teacher: Welcome Akshara, Everyone, say hello to your new friend.

Children: Hellloooooooooo

Akshara smiled and the teacher allotted her a seat. She felt like an outsider but there is beauty in innocent mind of the kids, they accept easily. They were a bunch of 9-10 years olds. Yes, many ignored her but there were some who accepted her with ease. She felt a little better.

It was the lunch hour when she realized she had thought too soon. The kids ran towards the playground with their friends. Akshara still did not know anyone that well. She walked awkwardly towards the playground. She was introverted child. She tried to spot her class kids when a familiar face caught her eyes. She ran towards the kid sitting alone under a swing.

Akshara: Hi!!!

Abhimanyu looked up surprised. He had never anticipated she'd be there.

Abhimanyu: Tum!?

Akshara: Yep...ye mera new school hai..

Abhimanyu: okay..

Akshara sat next to him. Abhimanyu scooted away awkwardly.

Akshara: Hi, I am Akshara...you can call me Akshu...

Abhimanyu looked at her surprised, he had never really got her name and this is when he realized it. Akshara felt slightly happy meeting a known person. She had missed this nakli doctor and Abhimanyu too missed this little patient even when he did not realise it.

Akshara: Tum khana nahi kha rahe?

Abhimanyu: Bhook nahi hai...

He said and that exact moment his stomach rumbled. Akshara put her hands at her waist.

Akshara: aise pet roar toh bhooke hone pr krta hai...

Abhimanyu looked down and Akshara opened her lunch box to see some poha. She looked at him looking away with some tears. She frowned and opened his lunch box. It had aloo paranthas.

Akshara: wow! Kitna sahi hai lunch hai...tum kha kyu nahi rahe...

Abhimanyu: Ye mujhe nahi pasand

Akshara: Oh...

A second later, she gave him her lunch box.

Akshara: Mujhe toh pasand hai...tum mera lunch box kha lo, I'll eat yours.

Abhimanyu: You don't need to do this for me...

Akshara: Kisne kaha mai tumhare liye kr rahi hoon...mujhe tumhara lunch khana hai pr mera bhi khali nahi chor skti na...please...

Abhimanyu stayed quiet and watched her eat his lunch box before picking up a spoon himself. He ate her lunch box, realizing how hungry he truly was.

In reality, he liked what had been prepared by his mother but he knew why his mother made him a good lunch. His father wasn't a good husband and often lost his temper on his mother. Some days were so bad that Abhimanyu would not be able to sleep hearing his father's shouts. Manjiri, his mother always made him a good lunch to compensate for his sleepless night the next day. This is what his favourite food in his lunch box signified for him- his mother's abuse.

The bell rang and Akshara traded the boxes before leaving. When kids were returning home, Abhimanyu heard his name being called and turned to look at Akshara waving at him. Manjiri, who had come to pick Abhimanyu was surprised to see that her son not only waved back at the little girl but actually let someone else call him Abhi.

..........

What had transpired over an accidental meeting in the hospital and during lunch was a beautiful friendship. It started with meeting everyday for lunch. Then, Abhimanyu started to seek her during period breaks. He did not know why but he loved her company and so did she. Eventually he shared with her why he refused to eat his lunch on certain days. How he only had his mother in the whole world. Akshara told him how she did not even have that. Abhimanyu's lonely heart found another. Together, they healed. Little by little, everyday.

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

Next part would be final :)

xoxo