"Akshit, kahan se laut raha hai? Aur yeh kapde bhige kyun hain tere?" My father asked as soon as I stepped inside the house. "I would rather want to not share that with you." I replied, receiving a stern glare from both my parents.

(Akshit, where are you returning from? And why are your clothes drenched?)

"Akshit!" Maa called out when I ignored them and was walking towards my room. "Ms. Govind has been admitted to the hospital. I went to see her. That's it." I said in a cold voice.

"What happened to her?" Maa asked out of worry while my father let out a knowing sigh and uttered, "I had warned you earlier, this relationship can never be happening. It will either end your happiness or end you."

"I don't wanna talk about this, so please excuse me." I said while redirecting myself to my room.

'Why has everything become so complicated all of a sudden?' I was puzzled.

'It has always been this complicated, Akshit. It's just you are realizing it now.' My subconscious mind replied.

'Have I always been this ignorant?' I asked myself. 'Maybe.' I wanted to escape this situation for a while. All the occurings that took place today have punctured and drained a part of me.

I went straight to the bathroom and had a cold shower to ease my strained muscles. I was feeling a bit better after the shower but not completely as I knew there's a lot more to face in the near future than I did today.

With a deep breath, I prayed with folded hands to the one above, asking for strength and support for the battle which was soon going to unfold.

The next day.

"Akshit kahan hai?" My father asked as soon as he came out of his room, dressed in his white coat. "Kitchen mein hai." My mother replied.

(Where is Akshit?

He is in the kitchen.)

"Why? Doesn't he have school today?" He asked curiously. "Actually, he wants to visit Aarohi in the hospital. So, he is preparing breakfast for her and her family." Maa replied in a gentle voice.

"What? Has he not regained his senses after what I told him yesterday? Akshit! Come here, right now!" He pitched his voice and called out. I quietly prepared the breakfast as Maa had already helped me to cut the veggies.

Few minutes later, he called out again. With a sigh, I washed my hands and covered the utensils before going to the living room. "Yes?" I asked simply. He lectured me for almost half an hour.

Even though half of his words were the repetition of 'Leave Ms. Govind' in 10 different ways, I decided to not let myself weaken by his manipulation.

"All done? Now if you please excuse me, I have to deliver this to the hospital." His eyebrows curled furiously. "You're packing your bags, wearing your uniform and going to school right now, Akshit. Right now!" He screamed.

"You've already lost that authority on my life, Mr. Sandeep Choudhary." I replied, prepared to get another slap from either of my parents, but both were taken aback. I went back to the kitchen, and packed the food in a tiffin.

I heard their arguments but I could care less. I put on my earbuds and heated the food once again, so that I can serve them fresh breakfast.

As I completed the work and took out my buds, a silence was spread across the house. Only low sniffles could be heard, which were of my mother's. "Maa!" I rushed to her while she had her head hung low with one hand on his forehead.

"I don't know what happened, but please don't waste your tears for that heartless man." I said as she cried more. "Maa, please matt ro." I said once again. "Akshit, please agree with what your father is saying." She voiced.

(Maa, please don't cry.)

I knew this was going to happen but this soon? Seems like Mr. Sandeep Choudhary has leveled up his play. "Maa, I know why you are saying this but please, believe me. Nothing will happen." I requested while wiping her tears.

"Kuch galat nahi hoga, iski zimmedari meri. Aap bas mujh par bharosa rakho." I said while she nodded her head hesitantly. "Do you want to accompany me to the hospital? Sarika aunty will also feel good." I suggested.

(Nothing will go wrong, I'll take the responsibility. Please trust me.)

She agreed and helped me pack all the food and then we headed to the hospital; not before taking the permission from aunty.

"Even though we could have eaten from the canteen, thank you for this, Mamta ji." Sarika aunty was having a conversation with Maa in the hospital canteen as I was serving them breakfast.

I then served a bowl of fortified cereal meals (as suggested by her nutritionist) for Ms. Govind & headed towards her room.

"May I come inside?" I asked after knocking twice on the door. "Yes." I heard a low voice. "Hi!" I exclaimed, getting inside and placing the food on a stool. "Hi bhaiya." Ayushi replied, standing from her seat as I smiled back.

"How are you doing today?" I asked. "A little better than yesterday." She replied, her voice almost inaudible. "Your voice says otherwise." I remarked.

Ayushi added, "You're right bhaiya, she has been denying to eat anything. At last, Maa used her puppy eyes to feed her fruits, last night." Ms. Govind formed a thin line with her lips.

"Toh yeh baat hai! Aunty toh abhi khana kha rahin hai, toh main aapko breakfast khila dun?" I requested, taking the plate in my hand and sitting beside her.

(Oh, I see! Aunty is having her breakfast right now, so shall I feed you breakfast?)

"Great idea, bhaiya!" She said and left the room in a hurry on receiving a call from someone. "But I don't wanna eat anything." She pouted her lips.

"At least, try a small portion. Please, for me." I gave her that puppy eyes look, and she agreed in a second. I reached the spoon to her mouth as she took a small bite and munched on it.

"How's the taste of my hard work?" I asked, preparing another bite in the meanwhile. "Cereals, bananas aur milk dukan se laye huye hai. Bhala isme aapki mehnat kahan?" She questioned.

(Cereals, bananas and milk are store bought items. Where is your hardwork in this?)

"Haww, aapko meri consideration nahi dikh rahi? So mean, Ms. Govind." I pouted a bit while feeding her another bite. She chuckled before taking the bite and mumbled a low 'Pookie' though I heard it.

(Haww, don't you see my consideration? So mean, Ms. Govind.)

"Don't call me Pookie na, that sounds like a cute name but I'm not cute." I replied. "Well that's because you're cute, my pookie." She called out, making me blush. "Aww, my pookie is all blushy blushy now." She teased.

"Aise kisi abla mard ko chedna nahi chahiye Ms. Govind; banda sharam se mar bhi sakta hai." I joked but she turned all serious and replied, "Hospital k bed pe main leti hun aur marne ki baatein aap kar rahe hain."

(You shouldn't tease an innocent man like this Ms. Govind, that man can even die from shyness.

Here I'm resting on the hospital bed and you are talking about dying.)

"That's not what I meant, sorry." I quickly apologized and that's when we heard a creak of the door opening. "Hi beta." Maa said upon entering while Sarika aunt's eyes searched for Ayushi.

"She has gone to attend a call, aunty." I replied and got up from the stool as I had already finished feeding her food. "Oh okay. And good job, Akshit! You fed Aarohi food?" She questioned, looking at the empty bowl in my hand.

"I ate it by myself, mumma." She replied before I could. But why did she lie? I looked at her while she blinked her eyes twice. I knew she was not at all comfortable letting her mother know about us yet.

"Oh okay. Talk with aunty beta, she has come to visit you." Both our mothers had a conversation with Ms. Govind as I excused myself to the canteen to keep the bowl back in the extra bag I've bought for the used dishes. Also to eat breakfast as my last meal was yesterday's lunch.

There I saw Ayushi in a panicked state. "Ayushi, why are you sweating so much? Is everything alright?" She startled upon perceiving my presence. "Oh, Akshit bhaiya! What are you doing here?" She asked back.

"Well I was here to place these back but you didn't answer my question." I said while showing her the bowl. "Ok, and I don't know. Maybe the AC is not working well." She answered, fidgeting her phone.

"Achha you might have not done your breakfast right? Let's eat together." I suggested as she first denied but eventually agreed.

I texted Maa and she also said that she wants to exchange a few words with aunty and Ms. Govind so I can take as much time as I want.

I asked her to not tell aunty anything about our relationship without Ms. Govind's consent to which she affirmed.

After serving breakfast for both of us, I waited for Ayushi to take the first bite but she kept on fidgeting with her phone and staring at the entrance of the hospital. "Is someone coming to meet you, Ayushi?" I asked.

Her motion abruptly stopped upon hearing my question. "No no, bhaiya. It's nothing like that. Let's eat." She said in one go and had her meal. I was confused but I imitated her action and ate breakfast.

As we were about to finish it, I noticed the panic rise in Ayushi's eyes. "Ayushi, Ayushi." I called out but she didn't reply. Then, she received a call once again and excused herself. "Something's not right."

Before I could trace the steps of Ayushi she was long gone. Still I tried to search for her, now standing at the parking lot.

"Ayushi!" I said out loud but received no response. But when I was going back, she called my name, "Bhaiya, I'm here."

"Are you okay? Why did you rush out as if you saw a ghost or something?" I asked. "Oh, it's nothing. Actually I saw a strict teacher of ours so I went to hide." She replied with a chuckle.

I nodded understanding but I still felt something was off or maybe I was just thinking too much. A moment later we reached Ms. Govind's room where the mothers were still not done.

"Ladies, is the tea not over yet?" Ayushi chirped, making me confused as I don't see any tea with them. "What tea?" I questioned. The 4 of them exchanged looks with each other while my mother mouthed, "He is a bit old school."

I shrugged it off and glanced at Ms. Govind, who was giddily lying on the bed, looking happier than before. 'Feeling well?' I asked her in our secret eye language. 'Feeling great!' She answered, followed by her eye smile.

"Akshit, we shall take our leave now." Maa said as I affirmed and opened the door for her. "Bye aunty, by Ayushi. And see you at school tomorrow, Ms. Govind." I remarked, exiting the room.

Few days later.

"Aree, stop messing with him, yaar." Yukti bhabhi stated. "Thanks Yuku." Manav replied and took his seat. "Yeh galat hai bhabhi, iss gadhe ki side matt lo aap." I added, gaining a joyful chuckle from her.

(This is wrong bhabhi, don't take this idiot's side.)

"Obviously she will take my side, the way Aarohi takes-" Manav shut his mouth as he saw our PE teacher nearing our table in search of him.

"Manav Gupta!" He shouted. "Aaj main mara!" He said and gulped down Yukti bhabhi's Yakult, receiving a good smack from her. "Yes sir." He replied and stood straight in front of him.

"Have you forgotten about your duty as the Sports Captain?" He asked. "No- no sir." Manav stuttered like a kid, making us giggle at the scene enacted before us.

"Then where are the troops for 15th August?" He asked in an angry tone. "Sir, I've already asked juniors to give me their names." He replied like a scaredy cat. When PE sir seemed to calm down, Manav thought he could also ease up.

So he said, "And anyways, it's 25th July today sir, we have a lot of time for Independence Day." His words added fuel to the already enraged sir.

"A lot of time? If that's so then we won't do any practice till August 5 and we'll see how good you can prepare the troop. And if we won't win a prize then you'll face the consequences." He mentioned.

"Sir sir, I was just joking sir. I'll get the troop ready by tomorrow, before lunch." Manav replied as sir nodded and left the canteen. Manav breathed a sigh of relief and get back to his side.

"Haye yeh zalim duniya." He said and placed his head on Yukti bhabhi's shoulder while she patted her cheeks lightly.

(Oh this cruel world.)

"Beta, uth jaa warna PE sir firse aagye toh teri waat lagg jayegi." I suggested as he straightened his back and sat upright.

(Son, wake up otherwise if PE sir will come then he won't spare you this time.)

"By the way, have you really asked for the names of interested students?" I asked. "Itna obedient nahi hun bhai." He replied simply and munched on his samosa. As we all were doing the same.

(I'm not so obedient.)

"And anyways, I'm not scared of PE sir. Like have you ever seen him punish anyone, except the seniors? I'm not afraid of him." Manav uttered, not knowing that the mentioned man was standing behind him.

He gently patted Manav's back and said, "Can you please elaborate?" "Elaborate? What is even there to elaborate about-" Manav zipped up his mouth, already aware about the results of his words.

He quietly got up and asked sir to leave the canteen first and then shout at him because he didn't want to ruin his image in front of his significant other.

'I mean she has known you since childhood gadhe, do you even have an image which might ruin in front of her?' I thought to myself while also apologizing to him as I failed to notice the teacher's presence.

"How did you not see him?" Yukti bhabhi asked. "I was thinking about Ms. Govind, bhabhi. Also, I was busy eating this." I said and took the last bite of samosa.

"Praan jaye par samosa na jaye." She joked and signaled me to go behind Manav and sir to find out if that idiot is alright or not. In the meanwhile, I missed her. Ms. Govind has not come to school for 3 consecutive days now.

But it's fine because she is taking proper rest and completing her diet properly which is why I'm caring a bit less than I always do. Also, thanks to Ayushi, who has been updating about her health.

We then went to save Manav from PE sir's wrath. And thankfully, we reached just on time as we witnessed Manav doing sit ups while reciting, sorry. I couldn't hold my laugh and nor did Yukti bhabhi.

But we quickly went and apologized on behalf of him and took the idiot with us with a promise that he will finish the asked work as soon as possible.

♡

Sushi's note: Hey readers, hope you liked and enjoyed this chapter!

Koi galti hui ho toh batana as this chapter is not edited.

Chapter kaisa laga yeh bhi batana zaroor. Aur reels pe bhi like aur comments kar diya karo yaar, achha lagta hai :)

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