Chapter 7

Alia.q

@Alia.q

Epilogue

Akshara, hands on her waist, huffed in exasperation making her bangs fly off her face momentarily. She stood beside her husband, who for the past few hours had been avoiding her like the plague. 

"Chidku kahi ka! Tumhare patients tumhe abhi dekhte toh confuse ho jate ki doctor ho ya panch saal ka bacha." She teased. Abhimanyu only glared at his wife before going back to his fake paperwork. 

"Aur nahi toh kya? Teen ghanto se muh phulaye bete ho ab thora toh rahem khao mujhpar. Matlab itne waqt baad tumhare methi dane wali shakal dekh rahi hu ab toh iski aadat bhi nahi hai." She pulled on his cheeks and shook his head side to side while giggling.

"Akshu! Tum mujhe manane ki khoshish kar rahi ho ya aur chidane ki?" He grunted out in irritation. 

She walked behind his sitting figure and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him.

"Acha ab tum hi batao main kya karu? Jaana zaroori hai na warna tum hi batao main tumhe chorke jhati hu kabhi? Aaru ki sagai hai kaal aur main bas aaj jha rahi hu, matlab bas ek raat ki baat hai na?" She tried again. 

"Shayad tum bhool rahi ho ki sagai Neil ki bhi hai. Hamesha toh bahot devar ki side leti ho aur aaj chali side badalke?" Abhimanyu freed himself from her arms and walked away. 

"Uuf! Neil toh mera samajdar sa devar hai lekin tum Jija-Saali ke beech kaha phas gayi hu main? Wahan jaati hu toh tum roothe ho aur yahan rukti hu toh Aaru ka din mein 10-15 calls aati hai. Abhi toh sirf tum dono ho aur mere paas zara bhi time nahi hota hai, pata nahi aage jha kar kya haal hoga mera!" She complained holding her forehead. 

Seeing her tired and stressed finally thawed out Abhimanyus anger. In the year and a half since they had been married, Akshara had managed to become the very air he breathed. It was always difficult for him to be away from her for any period of time and especially so now but seeing her upset was always more difficult.

"Wahan apna khyal rakhna. Zyada kaam karne ki ya tension lene ki koi zaroorat nahi aur time pe apni dawai lena. Zara bhi laparwai ki toh seedha pick karne pahunch jaunga" he warned.

Akshara quickly ran to hug him and agreed to his every word. With her arms around his neck, she looked at his worried face and sighed.

"Abhi main thik hu. Tum aise karoge toh sabko pata chal jayega na aur humne decide kiya tha na ki sagai ke baad hi hum sabse baat karenge. Please ab toh ek achi si smile ke saath mujhe mere mayke drop karo?" Abhimanyu finally nodded and let out a smile. 

"Aage joh bhi hoga, mere zindagi mein sab se zyada ahem tum hi rahoge. Chahe humari family mein kitne bhi sadasya aaye, sabse zyada pyar tumse hi karunga. Aur ab toh tumhari health ko lekar zyada careful rehna parega kyun ki tum toh khyal rakoge nahi apna" he said tucking her hair behind her ear. 

Akshara smiled and hugged her husband again. She thanked god every day that she had smartened up and fought for him. As they say the best things in life are worth fighting for and Abhimanyu Birla was her very soul. They had celebrated their one year anniversary in an intimate family party and it was clear to see that time had only increased the love they cherished. 

"Tum ho toh main hu. Aur tumhare hote hui mujhe khudka khyal rakne ki zaroorat hi nahi hai. But I promise tumhare sari baatien manungi. Ab chale?"

Hours later Akshara sat on Arohis bed, listening to her excited chatter. When her phone chirped for the 11th time even Arohi had to stop and comment suspiciously.

"Iss baar Jiju kuch zyada hi yaad kar rahe hai tumhe nahi?" Arohi teased. Arohi Goenka, soon to be Birla, was ecstatic. It had taken her months and many attempts to fix her relationship with Akshara but she had not given up. The day she had finally succeeded, the whole family rejoiced. And the icing on the cake was that soon she would be joining her sister in her home as her devrani. 

"Haan haan, tum bhi shru ho jao. Main kuch bol nahi rahi hu iska yeh matlab nahi hai ki maine tumhare phone pe aaye messages ko notice nahi kiya." She warned her younger sister. 

"Aab band karo yeh sab aur so jao warna kal dulhan ke itne bare dark circles dekh ke dulha kahi bhaag na jaye"

Arohi glared at Akshu. "Chamghadar bhaag kar toh dikhayi! Main bhi dekhti hu bhaag kar kaha jayega" Akshu couldn't help her laugh. These two were the weirdest couple ever and no one had expected their announcement. They fought constantly but were always the first to defend each other against others. And the best part of all, Akshara would now have her sister beside her forever. 

A short while later, noticing Arohi was asleep, she grabbed her medicine from her bag and quickly downed it with water. Laying back in bed she sent a quick text before going back to sleep.

"Thank you for the reminder. Main thik hu aur I love you💕 Kaal milte hai" 

Early the next morning, the Goenkas had reached the venue and began preparations. In the bridal suite, a make up artist was working on getting Aaru ready while Akshara ran around preparing the jewellery and clothes. A knock on the door interrupted her search for Aarus dupatta and as she opened the door, a couple of waiters entered the room carrying platters filled with breakfast and fruits. 

"Mam Abhimanyu Sir ne breakfast bhijwaya hai aur kaha hai ki pehla khana phir baaki ke kaam." The waiters set up breakfast before quickly leaving. 

Akshara stood in surprise. She had the best, most thoughtful husband ever and she hoped their relationship would remain this blissful always. 

"Waah Jiju ki toh baat hi kuch aur hai! Jiju ko bolo na ki apne nalayak bhai ko bhi kuch sikha de. Akshu bhook lagi hai, please mujhe bhi khilao" Akshu giggled before preparing a single plate for them to share. As the make up artist began fixing Arohis hair, Akshu continued to feed herself and Arohi. On emptying the plate, she sent a picture of the used plate to Abhimanyu.

"Thank you to the best husband in the world! Waise mera dil toh hai hi tumhare naam, aur kitna dil jeetne wali kaam karoge?" 

Sending the text, she started getting herself ready.

An hour later, Akshu and Aaru all dressed and ready to go waited for her entry time. Akshu was cleaning around the suite while Aaru sat messaging Neil on her phone. As Akshu went to pick up the extra shoes, she stumbled and held her spinning head. 

"Akshu! Kya hua tujhe?" Aaru threw her phone on the couch and ran to hold Akshu steady.

"Kuch nahi! Bas thora chakar aagaya, main thik hu!" Akshara replied hastily. "Please mujhe pani degi?" Arohi helped Akshu sit on the couch before running to the table where Akshus bag sat beside the bottles of water. In her rush to grab a bottle, Arohi knocked down the bag and everything spilled out of it. Arohi look at Akshu who had leaned back on the couch with her eyes closed and decided to clean up the bag later. As she started back towards Akshu, a bottle caught her eye and she froze in fear. 

She thought about how over attentive Abhimanyu had been recently and now Akshara  being dizzy had only added to her worry. Akshara had to be fine she thought but what was this medication for? 

She slowly bent down to check the bottle and as she read the label, a mixture of emotions battled to gain priority. 

"Akshara!" She yelled startling Akshara. "Itni bari baat mujhse chupaye kaise tumne?!" She continue to screech. 

Seeing the bottle in Arohis hand Akshara panicked. "Aaru dekh main batane wali thi lekin socha sagai ke baad bataungi! Please shaant hoja, aaj teri sagai hai..." 

"Tujhse toh main baad mein niptungi." Arohi interupted before determinedly walking out the room. Akshara tried to stop Arohi to no avail. 

Arohi finally made it to the hall where both families stood celebrating. 

"Mujhe aap sab se kuch kehna hai" Arohi announced seriously.

Abhimanyu looked at Akshara questionably. While both families wondered what drama was waiting them this time. 

"Arohi sagai hai teri, aaj ke din aisa kya kehna hai ki aise neeche aagaye?" Bade Ma questioned.

As everyone continued to look at Arohi, the stern, serious face morphed into one of pure joy as she jumped and yelled, "MAIN MASI BANNE WALI HU!!!" 

Everyone stood shocked except Neil who had grown used to Arohis random announcements. 

"Excuse me! Masi nahi Chachi banoge tum!" He argued back before the words actually registered in his brain. 

"Wait kya kaha tumne?!"

Akshara and Abhimanyu stood frozen and wide eyed. This was not how they planned to share the news, especially not wanting to steal the limelight from their siblings. 

Finally as the family understood Arohis words, everyone broke into celebration. Hugs, kisses and blessings were showered on the soon to be parents. 

Amidst the celebration, Arohi and Neils arguing had increased.

"MASI banungi!"

"Nahi Shaadi ke baad toh baby tumhe chachi bulayega!"

As they continued to argue, Abhimanyu and Akshara looked at one another and sighed. Walking to their siblings, Abhimanyu lightly twisted Neils ear while Akshara did the same to Arohi. 

"Issi liye sagai ke baad batana chahte te." Akshara said while the couple pleaded for mercy.

"Tum dono ko sagai karni bhi hai ya nahi?" questioned Abhimanyu.

Arohi and Neil nodded in yes and were finally released. Finally everyones attention was back on the couple of the hour.  

Abhimanyu hugged Akshara and laughed watching Neil and Arohi start arguing again, this time over the rings.

"Maine toh kaha tha batane ko par tum hi nahi maani. Sabko aisa jatka dekar maza aaya?" He whispered to his Akshu.

"Jaan ke thori na kiya maine. Arohi ko mere vitamins mil gayi aur phir usse rokna namumkin tha mere liye. Inn dono ki wajah se toh puri life live entertainment dekhne ko milega" Akshara giggled.

"Woh toh hai" agreed Abhimanyu. "Par in se zyada toh choti Akshu busy rakhne wali hai humein." 

Akshu glared at her husband. "Tumhara matlab Jr. Abhi!" She replied with an overly sweet smile. 

As both couples celebrated and argued the night away, Mimi stood watching the perfect scene. 

"Thu thu thu, nazar na laage mere bachon ko"

———————

Okay now it is officially the end of this story.
😁