AbhiRa FF: Can I Love You? *Ch-3 updated pg7* - Page 3

Originally posted by: imkt

bas mein toh hu toh pyar insaan se Naraz

Kya mujhe ab pata chalega ki aap mujhse naraz kyu hai?

Originally posted by: ishqdinoorhai9

Kya mujhe ab pata chalega ki aap mujhse naraz kyu hai?

Bec sab bhul jaate hai 🤧

Originally posted by: imkt

Bec sab bhul jaate hai 🤧

Hawww... Main kab bhuli?

Originally posted by: ishqdinoorhai9

Hawww... Main kab bhuli?

Sab bhul gaye

Originally posted by: imkt

Sab bhul gaye

Areee koi nai bhula hai... Main toh bilkul nahi... I remember how you use to post one shots and tag me and everyone and how much I enjoyed them 🤗

Acha suno... Abhi Harshad AT#2 par aao ... We are having a new year party there... We will have fun 🥳

Originally posted by: ishqdinoorhai9

Areee koi nai bhula hai... Main toh bilkul nahi... I remember how you use to post one shots and tag me and everyone and how much I enjoyed them 🤗

Acha suno... Abhi Harshad AT#2 par aao ... We are having a new year party there... We will have fun 🥳

Aww so sweet of you 😍 theek hai aati hu

1. It's Life.... Expect the Unexpected

" Find strength in pain." The quote on internet reads but it did not mention till when? Until when she has to FIND strength?! Why can't it come on its own? Because she is tired. She is exhausted. She is worn out. And no, sleep could not cure it. Whom are you kidding? Even sleep evades you.

A tear rolled down her right eyelid both from heavy emotions and hard stare. She made no move to wipe it and why would she? When the thoughts in her mind made it a mission to make her cry. Cry in silence!

As she stared outside her window, taking in the tall buildings, dim lighted street lights, some green while some deciduous tress and the ever so glowing moon- thousands of thoughts, hundreds of scenarios, tens of reality and ever one confession played in her head on loop.

It's like she tapped on her playlist but the playlist consist of only one song and now the touch was not working anymore. And she was left with two options, 1) Continue to listen to the same song or 2) Switch off the phone. But switching off means letting go of the company and who wants it? Everyone wants a company, right? Oh, she not only wanted it... She needed it. Needed to survive.

But if only she knew, letting go was more beneficial because no one deserves a toxic company. If only she knew. If only!

She closed her eyes, letting her thoughts sink in, cutting her bruising heart a little more, messing up with her insane mind and she did not stopped it. You may ask why? It's because it's the only way she can live. Because it's the only way she feel alive!

"Another day passed. Darkness ascended and weaved it's magic. It gave glow to the moon because without darkness one can neither see the glow properly nor appreciate it but was yet called names and it hears all of it in silence. Maybe it's just another trait." She scribbled in her diary.

In the stillness of the night, a paper came alive as a girl who cries herself to sleep wet the pages with the ink.

"Many people fear darkness while some find peace in it. For some it's the sign of bad while others wear it like a crown. But then there are people like me who find both." She smiled as she continued to write, emotions flowing in the form of words.

The ploy of words were hard to play and difficult to win but that's the only way to break her shell.

Darkness: People who are born out of it, does not fear anything.

"Akshara Goenka." She signed off. No -yours truly. No -with love. It was just a name. A name which gave many people chills down their spine was nothing but a bruised girl who was withering away. Slowly and steadily.

*****

He likes night but he was an absolute lover of mornings. It filled him with hope, energy, determination and courage. Till date, he had never missed a single sunrise. And to see it he woke up at 4:30 AM. Just when darkness was descending and the sky started to be a canvas of colours.

He sat at the railing of the window as he took in a deep breath of fresh air. The time period of 4:30 to 6:30 are the only time when he did not have to plastered a smile all the time. The sun had seen all his struggles and had even made his tears shine.

Adjusting the A3 size drawing book on his lap and setting up the paints and brush at the side, he started to alight the sunrise on the paper.

Strokes after strokes, mixing of beautiful colours, entrance of light under the creaks, dry off leaves, lush green trees. He had literally put life to it.

Sunrise: Not only mixture of colours but hope, determination and courage combined.

He wrote it at the end. A constant reminder to his own self. That no matter what happens, dawn will break and a new day will arrive!

-Abhimanyu Birla. He signed off at the end. Muffled sound of a pen against a paint filled paper could be heard.

He looked outside. The sky has turned into a canopy of blue, orange, red and yellow. The mixing of colours resulting into giving it a dark shade of pink.

His coloured filled fingers brushed against his forehead, leaving a stroke of black colour against his creamy skin.

The birds chirped in a distance and his alarm clock goes off.

A tear rolled down but before it could fall down, he saved it in his palms. Closing his fist, he let the tear to get mixed in his skin and evaporate. Because he knew, strength found in pain never lets you down.

Walking back towards his bed, he switched off the blaring alarm. What a routine life, I have! Shaking his head at the absurd thought, he left to the washroom to freshen up.

Well he does have a very very routine life because he knew what's going to happen next but this time around he was unknown. Unknown about the tornado that's going to hit him in some good hours.

After all, it's life. Expect the unexpected!

*****

Akshara felt her eyes dropping as first rays of sun hit her face. Setting her alarm of 8:30 AM, she succumbed to sleep.

The pages of her diary fluttered as the wind touched them. The yellow-brown pages were crinkled with black ink, giving it a warm look. It stopped turning as if they reached their destination.

"I don't sleep at night because I am afraid I won't be able to wake up the next day. So, when the sun rises, it fills me with hope and sleep finally finds its way to me, closing my eyes on it own accord." The wind reads and maybe the words and emotions were so heavily hung around that it stops blowing over.

*****

Abhimanyu climbed down the stairs of his house as he hurried over the dining table for breakfast.

Dressed in black suit and a white shirt with his hair gelled perfectly, a silver watch adorning his left wrist and those perfect polished boots. The side of his mouth twitched, giving the jaw a more sharped look, his lips curved in a sinful smirk at the left and those thick eyebrows made him look devilish look.

His deep eyes held secrets which only unravel in the corners of his heart while the smirk hides more pain than they smile.

"Abhi," the soft whisper stopped him and he felt himself stiffen but the years of practice made sure to not giveaway his feelings for the other person to gauge.

But she is your mother. His heart said in a small terrified voice.

Oh is she? I did not know about it. His mind rolled their imaginary eyes.

He continued to spread butter on his toast, paying no heed to the call. Everytime he heard his name from her mouth, he felt the ache in his chest growing.

"Son," she tried to gain his attention, knowing fully well that it will go down in drain and she had no one to put the blame on. It's her own doing.

His jaw ticked as he heard the tiredness in her voice. It took every ounce of strength from him to not run in her arms and soothe her but just as the thoughts of opening up to her came in his mind, he went numb.

"You are going to London!" It was the conviction in her voice or the pain her eyes, he did not know what but he did not argue.

The reels of past slide in front of his retina and he forced himself to not take a step forward. After all, not taking a step forward is better than taking a step back right?!

Sighing, she turned around to walk back but the voice made her stop, dead in her tracks. Is it the voice or the indifference in it which made you stop, Manjari ? Her mind did not argued with her heart this time because they both were on the same page.

"Do you want to say something important Mrs Birla?" He could not help it. He might have forced his heart to grow cold but he could never ignore someone plea. Someone let alone his own mother. A mother whom he once loved so much.

"Will you only listen to me if I have something important to say?" His mother asked in small voice but he could hear hope in it.

"Listen. That's the thing which I do. I listen to people. It does not matter whether it's small or big, important or not. I just let them speak." She said as she stared ahead, her eyes zeroing at nothingness.

He looked at her shocked because who listen to anything and everything a person say, right? But the question, which bugged him the most was this, "what if the person had hurted you in the past?" His curious self did not help much.

She turned to her right, taking his features into account and smiled. She shook her head at his question.

"You had expected it, did not you?" He stared at her smiling form. After all, it's a sight to behold.

She looked at him, "Honestly speaking, I knew you were going to ask this." She answered. His raised his eyebrows in challenge. She gave him a pointed look.

"Yes, I will listen to them too." She shrugged. He opened his mouth to ask another question when she held up her index finger, stopping him from speaking any further. "Before you ask me why? Let me tell you. I will listen to them because no matter what everyone and everything deserves to be heard. Reacting to it or not is an all together different matter." Her eyes turn dark but before he could read anything in them, the guards were up.

She got up, dusting the kurti of her school uniform, she went away. With no bye's or see ya's.

Shaking his head for even expecting it, he followed suit.

"You did not answer," her meek voice brought him back to the real world.

"I will listen." Words left his mouth on their own. Even before he could (over)think about it.

Her eyes shown with happiness. "Really?!" Manjari asked.

Not the one to back out from his words, he nodded.

She slipped a card towards him. "Can you go and meet this person for me?"

He took the card. It's a business card of a cafe named 'Call of Destiny'.

"Do they need investments? It looks remotely small." He asked, professionalism dripping from his every word and action.

"Well yes and they need some help with the interiors too. So I just thought you can help." She fidget with her fingers.

She is nervous. He noted.

Yes, she is nervous. Her son is talking to her after so long. She waited for his reaction.

"Okay." He exhaled slowly.

Pushing his chair backwards, he stood up. Picking up his blazer, he left with no bye's, no see ya and no take care.

She shook her head, mentally slapping herself for even expecting it.

*****

Akshara was up by 8:15, shutting off her alarm of 8:30, she went to freshen up.

By 8:50, she was dressed in blue faded jeans and white crisp shirt. She combed the tangled tresses of her hair before tying it into a messy bun. Lining her eyes with a single stroke of kohl and clasping the silver colour, Quartz ladies watch on her left wrist, she left the four walls of her room and enter the dining hall where her parents were having breakfast.

Without a word, she slipped onto one of the chairs. Serving two chappatis and mixed vegetables in her plate.

Silence hung around in air, not even the sound of cutlery clinking could be heard.

Sighing, she continued to have her breakfast.

Her head turned at the right side as someone cleared their throat. Looking up she found a man whose hair has now turned grey at the sides and to hide it, he dyed it black, eyes were round, oval shape, nose was long and wide at the sides and lips which when curled in a smile add charm to the face after all, the moustache still has magic left. And who can resist Mr Karthik Goneka dimples?

She shook her head at the thoughts that ran in her mind. She knew the charm her father has but still get in awe of it everytime. On a side note, she shared her nose with her father.

She looked in front and saw her mother having food in silence. Big almond eyes, thin silky hair, long sleek and sharp nose and those thin lips... Mrs Naira Goenka, her mother still look breathtaking beautiful."

You look exactly like your mother." Someone commented.

She used to swell in pride whenever someone said that and even to gushed about it with her mother but now? All of it was all wishful thinking.

On the left side of her mother, her Dad was sitting. Sides of his eyes crinkle when he smile. He still has natural black hair at the age of 60. How? No one knew. His features were more sharp. Big eyes, a long button nose and full lips. His jaw is sharper than a knife. And everyone who had met him had commented on his look. After all, Mr Sanjay Goenka was often compared to Dev Anand in his time.

She remembers throwing tantrums as a child and her Dad fulfilling it sometimes. And when not, he used to make her understand and now?

Thinking about present a tired sigh left her mouth.

"How are you?!" Sanjay asked.

From the corner of her eyes she saw her mother's eyes peeking at her while her Dad stopped eating and now has the full concentration on her.

"Fine," she said.

She saw the fallen faces of her parents when she did not uttered any other word nor asked about their health but she couldn't help herself. The wound may have healed but the scar? The scar still hurts.

Gulping down the water and cleaning her hand in the napkin, she stood up.

Picking her bag-pack which contain her laptop and case files and pocketing her wallet, she left the premises of her house without another word.

*****

Abhimanyu drove to cafe, fifteen minutes past 12 in the noon. He could have send some assistant from his company but he did not know why he did not. It was bizzare you know? Being in the field of business, he had acted more on instincts than on logic and it had brought to him at the position where he is and this time around, he was about to do the same.

Maybe the destiny was really calling him. Who knows, after all?

While Abhimanyu stopped on a traffic signal, Akshara reviewed the cases, jotted down the important points, wrote arguments in her journal in such a way that the person standing in the witness box has to say what she wanted them to.

Taking a sip of her coffee, she relaxed back on her chair.

"This is heaven," she closed her eyes in content.

Her phone started to ring. She attended the call after two rings.

"Yes uncle? Anything important?" She asked, her voice soft and one could read even concern in them.

"Hello, Akshu? Yes everything okay." He said from the other side. Shaking his head at the worried filled tone.

"I just called to inform that, the man was ready to help and he will be here. So I just want you to come over."

"Okay. When is he arriving?" She asked, as her eyes went towards the clock which shows half past twelve.

"He will be here soon. You too come asap." He said as he look around and smile at a customer who just entered.

"I will be there in another five minutes." She told him and cut the call.

She was an organised person hence she did not have to clear her desk and all. gulped her now slightly warm coffee in a go before wiping her lips with a tissue. Pocketing her wallet and taking her phone, she left.

She hurriedly climbed down the stairs and left the premises of her office.

Well you might be wondering why no one asked her anything or stopped her. It's because she is one of the most renowned, a hot-shot lawyer in town. Even senior lawyers fears her and that's what Akshara Goenka is known for. A synonym of fear.

*****

Abhimanyu felt sweat trickle down at the back of his neck as he stepped in a warm, hot sunny arena. The cafe was small just as he expected but it was build in a posh area.

He looked up and in clear bold letters 'Call Of Destiny' was written. The alphabets were written in Perfumerie Script Pro and coloured in brownish-reddish paint. The board was painted brown with leaves and flowers arts drawn on it. Money trees branch hung down with fairy lights around it. It must be looking beautiful in night. When the cafe was in its real form. He mused.

A smile graced his lips. "I liked it."

Wind kissed his face as if telling him about someone arrival. Someone who loved the touch of wind on her face too. The someone whom he loved!

He did not know why or what forced him but he turned around but even before he could see or gauge what happened, he was on the floor. And when he saw the person was when he knew, why falling was this easy!

Akshara who was busy on her phone, typing something furiously before she pressed the send button crashed into a chest which felt like wall which resulted in her foot getting tangled with the person and she falling on top of him.

Her eyes closed as she prepared herself for the scream and even for the sound of her phone crashing and breaking but when none of it happened, she opened them slowly only to gaze into a pair of black orbs which have the power to hypnotize her. Her right hand folded and the only barrier between their bodies, her breast touched his chest while her left hand was around his head, preventing from any serious damage. His hands held tightly clasped around her waist and his eyes held her captive.

As they both gazed into each other eyes, taking account of the erratic heartbeat and unshed tears, winds blows over. Flowers from the Gulmohar tree showers upon them. And it's like, even the sun felt shy seeing the love in their eyes as it hides behind the clouds.

Her phone vibrated which was pressed between their chest breaking the spell they had created

"You!!!!" They both screamed, in longingness or shock they don't know.

Two hearts which only knew how to love the other had finally met but this time as known strangers. Now the tale begins of all the why's, what's and how's.

Woh pehli mulaqat
Woh har takraar
Unn nazron ka takrana
Aur tera palke jhukana
Mujhe sab yaad hai.

(That first meet..
The daily dose of fights
That clash of the eyes
And you lowering your lashes
I remember everything.)

Loved it 😍 looking forward to the next chapter 💕

2. The Stage is Set!

She have been there for people for too long that she forgot to be there for her own self.

She had picked up people but when she fell, she forgot how to stand up.

Being there to wipe the traitor tears of everyone and was not able to let hers flow freely either.

She was caged. In the walls, she build up herself. Had entered the Chakravyuh but just like Abhimanyu does not know the way back.

She was tired, worn out, vulnerable but too broken to let anyone peek inside her facade. Because she feared. She feared the attachments, the relations, the feel of feeling emotions and finally, she fears- Rejections!

So before anyone could reject her, she rejects them. It kept her sane. It kept her going.

Does he know all this? Yes! Can he read it in her eyes? The answer is a big fuking NO!

Because just like every other time, her eyes were guarded. Mind too much in control to let the heart loose.

Oh god, how much he freaking loved this girl. So much to much that he wanted to cage her in his arms and never let go. But he can't and he WON'T. Not unless she wants it herself.

Love should always be about liberating and never caging!

Wo mohbbat hi kya
Jo kaid karna chahe
Par wo prem hi kahan
Jahan uske baahon mein tumhe ghar na mile.

(It's not love if it wants to cage you. But it's also not love if you don't find your home, in the arms of your love)

His love for her was his biggest strength. Because every time the world around him shook, she walked him through.

He never said it in words of how grateful he is and lost the race. In the world of fake diamonds, people could not recognise The Kohinoor!

The smiles everyone saw ; the pain no one reads. Everyone shared words whereas his actions spoke volumes. They were there in joys and celebration, he participated in tears and failures.

They said she was a mess and he just smiled because he loved that mess. His mess! Why and how? No one will ever know.

Weaving dreams with her was like breathing to him but not asking her to be a part of those dreams were the backdrop.

So the inevitable happened! His heart broke. The pieces of which still bites him, hard. The hurt which he never spoke.

Loosing her in all the chaos... He still asks, was it worth it all?

She could still read him like an open book. His eyes still held the same love but this time, it was not shining with love only. They were piercing her with accusations, burning her with fierceness, shredding her with the unshed tears and pricking her as they recites the tale of his hurt, heartbreak and feeling of being homeless.

Maana maine ki tum ne,
Mujhse mohabbat ki thi.
Lekin tum par jaan toh maine bhi chidhki thi na?
Tum toote the mera inkaar sunkar...
Maine ye samjha tha
Lekin main bikhar gayi thi
Aur tumne toh palat kar-
Dekha bhi nahi tha...
Tumhara saath toh sabne diya tha
Aur mera?!
Mera toh hawa ne bhi mazak udaya tha.

(I get it you loved me. But even I was ready to give my life to you. You were broken when I declined your proposal but I was shattered and you did not even dared to turn and look at me. Everyone was there for you and even the wind made fun of me.)

The film of past reeled out from the camera of memories, taking them to a world where they had pain but they were together to sail through hard water.

A tired sigh left his mouth . She closed her eyes in pain.

The weight of their actions and reaction and the result, weighing them down.

She leaned in towards him, his hold on her waist tightens. Their foreheads touched as the breaths got mixed.

For a moment, nothing mattered. Not the pain nor the hurt. Liked the past has ceased to exist. What matters was THEM. Finally be able to be with each other. Enclosed in the arms of the one they always yearned for. A home they always wanted.

A traitor tear rolled down her eyes as she found its shore. The drop shone bright as it rested on his left cheek.

And just how everything that goes up falls, the tranquility of moment get overs.

A car drives by, the honking bringing them back. It felt years had passed by but them to read each other requires only few minutes.

Akshara Goenka knew when he was faking a smile. And their world knows, only Abhimanyu Birla could peek inside her facade.

Akshara tried to get up but her pendent got tangled with the button of his shirt and she again fell on him. Her lips touching his exposed skin.

Heat rushed in their veins. The touch sending electric shudder down their spine.

Abhimanyu felt her trying entangle the pendent, reminders of past hurt- the wounds of which never healed, rushed in.

He touched her shoulders which she shrugged. He bit the inside of his lips to control onto the anger which surged through every cell of his body at her act.

She looked at the lava melting in his eyes. He narrowed his eyes at her.

She huffed annoyingly. He rolled his eyes!

As his hands came in contact with her shoulders, she felt the familiar ache. He pushed her a little away and she balanced herself on her elbows, looking elsewhere as her eyes filled with tears.

Even though, he tried to concentrate on entangling the pendent, he knew the count of every breath she took.

The locket left the button and Akshara got up.

Abhimanyu chuckled to himself. A chuckle of contempt.

A man dressed in dark blue suit, a black striped watched and dark coffee brown men's boot approaches them. Some office files in his hand.

Abhimanyu scrutinized the man with her keen eyes and within a span of 30 seconds, she knew the man has a keen intrest in boxing and weightlifting. The buffed muscles and the tightening of the shirt around his chest, indicating that her theory was right. Ready to tackle the problems but got confused with how to. He bit his inner cheek. But does not really care about the surroundings. Not able to know that someone was studying him was the giveaway.

Confident, smart and sleek.

Why the nervousness then? Thinking it as none of her business, she turned her attention back to Abhimanyu.

Her gaze met his.

Abhimanyu could literally see the wheels turning in her mind as he saw her studying the man who was approaching them. And for a fact, he knew, she knew about the gaze which has stopped on her. So when she turned, he did not backed down to look straight in her eyes... Challenging her! About what?

"Sir?!" The man said with a hint of doubt. "You need help?" He extended his right hand.

She looked away. He won!

Abhimanyu looked at the man and then at the hand. As he slipped his left hand, the man pulled him up. "Thanks Karan!" He patted the shoulder of the man.

"Anytime!" Karan slide of the thanks with a smile.

Oh, that's why he was nervous. Akshara's mouth twisted in a O.

"Umm... Karan, you here?!" Abhimanyu asked, his attention half on Akshara and half on what Karan's saying.

"Sir, you have forgotten the files," he said, extending the files.

As his senses completely returned and his mind got alert with professionalism, they both started talking about the deal as they walked.

Rolling her eyes at her stupidity for waiting for them, she started following them too.

When she was busy berating herself, Abhimanyu suddenly stopped and turned around. Forcing Akshara to pull a break on her heels which almost led her to fall. Keyword: Almost. She managed to balance herself.

Fury danced in her eyes. "What the hell? Why did you stop suddenly?!"

He smirked as he saw the anger shimmer in her eyes. "Because I wanted to!" He shrugged.

Karan narrowed his eyes at his boss. What type of an answer is this?! He furrowed his brows. The last time I remember, Abhimanyu sir does not answer strangers.

She clenched her fist. "I would have fallen down." Akshara breathed between her every word.

"Why would my stopping will result in you falling?!" He cocked an eyebrow. "Were you following me?" The right side of his lips widening a little as it curved up in a sinful smirk.

His boss is playing with words? With a person who was queen of the game, herself?! Karan suddenly felt light headed. It has been only a week since he was working under Abhimanyu but from whatever he had heard from his colleagues, Sir does not know how to smile.

A realisation of the known, dawned on her. Even though she knew what he meant, she did not gave away the hurt.

Releasing the annoyance with a huff, she asked, "Are you Law?"

She saw confusion twirling in his deep black eyes. Eyebrows joining together. "No?" She said with an expression of sympathy but he could see the smirk and challenge in her eyes.

"Then I am, most definitely, NOT FOLLOWING YOU!!!" She pressed each word as she threw a grin his way.

An amused smile curled up his lips. And as she turns away from him, he knew, it's a matter of time before he fell for her, all over again! But this time, the tide has turn, time has changed and so was Abhimanyu Birla. And his way of loving too.

Akshara who was walking ahead, stopped as wind whispers some words to her but before she could understand them, they tinkled away.

Furrowing her brows, she turned to look at him, who stood seven steps apart from her, looking straight in her eyes with determination shining bright and she felt her breath getting stuck in her lungs. Just how it got stuck the first time.

The atmosphere suddenly felt too hot to Karan as two souls dived in each others eyes.

The cafe owner who was waiting for Akshara and even Abhimanyu, came out. The wind chimes which hung on the door, tinkles.

"Oh you guys are here already? I was waiting for you only. Come on, in," he said as he found them all together. Gesturing them with his hands, he opened the door for them.

Smilingly, Akshara entered. Taking in the fresh and homely air the cafe provides her. She felt peace.

More than taking in the surroundings of the cafe, Abhimanyu take in the happiness glowing in Akshara's face and he felt his resolve for not giving in this easily, this time around weaken.

Karan took in the homely feeling the cafe provides but he could not help but muse how aesthetically soothing it is.

In a world where people prefer silences, this place were full of life and people. The chattering were loud but no one seems to mind it instead people were changing tables, exchanging hellos and smiles, elderly people reciting the tale of their younger times or how they found love in an arrange marriage midst all the responsibilities, how their wife supported them. The old couples blushed while some old men and women wiped a tear or two in the remembrance of their spouse.

And his boss who loved silence was basking in the glory of clatters of cutlery. Strange!

The old man lead them towards a corner table, towards more silence area.

Everyone took their seats.

"Ms. Goenka, it's a business meeting, what are you doing here?!" Abhimanyu asked, the mask slipping back in it's position. Professionalism dripping from his every word.

The passion of law ran deep in her veins. "I am seeing the legal forms of this cafe and will be seeing the procedures." She replied with a clipped tone.

Where was the crackling chemistry gone? Karan scratched his head as he looked at the two most professional person.

Professional. Keyword! The theory itself has the answer.

"Okay. Let's begin?" he asked and everyone nodded.

The next few hours were spent in discussing, negotiating, writing the pros and cons. Coffee cups were emptied, pages were filled, brownies, sandwiches and french fries they ate.

"Okay, so when are we starting the work?" Karan asked.

"You guys see the attached building and then decide, when you guys want to start?!" Mr Ketan Mehta, who was the owner of the cafe, enjoined.

Nodding, Abhimanyu and Karan stood up and began walking.

Abhimanyu walked away, clearly knowing that Akshara will not come.

Karan stopped, turning around he asked Akshara, "you are not coming?"

"I have already seen it. You guys go ahead." She smiled at him as he nodded understandingly.

When he reached Abhimanyu, he found him already busy with the work. Taking in the details and turning the wheels of his mind already to turn this old building in a beautiful library. He too indulged himself in work instead of pondering over the equation his boss and Ms Goenka share... Or do they really share or it all of it was just my mind playing games with me?

Karan focus! His heart reprimanded himself.

"Mr. Mehta how do you want your library to be?" Abhimanyu though had a visual, wanted to give the preference to his customer's choice the most.

"My wife used to love books. So much to so much that when after marriage, I was courting her, I proposed her in the very same library. And I want to build this library in the remembrance of her and our love." His gaze was far away as he travelled in the memories of past. Living the most cherished moments of his life.

"What do you love the most?" he asked, as he leaned on a book shelf. Picking a random book from the shelf and just flipping the pages.

She looked back at him and again searched the book. Her fingers tuning a rhythm as they drummed on books.

Smiling to herself, she replied, "Books." Her voice has turned dreamy.

His snapped at her, the husky voice playing ping pong with his teenage harmones.

With her back to him, she continued, "I would love to have my own cozy library. Where diversity of books are present. And I will dive into each one of them, learning from every character that was written. Every action, every reaction and all the results will teach me something. The theories will be proof... " and her voice faded as he started imagining doing these things for her. The moments he will steal between those library session and irritate her by pulling her hairs to seek her attention. A beautiful dream was woven, hoping it would come true one day.

Someone snapped their fingers in front of her face and she came back to world.

"Ms Goenka, where are you lost?" Looking up, Akshara found Karan looking at her with his eyebrows raised in question.

Straightening her back and slipping of to her professional self, she said, "No where." Changing the topic, she asked, "When did you guys came back?"

"Well we are here from the last five minutes," Karan said, his chin up. "When you were lost in someone's world!" He bit the inside of his cheek.

Akshara's eyes snapped to Sameer and a lot was said in the span of 45 seconds. From hurt to dreams, from love to accusations, from patience to fury challenges to challenge accepted!

Just a reaction I needed. Karan let out a loud yes in his mind. He was generally not this observant and he might had even let go of this but for a fact he knew, Akshara Goenka and Abhimanyu Birla were too much in control of their emotions to let anything show to the world. So if you want to know them, you have to look for the minutest of minutest reactions. Because once you miss them, then hard luck bro!

"So we have called the team and discussed the work. We will be signing the deal tomorrow. Since my company will be investing a total of 35% in your Call Of Destiny, cafe + library out of which the ROI will be of 12.5%. Our advertising media will look into the marketing business. And since it's not only investment but also interior designing, you will have to pay for that too. You can do that in installments or if by any reason, you are unable to do that, the ROI we will increase by 2.5% i.e. it will be a total of 15% that month. Am I clear here?!" Abhimanyu started speaking once Mr Mehta was back after attending a customer.

"Yes, I am okay with it. Already my cafe is doing good," Mr Mehta had just started speaking when Akshara raised an objection. "You will be getting profit by releasing the pictures in your magazine too. So since your magazine will gain popularity from the cafe, I need 25% discount for interior designing."

Abhimanyu eyes twitched in irritation. "My magazine is already popular. You do know that I really don't need the cafe to do the honours?" He stated the obvious.

"I agree your magazine is popular but you should know that this cafe is doing pretty good too. We are wanting the investment so that we could hire more helps, give them a good salary so that no customer, even by chance does not feel unattended. And this cafe grows into a big picture. Besides, you must had been to several cafes but this cafe is special? Because of the liveliness, the feeling of coming home, in the crowd, place of full chitter chatter and you still find peace. People will obviously love it and you will gain profit from marketing TOO." She took a deep breath before she continued. "So, it's quite obvious that you cut the cost by 25%."

Karan looked at Sameer who unclenched his fist and let out a whoosh of air.

"I agree." Karan head snapped from Akshara to Abhimanyu so fast that he was glad that he was alive and his neck did not break and fall down.

Akshara grinned. "I will be the one paying for the interior designing."

Abhimanyu faked glared at her. "I always knew you were utter kanjoos!" He mocked her.

"I am better off like a mingy. By the way, thank you so much... For. The. Compliment!" She smiled at him sarcastically.

Always knew?! Mr Mehta scratched his bald head in confusion.

Oh.... You are a genius Karan. You cracked the mystery. They knew each other from before and if you are not wrong, then they also shared a history!!!! His mind rejoiced.

Akshara and Abhimanyu looked at Karan weirdly as he grinned dreamily.

"If your dreams are over, should we leave?" Sameer shook Karan hard that he almost fell down from. Keyword: the most painful word in English dictionary-Almost.

"Shit... It's already 5:30." Akshara hit her forehead. "Uncle, I have to leave. Have some case files to review. See you soon. Take care." Giving a quick hug to Mr Mehta, she flew away like a butterfly.

Shaking his head for expecting a bye or take care for himself, Abhimanyu too left after a word or two with Mr Mehta and Karan followed behind.

While Akshara emerged herself in law books and journals, Abhimanyu revised the deals and reports of his clients and deals. When she wrote an argument, he jotted down the points of negotiations. She took a sip of her coffee, he enjoyed his lemon tea. Her mind wheeled to play the game of words, his brain painted a home for another.

She was immersed in law books; he was busy with scales, pencils, brushes and Canvas.

The clock tick-tocked and soon the wall clock gave indicator of another hour passing.

9 o'clock. Wrapping up the work and keeping the designs safely, he left the premises of his office. And wheeled his car towards his house.

While she too put the books on its right place and sticked the notes, picking her journals and diary, she left with her bag which contained laptop and some other case files.

The clouds thundered and it started raining heavily. The darkness making it impossible to see. Two cars crossed each other as they drives in opposite direction and lightening striked. Maybe even the Almighty cried from seeing two souls always crossing each others path but never meeting.

Akshara looked back... Hoping to find someone or precisely him just as a car passed.

Abhimanyu turned around.... Looking out for her as he felt her near her when the car passed.

They stopped the car but no one dared to come out. Keeping their right fist over their heart, they leaned back on their seats and when the heart beats in sync, they drived off... Towards their respective destination.

If I ever asked to write, I will write on these two souls because they are AN ART, THE ARTIST AND ALSO THE MUSE!

If I was ever asked to write I would write on them because they are imperfectly perfect and so amusingly beautiful ❤

Zimmedari ne bichoda tha
Waqt ne milaya hai
Dil jinke saath mein dhadke hai
Unke manzilon ka milna;
Abhi baaki tha!

(Responsibilities separated them. Time became the cupid. The hearts which beats in synced have time before their destination becomes one.)

***************************************

I don't know anything about business or how the world works there. So everything written here is a part of my imagination and whatever (quarter ka bhi quarter) I have read. So kindly ignore the mistakes.

Hope you liked this update.

Hiii!!

I can sleep peacefully now, because I read such amazing content before my day got over ❤️

Kaafi gehrai, and dher saare emotions, I guess that's what makes our AbhiRa unique, and thanks for bringing that out with your words 💜.

Loved every part and was left wanting for more. Kis taraf jaati hai humari kahaani. I hope the bitterness of the past doesn't overshadow the happiness that awaits in the future.

Hope you'll update soon 🥰