Folks! Big question- Are you people not liking the story? Because the number of likes are kinda indicating towards it.
So tell you is there something I should change? I'll try to work upon the suggestions.
Do let me know please, because its a little disheartening.
Anyways, thank you for all the love though. Always more than grateful for that.
Let's get started!
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He glanced at his wrist watch, 7:30 in the evening as he stood outside the hostel.
He knocked on the main gate and was addressed by an elderly man.
"Umm, actually uncle, I am Abhimanyu, I was told that homecooked meals are served here and I just wanted to enquire about that."
The elderly man smiled warmly at him and opened the gate, pointing towards a door he said,
"You are at the right place beta, this way, you can meet Nielima madame inside."
Abhimanyu bowed down respectfully and moved on.
Upon entering he saw a lady, quite an age of his own mother addressing other women to set up the plates and get the prepared meal out on the table to be served.
"How can I help you bete?", the woman asked warmly as she saw Abhimanyu standing at the door.
"Yeah, Hello ma'am, actually Namaste aunty.", he replied to the woman having a cozy mother vibe around.
"Namaste bete and God bless you.", the woman smiled whole heartedly.
"So, I am Dr. Abhimanyu Birla, Sanjoot sir informed me about your homekitchen, well I am here to inquire about that, the charges and all and can I get the meals from tomorrow onwards?"
"The charges and all can be discussed later on, first of all roll your sleeves up and wash your hands, I am bringing a plate for you and when I return I need to see you sitting on the dinning table, it's almost time for dinner.", Maa, his maa was the one who came into his mind after meeting Neilma ma, now he knows exactly why everyone calls her maa.
"Sure ma'am, but I haven't pre-ordered for the meal, I don't want the meals to be shorten up.", he said hesitantly.
"Don't worry we always cook extra food, in case some really good guests like you appear. Also, everyone addresses me as Neilima ma here, you can, actually you should do the same if you want to eat here, and sharing a secret, if I would really like your gentlemanly behaviour as its a girl's hostel then maybe I can give you discounts.", the woman said as if talking to a kid and winked at the last.
He just laughed as he washed his hands in the washbasin. Delhi indeed was a Dil walo ka saher.
As he settled down with his plate on the dinning table with a few more hostelers and outsiders, his attention was caught with a name that was ringing in his head all day today.
"Akira! Thank God that you are finally here. Firstly I'll serve you my garma-garam thappads and then will serve you the dinner.", Neilima ma was yelling at someone standing at the door.
"No, seriously! Tell me what are you? A plant or something? Surviving on sunlight, air and water, does your body functions with the help of photosynthesis.", Neilima ma was angry yet her voice was laced with concern.
His eyesight followed her as she walked towards the door and he turned around to have a glance on the person getting all this taunts and as he anticipated, there she was- Aksh-- Akira.
Bowing her hand down being ashamed and embarrassed, her lower lip plumbed out.
"This girl, this girl tests my patience everyday, your eating habits eats a part of my brain everyday. You didn't had your lunch and had four, just four spoons of poha in the morning.", a little more scolding that she deserved.
"Sorry na mumma.", she poured as honey.
"No time for your sorry, get on the dinning table right now.", Neilima ma reprimanded.
And as she looked towards the table, her already big eyes got even wider with shock as if will fall out of her sockets. He was here, here he was, smiling all amusely and mischievously while looking at her.
Destiny was surely going to check all her patience.
Before she could react, she was dragged near the table with force by her Neelu mumma.
"Hello Akira.", he greeted politely as she stood by the chair next to him.
"Oh, han, meet him Akira, he is Dr. Abhimanyu. Wait a second, how do you know her name, do you both know each other."
"Yes mumma I met him in the hospital, Neeraj uncle introduced us.", but it was true, he might have met Akshara before but today he met Akira.
"And about the name, I learned about it today itself, but remembered it while you were scolding her. Actually, I am also a guest for your hospital for a few days, I am taking over Mr. Deshmukh's case, if you know.", he filled up the space.
"Okay I see, well no more discussions on it right now, both of you get with your food first.", Neilma ma was a sweet authoritative woman.
<>
Neilima ma would have moved out of sight towards the kitchen for a second only when he saw her folding one of the roti in her plate very precisely and moving it towards the chapati bowl.
He was all set to complain to Neilima maa as if they were having a lunch break in school, but before he could, his' beloved ears were being twisted already.
"Ahh, ouch mumma, it hurts.", she pleaded while trying to get her ear free.
"You dare put the roti back in the bowl Akira and you'll face consequences, now get that roti back in your plate, and everything in your plate needs to be finished, the salad, the dal, sabzi and the two rotis which were initially served to you. You know what, it is much easier for me to feed the kids of the nearby orphanage then feeding an grown up baby like you.", this kinda episode between Neilma ma and Akira was quite common in the hostel now.
Everyone uses to address her as Neilima ma, but it was only her who used call her Mumma, maa, Neelu maa, my gul-gulu maa, maate, maate shree, actually whatever was on her mind.
"Okay, okay, I'll eat properly, please leave my ear na my Neelu-peelu, because it will become all Neelu-neelu.", and no one in this entire world can say no to those puppy dog doe eyes of hers.
He was about to strike a conversation with her when a girl with all her energy jumped on his angel.
"Akii! I missed you so much.", Nikita another hosteler hugged her tightly.
And with that amount of force, she chocked on her dinner.
"Here have water.", as Abhimanyu passed her the glass quickly.
"Niki!! How many times have I told you to not do these stunts with me, I don't want to die by chocking on tinde ki sabzi.", Akira complained.
"Accha, sorry sorry, I really needed to ask you something. Did you said yes to Kabeer? Are you going out with him?", Nikita questioned with so much enthusiasm.
With no reply, Nikita frowned.
"Don't tell me you ghosted him! Akii yaar, Kabu is such a nice guy, stop rejecting all the nice people. God knows one day you'll run out of all the nice guys and would have to marry some non-romantic, creep guy."
"Exactly! You should never ghost people, (not like the way you ghosted me anyways).", As Abhimanyu tried to indulge in this conversation.
"My point dude!", Nikita snapped in seconds.
And with that Akira turned to the side to look at Nikita all gauging Abhi.
"C'mon Nik, go on and flirt with him, and be all set to die in your sleep while I press your face with your own pillow.", Akira's devilish side was awake.
"Akira, you didn't answered, please, please, please, go out with him for once, just for me, please, cheesecake wala pleaseeeee.", Nikita pressurised.
"Please say no, please say no.", as Abhimanyu prayed in his head waiting for her response.
She sighed, "Okay fine, tomorrow I'll go with him."
"That's it, I am done, Niki or whatever your name is get me the address of this man, till then I'll borrow a gas cylinder from Neilima ma because I am on my way to burn down this man along with his house."
His chain of thoughts were broken when Neilima maa asked her where she was going and she replied that she is going to feed Laila.
And he also excused himself after thanking for dinner.
He wanted to stay back, talk to her, get to know everything that has happened in the past eight months, why is she Akira now.
"But no she has to feed some Laila now and moreover has to go on a date with some creep-chringe guy, named Kabeer.
Oh what did her friend called him?
Kabu, yeah Kabu!
Well f*ck you Kabu.
Tch! Tch! No Abhimanyu you are a doctor, no cuss words, maa will be very disappointed." As he reminded himself to be a good person.
"Still, I pray you are the most ugliest man ever born in the human history Kabeer." He chanted in his mind.
And that night Kabeer bit his tongue multiple times while having dinner as an unknown man was cussing him with all his heart and he was not even aware of him and also about what his fault really was.
Taking the negative thoughts about Kabeer with him, Abhimanyu moved out only to find her.
There she was feeding a stray dog with her own hands, so that dog was her Laila.
"What a lucky bit*h.", he thought.
What? That's the word for the female dogs, isn't it?
With a smiling face he moved towards his apartment, not before wishing her a good night from far.
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A/N
Hope you people enjoyed this part.
Also, dears it's just a humble request to do drop a like and just let me get a glimpse of your views.
It really helps and is also motivating.
That's all, thank you for reading my story.
Xoxo.