With the drip attached to her vein, all Akshu could feel was numbness.
She was living in a delusion! Akshay never belonged to her! He belonged to Aarti. He always belonged to Aarti. How did she failed to notice this? How did she misinterpreted his care and concern for his love? Yes, he never told her that he loves her. She thought that he liked her but that was not the reality!
Now when she looked back what she felt that, what she interpreted as his love was only his friendship! He was tensed during those days because he was trying to find out what happened to Aarti! From what her mother knew Aarti was a journalist and they met two years back! She was mysteriously killed one day and he somewhat knew who was behind it! As a lawyer and as her lover, he decided to fight for her justice and started collecting evidence. But before he could produce them to court, he was also gone. No, they killed him!
But who are they?
But she knew one thing! She need to find answers for the mystery behind their death! She know that there was no love between . But even then, he was her best friend and Aarti, she gave her life for this unknown truth!
She erased her tear while thinking about all these, and just then Aaru and her maa came into her room.
"You will get discharged today Akshu!"
"You fainted due to the sudden stress and shock. Doctor had advised you to take complete rest for next two days." Naira said while caressing her hair.
Aaru and Naira packed her things and by evening the three of them left hospital and reached home.
Aaru accompanied Akshu to her room.
"Akshu, take rest. I will bring food for both of you!"
"Maa?" Akshu held her hand and looked at with a serious expression. She understood that Akshu want to share something with her.
She sat next to Akshu and Aaru on the bed.
"Who are they? And why did they do that?"
"I don't know much details Akshu. Few weeks back, I got his personal diary from my office room. He often came here for referring my notes right? I still remember that he came here few days before his death. He must have left it then. I knew that he was stressed during those days but only after reading his diary, I got a full picture what exactly happened to him.
Whatever I said to you was based on what I read from his diary and from my own personal investigation! And I also remember few months back the security guard of his apartment told me that someone came there looking for something because the place was a complete mess then!"
"And why did they killed Aarti?"
"She was an investigative journalist! And she was collecting evidence against a mafia group. But before she could expose them she died in a road accident and the autopsy report said that she was drunk! But Akshay was not ready to believe it seems because he knew that she never drinks, especially while driving!"
"Naira maa, what could we do for them?" Aaru asked!
"Nothing much. I talked to some of my friends from police department and from what they have said, both the cases are now closed under the name of accident! I feel so helpless now. He had written down that he have traced the people behind it and also have got enough evidence against them to prove them guilty. But I failed to find them; it was no where in his office or flat!"
"Maybe, they already destroyed them all after they killed him. Now the search makes sense!" Akshu said with a numbness!
"Bacha, we have already lost Akshay but now I can't loose my daughters. They are very dangerous and we don't even know who they are or where they are. So forget all these and move on!" she said with a kind of helplessness.
"Akshu, I think maa is right! They are so powerful it seems!"
"What do you want me to do maa?"
"Just go back to Mumbai! I felt like sharing everything with you but now after seeing you in this state, . . it's better for you to go back with Aaru."
"Maa, you are alone here!"
"Akshu, I have some commitments here; like some pending cases. I promise you that once I settle them, we will shift to London where both of you can continue your studies."
Akshu didn't had the strength to oppose anyone then! So she agreed to whatever her maa said.
Meanwhile, she had asked Naira whether she could see his diary. Naira didn't objected and gave her a box that consisted of his diary, his lucky pendent as well as some of his letters.
"Those letters were for Aarti it seems. And some of them are more like a poem written by him. And you remember this pendent right? He used to wear them all the time. It was among his belongings that the police recovered from the accident spot!
I just place them all together. If you want, just go through them Akshu! You will get a more clear idea about everything! But bacha, once you get a clarity, don't go deep into them. Just try to forget it because as of now, we can't change the reality and these memories will only hurt us further!"
She wanted to go through them but she didn't had the courage to do so. So she just simple placed the box inside her bag.
Aaru then asked her about the return trip, just to change her mood. She thought about it and they decided to stay there for three more days.
* * * *
All those three days, Naira was with them. The three tried to forget all their pain and Naira took them out for shopping. Aaru and Naira was developing a strong between them but Akshu was still in a shock even though she tried to hide it from them.
Meanwhile, on Akshu's insistence, Aaru told Naira about Neil and she promised that if they are serious then she will meet him and discusses about their, marriage with his family!
She thought about talking about Abhimanyu but her mind was in no state to take any decision; especially since she realized that her own mind betrayed her by giving her fake hopes in her past!
* * * *
At airport, Naira hugged Akshu and asked her to take care! Then she talked to Aaru privately while Akshu was busy with taking out the luggage from the car!
"Aaru, I know that Akshu is elder to you! But I am kind of tensed about her current state. Akshay and Akshu were so close since childhood. That's why I thought that she has got the right to know the complete truth behind his death but . . that might have been too much for her. She is a bit down and I can feel that.
So please take care of her, bacha. I don't want her to stay here especially since this place is so connected to Akshay but I can't come to Mumbai too; at least not for now."
"Maa, don't worry. I will take care of her. She will be back to her old cheerful form!" Aaru promised.
Naira hugged her. By that time Akshu came back and both of them took her blessings. Naira saw them going away and she prayed silently for the safety of her kids!
* * * *
"Abhi? Where are you lost man?"
"Ha? Nothing! Actually I was thinking of something. So Aaru told you that they are coming today right?"
Arohi had already informed Neil about how she got to know her relation with Naira and Akshara and also told him about disclosing their affair to Naira. He was kind of relieved to know that she had no objection for the same and also shared the happy news with Abhi.
But Arohi didn't told him about what she get to know about Akshay! She didn't find it appropriate to disclose it in front of Neil, just because he is her boyfriend! If they ever get to knew about it it will be only via Akshu because only she has the right to reveal it in front of them; especially since she knew that Abhimanyu loves Akshara.
"Yaa. They will reach around 4:30! Are you planning to visit them?"
"No actually, I wanted to text Akshu . .like if she is okay with meeting me tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow? Why?"
"Because, I am gonna propose her tomorrow! I have already made all the arrangements and even ordered her favorite flowers and chocolate, exclusively from London" he said with an innocent smile!
"What?"
"Yaar, I know that I love her. So there is no point in hiding my feelings from her!"
"And what if . . "
"Don't! Just don't complete whatever you were going to say!"
"Abhi . ."
"I know that we are born for each other. I can feel that each time I come across her. And I am sure even she is feeling the same for me . So that's it!"
Neil didn't knew what was going to happen tomorrow but just wished that both of them will take a wise decision together!
* * * *
Once they got back, Arohi and Akshu decided to rearrange their apartment after getting fresh. The place was kind of messy due to their absence.
Once it was done, they decided to order food since both of them didn't had any energy left for preparing food.
Arohi was ordering food while Akshu was randomly going through her messages when she noticed his message.
"Did you reached safely?"
"Yaa. All good there?"
"Ya. Everything is fine. Akshu, are free tomorrow?"
"When?"
"6 in the evening?"
"Yaa. But why? Anything serious?"
"No. Actually, can you come with me? I want to discuss something with you!"
"Sure. Where?"
"Just be ready. I will come and pick you!"
"Done!"
She put back her phone and went to her room. Once the food came Aaru called her.
"Akshu, you wanna come for a shopping tomorrow?" Aaru asked her while eating. She just wanted to lift Akshu's mood!
"No Aaru. I am going out with Abhimanyu tomorrow evening! He said that he want to say something."
Aaru almost choked her food and Akshu gave her a glass of water. She asked her if she is fine and Aaru nodded!
"To say what?"
"I don't know. He just asked me to get ready by evening!"
Aaru had a vague idea about what he is gonna say tomorrow and she had no idea how Akshu is gonna respond!
"Akshu?"
"Hmm . .?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything Aaru!"
"What do you feel for Abhimanyu?"
Akshu stopped eating and looked at Aaru who was keenly waiting for her answer.
"I don't know Aaru. He is not like my other friends. When he shared his pain with me all I wanted was to hug him and erase his loneliness. When I am with. . . I don't know what happens to me. That feeling is beyond my senses. Each time, we talk to each other, I feel a kind of relief; a relief that I lost long ago.
I don't feel uncomfortable when he is around me. In fact, if he is with me, I am sure that I am safe and secured. He will never allow any danger to come close to me!
All these . . . I don't know. .I don't feel it when I am with others!"
"You know something Akshu. I also feel the same; the exact same feeling. But only when I am with my Neil!" she said and immediately left the table with her empty plate, leaving behind a stunned Akshara!
"Does this mean, I love . .?
. . .No."
She couldn't accept whatever she was gonna say nor she could believe that she had already given another chance for love in her life!
An another chance in the form of her Abhi!
* * * *
Hi guys, so here is the next chapter.
What will Akshara's response to Abhi's proposal?
Please comment your opinions about this chapter as they are really valuable to me.
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