It had been a week since they came back from the Maldives. A week back since Abhimanyu had drowned himself in work. Between consultations, surgeries and working on the Children's ward, Abhimanyu was being stretched thin.
He had been working around the clock to the point where he didn't even have time to spend with Akshara.
He was pulling all-nighters, working round the clock —and definitely missing his bed and the woman who warmed it for him.
Just then, a knock was heard on his cabin door. "Come in." He frowned, frolicking through the patient files on his desk.
The door opened and a familiar scent hit his nose. He looked up, a smile of surprise lining his lips. "Akshara?"
"Hey you. I bought us lunch." She held out two lunchboxes and a tray of drinks as she slowly, but surely struggled her way inside his cabin.
Abhimanyu got up from his chair and helped lighten Akshara's struggle by taking the drinks tray from her hand and settling it on his desk.
"You didn't have to bring me lunch. I could have grabbed something from the cafeteria." Liar. He was delighted that she brought him lunch. Ecstatic.
"And miss the chance of seeing your beautiful face?" She grinned, looking up at him with hearts in her eyes.
Abhimanyu felt a blush creep up on his cheeks as he leaned down and captured Akshara's lips in a kiss, making her cheeks flush.
"I miss you." He sighed. In the last 7 days, he had probably spent less than 15 hours with Akshara.
"Me too."
Akshara curled her fingers along his chest as she went on her toes to brush her lips against his, softly, gently.
"Come. Let's eat. So I can get to work." She cleared her throat, trying to not get too carried away by Abhimanyu's presence.
Not to mention their sex life had been lagging behind too. In the last 7 days, they'd probably had sex 1 and a half times. The half attributed to his phone going off
—stopping them midway.
Abhimanyu and Akshara walked to the sofa and table and sat down. Akshara opened up the lunchbox bringing out a variety of food items she had cooked up, leaving Abhimanyu shellshocked.
"Akshara..."
"You weren't home so I got bored and decided to put forth my energy into cooking in my spare time." She explained.
After spending time at the community center, walking into an empty house had been difficult. So evidently, she had channeled all her yearning for Abhimanyu and his touch into cooking. Like normal people.
Akshara plated the food, torn off a piece of bread, dipped it into the semi-dry potato gravy she made and held it up to Abhimanyu's mouth.
Abhimanyu felt the corners of his mouth lip up in a smile before he opened his mouth wide, letting her feed him. Abhimanyu was quick to lick her fingers as they exited his mouth earning a playful glare from his wife.
"Abhi!" She scolded.
"Just making sure I got all the potato gravy." He answered cheekily.
Abhimanyu then grabbed a bit of fried rice on a spoon and held it up to Akshara's lips. Akshara closed her mouth over the spoon and took a bite, feeling overstuffed.
And the cycle continued, where Abhimanyu and Akshara enjoyed their lunch. Chatting away amidst a sea of giggles, laughter and blushing cheeks.
~*~
After they had finally polished off their lunch, Akshara packed everything back up the way, glancing over at Abhimanyu yearningly.
"I guess it's time to get back to work." She sighed.
"I don't want to." He pouted.
Before, he used to dive head first into his work. Yes, he liked to have fun but to him, his patients and his job meant everything. But now, he was slowly starting to feel a little resentful of his job because it kept him apart from Akshara.
"But I'm here with you." She said, getting up from the sofa and going to sit on the opposite side of his desk.
"You're working today?" His eyes lit up with a huge spark as he got up from the sofa and made his way towards her.
"Yeah! I was called in because they are starting the paint job today. So they wanted me to make the colour palettes for the rooms." She leaned back against the chair, her cheeks turning crimson.
Abhimanyu leaned down and gripped the side rest of her chair, brushing his mouth against hers. "That is the best news I ever heard this week."
Akshara glanced at him shyly as he pressed his lips against hers, capturing her lips in a soulful and wondrous kiss.
Just then, the door to his cabin flung open and Akshara and Abhimanyu both unlocked their lips and turned to face the intruder.
Shreya.
Abhimanyu and Akshara pulled apart from each other as Abhimanyu stood tall. "Shreya. What are you doing here?"
"I am here to borrow Akshara. The painters are looking for her. They want to discuss the colour palettes." Shreya remarked snidely.
Akshara stood up from the chair and and gave Shreya her most charming smile. "Of course. Let's go."
"Do you need me to come with you?" Abhimanyu asked, not trusting of Shreya at all.
"No, I got this." Akshara turned to face Abhimanyu, waving her hand slightly before following Shreya out.
~*~
Akshara flipped through the color palette chips landing on bright colours in the yellows, oranges, reds, blues, greens and pinks family to follow her superhero, Disney, and princess themed decor ideas.
"Are you sure? Don't you think these are too bright. It'll look ridiculous." Shreya commented.
Your face looks ridiculous, Akshara wanted to scream but held herself back.
Akshara did not believe in putting other women down and instead was an avid supporter and cheerleader who loved to hype other women. But it was also women like Shreya who she found excessively annoying which made it hard for her to support all women.
"No. I think since we are building this wing for the children, we need to keep the bright and happy theme. It's more comforting for them." She explained.
Shreya rolled her eyes before scoffing. "Yeah, okay. Whatever. You are in charge."
"Yes, I know." Akshara smiled, feeling her mouth beginning to swell due to the excessive forced smiling.
Even though she had only met Shreya less than 3 times and she already hated her. It was just something in her snarky attitude of hers which grated Akshara's nerves. Shreya was like a vulture, waiting for Akshara to mess up so she could swoop in and yell "Told you so."
~*~
After about 2 hours of trying not to bang her head against the wall due to Shreya's excessive talking, Akshara was on her way back to Abhimanyu's cabin.
As she walked through the busy corridors of Birla Hospital, she came across the half open door to Harshvardhan Birla's office.
Feeling curious, she stepped towards the door, ready to knock, just to say hello only to hear heated words being exchanged.
"You need to tell him." Richa informed Harshvardhsn who sat on his chair, clutching his chest, his face looking drained of colour.
"No! There is nothing to tell." Harshvardhan shook his head, running his hand over his face.
"But why not? He needs to know the truth."
Harshvardhan shook his head, but before he could say anything, he noticed Akshara standing at the door.
"Akshara." He cleared his throat. The desperation and heaviness in his voice disappeared and was replaced by Harshvardhan Birla's original voice, the voice which meant business.
"Is...is everything okay? Are...are you okay?" She asked, shifting her gaze between Richa and Harshvardhan.
Harshvardhan tried to put up his best strained smile whilst Richa looked on, unhappily. "Yes, yes. Why? What made you think anything was wrong?"
Akshara shook her head, unsure how to explain the tension in the room. Something was wrong and Harshvardhan Birla was trying his best to hide it from Abhimanyu.
"I..."
But before she could answer, Abhimanyu walked in and glanced at Akshara, Richa and Harshvardhan standing quietly, tensed.
"Akshara...? Is everything okay? What are you doing here?" Abhimanyu asked, concerned.
"I..." She shook her head, putting on her best smile. "I am fine. I just came to say hello to Richa and Sir." It was a semi lie. It had been her intention to drop in and say hello.
"Abhimanyu. What are you doing here?" Harshvardhan asked, releasing a breath at Akshara's answer, the tension releasing from his body.
Abhimanyu turned to face his father. "I just wanted to let you know that I booked your high profile money making friend in for surgery next week. Just so you don't nag me about it later on."
Abhimanyu then turned to Akshara, smiled and raised his eyebrows in question. She bit her lower lip, shaking her head.
"Let's go?" He asked her.
She nodded her head, turned to give Harshvardhan and Richa a smile before following Abhimanyu out. All the white her mind still preoccupied by Harshvardhan and Richa's conversation.
They were both trying to hide something. Possibly from Abhimanyu. Keeping them in the dark. But what?
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Guys. I have zero motivation to write AbhiRa now. Zero. So I don't even know what I'm doing still writing. I feel nothing.