The Intern

Part 17

This is a mature story. Only read if you are comfortable.

Abhimanyu Birla:

As soon as everything was confirmed with Abhimanyu and Akshara's rishta, Manjiri decided to invite the Goenkas for dinner so Akshu could see her new house and meet her new family. Abhi recently moved to Dehradun, yet his entire family always lived there. With his parents, lived his grandmother as well as his cousin, Neil. Neil was Manjiri's brother's son and after his father passed away and his mother remarried, Manjiri adopted Neil. Abhi's father, Harsh was an only child making Abhi the heir of all the Birla money and with several successful hospitals all over the country and a booming real estate company, there really was no lack of money for the Birlas. His Akshu will live like a queen, just like how she deserved to.

Coming to the dinner was also Manjiri's sister, Mahima and her family. Mahima had two kids, Parth and Nishta. Even though Mahima never got along with Harsh, she was very close to her sister and loved Abhimanyu dearly. Mahima had her own clinic and Abhi was shocked to know Akshu was working there. Akshu was a very capable doctor who was training to become a surgeon when she was in Mumbai. Why was she working at a small clinic? He decided to ask her at the dinner.

Abhi got home early from the hospital and got ready. He was living in a hotel and had plans to move back to Mumbai after the wedding but he agreed to Akshu's condition and moved back with his parents the day before. His mom was delighted and happy to know Akshu made the impossible happen but Abhi hoped he will be able to convince Akshu to move back to Mumbai after a few months. He couldn't stand living with his father but for Akshu, he will do just that.

He looked around his room and decided to make it more welcoming. He had ordered Akshu's favorite candles and lit them up in his room. Akshu was always lighting these candles back in Mumbai as she loved the fragrance. He wanted Akshu to know he still remembered everything and he also wanted her to feel at home. He had also changed the duvet and curtains of his room to lighter colors as he knew Akshu liked her rooms to be light and airy. He placed the little pillows Akshu was a fan of, on his chairs. Lastly, he took out the framed picture that he always took everywhere with him and placed it on his table. It was a black and white picture of Akshu he had taken at a trip to Maldives. She was looking at the camera with the wind in her hair and the smile on her face that always made Abhi weak in his knees. It was his favorite picture of her.

He looked around his room and smiled. The room was now just to Akshu's liking. The only thing missing was Akshu herself. He couldn't wait to have his girl back living with him and he couldn't wait to see her that night. With so many people around, he hoped he will be able to steal a moment with her. He just wanted to hold her in his arms and kiss her. He missed her so much but now she was finally back in his life. His beautiful, precious girl. He just could not wait to start his life with her...and this time, he won't take her for granted even for a second.

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The Goenkas arrived at exactly 7:23 pm. Abhi knew because he kept looking at his watch. Akshu was the last one to enter the house. She looked stunning in a yellow suit. Manjiri made her stop at the entrance for some ritual and Akshu stood there, slightly blushing, tightly holding on to her nephew's hand. Her grandmother told her to let the kid come in so Manjiri can take her aarti but that just made her hold his hand tighter. Abhi knew Akshu loved kids and she was probably very attached to this kid seeing he was her nephew. Even his own mother loved Neil like her own.

Throughout the dinner, Akshu only focused on the kid, never taking her eyes off him, fussing over him, feeding him, ruffling his hair. She jumped and ran to him at every little sound he made and if Abhi was honest, he was starting to resent the kid. Akshu seemed to not see anything beyond the kid and Abhi was desperate for her to look at him at least once.