Love Finds Its Way

2. He Was Decent

Abhi reached the company garden at exactly 6.30 pm. He looked for Akshara and found her sitting on a bench at the other corner. She was very simply dressed and her hair were lightly curled. But for Abhi, she was always the most beautiful person. He smiled seeing her and for a second forgot about everything. He kept moving towards her hastily and that's when he saw a guy sitting with his Akshu. 

The guy was wearing a light blue tee shirt with a pair of jeans and black goggles and no doubt he looked really handsome. Abhimanyu felt a lot of jealousy and insecurity arising in his heart but he knew this was useless. He quickly puts up a fake smile and continues moving closer to them.

"Hii Akshu! Hi gentleman!" Abhi greeted them both with a smile.
"Abhiiii! Finally you're here!" Akshu quickly rose from her bench and quickly hugged Abhi. Rahul too smiled seeing them.

Abhi clenched his fists and tried to control his emotions, suppress the tears that were bottling in his eyes. He forced a smile again.

"Won't you introduce me to him?" Abhi broke the hug and tried to look at Rahul.
"Oh yaa sure!
"Abhi meet Rahul. My husband to be!" She smiled lightly. Abhimanyu too forced a smile.
"And Rahul meet Abhi. My best friend, my partner in crime, my partner in sadness, happiness everything. I mean I know I have talked about him a lot already but still.. words are never enough to appreciate how good he is you know!"
"Akshuu, you're so dramatic!" Abhi wanted to ignore the friendly love she had for him but then she unknowing makes him smile, blush everything!

Abhi moves his hand forward to Rahul but he, quickly hugs her. 

"Abhi, we need to talk often haan? I really know nothing much about Akshu right now, and only you can reveal all her secrets to me!" 
"She has been trusting me a lot so can't reveal all those, but yeah I'll help you deal with her!" Abhi faked a lugh as he broke the hug.

"Okay okay, stop ignoring me you both. Let's have...umm... ice creams?" Akshu's eyes shone bright as she talked about ice creams.
"Akshu you and your love for ice creams!" Abhi remarked and made a face.
"Noted! Akshu loves ice creams!" Rahul intervened.

Akshara lightly smiled whereas Abhi started pondering if Rahul can actually take care of her, the way he does or the way he could had he been in his place. 

They moved towards the ice cream stoll.

"Umm.. chocolate cones?" Rahul asked.
Akshara just smiled.
"Butterscotch!" Abhi remarked,
"Okay so two chocolate cones and one butterscotch!"
"Rahul, I was talking about Akshu actually. I mean we both loved butterscotch flavoured ice creams since childhood so..."
Akshara's eyes shone as she noticed how her best friend remembered little details of hers.
"Rahul if you don't pamper me the way Abhi has been doing for all these years, I might just leave you anyday!" she laughed.
"That's a big task then." Rahul made a face and then laughed.

Meanwhile Abhi felt so helpless that he couldn't even react. Was she indirectly saying that she wanted her husband to be like him? Could he have been her.....No! He jerked the thoughts off as the more he'll think about it the more it'll hurt.

The ice cream vendor was listening to their conversations and got the cones ready. Rahul paid for all of them and they decided to take a walk out of the park together.

_________________________________

"So? Where do you work Rahul?"
"Khanna Industries. I thought you'll know me Dr. Abhimanyu Birla!" Rahul laughed.
"Oh you're Rahul Khanna! The son of Rajiv Khanna? Your dad was once admitted to my hospital right? I was the one who treated him. What a coincidence!"
"I know Dr. Birla. Glad that you remember even though its 5 years to that incident."
"Yeah our dads are still in contact so... oh he keeps telling me about you then, just that I couldn't relate!"

And they talked about their professions which bored Akshara. She was walking behind them and tried to infront to stop that boring conversion. As she was trying to cross them, a guy came in great speed on his bike that Akshara got afraid and lost her balance. Rahul being the one next to her quickly held her by the waist and she got stable. 

Abhimanyu looked at them and his heart burned with jealousy. He could see how close they were and how Rahul's hands were still on Akshara's waist. 

"Are you crazy or what? This is how you drive in a residential area? That too near a park? I wouldn't have spared you if anything would have happened to my Akshu you dumbhead! Abhimanyu growled at the bike driver who by now had went far past them. He knew this was stupid since he had gone far but how else could he take out his frustration, his anger. There was no way he could say anything to Akshu or Rahul.

"Abhii, I'm fine! Calm down please." Akshara freed herself from Rahul's grip and came to cup Abhi's face.

Rahul also felt jealous seeing their concern about each other but he let it go. Akshu had already told him about their relationship and he promised to never judge them or interfere between them. 

"Look Abhi! She's completely fine. Her would be husband is there to protect her now, always!" Rahul smiled, completely unaware of how his words were wounding Abhi more.

Abhi realised what he might have felt and calmed himself down. 
"Sorry, I think I over reacted."
"It's okay Abhi. I know you're always so concerned for me." Akshu smiled.
"Yes Abhi, I'm so glad Akshu has two people who'll care for her so much from now on." Rahul smiled at them.
"She deserves it." Abhi said with his eyes still glued on Akshu.
_________________________________________

"Guys! Actually dad just called me. I have a very important meeting scheduled for 9 pm. I mean the client called suddenly and I just cannot refuse. I have to go and do the preparations so can I...leave? Only if you don't mind Akshu, Abhi..?"
"Suree!" Abhi immediately replied.
"Sure Rahul, work is the most important!"

And Rahul leaves, leaving Abhi and Akshu alone.

"So, do you approve him?" Akshu asked Abhi.
"Yes Akshu, he looks decent. But I think you should know each other more."
"Its okay na Abhi. Maybe this is how arranged marriages work? We'll know each other as time passes or otherwise also, look at him, do you think he'll have much time to spend with me? Such a busy businessman!" Akshu laughed.
"And you're okay with this life?" 
"Yes Abhi, I'm okay with whatever destiny has for me."
"You write your own destiny Akshu...."
"Maybe, but I'll just let it go. God will give me what I deserve." She smiled. Abhi also nodded in agreement. 

How was the second chapter?

I'm not thinking to make Rahul a negative character. This story will mostly have positive characters only, who'll also have little heartbreaks :'))