Chapter 22

2.2K 170 20

by Srishh_t

by Srishh_t

Abhimanyu

Abhimanyu watches as Akshara tosses and turns in her sleep with Aaira by her side. Even though she tried to cover up her emotions, her fear and tension wasn't hidden from him.

While she finally fell asleep at midnight, Abhi was still in his chair wondering about all possible scenarios. Some time later in the night, he climbed into the bed and hugged both his girls, the fatigue finally making him shut his eyes.

Pin drop silence.

Abhi could hear his heart drumming inside his chest as the doctor's words sliced through his chest, drilling a hole in him with every passing second.

All his hopes, all the assurances he had been giving himself since yesterday came crashing down the moment those deadly words were spoken by the doctor.

"Akshara, you have cervical cancer"

A few minutes had passed since then and nobody had uttered a single word more. Not him, not Akshara, not even the doctor.

Abhi feels like somebody was holding him by the neck because with every passing second, he could feel a desperate need for breath, like he was choking on his own emotions.

And then it struck him.

Akshara.

She hadn't spoken a word either.

With trembling lips and shivering hands, he turned to face the love of his life.

She looked deadly calm, so much that he wasn't even sure if she had heard what the doctor had said.

"I'll give you two some time alone, then we'll discuss everything" the doctor says, breaking the silence as she walks out.

Abhi wipes his sweaty hands on his jeans and holds his legs to stop them from shivering. He then takes a faltering step towards Akshara, somehow finding the strength to kneel down in front of her.

"A- Aks-"

"I don't want to die Abhi" she suddenly speaks up. "Abhi, I don't want to die" she whispers, still devoid of emotion.

In that moment, you could have punched him in the gut and it still wouldn't have hurt him even 1% of what he was feeling right now.

"Don't. Don't you-uu dare s-say that" he pulls her close, wrapping his arms around her waist, his face resting on her lap.

And then he feels it. Hot tears land on his neck and he sees his Akshara break down, one breath at a time.

He hugs her tighter and they both shed a million tears without uttering a single word.

Then a knock on the door tells them that it's time to face the reality.

"Mr. Birla, the cancer is currently at the first stage, so the first thing that I need you both to do is have hope.

There are various procedures that we can-"

"No. We can't take any risk. None at all. I need to call up my team. We need to fight the best doctor in the country-no- in the world. The best. Only the best." Abhi mumbles, more to himself than to the doctor.

"Mr. Birla I understand-"

"No. I said no. "

"Mr. Birla, Akshara has been my patient for these years" the doctor now raises her voice "She WILL remain under my care"

And this is when Abhimanyu realises that he's not the only one willing to fight with everything for Akshara.

Author's Note: Hi Guys, I know this is a short chapter, I'll post another one soon!

Till then, do vote, comment and share your feedback.