Abhira- A Forbidden Tale

Chapter 23

Akshara

When you watch your life slowly slipping away like sand in an hour glass, you go through several stages of emotional disbalance.

First comes denial, the stage of "this can't happen" and "no, please tell me this ain't the truth"

Then comes acceptance because you realise that denial won't change a thing.

And finally comes a state that possibly has no name, it's where you're struggling to hold on to the rope as you hang from a cliff. It bruises your hands but you go through the pain because you can see the other side of it, the one that takes you to happy ever after. 

And this stage is the most tricky, you're hanging between two extreme possibilities and the stakes are at an all time high...

Akshara watches as her husband walks in quick steps in the garden, mumbling on the phone. She's no longer curious to know what he's saying because she knows it more or less. 

It's been three months since she was diagnosed with cancer. Like every other person, this news came to her in stages. 

The first month was denial, the second was acceptance and the third month had finally descended into the tricky stage. 

But it had not been the case of everyone else around her. 

While her parents had somehow crossed the previous stages with her, Abhimanyu and Ayaan were still stuck on stage one- DENIAL. 

They refused to believe that there's a possibility that Akshara might not see the light of day in some months. 

She again looks at her husband who has grown twice his age in the past few months, his beard is overgrown, there are huge bags under his eyes, and his body language hasn't changed since the day he returned from the hospital with her, it's like he's choking on his own breath. 

"Mumma" Aaira comes running to Akshara, tears rolling down her eyes. 

"Baby, what happened?" Akshara lifts her up in her arms. 

"I don't like this papa, I want my old papa back" she sobs.

Akshara gently calms her down, kisses her forehead and lulls her to sleep. 

It's high time Abhi, it's high time you come back!

xx

Abhimanyu

"You all...?" Abhi mumbles as Akshara'a parents, Ayaan and Lavanya walk into the house.

"Akshara di called us" Lavanya explains. 

Just then, Abhi sees Akshara walking down the stairs.

"Akshara, you need to rest, this isn't-" Akshara places a finger on his lips and shuts him up. 

"It's the last Saturday of the month, remember? Our family lunch day" she smiles. 

"Akshara-"

"Abhi I said I'm okay"

"But-"

"Abhimanyu Birla! You listen to me now and you better listen well" She raises her voice. "I've been diagnosed with cancer, yes. I'm dying, yes again." Abhimanyu's eyes widen as she speaks. 

"I know what's happening because tadaaa" she points at herself "It's happening inside me, it's my body, I can feel it. I am aware of the possibility that I might not be alive after three months" Ayaan gasps. 

"Yes Ayaan, this is for you too" she turns towards him "and for each one of you" she looks at them all. "I know all of this, but do you know what else I know? It's that I may die after 3 months but you all already died three months back! Ever since that fateful day when we found out, you people have killed yourselves" she screams and tears pour out. 

"Akshara-" Abhi desperately tries to go near her but she raises a hand gesturing for him to stop. 

"Let me complete Abhi. You know that little girl you all love so much? You haven't played with her since that day!"

She looks at Abhi "Do you remember how many times you've picked her up in your arms in the last three months?" and then at Ayaan "And you, not one toy in all these months. Her mamu who used to shower her with gifts and love has barely spoken to her. I get it that you're desperately trying to save me, I swear I get it and I'm so so grateful that you all love me to this extent. But spare a minute to think about how I feel. Each day I wake up wondering if it's my last and even then, all I think of is how I want to spend the day in peace and love with you all by my side. But you spend your entire day on calls, trying to make me live. But please understand, you've already gotten me the world's best treatment, haven't you? I am under the best care, getting the best possible treatment by extremely successful doctors! And now, even after all this, if I am to live for just a few days, I want to live it knowing that the people I love so much are there with me, and not just physically" she breaks down and sits on the couch. 

"I love you all" she sobs "but it's killing me that we've barely had a conversation that didn't involve medicines and treatment. I want to live, I promise you all I'm giving my best, but please, please let's all live today first. Tomorrow will come tomorrow, today I want to live and live happily" 

For a moment, there's just silence in the air. Akshara wipes her tears and lifts her head up to see everyone crying. And then, the very next moment they all run to hug her. 

As they share a group hug, Akshara wipes their tears when she again hears a crying sound and they all start laughing. 

"Guess the little monster's woken up" she smiles. "I'll go get her" 

Abhimanyu holds her hand and stops her "Nuh-uh. Her papa's going to get his princess" He kisses her forehead and goes to get Aaira. 

He apologises to his little girl, holding his ears, and only after making him a donkey and riding on his back, she forgives him. 

The lunch is the first breath of normalcy the family has seen these many months. As they laugh over Aaira's cute imitation of her father, Abhimanyu finally realises what Akshara meant by "living today" 

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Authors' Note: Hi Guys, long time no see! 

Here's the much awaited chapter. 

Also, the next chapter would be the last one followed by the epilogue. 

Hope you guys liked it. 

Do vote and comment!