Loving You

Chapter 26 - Abhimanyu - Slow Realizations

"Come on sweetheart, let's eat something. We can't go to sleep on an empty stomach." I yawned, trying very hard to stay awake so I could push Akshara to eat some light dinner before bed. However, she was already already half asleep as she leaned into my arms for support.

"Hungry no. Sleepy yes." She mumbled, incoherently, yawning as she went lax in my arms.

"Okay, let's get you to bed baby." I picked Akshara up; her wrap her arms around me, securing her in my arms as I carried her to my bedroom.

I gently placed her in the middle of the bed, unhooking her arms from mine. I went to the bathroom and brought out a wet facial cloth to remove her makeup, gently wiping her face as the last remnants of the makeup disappeared.

Akshara's eyes were closed as she mumbled something inaudible but if I were to take a guess, either she was thanking me for removing her makeup or scolding me for disturbing her. But knowing her, the thankful was more probable.

I got up from beside her and helped unstrap her shoes and tenderly massaging the soles of her feet —which were uncannily soft before tucking them under the blanket.

Glancing down at Akshara, I saw she was was wearing a skin tight dress which flared a bit from the waist down. It couldn't be comfortable sleeping in that, could it? But I didn't want it remove her clothes either —no matter how much I wanted to —so she could sleep in comfort.

No, not without her consent I couldn't. So as much as I hated to see it happen, I had to let her sleep in this uncomfortable dress for tonight.

I watched Akshara sleep peacefully, her eyes closed and a soft smile adorning the corners of her mouth.

Beautiful. Breathtakingly beautiful. And mine.

I didn't know how I had gotten this lucky but I just had. And I had the entire universe to thank for giving me this opportunity to be with Akshara.

Shanaya and Vikram too maybe. Because had Shanaya not cheated on me then maybe I would never have gotten the chance to meet Akshara or be with her.

I just hoped I didn't mess this up, somehow. Akshara needed my time and my presence and I had to find a way to give it to her. Find balance.

"Abhi...sleep..." Akshara mumbled again in her sleep driven state just as she turned around on her side, snuggling into the blanket.

"Yes, sweetheart." I whispered back, heading into the bathroom for a quick shower, and came back into the bedroom wearing a white t-shirt and flannel pajama bottoms.

I remove the covers and settle in the bed, pulling Akshara's back to my front, as she snuggles in close to me, resting her head right below my chin. I wrap my one hand around her waist, keeping her secure, whilst the other hand caresses the top of her head, pulling the bouncy strands of hair away from her forehead.

I bent down and kiss the side of her head, right above the ear. "I love you." I whisper to her, inaudibly, once I knew she was fully asleep.

I love you. The three words I never imagined I'd be saying. Not so soon. Not after what I'd been through.

But those three words came so easily to me where she was concerned. I love you. Even if I hadn't said them to her directly, those three words were the easiest words I'd ever spoken to Akshara.

I love you. Three words that came to me as naturally as breathing. Or as naturally as the beating of a heart. Especially where she, Akshara was concerned.

"I love you too." Akshara mumbled back, incoherently, making me frown.

Wait? Had she heard me?! Was she awake?! I got up on my arms to see her eyes were still closed, and her breathing was still level letting me know she was in deep sleep.

I breathed a sigh of relief knowing she hadn't heard me, but a sense of warmth and pleasure washed over me too knowing she loved me too. Even though she had only said it in her sleep driven state and even though I think I wasn't meant to hear it.

I laid back down, pulling her into my arms, nestling my face into her hair as I lulled myself to sleep, peacefully, with a sense of pure joy and gratitude on my face to have found someone willing to understand and accept me with all my flaws.

I just hoped I didn't mess it up. Just like I messed up everything else.

Just as I was about to nod off to sleep, my phone chimed, and for the first time in my life, I groaned. Because I really didn't want it to be the hospital calling me again.

Because I really didn't want to leave Akshara alone. Not now. Not when I had barely been able to spend the day with her.

I contemplated ignoring the message but the doctor in me won. I turned around to see my phone to see it was a message from Vikram.

What could he possibly want?

I tapped the message open.

We need to talk. It's about Akshara. She's been lying to you. To us. Message me back.

I glanced over at a peacefully, and elegantly sleeping Akshara in my arms. I shouldn't trust Vikram. Especially since the whole fiasco with Shanaya. Nope.

Maybe he was just trying to cause trouble. What could Akshara possibly be hiding?

Yes, Abhimanyu, ignore him, my mind told me. I couldn't let Vikram destroy whatever it is Akshara and I shared even before it had begun.

I decided to not reply back to Vikram's message as I turned my phone off and placed it away on the night stand. I went back to cuddling Akshara in my arms, thinking about nothing but this exact moment, where everything was peaceful, quiet, calm, and my arms wrapped around her, as my eyelids became heavy and darkness began to encompass me.

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Is Akshara hiding something from Abhimanyu or is it Vikram just trying to stir up trouble? Get your guesses in now.

And this chapter is dedicated to everyone waiting for an update on Gulabi especially srimitts and Sleepingggirl.