Amends In Your Arms

OS: Chaos in the Club

Lately, Neil had been spending every night away from home, coming back at 3 or 4AM in the morning. No one had any idea where he was going, and whenever he was questioned, he would turn entirely defensive. Abhi was getting more and more worried as the days passed, afraid that his younger brother would get himself into trouble because of that girl who was not worth even the slightest bit of his time. Finally, he could not take it anymore, and he told Neil that he was going out with him tonight...wherever he was going, he would accompany him, and he would not take no for an answer. Neil tried to resist, but realizing that Abhi would not give him, he told him to be ready by the door by 10PM or else he would leave without him. 

Akshu watched Abhi getting ready from the corner of her eye as she scrolled through different bed frame options. She no longer liked the color of their current one, and she wanted it to match perfectly with the new curtains she had ordered. She saw her husband take out her favorite white shirt and put on a plain black leather jacket on top of it. Softly closing her laptop, she walked up behind him and hugged him as tightly as she could. "Abhi...tum itne bhi hot mat lagho ki aaj raat sari ladkia meri pati ke peeche hi pad jayen." 

Abhi laughed as he turned around and kissed her forehead. "Akshu, thank you for understanding. Mujhe pata hai ki aaj hum dono ko date pe jana tha liken Neil..."

"Abhi please. Neil ki safety abhi sabse jada important hai. Tum jao aur uska dhyan rakho...aur kuch bhi chaiye ho toh mujhe phone kardena." She smiled, pushing him out the door as she heard Neil yelling for him. Abhi blew her a final kissing before running down the stairs, preparing himself for wherever this night was about to take him. 

***

Soon after Abhi left, Shefali came into Akshu's room dressed in a beautiful black dress, her hair slicked back into a tight bun. 

Akshu whistled and asked her where she was going. 

"Actually, Akshara aaj na meri friend ki bachelorette party hai. Aur Parth ne mere saath ana tha liken Shivu thoda sick hai. Toh mein soch rahi thi kyun na tum mere saath chalo? Abhi bhi ghar pe nahi hai." 

"Bhabhi..." Akshu said, gesturing to the pajamas she had already put on. 

"Arey, Akshara tumhe tyaar hone mein bilkul bhi time nahi lage ga. Tum bolo toh mein tumhare liye dress pick kardeti hoon. Please Akshara, please!!!" 

"Acha...bhabhi...theek hai. Mein chalti hoon." Akshu said, unable to see Shefali pouting in front of her. She told her that she would meet her outside in 30 minutes. She quickly scanned through her closet, taking out a blue dress that Abhi had bought her just a few weeks ago. She wished that he was here to see her wearing it, but she sent him a photo instead, saying that he was not the only one going out tonight. He responded immediately telling her how beautiful she looked, and to message him immediately if she needed anything. He was still on his way to wherever Neil was taking him, and he would inform her as soon as they reached their destination. Akshu send him a kiss over voice notes and made her way downstairs, hoping that whatever party she was going to ended as soon as possible...she was already so exhausted from the week before. 

***

As Shefali gave the address to their driver and pulled Akshu into the car, Abhi and Neil reached a club on the outskirts of town. Abhi looked around to see that it seemed entirely ordinary, just another place where people came to drink and party...that was until they got inside. And the minute they entered, he was ready to exit from the exact door they entered from. In front of him, he saw at least 10 women hanging from poles surrounded by men throwing wads of cash at them. He could not believe that this is what his brother had been doing...he expected more from Neil, but he felt uneasy saying anything, as he knew how badly Aarohi had broken his heart. 

"Neil...."

"Bhai, dekho. Aap ko koi bhi problem hai toh aap jasakte ho." 

"Neil, chal na kahin aur chalte hain...please." 

Neil ignored him and walked straight to the bartender, who clearly knew him from the many times he had been here before. Abhi took a seat in the very back corner of the club, trying to avoid all contact with absolutely everyone there. He tried calling Akshu to tell her what he had gotten himself into, but of course there was no signal. He banged his head against the table over and over again, watching his brother laughing and chatting with one of the women who was dancing on stage. And then, to his horror, he saw one of them walking towards him, a huge glass of beer in her hands. 

"Hellooo..." she said, handing him the drink. 

He immediately got up from the table and started walking away. 

"Where are you doing sir? You can't escape me!" She said laughing. 

"Goodbye Madam!" Abhi said as he went into the men's bathroom, cursing himself for getting into that car with Neil earlier that night. 

***

Meanwhile, Akshu and Shefali reached the same club where Abhi was bashing his life choices. As Shefali ran to greet her friends, Akshu looked around in shock, wanting nothing more than to return home. She knew they were going to a party, but this is the last thing she imagined. But, before she could make her silent escape, Shefali dragged her to their table, introducing her to everyone else. Akshu tried her best to force a smile while trying to text Abhi to come pick her up as soon as he was done with Neil...

And that was when she saw him...her brother in law standing on stage with two women surrounding him, all of them dancing to Shaava Shaava. At first, she thought she was hallucinating...maybe this was all a dream. But then, Shefali screamed to her pointing in Neil's direction, asking her if she was seeing the same thing as her. Both of them stared at the stage in astonishment, having no words to say. 

Eventually, Neil made eye contact with Akshu, waving in her direction. "Hi bhabhi!! Aap bhi aa gayi???" He said, clearly drunk out of his mind. Akshu waved back as she looked around the club, wondering where Abhi was. Not finding him anywhere, she thought that he must have left the second he entered this place...she knew this was his worst nightmare. But, just then, she saw him standing in a corner, his face buried in his phone. And behind him, there was a woman approaching, about to grab a hold of his shoulder. Unable to bare this sight, she told Shefali that she would be right back. And without thinking twice, she pulled the woman back, accidentally wacking her straight across the face. 

The woman yelled in pain and Akshu held her own hand, feeling the aftermath of the shock. "Abhi!", she screamed instinctively. Abhi turned around immediately, entirely confused as to what was happening. He saw the woman yelling at his wife...who looked entirely ravishing in the dress he had gifted. As the woman went to complain to security, Abhi grabbed Akshu's hand in his, looking at the bruise that was quickly appearing across her palm. He ran to the bar and brought her ice, telling her to hold still while he made sure there was no swelling. But, before he could get a proper look, the bouncer came running towards Akshu, telling her to get out immediately as there was no violence allowed in the club. 

Akshu tried to explain, telling him that this was all a misunderstanding...that she was simply trying to save her husband. At this, Abhi burst out laughing, admiring his wife's jealously and how cute she looked with her forehead all scrunched up. 

The next thing they knew, the bouncer was dragging Akshu out of the club, and Abhi was demanding him to let go of his wife's arm at once. When he refused to listen, Abhi took a hold of his shirt and pushed him to the wall, telling him to stay within his limits and to learn how to respect women. Akshu pulled Abhi away, taking him outside with her....

As they finally breathed in the fresh air, they said perfectly in sync..."Ghar chalo..."