TANGLED SOULS

You and me against the world -2

All the anger melted away from his being in an instant and his stance softened as he strode his way to where she was standing, afraid she'll trip and hurt herself somehow. He held her arm gently as he looked at her while his family stared at the scene unfolding before their eyes. The man who's going berserk a moment ago was all soft and calm, the next moment, in front of Akshara Birla. His whole world, his everything, just as he'd claimed a few minutes ago.

As Harshwardhan Birla, watched his son chiding his daughter in law, for coming down alone in concern and fear of unknown, he couldn't help but feel proud to be the father of this amazing man who loved his woman endlessly. In his fifty years of existence, he's never witnessed such love as Abhi and Akshu shared. It's rare to see this kind of love in these days and he was truly happy that his both children found love. Overwhelmed by his feelings, without realizing it, he made his way to the couple who were too engrossed in each other to notice him heading towards them.

Akshara held Abhi's hand as she searched for answers in his eyes. She wasn't mistaking, she heard everything he said since the start. She saw how he fought for her, how he claimed that nothing matters to him but her. He just slapped the reality of the depth of his love for her in everyone's faces and left them speechless. She didn't know what she did to deserve him but she thought of whatever deed she did, he was truly a blessing for her. That she'd die rather than losing her blessing, her Abhi.

Abhimanyu held her face in his hands delicately. "Jaan, I know you wouldn't like it. I know I should've talked with you before deciding—" His words died down in his throat when Akshara simply smiled at him, taking his hand in hers, intertwined their fingers together.

- "Whatever you decide, wherever you go, I'll follow you." As she shook in his surprised expression, she added softly, "I trust you, Abhi."

- "AKSHU! How can you let him do this!? You two can't go away from your home, Beta. You can't—" Manjiri's emotional rant was soon interrupted by her daughter in law who stared at her.

-"Maa, a home is not place built of walls or filled of people. A home is where you find warmth and peace." She squeezed their joined hands gazing back into her Abhi's eyes. "Abhi's my home."

He gave her a smile in return, touched by her words. "And Akshu's mine." He whispered gazing at her lovingly.

Suddenly, they felt a hand placed on both of their shoulders and they looked aside to see a teary eyed, proud Harshwardhan Birla, looking at them. Abhimanyu's throat dried when he saw the fatherly affection in his eyes, the emotion shining in his eyes doing something to him in his heart. Akshara, sensing his distraught state squeezed his hands again, holding it tighter in hers in silent comfort.

- "I'm immensely grateful to the god that have brought you two together." Harsh said in a shaking tone as he held back his tears. "No matter what hardships you face in life, you'll always find a solution for it because you've the strength of your love. Go and live happily, Bache. You'll always have this father's blessings." He finished wiping away the last of his tears, smiling a heartfelt smile.

Something broke in Abhimanyu's heart as he took in the appearance of his father blessing him full heartedly to live with the love of his life. His entire being shook with emotion and the only thing holding him together was his Akshu as she held his hand tightly. Knowing that her love was too overwhelmed to utter a word, she gave a tearful smile at her father in law.

- "Thank you, Papa." She murmured her voice shaking at addressing him 'Papa' again as she saw his smile widened and eyes moistened, in response and he hesitantly opened his arms for his children, fearing a rejection from his son.