TANGLED SOULS

A promise for life

Hearts pounding hard and fast, breathing labored, Abhimanyu and Akshara Birla stood wrapped up in each other's arms in the middle of the wild jungle. Fear engulfed their hearts like a viper, sending cold shivers down their spine as they took in the happens of the day.

Akshara went missing for a few hours in a dangerous jungle but for Abhimanyu, it felt like years before he finally found her, safe and sound in his arms. He only started breathing normally when he saw her. His life. His very reason to breathe. Only he knew how terrified he was in a span of a few hours. He felt as it was one year ago, sitting in the corner of his room. Haunted and horrified that he's never going to see her again. However, the fear only tripled now, as it was not only her but their babies too. Feeling his anger raising up in a lightning speed, he pulled away from their tight embrace, glaring down at her as tears beamed in his orbs.

Feeling the shift in his mood, she slowly glanced up, biting her lower lip and her eyes watered at his disheveled state. She knew he would be extremely worried and scared for her. But she didn't imagine to see her Abhi like that, now that she took him in, he looked at the edge of a panic attack. No. The realization struck her like a cold jet of water. He actually had an anxiety attack. The subtle trembles and shaking of his body, tensed shoulders, rapid breathing, palms sweating... no doubts, her Abhi had an anxiety attack when he knew about her disappearance. Tears dropped down her lashes as she lifted her hand up to his face but he stepped back, shocking her.

"Abhi..."

"No. Akshara." He shook his head, wiping the corner of his eye.
"This is not done. We'll talk about this once I got you safe in the ressort."
He muttered leaving no room for arguent as he bent down to pick her up easily before starting to walk, without minding the soreness on his left foot.

Thankfully, the hotel's rescue team found them in midway and guided them towards the ressort where their families were worried sick for them. However, Akshara's only concern was Abhi as he didn't utter a word the whole way, not even when they reached the ressort.

She was now, laid on their room's bed, surrounded by each and every member of their family, a pin drop silence reigning in the room as everyone held their breaths. While Abhi was examining her, after just finishing the dressing. Her eyes were trailed on him for an entirely other reason.

"Blood pressure and heart rate are fine. No increase in temperature as well. So no fever." He concluded as he placed his medical stuff back in the kit. Closing it he turned to the family, "Everything is perfectly alright." He said and a collective sigh of relief left their mouths.

Abhimanyu's gaze stopped on his Maa and Badi Mumma.

"Please bring something to eat for Akshu? And Maa, make sure she can eat it before—"

Manjiri Birla shook her head at him as she placed a hand on her worried son's shoulder, squeezing it in comfort. "Of course, Beta. Don't worry. Swarna ji?"

"Yes, Abhimanyu, we'll give special instructions for the ressort staff. You take care." With that, they both left the room.

The rest of the family nodded at him reassuringly and Abhi nodded back with a sigh. He stood up from the bed to put the kit away but winced at the sudden pain that shot through his leg.

"Shitt." He hissed a curse as he clutched his left ankle, dropping the kit on the floor.

"ABHI!" Akshara cried from the bed getting up rapidly.

"AKSHU! Stay in the bed!" Her husband shot back heatedly as he urged her back into her initial seating position on the bed.

Goenka and Birla families held their breath as they watched how disturbed and tense Abhi was. Shaking her head, Mahima Birla, was the first to react as she grabbed the medical kit that Abhi just dropped and knelt down in front of Abhi who was sitting next to his wife on the bed as he grimaced in pain.