The Marriage Contract

28 - Stormy Night Sleepover

The sounds of strong winds mixed in with the heavy pouring rain slapped across the roof of the community center, sending the kids in scared panic.

"Does everyone have their sticks with marshmallows ready to go?" Akshara asked, holding her stick out in demonstration.

She glanced around the fire pit to see every child nodding their head in excitement, holding their marshmallow sticks out, including Abhimanyu, who was seated in between Ishaan and Zaira. Akshara could gather from the frustrated look on his face, he was trying very hard to not get caught up in the babbling of the two kids who were trying their best to teach him how of make s'mores.

Cute, Akshara smiled to herself watching Abhimanyu interact with the kids.

"Okay kids, pay attention here. Hold the stick with the marshmallow side pointed over the fire. Like this and slowly twirl the stick around so the marshmallows are nice and toasted on all sides." Akshara demonstrated by holding the stick over the fire and twirling the marshmallow side around.

She glanced around the campfire to see everyone following her instructions, including Abhimanyu, who was focused very intently on the task on hand.

She walked around the fire, before standing close enough to Abhimanyu, enough to hear what Zaira and Ishaan were saying to him. Akshara helped another child, Khushi toast her marshmallow whilst she focused all her listening powers on the chaotic duo beside her.

"No, you're doing it wrong!" Zaira exclaimed, taunting Abhimanyu.

"No, I'm not! That's how your Miss. Akshara taught us!" Abhimanyu argued back.

"No, she didn't! You have to hold the stick higher up or else you'll end up burning the marshmallow!" Ishaan explained.

Abhimanyu held the stick higher up in the air, following the daunting orders of the two little minions. But alas, Ishaan and Zaira were still not satisfied.

"No, you Silly Goose! Not that high up!" Zaira exclaimed.

"I give up! This is way too complicated for me." Abhimanyu responded, clearly frustrated with the company he was keeping.

"Miss Akshara said you are a doctor. Is that true?" Zaira inquired.

"A surgeon actually and yes it's true."

"Well then, you must not be a good surgeon if you can't even toast a marshmallow properly and it's not even that complicated. How would you even be doing surgeries because I was told that being a surgeon requires a lot of skill and smartness." Zaira stated, matter of factly making Abhimanyu's jaw drop.

Akshara tried her best to not laugh at Abhimanyu's insult but failed. She covered her mouth with her hand to muffle the laughter which she converted into a series of fake coughs earning a rich glare from him.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Akshara asked, trying her best to keep her sarcasm at bay.

"Immensely, can't you see?" Abhimanyu bit back, making Akshara smile.

"Here. Let me help you." Akshara moved next to Abhimanyu, reaching for his marshmallow stick just as their hands brushed against each other and a soft jolt of static electrify coursed through their veins.

Akshara passed a shy glance towards Abhimanyu, trying to calm the battle of nerves that had suddenly began dueling inside of her as both Abhimanyu and Akshara held the stick, holding it steady above the fire.

They kept passing shy and unsettling glances at each other whenever their fingers brushed against each other's as they twirled the stick around, in search of the perfect toasted profile of the marshmallow.