Twist in Time

Let us begin with honesty

Scrunching her eyes tightly as she felt a feeling of intense fatigue overcome her, Akshara moved her body around trying to find a comfortable position until she slowly batted her eyelids open. It was meant to be a cold night, but for some reason, she did not feel it.

Batting her eyelids, she slowly opened her eyes, the view in front of her was blurry at first.

The surroundings were unfamiliar, like an olden-style motel almost? The furniture was all wood, the walls coloured in colourful colours, and classic ornaments painted the room.

Blinking, she focused her vision on what was the centre of the room to her.

There sat a man, in a vest and pants, working steadily away on a small fire that lit the fireplace. His collared button-down shirt sat next to him. She would have shuddered but she didn't.

Because it was Abhimanyu.

She couldn't remove her eyes from the scene, even though she feared the flames.

Because more than the flames themselves, she was scared she would blink and Abhimanyu would disappear.

A sudden desperation overcame her as she remembered the last 24 hours and then the last couple of weeks, without him.

Shaking, she let out a sob from her throat which caught his attention immediately.

Turning around he faced her, his face in pain, the second he noticed the tears that were pooling in her eyes. Heart beating fast, he looked at her with an intense desire to hold her and have her close.

Moments passed between them.

Sighing, he knew they had to talk.

"I found out your driver was a scam...hired by someone else... the same people behind my accident," Abhimanyu said firstly, breaking the silence. "That's why I had to call you in such a hurry... I was terrified". 

Akshara shuddered, nodding her head in acknowledgement and not even fully processing what could have happened if he did not rescue her. She hadn't need to think twice when Abhimanyu asked her to do something.

She gazed into the fire and Abhimanyu caught her trance.

His eyes softened.

"Sorry... I know you don't like fire baba...but without it, it will get so cold that you will get sick" Abhimanyu apologised, looking at her painfully.

Akshara shook her head from the bed she was sitting on. "Nahi" she shook her head finally saying something feeling emotional at him using an endearment and showing his love for her, "when you are around.. nothing scares me.. I am more scared of losing you," she told him honestly, looking at him doe-eyed.

Abhimanyu felt his heart flip, how much he had missed her.

How scared he had been.

How much he had been counting down till he could see her again.

"Golu..." he whispered to himself, not being able to help himself from saying the words he had always wanted, and then chuckled looking at her, "you are not so golu anymore"

Akshara looked at him gently, realising he was acknowledging the past. How desperate she had been to hear those words out of his mouth.

They both sat in silence, overwhelmed by the number of things left between them that they had to discuss. Where to begin? The trauma from the past, the confusion of the present or where they were heading in the future?

Wordlessly, she got up, completely quietly and nestled into his arms on the floor, seeking his attention. Sitting in his lap, she wrapped herself in him, breathing in his scent.

"Akshara... you are closer to the fire here.." Abhimanyu warned, even though it was tamed and well-controlled, he didn't want to risk it.

"All I need is you..." she told him honestly and tearfully, and seconds later, she felt tears weep out. He wrapped his arms around her, as she sobbed.

He let her cry as he rubbed his nose against the back of her head, his own eye pooling with tears.

"Sorry... I am so sorry... sorry jaan" he whispered emotionally as he heard her cry.

And then she turned around perplexed, cupping his cheek.

"Why are YOU saying sorry?" she demanded, rage evident in her eyes. "I should have told you everything... I should never have hidden anything from you...all I did was hurt you, over and over again. I broke your trust-"

"Akshara-" Abhi tried to interrupt, as he saw her in intense pain, her entire body ridden with guilt.

"No Abhi please- I broke your trust, I leaked the deal. I did it all. It was me. I knew how goddamn hard you worked on it. I saw it. I worked on it with you, how could I not? But still, I did it... I should have just come to you... with the truth... with our past... oh my goodness our past... I-I-" Akshara trembled, it all becoming too much.

And Abhimanyu wrapped his arms around her tight, not letting her finish. He patted her head slowly, trying to calm her down.

"I knew..." he whispered gently, "I knew it was you... that you were golu..."

Akshara's eyes widened.

He knew?

She broke their embrace.

"Abhi..." she melted, her eyes looking into his.

He sighed, looking down, trying to work out where to begin.

Both of them sat in silence.

"Abhi where do we begin... there is so much..." Akshara whispered looking at a corner of the room.

Abhimanyu looked at her cupping her cheeks, pressing a tight kiss to her lips.

One thing was for sure, they were never letting go of each other.

He fished out the bracelet that was sitting in his pocket, her bracelet, the one he had brought her when he was just fourteen years old.

Akshara's eyes watered at the sight of it as he placed it around her wrist.

Where it belonged.

She grabbed onto the chain that sat under his vest, his necklace.

Her necklace.

The one she had given him when she was just twelve years old.

Abhimanyu let out a breath.

"Let us begin with honesty"

I guess I am feeling awfully nice today because 3 updates... don't get used to it!! Hahah there may not be an update tomorrow.

And thank you sincerely for all your comments and votes, I really appreciate it. From the bottom of my heart.

Almost finished writing this one.

Sigh, will miss my babies.

N x