Bruises| Abhira FF ✔️

CHAPTER 16

Third Person's POV

One time when she was in a blind in a tree, waiting motionless for game to wonder by, she dozed of and fell ten feet to the ground, landing on her back. It was as if the impact had knocked every wisp of air from her lungs, and she laid there struggling to exhale, to inhale, to do anything.

That's how she was feeling right now, trying to remember how to breathe, unable to speak, totally stunned. She stood in the middle of the living room, white as chalk. Her eyes and her mouth were frozen wide open in an expression of stunned surprise.

"You?!" she repeated yet again, not believing the person standing in front of her.

"Hello, Ms. Akshara!" his smirk was something else. It was somewhat devilish and charming.

"You guys know each other?" Her step-father jumped into the conversation.

"Of course not! I just know her name, which you told me a few minutes ago." Abhimanyu lied as she looked on.

"Okay. So can we talk about the deal already?" The old man was now getting impatient.

"What deal?" she asked as she was finally coming out of the shock-state.

"I already talked about the deal with you, Mr. Goenka, and as I remember, you agreed to it!" Abhimanyu replied.

"Wait, what deal?" she raised her voice slightly.

"You should sit first!" Abhimanyu suggested.

"No. I'm not gonna sit down. It's my house! Not your office, you can't just go around and order me like that!" she glared at him.

"Your house?" he chuckled, which soon turned into a laugh.

"It's funny how you think that this place is still your house!" he said, and she glared at her father.

"I've placed the blank cheque on the table, Mr. Goenka, write down any amount you want!" Abhimanyu told him, and his eyes immediately lit up, not with happiness but with greed.

"And also you can keep this house too." he added, and Akshara gave him an unbelievable look.

"What's actually happening here? What did he promise you in return?" she asked Abhimanyu, and his eyes drifted to her father, who was busy figuring out how much amount he should write.

"You!" The word that left his mouth was enough to break all the self-confidence she was holding till now.

"No. No. You're lying! He-he can't do this!" she stuttered as her hands started getting sweaty.

"He already did!" he said, showing her the contract that her step-father had signed.

"You sold me?" she asked him as tears started forming in her eyes.

"It's for the best!" Standing up from the couch, he approached her.

"You sold me!" she repeated her words again, a little louder this time.

"Just think about it. We get to keep the house. And he's giving us more money!" he told her.

"No! You get to keep the house!You get the money! What about me?" she said, wiping tears away from her cheeks.

"I did it for you! What other choice do I have?" he was trying every inch to defend his decision as Abhimanyu was calmly observing the whole situation.

"No! You did it for yourself!" she yelled.

"Listen to me....." he tried to explain, but she raised her hand to stop him.

"My old bruises hasn't healed yet. Stop giving me more!" By saying this, she rushed towards her room. The old man tried to follow her only to be stopped by Abhimanyu.

"I'll handle this!" he said as he made his way to her room.

"Neil, can I ask you something?" Aarohi asked as they were both now enjoying coffee after a good dinner.

"Sure!" he nodded.

"What's up with abhimanyu lately?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" he furrowed his eyebrows at her.

"Look, we both know he's not that kind of guy who's interested in dating women, and his behaviour with akshara lately is kinda strange." she told him.

"Maybe he's changed!" Neil replied.

"Let's not play dumb, neil! We both know he's surely up to something." she gave him a look.

"Maybe. Maybe not!" he shrugged his shoulder, taking a sip of his coffee.

"So loyal you are!" she shook her head in disappointment.

"Even if I want to, I can't tell you anything because even I'm not sure what's he doing with his life!" he told her.

"Let's hope he doesn't end up ruining someone's life!" Aarohi said as he looked at her.

"Leave me alone!" Akshara shouted with tears in her eyes as she heard a knock on her door.

"It's me!" Abhimanyu said as he entered the room halfway.

"It doesn't make a difference." she looked at him before wiping the tears off her face. He slowly approached her and sat beside her on the bed.

"Look, I know you're having a hard time accepting this news, but face it. It is what it is!" he told her.

"Stop it! Nothing you say is gonna make me feel better!" she said before he could reply, his phone went off.

"What's the matter, suresh?" he asked on the phone.

"Sir, it's almost midnight. Rhea is asking for you!" he told him.

"Okay. Get her on the phone." he said, and he did as he was told to.

"Papa!" she said, and he could easily guess that she had been crying.

"Hey, princess!" Abhimanyu said, and Akshara's head immediately shot up in his direction upon realizing who he was talking to.

"Why aren't you home yet?" she asked between her hiccups.

"I'll be home soon, Rhee! Hey, wanna talk to someone?" he asked her.

"Who?" she asked, and he gave his phone to Akshara, signalling her to talk to his daughter. Great! He's already controlling my life, she thought.

"H-Hi Rhea!" Akshara spoke, trying to sound as calm as possible.

"Akshu!" Rhea chimed. Akshara felt her smiling on the other side of the phone.

"Your papa will be home soon, Rhea! Don't worry." she told her and gave abhi his phone back as she couldn't hold her tears back any longer.

"Rhea, I'll be home in a while!" he told her.

"Not fair, Papa! You went to meet akshu without me!" she tried to sound angry.

"I'll make it up to you for that. Trust me." he said, looking at Akshara, and she immediately knew what he meant. After hanging up the call, he stood up from the bed.

"Pack everything you need. I'll send the driver tomorrow to pick you up!" he said and left the room before she could even protest.

° ° °