Bruises| Abhira FF ✔️

CHAPTER 20

Third Person's POV

It was a grand dinner, but Abhimanyu always priotize simplicity rather than anything. His only order for the night was just to keep it clean and simple. Usually, at dinners like these, he would order all kinds of alcoholic stuff, but tonight, it was different because of Rhea.

He was getting ready in his bedroom for dinner. He wore his usual black suit and kept his hair messy, as he liked it. Giving himself a last look in the mirror, he turned around to leave the room when his phone went off.

"Yeah?" he attended the call.

"Everything's set. The guests have started to arrive. Media guys and the journalists are here, too." Neil told him.

"Great! I'm just going to check on the girls. We'll come down shortly." By saying this, he hung up the call.

"We are looking so matchy matchy!" Rhea said with excitement as Akshara was applying baby pink shade to her lips.

"You like it?" Akshara asked as she stood up and adjusted her dress.

"Yes. We will buy more matching clothes. And then we'll wear matching clothes every day!" Rhea exclaimed, and Akshara couldn't help but laugh.

"Here, let me fix your hair!" Akshara said as she adjusted the funky clips on her hair for the umpteenth time.

"Ladies?" Abhimanyu said as he entered the room. He didn't realize when and why, but a smile appeared on his lips seeing his daughter and Akshara dressed up similarly.

"Papa! Look, we are looking so pretty!" Rhea said as he scooped her in his arms.

"Yes, princess, you're looking very pretty." he kissed her cheek.

"Akshu too, right?" Rhea asked, and his eyes fell on Akshara, and she immediately looked away.

"Yeah, she's looking pretty too." he replied with a soft smile, and she looked at him.

"Come on, let's go downstairs. Everyone is waiting." he said and held his hand out to Akshara.

She hesitated at first, but she knew that she had to put up this act in front of the whole world. He raised an eyebrow at her as she looked at him blankly before placing her hand in his as the three of them made their way downstairs.

Seeing so many high-class people for the first time was making Akshara nervous as hell. It was like she was about to get a panic attack any minute now when aarohi came and embraced her in a warm hug.

"You're looking so beautiful!!" Aarohi complemented.

"Thank you, aarohi." she smiled back at her. Whispers and talks had already started taking place at the Birla house after seeing Rhea and Akshara by Abhimanyu's side.

"Why is everyone staring at us like creeps?" Akshara asked him in a low voice as soon as Aarohi left to find neil.

"I'm a bachelor, and I've a little girl by my side. What do you expect?" Abhimanyu said with a wide smile plastered on his face.

"Come on!" he said as he held her hand and dragged her in the middle of the room along with Rhea.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Can I have your attention?" he announced loudly, and immediately, all the eyes were on him.

"First of all, I would like to thank you all for coming. I don't wanna beat around the bush. The reason I invited you all here is because I wanted to introduce some special people of my life to y'all." he said as he gently scooped Rhea in his arm.

"I'd always wanted to keep my life private. But not anymore. This little angel right here is my daughter. Rhea!" he said, looking at Rhea with a smile and gasps filled the room.

"And this beautiful woman right here is my wife!" he said, grasping his arm around Akshara's waist, pulling her closer to her, and she looked at him.

"Pa-" Rhea started to say, but he cut her off.

"Not now, princess!" he told her softly.

Akshara immediately got nervous and looked away. Whispers again started in the room as she saw other women looking at her with hate like she stole something from them.

"That's all people! You guys can enjoy dinner now." Abhimanyu announced.

Few people came and complemented them while the other stood at a distance, burning in jealousy. After a few seconds, he got crowded by the media.

"Sir! Sir! Abhimanyu, sir!" they all started shouting at a time.

"One by one, please!" he said and signalled Akshara to take Rhea.

"Are you okay?" Neil asked aarohi when he found her lost in thoughts.

"I'm good!" she replied with a small smile.

"You've not been yourself lately. What's the matter, aaru? Tell me." He asked and saw how she immediately got tensed.

"I-I can't!" she was trying hard not to break down.

"Aarohi, please!" he held her by her waist gently.

"Can't we talk about it some other day? I don't wanna ruin this night." she placed her hands on his shoulder.

"Sure. Whatever you want!" he said, kissing her forehead.

"Awww... You guys are cute!" Akshara exclaimed as she came from behind along with Rhea, and they immediately broke apart.

"So you finally made a move, huh?" Akshara teased him.

"I'll go check if abhi needs anything." Neil said and left.

"I hope he's not giving you a hard time." Aarohi stated.

"What can I say? It's all part of my life now." she shrugged her shoulder, earning a sympathetic look from aarohi.

"I'm getting bored!" Rhea whined.

"Aww... Are you hungry?" Akshara asked her, and she nodded.

"Let's go eat something. Your papa has even arranged a chocolate fountain for you!" Aarohi told her, and her eyes immediately lit up upon hearing the name of chocolate.

"Thank you. I won't be answering other questions anymore." Abhimanyu stated as his bodyguards pushed the crowd of media away.

"We might have a problem." Neil said as soon as he approached him.

"What happened?" Abhimanyu asked.

"Gautam Khanna is here!" Neil told him, making Abhimanyu close his eyes in anger and frustration.

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