The Marriage Contract

51 - Stepping into Paradise

"Akshara! Hurry up! We don't want to be late!" Abhimanyu called out to his wife as he glanced at his watch. It was 8am and their flight was at noon, plus adding onto the busy Mumbai traffic, it'd be a miracle if they even made it to their flight.

"Coming! Coming!" Akshara called out after him.

Abhimanyu watched in horror as Akshara rolled in 3 suitcases capable of carrying 23kg each into the foyer. He then looked over at his 1 cabin baggage before glancing back at Akshara's. 3 suitcases?! For a week long trip?!

"Akshara, you sure you got everything? Did you forget anything? Maybe you should do another quick scan around the house?" Dry sarcasm dripped from the tip of his tongue as his gaze focused on Akshara walking out of their bedroom carrying a tote handbag.

Akshara pondered for a moment before replying. "No, I think I got everything." She answered, failing to notice the questionably mocking tone of Abhimanyu's voice.

"Look again. Maybe you forgot to pack a few plates, pots or pans." Abhimanyu replied dryly, earning a warning glare from Akshara.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Ohmigosh, Abhi! You are so funny." Akshara feigned a high pitched voice and laughter, in an equally mocking tone. "Oh geez, I can't stop laughing." Akshara added dryly, ceasing her laughter.

"Abhi?" Abhimanyu raised one brow at Akshara.

Akshara's cheeks turned crimson as she faced a loss of words. Damnit! She thought he wouldn't notice! "Umm, I...Abhimanyu just sounds too long sometimes. A-bhi-man-yu. Four syllables is just too much."

Akshara babbled trying to think of exactly why she liked calling him Abhi rather than Abhimanyu. But heck with it. It was Abhimanyu. He practically knew all her secrets.

"Abhi just sounds more personal. Intimate." She added. "But I can not call you that, if you don't like it." She bit her lower lip, suddenly feeling shy.

Abhimanyu glanced at Akshara turning different shades of red and tried to suppress his smile. Teasing Akshara was one thing but seeing her feeling shy tugged at his heart strings. "No. I like it when you call me, Abhi." He clarified, giving her his most charming roguish smile.

Turning red as Rudolph's nose out of sheer embarrassment, Akshara tried to hide her blushing smile from Abhimanyu but failed miserably. "And don't come at me for the suitcases. I'll have you know, I packed two of your tuxes and your oxfords. Plus, I had to carry my lenghas, gowns, shoes, makeup amongst other toiletries." She fired back.

"Fine. But still! 3 suitcases for all that?!"

"Shut up! Aren't we getting late now?!" She groaned, making Abhimanyu chuckle.

"Okay, let's go."

~*~

"Business class?!" Akshara's eyes widened in shock as she looked at her boarding pass in hand.

She then looked over at the other line of passengers waiting to be checked into economy. Having ever had the luxury on traveling on an airplane before, traveling business class for her first plane ride was a huge deal. Especially knowing there was no way she'd ever be able to afford it otherwise had it not been for Abhimanyu.

Even the Maldives trip. She knew the wedding was an excuse. But Abhimanyu was doing all this to make her dreams come true. And she has no idea how to repay him. Because a simple thank you would not suffice.

She didn't want to sound too money-minded, but for someone who had lived in poverty her entire life, it was kind of hard to not compare the contrasting lifestyles Abhimanyu and her shared.