AbhiRa One-Shots - Mix & Match

7. Mistake

"And so, the wedding is fixed for a month from now. That gives us plenty of time to get the decor, outfits, locations, events in order for time of the wedding." Suhasini Goenka and Manjiri Birla discussed the wedding details whilst Saira Goenka passed shyly glances towards her husband-to-be Dr. Abhimanyu Birla.

One month. In one month she was going to become Mrs. Saira Abhimanyu Birla. She just couldn't contain her happiness.

Abhimanyu Birla toyed the fingers of his hands, self conscious. One month. He was going to be a married man in one month.

But then why? Why did he feel so weird? Why was he unhappy?

And most importantly. Why? Why was it that he couldn't stop thinking about...her?

Akshara Goenka.

Saira younger sister. His would be sister-in-law. The girl he had only met thrice. Once when he'd come to see Saira for the wedding rishta, second when...when they had gone out for dinner, drinks and then out to a club so he could meet Saira's friends and the last time —at this and Saira's Tilak.

Afterwards, Akshara had just up and out disappeared on him. It had been 1 month. Exactly 5 weeks.

When he had asked Saira, the only response he had gotten was that Akshara was in the USA now, pursuing a Masters in Music Theory at a well renowned university. But Saira had reassured him that Akshara would be back here in time for their wedding.

But he didn't want to meet Akshara at his wedding.

He wanted to meet her now!

They had promised they wouldn't talk about that one forsaken night. The night at the club when they had had a bit too much to drink. The night when Saira had to go home early because she had drank a bit too much and had work early next morning.

The night when Akshara and him had stayed behind, drinking and chatting, neither of them wanting to leave.

The night when they had been too intoxicated and lines had gotten blurred.

The night when he had take Akshara home.

The night when both of them had given in to their inhibitions.

The night which had been a mistake.

The night which he could not make himself come to regret.

That night which had just become beautiful memory.

And the nightmare which had come to follow.

Akshara had awoken the next morning. Panicked. He still remembered the crease lines on her face, her furrowed brows as she clutched the white linen sheets to her chest. Apologizing.

Abhimanyu and her had decided to keep it a secret. Just between the two of them. They had sworn to take that faithful night to their graves.

But most importantly. They had promised to pretend that everything was normal. A fresh start. Normal.

And the Tilak happened.

Abhimanyu's eyes kept searching for Akshara in the facade of normal only to see her smiling, not even acknowledging him. Pretending that everything was normal.

And then she had disappeared.

Taking a part of him with her.

~*~

It was the day of Abhimanyu and Saira's engagement. But something felt different. He could feel it in his heart. As he walked up the steps of the Goenka house, all decorated and lit up, his heart hammered against his chest.