Somewhere In Heart

Chapter 4

Akshara reached the place where Abhimanyu had called her. As she approached his car, he gestured for her to get inside.

"Everything between us is over, Abhimanyu. So why did you call me here?" Akshara asked, her voice laced with frustration.

"Akshara, I'm truly ashamed of everything I've done. I came here to ask for your forgiveness," Abhimanyu said, his voice filled with guilt.

"I told you that day—apologies are meant for mistakes, and what you did wasn't just a mistake, Abhimanyu. Accepting everything has been so difficult for me. I struggled so much to leave Udaipur, promising myself I would never return. Because if we were to cross paths again, things would only become more complicated. I don't love you anymore, Abhimanyu. So please, just leave my life. I'm happy on my own," Akshara said, her voice breaking slightly, but she held herself together.

"I didn't come here to ask you to come back, Akshara. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry—for everything I said, for everything I did. And most of all, I'm sorry for not respecting you," Abhimanyu said.

Akshara's heart clenched, but she remained silent. She couldn't forget the pain, the humiliation.

"I know I was toxic... I was terrible. I mean it. And I'm trying to build a relationship with Aarohi, but—" Abhimanyu started, but Akshara cut him off.

"Abhimanyu, please... You're marrying my sister. Try to understand. Just forget me and move on," Akshara said, her tone firm yet filled with pain.

"That's exactly what I'm trying to do, but it's not happening. But this time, I'm not here to ask for anything from you. I just needed to say... I'm sorry," Abhimanyu said, folding his hands in front of her. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"Please, Akshara... Forgive me. I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking as tears spilled down his face.

"Have you lost your mind, Abhimanyu? What are you doing?" Akshara asked, taken aback by his desperation.

"I-I think I have lost my mind, Akshu! If you don't forgive me, I'll die... Please... Just forgive me. Whatever punishment you want to give me, I'll accept it. If you tell me to die, I'll do it. Just please... forgive me," Abhimanyu sobbed, his entire body shaking.

Akshara's heart pounded. Looking at him, she realized—he wasn't just apologizing. He was breaking, completely shattered. "What is he doing to himself? This isn't just guilt... It looks like he's going through depression or trauma. I shouldn't say anything harsh to him," she thought.

She slowly placed her hands over his, trying to calm him. "A-Abhimanyu, it's okay... Fine, I forgive you. Alright? Just breathe, take a deep breath."

Without warning, Abhimanyu pulled her into a tight embrace. "I love you, Akshu... I miss you so much," he whispered through his tears.

Akshara felt her own tears fall. She couldn't stop them.

"It's okay, Abhimanyu. Relax... Come on, sing with me." She softly hummed,
"Lag ja gale, ke phir ye haseen raat ho na ho... Shayad phir is janam mein, mulaqat ho na ho..."

Abhimanyu held onto her even tighter, and slowly, he fell asleep in her arms.

Akshara looked down at him, gently brushing his hair. "He's really not okay... What do I do now?" she murmured. Then she sighed and smiled softly.

"After so many years, I'm seeing this moment again... I love you too, Abhi," she whispered, resting her head against his as she, too, drifted off to sleep in his arms.