Truly Yours

Chapter 19 - Close Yet Far

Abhimanyu walked into the Birla residence, picking up his pace as he got closer to the tall doors that opened up to the entrance. He was itching to see Akshara, sit her down, and tell her everything.

He didn't want to hide it anymore.

He knew it wasn't a big deal.

Especially given that Anushka didn't impact any part of his life. In fact, he forgot most days she was even there but today's incident had sent jitters down his spine.

He had fallen so deeply in love with Akshara.

The thought of anything even slightly getting in the way destroyed him completely.

He was scared to lose her.

"Akshara..." he yelled out her name as he entered the entrance. He knew she would be home by now. "Akshara..."

He frowned when he couldn't see her anywhere. In fact, he could not see anyone at all. Not even Ramu Kaka?

Furrowing his eyebrows, he walked to the other side of the residence until his eyes landed on the large French windows that opened to the backyard.

He paused when he noted that everyone was crowding around his wife who was holding on to her ankle with a pained look on her face.

"Akshara..." he panicked seeing her in pain. He didn't waste a second later as he took big strides to walk outside.

"What's going on? What the hell happened?" he asked as he made his way to the crowd.

Akshara jolted up straight away, as she noticed him.

"Abhi..." she whispered gently but he heard her. And she tried her hardest to give him a small smile which broke his heart all over again. He bent down next to her so that he was at her level, looking down to examine her ankle which he could see she was holding an iced pack over.

"Hey beautiful..." Abhimanyu whispered gently, "What happened?" he asked caressing her hair softly as she looked at him with her big doe eyes.

"Bhai... it's my fault" Neil spoke up, "I was playing with Shivu and I went to throw a little ball at him..."

"Except he lost his balance and Akshara managed to catch him from bumping his head just in time.... but fell in the process" Shefali finished.

"Neil..." Abhimanyu growled, couldn't he have been more careful?

"Abhi!" Akshara said firmly, covering his hand and then she shook her head gently.

"I'm really sorry bhabhi..." Neil said guiltily, he was hovering over the iced pack.

"Arre... it was an accident... I am so clumsy" Akshara giggled trying to lighten the mood but Abhimanyu gave her a hard stare causing her to gulp and shut up straight away.

"Abhi... take her to the room so she can rest please" Manjari requested, touching her son's back.

Abhimanyu nodded, not listening to Akshara's whelps and protests as he simply wrapped her up in his arms and picked her up bridal style, heading straight to the room.

***

In their room, Akshara's jaw dropped as she observed the tenderness and care with which Abhimanyu was taking care of her. He had straight away placed a pillow under her foot as soon as he had made sure she was comfortably laying in bed. Then, within the span of fifteen minutes, he had called for a doctor to review her, ordered pain medication, and organised for her to take a week off work.

Now, he was sitting on the end of her bed, icing her ankle which the doctor had deemed a simple sprain that would be better in a couple of days.

"Abhi..." Akshara groaned, "You heard the doctor... it's fine...."

"Does it hurt a lot?" he asked her, his expression more in pain than she was at that point in time.

She sighed, her adorable husband. How could she not fall in love with this man over and over again?

"No... it doesn't... please, can you please come lay with me?" she begged him.

"Akshara it's still swollen.. have you taken your medications?" he asked ignoring her request, as he continued to ice her ankle.

"Abhi please" she pouted, "please... all I want is you"

She closed her eyes, as she felt emotional and fatigued from the last few days. "Please... I've been missing you... I know work is busy.. please I just want you to rest next to me" she whispered, her upper lip now trembling. She somewhat felt embarrassed.

And instantly, Abhimanyu gave in, crawling up right next to her. He pulled her into him so that she could rest her head on his chest and she leaned up and pressed her lips against his.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I know it's been busy" he whispered rubbing his fingers up and down her back when they parted ways.

"Shhh... I know... I just want this" she whispered, letting herself slowly be lulled to sleep to the beat of his heartbeat.

"Sleep Akshu" Abhimanyu whispered pressing kisses on her forehead, his own heart feeling at peace having her in his arms.

Akshara was on the brink of sleep when she remembered something.

"Mmmm ... Abhi... I heard you when you came in.... you wanted me for something? what is it?" she asked blinking the sleep away as she turned to look up at him from his chest.

Abhimanyu took in a sharp breath.

Oh, he couldn't tell her.

She was so tired.

And she'd just injured herself.

They couldn't talk about it.

He bit his lip, "Sorry Akshu... I know I'm lying to you but I can't tell you everything right now... not when you are already injured. I can't stress you out" Abhi thought to himself.

"Arre nothing..." he whispered, "just wanted to let you know I'm home" he whispered kissing her forehead gently.

Akshara nodded against his chest as she closed her eyes and let sleep overcome her, laying in the arms of the man that held her whole entire heart.