The Birlas' - IKSHANA

Chapter-24: Impact

At Birla Hospital, In Abhimanyu's Cabin:

Abhimanyu was still in his cabin, trying to get rid of the nagging guilt that was threatening to engulf him again. He didn't want to ultimately end up taking the blame just like he did in the past. He tried to play Neil's words in his mind on loop to get over the urge to take a guilt trip. They had quite an Impact on him the other day. He was hoping for a repeat of it. Suddenly, the door was pushed open and Neil barged in startling Abhimanyu out of his thoughts. 

Neil crossed the distance between them and hugged Abhimanyu who was still sitting in his chair. He let Neil comfort him because he genuinely needed it. As soon as Anahita texted him about Arohi's visit, he rushed to be there with his Bhaiyya. He didn't want his Bhaiyya's resolve to lapse. As soon as he entered the cabin and saw the expression his Bhaiyya's face, he knew he was in turmoil. 

He gently pulled back and offered a glass of water to Abhimanyu who didn't realize that he was indeed thirsty. Neil waited with bated breath for him to say something about Arohi. He couldn't afford him closing off, not before he even started taking prominent steps towards healing. 

"Bhai! Aap theek ho?" He couldn't hold back his concern. The silence from Abhimanyu was getting on his nerves. 

"Nahin" Abhimanyu replied honestly. 

Neil dropped on the floor on his knees in front of Abhimanyu and placed his head in his lap. He was so happy that his Bhaiyya was not closing off but at the same time, his pain got to Neil. 

"Aap please kisi cheez keliye khud ko blame mat karo Bhai. Aapki koi galti nahi hain. Don't go on a guilt trip please. Mujhe nahi pata us Choti Chudail ne aapse kya kaha but don't hop on a guilt trip" He said with his head still in Abhimanyu's lap.

Abhimanyu, who was gently tracing his fingers in Neil's hair, stopped what he was doing as he heard Neil speak. The word Chudail earned Neil a slight smack on his head.

"Woh tumse badi hai Neil. Yeh kya naam de raha hai tu? What's up with your language?" Abhimanyu chided him. 

Neil pulled back while rubbing the back of his head and snickered back, "Aapko us word ke alawa bhi meri baat sunayi di? Main kya keh raha tha aur aap...." Abhimanyu caught Neil off guard when he bent to embrace him. Neil froze.

"Maine suni teri baat aur shayad wahi sun na tha mujhe. You just saved me from so much pain Neil. Tujhe koi idea nahi hai tune kya kiya. Thank you Bacha" 

Abhimanyu spoke through the hug with glistened up eyes. Neil's eyes were moist too. Abhimanyu pulled back and cupped Neil's face in both his palms, 

"Tu hai na.... mujhe kaise kuch ho sakta hain? Tu kabhi hone hi nahi deta" he said looking fondly at Neil. 

"Aap ab theek ho? Baat karoge?" Neil asked with concern laced in his voice.

"Jab tu aaya, tab nahi tha. As usual khud ko blame kar raha tha" Neil glared him.

"Tab main sirf teri baatein yaad karne ki koshish kar raha tha. Tujhe call karnewala tha per itne mein tu hi aa gaya. Tu paas hota hai na Bacha....toh himmat milti hain to fight my inner demons" Abhimanyu spoke gently. 

Honesty was dripping from his voice which overwhelmed Neil. His brother thinking so highly of him even after he got to know what all he has done behind his back was too overwhelming for Neil. He knew his Bhaiyya forgave him but he didn't expect him to put everything behind so soon. He was prepared to convince him to give him a fair chance to prove himself worthy of his love but he was so wrong. 

Abhimanyu always said that none of his kids need to prove their love to him ever and he was not bluffing then. He treated him fairly by upholding the promise even if it was tough on his moral scale. He went out of his way and gave him a chance. The value his words and actions hold in his Bhaiyya's life was clear as crystal to him. If he indeed has so much Impact on Abhimanyu Birla, his father, he will always strive to choose the words wisely and act accordingly. That was a promise he made to himself that moment and he plans to never break it.