Discordance

Chapter Twenty

Everyone kept blaming her, including Abhimanyu, about how she had spoiled his life and taken him away from his true love but why couldn't anyone understand that she too was coerced into this? She hadn't meant to ruin his life. But like always all the blame of ruining people's lives fell on her shoulders, she sniffled sitting under the shower stream, bringing her knees to her chest.

The entire family had apologized to her but Abhimanyu had apologized so many times that she was surprised his mouth wasn't permanently drawn into the shape of a sorry. But nobody seemed to be getting that the number of times she had been blamed for ruining people's lives was so vast that even if people didn't mean it anymore she would internalize it. Maybe not about her parents because she was a mere child, but had she not ruined Abhimanyu's life? His family's? Or at least that's what her bade papa had told her as he squeezed her arm when they were left alone after the pooja.

Akshara had gone back to drawing into her shell completely, barely eating and sleeping, barely existing, if she was honest with herself but the gloom was so dark and thick around her that even when she tried to smile at Abhimanyu when he intentionally picked fights with her, her mouth could only form a grimace. Logically she knew that the daadi was a bitch but nobody likes being berated in front of hundreds of strangers for something she hadn't done and to add to it, her bade papa had hurt her again because of it. She was doing so well away from him and now she was back right where she had started.

The one good thing to come out of this was that Rishi Bhai had called her daily and texted her. Their fallout had hurt the worst because while she liked to believe she was close to her brothers, Rishi was the one who was in sync with her the most, who suspected when things were awry and who stood up for her. Him being pissed at her for not telling him the reason to get married while logical was also incredibly isolating. The secrets between them too vast.

Finally mustering up the courage to get up and get dressed for bed, Akshara got out of the bathroom drying her dripping hair only to run into Abhimanyu who for some reason always seemed to be looking at her like she held all the answers to his problems. His eyes were too inquisitive, and she had to keep breaking their eye contact or he would make her say and do things that would create a domino effect so loud and unbearable that everything would be swept away in it.

"No, no more of this. Enough" he said using his finger to tilt her chin up and force her to stare at his deep eyes swirling with misery. "Please give me back my monkey, it hurts to see you like this. Tell me what I can do to ease your agony." He whispered and she had to blink back tears at the genuine ache in his voice.

"I'm sorry I fucked up, I should've never let her talk to you like that to begin with. I was just too stunned at what was happening and everything happened so quickly that by the time I could wrap my head around it, it was too late. I know that was no excuse and you should be my first priority as my wife, but I promise to never let her near you if that's what you want." He said earnestly but Akshara really wasn't mad at him, he had stood up for her, way more than anyone in her life had ever done. She just kept thinking how all of this was affecting him since he was the one who had to live with her but be in love with someone else. Before she could say another word he rambled on "I have known her all my life so to disrespect her was hard but I lost all respect for her the moment she said what she did to you. I am so so sorry that you got hurt in the crossfire."

"It's okay Abhimanyu" she whispered softly before patting his chest once and walking away to sit on her couch.

"No it's not, I want my monkey back." He said following her before suddenly a gleam came over his eyes "You remember how you owe me for that night at the shelter?"

Immediately Akshara's panic rose, what would he ask of her? Nodding hesitantly, she looked at him wide eyed.

"Well I want you to spend one night with me" immediately her body stilled, was he saying what she thought he was? No, Abhimanyu wasn't the type...Noting her stunned features Abhimanyu grinned at her and ruffled her hair "Not like that you creep, just as a dinner talk drinks etc. Like a date."