Discordance

Chapter Twenty-Four

Akshara once again woke up with Abhimanyu's arm thrown around her waist and her back plastered to his front. How the hell did it keep happening? Since that night out, they had been sleeping in the same bed and as much as Akhara loved it she despised it just as much. Because it caused feelings to bubble up inside her that she didn't know how to manage and it fucked with her head deeply.

All those nights she had somehow ended up on his side of the bed, sometimes sleeping directly on top of him or sometimes like this where if he didn't hold her close he would have ended up on the floor. She had protested initially to go back to her couch, but he had looked so downtrodden at the suggestion that she didn't feel like disappointing him, plus as an added bonus he was always so warm and comfortable that she had the best sleeps ever.

She wiggled needing to get up and put some distance between them now that she was awake and conscious because the two of them never spoke about the cuddling once they were up and about. Initially Abhimanyu had tried to broach the subject but Akshara hadn't been able to meet his eyes, red in the face from embarrassment, mouth agape in horror and he had dropped it immediately.

"Mmm five more minutes please monkey, I had a long night" he moaned and before she could say anything she was pulled flush against him, the breath leaving her mouth in a loud gasp. His arm was banded tight over her waist and Akshara placed her arm on top of his, to move his of course, but that contact felt so good that she left it there and tried to calm her racing heart.

After a while when she heard his soft snores from behind her, she carefully inched her way out of his hold and went about getting dressed for the day, leaving him on their bed with one lasting glance. At least he had begun to wear his shirts to bed because if he didn't she wouldn't know how to behave.

Akshara had some time before she was supposed to leave and she was suddenly in the mood to cook for the family, but as she made her way to the kitchen Manjari was already there humming by the stove, instructing the staff to hand her the ingredients, and set up the table for breakfast. Akshara felt such a surge of joy at the sight that she skipped over and hugged her from behind, resting her head on her shoulder watching her stir the poha on the stove. Her heart felt right when Manjari ran a hand through her head "you're up early." She said as she stroked her hair with one hand and continued to cook with the other, the gesture so motherly that Akshara wanted to cry.

"Yeah your irritating son was snoring loudly in my ear." She grinned before biting her tongue and turning red. Manjari immediately stopped cooking and turned to her, her eyes held a joy that Akshara wasn't sure she deserved to see. Suddenly shy she began to move out of the kitchen slowly "yeah, umm I'm going to go..."

"Oh no, no you don't" Manjari said and pulled her back before cupping her cheeks "you're happy? My Abhi makes you happy?" Akshara knew what she was insinuating but the answer was already on her lips. Of course Abhimanyu made her happy, in fact she had never been happier, he was so thoughtful and sweet towards her that all her walls were crumbling.

She played with the bottom of her dupatta, too shy to meet her Mother in law's eyes but she nodded hesitantly "yeah, he is very sweet"

"Akshu I-" manjari ma began before turning to the stove "I'm sorry. I know I twisted his arm into marrying you and you agreed under duress as well. I went about it all wrong but you were so sweet and kind and I loved you the first time I met you and I just knew you were meant for my Abhi. But I really am sorry" Akshara was horrified to see genuine tears in her eyes

"No please don't" she whispered but Manjari Aunty kept crying even as Akshara hugged her

"I sometimes wonder If I messed up, but the way I see the two of you look at each other makes it so obvious that you love each other" she finally said wiping her eyes with her pallu but Akshara remained frozen in that hug. Lo- love?