A light in the flame

Chapter 9 - Turning to Ash ?

His hand coasted over her body, and she arched lazily into his touch. She let her mind float in this alternate universe. There was no time here, no consequences. Only the basic needs of pleasure, hunger, and warmth.

Abhimanyu played with her hair, which is now shorter than what he was used to. It suits her.

Everything suits my Akshu.

He kissed the side of her neck.

"I'm tired," she grumbled.

"What time is it?" she asked in a raspy voice.

"Five."

"I should get up," she said but made no move to do so.

"It's still snowing. I'll drive out and check the road in an hour or two. Sleep."

Before going to sleep, she kissed him the way she used to, before he shattered her world and made her feel like nothing.

-

She woke up on her side with the fire at her back. She opened one eye. Sunlight poured into the house marking a brand-new day. She was alone on the nest of blankets. He must be outside checking the roads.

Bracing for the pain she was sure to feel, she sat up. She used the couch for support as she slowly got to her feet and wrapped one of the stiff blankets around her and went to take a shower.

Through the mirror she saw and felt every mark on her body. He had used her well and made good on his promise because she could still feel him...

Looking more closely at her finger, the sunlight coming from the bathroom window made something in her left hand shine.

A ring.

Her wedding ring.

The one she gave up on that day.

The one she put on the divorce paper that he threw at her.

She becomes numb. He must have put it back on her finger while she was asleep...

I will not cry, i will not cry, i will not cry.

Akshara was conflicted, she was feeling emotional and angry.

She borrowed Abhimanyu's shirt, not having any choice. She removed the ring and put it in her bag.

She went to the kitchen and popped aspirin while she looked for something to eat. She decided to make a grilled cheese sandwich.

"Are you cooking something ?" Abhi said starting up Akshu.

"I made grilled cheese sandwiches and warming up soup."

She heard the sound of his heavy footfalls behind her. As she reached for another plate, two arms caged her against the counter and a large body pressed against her back.

"Night's over, Abhimanyu." she said quietly as he buried his face in her wet hair.

" I missed your smell," he murmured.

His hands slipped beneath her robe, she jumped, knocking his head backward. He swore as she whirled around.

" I said it's over ! Plus your hands are frozen !! "

He glared at her.

"You need to go by the fire."

"Why don't you warm me up instead ?"

He boosted her up on the counter. She shrieked when he buried his face into the crook of her neck.

"You're insane! Get off me ! "

He spread her legs and moved between them. She smacked his chest as his hands slipped beneath her robe and moved over her flesh.

"You're freezing," she whined and covered his cheeks and ears with her arms.

"You stupid man. You're going to get sick."

"I haven't been sick in years."

"Today might be your lucky day," she retorted.

"I know my limits."

When he pressed his cold nose against her cheek, she flinched.

"Warm me up, Akshu..."

"Seriously, Abhimanyu, you need to—"

She didn't finish because his phone started ringing.

Thank god.

He went to the room to check his phone, making her free again.

Hearing his phone remind her of her's. She went in search of her purse and pulled out her phone, which she had turned off after texting Kiara and Sid. When she turned it on, a flood of texts, emails, and voicemails greeted her.

"Shit."

As butter sizzled in the pan, she nuked the tomato tomato soup and listened to the first voicemail.

"Girl, I'm going to plant a tracking device in your ass," Kiara drawled.

"Do you know how worried I am ??? I called the hotel and they told me that you never came back ! How could you text me telling me not to worry and not giving any details while proceeding to turn off your phone ??? " Kiara was screaming at that point. "Dammit, Akshu, you're going to cost me my job. I couldn't do anything today ! Call me ASAP. I have something very urgent to talk to you about."

Not surprisingly, the next voicemail was from Sid, her Boss and friend.

"I don't know where you are, but be on time for our flight," Sid snapped. " Akshara, this isn't a game, I hope that you are safe, Paris can be very dangerous." She could hear voices and ringing phones in the background and imagined him pacing as he spoke to her. He ended the message with " Call me back the minute you get this. I'm worried about you."

Awww he is so sweet !

Deciding to call Kiara first, she called as she bit into her sandwich. She picked up in the middle of the first ring.

"I'm going to kill you."

"Hello to you too."

"Where the hell are you?"

"I'm still in Paris."

"Akshu ..."

Not having the energy to explain the Abhimanyu situation, she said " Don't worry Kiara i will explain everything at home"

" You better !!!"

" How are the kids ? My Betu is missing me ?" pouted Akshu.

"They are sleeping right now, it's almost midnight here ! Of course he misses his mommy !! But don't worry, everything is fine here, come back to us quickly !"

Akshara smiled hearing Kiara's words.

"Akshu actually ... I need to talk to you about something. It's very urgent." Akshara started feeling anxious hearing Kiara becoming serious all of a sudden.

"Kiara what happened ?"

" Listen, I have no idea how he knows about Abhir but ...You have received a letter from the court ... Abhimanyu is asking for full custody."

For several seconds, she didn't react. She couldn't.

He had just dropped a nuclear bomb on a world she was trying to rebuild and decimated the foundations to rubble. She thought she had gained some perspective and peace with the decisions she had made and with this night now have some closure with Abhimanyu, but with this letter, he shoved her back under the arctic waters of their past.

She was the wood. He was the flame. After this, they would be ash.

To be continued ...

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