Discordance

Chapter Forty-Five

She had no plans to tell him that she loved him but then she had accidentally heard him berating Ishika and something in her had just snapped. Akshara had known that he hadn't lied to her about the breakfast meeting or just not talking to her in general but to have him yell it out loud made her want to have hope and faith in them and their marriage. If he was trying this hard, surely, she could get over her apprehension and show him that he mattered to her somehow.

Akshara had meant every word because as much as she tried to tell herself otherwise, Abhimanyu had left his stamp on her heart and there was no escaping it. She could try and run away because it hurt too damn much but Diksha had been right, she couldn't protect her heart from falling for him, it was already too late. Living without him was torture and while she had been disappointed about the way he handled things with his ex, she also had come to the conclusion that since she never experienced a past romantic love for anyone like him, she couldn't understand or comprehend how she would have navigated it if she was in his place.

The bottom line was that she would rather give him a chance than push him away and watch him be miserable and depressed like he currently was. Akshara had a deep-rooted sadness within her because of her upbringing and her family and Abhimanyu's love was a blanket over her heart, a softness that only he could provide, and she wanted to jump into the unknown with him and to make sure he knew he too was loved and as was equally if not more precious to her.

"Again" he begged in a hoarse voice and Akshara crashed back to reality, smirking slightly into his neck.

"I love you." She mumbled, sighing happily when he tightened his hold on her, kissing her hair.

"I almost don't want to let you go because I feel like this is a fever dream and you will be gone when I wake up" this should have been one of the happiest moments of their life but hearing him sound so glum was piercing her heart with small, tiny arrows. She didn't want him to be sad, she just wanted him to go back to being her Abhimanyu.

Sighing once, she slowly untangled herself, she couldn't fix his misgivings all in one day. He had fixed hers with blood, sweat and tears and she too will do the same for him. He had time and again shown her that he was her rock and his love was infinite, and now that his beliefs in himself were on shaky grounds, she would hold the foundation strong.

Pulling him up, she began to put their glasses away instructing him quietly to move the table where she wanted it to so they could fit the mattress in front of the couch. Akshara tilted her head watching Abhimanyu fix their bed, pulling the sheets immaculately so there were no creases found and she almost let out a small giggle at it. God, how had she not realized she was stupidly in love with this man?

When he was done, he gave their bedding a quick appraisal pulling the top sheet taut and she let out a loud guffaw at his idiosyncrasies. Slowly Abhimanyu turned to her with a hesitant smile, and Akshara felt it like a punch in her gut, he still looked unwell with pits under his eyes and his sunken cheeks. He desperately needed rest and it was already so late in the night.

"I'm soooo sleepy" she faked a yawn and Abhimanyu nodded at her instantly before rubbing the back of his neck. She didn't need his words to know that he was nervous, but it was so out of character for him that she really wasn't sure how to make him believe and hope. He was the one who always had silly hope.

Akshara walked over and jumped on the mattress before falling flat on it giggling loudly at the bounce, but Abhimanyu didn't even reprimand her for spoiling his hard work. With a loud groan she pulled hard on his hand, causing him to drop on his knees next to her "It's time to sleep. Diksha needs her breakfast and meds early in the morning so c'mon." Slowly he extended his long legs and stretched out behind her.