AKSHNAV FF- Piya tose naina laage re

Chap 23- Cruel Fate

The day passed away and soon came the night. And that too a very dark and stormy night. Clouds roared with thundering sounds and the sky was so dark that not even a single star could be seen.

Arohi was walking down the staircase of the hotel. She was extremely tired after the conference.

"All I want is some nice dinner and a good night's rest," she said to herself as she walked towards her room.

Akshara was waiting for Abhinav. Abhir was already asleep.

She texted him- "kahan hain app? Kab tak ayenge ghar?"

She looked at the wallclock impatiently and leaned back. Just then, the doorbell rang. She was startled for a moment. Abhinav would never ring the doorbell. Two sisters Ridhi and Sidhi lived in one room of the house while a family of three had occupied the room next to the staircase. Ringing the doorbell meant disturbing everybody's sleep. Abhinav always gave a phone call to Akshara and she would open the door.

She walked towards the main door and opened it. There was another steel door with grills through which she could see a man in a driver's uniform standing there.

"Aap hain kaun?" she asked the man.

"I am Dr. Birla's driver. I am not well tonight. Dr. Birla had to immediately leave as one of his family members isnt well. Abhinav has gone to drop him home. He asked me to let you know." Saying so, the man left.

Akshara's heart started pounding in her chest. Why was all this happening? Just when she had made up her mind to statt her new life with Abhinav, the dark shadows of her bitter past were tormenting her.

"Tum mujhe akeka kyun nahi chor dete Abhimanyu," she whispered to herself,"kyun aye ho meri zindagi mein wapis!"

Meanwhile Abhinav was driving the car while Abhimanyu and Arohi were seated on the backseat.

"How much is the fever?" Abhimanyu asked Arohi.

"103,"  Arohi replied," she even has an upset stomach. I am suspecting acute gastroenteritis."

"Did she eat something from outside?" asked Abhimanyu.

"I dont think so," Arohi said.

They soon arrived at the gates of Birla mansion. Abhinav drove the car towards the parking space.

Abhimanyu and Arohi got down from the car and rushed inside.

"Ruhi......" said Arohi rushing towards her sick daughter and holding her in her embrace.

"Did she eat anything maa?" Abhimanyu asked Manjiri.

"She has vomitted about seven times," Manjiri said," I am so worried."

"I believe we need to start intravenous fluids and antibiotics before the infection spreads further," Abhimanyu said.

Meanwhile Abhinav was driving back to the hotel. His phone rang and he stopped the car to speak with Akshara.

"Abhinav," she said," aap hotel ke nazdeek waale mandir mein aa jaiye."

"Ye kya bol rahi hain aap?" he said,"itni raat ko.....kal chalte hain mandir."

"No Abhinav," she said," no more delays now. We will get married today and thats it." Saying so, she disconnected the phone call leaving Abhinav confused and worried.

"Chal naa Abhi," Manjiri said," mandir chalte hain."

"But maa, we need to take Ruhi to the hospital."

"Arohi aur tere papa jaa toh rahe hain uske saath. Mera mann bohot ghabra raha hai. Jab tak kanha ji ke darshan nahi honge, mujhe aise hi darr lagta rahega."

Abhimanyu finally agreed. Manjiri and Abhimanyu left for the temple in onecar while Arohi and Harsh took Ruhi to Birla hospital.

Fate plays with us in mysterious ways. The most unexpected things happen when everything seems alright. Abhimanyu stepped out of his car and removed his shoes outside the temple. Manjiri took the pooja thali and they both walked inside.

"Soch kya rahe hain Abhinav," Akshara said as they both sat in front of the havan kund while pandit ji chanted the vedic mantras.

"Yahi ki app kuch ajeeb sa behave kar rahin hain aaj," he said.

"Are maine kaha naa aapse ki aaj ka muhurt shubh hai. Aur koi baat nahi hai," she said trying her best to hide her fear.

They both then stood up for the pheras. Akshara's gaze caught sight of Abhimanyu and instantly she covered her face with her ghoonghat.

"What in the world is he doing here?"she thought.

"Maa," Abhimanyu said looking at Abhinav and his bride (he couldnt see Akshara as her face was covered with veil)," that man getting married there is the one who drove us home tonight. I must say he is a very humble and well behaved man."

Manjiri smiled and said," chal badhai dekar aate hain."

"Vivah sampann hua," the pandit said just as Abhimanyu and Manjiri arrived there.

"Are sirji aap," said Abhinav to Abhimanyu.

"Abhi and I want to congratulate you on your wedding," Manjiri said.

Akshara couldnt control her tears now. Fate was playing a really evil game on her now. The two people she had loved and trusted the most were the ones who had kicked her out of their lives. And now, here they were, standing right in front of her.

"Aap galat samajh rahe hain sirji," Abhinav said," We were married six years ago. Par ab saatvi salgirah par mrs. ka dubara shaadi karne ka mann tha."

Manjiri smiled and said," chaliye acha hai. Isi bahane chaudah janam toh pakke ho gye."

Akshara's hands clenched into fists. This was the same thing Manjiri had said when she and Abhimanyu had married the second time. For years she had waited and hoped that one day Manjiri and Abhimanyu would come to take her back. She cursed her foolishness.

Once Manjiri and Abhimanyu had left, Akshara removed her ghoonghat and said to Abhinav," let us go home now. The weather is not very safe."

While driving back home, Abhinav said to Akshara," Abhir is growing up so fast. We must start investing for his future."

Akshara nodded.

"Akshara ji," he said keeping his voice low," you are highly educated and accomplished. I think its best you start looking for a good job somewhere. That might help our financial condition somehow."

"I dont know Abhinav ji. I havent worked in these six years and........."

"Its never too late to begin Akshara ji."

"I will think about it," she said and leaned back on her seat.

Abhimanyu was attending to Ruhi in the hospital. She was severely dehydrated and not quite well.

"Abhi," said Harsh walking in," I have decided to open our new branch "Mehrotra Kids Hospital" this week."

Manjiri looked at him with wide eyes.

"The Birla Hospital was built on the funds provided by Dr. Mehrotra, your naanu. But it never had his name. So its only fair that our new branch is named after him."

Manjiri was elated.

Abhimanyu said," So soon? We havent even recruited the entire staff yet!"

"I am going to get advertisements printed in the newspapers. Recruting the medical staff will not be an issue. Since its a kids hospital, we will be needing ward mothers for each ward. We need to recruit seven ward mothers."

"Ward mothers?" Abhimanyu asked him.

"Yes," Harsh said," Not all parents can stay with their kids in the hospital. Some have work commitments while there are also children who come from boarding schools."

"I believe Dr. Neha can deal with this," Abhimanyu said," she is our leading pediatrician afterall."