Contractually Yours | 𝒂𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒏𝒂𝒗

chapter 2

the chapter has been edited and extended
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akshara :

The lawyer was being honest.
"I doubt you can win this case, ma'am. Although you are the mother, Abhimanyu personally knows the judge. He had done a surgery that saved the judge's son's life. We can expect a personal bias. Also, Abhimanyu had the complete family card to play.", He said sighing,

"But I will give my hundred percent."

Now who is going to tell him hundred percent is not enough!
I needed to desperately win this case.
Anyhow.

"Do you think if I get married or something, things can work out?", I asked immediately.

The lawyer paused, and then inhaled deeply.

"I can't be sure but it might.", He replied.

I sighed as I stood up.
"What about the other guy in your life?", The lawyer asked.

"He is probably happy somewhere else.", I sighed, wishing, he truly was as I dragged myself out of his cabin.
I sat down at a seat near the reception, burying my face in my hands.

The memories flashed before my eyes.

Abhimanyu came back, with apology.
Heartfelt, earnest apology, it was.
And I fell for it.
How sweet, gullible and dumb of me, really.
Abhir too, did not dislike his Doc Man. Infact, they did bond well.
My heart wanted to go back to my family, my home.
Somewhere the guilt of Neil's death still burdened me, and it wasn't fair, how things had ended with that family.
I was too empathetic for my own good.

Somewhere, deep down, I too felt - maybe, just maybe, Neil could have been saved.
He could have lived happily.
And at that moment, Abhi was not in his senses.
Probably it was just that one time of overreaction.
What's the harm in giving him a second chance?
Now that he was regretting?

All of it happened quietly.
The divorce, to which, after some reluctance, Abhinav agreed.
But, Abhir - he had been hell bent on staying with his Papa.
I had almost decided against the divorce when Abhimanyu finally managed to coax the child into coming with him.
Abhinav too, had been helpful.
He had forced a smile and reassured Abhir that he would always love him, and that their bond was unbreakable.
Yet, Doc Man, would love him too.

It was in that part of the story, the last chapter of our tale, where I realised - Abhinav was a gentleman who deserved true love.
Someone who would value him for who he was, love him the way he should be loved.

A real marriage, a real wife and he should have his child too.
He would make a wonderful father.

I had immense respect and gratefulness for him, before - but now it increased a hundred folds.

I sighed.
Deep down, I knew, I had chosen stone over diamond.

And now, I had to bear the repercussions.
I stood up, and dragged myself out.

•

abhinav :

I was at the club, sipping on sweet lime soda.
I hated the environment around me.
Alcohol, smoking and drugs, along with all the loud music.