Closure

3. Hide and Seek

After dinner, Manish told Akshu that he wanted to talk. He urged her to explain what he had done wrong that made her defy him and the family in this way. Akshu was shocked to hear him say that. Manish continued his emotional manipulation, saying, "If I were your real father, you wouldn't have done this." Finally, he summed up by expressing how hurt he was by Akshu, the sunshine of his life, and how he never thought she would behave this way.

Akshu took a moment to gather her thoughts. The Akshu who hadn't met Abhi, who hadn't fallen in love with him, would have instantly felt guilty at Manish's words and apologized. But the Akshu of today, strengthened by Abhi's presence in her life, had learned to stand up for herself.

Softly, she began, "I have always known you as a father figure in my life, and you have no idea how grateful I have been every day for that. It saddens me that I have disappointed you. But Bade Papa, I would never hurt you or anyone intentionally. The truth is, it's not that I have changed, but I was always right there in front of you, and yet you never saw me. Only Abhi did, Bade Papa. I was there, yet I felt invisible, lonely. Abhi tried to pull me out of that darkness. And now you want to take that away too."

Towards the end, Akshu became overwhelmed with emotion and hurried away to her room.

Manish was once again taken aback by Akshu's words. The Akshu who had always been smiling around him had never revealed her inner struggles. Now, he could see the profound impact Abhi had on her in such a short time. She was articulating her feelings, which forced Manish to introspect for the first time.

In the Birla house, Harshavardhan Birla sat at the dinner table, continuously throwing indirect jabs at Abhi. He criticized how the reputation of the Birlas and their hospital was affected because their top highly-educated surgeon had turned into a "Romeo," and how people were laughing at them because of it. Abhi felt the urge to retaliate but restrained himself as usual, mindful of his mother's presence. However, Harshavardhan did not relent.

"Ma, please tell my father that he doesn't need to strain his brain trying to understand why I did what I did or what Akshu means to me," Abhi finally interjected. "It's an emotion too alien for him. It's called love. I'm done with breakfast; I'm heading to the hospital."

Abhi then rose from his seat, touched Manjiri's feet, and left, leaving half of his unfinished breakfast on the table. Manjiri tried to stop him and asked him to finish his breakfast, but he departed without looking back. It wasn't an unusual scene at the Birla dining table, though. Abhi often left abruptly.

Abhi and Akshu remained in touch through messages, well aware of the strained situations in both their households. Meeting freely was not an option as it could exacerbate their problems. Akshu could no longer work at Birla Hospital, eliminating the chance of running into each other there. But despite these obstacles, their love for each other only deepened with time. Their love was a bond forged in the deepest recesses of their hearts, unbreakable by any distance or obstacle. Each day that passed drew them closer together, their souls intertwining with a magnetic pull that defied the physical world.

While exploring job opportunities, Akshu stumbled upon a mental health camp organized by UNICEF for child abuse victims nearby. She decided to volunteer for the camp and shared this with Abhi. They devised a plan to meet there—Abhi, despite being a cardiac surgeon with no direct role in mental health camps, could still attend as a prominent figure in the city's health industry.

And so they finally met. When Abhi caught sight of her, he couldn't contain his joy. He lifted Akshu up and twirled her around in his arms, both of them beaming with happiness.

"I missed you," Abhi exclaimed.

"Me too," Akshu replied softly.

Akshu then mentioned she was heading for a session and invited Abhi to join her. They made their way to an open garden where Akshu planned to sing for the children.

There, Akshu sat with her guitar in hand, surrounded by children in a circle. Abhi positioned himself a little distance away, gazing at her with eyes filled with adoration, as if he were beholding an angel on earth. And in his heart, she truly was his angel.

For years, Abhi had lived a life shaped by the discord he witnessed between his parents, leading him to doubt the existence of love and swear off marriage. His dedication lay solely in cardiology, saving lives, and finding comfort in music to drown out negativity. But the day he first heard Akshu's voice, everything changed. Her singing had a calming effect on him like nothing else could. Now, here he stood, a man who once didn't believe in love, staring at the love of his life with both eyes brimming with affection.

As Akshu began to sing, the melody filled the air, touching the hearts of everyone present, including Abhi, who listened with a sense of awe and deep admiration for the woman who had transformed his world.

"Maine tere liye hi 

Saat rang ke sapne chune

Sapne sureele sapne

Kuch hanste, kuch gum ke

Teri ankhon ke saaye churaaye

Raseeli yaadon ne

..."

After Akshu finished singing, Abhi couldn't hold back his tears. He watched as the children clapped and some of them hugged her, overwhelmed by the beauty of her voice and the warmth she radiated. Standing there, he felt incredibly fortunate to have her in his life.

Later, Abhi and Akshu found a peaceful spot near a river at the camp. They sat together, each with a "methidana" juice in hand, savoring the moment and watching the sun set. It was a serene scene, with only the sounds of nature surrounding them. Abhi gently took Akshu's hand in his, holding it close as she rested her head on his shoulder. In this quiet moment, they found solace in the silent language of their intertwined souls, a testament to the deep, unspoken bond of their love.