FAMILY BEFORE ANYTHING - 3

CHAPTER - 12

"Don't you have to go to the office?" Abhimanyu asked, tightening his embrace as he spooned his wife in bed. Akshara made a face and snuggled deeper into his chest. She didn't even know when and how they got into bedroom but she could only hope that no one saw them. With Anya already at the office, Ajay getting ready to hospital, Arav reading some novel, and her bhaiyya in anger, she isn't sure. Anyways, that doesn't matter now, does it! She is finally in her husband's arms, who isn't only talking to her but also smiling at her.

"Akshara..."

"I don't want to go." She mumbled.

"But you need to go, baby. Hai na?" He asked softly, for which she nodded. Without Aryan's active participation, Akshara's workload increased. She was handling everything, delegating work to competent people, trying as much as she could to cut down her work, but there are few things which only she could handle.

Now that her husband isn't angry at her anymore, maybe she could convince him to let go of that bodyguard thing. She slowly looked up from his chest "Abhi.." Her voice so sweet that Abhimanyu knew what was coming. If it was any other matter, he would have agreed to anything his wife said after a make out session like that, but her health is an exception. After an year of being her husband, he isn't shocked anymore with her tricks. He let his wife have her way with almost everything but he drew lines, firm ones, at few things. 

"Don't bother trying Akshara. Even if I relent now, your brother won't. Be a good girl, and get on with the work. Come on. Go!!" He tried to pull her out but the woman didn't move.

"You are all mean!! No one loves me! Bhaiyya gussa karke chale gaye. You didn't talk to me for one whole day.." Before she could continue, Abhimanyu intervened "And you woman, put yourself in danger by deciding to fast. For all the trauma we went through last year, you have no right to do this. None of us deserve it. Mai bhi kardu fast? Shall I not take my medicines for a day? Or maybe I could spend an hour or two more in gym exhausting myself to the point of fainting. No?" He lashed out but when he saw the smile on his wife's smile, he is annoyed "Nothing to smile, Akshara!" He taunted but she just widened her smile.

"I see a lot of progress, Abhi. I am really proud of you. From hating confrontations to overcoming the trauma, just because I asked you to... Only you could do this. 2 more fights like this, you will be sure that we don't end up like your parents. Good going, Abhimanyu Birla." She kissed his forehead and got out of his embrace but he pulled her back "Don't tell me you did all this just to check my progress." His tone had an edge which wasn't missed by his wife.

Akshara rolled her eyes "Trust me, Abhi! I would rather drink a tumbler full of orange juice than be at the end of your anger. I don't like it when you are angry at me. My saner part of brain stops functioning. Aap mujhse gussa the and I shouted at everyone, including bhaiyya!! And I am in a bigger mess now. It's all your fault, Mr. Birla. You better give into my every whim for the next 2 weeks!" 

Abhimanyu relaxed as he heard her. He didn't know what he would have done if his wife actually did that just to check his progress. He bent down a little and kissed her forehead. In that moment, all he wanted was to go for an another round, but he somehow controlled himself and let her take the shower. 

By the time Akshara walked back, a glass of Orange juice awaited her. She looked at her husband, who had a stupid smile on his face. Before she could do or ask anything, her husband raised his hands "Aryan ne bejha. I have nothing to do with this." He gave a quick peck to her lips before he walked away.

Akshara never struggled as much as she is while drinking the godforsaken juice. 

Abhimanyu walked out of the shower, half naked, rubbing a towel through his wet hair, only to find his wife struggling and making faces at the juice. As much as he found her adorable, he couldn't help but tease her for drinking the juice without any kind of protest/complaint. That was so unlike his wife and he wanted to know what made her so compliant.