Closure

21. Confusion

Akshu joined Birla Hospital as a music therapist, her heart heavy with the hope that Abhi would eventually remember her. On her first day, she walked through the corridor with her guitar slung over her shoulder, her steps slow and deliberate. She felt a pang of longing as she saw Abhi approaching from the other end, his presence stirring a mix of joy and sorrow within her.

"Hey," Abhi said, his voice friendly yet unfamiliar. "I realized I haven't introduced myself. I'm Dr. Abhimanyu Birla." His gaze lingered on the guitar. "I didn't know you played guitar."

Akshu managed a smile, her heart aching. "Hello, nice to meet you, Dr. Abhimanyu. I'm Akshara Goenka. I just joined as a music therapist a few days ago, and today is my first official day."

"Music therapist?" Abhi's brow furrowed slightly. "I think I saw you in my room when I was admitted a while back. I thought you were part of Dr. Sinha's medical team."

Akshu was taken aback by how observant he had been and that he remembered seeing her. "You must have been mistaken. Like I said, I just joined as a music therapist."

"Oh," Abhi replied, smiling. "Must have been someone who resembled you, I guess."

They parted ways, but neither could shake the lingering impact of their encounter. Akshu's heart was in turmoil, the act of pretending not to know him tearing at her soul. She was so accustomed to greeting him with a warm hug that the enforced distance was unbearable. Meanwhile, Abhi was deeply puzzled by the inexplicable pull he felt towards her, a hazy connection that eluded his grasp, leaving him frustrated and yearning for clarity.

One day, as Abhi was walking to his cabin, he saw Akshu in a room with a young patient. She was smiling, her laughter light and melodic as she played with the child. The scene brought an unexpected smile to Abhi's face, his heart picking up its pace. The inexplicable emotions swirled within him, leaving him bewildered as he retreated to his cabin.

Inside, Abhi paced back and forth, trying to understand the turmoil within him. He sat at his laptop, searching for Akshara Goenka in the employee database. Her file was ordinary, revealing nothing extraordinary, but he found himself staring at her picture, his heart aching with an unnameable longing. Frustrated, he shut the laptop, the answers eluding him.

The next day, he saw her eating alone in the cafeteria. Mustering his courage, he walked up to her and asked, "Can I join you?"

Akshu nodded, her heart racing. The rest of the staff at the cafeteria exchanged surprised glances. Dr. Abhimanyu Birla, known for his cold demeanor and indifference despite being pursued by many, had willingly approached another woman.

They ate together in silence, Akshu nibbling on a burger with fries while Abhi picked at his healthy salad. Unable to help himself, Abhi commented, "I don't mean to intrude, but your plate looks like a fast track to a junk food coma. You should really try something healthier, like my salad. It's got pecans for a nice crunch. Want to try?"

His words, so reminiscent of the Abhi she knew, brought a rush of memories and emotions. Overwhelmed and frustrated by the distance between them despite the physical proximity, Akshu stood up abruptly. "I'm sorry, I have to leave. Have a good day," she said, her voice trembling, before walking away.

Abhi watched her go, noticing the sadness in her eyes and the tears threatening to spill. "Did I say something wrong?" he murmured to himself, feeling a deep, unexplainable regret.