Closure

22. Anguish

The next week marked the anniversary of Birla Hospital's founding, a grand occasion celebrated with a lavish party at the five-star Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur.

On the day of the party, Abhi, being a Birla, was among the first to arrive at the venue. He had chosen a sleek black suit for the evening, paired with a black shirt with the top two buttons undone, adding a touch of casual elegance to his look. As soon as he arrived, his eyes began searching for Akshu. He couldn't deny his desire to talk to her, to understand why she had abruptly left the cafeteria the other day. Deep down, he knew he was seeking excuses to be near her. The inexplicable pull towards her was something he had stopped questioning; he had surrendered to the fact that she was the only woman who captured his attention.

When Abhi finally spotted Akshu, he felt breathless. She was a vision in a black tie-strap maxi dress, paired with delicate silver jewelry. She looked stunning, and the sight of her stirred a familiar yet alien ache in his heart. Gathering his courage, he walked up to her. Just as he reached her, Akshu stumbled, and he instinctively reached out to steady her, his hand wrapping around hers.

"Careful," he said softly, mesmerized by her presence. He forgot to let go of her hand even after she was back on her feet.

Akshu gently twisted her hand free. "Oh, sorry... I mean... Are you okay?" Abhi stammered.

"Yes," Akshu replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Abhi was about to strike up a conversation when Dr. Sunaina, one of the many doctors with a crush on him, approached. Tipsy from the party's drinks, she had finally mustered the courage to talk to him. Abhi, ever the gentleman, ensured she was not embarrassed and guided her to a chair, making sure she was comfortable and safe.

From afar, Akshu watched, her heart twisting with jealousy. Feeling a pang of hurt, she quietly slipped away to the secluded garden outside.

There, on an empty bench, she sat with her phone, scrolling through pictures of her and Abhi, tears streaming down her face. She clutched the phone to her chest, closing her eyes and wishing for the return of her Abhi, the man who remembered and loved her.

Abhi spotted her sitting alone in the garden, a magnetic pull drawing him towards her. Quietly kneeling in front of her, he softly asked, "Hey, are you alright?" His voice carried genuine concern, hoping to comfort her in whatever was troubling her.

Akshu opened her eyes, overwhelmed. She smiled through her tears and, in a moment of raw emotion, hugged him tightly. "Abhi..."

Taken aback, Abhi didn't withdraw. Instead, a wave of inexplicable familiarity washed over him, urging him to embrace her, yet uncertainty rooted him in place. As Akshu pulled back, her expression inscrutable, Abhi tenderly brushed away her tears with his fingertips, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Their breaths quickened, and Abhi found himself lost in her proximity, the moment feeling profoundly natural.

He moved closer, his heart pounding, but Akshu suddenly pulled back, reality crashing down on her. She stood up and hurried back inside, leaving Abhi there, bewildered.

"What just happened?" he murmured to himself, trying to gather his composure.

Determined to apologize, he rushed back inside, only to find that Akshu had already left the venue. She had gone home, leaving Abhi with a deep sense of longing and confusion.