Closure

24. Relief

The next day, when Abhi was sober, Neil recounted what had happened. Abhi could recall fragments of the events himself. Embarrassed, he joked to Neil, "No wonder she doesn't want to be around me. I keep acting like a complete idiot in front of her."

The following day, Abhi had to attend a medical camp. Coincidentally, it was located near the same place where the mental health camp had been held long ago, the place where he and Akshu had first met secretly. It was also close to the park by the lake where they had shared many special moments. As Abhi arrived, the familiar surroundings triggered a cascade of memories, overwhelming him. At one point, he sat down with his head in his hands as the memories flashed before him.

During lunch at the camp, Abhi met a little boy who had seen him and Akshu together before. The boy innocently asked, "Akshu didi didn't come today?"

Abhi was taken aback. Until now, the adults around him had been cautious. Those who knew him avoided talking about the past he had forgotten to prevent straining him, allowing him to recover naturally, while those who weren't as close never intervened. But a little kid's innocence shattered that barrier in an instant. Abhi was confused by what the child was saying. Normally, he would have told the kid he was mistaken for someone else. However, given the familiarity and closeness he felt to the place, he decided to dig deeper.

He opened his phone, searched for Akshu on the employee website, and showed her picture to the boy. "You mean her? You've seen me with her before?"

The boy nodded.

The world stopped for Abhi. The images he had been seeing were not just figments of his imagination; they were fragments of his past. The inexplicable pull he felt toward Akshu suddenly made perfect sense. He had known her before—known her intimately—but just how close had they been? A hundred questions swirled in his mind, and he knew there was only one person who could provide the answers.

As soon as his work at the camp ended, Abhi wasted no time. He found Akshu's home address in the employee database and made his way there, his heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and hope.

When Abhi reached the Goenka house, he felt a strange familiarity. The security guard, unaware of Abhi's condition, recognized him. "Abhimanyu Sir, nice to see you. It's been a long time."

Abhi was shocked by the recognition but managed to keep his composure. "Is Akshara home?" he asked calmly.

"Yes, Sir. Actually, only Akshara madam is home," the guard replied, surprised by Abhi's question. He wondered why Abhi hadn't called her and whether they had a fight, but he kept his thoughts to himself and maintained his boundaries.

Abhi navigated the house with an uncanny familiarity, his steps almost instinctual. As he approached Akshu's room, he noticed the door was open. Stepping inside, he was struck by the sight—a collage of their photos adorned the wall, a testament to their shared past. Just then, her voice drifted in softly, carrying a gentle melody. Unbeknownst to him, she was practicing on the veranda.

A sharp pang seared through his head, unleashing a torrent of memories. Abhi embraced the pain, recognizing it as a bridge to his past. Gradually, everything fell into place—he recalled every nuance of their relationship, from the tender moments to the fiery passion that bound them together. With clarity restored, he felt a deep sense of fulfillment, armed with all the answers he had sought.

He followed the melodic trail of her voice until he stood quietly behind her, overwhelmed by a rush of emotion. Softly, he murmured, "Akshu..."

Though hushed, Akshu heard it and paused in her singing. Turning around, she saw him standing there, a mixture of pain and longing in his eyes.

"Abhimanyu?" she asked tentatively, hope and uncertainty blending in her voice.

"It's not Abhimanyu. It's Abhi. Your Abhi."

Akshu's eyes widened in astonishment. Could it be true? Had he truly regained his memories?

Abhi pulled Akshu into a tight embrace, holding her as if he would never let go. "I remember, Akshu. I remember everything. I remember falling in love with you, and I remember why I can't imagine my life without you."

Tears welled up in Akshu's eyes as she hugged him back fiercely, overwhelmed with relief and joy. "I missed you so much, Abhi. I'm so glad you're back."

He gently pulled away, his hands cradling her face lovingly. "I can't imagine what you must have endured."

They wiped away each other's tears and embraced once more. After a while, Akshu's phone rang, but Abhi refused to release her.

Akshu chuckled softly, "You're not going to let me go today, huh?"

Abhi grinned, his eyes sparkling. "No. I have to make up for all the hugs we've missed. I'm not letting you go today." He tightened his embrace.

Akshu laughed joyfully, her heart full. Abhi then drew back slightly, his fingers gently tracing her face, his gaze intense with smoldering passion. Slowly, he lifted her chin, and their lips met in a tender kiss, sealing their rekindled bond with each other.

Breathless, Abhi whispered, "I have to make up for these too."

Akshu's heart raced as she blushed deeply, smiling shyly. She began, "You..." but before she could finish, Abhi planted another kiss on her lips, then moved to her eyes, and lightly on her cheeks.

Quickly, Akshu placed her hand over his mouth.

"Why?" Abhi muffled playfully, his voice barely audible under her touch.

She kissed his forehead tenderly and responded, "Everyone was so worried about you. Now that your memory is back, it's such good news—we should let everyone know." Then, admitting shyly, "And my heart is racing so fast, I feel like it might burst." 

Abhi grinned teasingly. "Just from this?" 

"Shh," she chuckled, playfully silencing him. 

She took his hand in hers, and together they decided to share their joy with everyone. In that moment, amidst the warmth of their intertwined fingers, Abhi and Akshu knew they had triumphed over yet another hurdle. Their love, unwavering and enduring, had once again emerged victorious.