Closure

31. Frock and Flames

Three grand events were lined up for the upcoming weekend: the Sangeet on Saturday evening, the Haldi ceremony the next morning, and the wedding that very evening. As Thursday dawned, both Akshu and Abhi found themselves caught in a whirlpool of nerves and excitement.

Over the past few months, Akshu had grown close to a couple of junior doctors at Birla Hospital, Jasmine and Chhavi, who had been relentlessly urging her to have a bachelorette party before her wedding. When Abhi caught wind of their plans, he encouraged Akshu to go and have some fun. On Abhi's encouragement, Akshu decided to attend the bachelorette party that Thursday evening.

Abhi was in his room when Neil knocked on his door. "Come in," Abhi called out, and Neil entered, looking uneasy.

"Bhai, I just heard from Dr. Ajay at the hospital about the bachelorette party tonight. Sorry to interfere, but Bourbon Coke isn't a good choice. It has a bad reputation—people tend to get excessively drunk and things often spiral out of control."

Abhi was taken aback. He had distinctly heard "Urban Oak" when he asked Jasmine about the location—a respectable restaurant with an attached karaoke. Realizing he had misheard, he grabbed his keys and hurried out.

Akshu, dressed in a dark blue frock with buttons down the front, had been kept in the dark about the location too. When she arrived, she was far from thrilled but tried to enjoy herself. However, an accidental mix-up led to her being served vodka-spiked orange juice instead of the plain juice she had ordered. Unaware of the switch, Akshu continued to drink.

By the time Abhi arrived, Akshu was tipsy. Her face lit up when she saw him, and she excitedly got up to hug him. "Abhi!" she exclaimed, clinging to him.

Abhi quickly assessed the situation. "Akshu doesn't drink. Why would you bring her here and let this happen?" he demanded of Jasmine and Chhavi.

Jasmine defended herself, "We came because of a discount offer, and Akshara ordered the drink herself."

"You should have considered the atmosphere and the crowd here, too. This place isn't appropriate," Abhi admonished, causing the girls to lower their heads in guilt. "I'm taking Akshu home now," he declared.

As they drove back, Akshu, still tipsy, looked at Abhi and said, "Abhi, you look hot. Did I tell you? You always look hot, no matter what you wear... or don't wear." She giggled, adding, "I'm so lucky to have you, my hot potato."

Abhi chuckled, "Hot potato?"

"Mmm-hmm," Akshu replied adorably.

Akshu kept rambling on and on. Then, out of the blue, the car broke down. With no public transport around and all the cab drivers on strike, their only choice was to arrange for another car. Abhi called Neil for help, but Neil soon reported that the bridge connecting them had collapsed. The only option was a detour that would take at least 2 to 3 hours. With no other alternatives, Abhi and Akshu decided to stay at a nearby motel while they waited for Neil. It was the very same place they had stayed before and had gotten a little drunk.

Akshu was having trouble walking steadily, so Abhi gently lifted her and carried her inside. As he began to lower her onto the bed, she clung to his collar. Once she was settled on the bed, she pulled him closer by the collar.

"Are we going to sleep together?" she asked innocently.

Abhi's face flushed crimson as he instinctively recoiled. "What?"

Akshu continued, "We came here, and you're helping me to bed. I thought we'd be sleeping here."

Abhi realized she was talking about just sleeping, not anything else. "Oh, you can sleep if you want. Neil will be here soon, and then we'll head home with him."

Akshu nestled into the bed, her eyes fluttering shut from a mix of drunkenness and fatigue. Abhi, stationed nearby in a chair, watched her with a quiet, attentive concern. After a few moments, Akshu's restlessness grew, her hands unsteadily fumbling with the buttons of her dress. Each button, as it came undone, revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her soft, radiant skin.

Abhi's heart quickened at the sight, and he sprang from his chair, moving swiftly to her side. "What are you doing?" he whispered, his voice raw with urgency.

"It's so hot," Akshu murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Abhi's voice trembled as he implored, "Please, don't take off your clothes." His plea was a mix of desperation and barely-contained desire. "I'll get you some ice."

When Abhi returned with the ice pack, he saw that Akshu had undone several buttons of her dress, her bare skin exposed up to her waist. The soft glow of her exposed skin highlighted her smooth curves, stirring a deep, intense longing within him. He felt a pang in his heart, a mix of desire and restraint, as he whispered to himself, "Why are you doing this to me, Akshara Goenka?"

With hands that trembled slightly, Abhi began to rebutton her dress. Each touch was a gentle caress against her exposed skin, his fingertips brushing lightly as if trying to savor the sensation. The simple act of buttoning her up became a delicate dance of intimacy, charged with the weight of his unspoken emotions. Once she was dressed again, he placed the ice pack gently on her forehead, the coolness providing immediate relief.

Abhi continued to attend to her every need, diligently fetching water and more ice as requested, until Neil arrived. Together, they prepared to return home, leaving behind the poignant and emotionally charged moment that had unfolded.