Second Chance Love

Love

There was a lull in the air after Akshara's last performance. Rohan had gone back to take requests from the elders while the party continued as before for everyone, except for Abhimanyu and Akshara. Although they didn't get a moment together, their eyes sought each other constantly, a myriad of questions swimming inside them. Akshara did not know what to think or do. Everytime she looked at Abhimanyu, he would be already looking at her and she would have to look away as she did not know what to make out of the intensity of his look. Thankfully for her, there was no time to dwell on it, as her attention was constantly needed with something or the other. The same could be said about Abhimanyu as well.

The dinner service had begun and the Birlas were ensuring that everyone had their plates full. Akshara was talking to Sonia when she felt a tug on her saree pallu. She looked down to see Abhir with a bored expression on his face. "What happened, betu? Hungry?" she asked running her hand over his hair.

"Mumma, this Bhaiyya is singing such booorrring songs!," he whined.

Akshara and Sonia chuckled. "So, why don't you request a song that you like. I am sure he will sing it for you."

"Really?" he said excitedly. "Of course."

Abhir ran to Rohan and soon the hall was filled with the tunes of Bum Bum Bole and all the kids were on the floor dancing and singing. This was followed by many other requests from kids which Rohan happily obliged. After a few songs, Neil requested the song, Meri Ma from Dasvidaniya, and he and Abhimanyu took turns dancing with their mother, who couldn't stop her tears. Somewhere around the middle of the song, Abhir and Roohi had pulled Akshara in for a dance, who in turn pulled Swarna in, and soon it had turned to be a mother and kids dance, with both adults and children taking turns to dance with their mothers, making the mood of the party both emotional and joyful. 

It was around 9 that Rohan announced that he was going to sing the last song of the evening, another request from the birthday girl. As he strummed the guitar to the song Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaaye, Neil requested everyone to join the dance floor with their partners. Abhimanyu walked towards his mother and forwarded his hand, who looked at him exasperated. Abhimanyu was confused when Avni looked behind him and signaled something to someone. Before he could turn around, the lights were dimmed and the mood lights were switched on, and the room was filled with a soft glow. Avni stood up and pulled Abhimanyu with her and before he knew what was happening, someone had pushed Akshara into his arms and he was standing in front of his wife, who looked equally shocked.

It took a few minutes for both to gather their bearings and start moving to the beautiful song. The soft lighting, the strums of the guitar, and the lyrics of the song, all created a harmony that made both Abhimanyu and Akshara lost to the world in no time. Each time he twirled her, they moved closer, their heartbeats intertwining to beat together. Somewhere around the end of the song, Akshara had her head on Abhimanyu's chest, letting him sway them both gently. She was so lost in her own world that she did not realize when he had leaned in and she could feel his breath over her ear. 

"You look gorgeous tonight," he whispered. And before she could register what had happened, Abhimanyu had pulled away just as the song ended and the lights came out, but not before pressing a soft kiss on her shoulder, just near her neck. It was so quick and fast that Akshara wondered whether she had imagined the whole thing. But the goosebumps that had erupted all around the place where his lips had touched her skin were telling a different story.

As the lights came out, Abhimanyu looked equally dazed. He really couldn't believe what he had done. But being this close to Akshara, breathing in her scent, the feel of her in his arms, had taken him to a different zone, and he couldn't resist. As he looked at her flushed face, all he wanted to do was whisk her away and tell her how much she meant to him. But host duties beckoned and both Abhimanyu and Akshara found themselves in the middle of the cake cutting and seeing off the guests.