TERE BIN Ft. ABHIRA

Chapter 2

Akshara cradled Aaira in her arms, her heart heavy with the burden of the news she had just received. The doctors had detected a severe congenital heart defect in Aaira shortly after birth—a defect that would require immediate medical attention. The world that had seemed so hopeful just hours ago now felt like it was crumbling around her.

Harsh was beside himself with worry, pacing in the room of the hospital in Shimla. He had grown so attached to Aaira in even a few hours, and the thought of losing her was unbearable.

"Akshara, we can't waste any time," Harsh said, his voice trembling. "We need to go to Udaipur. Abhimanyu is the best cardiologist I know, and he's the only one who can save Aaira."

Akshara hesitated. The thought of facing Abhimanyu after all that had happened between them was terrifying. But when she looked down at her tiny daughter, fragile and innocent, she knew there was no choice.

"Alright," she whispered, her voice filled with determination. "Let's go to Udaipur. I want to save my daughter."

The journey to Udaipur was a blur of fear and anxiety. Harsh had arranged for a private ambulance to transport them, and every moment felt like an eternity. Akshara clung to Aaira, praying silently for her daughter's life.

By the time they reached Birla Hospital, Akshara was on the brink of exhaustion, her mind racing with worry and her postpartum added the fuel but she had only one thing in her mind and that was Aaira. Harsh had already informed the hospital about the emergency, and a team of doctors was ready to receive Aaira. As they wheeled her into the hospital, Akshara felt a deep sense of dread, knowing that the person who held her daughter's life in his hands was the very man she had once loved and lost.

The next day, Aaira was admitted to the Birla Hospital. The case had been handed over to Dr. Abhimanyu Birla, who was regarded as one of the top cardiologists in the country. When he saw the patient details on the file—Aaira Birla, age: newborn, Mother name: Akshara Birla, congenital heart defect—his heart skipped a beat. The name, the timing... it all felt too familiar.

His hands trembled as he read through the medical records, his mind refusing to believe what his eyes were seeing. The patient was a newborn, the daughter of Akshara, the woman he had once loved with all his heart. The realization struck him like a lightning bolt. Aaira was his daughter.

Abhimanyu dropped the file and rushed towards the pediatric ward, his heart pounding in his chest. He had to see her, to confirm what his mind was telling him. But more than that, he needed to see Akshara. What had she gone through all these months? How had she kept this a secret from him?

As he approached the ward, he saw a scene that shook him to his core. His father, Harshvardhan Birla, was sitting on a bench, consoling Akshara. She looked frail, worn out from the ordeal, but the moment she turned and saw Abhimanyu, her face lit up with a mixture of hope and despair.

Without a word, Akshara stood up and ran towards him, her arms wrapping around him tightly. "Abhimanyu, please... please save our daughter," she sobbed, her voice filled with a desperation that tore at his heart.

Abhimanyu stood there, frozen for a moment, as the reality of the situation washed over him. Aaira was his daughter, and Akshara had been carrying this burden all alone. He gently pulled Akshara closer, his hand stroking her hair as he tried to calm her down.

"I'm here, Akshu. I'll do everything I can to save her, save our daughter" Abhimanyu whispered, his voice firm yet tender. He pulled back slightly, cupping her face in his hands, looking into her tear-filled eyes. "But first, I need you to trust me. We'll get through this together."

Akshara nodded, her heart clinging to the hope that Abhimanyu's presence brought. She had never felt so helpless, but knowing that Abhimanyu was with her, that he would fight for their daughter, gave her the strength she needed to hold on.

Abhimanyu turned to Harsh, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. "Thank you, Sir... for being here, for taking care of Akshara and Aaira."

Harsh nodded, his usual stern expression softened by the emotions of the moment. "She's my granddaughter, Abhimanyu. And Akshara... she's my daughter."

The three of them stood there, united in their love for Aaira, knowing that the days ahead would be difficult. But as long as they were together, they believed that they could overcome any challenge.

The hours that followed were some of the most intense of Abhimanyu's life. He personally oversaw every detail of Aaira's treatment, consulting with specialists and ensuring that the best care was provided. Every time he saw her tiny face, so much like Akshara's, it filled him with a fierce determination. He couldn't afford to lose her—not after everything they had been through.

Akshara spent every moment by Aaira's side, holding her hand, singing to her softly, and praying for her recovery. Harsh was never far, offering his support in whatever way he could. The bond that had formed between them during those months in Shimla had only grown stronger, and Akshara was grateful for his presence.

After several days of intensive care and countless procedures, Abhimanyu finally had some good news. Aaira's condition had stabilized, and while she would need surgery, there was a good chance that she would make a full recovery.

"Akshu," Abhimanyu said gently as he sat beside her in the hospital room, "Aaira is strong, just like her mother. We'll take this one step at a time, but I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make sure she's healthy and happy."

Akshara looked at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and love. "I trust you, Abhi. I always have."

He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "We're in this together, Akshu. For Aaira, for our family."

As they sat together, watching over their daughter, both Abhimanyu and Akshara knew that this was just the beginning of their journey. There were still many challenges ahead, but for the first time in a long while, they felt a sense of hope. They had found their way back to each other, and with Aaira by their side, they knew they could face whatever the future held.