the unwanted girl

Untitled Part 7

When Akshu regained consciousness, the blinding white light of the room brought her back to reality. Her head pounded, and as her vision cleared, she saw two familiar faces hovering near her bedside — Ram and Mihir. For a moment, everything felt surreal, like a distant memory, but as soon as she locked eyes with Mihir, the flood of emotions and confusion rushed back.

Akshu sat up slowly, her body weak, yet her mind racing with questions. She didn't know where to start. She looked at Mihir, the man she had loved deeply, and who she had left behind without any explanation. Mihir's face was unreadable, a mixture of anger, hurt, and perhaps even relief. His silence was heavier than the questions swirling in her mind.

"I..." Akshu began, her voice trembling. "I owe you an explanation."

Mihir stayed silent, his jaw clenched. Ram shifted uncomfortably, sensing the tension in the room but choosing not to intervene.

Akshu gathered her courage, fighting the urge to crumble under the weight of her guilt. "I didn't mean to leave like that, Mihir," she whispered. "I had no choice."

Mihir's eyes narrowed. "No choice?" he repeated bitterly. "You just disappeared, Akshu. Without a word. Without even telling me why."

"I know," she admitted, tears forming in her eyes. "I was scared. I didn't know how to face you, how to tell you that my life was falling apart. There were things I couldn't control."

Mihir's expression softened slightly, but the hurt remained. "You could have trusted me. You could have told me."

Akshu wiped her tears, feeling the overwhelming weight of everything she had kept buried for so long. "It wasn't just about us," she said, her voice cracking. "There were family issues, things I had to handle alone. I didn't want to drag you into that mess."

For a moment, there was silence. Mihir's eyes softened as he watched her struggle to explain herself. "You don't get to decide for me," he said finally. "You don't get to leave without giving me a chance to understand."

Akshu's heart sank. He was right, and she knew it. She had hurt him in ways that words could never mend.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I wish I had been stronger back then. But I'm here now, and I want to fix things."

Mihir let out a heavy sigh, running his hand through his hair. "I don't know if it's that easy," he muttered.

Before either of them could say more, Ram spoke up. "Maybe it's time to ask the questions you've both been avoiding for so long. Start fresh."

Akshu and Mihir exchanged glances, knowing that this conversation was far from over. But at least, after all these years, the first step had been taken.