Whispers of the Past

4. Play with fire

Abhimanyu entered the orphanage which was decorated with flowers and he could see the smiling faces of the children. Akshara was standing with her guitar and the children circled her to listen to her voice.

She was clad in a peach kurta, Her hair, elegantly pinned to one side, cascaded over her shoulder in loose waves. The delicate simplicity of her appearance was almost overwhelming, and the moment his eyes landed on her, his breath hitched.

She looked ethereal, but it wasn't just her beauty that made his heart race—it was the familiarity of it all.

Abhimanyu tried to focus on the task at hand, helping his mother and the orphanage staff set up for the event in memory of Akshara's mother. But it was hard to concentrate when every time he looked at her, his heart tugged painfully with the weight of unspoken words and lingering feelings.

Akshara felt his gaze on her, and though she was speaking to the children, she could feel the tension in the air. Every time she looked at Abhimanyu, a familiar flutter stirred in her chest.

After a while, the children led her toward the garden where they were preparing to plant a tree in honor of her mother. Abhimanyu stayed close by, watching her from a distance. There was an air of serenity around her as she knelt down to help the children plant the sapling, her fingers gently working the soil. He had always admired the way she connected with people—how she made everyone around her feel seen and valued.

As the ceremony came to a close, the families gathered for prayers, and Akshara found herself standing next to Abhimanyu. The proximity was almost too much to bear; the scent of him, the warmth radiating from his presence—it reminded her of the kiss they had shared, of the tenderness in his touch. She clenched her hands together, trying to steady her racing heart.

After the prayers ended, there was a moment of quiet, as everyone lingered in the garden. Akshara turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Abhimanyu gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"Akshu," he whispered, his voice barely audible. She froze at the sound of his voice, her heart pounding in her chest. Slowly, she turned to face him, her eyes searching his.

"Abhi..." she breathed, her pulse quickening as she met his gaze. His eyes were filled with emotion, the same mixture of longing and uncertainty she had seen that night on the beach.

Before he could speak further, Akshara was called over by her father and she left in a hurry. His thoughts can wait but today it was her day to grieve and he won't take it away from her.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the orphanage garden, Akshara finally found a quiet moment to herself. The day had been emotionally exhausting, but also comforting. Seeing her family together, reminiscing about her mother, and sharing laughter amidst the sadness brought a bittersweet solace. She leaned against one of the large trees, watching as the last few children ran around, their joyous laughter filling the air. For the first time in a long while, she felt at peace.

But that peace was fragile, and she knew it. Her mind kept circling back to Abhimanyu. His gaze, the unspoken words, and the feelings she was trying so hard to navigate. The memory of their kiss lingered, like a whisper she couldn't quite silence. And then there was the guilt—guilt for feeling something new, something different, while still holding on to the memories of Aditya.

Love was not an unfamiliar feeling for Akshara, she had always been loved by her family then Aditya, who always showered her with love and she had once believed she was the luckiest girl in the world despite not having a mother. It all shattered when the world even snatched away Aditya from her. She coped the loss of her mother because it happened before she even knew what world was but, the loss of Aditya had left a deep wound in Akshara's heart.