A light in the flame

Chapter 23 - New Beginning

The sun had set, casting a soft twilight glow over the park as the last of Kairi's birthday guests trickled away. The air was cooler now, but the warmth from the day lingered in Akshara's heart. The evening had been perfect—laughter, joy, and family surrounding them. Abhir was still buzzing with energy, running between Akshara and Abhimanyu as they began to pack up the remains of the party.

"Mommy, Dada ! Look!" Abhir called out, his small hands stretched toward the sky as a group of fireflies began to twinkle in the distance. His eyes were wide with wonder.

"Wow !" Akshara smiled, leaning down next to him. "Aren't they beautiful?"

Abhimanyu joined them, crouching beside Abhir, the soft flicker of the fireflies reflected in his eyes. "They sure are, betu," he said, his voice warm and calm.

Akshara looked at the two of them together, her heart filling with a sense of completeness she hadn't felt in a long time. Moments like these were rare, but when they happened, they felt like magic. She never imagined they'd be here—after everything—sharing this quiet, beautiful moment together.

As Abhir chased the fireflies, Abhimanyu stood, brushing the grass from his jeans. He turned to Akshara, a sudden intensity in his gaze. "Can I talk to you for a minute ?" His voice was steady but held a note of something deeper, something that made Akshara's pulse quicken.

"Of course," she said, standing up and facing him. "What's on your mind ?"

Abhimanyu looked down for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. Then he slowly reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. Akshara's breath caught in her throat as her eyes widened in surprise.

"Abhi, what—?" she began, but he held up his hand, smiling softly.

"I know," he said, his voice both gentle and serious. "We're still married—on paper, at least. But... I don't just want to be married to you on paper, Akshara. I want us to start over. To truly begin again. For us, for Abhir, for our family."

Tears stung Akshara's eyes as she listened, her heart racing.

He took a deep breath, and then, in one smooth motion, he knelt down on one knee. "Akshara, we've been through more than most people ever have to face. We've hurt each other, we've lost time, but through it all, my love for you has never wavered. I know we can't erase the past, but we can build something new. A future filled with love, trust, and hope for our family."

Akshara's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes filling with tears.

Abhimanyu's voice softened. "I want us to have a real home. A place where Abhir can grow up surrounded by love, where we can make new memories together. So, I'm asking you... will you marry me again? Not just on paper, but in every way that counts?"

For a moment, the world around them seemed to still. Akshara could hear her heart pounding in her chest, the weight of his words settling into her soul. He wasn't just asking her to return to the life they had before. He was asking for a new beginning—one built on the lessons they had learned, the love they had fought so hard to hold on to.

Tears spilled from her eyes as she smiled down at him. "Yes, Abhi," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Yes, I will marry you again."

Abhimanyu's face lit up with a radiant smile as he stood, pulling her into his arms. He held her close, his forehead resting gently against hers. "Thank you," he murmured. "I promise you, this time will be different. This time, we'll build something unbreakable."

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's warmth, the past fading into the background as the future opened up before them.

Abhir ran up to them, his eyes wide with curiosity. "What's going on? Why are you both crying?"