UNVENTURED DESIRES-akshnav

2- Abhinav

As the bang of the door echoed through the silent hallway, my heart skipped a beat. I knew who it was before even the sound died down.

Akshara.

I walked towards the room and saw the door closed.

Before I could knock, a faint click stopped me and I stepped back.

Akshara emerged from the dimly lit room, her face illuminated due to the soft light of the lamp beside.

"Is something bothering you?" I asked, my straightforward nature cutting through the tension in the room like a knife. It was both a blessing and a curse, this inability to beat around the bush. People either loved or hated my blunt honesty, no in-between.

She shook her head faintly, the dim light of the room catching the glistening of her tears.

But her eyes told a different story, one of deep turmoil and pain that she was trying hard to conceal. I purse my lips, a habit I had whenever I tried to decipher someone's inner thoughts just by looking at their face.

"I am... fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the silence that envelopes us. Her eyes refused to meet mine, darting away as if afraid of what they might reveal.

"Something is bothering you, Akshara," I insisted, my gaze unwavering as I try to break through the walls she has put up around herself.

''Nothing!" She snapped at me, her tone sharp and defensive, a sharp contrast to the vulnerability in her eyes.

Did she wanted me to pry? Or was she pushing me away deliberately? Was there something else?

We had both drawn lines in the sand, boundaries that neither of us dared to cross. But in that moment, I felt torn between respecting her space and reaching out to comfort her.

"Goodnight, Akshara," I said finally, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air between us. She remained silent, her retreating figure disappearing into the darkness of the room leaving me to wrestle with the unspoken emotions that lingered.

I sighed and rolled my eyes, feeling the weight of the world upon me.

Swallowing thickly, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was amiss. What did I even want? The question echoed in my mind, bouncing off the walls of my thoughts. Oh, this feeling, this thought that was eating me up inside.

Was it all because of the minimal conversations between us? Did she want me to sound more 'husband-ly,' and look more husbandly? But this was not in the contract, not in the terms and conditions page that outlined our relationship. Oh, shoot! This realization was beginning to bother me now, creeping into every corner of my mind.

I needed a distraction, a way to ease this turmoil within me. With a determined exhale, I decided to pour myself a glass of wine. Taking a deep gulp, I clenched my jaws and made my way towards my study, which served as my temporary refuge from the chaos of my thoughts.

I reached for the glass, that was kept on the table and poured the wine from the bottle. The red liquid glinted in the dim light, promising temporary solace. I gulped it in one shot, feeling a burning sensation inside my throat.

I then settled on the edge of my bed and Inu, my loyal househelp, watched me intently, his eyes reflecting an unwavering loyalty.

"Should I massage you, sir?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. I nodded, the simple gesture a silent plea for comfort. It was routine. Whenever I came to sleep, he would massage me.

Taking my glasses off and keeping it  on the bedside table, I let out a soft sigh.

The drink was beginning to do its job, slowly enveloping me in a haze of warmth and tranquility.

"Massage my back, Inu," I requested, my voice barely above a whisper. "And tomorrow's menu for breakfast is a fresh broccoli lettuce sandwich with fresh apple juice," I added, my mind drifting to the simple pleasures that awaited me in the morning.

Without a word, Inu obeyed, his hands working expertly to knead away the tension that had settled in my muscles. As his skilled fingers traced soothing patterns on my back, my eyelids grew heavy, the weariness of the day finally catching up to me.

.................................

The morning came and the rays of the sunlight pierced through the windows.

I could hear Akshara's voice.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up, feeling my head a little heavy.

Alcohol of course.

The yesterday's events played in my mind- Akshara's tears, her snapping back at me, her hesitation, her hidden emotions and my thoughts.

I took a deep breath.

It was time for some exercise.

''Good morning'' I heard Akshara. She came towards me with lemon water.

''This will ease you a bit'' she said and I took the glass from her, my fingers brushing hers.

I could see her breathe heavily.

''Anything wrong?" I asked sipping the lemon water.

''I wanted to tell you something. I mean- I want...'' she mumbled.

''LOUD AND CLEAR'' I reply sharply.

''Can we...''

''What Akshara?"

''Can we be...FRIENDS?"
.............

Cliffhanger. Of course!

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