FAMILY BEFORE ANYTHING - 3

CHAPTER - 23

None of Anya's actions are missed by Abhimanyu. The man took a note of everything. If earlier, he was patient that she will come to him with whatever problem that is bothering her, then he is now irritated that she is taking forever.

His phone rang diverting his attention away from Anya. He picked up the phone as Aryan called him, "Akshu upset hai kya mujhse? She isn't lifting my calls. She isn't in the office as well." He spoke, giving Abhimanyu no time to speak.

Abhimanyu chuckled, leaning back in his chair, "Relax Aryan. She isn't upset. She must be resting at home. She'll call you back once she wakes up." He assured Aryan who relaxed. For a second he was scared.

"Agar itna pareshan ho toh baat badi hain. Akshara ko nahi bol sakte kyunki woh stress legi. Per mujhse share karsakte ho..." Abhimanyu spoke gently.

Aryan sighed, "Chupane vali koi baat nahi hai Abhimanyu. I was trying to call Akshu to promise her that I'll tell her everything once I sort out the matter. There's nothing to particularly hide. But I guess, I can always rely on you to take some stress off." He remarked before he continued, "You remember that Akshu was in coma .."

Abhimanyu frowned, "While was she in NIA?" 

"Yep. That attack happened because someone infiltrated NIA. That bastard was on a run since then. We found a clue after all these years. Not sure about the clue but if its right,.." Aryan trailed off for Abhimanyu to understand.

Abhimanyu nodded as his eyes hardened, "Take care Aryan. Koi bhi help chahiye... I am ready to lend a hand. Stay safe. That's all I ask." He replied in a no nonsense tone.

"I will." Aryan promised.

"Itni protective ho Aryan, Akshara ko leke. How did you even agree to this NIA thing? Trust me when I say this... Main kabhi nahi karta!" 

Abhimanyu wanted to ask that question many times but he never got a chance. There was also a chance of that question ruining the mood. So he kept it to himself but now he couldn't hold back.

Aryan simply chuckled, "When you know that its your child's calling, you'll be left with no option but to give in, Abhimanyu. It isn't your decision to take in first place. Once you realise this, and then make peace with it, its all cool." 

"Lekin jab jaan pe aayi, you asked her to quit." Abhimanyu pointed out, "So, it was your decision to take."

Aryan laughed out this time, unable to hold back, "You really thought, I asked her to quit and she quit Abhimanyu? Akshara Singhania hain vo. Agar vo khud convince nahi hoti, tho meri kisi bhi emotional blackmail, or manipulation kaam nahi aata! Maine toh bas pucha tha. It was an order out of agitation at first and then a request later. Again, I was very close to giving up. Lekin surprisingly voh maan gayi. I didn't have it in me to ask why she agreed then because somewhere I knew I would ask her to join back if I heard her reasons. I got selfish. But she coped up well. Until that one year thing, she was in touch with her team, who were taking her inputs off records and off the field. Only after she decided to take you in her life, she cut off all the contacts with that side of her life."

Abhimanyu didn't agree with Aryan. He knew his wife. She would have left anything if Aryan asked her to. "She would do that for her father, Aryan. Yeh tum bhi jaante ho. And that's exactly why you didn't find out her reasons. There's no point talking about it now anyways. She is out of NIA for good. Just get done with that guy and inform your sister soon. I hate hiding things from my wife." He cut the call leaving Aryan to his thoughts.

Aryan never really forced his sister about her profession nor did he put too much pressure on her out of his own fear. That's the reason why he never realized that she did that for him and for them as a family. But when she felt like she is off field for too long and not such an important asset anymore, she chose to part ways willingly. There's a reason why Akshara wanted Arav to do his internship in Udaipur as he wished. Because she knew that once Arav gets what he wanted, he will figure out for himself if it's worth staying away from family or not. Just like she did.