"Ek din aap yun, humko mil jayenge,
Phool hi phool raahon mein khil jayenge,
Maine socha na tha!"
Akshara's giggles echoed in the hall of the Birla Mansion through the speaker as Abhi paused, twirled her around and lifted her high up in his arms. Her eyes twinkled like the brightest star in the dim lights of the hall, and the world stopped to stare at the beauty in his arms.
"Ek din zindagi itni hogi haseen,
Jhoomega aasmaan, gaayegi yeh zameen,
Maine socha na tha!"
-----
"Apne bhai ko bachane ki koshish ke baad uske saath kya hua, woh kis haal mein hai thik bhi hai ya nahi humein yeh bhi nahi pata!"
Abhi unconsciously clutched the mattress on the other side of his bed - the side where Akshara once slept. His hands shivered in the cold emptiness of his bed, his room, his heart, his life.
"Agar itna aasan hai in papers par sign karna, iss rishte ko todna toh iss rishte ko tod dena hi theek hai."
His breaths turned heavier.
"Main zindagi bhar isi kaash... kyun... mein nahi jeena chahti, ke agar tumne mujhpar bharosa kiya hota toh kya hota... Par jaate jaate bahut badi seekh dedi tumne Abhimanyu, kyunki ab aankhein band karke toh main khud par bhi bharosa nahi kar paungi."
"Akshu... please... dd..don't... mat jao..."
"Abhi!"
"Akshu... Akshu..." Abhimanyu could neither breathe easy nor wake up from the nightmare, "I'm... sorry... please..."
"...Par nateeje se badi niyat hoti hai, aur meri niyat mein hamesha tum thay, tum ho, aur tum rahoge."
"Abhi? Abhi!" He felt himself being shook hard.
"Wapis... wapis... chhod kar... mat... mat jao," Abhi gasped for breath, "Ak..Akshu..."
"I miss you Abhi. Happy Goodbye Anniversary!"
"AKSHARA!!"
"Ek din aap yun, humse chhin jayenge,
Dil ki duniya mein hum yunhi gir jayenge,
Humne socha na tha...
Pyar karne se ab, hum toh darr jayenge,
Aansuon ki kahani mein beh jayenge,
Humne socha na tha."
--------
A short story on the separation track.
Nerdy. Glasses. A Bookworm. Shy.
These are some of the words Abhimanyu Birla would use to describe Akshara Goenka, the younger sister of his best friend, Kairav Goenka.
When they were kids, Akshara was always known as the girl who was forced to tag along with Kairav to Abhi and his play dates and birthday parties because of the loner she was.
And he hated her for ruining their fun. But for some reason, he could never hate her.
Now, things have changed. It's been 8 years since he last saw Akshara. Heard her name.
Until one day, his phone rings. Informing him that Kairav and Akshara are moving back to Udaipur to study. That Akshara would be staying with the Birlas till Kairav was able to move back and find a place of their own.
And with one single promise -that Abhimanyu would help Akshara settle in to her college life. That Abhimanyu would take care of Akshara.
So now, Abhimanyu is stuck fulfilling a promise he never wanted to make in the first place.
That is until he sees Akshara. And boy oh boy, those 6 years really made all the difference.
Kind of.
Note: This is your best friends sister/popular guy x nerdy-shy girl/ ugly duckling to beautiful swan cliched romance.
# 1 - AbhiRa (2/12/23)