Akshara :can we stay here for tonight please?only if you are comfortable and ok with it.

Abhimanyu  who was closing the container was surprised when Akshara  said that.

Abhimanyu  : you want to stay over?

Akshara : yh only if you are ok with it. She said shrugging her shoulders

Abhimanyu :I have no issues Akshu,  but you havent got any clothes to change in.

Akshara  placed the frame down and walked over to Abhimanyu 

Akshara : have you got clothes over here?

Abhimanyu : well I do have my spare clothes here.

Akshara  didnt answer and moved to open Abhimanyu 's wardrobe and searched

Once she found what she was looking for she turned to Abhimanyu  who saw a teeshirt and jogging bottoms in her hand

Akshara :dont forget I once was a tomboy who would even wear your clothes she said smirking and walked to the washroom while Abhimanyu  smiled widely

Abhimanyu :Akshara  in my clothes again...this time the feeling is different he said pushing his hair back

He sat on the couch recalling all their happy moments till now. 

Abhimanyu  :I'll cherish this moment too and the time we will spend tonight and every other night. Thought I'll tell you my feelings once we reach home but looks like this condo will get to witness it. He said with a huge smile.

Few minutes later Abhimanyu  was smiling going through his phone checking old birthday pictures of everyone when Akshara  came out of the washroom folding her outfit nicely

Abhimanyu  who heard the washroom door open looked up seen Akshara  in his clothes making his heart dance, a sense of joy filled him...he kept his phone straight as he turned on the camera and secretly took her picture

Akshara :  Abhi

Abhimanyu  looked up quickly closing the camera

Abhimanyu : yh?

Akshara : are you going to stay in this she said pointing at his clothes

Abhimanyu : uhh no, no Give me 5 minutes  he said getting up and quickly took out a pair of clothes and headed to the washroom

Few minutes later Abhimanyu  came out of the washroom.  he slowed down his steps seeing the lights dimmed while the balcony door was open with scented candles lighted up, gazing around the condo his eyes halted in the kitchen area capturing that one person who has messed up his heart badly but in a good way.
A smile crept up on his face as he watched Akshara  making coffee, the strong aroma filled the room up.

Akshara  looked up when she felt a gaze on her and a smiled slowly spreaded on her face seen Abhimanyu .

Picking up the two cups she walked towards him with a beautiful smile on her lips, yet there was this nervousness in her with the way Abhimanyu  was looking at her making a hint of blush appear on her cheeks.

Akshara : Coffee. she said softly handing him a cup which Abhimanyu  gladly took, she gestured towards the balcony to which he nodded.

Few seconds later they sat themselves down enjoying their coffee with a light breeze hitting their skin.

For few minutes they sat silently.

Abhimanyu : Akshu.

Akshara : hmm. She said looking at him taking a sip of her hot coffee.

Abhimanyu : How did you celebrate your birthday in London all these years? He asked  turning his face to look at her.

Akshara  who was enjoying the view looked at Abhimanyu 

Akshara : When I had moved to London I didn't celebrate the 1st year been there. Bua and mamu  said we will go out and celebrate but I just didn't feel like it since mumma and papa death. After they passed away I just never felt like celebrating she said the last bit heavily.

Abhimanyu  took her hand in his as he rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.

Abhimanyu : so you never celebrated? He asked as he recalled sahil saying he was the one who useto plan Akshara  birthday.

Akshara : If it was in my hand then I wouldn't but for bua and mamu  I agreed that day because before me they had a relation with papa and mumma and by hiding their own pain they both were  trying to make me feel better so I agreed at that time. When I became friends with sahil he started to plan my birthday .I appreciated to all those that have made my birthday special but another reason to not celebrate it was because of mumma and papa only. It would always remind me of how they always planned my birthday differently each year but the one thing that would never change was how special they would make it with their love. I mean can anyone ever beat kartik Goenka  and Naira Goenka  when it comes to planning any occasions she said slightly chuckling, her eyes filled up as she bit her lips slightly.

Abhimanyu : Well in that case I do deserve some credit right I mean I made your birthday special too. He said trying to lighten her mood

Akshara : Well you did butttt she said stretching on the word but and took a long sip of her coffee.

Abhimanyu : what but ?

Akshara  : you still have to reach to their level she said smiling as she looked at him

Abhimanyu : Is that so. He said raising his eyebrows

Akshara : yessss

Abhimanyu : well, you know what I guess you are right. Nobody can match up to uncle and aunty but after them it's me remember that he said pulling her nose making Akshara  chuckle

Akshara : You never celebrated your birthday?

Abhimanyu  looked at Akshara  

Abhimanyu : just like you i hadn't celebrated my birthday  but  due to family especially maa, she made me agree though it was never done from heart as you wasn't there he said looking at her.

Akshara  looked at Abhimanyu  and then at their hand where his thumb was caressing the back of her hand ..she lifted his hand and intertwined their fingers.

Akshara : Despite going away from you all I always had thought about you all..everyday I would miss you all especially all the masti we did in childhood and then when we started college..you know whenever it was my birthday na I would recall you all especially how everyone  would sing happy birthday.

Abhimanyu : I wish if you had stayed Akshara  he said looking ahead as he rested his head against the wall placing his cup down.

Akshara : I wished too Abhi but you know the reason. My head was messed up. All I wanted to do was get away at that time and sometimes I still feel the same  because everything keeps coming back be it what happened to my parents or between us she said the last bit quietly which he heard.

Abhimanyu : I felt you would come back after some time but you never did. We thought you would call but you only contacted the Goenka family not us. Somewhere It felt as if you left our friendship on that piece of paper. I know you would never do that but it just felt like that.

Akshara : I didn't have the courage to contact you all after  I left Abhi, and despite not been in touch with you all I still considered all of you as my friends and a part of my life. You know when I came back here i hardly went  near mumma and papa room because it has their feelings and I feel that if I enter then  those feelings will engulf me in such way that will weaken me even more. I still wish for them to come back Abhi, whenever I blow the candles like a fool I make a wish of returning them to me she said as her voice cracked and tears rolled down her cheeks unable to control them anymore.

Abhimanyu 's felt a pain in his heart.
Taking Akshara cup from her other hand he placed it down next to his and pulled her close to him wrapping his hands around her shoulder, her  head rested on his chest.

Abhimanyu : It's ok Akshu.  It's ok calm down, they are watching over you and wouldn't be happy to see their daughter crying like this right. It won't hurt you only but them too he said trying to give her soothing words and kept placing kisses on top of her head.

Akshara : I wish if they jus...just appear out of nowhere and shout su...surprise we are not going anywhere now. Sometimes I wish if we can go back In time and make that incident dissapear from our life, the night where we lost them she said as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Abhimanyu : They are here Akshu, in our memories, they are in you. Close your eyes and you will see them smiling happily.

Akshara  listened to Abhimanyu  and closed her eyes. She saw a happy Naira turning towards her and blowing a kiss at her while Kartik  came with birthday cake and both saying " happy birthday Akshu "

Precrap: same as before
Abhimanyu  caressed Akshara  hand

Abhimanyu : life was so strange Akshara  here I thought I only loved you as a friend but it took me so long to realise that I had always loved you more than a friend and still love you...I'm sorry for giving you pain always but I love you chatterbox I love you more than anything he said with tears in his eyes

I know it's a short update  but I promise next chap will surely have the precrap scene which will be updated in few days too.

Thank you to those who commended and voted for the previous chapter

Will be waiting for all the comments and votes

Lots of love