Taking a sheet of ruled paper, Akshara wrote a feedback for her student after correcting the paper. Reading the same thing over and over again was exhausting. Sighing, she chugged down some water.

"Akshu, Akshu, Akshu" She heard a voice call out.

"What happened?" Akshara asked, coming out of her room.

"Come for dinner" Manjiri shouted back, from the dining hall.

"Give me five!" Akshara shouted back, going back to correct one more test.

🍁

The ER had been slow, fortunately. Arohi was making small talks with the nurses. She always tried to converse with the nurses. They were overworked and underpaid most of the times. They always liked it if the doctors conversed with them with genuine interest.

"Arohi, I am leaving. You coming?" Abhimanyu asked, while he was texting, catching the attention of everyone.

"No, my shift gets over in an hour" Arohi replied, a bit embarrassed. Going near him, she slapped his arm lightly.

"Abhimanyu, you talk so loudly" she complained.

"Huh?" Abhimanyu asked, snapping out of his 'zone'.

Realising that he and Arohi had many people's attention, he realised his folly. Flustered, he apologised.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention"

"Anyway, go home. My shit ends in an hour."

"Okay, good bye" Abhimanyu nodded and Arohi smiled.

"Drive safe"

"Yeah, you too"

🍁

After finishing her dinner in ten minutes, Akshu had rushed back to checking papers. Sitting on the window sill, Akshara was correcting the papers, enjoying occasional breeze. Udaipur had always been a quite city. Compared to when Akshara lived in Mumbai for a year for internship, Udaipur was extremely silent.

Akshu glanced at her watch. 1 a.m. And she was hungry. Deciding she needed a change of scenery, Akshara decided to go to the dining area. Glancing at Abhi who was twisting and turning in his sleep, Akshara sighed. Poor Abhi.

After a long shift, Abhimanyu had to figure out a solution for an extremely urgent and complicated case. It must be difficult having a stranger's life's responsibility in our own hands.

Taking the bundle of papers, Akshara descended downstairs.

Putting some ramen noodles in a boiling pot, Akshara waited for around five minutes for it to cook. Serving them in a bowl, Akshara took the bowl to the dining table, ready to check papers again.

Akshara groaned as the doorbell rung after five-ten minutes. Opening the door, she greeted her sister and sister-in-law Aarohi 'Aaru'.

Looking at Akshu's exhausted face, Arohi felt sympathetic for her.

"Sorry Akshu, I forgot my keys" Arohi apologised.

"It's okay. Not a problem. Good thing I was awake" Akshara said with a soft smile. As the two made way back to the dining hall, an awkward silence prevailed.

Arohi was in an awe as she saw the papers on the table.

"Whoa"

"Yeah, I am correcting papers of two sections. The other teacher's having a baby" Akshara replied with a soft chuckle.

"Oh"

"Anyway, I'll heat up dinner. Go freshen up"

"Arey Akshu, you already have so much work. I'll change and heat the food. You continue with your work" Arohi said with a warm smile.

"But" Arohi cut off Akshara's protest.

"Akshu, I am not tired. You continue with you work, I'll be down in ten" 

"Okay" Akshara didn't argue much. She really had a lot of work.

🍁

"Oh hi chipkali" Neil greeted Arohi groggily as she entered their room.

"Hello!" Arohi greeted him, kissing him.

"You came late" he pointed out sleepily.

"Yeah, my shift got extended" Arohi said, snuggling up to him.

"You tired?"

"Neil, listen" Arohi started.

"Hm?"

"Uhm..nevermind" Arohi glanced at Neil who looked like he could sleep any moment.

"Hey no, talk to me" Neil replied, suddenly jerking out of his sleep.

"i was just going to ask you about your day, but you look extremely sleepy. And I am hungry, so I am going to go and have dinner"

"You sure?" Neil asked.

"Hundred percent"

🍁

Serving dinner in her plate, Arohi sat beside Akshara. As curiosity piqued her, she peeped to see what was written in the papers. Taking a corrected sheet, Arohi read the sheet. Akshara noticed it, and laughed.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I just remembered you when you were in your middle school"

Arohi laughed.

"I could never memorise all those dates and names" Arohi groaned and continued "I got scolded so much" Akshara laughed.

"It's called tough love, Aaru" Akshara said. Arohi couldn't help but feel a warmth spread in her heart as Akshara said that. Akshu loves me, she always has.

"You know what, I am done eating and I'm not sleepy. I'll help you"

"But"

"Come on, I'll read the answers from this model answer sheet and you correct. Will save you time" Arohi insisted, and Akshara agreed with a smile.

In forty five minutes, the two were done with their work.

"Thank you so much Aaru!" Akshu said gratefully.

"No problem" Arohi replied with a yawn.

"Let's go to sleep?" she asked.

"Let's go"

It had been ten months since Neil and Arohi's wedding. And for the first time in these ten months, Akshara and Arohi felt that they reconnected a bit.

I'm sorry it took me more time than expected to publish this part.

Would love to hear your thoughts :)