"Sweater"

"Yes"

"Extra clothes"

"Yes"

"Jacket"

"Why do I need both- a sweater and a jacket, Abhi?"

"You should wear whatever you feel is more comfortable, Akshu. Take both"

"Never mind, let's continue. Socks"

"Yes" his wife groaned. Her husband was too cautious.

"Pads?"

"Why would I need a writ- oh never mind"

"Yes or no, Akshu?"

"Yes, obviously."

"Antacids?"

"Oh God, shut up. I have packed everything, let's just go to bed" she whined, hugging him.

"But Akshu" Akshara cut him off by pressing her lips to his.

"Leave all of that" she whispered.

"You're trying to" Abhimanyu whispered out.

"Don't say anything, Abhi" she replied in a raspy voice , cutting him off.

"Don't distract me" he was interrupted as his wife pecked his lips again. Abhimanyu rolled his eyes, getting a bit away from her,

"Akshu, let me just check if you have packed everything" he said again making Akshara angry.

"Get lost, Abhimanyu" she said, diving in the bed, and covering herself completely in the duvet.

She used my name. Oof!

"Akshuuu, just give me two minutes baba, you tend to forget stuff, tha" Abhimanyu bit his tongue and stopped his sentence.

You're dead, Abhimanyu Birla, you are so dead.

"Are you calling me irresponsible, Dr. Abhimanyu Birla?" Akshara shouted, getting up.

"N-no sweetie, I..I"

"Why does the entire Birla clan have this superiority complex?" She yelled at the guy, who had started to curse himself, mentally.

"Like you guys haven't done anything revolutionary, you're just doctors. There are thousands of doctors around in this country. Look at the number of students giving NEET every year" she said, and Abhimanyu sighed.

Akshara was clearly annoyed, and it was probably not because of him.

"You're right Akshu, I am sorry. I shouldn't have said that" he said, holding his ears. Akshara didn't reply, and Abhimanyu continued, "and I didn't mean to call you irresponsible. Just sometimes, when you get really excited, you tend to be forgetful, in an adorable way"

"Whatever" she replied, rolling her eyes. "What can I expect from an idiot, anyway?"

"Exactly! I am an idiot, but am I not your idiot?" Abhi asked, pulling Akshara in a hug.

Even though Abhimanyu did get on her nerves, she did chuckle at his antics.

"Yes, you are my idiot" she replied.

"And you're my adorably forgetful Akshu"

"Always"

"Always"

🍁

"Maa, I'll be back tomorrow by afternoon" Akahara informed Manjiri who had just gotten up and come out of her room.

"Okay Akshu, stay safe and have fun" she said, smiling.

"Thanks Maa"

Arohi also came down at the same time, and saw Akshu standing in the centre of the living room, with a big bag in her hand.

"Akshu, you're leaving?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm just waiting for Abhimanyu. He's dropping me to school" she said and Arohi nodded.

"Did you pack everything?" she asked.

"Yes, why do you ask? Do you also think that I'm forgetful?" Akshara asked, raising her eyebrow. Arohi was surprised at her sister's question, and knew that she shouldn't say anything that would piss her off.

"Uh..no, how would you be forgetful? I'm just asking because it's like a formality kinda? I don't know?" she replied hesitantly.

"Hmm" her elder sister replied.

"Uh, have fun Akshu!" Arohi said.

"Thanks Aaru" Akshara smiled.

"Good morning, Arohi!" Abhimanyu greeted his sister in law as he came down the stairs.

"Good morning!" she wished him back.

"Challiye, Akshu maharani sahiba" (Let's go, your highness!) Abhimanyu said, and Akshara grinned at him, the two walking out of the house, hand in hand.

Arohi looked at them with a satisfied smile, happy that the two were happy, but her smile faded as she her mind travelled back to the day her life was ruined.

"Bye Akshu, bye Aaru. Take care, and be good. Don't trouble Bade papa and mummy too much, okay?" Sirat said and the two girls in pigtails nodded. "And Kairav, all the best for your exams, don't stress a lot, you studied hard, okay?" she added, and Kairav nodded.

"Thank you, Sirat mumma"

"I love you kiddos, we'll be back tomorrow" Kartik said, pulling his three munchkins in a hug.

"Bye" the two wished, and stepped out of the Goenka villa with happy faces, their arms linked, blissfully unaware of what destiny had planned for them and their kids.

Arohi's face paled as she remembered that day. To trouble her more, Akshara stopped in her tracks and turned around suddenly,

"Arohi, take care. I'll be back by tomorrow" she said and Arohi nodded, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Bye Akshu"

Added the 'mature' tag to this story because I should have done it when I started it since this story is legit about healing, and mental health issues and also discusses Kartik, Naira and Sirat's death a lot.