Chapter 1
Abhimanyu was filled with joy and anticipation today. He was going to see Akshara, the daughter of his father’s acquaintance. They had been promised to each other in marriage. Abhimanyu had known her since they were children and had harbored feelings for her ever since. His innocent crush had blossomed into love. When he learned they were to be wed, he couldn’t contain his happiness.
He eagerly stood up and caught sight of her. Her face radiated innocence, which was exactly how he perceived her. He could make out that Aarohi, his childhood frenemy, was accompanying Akshara. Interestingly, Neil, his brother, was actively following Aarohi on Instagram. Abhimanyu and Aarohi had a mutual disdain for each other’s company and couldn’t stand being in the same room. As expected, they exchanged hostile glances. Not wanting to spoil his mood by engaging with such a difficult person, he kept his eyes fixed on his lovely fiancée. However, he could tell that she seemed troubled.
Akshara avoided making eye contact with him. He could sense her shyness through her body language. Once they were alone, he made it a point to comfort her. Without wasting any time, he approached her and exclaimed, “Akshu!” Her eyes met his and tears began to well up, surprising him. She stepped back, whimpering. He looked at her with confusion and asked, “What’s wrong, Akshara?” She refused to look at him as she cried. He couldn’t understand why she was upset. Despite trying to come up with other reasons, he couldn’t help but ask, “Are you being forced into this?” Sadly, she became guarded and slowly nodded in agreement.
He gently urged her, “Please share everything with me.” She began to recount the story of how she had met Abhinav and their gradual falling in love. However, when she informed her family about their relationship, they rejected it because Abhinav was an orphan and they wanted her to marry into a wealthy household with all the luxuries. The fact that he was just a taxi driver left no room for reconsideration.
As she continued to speak, tears streamed down Akshara’s face. She told Abhimanyu about her desperate pleas for their approval, but no one was willing to accept their relationship. Even her stepmother Sirat had made an attempt, but her father’s anger put an end to any hope. “I love him deeply,” Akshara sobbed. “I can’t imagine living without him,” she confessed.
After taking a deep breath, he declared, “I will assist you.” She was taken aback by his statement. She knew he had feelings for her and didn’t expect him to offer any help. She assumed he would be pleased to have her. She simply wanted to be honest with him and not deceive him. But his promise to support her caught her off guard.
“Yes, I will help you. I’m not heartless, Akshara. What do you think of me?” He attempted to conceal his heartache. He could sense her guilt, but no one should feel guilty for falling in love. Love is uncontrollable, just like it was for him when he fell for her. She shouldn’t feel remorseful for loving Abhinav.
He urged, “Believe me, let’s step out and converse with everyone.” He flashed her a smile. She expressed her agreement and took his hand when he offered it. They strolled outdoors while Abhimanyu discreetly wiped away a single tear that had fallen from his eye.
