Akshara giggled into her phone as she opened the window letting the fresh breeze enter the room. She looked up and smiled at the moon illuminating the night sky. The brightness was causing the white in her blue and white stripped pajamas to dazzle. “You sound tired Abhi,” folding her arms on the window sill.
“Do I?”
“Yes, are you sacrificing your sleep by talking to me instead of resting until your next surgery?”
“No…”
“Maybe I should hang up.”
“Don’t!” Akshara eyes flexed in surprised by the sudden forceful response. “I get strength just by listening to you. Your voice.”
“I thought that was when I am singing.”
“Of course your singing voice is something I love. But just hearing you…just seeing you…under the moonlight—“
“Moonlight?” Akshara cut in as she looked down the driveway of the Goenka villa. She strained her eyes past the gates and saw nothing.
Abhimanyu hit his hand to his forehead for making that slip up as he leaned his back up against the wall slightly right of the Goenka mansion’s gate. “I’m looking up at the moon here. I took a walk to get some fresh air.”
“What a coincidence, I’m here looking up at the moon as well.” Yes, looking so beautiful too.Abhimanyu sighed to himself as he shifted his head to secretly look at Akshara;her silky hair gently framing her face as she gazed up at the moon. The sheer vision made his heart thud loudly in his chest. “Abhi…”
“Hmmm…”
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Ahh…we were talking about the moon.”
“I said isn’t it amazing even though we are apart we are still looking up at the same night sky?”
“Yes it is.”
“I think I should let you go. Abhi, go and get some rest before the surgery.”
“I’m fine. Really Iam.”
“Please?” Akshara pleaded with the utmost softness that made his insides melt. He could never find the strength to counter requests asked of him in that tone. He looked at his watch and smiled. “Okay. Are you going to bed after our call?”
“Yes. Goodnight Abhi. I love you.”
“I love you too. Bye.”
As soon as the phone call ended he carefully poked his head behind the gate and watched as Akshara left the window. Everything was going well according to the plan with only a few minutes left before midnight. He felt a tingling sensation of nervousness ashe saw the lights to her room go out. He Climbed over the wall and landed softly onto the grass. He stood up and brushed his khaki pants and then fixed the sleeve of his white dress shirt. As he was about to confidently walk his way across the driveway a light suddenly appeared from another room in the house. It was Bade Papa who had decided to walk out onto his balcony. Abhimanyu quickly ducked behind one of the cars and hide. What is he doing up so late? Shouldn’t he be sleeping? Bade Papa please go to bed. I can’t be caught like this. Arohi was put on night rotation specifically for this week so I wouldn’t get caught. Please Go to Bed. Abhimanyu thought. He waited what seemed like an eternity peering every so often through the car window to check if Bade Papa was still outside.
Eventually the lights went out and Abhimanyu tip toed his way to stand underneath Akshara’s window. He carefully made his way up the pipe and reached out to the window to gently tap. “Akshu…” There was no response. “Akshu…please open the window.” He strained his arm outward to see if he could lift the window pane with one hand and nearly lost his balance as his right hand clasped onto the window sill to balance himself. He heard a loud creak coming from the pipe his left hand was holding onto instantly making him worry. The last thing he needed was for it to break and cause a whole other problem for him. He glanced to the right and saw the light from Bade Papa’s room had turn on again and he quickly shimmy back down the pipe scampering to the side of the house to hide.
“Who’s there?”
Abhimanyu swallowed nervously as he again waited for Bade Papa to go away. “Why is he the only one hearing things? Why hasn’t Akshu woken up yet? Most people would have woken up. This would be much easier if she was awake,” he muttered under his breath. Making sure everything was safe again he walked back out to inspect the pipe to see if he could give it another try. He surveyed the area around him and spied a ladder tucked away next to the small storage shed off on the side of the house.
A few minutes later he had it propped up against the window and made his ascent to the top. Knocking softly again on the window pane he called out, “Akshu? Akshu you awake?” When he didn’t get a response he tried to see if he could open the window. To his surprise it lifted up very easily. He grinned and carefully climbed into the room.
Is pal main hoon ya tum bhi ho
Am I here in this moment or is it You
Ya dono hoke bhi na hain
Or we both aren't here, even if we are
Kyun ho, kya ho, ho bhi ke naaho
Why are You here? What are You? Are You not here even if You are?
What greeted him made his heart swell, the moonlight filtering through the window accentuated Akshara’s soft features as she slept on her side.He gingerly walked forward and knelt down by the bed. His hand automatically rose with his index finger hovering over the edge of her face torn if he should dare to move the strands of hair that had fallen out of place. He didn’t want to startle her but he wanted to see all of her.
Ya kehna sunana mana hain
It's forbidden to talk or say anything about this
Is pal main hoon ya tum bhi ho
Am I here in this moment or is it You
Ya dono hoke bhi na hain
Or we both aren't here, even if we are
He tenderly pushed them back by her ear and felt her stir. He waited patiently for her eyelids to lift open. He was rewarded with a set of beautiful mocha eyes greeting him in silence wondering if what they were seeing was a dream.
Tumhein dekhke yaad aayi, wohi bisari kahaani
On seeing You, I remembered, those past stories
Deewane ka kissa, ya phir ek deewaani
A story of a crazy lover or another lover (female)
Dono sang sang rehte har dum,aisa yeh maine sunaa hai
I'd heard this somewhere that they used to live together always
He gave a soft grin as he slid his hand downward cupping her cheek. “Abhi?” she spoke in surprise as she sat up, “What are you doing here?”
“I came to visit in person. I wanted to surprise you,”glancing at the clock on the nightstand, “It’s pass midnight,” sighing, “I missed the timing.”
“How did you get up here?”
“I tired climbing up the pipe it made a funny noise and then Bade Papa came out. Don’t worry, I got out of the way and then used the ladder after he had gone back inside.”
“Abhi, this is so dangerous what if someone catches you?”
“Then we have to be quiet,” he softly replied making Akshara suddenly blush. He reached into his messenger bag and brought out a heart shaped box.
“Chocolates?” Akshara took it as she pulled her legs inward so he could sit next to her on the bed.
“Were you expecting methidana ladoos instead?” Abhimanyu joked. “Should I get those for you instead next year?”
“No,” she laughed. She carefully removed the red ribbon tied around the heart and placed it on the nightstand. As she did so her eyes caught sight of the time 12:12 am. “Angel’s time,” she suddenly gasped and closed her eyes. Abhimanyu chuckled at her innocent enthusiasm for this superstition. But as his eyes continued to linger on her face he felt an overwhelming urge to come closer. He leaned forward and placed a supple kiss on her cheek. Akshara immediately opened her eyes and stared back in amazement. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Abhimanyu whispered tenderly.
Ispal main hoon ya tum bhi ho
Am I here in this moment or is it You
Ya dono hoke bhi na hain
Or we both aren't here, even if we are
Kyun ho, kya ho, ho bhi ke naaho
Why are You here? What are You? Are You not here even if You are?
Ya kehna sunana mana hain
It's forbidden to talk or say anything about this
Akshara’s cheeks flushed a warm pink and she shyly looked down biting her lip. She felt his left hand cupped her cheek his thumb grazing her skin as he brought her face back up towards him. “Shall I fulfill one more wish?” he asked. She could see his gaze slowly moving towards her slightly parted lips and without a word she closed her eyes giving into the moment.
Ishq hua...
Love happened
Tum bata do yaad koi, kya puraani leke aaun
You tell me a memory that I should bring back
Ya nishaani deti jaon ya kahaani leke jaoon
Or give me signs and then take this story and go
Ya ki mann ko chhod doon jaaye,yeh jaata... jaata jahaan hai
Or should I let my heart be free, and let it wander wherever it wants
Their lips meeting for the first time was everything that she had anticipated and more. There was a pause of uncertainty neither wanting to stop but wondering if they should until the heat of the moment captured them again as they dived back in towards each other.
Is pal main hoon ya tum bhi ho
Am I here in this moment or is it You?
Ya dono hoke bhi na hain
Or we both aren't here, even if we are
Kyun ho, kya ho, ho bhi ke naa ho
Why are You here? What are You? Are You not here even if You are?
Ya kehna sunana mana hain
It's forbidden to talk or say anything about this
Is pal main hoon...
Am I here in this moment?
Akshara mused as fiery as Abhimanyu’s outer persona was to the world the gentleness he was showering her with now was beyond compare. His moist lips where urgent yet generous and there was a hint of something familiar. “Vanilla…”she breathed when they finally broke apart her arms wrapped around his neck. Abhimanyu’s eyebrows arched at her response. “Vanilla lip balm?”
There was faint embarrassed grin of acknowledgement. “I didn’t want to have chapped lips.”
She let out a loud giggle before covering her mouth with her hand to suppress the noise. They both turned when they saw the hallway light turned on. “Is everyone in the house a light sleeper but you?” Abhimanyu peeved.
“Abhi, go and hide,” Akshara whispered.
“Where?” Before he could say anything further she pushed him down off the bed, put the chocolates on the nightstand, and threw the covers over him in one single motion. She then moved herself in front of the bed with her phone in her hand playing a Youtube video. The door opened with Kairav displaying a concern look on his face. “Akshu, everything okay? I was just coming back from getting a glass of water when I heard a noise. ”
“Yes, sorry Bhaiya. I was watching a Youtube video. I’m going to sleep now.”
“It is rather later. You have good night’s sleep.”
“You too Bhaiya.”
When she was sure he was out of ear shot she went to rescue her boyfriend buried underneath the comforter. “Sorry Abhi,” she apologized sitting on the floor with him.
“It’s okay. Kairav is right. It is late and if I stay here any longer someone is going to find the ladder outside your window.”
Akshara walked him to the window and gave him a tight hug. “Thank you for the chocolates.” Abhimanyu simply smiled in return and started to climb out of the window. He paused to take one last look before he started his descendent when Akshara rushed towards him gently grabbing hold of his collar and gave him a farewell kiss that left him breathless. He could feel his arms loosening and he had to fight himself to maintain his grip on the ladder. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Abhi.”
“Goodnight Akshu,” he replied with a goofy grin. “Sleep well.”
“You too,” she waved as he made his way down the ladder.
-The End-
Credits:
Song: Is Pal
Lyrics: Jaideep Sahni & Piyush Mishra
English translation: Bollynook.com
A prompt-based original story.
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