Forbidden Love

Part 9

Abhimanyu Birla:

Abhi rolled up his pants and sat next to Akshara, dipping his feet in the pool. "See! It feels nice!" Akshara smiled at him.  Abhi smiled back. Anything will feel nice if he can see that gorgeous smile, thought Abhi.

After lunch, Akshara decided to walk back home and Abhi decided to walk with her. He just wanted an excuse to spend a few more moments by her side. When she saw the pool, she decided to go sit by it and asked Abhi to join her.  Abhi was in a pair of khaki chino pants and a button up shirt, not pool wear by any means but Akshara assured him they will just dip their feet.  "So what do you do on your off days?"
"I read or watch a movie. Sometimes, I cook." Abhi shrugged. He knew already he led a very boring life and waited for Akshara to tell him so.
"Really? Do you know how to cook? How cool! I can't cook to save my life." Akshara laughed. 
"Really? You think that's cool?" Abhi asked in surprise.
"Of course. Cooking is a pretty cool skill to have." Akshara pulled up her hair  exposing her long swan like neck and Abhi tried to look away so he could stay focused. As it was, that damn mole on her neck already made him almost lose his senses every time he saw it.  "God, it's so hot!" Akshara complained.  A kid far away laughed and Akshara turned to look at him. Abhi saw a tattoo on the base of her neck that he never noticed before. He looked carefully.
"Kaira?" Abhi read the Hindi script. Akshara turned around to look at him.
"Sorry?"
"Your tattoo? It says Kaira, right? Who is Kaira?" Abhi asked.
"Oh." Akshu smiled. "Kaira is Kartik plus Naira. My parents."
"Oh right. You seem very close to your family."
"I am. My family means everything to me." Akshara told him. "I miss them when I am in Mumbai but we talk everyday."
"Let me guess! You are closest to your Mimi, right?" Abhi smiled at her.
Akshara laughed. "Mimi and I do have a very special bond but I don't know? I think I am close to all of them - my Bade Papa, Badi Maa, AG, Vansh Bhaiya, Kairav Bhaiya.....but I'm closest to my sister, Aarohi. We are not even two years apart and always have been very close."
"What about your parents?" Abhi didn't know why he was asking her all that. The truth was, he just wanted to have her sit next to him and hear her talk. He wanted to know everything about her. He realized he was wrong but he couldn't help himself.
"What about them?" asked Akshu. Abhi noticed the smile from her face was gone. Did he say any thing wrong? Maybe she wasn't close to them like how he wasn't close to his parents but then why did she have their names tattooed?
"You must be very close to them as well? I'm sure you miss them."
"Mmm...." Akshara said lost in her thoughts. "What about you? Are you close to your family?"
"Not really.  I am not really a fan of my father. I was very close to my mom but she passed away when I was still a little boy." Abhi had never shared that with anyone.
"Oh. I'm so sorry." Akshara looked at him tearfully. She put her hand on his. "I didn't know. I'm sorry." A tear fell from her eye. Was she crying for him? How many more ways was she going to leave him in awe?
"Hey. It's okay." Abhi smiled at her weakly. He wanted to wipe her tears and wrap her in his arms and kiss her away. Maybe spending time with her wasn't the brightest idea. He was scared he was going to lose control. "My step-mother, Manjiri Maa? She's very nice and my younger brother, Neil is sweet as well."
"Mmmm. You are very lucky, Abhimanyu that you still have a father and another mom. Not everyone have that." Akshara said looking at some kids playing behind the pool.
"What do you mean?"
Akshara looked at him for a second and then shook her head.  Abhi wished he knew what she was thinking.

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Akshara Goenka:

As they walked into their apartment building, Akshu decided that Dr. Grouchy Birla wasn't that bad after all. He was actually pretty sweet and such a gentleman, opening the doors for her and all.  He was very intelligent seeing he was such a top surgeon. Even the conversations they had at the cafe and the pool were deeper than any conversation she had with anyone in a long time. She didn't know why she opened up to him but there was something so comforting about him. She stole a quick look at him. On top of everything, he was so damn good-looking with that dimpled smile and those deep brown eyes. She felt like she was going to drown in them every time he looked at her. If only he wasn't her professor....but was there even a rule forbidding it? She was an adult and she could be with anyone she wanted to be with but....but why would someone like Dr. Birla date one of his students?

Akshu got in the elevator with Abhimanyu and the doors closed. "I can't believe we been living in the same building all along." Abhimanyu shook his head laughing. He had the sleeves of his shirts rolled up, exposing his muscular arms.  Akshu shook her head and looked away from him. "Akshara, are you okay?" He asked her concerned. Akshu tried to avoid looking at him. "Hey? Akshara?" He asked again, softly. What the hell was wrong with her, she didn't know. She gulped trying to control her emotions. He held her arm and gently turned her around to look at him.  "Akshara?" He asked again. She looked up to his handsome face staring at her with such intensity, she felt like she was going to melt. He took his hand and gently stroked her cheek. Akshu closed her eyes. "Akshara, are you okay?" He said in a whisper. She shook her head and opened her eyes to see him give her a questioning look. His hand was still on her cheek while the other hand held her arm. She didn't know what made her do it but she leaned closer to him, closed her eyes and placed her lips on his, kissing him. Realizing he didn't kiss her back, she opened her eyes and stepped back. He gave her a peculiar look.
He cleared his throat. "Akshara. You are my student."
All of a sudden, Akshu was horrified. "I'm sorry! I thought you wanted to...oh my god! I'm so sorry!" Just then the door of the elevator opened on Akshara's floor and she ran out of, embarrassed.
"Akshara! Please listen.." Akshu heard him say as the elevator door closed behind her and she ran to her apartment, not sure how she will ever face her professor again.

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