Abhimanyu sat in his car outside Goenka Villa and went over what he will say. It had to be convincing. Nervously, he got out of his car and entered the house. Mimi and Aarohi were sitting drinking tea. How much tea does this family drinks? And where's Akshu? Is she still unwell???
Aarohi looked up and saw Abhimanyu. "Abhimanyu! Aap yahan?" She said in surprise.
"Hello Aarohi. Hello Mimi." Abhimanyu went to greet Mimi. "I'm sorry to disturb you so early but I was passing by and Mahima tayi-ji wanted me to get Akshara's sign on some new hire paperwork. Is she here?"
"Don't say sorry. We are happy you are here. Akshu is upstairs, I'll ask someone to get her. But beta I'll see you later, I have to go for my puja now." Mimi said as she left to go the Mandir.
Abhimanyu sat down from across Aarohi. "So how are you, Aarohi?" He thought it will make his life easier if he started making more of an effort to be nice to Akshu's sister.
"I'm great. How are you? You didn't need to come for Akshu's papers. Not like she has a very important job like us doctors." Aaorhi laughed. It was going to be harder to be nice to her than Abhimanyu thought.
"How's Akshu doing now? She wasn't feeling very well yesterday." Abhi ignored her comment.
Aarohi rolled her eyes. "She's fine. Akshu has a flair for drama and a need for attention. So whenever she feels she's not getting enough attention, she starts acting like she can't breath. Don't take her too seriously. Better to ignore her."
Abhimanyu felt anger bubbling inside him. He tried to control himself and through gritted teeth said to Aarohi, "so Dr. Aarohi. You are telling me if you see a patient having a panic attack and struggling to breath, you will think it's for attention and ignore them?"
Aarohi was stunned. "I...no I...I didn't say that but I know Akshara well..."
Just then Abhimanyu heard Akshara's voice. He turned around to see Akshu coming down the stairs with Swarna following her. Akshu was wearing a grey t-shirt with the NYU logo and a pair of jeans and her hair was up in a messy bun. How do you look more beautiful each time I see you? Wondered Abhimanyu. Akshu didn't seem to notice the guest.
"Badi Mama! Please. I really don't need anything. I don't want to go shopping." Akshu pleaded.
"Mujhe kuch nahi sunna. Tum apney job pe yeh purane kapde pehn ke jaaogi? Bilkul nahi. Hum shopping ja raha hain bas. Aur tumhare liye naya phone bhi lena hai. Ek aur crack aur yeh phone bache ga nahi."
"Badddiiii Mummmma!"
Swarna couldn't help but smile. At that moment, it felt like Akshu had forgotten her anger and she was sounding and acting like the little Akshu, Swarna knew. She was enjoying annoying her.
"Keh diya maine hum ja rahe hain, bas."
"Abhi?" Akshu finally looked up and saw Abhimanyu standing there looking amused and smiling.
"Areey Abhimanyu. Acha hua tum yahan ho. Please iss ladki ko batao ke Birla Hospital has a dress code and she can't wear her jeans and T-shirts!" Swarna said to Abhi who was trying not to laugh looking at Akshu's annoyed face. She did look cute in this outfit but maybe it was her quirky expressions that were making her cute.
"Badi Mummmma!" Akshu turned to Abhimanyu, "please don't listen to her." Both Swarna and Abhimanyu laughed.
"Actually I'll drop you two to the mall." Abhimanyu smiled.
"Hahaha. Very funny, Abhi!" Seeing Akshu getting more annoyed made Abhi and Swarna laugh harder.
"I'm going to get ready and then we will go, Akshu. I'm serious." Swarna said as she went to her room.
