Chapter Ninety-Two: The Day Akshi Walked Out
The morning started like any other.
Akshi woke up in Chethan's arms, smiled, and immediately remembered.
It was their anniversary.
One year since he'd proposed. One year since she'd said yes. One year of planning, dreaming, loving.
She kissed his cheek. He murmured something unintelligible and pulled her closer.
She laughed. "Wake up, sleepyhead. It's a special day."
"What day?"
"OUR day. Anniversary."
He blinked. "Anniversary of what?"
She sat up. "Of our engagement? Of you getting down on one knee and asking me to marry you? Of the single most romantic moment of my entire life?"
"Oh. That." He yawned. "Right."
Her smile faltered. "You forgot."
"I didn't forget. I just—it's early."
"It's 9 AM."
"Exactly. Early."
---
She let it go.
Barely.
He'd remember eventually. He always did.
---
By noon, she wasn't so sure.
They had lunch together. She wore a nice dress. Did her hair. Put on the earrings he'd given her for her birthday.
He didn't notice.
"Chethan."
"Yeah?"
"Notice anything different?"
He looked at her. Really looked. "You... washed your hair?"
She stared at him.
"What? It looks nice!"
"I'm wearing the earrings you gave me. The ones you picked out specially. The ones you said would look perfect on me."
"Oh. Right. They do look perfect."
"You didn't even see them."
"I see them now!"
"NOW. After I pointed them out."
He reached for her hand. "Akshi—"
She pulled away. "Forget it."
---
By 3 PM, she was fuming.
Not because of the earrings. Not because of the dress.
Because of everything.
Because she'd planned a special dinner. Made reservations at his favorite restaurant. Bought a gift. Written a card.
And he'd done... nothing.
"Chethan, do you have any plans for tonight?"
"Tonight? Uh, I was going to game with the guys. Why?"
She stood up. "Game. With the guys."
"Yeah. It's Wednesday. We always game on Wednesdays."
"TODAY IS NOT A NORMAL WEDNESDAY!"
He blinked. "What?"
"IT'S OUR ANNIVERSARY!"
---
The room went quiet.
Chethan's face went through several stages—confusion, realization, horror.
"Oh no. Oh no, Akshi, I—"
"You forgot. You actually forgot."
"I didn't forget, I just—the date got mixed up—"
"It's the same date every year, Chethan! Every. Single. Year!"
"I know, I know, I'm sorry—"
"SORRY DOESN'T CUT IT!"
She grabbed her bag.
"Akshi, where are you going?"
"I need air."
"Akshi—"
"DON'T FOLLOW ME!"
---
She walked out.
The door slammed behind her.
Chethan stood there, stunned.
Shreya appeared in the doorway. "What happened?"
"I forgot our anniversary."
"Oh no."
"She's gone."
"Gone where?"
"I don't know."
---
Hours passed.
Chethan called. Texted. Called again.
Nothing.
Shreya tried. Jay tried. Even Mithun tried.
Akshi didn't respond.
---
By evening, Chethan was a wreck.
He sat on the couch, staring at his phone.
"She's not answering."
"Give her time." Mithun's voice was calm, but his eyes were worried.
"It's been six hours."
"She needs space."
"What if she doesn't come back?"
"She'll come back. She loves you."
"Then why isn't she answering?"
No one had an answer.
---
That night, Akshi didn't come home.
She'd checked into a small hotel. Lay on the bed. Stared at the ceiling.
Her phone buzzed constantly.
Chethan. Shreya. Jay. Mithun. Even Percy.
She ignored them all.
---
Day Two.
Chethan hadn't slept.
He was at the kitchen table at 6 AM, coffee cold, eyes red.
Shreya found him there. "Any word?"
"No."
"She'll come back."
"What if she doesn't?"
"She will."
"You don't know that."
"I know Akshi. She's dramatic. But she loves you."
---
Jay came down. Sat beside him.
"Chethan. Talk to me."
"I messed up."
"Yeah."
"I keep messing up."
"Yeah."
"What do I do?"
Jay was quiet for a moment. "You figure out why. Why you keep forgetting. Why you keep hurting her. And then you fix it. Not for her. For yourself."
He nodded slowly. "I don't want to lose her."
"Then don't let her go."
---
By afternoon, Chethan had a plan.
He wrote her a letter. A real one. Not a text.
He wrote about how he felt. How he messed up. How he was going to change.
He wrote about the first time he saw her. About how she made him laugh. About how she was the best thing in his life.
He wrote about the soup he burned. About the sunrise he slept through. About every little moment that mattered.
Then he drove to every hotel in the area until he found her.
---
She opened the door.
Red eyes. Tired face. Still beautiful.
"Akshi."
"Chethan."
"Can I come in?"
She stepped aside.
---
He walked in. Sat on the edge of the bed.
She sat across from him.
"I brought you something." He handed her the letter.
She read it.
Tears fell.
"I mess up," he said quietly. "I know I mess up. I forget things. I'm not romantic. I'm not good at this."
She looked up.
"But I love you. I love you more than anything. And I don't want to lose you. So I'm going to change. Not for one day. For every day."
She wiped her eyes. "You've said that before."
"I know. And I meant it. But I didn't do it. This time, I will."
"How?"
"Reminders. Alarms. A calendar. Whatever it takes. I'll ask you every morning what's important today. I'll write everything down. I'll—"
She crossed to him. Sat beside him.
"I don't need you to be perfect."
"I know."
"I need you to try."
"I will. I promise."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
---
She leaned into him.
He held her.
"I'm sorry I left," she whispered.
"Don't be. I deserved it."
"Still. I shouldn't have run."
"You needed to. I get it."
They sat there, holding each other.
---
They came home that evening.
Hand in hand.
The mansion erupted.
Percy was crying. "THEY'RE BACK! THE COUPLE IS BACK!"
Honey hugged him. "Let them breathe."
"I'M BREATHING FOR THEM!"
Keiran raised Rex. "AUNTIE AKSHI! UNCLE CHETHAN! YOU'RE HOME!"
Rex nodded approvingly.
Shreya hugged Akshi tight. "Don't ever do that again."
"I won't."
"You scared us."
"I know. I'm sorry."
Jay hugged them both. "Welcome home."
---
That night, Akshi and Chethan sat on the balcony.
"Two days," she said.
"Two awful days."
"But we're here."
"We're here."
"No more running?"
"No more forgetting."
She kissed him softly. "I love you."
"I love you too. More than anything."
They watched the stars.
Another storm weathered.
Together.
---
End of Chapter Ninety-Two