Chapter One Hundred Twenty: The Silent Treatment That Broke
The morning after the fight, the mansion was tense.
Akshi came down for breakfast. Sat at the table. Picked at her food.
Didn't look at Chethan.
Didn't speak to him.
Didn't acknowledge his existence.
---
Chethan tried.
"Akshi?"
Nothing.
"Akshi, please."
She reached for the salt. Ignored him completely.
He touched her arm.
She pulled away.
---
The table was silent.
Everyone watched.
Jay caught Keifer's eye. He shook his head slightly.
Shreya looked at Mithun. He raised an eyebrow.
Percy opened his mouth. Honey covered it.
C.N. made a note but said nothing.
Rakii lowered her camera.
---
Chethan tried again.
"Akshi, can we talk? Please? Just five minutes."
She stood. Walked to the kitchen. Got more coffee.
Came back. Sat down.
Still didn't look at him.
---
His face fell.
"I'm sorry. I know I messed up. I know I've been distracted. I know I made you feel like you're not important. But you ARE. You're the most important thing in my life."
Nothing.
"I'll do better. I'll set reminders. I'll prioritize our time. I'll—"
She stood again.
Walked out of the room.
---
Chethan sat there.
Defeated.
Shreya touched his arm. "Give her time."
"How much time? It's been a whole day."
"She's hurt. She'll come around."
"What if she doesn't?"
No one had an answer.
---
The day passed.
Akshi avoided him completely.
If he was in the living room, she went to the garden.
If he was in the garden, she went to her room.
If he knocked on her door, she didn't answer.
Chethan was losing his mind.
---
By evening, he couldn't take it anymore.
He found her in the garden.
Sitting on the bench. Staring at nothing.
He walked toward her.
She stood to leave.
He moved faster.
---
Grabbed her arm.
Spun her around.
Pinned her gently against the garden wall.
---
"Akshi."
"Let me go."
"No."
"I said LET ME GO."
"No."
She glared at him. "You don't get to do this."
"I get to do whatever it takes to make you talk to me."
"I don't want to talk."
"Too bad."
---
He leaned closer.
"I love you."
She looked away.
"I love you, Akshi. I love your chaos. I love your loudness. I love the way you burn everything you cook. I love the way you laugh. I love the way you fight with me. I love all of it."
Nothing.
"I'm sorry I made you feel second. I'm sorry I was distracted. I'm sorry for all of it. But I can't do this. I can't have you not talk to me. I can't have you look through me like I'm nothing."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I don't look through you like you're nothing."
"You do. Right now. You are."
---
He cupped her face.
Made her look at him.
"I love you. Say it back."
"I love you too."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Because I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"Of always being second. Of always waiting. Of waking up one day and realizing I'm not enough."
He kissed her.
---
Not hard.
Soft.
Gentle.
Full of everything.
She kissed him back.
Tears streaming down her face.
---
When they broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers.
"You're not second. You're first. You're always first. I just got distracted. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too. For shutting you out."
"Don't do it again."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
---
He pulled her into his arms.
Held her tight.
She cried into his chest.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too. More than everything."
"Even when I'm dramatic?"
"Especially when you're dramatic."
---
They walked back inside together.
Hand in hand.
The living room was full.
Everyone looked up.
Percy gasped. "THEY'RE BACK! THEY'RE HOLDING HANDS!"
Honey smiled. "Told you they'd figure it out."
Jay leaned against Keifer. "Another one."
"Another one."
"Our family."
"The best family."
---
C.N. made a note. "Reconciliation achieved. Method: Wall pin and kiss. Effectiveness: 100%."
Rakii photographed them. "For the album. 'The Makeup.'"
Shreya hugged Akshi. "You okay?"
"I'm okay."
"Good."
Mithun nodded at Chethan. "Good job."
Chethan smiled weakly. "Thanks."
---
That night, they gathered for dinner.
Akshi sat beside Chethan.
Close.
Happy.
Percy raised his glass. "TO FIGHTING! TO MAKING UP! TO WALL PINS!"
Honey sighed. "Percy, that's not a toast."
"IT IS NOW!"
"TO WALL PINS!" everyone echoed.
Akshi laughed.
Chethan kissed her forehead.
The chaos continued.
But for one moment—
Everything was perfect.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Twenty