One evening, Sona suggested that they all go out for dinner together. Manjiri insisted that Akshu handle some urgent errands, ensuring that she would be late. When Akshu arrived, she found Sona sitting close to Abhi, laughing and touching his arm.

"Sorry I'm late," Akshu apologized, feeling the tension immediately.

"Oh, no worries," Sona said with a sweet but insincere smile. "We were just catching up. It’s so good to spend time with old friends, isn’t it, Abhi?"

Abhi smiled politely but sensed Akshu’s discomfort. He moved slightly away from Sona, hoping to ease Akshu’s mind. However, the evening continued to be strained, with Sona and Anjali subtly excluding Akshu from conversations and making her feel out of place.

Back at home, Akshu confronted Abhi. "Abhi, I don’t understand why Sona is still here. It feels like she’s trying to come between us."

Abhi sighed, feeling caught in the middle. "Akshu, she's just a friend. Maybe you're reading too much into it."

"I'm not, Abhi. She's constantly trying to get closer to you, and it’s making me uncomfortable."

Abhi felt a twinge of frustration. "I can't just ask her to leave, Akshu. She's our guest."

Seeing the rising tension, manjiri stepped in with feigned concern. "Maybe you both just need some time apart to cool down. Sona and I can take care of things here."

Akshu, feeling more isolated than ever, reluctantly agreed. She decided to stay at a friend’s place for a few days, hoping the distance would help clear the air. Little did she know, Sona and manjiri were planning to use this time to further their agenda.

During Akshu's absence, Sona intensified her efforts to win Abhi's favor. She cooked his favorite meals, brought up fond memories from their past, and positioned herself as a supportive and understanding friend. Manjiri played along, subtly praising Sona and suggesting that maybe Akshu wasn’t the right fit for their family.

One evening, Sona found Abhi in his study, looking through old photos. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Remember this one?" she asked, pointing to a picture of them during their college days. "We had so much fun back then."

Abhi smiled wistfully. "Yeah, those were good times."

Sona took a deep breath, deciding to take a bold step. "Abhi, I know this is hard for you, but I need to be honest. I still have feelings for you. I believe we could be great together."

Abhi looked at her, taken aback. "Sona, I appreciate your honesty, but I’m married to Akshu. I love her."

Sona’s eyes filled with tears, but she pressed on. "But do you really? Are you sure Akshu is the right one for you? Look at everything that’s been happening. Maybe it’s a sign that we’re meant to be together."

Abhi felt a mix of confusion and guilt. He cared for Sona as a friend, but his heart belonged to Akshu. "I can't do this, Sona. Akshu is my wife, and I need to make things right with her."

Sona, realizing that subtlety was no longer an option, decided on a more drastic approach. She knew she had to create a situation that would make Abhi doubt Akshu completely.

Manjri and Sona, devised a more intricate and damaging plan to drive a wedge between Abhi and Akshu. They knew they needed to exploit Akshu’s emotions and manipulate her into doubting Abhi’s loyalty.

Sona suggested a fake scandal involving Abhi. They decided to fabricate evidence showing that Abhi was meeting with another woman. Manjiri knew this plan would hit Akshu hard, considering how much she had struggled with jealousy and insecurity before.

They hired an actress to play the role of the mysterious woman. Manjiri and Sona arranged for her to be seen with Abhi in public places, taking photos and making sure to capture moments that looked compromising. They sent these photos to Akshu anonymously, along with fake messages suggesting an affair.

When Akshu received the photos, her heart sank. She felt the familiar sting of betrayal, and all the old insecurities rushed back. She couldn’t believe that Abhi, who had promised her his love and loyalty, could do this.

When Abhi returned home that evening, Akshu confronted him, holding up the photos with tears streaming down her face.

"Abhi, what is this?" she demanded, her voice shaking with anger and hurt. "Are you seeing someone else?"

Abhi looked at the photos, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Akshu, I have no idea what this is about. I haven't been seeing anyone else. You have to believe me."

"How can I believe you?" Akshu yelled. "These photos say otherwise. Why would someone send these to me if there was nothing going on?"

Abhi felt a wave of frustration and helplessness. "I don't know, Akshu. But I swear to you, I am not cheating on you. This has to be a setup."

The argument escalated, both of them yelling, their voices echoing through the house. Anjali and Sona listened from a distance, satisfied that their plan was working. They expected Akshu to leave in a rage, giving them the opportunity to further drive the couple apart.

In the heat of the argument, Akshu’s emotions took over. She stepped closer to Abhi, her face inches from his. "Why can’t you just admit it?" she cried, her voice breaking.

Before Abhi could respond, Akshu grabbed his face and kissed him passionately, tears still streaming down her cheeks. The kiss was filled with a mix of anger, desperation, and love. For a moment, everything else faded away.

Manjiri and Sona, watching from the shadows, were taken aback. They had expected the fight to drive a permanent wedge between Abhi and Akshu, not bring them closer.

Abhi was stunned at first, but then he wrapped his arms around Akshu, kissing her back with equal intensity. The kiss was a raw and powerful expression of their unresolved feelings, cutting through the confusion and pain.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathless. Abhi looked into Akshu’s eyes, his voice gentle but firm. "Akshu, I love you. We need to figure this out together. Please trust me."

Akshu, still emotional, nodded. "I want to believe you, Abhi. But this hurts so much."

"I know," Abhi whispered, pulling her into a tight embrace. "We’ll get to the bottom of this. I promise."

Manjiri and Sona watched, their plan unraveling before their eyes. They were furious, seeing the couple united rather than torn apart. They realized that their scheme had backfired, and Abhi and Akshu’s bond had only strengthened.