I literally picked the worst time to write with a positive Arohi specially when she is like this on the show! I cannot with that character and makers.

I have renamed this story to Past Crimes. It was earlier called All for love.

Also, this story has two year leap from show. Please assume that Arohi is a changed person now. She is not the show Arohi. Imagine please :)

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Neil rushed upstairs, his heart thumping in his chest. He stood in front of Arohi's bedroom door.

Neil: (in mind) uhem! Kya bolunga? Kyu aya mai...uff Neil...soch! aise kaise chalega...Tu shaadi kr raha hai aur samne jaane me bhi ghabra raha hai?

He took a few breaths to calm himself and opened the door quickly before he lost his courage. As he rushed in, he banged hard against another.

Arohi: Ouch!! (looks up) Tum pagal ho kya? Sir phod diya mera!

Neil: (holding his head) Jaise mujhe to kuch hua hi nahi hai na...tumhara ye pathar jaisa maang tika, kahin khoon toh nahi nikal raha...

Arohi: Drama mt karo..

Neil: Tumhe kya pta...kahin khoon aa raha hoga toh neeche sb bolenge ki mai maang bharva kr aa gya?

Arohi: kya? (laughs while rubbing her forehead)

Neil also started to laugh. Suddenly they both stopped.

Arohi: Sb neeche hai?

Neil: Haan..

Arohi: Humari shaadi?...

Neil:...Ka pehla function.

They were both excited but apprehensive at the same time.

......................

Abhimanyu was looking for Akshara. She had disappeared from his line of sight after his talk with Neil and this was making him restless.

Abhimanyu: Ho toh ass pass hi...pr kahan?

He suddenly heard a sweet sound. He felt his heartbeat rise. He knew everything about his wife like the back of his hand, even the sound of her anklet. He moved to the corner where he had placed the sound. As he was looking around, something landed his shoulders from behind and slipped around to his chest.

Abhimanyu: Yeh?

He looked down to see a garland. He touched the flowers when he felt the softest pull. Knowing well that it is his wife, Abhimanyu let himself get pulled along and turned. Akshara was holding the garland and had slipped it around him. She smirked and pulled him down with it. Looking at him directly in the eye, she smashed their lips together.

Abhimanyu was taken aback by his little bold angel. Once he got over his initial shock, he slipped his hands on her bare waist and lifted her up. Akshara let go of her hold on the garland as he deepened the kiss and moved her tiny hands to circle his neck. She moaned softly into the kiss as he slipped his tongue to take in her sweet taste.

Akshara: Abhiii.....

Akshara whispered. She was breathless when he finally broke the kiss. Abhimanyu simple set her back against the wall and trailed down to her neck. Peppering kisses all around her jaw and thin neck. Akshara closed her eyes as she felt her heart push out of her chest. She was sure Abhimanyu could hear it. Hell, maybe the rest of the house could hear too.

She opened her eyes, wide. The rest of the house!!! How could she forget?

Akshara: Abhiii!!!

Abhimanyu stilled. He looked up from his sweet torture when he heard the urgency in her voice.

Abhimanyu: Kya hua?

Akshara: Hum ghar pr hai...Aaj tilak hai Neil aur Aaru ka...sb...(breathes) sb dhoondenge..

Abhimanyu chuckled at his wife.

Abhimanyu: Kon kehta hai nasha sharab me hota hai, humse poocho...tumhare age duniya hi bhool jate hai...

Akshara: (lightly smacks his chest) Chalo ab...nahi toh shayar babu se chidku babu ban jaoge agar kissi ne kuch bol diya toh...phir mujhe mt kehna

Abhimanyu: Kiski aisi himmat..

Akshara: Abhi...accha ab jao...mai ek baar washroom se ati hoon...makeup check kr loon..

Abhimanyu studied her almost gone lipstick and nodded. Akshara stood on her toes to peck him on the lips one more time before whispering 'I love you' against them and left.

....................

The tilak function happened with ease. The elders blessed the two and danced with joy. Harshvardhan Birla was really happy. He was getting a doctor Bahu! Yes, he did not consider Neil as his son. God knows where his emotional wife got him from. He only saw Abhimanyu worthy, the son he was proud of. He wanted him to marry to someone who could match his talent but his son got his emotional side from Manjiri. He fell in love with Akshu. Harsh had hated it then but now he saw the subtle changes in his son as he was content. He knew Akshara was the one for Abhimanyu but with his adopted son marrying Arohi, his dream was coming true in some way at least.

Mahima too stood, a fake smile plastered on her face.

Mahima: (thinks) Ye Akshara mujhe jaisi lagi thi, waisi nahi nikli. Manjiri jitni seedhi nahi hai. Apna dimag chala leti hai...lekin phir bhi, hai to man se seedhi hi....Pr ye Arohi toh pehle se hi bohot chalak hai...upar se doctor bhi hai...yeh ghar me gayi to meri position ko khatra hoga.....kuch to krna hoga..

Anand: Accha ab hume chalna chahiye....

Goenkas give gifts to Birlas.

Abhimanyu: Chalo Akshu...

Akshara: Kahan?

Abhimanyu: Ghar...( obviously!)

Akshara: Pr aaj ruk jaun main? Sb tayari karenge na...Aaru ki shaadi..

Abhimanyu: Tumhare hi devar se hai..

Manjiri: Rukne de na Abhi usse...

Abhimanyu looked away. Akshara saw him make a cute, sad expression. Her heart melted. She found it hard to resist her husband when he made such sad faces.

The Birlas left after that.

.......................

Akshara helped her family wrap up post the function. She along with them had a mini celebration for Arohi. Arohi was still in a confused state of mind but she did like Neil a lot. She was also happy. The idea of being with him for life made her stomach do something she couldn't entirely place a finger on. They all stopped their dance and sat down panting.

Akshara: Accha ab chalti hoon mai...Kairav bhaiya..driver ko bol do...

Sushasini: Kyu Akshu, Behen ki shaadi hai...yahi ruk jao..

Akshara: Mimi, abhi to kuch decide nahi hai age ka...bade panditji to parson aakr saare dates decide karenge na... uske baad dekhenge....aur phir mere devar ki bhi toh shaadi hai...Maa akele kitna-

Swarna: Akshu..beta ...sach bolo ki Abhimanyu ke bina ek din se zyada man nahi lagta..

Everyone laughed at her. She blushed a deep red.

Akshara: Aap bhi na badimumma. Aaru ki shaadi me toh mai age rehkr sb kaam karungi...khoob maze karungi...lekin Neil ki shaadi me toh mera hona important hai na....Shefali bhabhi to promotion ke baad aur busy ho gayi hai aur doctors ka toh apko pta hi hai...Ab maa ke saath koi toh chahiye na..

Akshara: (in mind) aur mere patidev ka bhi man km lgta hai mere bina.. use bhi dukhi nahi kr skti..

She hugged everyone. At last, she took Arohi in her arms.

Akshara: Congratulations Aaru! ( she broke the hug and cupped her face) Mai itni khush hoon ki hum same ghar me honge...accha ab jaa, have lots of beauty sleep..mai panditji ke ane se pehle aa jaungi..

Arohi studied as her sister walked away.

Arohi: (in mind) Finally! Tu balance krna seekh gayi...Kabhi kabhi bura lgta ki mai pehle ki tarah teri priority nahi hoon...but kahin na kahin ye bohot zaruri tha...mai khush bhi hoon ki ab meri wajah se teri khushiyan kabhi kharab nahi hongi..

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Abhimanyu had changed in a rush and left for the hospital in a hurry thinking that staying home would only make him miss his wife. He came back later in the night. As he parked the bike outside, he heard strange sounds in the bush. He picked up a rod he saw nearby and approached the garden.

He lifted his hand to swing when he noticed it was his silly brother. Sitting on a small garden bench behind the bush, he was looking at his phone's screen. The bright light illuminating his face.

Arohi: Chi Chamgadar! Kahan akr baithe ho? Tumhara apna room nahi hai kya?

Neil: mere room me Nishtha hai...vo tang krne ayi hai...usse bachte bachate aya hoon yahan..

Arohi: Koi aur location nahi milli? Aise andhere me bhoot jaise chamak rahe hoo..

Neil: Mai bhoot toh tum bhootni..

Arohi: Kyu..Mai bhootni..

Neil: Ab bhoot ki patni toh bhootni hi hoti..

Arohi suddenly became quiet and so did Neil.

Neil: So..

Arohi: So?

Neil: It's real..

Arohi: It is real. Humari shaadi..

They continued to talk about their upcoming wedding. Abhimanyu had already left quietly. He was fishing out his phone to call Akshara.

Abhimanyu: Arohi Neil ke saath busy hai toh Akshu bhi free hogi shayad..

He called her when he heard the phone ring from inside his room. He rushed and opened the door. The phone was on the table.

Abhimanyu: Akshu? Yahan?

Soon, Akshu exited the washroom. Clad in a light green night dress, she was wiping the excess water out of her hair.

Abhimanyu: Akshu? Tum to wahin rukne wali thi na..

Akshara smiled and kept the towel away. She walked closer to Abhimanyu.

Akshara: Vo kya hai na....mai sbka bhala sochti hoon..

Abhimanyu: Accha...(pulls her close) aur vo kaise?

Akshara: Vo aisa (starts to play with his shirt button)..hai ki mujhe bataya gaya ki koi meri absence me aur bhi bada chidku ho jaata hai..so ghar me sbko uske prakop se bachane ke liye mujhe ye sacrifice krna padta hai..

Abhimanyu: Accha? Sacrifice?

Akshara: hmm..

Abhimanyu: Oye...

He began tickling her. Akshara's laughter echoed in their room. Mahima was walking towards her room when she heard Akshara's laughter followed by Abhimanyu deep chuckle.

Mahima: Akshara Manjiri jaisi nahi hai...isne apni jagah bana hi li...isse jaise chaho waise nahi chala skte...Abhi itna protect jo krta hai isse...Ab agr Arohi bhi iss ghar me gayi toh ye dono behene meri naak me dum kr degi...nahi..I cannot let this happen..

She immediately rushed inside her room and closed the door. Opening her cupboard, she dished out something.

Mahima: Haan, ab sahi time aa gaya hai isse use krne ka..

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xoxo